LITERATURE IN DIFFERENT REGIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

REGION 1 ( ILOCOS REGION)

Region 1 was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritos before they were pushed by successive waves
of Malay immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior, Ilocanos in the north, and
Pangasinense in the south settled the region.

From the data on the population distribution of Region 1, it is clear that not all the inhabitants are
Ilocanos. Around one-third are non-Ilocanos and yet there is a popular misconception that all the inhabitants are
Ilocanos.[1] The use of the term Ilocos Region promotes the wrong notion that all the residents of Region 1 are
Ilocanos. Before the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not a part of the region.[3]

The Spanish arrived in the 16th century and established Christian missions and governmental
institutions to control the native population and convert them to the Roman Catholic Church. Present-day Vigan
City in Ilocos Sur province became the bishopric seat of Nueva Segovia. Ilocanos in the northern parts were less
easily swayed, however, and remained an area filled with deep resentments against Spain. These resentments
bubbled to the surface at various points in the Ilocos provinces' history as insurrections, most notably that of
Andres Malong and Palaris of Pangasinan, Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela Silang in 1764, and the Basi
Revolt in the 19th century. However, it was the Pangasinenses in the south who were the last to be stand against
the Spaniards.[4]

In 1901, the region came under American colonial rule, and in 1941, under Japanese occupation.

During 1945, the combined American and the Philippine Commonwealth troops including with the
Ilocano and Pangasinese guerillas liberated the Ilocos Region from Japanese forces during the Second World
War.

Several modern presidents of the Republic of the Philippines hailed from the Region: Elpidio Quirino,
Ferdinand Marcos, and Fidel V. Ramos.

Before the formation of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1 also included the provinces of
Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet. Before Region 1 was modified by Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was
not part of the region.

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São Paulo Cathedral, a representative modern cathedral built in Neo-Gothic style.

Interior of St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Memphis, Tennessee with a procession

A cathedral (French cathédrale from Lat. cathedra, "seat" from the Greek kathedra (καθέδρα), seat,
bench, from kata "down" + hedra seat, base, chair) is a Christian church which contains the seat of a bishop,[1]
thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate.[2] Although the word "cathedral" is
sometimes loosely applied, churches with the function of "cathedral" occur specifically and only in those
denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, and some
Lutheran and Methodist churches.[2] In the Greek Orthodox Church, the terms kathedrikos naos (literally:
"cathedral shrine") is sometimes used for the church at which an archbishop or "metropolitan" presides. The
term "metropolis" (literally "mother city") is used more commonly than "diocese" to signify an area of
governance within the church.

There are certain variations on the use of the term "cathedral"; for example, some pre-Reformation
cathedrals in Scotland now within the Church of Scotland still retain the term cathedral, despite that church's
Presbyterian polity that does not have bishops. The same occurs in Germany, where Protestant churches (many
with a presbyterian or congregational polity) co-operate under an umbrella organisation, the Evangelical Church
in Germany, with some retaining cathedrals or using the term as a merely honorary title and function, void of
any hierarchical supremacy. As cathedrals are often particularly impressive edifices, the term "cathedral" is
often applied colloquially to any large and impressive church, regardless of whether it functions as a cathedral,
such as the Crystal Cathedral in California or figuratively to imply that a church is of outstanding beauty such
as St John the Baptist, Tideswell, known as the "Cathedral of the Peak".

Several cathedrals in Europe, such as that of Strasbourg, Essen, Freiburg i.B., and in England at York,
Lincoln and Southwell, are referred to as "Minster" (German: Münster) churches, from Latin monasterium,
because the establishments were served by canons living in community or may have been an abbey, prior to the
Reformation. The other kind of great church in Western Europe is the abbey.

IMPORTANT LITERARY PIECES

‘Midst sweetness in my dreams, I awoke in hurried
joy.
MALINAK LAY LABI And in your loveliness, it’s you alone in my
Malinak Lay Labi embrace.
(Pangasinan Vession)
Especially my dear, when you are held in my eyes.
Malinak lay labi, Oras lay mareen All sadness in my heart, they all but disappear.
Mapalpalnay dagem, Katekep toy linaew When I think of all your ways, so sweet and gentle.
Samit day kugip ko, Binangonan kon tampol Never, ever I forget, until the last breath of my life.
Lapud say linggas mo, Sikan-sikay amamayoen

Refrain: Malinak Lay Labi

Lalo la bilay no sika lay nanengneng (Tagalog Version)
Napunas lan amin so ermin kon akbibiten
No nanonotan ko lay samit day ugalim Gabi ay tahimik, oras ay alindog.
Agtaka nalingwanan anggad kaoyos na bilay. Hangin ay mahimlay, kahalo ay hamog.
Repeat refrain. Himbing ng tulog ko’y, nagising di umano.
Dahil sa ganda mo, ikaw lang ang pangarap ko

Malinak Lay Labi Lalo na mahal, kung ikaw ay masilayan.

