Literature of Different Regions

Umandal, Larison P. HUM 313 BSAeE 3-3 Sentillas Sr.

Dr. Manuel Corbo

REGION 1: Ilocos Region INTRODUCTION Ilocanos are descendants of Austronesian-speaking people from Taiwan. Families and clans arrived by viray or bilog, meaning "boat". The term Ilokano originates from i-, "from", and looc, "cove or bay", thus "people of the bay." Ilokanos also refer to themselves as Samtoy, a contraction from the Ilokano phrase sao mi ditoy, "our language here". Ilocanos are descendants of Austronesian-speaking people from southern China via Taiwan. 

one of the most active tributaries to the general Philippine literature

PRECOLONIAL TIMES TO THE 19TH CENTURY  Earliest known written Iloko poems:  Romances translated from Spanish by Francisco Lopez, who published his own Iloko translation of the  Doctrina Cristiana by Cardinal Bellarmine, the first book to be printed in Iloko.  Study of Iloko poetry:  Gramatica Ilokana, published in 1895, based on Lopez's Arte de la Lengua Iloca, earlier published in 1627, but was probably written before 1606.  Pedro Bucaneg  collaborated with Lopez in the translation of the Doctrina into Iloko  the first known Ilokano poet  the "Father of Ilokano Poetry and Literature."  blind since childhood  authored the popular epic known as Biag ni Lam-ang, who published it in El Ilocano from December 1889 to February 1890, with Spanish translation in prose, and also reprinted it in his El Folklore Filipino, under the title Vida de Lam-ang.  Leona Florentino  considered by some as the "National Poetess of the Philippines"  her poems however, appear to the modern reader as being too syrupy for comfort, too sentimental to the point of mawkishness, and utterly devoid of form.  Fr. Justo Claudio Fojas  Ilokano secular priest who wrote  Leona Florentino's contemporary.  novenas, prayerbooks, catechism, metrical romances, dramas, biographies, a Spanish grammar and an Iloko-Spanish dictionary.  Comedia (moro-moro)  a highly picturesque presentation of the wars between Christians and Muslims  Zarzuela  an equally picturesque depiction of what is at once melodrama, comic-opera, and the skit interminably preoccupied with the eternal theme of boy-meetsgirl-who-always-live-happily-ever-after-seemingly-impossible-odds  presented for the first time in the Ilocos in the 19th century.  Comedia – scripted from corridos  Prince Don Juan  Ari Esteban ken Reyna Hipolita  Doce Paris

 Bernardo Carpio  Jaime Del Prado  Marcelino Mena Crisologo - helped popularize Zarzuela based on culture & traditions of the Iocos Norte  “Matilde de Sinapangan”- first Iloko novel printed on 1892 and written by Rufino Redondo 20TH CENTURY  more intense in literary activity EXAMPLES:   

Biag ti Maysa a Lakay, Wenno Nakaam-ames a Bales” (“Life of an old Man, or a Dreadful Revenge”)– Mariano Gaerlan (1909) “Uray Narigat no Paguimbagan” (“Impovement Despite Obstacles”) – Facundo Madriaga (1911) “Apay a Pinatayda ni Naw Simon?” (“Why did they Kill Don Simon?”) - Leon C. Pichay (1935) – first known detective novel in Iloko

 Iloko literature reached headland  Many Ilokanos started to write Literary pieces  Early Bannawag short stories in 1920’s – poor imitations of equally poor American fiction  Bannawag resumed publication in 1947  War  Guerilla activities  Japanese Artrocities  Murder  Pillage  Death  Leopoldo Y. Yabes (UP) – made a brief survey of Iloko Literature (1934) Findings: Iloko Literature began with Pedro Bukaneg  Thomas B. Alcid (UST) – made a study on Iloko prose fiction and discussed the Iloko short story and the Iloko nevel and their possibilities in Philippine Literature (1940) Findings: Short stories and novels were still young and needed more improvement  Mercedes F. Guerrero (MLQEI) - made a master thesis titled “Critical Analysis of the Outstanding Iloko Short Stories Published in the Bannawag from 1948 to 1952” Findings: Iloko Stories offer a mine of information about the ideals and customs of the Filipino people  “Dalang: An Introduction to Philippine Literature in Iloko” – Dr. Marcelino A. Foronda, Jr. (1967)  traits and characteristics of the Ilokanos REGION 2: Cagayan Valley The most important event in the history of Cagayan Valley took place in 1572 when Spanish Conquistador Don Juan de Salcedo traced the northern coast and landed at the mouth of the Pamplona River. Before his visit, early Cagayanos reveled in a civilization of their own. The Spanish occupation in Cagayan was recorded to have started in 1581 when Gobernador Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penaloza sent Juan Pablo Carreon to the

