Yogad

One of the smallest minority groups in the region, the Yogad once occupied Diffun, Quirino in Cagayan Valley. Today, they are concentrated in Echague, Camarag, Angadanan, Santiago, and Jones, Isabela. Yogads speak one of the five recognized dialects of the Ga’dang and are part of the Christianized Kalingas in western Isabela. They are pre-colonial inhabitants of Ecahgue, whose mother tongue is the Yogad language.

Yogads are predominantly of the Indonesian type with a slight mixture of Negrito and Chinese blood. They have straight black hair, dark brown eyes, and reddish brown to darkbrown complexion. Although their civilization was slightly influenced by the Spaniards, they hold on strongly to their old customs and beliefs. Recent studies show that despite the pervasiveness of Ilocano in Echague, the Yogads have remained steadfast in the use of their mother tongue.