(English Version) Napapawing lahat, lungkot na dinaramdam.
Kung naala-ala ang tamis ng ‘yong ugali.
The night is calm and quiet, the hour stands still. Di kita malimutan, hanggang sa huling hininga.
Slowly flows the breeze, and dewdrops gently fall.

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.
 Lal-lo-c(old name of Lallo), one of the first four (4) cities in the Philippines(others: Manila-
I571;Cebu-1565; Naga-1575) was named Ciudad Nueva Segovia in 1581 by Carreon. It was chosen as capital
of Cagayan Valley Region because of its favorable location and navigable river. It was also the seat of the
Diocese created by Pope Clement VII on August 15, 1595 until the seat was transferred to Vigan, Ilocos Sur in
1755. Very famous among the missionaries at that time was Bishop Miguel de Benavidez, OP, the first bishop
elected to the Diocesan home in Ciudad Nueva Segovia. He later founded the University of Sto. Tomas.

It was from Lallo that authorities governed the province and was the capital of Cagayan up to 1839
when Cagayan Valley Region was subdivided. On May 24, 1839 the province of lsabela was created comprising
the towns of Cordon to Ilagan, including the sitio of Palanan. Nueva Vizcaya comprised the region from Aritao
to Bayombong and later to Diadi. Cagayan comprised that part of the valley from Tuguegarao to Aparri and the
Babuyanes. And the provincial government was moved to Tuguegarao from Lal-lo.

Cagayan Valley abounds with natural resources and exudes with development potentials that consist of
rich agricultural areas, forestland and grasslands, inland and marine resources.

Geographically, the valley is located at the northeastern part of mainland Luzon covering an area of
about 26,858.79 square kilometers making it the 2nd largest region in the country. Bounded with the Pacific
Ocean in the east and the protective mountain range of Cordillera on the west and Caraballo Mountain, the
provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora on the south. Between the ranges is the valley where most of the
population live and is criss-crossed by the mighty Cagayan River, the longest and widest in the country and its
tributaries, which flow into the Babuyan Channel in Aparri. The Pacific Ocean on the east cost and the Babuyan
Channel on the north also skirt the mainland.The Batanes group of island is located at the northernmost tip of
the Philippine Archipelago surrounded by Bashi Channel on the north, Pacific Ocean on the east, Balintang
Channel on the south and China Sea on the west.

It has more than 890 kilometers of coastline and rich fishing grounds, particularly with the Babuyan and
Balintang Channels on the north and the Palanan and Divilacan Bays on the east including its territorial seas
within the 200 kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The region has four (4) minor volcanoes with
several inactive fault lines, which include the Digdig Fault. The climate in the valley falls under Type 3
characterized by not very pronounced seasons - relatively dry from November to June and wet during the rest of
the year.

Cagayan Valley Region is composed of five provinces - Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and
Quirino and three cities - Cauayan, Santiago and Tuguegarao. The region's population based on the year 2000
census of the population was 2,813,159.

IMPORTANT LITERARY PIECES Nu itanis ko an nu an didien ko;

NU NUNUK DU TUKUN Ta nu taw aya u suminbang diyaken;
Na maliliyak a pahung as maheheyet a riyes.
U minahey niya diyaken.
Nu Nunuk Du Tukun
( Note: informant : Catalina Faranilo Hontamin)
Nu Nunuk Du Tukun, minuhung as kadisi na;
Ichapungpung diya am yaken u nilangan na.
Kapatalamaran ava su avang di idaud
Ta miyan du inayebngan na, ta miyan du English Translation
inayebngan na. (The Nunuk on the Hill)

(Translated by Florentino H. Hornedo)

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

LITERATURE IN REGION VI (WESTERN VISAYAS)

Provinces and Capital

 Aklan - Kalibo
 Antique - San Jose de Buenavista
 Capiz - Roxas City
 Guimaras - Jordan
 Iloilo - Iloilo City
 Negros Occidental - Bacolod City
 Hiligaynon is the lingua franca of the West Visayas in Philippines. The mother language of West Visayas is
Kiniray-a or Hiraya.
The popular literary artforms in Western Visayas are the binalaybay or poem, the paktakon or riddle, the
sugidanon or story/folktale, the banggianay or debate, the hurobaton or proverbs, asoy or epic, amba or songs,
and the komposo or traditional song.