north to drive away a Japanese fleet under the command of Taifusa. Carreon succeeded in his mission and proceeded upriver to look for future pueblo sites and thus making a name for himself in the process. Cagayan Valley abounds with natural resources and exudes with development potentials that consist of rich agricultural areas, forestland and grasslands, inland and marine resources. The Ybanags, Itawits and Malawegs are mainly lowland farmers whose agricultural practices are similar to those of the Ilokanos. The Ybanags used to inhabit the area along the Cagayan coast but migrated further inland. They conducted trade with neighboring areas using distinctive seacrafts, and their commercial interests made their language the medium of commerce throughout the region before the influx of Ilokano migrants. They are also excellent blacksmiths and continue to make good bolos. The Ybanags are reputed to be the tallest of all the ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines. The Itawits are almost indistinguishable from the Ybanags. They build their houses with separate kitchens, connected by a narrow walkway that is used as washing area for hands and feet. The Itawits are noted for their pottery and basketweaving traditions. The culture of Cagayan is showcased in museums, historical buildings and archeological sites spread across the province. In Solana, the Neolithic archeological sites in Lanna have yielded stone tools used as early as 20,000 years back. The Cabarruan jar burial site, also in the town, features ancient Filipino traditions of taking care of their dead. The Cagayan Museum is a repository of the province´s cultural heritage. Iron Age pottery, Chinese Ming and Sung dynasty porcelain pieces as well as Church paraphernalia are on display together with Paleolithic fossils. The oldest bell in the country, cast in 1592, still peals from the tower of the church in Camalaniugan. The old brick works in Tuguegarao lie inside the city and speak of a time when bricks were extensively used to build the beautiful churches of the Cagayan. Ybanag Dialect: Potent Factor in Cagayan's Evangelization The Ybanag dialect was a very potent factor in the difficult and hazardous evangelization of the pagan and hostile inhabitants of the Cagayan Valley. The evangelization and pacification of the valley were difficult because the communities found by the colonizers were far apart, separated by primeval spans of wild forests with crocodile-infested rivers to cross or along which the missionaries and soldiers had to travel. There were also the great calamities--epidemic, locust infestations, floods and earthquakes--which caused great difficulties and sufferings to the people, and though to us today the calamities were natural phenomena, the pagan natives blamed their occurences on the coming of the white people. The early chronicles of Cagayan Valley , the natives, especially the Irrayas and Gaddangs, were fierce and warlike. This was so, apparently because living in separate communities, independent of each other, they cultivated fierce love for freedom. Thus, they resisted the abuses committed by the officials and their encomienderos, to the extent of rising a revolt--the history of the province tells of numerous and frequent insurrections in some of which the native rebels killed all the Spanish officials. It was always the missionaries who consoled the natives in time of the calamities and who pacified them when they revolted, for the guns of the Spanish soldiers were

futile against the fury which the natives displayed in defense of their rights and sense of freedom. WRITERS AND LITERARY WORKS:  Fernando Maramag  Edith L. Tiempo  Florentino Hornedo • Born on October 16, 1938 in Batanes. • He was born to Leon Hornedo and Bienvenida Hontomin. • Hailing from Savidug, Sabtang, Batanes, Hornedo obtained his BSE from the University of Santo Tomas in 1961. He received his Master’s in English and Philosophy from St. Louis University in 1966 and 1972 respectively and his Ph.D. in Literature from UST in 1977. IMPORTANT LITERARY PIECES: NU NUNUK DU TUKUN Nu Nunuk Du Tukun, minuhung kadisi na; Ichapungpung diya am yaken nilangan na. Kapatalamaran ava su avang idaud Ta miyan du inayebngan na, miyan du inayebngan na.

