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AMBAHAN: THE INDIGENOUS POETRY

OF HANUNOO-MANGYANS OF MINDORO, PHILIPPINES
by Restituto Reyes Pitogo
Mangyan Heritage Center
July 11, 2012

The AMBAHAN is the chanted poetry of the Hanunoo-Mangyan, an ethno-linguistic tribe of the
Mangyans, referring to the Indigenous peoples (IPs) who live in the Mindoro Island, Philippines.
Scripted on bamboo slats (or on bamboo containers, posts, wooden slats, or tree trunks) in the
Surat-Mangyan, the Mangyans have preserved the ambahan for hundreds of years. Through
the effort of Antoon Postma, who preserved over 20,000 ambahans in the last 50 years, he
published his eye-opening book on the ambahan called Treasure of a Minority.

The AMBAHAN is defined as

- a set of poetic expressions
- with a measured rhyme of seven-syllable lines
- having rhyming end syllables
- vocalized as a chant without a determined melody or too much melodic variation
- without the accompaniment of musical instruments
- recited for the purpose of verbalizing in a metaphorical way
- certain human situations or characteristics
- with the possible challenge of matching answer in dialogue fashion
- in the presence of an interested audience of various size.1

1
Antoon Postma, Ambahan Mangyan, copyright 1989, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro
 Ambahan: Mangyan Bamboo Verses

Using his definition, we can describe the AMBAHAN as:

 A poem It is a poetic expression of the Hanunuo-Mangyans consisting from 2 to over

100 lines. Each line has seven syllables, ending in a rhyme (e.g. –an, -a, -i,–u).

Using archaic language (not used in daily conversation), the ambahan often
uses vivid symbols taken from their experiential knowledge of plants, animals,
nature and man. But the Mangyans will not tell you the author of his poem. To
them, the expression is more important than authorship.

 A song The ambahan is chanted melodically with very little tonal variations. It has no
defined rhythmic pattern, no clear voice pitch, time signature or melodic meter.
It is not accompanied by any musical instrument, like the urukay which is
accompanied by the Mangyan guitar.

Because of perfect 7-syllables & consistent rhyme, the ambahan will create
“sensitiveness by binding words together, heightening the appeal to ear.” You
will observe people elated upon hearing a sung ambahan.

 Invites The ambahan evokes a poetic dialogue on a theme or situation\. Once recited,
dialogue it invites another Mangyan to respond thru ambahan. A dialogue starts and
who knows how it will end.

The use of symbols pervades the ambahan – filling it with so many metaphors.
An ambahan will cite a situation and express a meaning in an indirect way
through symbols. At times the character of an object, plant or animal
personifies the response or view of the self in relation to a situation of life like
hunger, happiness, love, death, problems, difficulties, etc.

 Socially The ambahan is best sung in a social gathering regardless of size, or even
done between two people in an emotional dialogue. The ambahan chanting gives
meaning & enjoyment during social events, or tribal occasions such as
ponsiyon, panludan, maram-an, etc. For lovers, the ambahan is best sung in
serenades between a young man and a young lady in courtship.

That’s why the ambahan is best experienced when there are: Chanters and
Hearers. Chanters exchange wits, wisdom, insights, etc. in the dialogue of
ambahans. Hearers enjoy the event often laughing, shouting, etc., expressing
their appreciation, lessons and pleasant experience of the ambahan.

 Teaches As a discourse in metaphors, the ambahan conveys lessons, insights, wisdom,

wisdom and beliefs. It is also used to give advice, to guide, and so forth. Hearing the
ambahan and its meaning, the Mangyans draw insights from the ambahan – at
times almost a proverb advising the young for better living.

Resti R. Pitogo ©2012. For comments email to: restirp@gmail.com

 Ambahan: Mangyan Bamboo Verses

 Expresses The ambahan is a basic expression of the faith and values of the Mangyan. It
the faith expresses their belief a life after death, in the spirits and the power of the good
and over evil, on the power of life over death, and so forth.
values
The ambahan portrays the values of the Mangyan. A deeper look into its
symbolic meaning, the intent of the message and public understanding,
conveys his value for relationship, his family, his trust in nature, his respect for
others, and so forth.