MYTH

 Tungkung Langit and Alunsina

 CHARACTERS
 Tungkung Langit
 Industrious
 Loving
 Kind God
 Alunsina
 Lazy
 Jealous
 Selfish Goddess
 THEME AND MORAL / LESSON
Theme
 The myth is about the two Gods who fall in love to each other but ended separated because
they lose their trust and patience to each other.
Moral / Lesson
 Before you do a thing, think it a billion times so that you would not regret at the end.
 Give trust to the one that you love.

EPIC (Asoy)
 Hinilawod
 ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE

The term "Hinilawod" means “Tales from the Mouth of the Halawod River". Hinilawod is an epic poem
written by the early inhabitants of a place called Sulod in central Panay.
Hinilawod is not just a literary piece but also a source of information about culture, religion and rituals
of the ancient people of Sulod; showing us that ancient Filipinos believed in the “sacred,” in the importance of
family honor and in personal courage and dignity.
 THEME AND MORAL / LESSON
Theme
 The epic is about the exploits of three Sulodnon brothers, Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon,
and Dumalapdap of ancient Panay.
Moral / Lesson
 Listen to the counsel of your parents.
 Do not remove yourself from the right path.
 Do not succumb to temptation for it will lead you to tragedy and failure.
RIDDLES (Paktakon)

Ang puno buko-boko May diotay nga kaban-kaban,

Dahon daw abaniko, Naga-abri keg naga si man,
Bunga daw parasko, Ang sulod puro tul-an
Perdegones ang liso. Kon kaisa nagadunlan.

The trunk is full of nodes There is a small chest

Leaves like fans, That opens and closes by itself
Fruits like large wine bottles, The contents are all bones
Pellets are the seeds. Sometimes it chokes.

 Kapayas / Papaya  Baba / Mouth

PROVERBS (Hurobaton)

Mauntay ang sanga nga Ang obra indi makapatay,

linghod, Kon indi ikaw mag-antos, Pero ang pagkasubo amo ang
Ang gulang na, matuod. Indi ka gid magsantos. makapatay.

A young sapling is easily You can’t be a saint, Work can’t kill

straightened, If you don’t sacrifice. But worrying does.
But an old branch is brittle.

FOLK SONGS (Komposo)

 Si Pilemon, Si Pilemon
 Dandansoy

POEMS (Binalaybay)
 Ang Ermita sa Baryo (The Chapel in the Barrio)
by Magdalena G. Jalandoni
 Fictionist and poet
 “Grand Old Lady of Ilonggo Literature”
 Best-known among Ilonggo novelists, the most represented in the collections of local and foreign
libraries.
 Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1969
Meter Theme
 Three stanzas  The poem is about the chapel in the barrio
 4 Lines per stanzas which is maid of nipa, cogon and bamboo.
 12 syllables per line
  Diplomat Listening to the Speech of Another Diplomat
by: Dominador Ilio
 Isaias Topacio Domingo, Basilio, Crisostomo de la Cruz, and J.D. Ibarra
 Poet and fiction writer

Meter
 Free verse
 Two stanzas
 First stanza – 12 lines
 Second stanza – 8 lines
Theme
 The poem presents a story wherein the father cannot go out and enjoy special moments with his family
because he is too busy working for his family's future.

LITERATURE IN REGION V (BICOL REGION)

Bikol is the language of almost 5 million people in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon that constitute the Bikol Region. The Bikol people have a writing tradition
with roots in its ancient folkways. Still extant are charm verses exploiting the possibilities of words in folk
poems and narratives with mythical content, and bound with early historical fragments which form part of the
people’s lives.

Colonization stifled native writing, however. Only after about two centuries later did the people begin to
write poems and plays adapted from Biblical stories – this time in the Spanish writing system. These dramatic
tropes were street presentations during May festivals, Christmas, Easter and Lent. In 1890, the first Bikol
newspaper An Parabareta (the Newsman) was published by Mariano Perfecto, who also established the first
printing press. Imprenta de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia. In the midst of numerous devotionals and religious
poems, there appeared two protest plays – “An Pagguiao kan mga pastores can pagcamondag ni Jesus duman
sa portal sa belen” (The awakening of the shepherds of Jesus birth) by Mariano Perfecto and “Comedia na
dapit sa Dios o magna cahayagan can pagcamondag ni Jesus” (A play about God or matters concerning the
birth of Jesus). The first play says that the people accepted the faith but not the Spaniards; the second tries to
localize the character Mary, humanize Herodes and make the coronation of Mary an occasion of revelry through
two comic characters.