English Translation THE NUNUK ON THE HILL as u di ta

Nu itanis ko an nu an didien ko; Ta nu taw aya u suminbang diyaken; Na maliliyak a pahung as maheheyet a riyes. U minahey niya diyaken.

The Nunuk on the hill short forth the leaves and twigs; Then suddenly all its branches fell and I under it. On what is left I cannot watch the boats on the sea For I stand on the side from the sea. I weep in my grief? It was the sea that made me an orphan; The sad news came to me in the roar of the breakers, From the voice of the mighty sea currents.

WHAT CAUSES EARTHQUAKES (Y Paggafuanan na Lunig) Once upon a time, there was a very poor couple who had only one son. His name was Bernard Carpio. Since this family led only a hand to mouth existence, both husband and wife had to work for living. Whenever the mother went out to work, she would lock up the baby in the house. She would just give him something to play with. Upon coming home, she would find all the toys of the baby broken into small pieces. This happened everyday until the mother could no longer give the baby anything to play with. So the baby was lest in the house without any toy, when she came home to feed him, the mother was surprised that the walls and studs of their house were either destroy or broken. She remains silent but observant. As soon as these parts of the house had been repaired, she again left Bernardo Carpio alone. When she came home, she found the same in shambles. Next time, the mother deliberately gave her son an iron rod to play with. Again he broke rod into pieces. Now the parents were growing alarmed over the extraordinary strength of Bernardo. News of it also spread in the neighborhood. As a child grew up, he was recognized as the strongest boy in the village. He challenged to fight those who dared him and defeated them all. As man, hid prowess was also acclaimed in the whole country. This popularity made him very

proud. He was so proud that even he dared challenged God. At first, God gave him the upper hand. But on the third trial, when God asked him to stop the quarrel between the two big mountains, Bernardo failed. In a conceited gesture, he impulsively went between the warring mountains. He extended his arms to stop them but instead, he got between the two mountains and was buried alive with his head out. Today, it was believed that whenever Bernardo Carpio struggles to free himself from the grip of the mountains, the earth quakes. The old folks also say that when he finally frees himself, that will be the end of the world. REGION 3: Central Luzon In 1571, when the Spanish took hold of Central Luzon, they renamed the area to La Pampanga. Central Luzon is mostly composed of 'Tagalog' speaking natives. During this period of time, many different literary works arose. Pampanga Literature  A showcase of unique and diverse words of art shaped by rich and colorful traditions.  Highlights of the local traditions  Giant Lantern Festival – San Fernando Pampanga  Lubenas Angeles City  Lenten Ritual   

Self flagellation Putting up puni Singing of pasyon  Tumaila (Pampango Lullabies)  Familiar to all Grandmothers in Pampanga  Atin Cu Pung Singsing  Basulto  march (flute and drums)  Courage, sense of pride, and the moral values of the people of Pampanga are seen in the often categorized as seditious plays of Aurelio Tolentino.      

Aurelio Tolentino Plays in Pampango are: Sinukuan Aslag Tala Ing Sundang ning Mengubie Bayung Cristo Filipinas at Espaňa Lua ning Balen

 Holy Angel University - center of Kapampangan studies and with the direction of Mr. Robby Tantingco an “Outstanding Kapampangan” awardee  Riddles

 aeta riddles  Kapampangan riddles

EXAMPLE: Are you that Someone by: Lori Ungacta Are you that someone who will love me so deep, Are you that someone who won't make me weep...... Are you that someone who will hold my hand, Are you that someone who would be my man...... Are you that someone who would hold me in your arms, Are you that someone who would protect me from harm..... Are you that someone who will make me smile, Are you that someone who would go the extra mile......

Are you that someone who will grow old with me, Are you that someone who sees my true beauty...... Are you that someone who will make my life complete, Are you that someone who no other can compete...... Are you that someone who will share good times and bad, Are you that someone who with me is always glad...... Are you that someone who I will love for life, Are you that someone willing to have me as your wife.....

