Vigan Tricycle Designs: Expressions of the Local Iloko Culture

I. TITLE
Vigan Tricycle Designs: Expressions of the Local Iloko Culture

II. PROBLEM

How do the designs in Vigan tricycles express the local Iloko culture?

III. OBJECTIVES

· To document the various tricycle designs in Vigan
· To know the tricycle production process in Vigan
· To have a firm background of the history of
silver/metal/ stainless steel relief art of Vigan
· To know the meaning and significance of the tricycle designs in the context of Iloko culture

IV. SIGNIFICANCE
Documenting the tricycle art in Vigan will hopefully establish a valid written account of its history and development. This should be a significant step towards a better understanding of the socio-cultural responses, aesthetics and identity of a cultural group in this part of the country. This should also serve as a fitting tribute to the people of Vigan, for their ingenuity, creativity and their continued effort to imagine and create objects of beauty and integrate these in their everyday lives.

V. MOTIVATION

In researching for a previous paper, The Philippine Tricycle and the Socio-Cultural Implications of Its Designs:As Seen in the Tricycles in Ilocos Sur, I have found no significant material discussing the history or the art of Philippine Tricycles--albeit a few pictures and some polite, sugary words from foreign tourists, commenting on how ‘colorful’, ‘cute’, ‘ingenious’, ‘practical’, ‘economical’ and ‘very Asian-looking” they are. I shall not refute that. However, I believe that much more can be said than these. The character and creativity that go with the creation of these Filipino tricycles extends beyond prettiness or beauty or the recognition of making art that is undoubtedly Filipino.

In the case of Vigan’s tricycles, their elaborate designs not only speak of a rich cultural past. Their art, serving as an indelible record, may also tell us their untold story as a people and give us a hint to who they truly are. To me, the thrill of the possibility of uncovering, re-discovering or understanding the intrinsic, intricate, artistic sensibility existing among these people ----more than the important task of documenting the artistic result of their expression as a people, is motivation enough.

VI. POSSIBLE REFERENCES

BOOKS

•Avila,Vicente. “Ilocos Religious Imagery”. Ilocos Review:
Christian Beginnings in Ilocandia, Vol.III,No.1&2. Jan.-Dec.1971.pp.114-135.

•Braganza,Jose Vicente. “To the End of the World”.
Ilocos Review: Christian Beginnings in Ilocandia,Vol.III,No.1&2.Jan.-Dec.1971.
pp.135-165.


INTERVIEWS

• DAMASO Q. KING
Church Volunteer, Archbishop’s Palace/
Local Historian/Researcher
#19 Gomez St., Vigan, Ilocos Sur
· BOYET AMANO
President, Vigan Kalesa Organization
(0920)504-9082
· DAMIAN TRICYCLE SHOP
Liberation St. Vigan, Ilocos Sur

VII. Previous References

Stein, Robert. “[trikes]Something to Read”,http://www,ihpva. org /pipermail/trikes/2000q2/002657.html.
Payne, Elvis. “The History of the 3-Wheeled Vehicle”, http://pages.zoom.co.uk/ elvis/history/html.
_______.“The World War Cycle of U.S. History (1866- 1944)”, http://timepage.org. cyc/wwii.html.
_______.“Triumph Motorcycles Timeline—1883-1918:The Early Years”
_______.“Tricycle History”, www.thaijunior.com/knowledge/ tricycle.htm
_______.“Where You Could Eat in Thailand”, http://www. thaitable.com/ Thai/ thailand/food_ adventures/ Where_you_could_eat_in_Thailand/page2.asp
Embile, Roly. " 'Sikad-sikad,' Bicol's street gondola", URL: http://www.inq7.net/ bus/2001/nov/04/text/bus_2-1- p.htm. Posted:8:45 PM (Manila Time) November 03, 2001, Inquirer News Service, PDI Southern Luzon Bureau
Labiste, Diosa. "Asian mayors agree to bring down pollution level", Feb. 15, 2002, URL:http://www.inq7.net/reg/ 2002/feb/15/text/reg_10-1-p.htm, Posted:6:09 AM (Manila Time) Feb. 15, 2002, Inquirer News Service
_____ . "A Brief History of Honda", http:/hondaintheuk. co. uk/history/breif_history.htm
_____ . "About Us, Minerva Trading Philippines". http:// www.minervatrading.com/about.htm
_____ . "Marikina Launches 1st Tourist Tricycle", Philippine Information Office-Marikina, June 17,2002.
_______. "Tricycles in Olongapo City", The Color-Coded Transport System of Olongapo City, http://www.
Olongapocity.gov.ph%2fMayor%2fcolor- coded.htm.

VIII. PHOTOGRAPHS

· THE DE DION-BOUTON TRICYCLE France,1895-1902.
· ARIEL MOTOR TRICYCLE England. 1898 - 1902
· TRICYCLES IN MALAYSIA
· TRICYCLES IN THAILAND
· TRICYCLES IN THE PHILIPPINES
· TRICYCLES IN VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR
· REPOSITORIO FOR JUEVES SANTO & ALTAR FRONTALS (worked Mexican silver sheets on wooden framework) at the Archbishop’s Palace and other religious materials with relief design
· VIGAN KALESAS