HANDOUT IN ENGLISH 3 921st Century Lit.

from the Philippines and the World)

HILIGAYNON WRITTERS
“Leoncio P. Deriada”
Leoncio P. Deriada was born in Iloilo but spent most of his life in Davao. He went to school at the Davao City
High School and graduated in 1955. He earned his BA English degree at the Ateneo de Davao University where
he graduated cum laude in 1959. He later received his MA in English from Xavier University in 1970 and went
on to receive his PhD in English and Literature with a specialization in creative writing from Silliman
University in 1981 where he later on served as professor and chairperson of the English Department.

He is a multi-lingual writer having produced works in English, Filipino, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Cebuano.
His thirteen Palanca awards include works in English, Filipino and Hiligaynon. Of these thirteen, five are first-
prize winners, and these include “The Day of the Locusts” (Short Story, 1975), “Mutya ng Saging” (Dulaang
May Isang Yugto, 1987), “The Man Who Hated Birds” (Short Story for Children, 1993), “Medea of Siquijor”
(One-Act Play, 1999), and “Maragtas: How Kapinangan Tricked Sumakwel Twice” (Full-Length Play, 2001).
He became a Palanca Hall of Famer on September 1, 2001. Aside from his Palanca awards, he has garnered
other prestigious awards such as the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, Asiaweek, Gawad CCP, Graphic,
Focus, Yuhum (Iloilo), and Blue Knight Award from Ateneo de Davao for Outstanding Achievement in
Literature. In 2002, he was one of Metrobank’s Outstanding Teachers.

He is currently a professor at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas – Iloilo. Dr. Deriada heads the
Sentro ng Wikang Filipino at the U.P. Visayas. He is also an associate of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing.

“Paktakun”
Paktakun is a literary form shared by the Western visayan people which is an Old kinaray-a (dialect). It is an
example of a Visayan riddle. Let me give you some of these tongue-twisting stuffs! The following paktakun has
anonymous writers or authors. Enjoy!

1. “Pirmi lang gapasirong pay basa man dyapon.”

English: :”Always sheltered but still wet.”
Answer:dila, tongue

2. “Ini sa may liog pay wala sing ulo,may lawas pay wala sing busong.”
English: “It has neck but no head,it has body but no belly.”
Answer: botelya, bottle

3. “Ang utot sang amo indi madakptan sang kamot.”

English: “The monkey’s fart cannot be grabbed by the hand.”
Answer: aso, smoke

4. “Kung hikapon ara pay kung balikdon nadula.”

English: “When touched its there, but when you look, it vanished.”
Answer: talinga, ears
HANDOUT IN ENGLISH 3 921st Century Lit. from the Philippines and the World)
5. “Kapti ikog ko,malangoy ako.”
English: “Grab my tail,I will swim.”
Answer: kutsara, spoon

“Dandansoy”
http://http://youtu.be/K_c7bflAahQ
Dandansoy is a popular Visayan folk song. It is a farewell song; the title is the name of the boy to whom the
singer is saying goodbye. Here’s the Hiligaynon lyrics of the song:

Dandansoy, bayaan ta icao

Pauli aco sa Payao
Ugaling con icao hidlauon
Ang Payaw imo lang lantauon.

Dandansoy, con imo apason

Bisan tubig di magbalon
Ugaling con icao uhauon
Sa dalan magbobonbobon.
Convento, diin ang cura?
Municipio, diin justicia?
Yari si dansoy maqueja.
Maqueja sa paghigugma
Ang panyo mo cag panyo co
Dala diri cay tambijon co
Ugaling con magcasilo
Bana ta icao,asawa mo aco.

Hulubaton by Rev. Elias C. Arandela

Here are some excerpts from Rev. Elias C. Arandela’s hulubaton (First paragraphs only):

“GUGMA”
Sa mag-asawa subong may pag-isa
Kag may paghiusa sa Dios
Kon kaisa pero in di gid mahamutig
May tion gid nga sila naga baisay
Nagasuay nga daw naga-away.
Pero kun may pagpatugsiling sa pagpukaw
Sa gugma kag maayo nga buhat
Ang gugma nga baton sang tanan.

“PAGTOO”
Pagtoo nga gikan sa buhi nga Dios
Gambahanan kag walay katapusan
Ang iya polong naga siling
Ako amo ang pagkabanhaw kag pagkabuhi
Ang nagatuo sa akon,
HANDOUT IN ENGLISH 3 921st Century Lit. from the Philippines and the World)
Bisan pa nga mapatay siya Magakabuhi

Dr. Felipe Landa Jocano

Born in Cabatuan Iloilo City,February 5, 1930, the son of a farmer Eusibio Jocano and Anastacia
Landa.”Pepe” as his family calls him is the 9th of eleven children.In his childhood he attended local public
school.He finished his secondary education at Arellano High School,Manila.He then returned to Iloilo to pursue
his college studies at Central Phillipine University,Iloilo City as a work student,Dr.Jocano has engaged in field
researches on various Philippine linguistic groups.Dr. Jocano is married to Adria Payad and they have 2
children,Felipe Jr. and Elizabeth.

Dr.Jocano’s experience as a writer,started in 1947,when he became a staff member of Manila

Chronicle.He was a columnist of Veritas (A Catholic weekly paper)in 1955-58;a contributing editor of
Philippine Geographical Journal (Manila),1969;editorial representative(advisory council) Sociological Abstract
(New York),1968 and correspondant,International Social Science Journal(Paris,UNESCO),1971.He has
published numerous articles in professional journals and among his books are:The Sulod Society, EPIC OF
PANAY HINILAWOD:ADVENTURES OF HUMADAPNON (TARANGBAN I)& THE EPIC OF LABAW
DONGGON,Filipino Cultural Heritage(ed.),Outline Philippine Mythology,Growing Up in the Phil. Barrio and
Our Living Past.

One of his contribution to the Hiligaynon Literature is his book entitled THE EPIC OF PANAY
HINILAWOD:ADVENTURES OF HUMADAPNON (TARANGBAN I)& THE EPIC OF LABAW
DONGGON.