FAMOUS WRITERS OF THE REGION:  Tomas Pinpin - he first Filipino printer and is sometimes referred as the "Prince of the Filipino Printers." Pinpin is remembered for being the first native Filipino to publish and print a book, "Librong Pagaaralan nang mga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla" in 1610, entirely written by himself in the old Tagalog orthography.  Francisco Balagtas - a prominent Filipino poet, and is widely considered one of the greatest Filipino literary laureates for his impact on Filipino literature. The famous epic, Florante at Laura, is regarded as his defining work.  Nicanor Abelardo - a Filipino composer known for his Kundiman songs, especially before the Second World War.  Damiana L. Eugenio - a Filipino female author and professor who was known as the Mother of Philippine Folklore, a title she received in 1986. Apart from teaching at the University of the Philippines, she has several publications in the field of Philippine folklore, among them a series of seven books which she compiled and edited.  Rogelio R. SIkat - a prolific Filipino novelist, playwright and short story writer. Sikat is best known for his classic masterpieces particularly Impeng Negro, a short story based on a half-black, half-Filipino boy and Moses, Moses, a play in one act that depicts the social injustices and the abuse of the country’s oppressive politicians. Apart from being one of the Philippines’ finest modern literary figures, Sikat was also a distinguished educator. He was a former university professor and former college dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Arts and Letters.  Gregorio C. Brillantes - a Palanca Award Hall of Famer and a multi-awarded fiction writer,is one of the Philippines' most popular writers in English. Known for his sophisticated and elegant style, he has been compared to James Joyce. [citation needed] He often writes about individuals under thirty, adolescent or post adolescent ones who struggle with alienation from family, society and from themselves. His earlier collection of short stories earned him the title of the "Catholic Writer". REGION 4-A: CALABARZON (Southern Tagalog Mainland) CALABARZON is one of the regions of the Philippines. It is also designated as Region IV-A and its regional capital is Calamba City in Laguna. The region is composed of five provinces, namely: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. The region's name is an acronym of the names of these provinces. Because of its proximity to the national capital, CALABARZON has seen steady industrial growth and urbanization in recent years. But the local culture is still very much alive. Historical landmarks, monuments, old churches, and shrines dot the region’s landscape. The area is rich in history. It’s where the Philippines’ independence from Spain was first declared in 1898. It’s the birthplace of national heroes such as Jose Rizal (from Calamba, Laguna), Emilio Aguinaldo (from Kawit, Cavite), Apolinario Mabini (from Tanauan, Batangas) and Miguel Malvar (from Sto. Tomas, Batangas). CALABARZON is also rich in cultural traditions. Laguna is known for embroidery, wood carving, and papier-mâché (locally known as taka). Quezon has harvest festivals and flamboyantly decorated houses. Rizal has artisan villages and art galleries. It’s a colorful region.

FAMOUS WRITERS OF THE REGION: Dr. Jose P. Rizal ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Rizal was a prolific writer and was anti-violence. He rather fight using his pen than his might.  Rizal's two books "Noli Me Tangere" (Touch Me Not) which he wrote while he was in Berlin, Germany in 1887 and "El Filibusterismo" (The Rebel) in Ghent, Belgiun in 1891 exposed the cruelties of the Spanish friars in the Philippines, the defects of the Spanish administration and the vices of the clergy, these books told about the oppression of the Spanish colonial rule. These two books made Rizal as a marked man to the Spanish friars. EXAMPLES OF HIS WORK:  Sa aking mga kababata  Noli Me Tangere ( Huwag mo akong salingin)  El Filibusterismo -1891  Huling Paalam -1896  Sobre la indolencia de los filipinos ( Hinggil sa katamanran ng mga Flipino.)  Ala Juventud Filipina ( Sa kabataan Pilipino)  Filipinas Dendro de cien anos ( Ang Pilipinas sa loob ng Isangdaang taon). Teo S. Baylen  Tinig ng Teenager  Takipsilim at lumang lambat Rev. Fr. Arnel S. Vitor  Ang tutong Buenaventura S. Medina Jr.  kapangyarihan at punong-kahoy Alejandro S. Abadilla  Ako ang daigdig at sanaysay sa Tula Claro M. Recto  Noong bata pa ako Ligaya Tiamson Rubin  Taga- Angono , Rizal  Kasalukuyang nagtuturo sa U.P  Tagapangulo ng Departamento ng Filipino at Literatura. EXAMPLE Our Mother Tongue (Jose P. Rizal) IF truly a people dearly love The tongue to them by Heaven sent, They’ll surely yearn for liberty

