LITERATURE FROM VISAYAS AND

MINDANAO;
WESTERN VISAYAS, CENTRAL VISAYAS,
EASTERN VISAYAS and NORTHERN
MINDANAO
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Western Visayas is an administrative region in the
Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI.
Central Visayas is an administrative region in the
Philippines, numerically designated as Region VII.
Eastern Visayas is an administrative region in the
Philippines, designated as Region VIII. Northern
Mindanao is an administrative region in the Philippines,
designated as Region X.
LITERATURE FROM VISAYAS ;
WESTERN VISAYAS
Region VI
Western Visayas is a region in the Visayas in the
Philippines. Western Visayas, officially designated as
Region VI, is an administrative region in the
Philippines occupying the western section of the
Visayas. It covers 6 provinces, namely, Aklan,
Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros
Occidental, as well as 2 highly urbanized cities. The
regional center is the City of Iloilo.
Region VI-Western Visayas has a very rich
literature. It is commonly known as Panayanon or
Hiligaynon Literatures consisting all forms of
literatures from the Island of Panay (Iloilo,
Antique, Capiz, Aklan) and even from the Islands
of Guimaras and Negros Occidental.
Collection of local and regional literatures shows
literary appreciation made by creative imagination
and intelligence of the ancestors and even of
generations influenced by Western and other foreign
cultures. Through Hiligaynon language which is the
lingua franca of the region, Panayanon preserved its
strong sense of identity and valued their own cultural
heritage.
Western Visayas situated in Central Philippines
composed of six provinces that has its own
literature even before the Spaniards came in the
country. Many Hiligaynon literatures were not
written and handed down orally from one
generation to another generation.
Example of these Hiligaynon literature were
the following: verses that were used in curing
the sick, protection for safety and guidance,
folksongs, ballads, riddles some other old
stories. Until now these indigenous literatures
still exist.
Some folks use the Bulong, this refers to words,
phrases or songs dedicated to gods and goddesses,
and also to the souls that are usually spoken by
babaylan/ arbularyo (faith healer).
Awiting bayan (Folk Songs) are something that are
indigenous to a culture, popularized at events and
passed down mostly orally.
Komposo (Ballad) are popular songs typically about
love and different political and social issues in the
community.
What is Western Visayas known for?

The region is home to world-

famous beach of Boracay which is off the coast of
Malay. The region is home to religious cultural
festivals famous of which is the Ati-atihan Festival of
Kalibo every January. Another popular festival is
Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City every January.
It was proven that Western Visayas has a very rich
literature. It is still exists and being practiced by old
folks. Most of these literatures were written, collected
and stored in the libraries of schools and universities
in the region. Some of these are collected and
published by private individuals who have passion in
writing local literatures.
The collected literatures are categorized according to
form:
The Bulong which is being called by the
Panayanon’s as Hururaon or Ududayon were
composed of Himalay, Panabi-tabi, Burubugayon,
Batak-dungan, Araw-aw and some other old shorter
verses are usually the chants used by the folks in
performing different rituals.
The purpose of offering rituals is to give remedy to any
member of the family who is suffering from any sickness, to
throw out or release evil spirits, to give thanks for the good
health and blessings received from the good spirits and to
ask for protection and safety of members of the family. The
Hurubaton of Western Visayas sets some standards and
serves as a reminder for everyone especially the young ones
to value proper decorum about good moral and right
conduct.The old verses like Huding, Likayo, Hakol, Hangkat,
Garay-garay reflects on the creativity and passion of the
folks in writing poems and short verses.
The compiled Ambahanon, Daigon, and
Komposo depicts the Panayanon’s way of life,
courtship, love for parents and even for the
country. The Komposo (ballad) describes the real
situation of the society and the Daigon were the
Christmas carols rendered by the folks during the
whole season of Christmas.
The Collection of Dayaw and Pasyon showed that
there were two kinds of Dayaw. First is the Dayaw or
Dalit kay Birhen Maria(Virgin Mary) and the Dayaw
sa Reyna/ Musa (Muse/Queen). Dayaw or Dalit is a
song in a poetry form widely known as Flores de
Mayo and celebrated during the month of May. The
children offer flowers, songs of praise and
thanksgiving for Mary.
The Compilation of Bugtong/ Paktakon/ Palagato
(Riddles), represents varied materials the Ilonggos used
in their daily lives. It even describes the different body
parts of a human, the use and value of plants and
animals around them. The Lowa express the idea about
love and courtship; victory and defeat; admiration and
even discrimination as well. Almost of the legends
gathered narrates on how a certain town, barrio or
province derive its name. Some legends describe the
origin of plants, animals and things.
The Different Ethnic Groups in Visayas