Understanding the Ambahan

The ambahan metaphor, like any symbol, can be interpreted in many ways. To understand it,
you don’t need to be an expert. It has the power to disclose more than what it says in the
context when the ambahan was composed and sung. You don’t need to know the exact context
when the ambahan was sung. What you need to do is to use your imagination and to believe in
the ambahan’s power to reveal something about life. There may be some things that you don’t
know about the Mangyan culture, their language, views and belief. You may not even have
knowledge of the poet’s situation, but the Mangyans are not different from us. Their ambahan
reflects most the experience we have about our self, our friends, our family, our community, and
our life in general.

Here are some tips to help you relate to the Ambahan poems and get inspiration from them.

 Picture Picture yourself as if you were the Ambahan poet. The English and Filipino
translation provides you a way to get the picture that the ambahan creates. Try
making the picture clear in your mind. Believe me, the picture in the ambahan
has a way to make you understand something beautiful and meaningful in the
ambahan poem.

 Metaphor Metaphors are words used to symbolize inner, rich reality. The purpose of
metaphor is to reveal something, often a deep experience. You will see a lot of
play of metaphors in the ambahan. All of these metaphors may be grouped in
three classes: (1) The metaphors of beauty, goodness, harmony & happiness,
(2) the metaphors of their opposite; and (3) the metaphors of seeking to live
one’s ideals and faith.

 Character Like a story, the ambahan can talk about a bird, a bee, a bamboo plant, a spirit,
etc. representing the persons of the ambahan. Observe what the character does
and says. You will find meaning in the meaningful portrayal of the character.

Resti R. Pitogo ©2012. For comments email to: restirp@gmail.com

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SELECTED AMBAHAN POEMS2

Childhood Memory

Ambahan 27 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Kan suyong mag-iginan
2. Kan bansay mag-iday-an
3. Salag ud way suligan
4. Linsing nawa di way man
5. Tabog babaw aghuman
6. Pagyabaton bansayan
7. Una diman liyuhan
8. Salag unman katim-an
9. Katpong bay inda ginan
10. Salagan masulig wan
11. Salag nandamgo yi man
12. Kan bansay liyo duyan
13. Kan suyong pangagwadan
14. Hagan una lagwinan
15. Padpad una mayanyan
16. No sigin yi sag manman
17. Halaw unman mi-aynan
Mother nursing me so sweet Kinakalong ni Nanay
Father coddling me so dear Kinakandong ni Tatay
I was too small to feel Sadya pang kamusmusan
I was too young to deal Tunay akong paslit lang
Bringing me to his green farm Hangang sa kaingin man
So safe in my Father’s arm ‘Sinasama ni Tatay
Hardly speaking I couldn’t dare Kahit pa utal-utal
I was a baby so little Sanggol na walang muwang
Time have passed since childhood Ngunit nang magka-minsan
I have grown to be a man Lumaki’t magkagulang
A son who now understands Akin namang nalaman
My Father’s assuring word Kay Tatay, kawikaan
My Mother’s loving counsel Kay Nanay, kasabihan
To the distant far I travel Malayo mang lakaran
Reaching the edge of my journey Saan man ang abutan
Should I meet a stormy land Kung kasam-an ang datnan
No home will I have, but them! Sila lang ang uwian!

2
Note the ambahan number below refers to the Ambahan in Antoon Postma’s collection of ambahan, see: Mga Ambahan Mangyan: Mangyan Treasures, Antoon
Postma ©1989.
 Ambahan: Mangyan Bamboo Verses

Bearing

Ambahan 35 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Inda ay nga uy ginan Isn’t it truly a fact? Ganyan talaga naman
2. Labag no nawa naw-an A house so little and meek Dampa kung kasikipan
3. U di kang manranukan Hardly has a space to sleep Wala halos mahigan
4. Ma sa lion lion wan Hope you stay, bear with this bare! Sana ay pagtiisan!

