Philippine Regional Literature
“The literary traditions, written or oral, of the various ethno-linguistic groups in the country,
communities that, despite much internal migration, can still be said to have distinct geographical
settings or identities.” – Resil B.
Objectives
The learner identifies representative texts and authors from each region.
The learner values the contributions of local writers to the development of regional literary traditions.
The learner should be able to fully understand the Philippine cultural landscape.
Bicol Literature
Maria Lilia F. Reabuilt’s Handiong – the first important work in Bicol that how civilization before the
Spanish Conquest.
The only one that thrives in the region is the dramas due to its richness in depicting their history,
important people and social condition.
Mariano Perfecto – playwright that writes more on miming and punning as a double-edge statement
to the Spaniards.
Sabas Armenta – a social and political critique that uses comedia and ineffectual character like a
tragic hero
Justiniano Nuyda – wrote Anti Cristo
Asisclo Jimenez – mimicry and comic version of life
Bicol Poetry – clarity and grace of expression evident in song and dance
Manuel Fuentebella – lyricism and sensitivity
Angelo de Castro – perceptivity and fatalism
Valerio Ziñuga – projects human feelings clearly
Mariano Goyena del Prado – poetic awareness and dramatic choice of words
Fiction writing didn’t flourished
Bicolanon (1940-1941) and Bicolandia famous publishing houses
Bicol Literature ventures on this ideas of why some of their works didn’t flourished:
1 No literary outlet
2 General attitude of the people
3 Oral
Pampango Literature
According to the researches of Edna Zapanta-Manlapaz here are some of her findings:
Padre Anselmo Jorge de Fajardo – known for his famous comedia or moro-moro: Don Gonzalvo de
Corboda
-Father of Pampango Literature
Mariano Proceso Pabalan Byron’s zarzuela: Ing Managne that depicts Filipino family
Juan Crisostomo “Crisot” Soto was known in the theater due to his famous works:
-Sigalut (Trouble)
-Balayan at Sinta (Country and Love)
-Julio Agosto (July, August)
-Perla, Zafiro, Rubi (Pearl, Sapphire, and Ruby)
-Ing Anak Ning Katipunan (The Child of Katipunan)
-Alang Diyos! (There is no God!)
Pampango Poetry is frequently written in meters of 6, 8, 12 and 16 syllables
The most popular form is 16 syllables in octaves, with rhymes involving only at the end
Pre-war poets: Crisot and Sergio Navarro
Post-war poets: Amado Yuzon – “King of Crisotan” (Pampangan Balagtasan)
Awit and corridos have a common name kuriru
Most of the kurirus are translations of Tagalog corridos
Other titles are:
-Kasulatang Gintu (Golden Inscription, 1914) by Aurelio Tolentino
-Napun, Ngeni at Bukas (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) by Aurelio Tolentino
-Ing Cabiguan (Misfortune, 1915) by Felix Galaura
-Musa’t Poeta (The Muse and The Poet) by Isaac Gomez
-Kitang Milabas (In The Past, 1935) by Monico Mercado
-A Las Diez Ning Bengi (At Ten O’clock at Night) by Jose M. Gallardo
Two Pampango Novels which became popular are:
1 Lidia by Crisot – simple love story
2 Ing Buac ning Ester (A Strand of Ester’s Hair) by Aurelio Tolentino – murder mystery
Pampango Literature ventures on this ideas of why some of their works didn’t flourished:
1 Most people are bilingual
2 Geography
3 Little interest in their own language
Ilokano Literature
Marcelino A. Foronda Jr. gives a substantial account in his paper, “Dallang: Ilokano Literature”
-Highly developed that it become second to Tagalog in having the greatest number of printed works
-Early Ilokano writings were not documented, except for Lam-ang
-Even though Lam-ang and Namongan are pre-Hispanic, the mention of Christian baptism and
marriage show strong evidence of Hispanization
Earliest printed literature were novenas, prayer books, and other religious readings
Ilokano translation of Cardinal Bellarmine’s catechism by Fray Francisco Lopez – first book printed in
Iloko
Pedro Bukaneg – Father of Iloko Literature
18th Century – pasion and panagbiag (awit)
19th Century – Leona Florentino is considered by some as the national poetess of the Philippines
Isabelo de los Reyes, son of Leona Florentino, wrote poems, stories, folklore studies, religious and
political articles
It was also during this time that the comedia (moro-moro and zarzuela) were first presented