Abaknon - This group of people mainly reside in Capul

Island on the northern tip of Samar and speak the
Inabaknon language. According to folklore, its history
started when a group of people led by tribal leader
Abak, did not like the religion of the Moros who ruled
them and fled to the island. From there, they settled
and to this day, bore the name of its founder as its tribe
name, Abaknon.
Waray - Almost everywhere you go in the
Philippines, Warays are associated with bravery. With
the famous catchphrase, “basta ang Waray, hindi
uurong sa away”, Warays are known as brave
warriors, one of the few tribes who fought the
Spaniards in the 1500s. Most of the Warays are native
in Samar, Leyte and Biliran and altogether, are the
largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group with the Waray
language as they primary language.
Caluyanon - Found on the Caluya Islands of
Antique Province, the Caluyanons are among the
smallest ethnic groups in Visayas. With around
30,000 natives, their language is Caluyanon but
many of the natives speak Hiligaynon as their
second language.
Aklanon - Getting their name from the river Akean
which means “where there is boiling or frothing”, the
Aklanons reside in the majority of Aklan in Panay and has
a rich culture and tradition as an ethnic group. They are
known to be descendants of Austronesian-speaking
immigrants that came to the country during the Iron Age.
Boracay Beach is found in the province of Aklan and this
contributed to the popularity of Aklanons.
Capiznon - The Capiznons reside in Capiz in the
Western Visayas region but they also have roots in
Roxas City. Notable local figures hail from Capiz with
the likes of Manuel Roxas, the fifth President of the
Philippines, Kara David, a television host and
journalist as well as actor and director, Ricky Davao.
Karay-a - From the word “iraya” which means
upstream, the Karay-as are a group of people
inhabited in the islands of Panay and Palawan. The
primary source of livelihood from this group is
agriculture, and some engage in crafts made of
bamboo.
Hiligaynon - Often referred to as the Ilonggo
people, majority of Hiligaynons reside in the
provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras
and many other places in Visayas. Locally, they
are known for their gentle disposition and also,
majority of the people here engage in seafood
industry.
Magahat - From the word “iraya” which
means upstream, the Karay-as are a group of
people inhabited in the islands of Panay and
Palawan. The primary source of livelihood from
this group is agriculture, and some engage in
crafts made of bamboo.
Porohanon - Located in the Poro Island of
Cebu, they are a minor Visayan ethnic group. They
primarily speak the Porohanon language with
Cebuano as the second. The two languages have
few similarities with each other but the
Porohanon is closer to Hiligaynon languages.
Cebuano - Cebuanos are the second most
widespread ethnic group in the Philippines after the
Tagalogs of Luzon. Originally native to the Cebu
province, most Cebuanos are known in the
Philippines, with their food, culture and festive
celebrations such as the Sinulog festival as its
highlights. Cebuano is also the most widely spoken
among the Visayas languages.
Boholano - Also known as the Bol-anon people,
Boholanos live in the island province of Bohol and
speaks the Boholano dialect, which has similarities
with the Cebuano language. In history, the group are
known as the descendants of “pintados” or “tattooed
ones”, a group of late inhabitants that settled in the
Philippines. Boholanos are known for their delicacies
such as the kalamay, a sweet dessert packaged in
coconut shells.
Eskaya - Also located in the Bohol island, they are
a minor ethnic group that drew fascination among
journalists in the 1980s because of its vague history.
Some argued that they are historically displaced
from the Middle East while some argue that it was a
self-made community that made its own language
and with their own religious beliefs and culture.
1.Mark Anthony A. Grejaldo
- was born on August 11, 1980 in Iloilo City. He is a
graduate of Mass Communications from the West
Visayas State University. He started writing poetry in
1998. In 1999, he became a fellow for Poetry in the
Iligan National Writers' Workshop and the U.P. National
Writers' Workshop in Davao City. "Lihim ng mga
Alitaptap" (his first attempt in writing a screenplay) was
a finalist in the 3rd Star Cinema Screenwriting Contest.
2. Ricardo Demetillo
- was born on June 20, 1920 in Dumangas, Iloilo. He
was a poet, essayist and critic who graduated cum
laude in AB English, 1947 in the University of the
Philippines; School of Letters, Bloomington, Indiana;
MFA in English and Creative Writing in State
University of Iowa in 1952. He married Angelita
Demetillo.
Some of his publications include:
No Certain Weather (1956, poetry)
La Via (1959, poetry)
Golden Jubilee Ode Libretto (1959)
Barter in Panay (1961, 1984)
Daedalus and Other Poems (1961)
The Authentic Voice of Poetry (1962)
Masks and Signatures (1968)
The Heart of Emptiness is Black (1973)
Lazarus Troubador (1974)
The City and the Thread of Light
3. Ernesto Superial Yee
- was born on 29 October 1953 in Tanjay, Negros
Oriental. He finished his BBA (major in management)
and LLB at SU, and passed the bar in 1983. He was a
fellow in the Silliman Writers Workshop, 1977 and
currently is Clerk of Court V at the Regional Trial Court,
Branch 32, Dumaguete City. He is also a part-time
professor of Civil Law and Remedial Law at the College of
Law, SU. He plays the piano and also writes fiction.
Conclusion
Rich and varied Hiligaynon literatures manifested
different beliefs, traditions, customs, everyday life,
human relationships and occupation of the Western
Visayan people. Collected literatures had something
to do with the different aspects of Panayanons’ way
of life. It is also concluded that the people of
Western Visayas had the gift of writing.
LITERATURE FROM VISAYAS ;
CENTRAL VISAYAS
Region VII
Central Visayas is the centrall region of the Visayas group
of islands in the Philippines. It lies between Western
Visayas and Eastern Visayas regions. The region is a
destination for beachcombers and historic landmarks
which dates back to 1521. The island of Bohol is popular
for Korean tourists while Cebu is popular to Japanese
business and leisure travelers. Sinulog Festival in Cebu
City is the region's most popular religious cultural event.
Central Visayas consists of the two major island
provinces of Cebu and Bohol. Central Visayas, officially
designated as Region VII, is an administrative region in
the Philippines occupying the central section of the
Visayas. It covers 4 provinces, namely, Bohol, Cebu,
Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, as well as 3 highly
urbanized cities. The regional center is the City of
Cebu.
Famous Writers in Central Visayas Region VII

1. Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Is an award-winning author and editor of nineteen books.
She co-founded PAWWA or Philippine American Women
Writers and Artists; she also founded Philippine American
Literary House. Brainard's works include the World War II
novel, When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, Magdalena, and
Woman With Horns and Other Stories.
2. Antonio Abad
One of the most famous Filipino writers is Antonio Abad who
was born in 1894 and died in 1970. He hailed from Cebu,
Philippines and was known as an essayist, playwright,
fictionist and poet. Among the novels that Antonio Abad had
written were El Ultimo Romantico, La Oveja de Nathan,
Dagohoy, El Campeon, and La Vida Secreta de Daniel Espeña.
The first two novels mentioned were awarded the Premio
Zobel award in 1928 and 1929.
3. Martin Abellana
Another Filipino writer who contributed a lot in the
Philippine literary industry was Martin Abellana, born
in 1904 and died in 1989. Martin Abellana was a
Filipino writer who hailed from the Visayan region of
the Philippines. Aside from being a writer, he was also
a teacher and was even elected president of an
organization of Cebuano writers known as LUDABI.
4. Consolacion R. Alaras
wants to be remembered as the proponent of
restoring the ancestral role of language, literature,
arts, history and spirituality as the heart and soul of
national development, transformation and unity. She
is a professor of UP Department of English and
Comparative Literature.
5. Diosdado Alesna
Born in Carcar on May 18, 1909, Diosdado Alesna
studied at the Carcar Institute, Cebu Provincial High
School, University of the Visayas. He taught in the
public schools; served in other civil positions and
retired in 1972 as administrative officer of the Cebu
District Engineer’s Office. He started writing in 1920.
Alesna created the verse form, siniloy.
6. Estrella Alfon
Estrella Alfon, who hailed from Cebu, was born on
1917. She is a well-known storywriter, playwright and
journalist; and though a Cebuana, she wrote almost
exclusively in English. Unlike other writers of her time,
she did not come from the intelligensia.
LITERARY WORKS IN REGION VII -
CENTRAL VISAYAS

