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Makaammo’n ti Apo: Exploring a Facet of Ilokano Spirituality 6

Makaammo’n ti Apo: Exploring a Facet of Ilokano Spirituality

Religion and Social Communication Vol. 24, No. 1 (2026)

Authors

Brandon Billan Cadingpal
Saint Louis University – Baguio City, Philippines
Email: bbcadingpal@slu.edu.ph
ORCID: 0009-0000-1166-1654

Moreen Jebert Marzan Lazaga
Saint Louis College – San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines
Email: lazagamj@slc-sflu.edu.ph
ORCID: 0009-0007-7086-8111

Trixie Anne Arcillas Sampayan
Saint Louis University – Baguio City, Philippines
Email: taasampayan@slu.edu.ph
ORCID: 0009-0001-5110-1245

Abstract

Makaammo’n ti Apo is best defined as the Ilokano equivalent of the Filipino-Tagalog saying “bahala na.” While this is seen in a similar lens, makaammo’n ti Apo provides a glimpse of how Ilokanos, another major ethno-linguistic group in the Philippines, have faith in God and also in how they manifest their spirituality. This study looks into the experiences of Ilokanos in relation to the divine through their knowledge and usage of the said statement and the results would open to a discourse on Ilokano culture and spirituality. This study aims to explicate how Ilokanos manifest makaammo’n ti Apo as a facet of their spirituality. It utilizes a qualitative method with a hermeneutical phenomenological design, which is targeted at the data collected through interviews among Ilokano educators in the secondary and tertiary levels. The results of the study provide the circumstances in which Ilokanos use the statement. It is often used during checkmate situations, decision-making uncertainties, and pacifist conflict settlements. The reasons/source of their usage are the following: family and cultural upbringing, faith expression, and automatic response mechanism. Key themes also surfaced as to how makaammo’n ti Apo manifests as a pertinent part of the participants’ spirituality. Makaammo’n ti Apo manifests as spirituality among the Ilokanos with their acknowledgement of human limitations, amplified confidence in living, and recognition of the divine.

Keywords

Amianan, Ilokano identity, Filipino theology, ordinary theology, religiosity

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Pages: 185–204

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62461/CLS113026

Submitted, Accepted & Published Dates

Submitted: August 15, 2025
Accepted: November 30, 2025
Published: January 1, 2026

Cite this article

Cadingpal, Brandon Billan, Moreen Jebert Marzan Lazaga, and Trixie Anne Arcillas Sampayan. “Makaammo’n ti Apo: Exploring a Facet of Ilokano Spirituality.” Religion and Social Communication 24, no. 1 (2026): 185–204. https://doi.org/10.62461/CLS113026.

Makaammo’n ti Apo: Exploring a Facet of Ilokano Spirituality

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