Roots

Ambahan 209 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Kawayan sa may inwag This bamboo in vines choking Kawayan sa sukalan
2. Labong una naragdag Though their leaves are falling Dahon man ay lagasan
3. Puon danga lungalag Worry not, O trunk, swaying Puno, ‘wag pangambahan
4. Panggamot di maayad Strong roots firmly gripping Ugat mo ay kay tatag
5. Sa daga mabanayad In the strong ground they’re holding! Sa lupaing banayad!

Orphaned

Ambahan 37 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Manok bukaw sa guba Lonely owl of herded trees Kuwago sa sukalan
2. Ud di may ina ama In abandoned nest he lives Ulilang isinilang
3. Guba wadi nagdaka Creeping plants have nursed him so Nagpalaki’y sukalan
4. Wakat wadi nag-uya Thorny vines have made him grow Nag-aruga’y bagingan
5. Magtangda labog dawa Watching, looking for his prey Pagkain abang-abang
6. Mata kaluwa-luwa His teary eyes, big round grey Luwang mata’y bilugan
7. Kay ulo bilang luka Like a bamboo betel tray Ulo’y parang kawayan!

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 Ambahan: Mangyan Bamboo Verses

Best Friend

Ambahan 205 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Si aypod bay upadan You, my best friend, oh too far Lugod kong kaibigan
2. No kang tinaginduman My thoughts of you make me sad Kung kita’y pag-isipan
3. May ulang madi kagnan River digs this dungeon gap May ilog sa pagitan
4. May takip madi kaywan Forest breaks our world apart May gubat sa harapan
5. No kang tinaginduman Relishing the time we had Ngunit kung pagbulayan
6. Ga siyon di sa adngan As if, you’re here on my sight Parang nasa tabihan
7. Ga pagtangdayon diman Sitting, so close, by my side! Kapiling sa kandungan

Our Slumber

Ambahan 202 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Ako nangos babayan In my hammock, rest my love Ako nama’y iduyan
2. Saludan bansanayan My wife, my sweet, so tender Binibining marilag
3. Hog banhiwan man di wan Quiet we lay, side by side Mahimbing sa kandungan
4. Sis gubay-gubay lingban In this yard, a tranquil den Sa gilid, sa dingdingan
5. Hog linong was baaynan Our home, O calming delight! Tahimik na tahanan

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 Ambahan: Mangyan Bamboo Verses

Rain Shield

Ambahan 171 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Kang pandong anahawan Anahaw, my rain shield once Pandong kong anahawan
2. Natayak sa sakbawan Left alone along the way Naiwan sa Sakbawan
3. Binay-an dap binay-an I did not bother to take Akin munang binay’an
4. Nakadnog dagmok uran Hearing the rain, swift I ran Pag dinig ko ng ulan
5. Sinaguma di maan Taking my anahaw leaf Kinuha ko’t binal’kan
6. Tida kang pandong daan I’m glad to find it still! Pandong ko sa may daan!

Unfolding Beauty

Ambahan 6 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Ako kaybi no naw-an In days when I was a child Noong ako’y muraan
2. Una kaybi dilihan Still a tot, tiny & mild Sanggol na sanggol pa lang
3. Pagbabawon sa pupwan Coddled with a lullaby Karga pa sa kandungan
4. Pag-uyayihon sud-an Secured in my hammock lie Inuugoy sa duyan
5. Duyan yi bag-o namhan Of newly-made vines so light Sa duyang uyayihan
6. Suyong nog paranukan Mom, pampering me so nice Hinehele ni Nanay
7. Sigin uyayi say-an Never leaving me, not a sight Hindi n’ya iniiwan
8. Babaw di alimahan On her chest, I sleep so tight Meme n’ya sa kandungan
9. Padig balon linyawan O beauty, what could there be O kay gandang nagdaan!
10. Ak way mamaslakayan Hoping I dwell day & night Muli sanang mahimlay
11. Sa uyayi rinikman Lying in my hammock bright Sa banayad kong duyan
12. Agod mahimanmanan So, it will live in my sight Nang tunay pong mamasdan
13. Kang maglinyawan banban Budding child in golden light Pagyabong ko’t kariktan
14. Tawo taga baybayan You, people from shoreline breeze Kayong taga-baybayan
15. Tawo tupo dangyahan People from mountains and hills Maging taga-burulan
16. Siyon bay madi ginan Would you come to travel near Kung maaring pasyalan