Corridos or metrical romances became the main reading fare for many years. Translation from Spanish to
Bikol were eagerly awaited that writers switched to translating for the money it brought them. In time,
Bikolcorridos were written. The most popular was Magamang Pobre (The Poor Father and Son).

The comedia or moro-moro stayed for a long time. Almost every town boasted of a comedia writer and a
theater group. The lavish and pompus comedia that Juan Alvarez Guerra saw in the 1880s in Albay has been so
well described. Count on the Bikol to write protest comedias – Comedia ni Hadeng Grimaldo sa Reinong
Irlandaby Sabas Armenta and Drama en Comedia de la Vida Conde Urbano by Juan Miraflor. The first is a
deviation from the Moro as villain theme; the second advocated democracy and favors electing town leaders.
 The Commonwealth Period were years of poetic and dramatic productivity. The zarzuela did not escape
the Bikol’s questioning bent. Asisclo Jimenez’s Pagkamoot sa Banuang Tinoboan (Love for the Native Land)
demonstrated that national change can be affected through armed revolt. Jimenez wrote 25 other zarzuelas in
varying themes, mostly social criticism. Crowds would attend the presentations.

By the mid-thirties, shorter plays became the fashion. The new themes were poor vs. rich, laziness vs. hard
work and Rizal and nationalism. Outstanding was Anti Cristo by Justino Nuyda who wrote of the inevitable
conflict between individual morality and material comfort. This play is still presented today in schools in the
region.

The rawitdawit or narrative poem was a vehicle of social and political criticism. Personal poems were most
plentiful. The period also produced about twenty translations of Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios to Bikol. Four
poets and their works stand out: Manuel Fuentebella’s An Pana (The Arrow), Clemente
Alejandria’sPagaroanggoyong(Perseverance), Eustaquio Dino’s Balosbalos Sana (Retribution) and Mariano
Goyena’s Hare…Dali(No…Don’t). Great sensitivity and exquisite images are marks of these poems, reaching
up to lyricism.

The Post-War Period was unproductive. It was the Cathedral Players of the Ateneo de Naga that sparked
the cultural scene. The students led by Rev. James Reuter, S.J. translated english plays into Bikol and delighted
the Naga folks with Sunday presentations at the plaza kiosk. In the rural towns they played in church patios
and plazas. If post-war writing was not as significant, the Bikol milieu was not encouraging either. The stories
and novels written in the fifties were insipid and mere narrations; the novels fantastic and improbable. Writing
in the Rainbow journal were largely cerebral and critical of politics, church and society. It was the people’s
interest in the folk story, Ibalon, that inspired two musicals the Handyong written and presented by Orfelina
Tuy and Fe Ico, and Ibalon Opereta written by Jose Calleja Reyes.

Contemporary writing has just began to burst with creative energy. The writers now possess the courage to
deal with big themes. It began with Francisco Penones, Jr. who sounded a clarion call in his poem An Opon sa
Ibalon: Kan mahale an Maskara (The Board in Ibalon When Unmasked). Society, he declared, is the boar that
brought hunger and poverty to the land. For this poem, Penones received a CCP award. Merlinda C. Bobis in a
masterly poetic drama titled Daragang Magayon (Beautiful Maiden) overturns the passive maiden in the legend
and makes her decisive to do her part in changing society. In her poems, Bobis subtly presents an idealism
associated with remembering one’s childhood, each of them a strong and evocative protrait only thoughtful,
sensitive poet can create. For this, she merited a Palanca award. Carlos O. Aureus weaves together theology
and philosophy to present Bikol values and a panorama of Bikol scenes. In ten well-written stories, a novel and
a play, he wins the coveted Palanca, CCP, Free Press and Graphic literary awards. The young literary
fictionists, Marco Lopez, Alvin Yaban, Ulysses P. Aureus and Lorenzo D. Paran III are searches for self,
identity and nation.

The seasoned writers include Luis Cabalquinto, Gode Calleja and Ruby Alano. The young writers are
Home Life magazine winners Angelica Gonzales, Honesto Pesimo, Jazmin Llana, Victor Velasco, Nino
Manaog, Xavier Olin and Cynthia Buiza. Emelina G. Regis has a Palanca Award for her environmental
play Dalawang Mukha ng Kagubatan(Two Faces of the Forest). Barbara Barquez Ricafrente writes poems and
paints with rage. She is the first novel awardee of the U.P. Creative Writing Center.
 The Bikolano can write memorable and significant pieces. The native literary tradition has been
resurrected and kept. How to make the people aware and how to make them read as well and how to multiply
these writings so they can be disseminated have to be resolved.