Asbury College Incorporated

Anda, Pangasinan

A.Y. 2021-2022

SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LIT IN ENGLISH

(THE LITERATURES OF VISAYAS)

A. MYTH (Tungkung Langit and Alunsina) Region 6

Reporters: Geraldine Quitalig & Rona Mae Cerdan

Literary Background

Much of what we know today about ancient Visayan Beliefs is due to Spanish documentation.
Miguel de Loarca was one of the first Spanish conquistadors to arrive in the Philippines and was the
author of Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas. This is one of the main texts used to piece together pre-
Spanish Beliefs. The familiar Visayan Creation story with Kaptan and Maguayan was documented by
John Maurice Miller in Philippine Folklore Stories (Boston: Ginn and Company, 1904). It wasn’t until
1955, when Filipino anthropologist F. Landa Jocano became interested in native folklore and travelled
the hinterlands of his home island of Panay (collecting folk songs, stories, and riddles) that we learned of
the creation story involving Tungkung Langit and Alunsina.

The tragedy in this is that there are probably many societies throughout the Visayas that had
their own variation of the creation story that has simply been lost to time – or perhaps waiting to be
discovered. Many blame the Spanish for the disappearance of ancient beliefs, but then must also use
the Spanish documentation to understand it. Not unlike the Aztec and Inca civilizations – that once
flourished in Central and South America – we know that Spanish explorers precipitated their
destruction. However, it is also through the Spanish documentation that those belief systems have been
pieced together to create a cultural pride and ethnic identity.

The beauty of the Tungkung Langit and Alunsina creation story is that it was documented by a
Filipino anthropologist wanting to better understand his culture. More so that the story, along with the
Hinilawod Epic, survived Spanish colonization and Catholicism, yet shows ties to other cultural
influences. This is important because it gives us an idea of how pre-Spanish Animism, Indianized beliefs,
and Islam spread through the relatively peaceful manner of migration and trade. Sure there was war,
but it was never about imposing beliefs.
Background of the author

Felipe Landa Jocano, eminent scholar, renowned Filipino anthropologist, and Professor Emeritus
of the Asian Center, passed away on 27 October 2013. He was 83.

Dr. Jocano obtained his PhD in Social Anthropology at the University of Chicago in 1963. As one
of the Philippines' foremost anthropologists, he played a significant role in developing and deepening
the understanding of Philippine society, culture, and prehistory.

SUMMARY

Tungkung Langit and Alunsina Creation Myth

In the beginning everything was shapeless and formless. The earth, the sky, the sea, and the air
were almost mixed up. In a word, there was only confusion. Then from the depth of this formless void
there appeared the god Tungkung Langit and the goddess Alunsina.

It was not known just where these two deities came from but it is related by old Bisayan folk
that Tungkung Langit fell in love with Alunsina. After he had courted her for many years, they married
and made their home in the highest part of heaven. There the water was always warm and the breeze
was forever cool. In this place order and regularity began.

Tungkung Langit was a loving, hard-working god. He wanted to impose order over the confused
world. He decided to arrange the world so that the heavenly bodies would move regularly. On the other
hand, Alunsina was a lazy, jealous, selfish goddess. She sat at the window all day doing nothing.

Sometimes she would leave her home, sit down by a pool near the door, and comb her long, jet-
black hair all day long. One day Tungkung Langit told his wife that he would be away for some time. He
said he must make time go on smoothly and arrange everything in the world.

When he was gone, Alunsina set the breeze to spy on Tungkung Langit. Tungkung Langit found
this out and he became very angry. After he returned home, he told her that it was ungodly of her to be
jealous since there were no other gods in the world except the two of them.

Alunsina resented this reproach, and they quarreled. In his anger, Tungkung Langit drove his
wife away. No one knew where she went. Several days later, Tungkung Langit felt very lonely. He
realized that he should not have lost his temper. But it was too late.

Once vibrant with Alunsina’s sweet voice, his home became cold and desolate. In the morning
when he woke up, he would find himself alone. In the afternoon when he came home, he would feel the
same loneliness creeping deep in his heart because there was no one to meet him at the doorstep or
soothe the aching muscles of his arms.
 For months, Tungkung Langit was in utter desolation. He could not find Alunsina, try hard as he
would. And so, in desperation, he decided to do something in order to forget his sorrows. For months
and months he thought, but his mind seemed pointless; his heart weary and sick. He needed something
to ease his lonely world.