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 Ambahan: Mangyan Bamboo Verses

17. Umuman sayan aban Visit me at nearby ridge Lapitan at pagmasdan

18. Tinagsik ti baakan Watch me here a growing tree Punong namumukadkad
19. Paghimanglawon yi man Before you a blooming bright! Alaala kaylanman!

Old Butterfly

Ambahan 243 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Magkun ti alibangbang An old butterfly saying: Sambit ng paru-paro
2. Kang maglayaw layawan All my life I’ve been flying Lipad-lipad nga ako
3. Karamay no kumabsan Strengths, these wings are giving Kung pakpak ko’y sumuko
4. Mitalmay siyon yi man My flight will stop here, dying! Hanggang doon na lang po!

Dream House

Ambahan 261 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Kanmi bay paglabagan Our house, so sweet gentle home Iring aming tahanan
2. Kawo no ud katim-an More than you have ever known Hindi mo nalalaman
3. Padi nga sitay adngan Not here, where eyes have then shown Di sa lupang ‘babaan
4. Luwas way lugayawan Beyond heaven’s horizon Doon sa kalawakan
5. May takip waya amyan Further than the wind has blown Sa ulap ay lampasan
6. Alintapukan uran Away from whistling storm! Sa likod ng unusan!

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 Ambahan: Mangyan Bamboo Verses

My Sweet Home

Ambahan 103 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Urog kawo pag-uman How beautiful where you lay Dampa mo’y kainaman
2. Urog kanmo paglingban How sturdy the house you stay Bahay n’yo pong gandahan
3. May patipit way banban Banban leaves, set walling frame May dingding na banban
4. May lagban way kawayan Bamboo beams, strong your brace Patukurang kawayan
5. Kami bay sa ugsadan We, standing, along our way Kaming nasa bakuran
6. Kami bay sa sindungan Who came from the mountain trail Kaming taga-burulan
7. No ud yi manlikidan If you ask our purpose here Di dapat paghanapan
8. No ud di mamayanyan Don’t doubt, holding a scare Di dapat panghinaan
9. Ud may halawon malngan No ill thoughts we keep astray Wala pong karupukan
10. Ud may ma-adalinan Fear not, give up not, we pray Di dapat manghinayang
11. Hanggan tig idalinan For tomorrow, we shall gaze Dahil masisilayan
12. Bunulan maburi wan Prime buri leaves light our way! Yaong buling gandahan!

Life Alone

Ambahan 110 English Translation Filipino Translation

1. Halaw nilyo ma diman How lonesome this life I breathe Anong lumbay ng buhay
2. Ud may suyong hinmuywan No mommy, loving me dear Walang inang kandungan
3. Ud may bansay inmamban No daddy, guiding me clear Ni ama sa tabihan
4. Hanggan lang kang ka-amban My buddy throughout my way Iring kapiling lamang
5. Kang balibag subungan This old bow my shoulder bear Ay bawig kong bagtingan
6. Kang sugkod namuryungan My cane this wooden spear Ay tungkod kong panibat
7. No bilang darag kaywan Dried twig I’m a fallen vain Dahon akong lantahan
8. Maslayawan di kunman Shrinking in this murky pain! Anaki’y sinalimpad!

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