20th Century:
-Predominant theme: freedom
-Other times: conflict between the young and old generations, Ilocano’s adventurous spirit and
historical interest
1 Uray Narigat no Paguimbagan (Improvement Despite Obstacles, 1911) by Facundo Madriaga
2 Nasamitken Narucbos nga Sabong daguiti Dardarepdep it Agbaniaga (Sweet and Fresh Flower of a
Traveller’s Dreams, 1921) by Marcos E. Milton
3 Mining Wenno Ayat it Cararua (Mining or Spiritual Love, 1914) by Marcelino Peña Crisologo
Bannawag (1934) – the popular weekly magazine. It is also known as the bible of northern Philippines
1 Arsenio T. Ramel’s Maingel it Kabambantayan (The Hero of the Wilderness)
2 Constante C. Casabar’s Puris it Barukong (Thorn in the breast)
3 Casabar’s Dagiti Mariing Parbangon (Who are Awakened at Dawn)
4 Marcelino Foronda Jr’s Ta Dida Ammo it Aramidda (For They Know Not What They Do); Nasudi
nga Agnanayon (Forever Pure); and Ramut iti Gangannaet (Roots in Foreign Soil)
Short Story: poor imitation of American fiction, but later developed into less verbose, more tight and
with more credible characterization
Themes: war, guerilla activities, Japanese atrocities, murder, pillage, and death; others exalted farm
and country life
Drama: static; only zarzuela and comedia persisted
Stages of Ilokano Poetry:
Themes: love of country and freedom, beauty of nature and of woman faith and the virtues of the
Ilocanos
Traditionalist – fixed notions of poetry and resist change
Avant-garde – knowledgeable about poetry in other parts of the world
New school – those who are in between
Ilocano Poetry:
Bukanegan (19th century) – debate in verse that is named after Pedro Bukaneg
Coronation Poetry (20th century) – delivered in honor of the fiesta queen
Leon C. Pichay – King of Ilocano Poets
Bannawag – is the only outlet open to Ilocano writers
Hiligaynon Literature
Hiligaynon is the dialect spoken mostly in Western Visayas
Hinilawod – an epic that shows differentiation, feudal economic structure, and monarchial rule in
Panay Island
Maragtas – the interaction between the Negritos and Malays
6 common Literary Forms:
1 Ambahan – a ballad of unrhymed couplets
2 Ballad – a love song
3 Siday – a song of allusion to mythical heores
4 Awit – a simple folk song, love song and work song
5 Haya – a dirge composed of two parts: parahaya, a song for wakes and the anogon, a song
regretting the loss of a loved one and extolling him
6 Bical – a humorous and satiric song
Hiligaynon Poetry – reflecting Filipino moralistic behavior
Hiligaynon and Yuhum – two local magazines that contributed in the growth of their novel and short
story
Sugbuanon Literature
Sugbuanon – dialect that is used in central Visayas, eastern Visayas, eastern Mindanao and the
greater part of northern and central Mindanao
Their literature is characterized as abundant and varied
Oral forms: folk tales, sayings, songs, riddles, orations, and theatricals
Written forms: poems, short stories, novels, and plays
Vicente Sotto – Father of Visayan writing
Sotto’s Ang Suga (The Lamp, 1926) – where poetry in vernicular first appeared
Sotto’s Mameng – the first published short story in Sugbuanon
Poet – dramatist Saturio Villarino characterizes Sugbuanon Poetry as adaptations from Spanish and
English poetry in metrical and rhyming schemes
7 types of Folk theatricals:
1 Balitaw – a comic representation of the love chase in a verse dialogue of courtship that develops
into a wit combat performed in song and dance
2 Drama – Balitaw – developed from the balitaw,in which a story line with spoken dialog is woven
around at least balitaw sequences
3 Duplo – a debate in verse with two or more characters
4 Balagtasan sa Balitaw – an incorporation of duplo and balitaw where the courtship plot becomes a
mere framework for an argument on a non-romantic subject
5 Kolilisi- a strictly private type of drama performed by friends and neighbors to divert a bereaved
family from their sorrow. The actors play a king and his courtiers who address one another in verse
and put a roundel game of verse recitations
6 Bagamundo – a related type of folk play where a vagabond stranger arrives at the gate of the kolilisi
kingdom and ventures to argue with the king and his court into admitting and introducing him to the
ladies
7 Pamalaye – an old ritual of formalizing an engagement to marry