One day, while he was sailing across the regions of the clouds, a thought came to him. He would
make the sea and the earth, and the earth and the sea suddenly appeared. However, the sombre sight
of the lonely sea and the barren land irritated him. So he came down to earth and planted the ground
with trees and flowers.

Then he took his wife’s treasured jewels and scattered them in the sky, hoping that when
Alunsina would see them she might be induced to return home. The goddess’s necklace became the
stars, her comb the moon and her crown the sun. However, despite Tungkung Langit’s efforts, Alunsina
did not come back.

Until now, some elders of Panay say Tungkung Langit lives alone in his palace in the skies.
Sometimes, he would cry out his pent-up emotion and his tears would fall down upon the earth. When it
thunders hard, it is Tungkung Langit sobbing, calling for his beloved Alunsina to come back, entreating
her so hard that his voice reverberates across the fields and the countryside.

B. FOLK SONGS (Usahay) Region 7

Reporter: Cedrick Vivero

INTRODUCTION

Philippine folk songs are a result of the culture of the Philippines which is highly influenced by
history and the blending of foreign persuasions and its indigenous civilization. An understanding of the
history of Philippine literature and folklore will allow us to fully comprehend the literary riches of this
culture.

Folk speeches, Filipino folk songs and indigenous rituals are part of Filipinos daily lives. Hispanic
influences are dominant within the Philippine's folk music, foods, art, religion, language and folk dances.
The infusion of such elements represents a way of life deeply ingrained within the Filipino people.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the discussion, students are able to identify the ff.

 What's the meaning behind the song "Usahay"

  The song is sung for
 Origin of the song and its original composer
 What is the theme and moral of the song

DISCUSSION

The popular song “Usahay,” which many thought to be Cebuano, is not from Cebu after all. The
Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP) confirmed that the famous Visayan song
“Usahay” originated from Davao and was declared as such by the Supreme Court in a decision last year.
Usahay” is about six decades old now. Usahay is a romantic Cebuano love song composed by Juanito
Angos. Rearranged and recorded by Aquarela. Police Colonel Greg Labja passed away on April 18, 1991
at the age of 59 without having been recognized as the composer of “Usahay.” For a long time, the
composition was credited to a Nitoy Gonzalez of Cebu.

Theme:

Usahay's theme is loneliness, pain and suffering are a universal feeling too strong to bear. But
because these are attainable odds, joy and happiness and triumph are inevitable and couldn't be far
behind.

Moral Lesson:

We should always remember that the one we love may not be always be the one for us.

CONCLUSION

Like the folk music of other countries, Visayan folksong reflects the life of common, mostly rural
Filipinos especially when they are courting or broken in love. Folk songs are important in music because
they provide a brief history of the people who make it. Folk songs frequently pass on important
information from generation to generation. Folk songs tell the stories of people who have died or are on
the verge of dying. A folksong is something that almost everyone can relate to whether young or adults.

B. FOLK SONGS (Matud Nila) Region 7

Reporters: Angeline Cerina & Idris Dean Tiong

MATUD NILA

“Matud Nila” is a classic Kundiman. Kundiman is the Filipino term for romantic songs. These
songs are used to serenade women as part of the phases of Traditional Filipino courtship. Traditional
courtship may also include writing a love letter for the woman which is usually given through his trusted
friend. This version of the song is by Pilita Corales. The original version of this song is first sung by a man,
a brilliant Kundiman Composer, Ben Zubiri.

Translations:

Matud nila Cebuano

They say English

Sabi nila Tagalog

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

Wenceslao "Ben" Zubiri, who was also known as Iyo Karpo was a Cebuano composer, actor, and
media personality in the Philippines. His most famous composition, for which he wrote both the lyrics
and music, is the song Matud Nila. It is a very beautiful song about a man, pleading for love from his
beloved. It is part of the Filipino culture for a woman to consider the opinion of her family and relatives
before deciding to be in a relationship with a man.

This is a very sad song about a man's expression of love and hope despite the suffering of being
deemed unworthy by the people around them. The song ends with a message that he will keep on
yearning for her love with the hope that his beloved will not be persuaded by the prejudice of others.
The song narrates the plight of a poor and unassuming suitor who has nothing to offer to the object of
his affection but pure love "more precious than gold". The song composed by Zubiri mirrors the
Cebuano character of choosing values and ideals over materialism and extols Cebuanos indomitable
courage to thrive amidst adversity.

