Unit 9: Philippine Literature from the Regions

Unit Objectives In this unit, you should be able to:

● familiarize yourself with the different literary forms from different regions;
● identify some of the major literary works from different regions; and
● evaluate the impact of literature from the Philippine regions in the present
context.
Lesson 1: Overview of Philippine Literature from the Regions
The Philippines is home to different ethnic groups from Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao. Each group has its own culture, beliefs, and practices, which are embodied in
the kinds of literature the writers in each region produce. The following are some literary
genres common in the regions:
a.  Etiological legends explain how things came to be or why things are as they are.
However, the source of these legends cannot be verified because they are handed from
one generation to another through word of mouth. Good examples of these are “The
Origin of the Hundred Islands” and “Ang Alamat ng Batangas.”
● “The Origin of the Hundred Islands” is about the brave Rajah Masubeg who ruled
over the people of Alaminos. His kingdom was guarded by several hundred warriors led
by his son. They enjoyed peace and prosperity until they got invaded by forces across the
sea. One hundred brave soldiers were summoned to fight the enemy. This is where the
story started.
● “Ang Alamat ng Batangas” tells the origin of the province. It was said that the province
of Batangas was very beautiful, making it attractive to Spaniards. Every time they needed to
leave the place, mishaps kept on occurring. They would pray and sing praises until the sea
calmed down. One day, even though they prayed and sang praises, the waves would not
stop. The strong wind wrecked their ships, and many of them died. Until one day, near the
province of Batangas, the people saw a batangan or a log carrying a Sto. Niño. The people
retrieved the log or batangan from the sea. From then on, they called the province Batangas,
from the word batangan.
b.  Epics narrate the adventures of tribal heroes who embody the ideals and values of the
tribe. Some of the many epics in Luzon are Biag ni Lam-ang and Ibalon.
● Biag ni Lam-ang (The Life of Lam-ang) is an epic poem from the Ilocos region. It is
about the adventures and bravery of Lam-ang, who could speak from a very young age. His
adventures started when he searched for his father who got killed by the Igorot of the
Cordillera Mountains.
● Ibalon is an epic that originated in Bicol. It is a tale that talks about three heroes, namely
Baltog, Handiong, and Bantong. c.  Folktales/Folklore are narrative prose. These mirror the
early forms of our culture, and they are traditional stories passed on from generation to
generation by word of mouth. They often include fables, riddles, proverbs, folk songs, and
sometimes superstitious beliefs. “Juan Tamad” is one of the most popular folktales in the
country.
c.  Folktales/Folklore are narrative prose. These mirror the early forms of our culture, and
they are traditional stories passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. They
often include fables, riddles, proverbs, folk songs, and sometimes superstitious beliefs. “Juan
Tamad” is one of the most popular folktales in the country. ● “Juan Tamad” is a story
about a man named Juan who was extremely lazy. In one of the story’s versions, Juan was
instructed by his mother to buy crabs from the market. On his way home, he heard his friends
playing near the riverbank. Juan wanted to join them. So he released the crabs on the shore as
he believed that the crabs can reach their house. Noon came and Juan hurried home. His
mother was so angry and asked where the crabs were. Juan was so scared of his mother that
after saying what he did to the crabs, he immediately hid in their backyard.
d.  Myths are stories that involve gods and goddesses with divine powers. These
explain a belief, custom, or strange natural phenomenon. An example of this is “Why the
Sky Is High.”

● “Why the Sky Is High” is about the brothers Ingat and Daskol. Ingat was more
favored by his parents than Daskol. Ingat, as his name implies, was careful, whereas
Daskol performed his duties clumsily. One day, he was angrily pounding a huge amount
of palay. Eager to finish his work quickly, Daskol would raise the pestle so high that it hit
the sky. His anger added to his strength so that every time he would raise the pestle, the
sky would rise higher. When he was done, he looked up and noticed how far the sky
already was.
Lesson 2: Literature from Luzon
Luzon is the largest island group in the Philippines. It is divided into eight regions:
Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR),
National Capital Region (NCR), Bicol Region, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA (Mindoro,
Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), and CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas,
Rizal, and Quezon).
The major regional languages in Luzon are Bikolano, Ilokano, Kapampangan,
Pangasinense, and Tagalog. Some ethnic groups that can be found in Luzon are Aetas,
Igorots, Ibalois, Mangyans, Apayaos, Kalingas, and Itnegs.
 Below are some of the major literary works from Luzon:
a.  Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilocos Region) – This is an epic about Lam-ang, a man with
extraordinary strength, who sets out to find his missing father Don Juan.
b.  ”The Legend of Magat River” (Cagayan Valley, first version) – This is a legend
about Magat, a handsome and strong-willed youth, who saved a lovely maiden in a stream
from the clutches of a python.
c.  Aliguyon (CAR) – An epic from the region of CAR, Aliguyon is about a series of
mortal combats between Aliguyon and Pumbakhayon to settle a tribal feud.
d. “Footnote to Youth” (NCR) – This is a short story about Dodong, who wanted to
marry Teang. Both were young, so when Dodong asked his father, he was met with
silence. The two ended up getting married, but later on, they both start to think about and
even regret doing so.
e.  Ibalon or Ibalong (Bicol Region) – This is an epic about three heroes—Baltog,
Handiong, and Bantong—who all defeated their adversaries.
f.  “Atin Cu Pung Singsing” (Central Luzon) – This is a children’s folk song about
a child who lost the ring given to her by her mother.
g.  Tagbanua Myth (MIMAROPA) – This is a myth about the first man, named
Adan, who was like a stone, for he could not speak.
h. “The Legend of Maria Makiling” (CALABARZON) – This is a story about a
mountain in Laguna called Makiling that was guarded by a fairy named Maria. The
townsfolk fondly called her Mariang Makiling.
 