Like a bird above in the firmament. BECAUSE by its language one can judge A town, a barrio, and kingdom; And like any other created thing Every human being loves his freedom. ONE who doesn’t love his mother tongue; Is worse than putrid fish and a beast; And like a truly precious thing It therefore deserves to be cherished. THE Tagalog language akin to Latin, To English, Spanish, angelical tongue; For God who knows how to look after us This language He bestowed us upon. AS others, our language is the same With alphabet and letters of its own, It was lost because a storm did destroy On the lake the bangka in years bygone REGION 4-B: MIMAROPA (Southern Tagalog Islands) The name of this region is an acronym that combines the names of its provinces: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. With its National Parks, World Heritage Sites, protected marine areas and even wild safari parks, the MIMAROPA region is definitely something different. You won’t find big cities, bustling highways, or traffic jams here. You will find rugged roads, palm-fringed beaches, and peace and serenity. There’s an enchantment to this region, especially underwater. Above land you’ll find simple towns, delicious seafood, and the quiet, laid-back island life that the people of MIMAROPA have had for centuries. EXAMPLE: Suan, The Good Guesser There was once an old woman who had an only son named Suan. Suan was a clever, sharp-witted boy. His mother sent him to school. Instead of going to school, however, Suan climbed up the tree that stood by the roadside. As soon as his mother had passed by from the market, Suan hurried home ahead of her. When she reached home, he cried, “Mother, I know what you bought in the market to-day.” He then told her, article by article. This same thing happened so repeatedly, that his mother began to believe in his skill as a diviner. One day the ring of the datu’s daughter disappeared. All the people in the locality searched for it, but in vain. The datu called for volunteers to find the lost ring, and he offered his daughter’s hand as a prize to the one who should succeed. Suan’s mother heard of the proclamation. So she went to the palace and presented Suan to the datu. “Well, Suan, tomorrow tell me where the ring is,” said the datu. “Yes, my lord, I will tell you, if you will give your soldiers over to me for tonight,” Suan replied. “You shall have everything you need,” said the datu.

That evening Suan ordered the soldiers to stand around him in a semicircle. When all were ready, Suan pointed at each one of them, and said, “The ring is here, and nowhere else.” It so happened that Suan fixed his eyes on the guilty soldier, who trembled and became pale. “I know who has it,” said Suan. Then he ordered them to retire. Late in the night this soldier came to Suan, and said, “I will get the ring you are in search of, and will give it to you if you will promise me my safety.” “Give it to me, and you shall be safe,” said Suan. Very early the next morning Suan came to the palace with a turkey in his arms. “Where is the ring?” the datu demanded. “Why, sir, it is in this turkey’s intestines,” Suan replied. The turkey was then killed, and the ring was found inside it. “You have done very well, Suan. Now you shall have my daughter’s hand,” said the datu. So Suan became the princess’s husband. One day the datu proposed a bet with anyone who wished to prove Suan’s skill. Accordingly another datu came. He offered to bet seven cascos of treasure that Suan could not tell the number of seeds that were in his orange. Suan did not know what to do. At midnight he went secretly to the cascos. Here he heard their conversation, and from it he learned the number of seeds in the orange. In the morning Suan said boastfully, “I tell you, your orange has nine seeds.” Thus Suan won the whole treasure. Hoping to recover his loss, the datu came again. This time he had with him fourteen cascos full of gold. He asked Suan to tell him what was inside his golden ball. Suan did not know what to say. So in the dead of night he went out to the cascos, but he could learn nothing there. The next morning Suan was summoned into the presence of the two datus. He had no idea whatever as to what was in the ball; so he said scornfully, “Nonsense!” “That is right, that is right!” shouted a man. “The ball contains nine cents.” Consequently Suan won the fourteen cascos full of gold. From now on, nobody doubted Suan’s merit.