MATUD NILA

Matud nila ako dili angay

Nga magmamanggad sa imong gugma,

Matud nila ikaw dili malipay,

Kai wa ako'y bahanding nga kanimo igasa,

Gugmang putli mao day pasalig

Maoy bahanding labaw sa bulawan

 Matud nila kaanugon lamang

Sa imong gugma ug parayeg,

Dili maluba kining pagbati

Bisan sa unsa nga katarungan

Kay unsa pay bili ning kinabuhi

Kon sa gugma mo hinikawan

Ingna ko nga dili ka motuo

Sa mga pagtamay kong naangkon

Ingna ko nga dili mo kawangon

Damgo ko'g pasalig sa gugma mo

English Translation:

They say I am not worthy

to desire and dream for your love

They say I can't make you happy

Because I have no money nor wealth to offer

It’s only my genuine love that I can promise you

But it’s worth more than any gem or gold

They say it will be a waste

to give me your love and affection

This love will never fade

 For whatever reason

Because this life is not worth living

If it will be devoid of your love

Please tell me you don’t believe them

When they say I don’t deserve you

Tell me that my hopes and yearning for your love

Will not be put in vain.

C. RIDDLES/PROVERBS (Tigmo and Sinultihon) Region 7

Reporters: Meredith Cas, Jelyn Catabay & Jennifer Corpuz

TIGMO

It is the Visayan term for riddles (bugtong) that involves the use of metaphor, a figure of speech
which uses direct comparison of two unlike things or ideas. In English translation, it is called riddles.

10 EXAMPLES OF TIGMO

1. Gipalit ko bisan ug mahal, apan magpulos lamang ug magbitay

English translation: I bought it and it’s costly, but I use it for hanging only.
Answer: Earrings
2. Na-ay kaban sa pari, ukbon dili mauli.
English translation: There’s a priest’s trunk, but when opened, it could not be closed.
Answer: An egg
3. Ako, apan dili ko magamit, laing tao ang mogamit.
English translation: I own it, but I don’t use it.
Answer: Your name.
4. Mohilak, apan walay mata, molakaw apan walay tiil.
English translation: It cries without eyes, it walks without feet.
Answer: A feet
5. Ang dahoon na-a sa bunga, ang bunga na-a sa dahoon.
English translation: The leaves are on the fruit, the fruits are on the leaves.
Answer: A Pineapple
6. May ligon nga balay, ang haligi utua sa taas, ang atop atua sa ubos, ang ulan gikan usab sa ubos?
English translation: What house has post on top, a roof at the bottom, while the rain comes from below?
Answer: A boat
7. Hikit-an sa tanang adlaw, apan dili nimo makamkam.
English translation: You can see it every day, but cannot touch it at will
Answer: Sky
8. May baba apan dili makasulti
English translation: It has mouth, but cannot talk.
Answer: A cave
9. Didto ang buno, dinhi and dug.
English translation: The murder happened here, but the flood flowed her.
Answer: A flood
10. Dili mananap, ug dili tao, walat tiil, apan makalakaw: walay baba, aapan maka sulti.
English translation: It has no feet, but can walk; It has no mouth, but can talk
Answer: A letter

5 EXAMPLES OF SINUTIHAN

1. Dili hungot ang kalibutan

English translation: The world is not a coconut shell.
2. Ang dili kaantos dili masantos
English translation: He who does not endure will not become a saint.
3. Bisan ang kabaw nga naay upat ka tiil masipyat
English translation: Even the four legged carabao loses its footing.
4. Ang barko ang moduol sa pantalan, dili ang panalatan moduol sa barko.
English translation: It is the ship that goes to the port, nor the ort that goes to the ship.
5. Buhat ang pasulti-on dili sulti ang pabuhaton.
English translation: Let the work say the words and not the words do the work.

D. POEM (Of Life and Storms) Region 8

Reporters: Alfonso C. Carido Jr. & Jasson M. Caadiang
 

Of Life and Storms

Through the night the storm rages

Wreaking havoc on its way;
'Neath a dripping roof bedraggled souls
Are huddled as they pray.

Outside, the wind comes howling

Swaying trees shriek and groan;
Men of naught, midst sufferings
Sigh in grief, in pain - they moan.
 When shall this tempest end?
Hours seem to drag on
As people stay listlessly awake -
Waiting for the gray of dawn.

Much work is to be done, one muses.

Mending wind-blown eaves for a start;
But the promise of a morning calm
Clears the mind, soothes the heart.

Not all in life are sunny days

God wants us all to know;
Rain must fall, lest we forget
To take His shelter, seek His love anew.