Lesson 3: Literature from Visayas
Visayas is the smallest island group in the Philippines. It is divided into three regions:
Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas. The major regional languages in
Visayas are Cebuano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Kinaray-a, and Waray. The seven main islands
in Visayas are Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Samar, Negros, Leyte, and Masbate.
Below are just some of the literary forms produced in Visayas:
a. Poems are called binalaybay.
b. Stories are called asoy or sugilanon.
c. Riddles are called paktakon.
d. Proverbs are translated to hurubaton. These are usually in two lines and rhymed.
e. Lullabies are called ili-ili.
f.  Ambahan is long song alternately sung by a soloist and a chorus.
g.  Siday is a long poetic battle between two paid poets representing the two families in the
pursuit of marriage.
h.  Balitaw is a love song sung by a man and a woman in a debating manner.
 Some of the major literary works from Western Visayas:
a.  Hinilawod is the oldest and perhaps most well-known epic of Panay. It narrates the
story of the goddess of the eastern sky named Alunsina who reached the age of
maidenhood. Every god from different places tried to win her heart. Soon, the goddess
decided to marry a mortal from Halawod, Datu Paubari.
b.  The Fall of Polobulac is a tale from Panay about the seven deadly sins.

Some of the major literary works from Eastern Visayas:

a. “ Bowaon and Totoon” – This is a Waray folktale with the English translation
“Falsehood and Truth.” It is about two friends named Bowaon and Totoon who could not
find work, so they decided to go away from their place to look for their fortune elsewhere.
b. “Si Amomongo at Si Iput-iput” – This is a fable about a gorilla and a firefly. The
lesson it conveys is that one should never belittle those who are small because they could
do big things that big people cannot do.
 Some of the major literary works from Central Visayas:
a.  ”Sicalac and Sicavay” – This is a Visayan creation myth about Captan and
Maguayan who are both gods who created earth and all living things. Captan planted a
bamboo in the garden. One day it broke into two sections and out stepped a man and
woman who were respectively named as Sicalac and Sicavay.
b.  ”Catalina of Dumaguete” – This is a legend about a 16-year-old girl named
Catalina who was very beautiful and industrious but with many strange ways. She was
said to have mysterious powers and was said to have saved Dumaguete from the
Moros.
Lesson 4: Literature from Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest island group in the Philippines. It is divided into six
regions: Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South
Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), ARMM (Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao), and Caraga Region.
The major regional languages in Mindanao are Chavacano, Maguindanao, Maranao,
and Tausug. The region is generally inhabited by Muslims. Although they are no longer a
majority, the Islamic culture is still evident.
Unlike Luzon and Visayas, Mindanao was not entirely colonized by the Spaniards;
only few port cities were under the Spanish rule. Large groups of ethnic minorities can be
found in Mindanao, such as Maranao, Magindanao, Ilanun, and Sangil. These groups are
also referred to as Moro.
Meanwhile, the following groups are found in the uplands: the Bagobo, Bukidnon,
Manadaya, Manobo. and Subanon.
 
What makes the works of literature from Mindanao unique from those from
Luzon and Visayas?

1. the folk literature of Mindanao may be in prose or verse.

2. These are of collective authorship instead of individual authorship.
3. Every ethnic minority has a number of raconteurs or narrators who deliver a
story in a creative way
4. bearing two or three or more folktales.
5. The stories they tell have been conveyed to them by older members of their
respective families, friends, and acquaintances.
6. Raconteurs can be young or old, men or women.
 
The major literary works from Mindanao:
a.  The Origin of Davao (Davao Region) – This is an account of the beginning of
Davao. It is about the natives of Davao called Kalagans.
b.  Ag Tobig Nog Keboklagan (Zamboanga Peninsula) – This is an epic story
translated as The Kingdom of Keboklagan. It is considered as one of the oldest
epics in Zamboanga. It is chanted or performed during their week-long buklog
festival, and it tells the life and adventures of an extraordinary hero named Taake.
c.  How Cagayan de Oro Got Its Name (Northern Mindanao) – This is a legend
explaining the origin of the name of the province, which means “shameful peace.”
d.  Ulahingan (SOCCSKSARGEN) – This is an epic about the adventures of Agyu and
his relatives who had a conflict with their rulers. As they flee from their place, they were
guided by a diwata.
e.  The Maguindanao Tale of the Faithful Wife (ARMM) – This folktale is about an
aged man’s last words to his son, telling him that he should never marry a widow and
only choose a young lady.
f.  Tulalang (Caraga Region) – This folktale is about Tulalang, the firstborn of a poor
couple. One day, he went into the forest to gather some food. When he was collecting
crops, an old lady approached him and pitied their poor life. She said that they will never
be hungry, and they can get anything they want. Soon after, they had a prosperous life.