>Sicalac and Sicavay ( A Visayan Creation

Myth)
>Legend of dumaguete
>Ang Among Kabantang by Fernando
Buyser-Aquino
>Our Pride translated by Juliet B.
Samonte
>Letter to Pedro, U.S. Citezen, Also
Called Pete by Rene Estella Amper
>The Clay Pipe by Marcel M. Navarra
>The Chambers of the Sea by Edith L.
Tiempo
>Visayan Folk Songs
>Usahay
>Matud Nila
 LITERATURE
OF
EASTERN VISAYAS
• The Literature of Eastern Visayas refers to
the Literature written in Waray and
Cebuano by writers from the region.
• Of the two, it is Waray literature that has been
collected, recorded and documented by scholars
and researchers , a movement largely spurred by
the interest of German priests, managing a
University in Tacloban City , who saw the necessity
of gathering and preservering the literary heritage
of the region.
• It is in this light that whenever East
Visayan literature is written about, it is
usually Waray literature that is being
described.
• In 1668, a Spanish Jesuit Fr. Ignatio Francisco
Alzina documented poetic forms such as:
Candu Haya ambahan canogon
Bical balac siday awit
Narrative forms: Susumatong ang Posong
• Modern East Visayan Literature particularly
Waray, revolves around poetry and drama
produced between the 1900’s and the
present.
• The Flourishing economy of the region and
the appearance of local publication starting in
1900 with the publication of Kaadlawon.

• An Kaadlawon – The first Waray newspaper

that saw the flourishing poetry in Waray.
• Eco de Samar Y Leyte – Long running
magazine in the 1900’s, published articles in
Literary works in Spanish, Waray and English.
• An Lantawan – printed religious and
occasional poetry.
• Sanghiran San Binisaya 1909 – writers as well as
the illustrados in the community banded together
for the purpose of cultivating the Waray language.
• In the 70’s up to the present, poetry sent to the
radio stations were written mostly by local folk –
farmers, housewives, and students.
• Fiction in Waray did not flourish because it lacks a
venue for publication.
• An Pagtabang Ni San Miguel (Norberto
Romualdez) – The earliest zarzuela
production staged in Tolosa, Leyte in
1899.
• Of the playwrights , Iluminado Lucente
stands out in terms of Literary
accomplishments.
• He wrote about 30 plays and most of
these dealth with domestic conflicts.
Waray Language
Writers:
 Pedro Acerden
• A Filipino zarzuela playwright who writes
in the Waray Language.
 Francisco Alvarado
• A noted playwright of zarzuela in Leneyte
Samarnon.
• He was a member and Literary luminary of
the Sanghiran San Binisaya organization which
was founded in 1909 to cultivate the Waray
Language.
Literary Works:
Poetry
• Panhayhay Hin Bungtohanon, 1921 (Hinagpis
ng Isang Taga-Bayan)
• An Marol, 1925 (Ang Sampaguita)
• Kaadlawon, 1925 (Araw)
• Kagab-ihon, 1925 (Gabi)
• Nihaga, 1930
• Pilipinas, 1931
 Iluminado Lucente
• A Filipino writer primarily writing poetry and drama
in the Waray language.
• He is considered by many as the greatest writer in
the waray language.
• He was a member of the Sanghiran San Binisaya ha
Samar ug Leyte (Academy of the Visayan Language
of Samar and Leyte)
• His most famous work is the poem “An Iroy Nga
Tuna” – The Motherland.
Literary Works:
Poetry
• An Iroy nga Tuna
• Baga Durogas Ngan Baga Tinuod (1939)
• Hangin Gad La (1960)
• Pilipinas
• An Higugma
• Panhayhay Ginsa-aran)
• Bumangon Ka Pepe
• It’s just the Wind
Drama
• Abugho
• An Duha nga Sportsmen
• Diri Daraga, Diri Balo, Diri Inasaw-an
• Up Limit Pati An Gugma
 Norberto Romualdez
• A Filipino writer, politician, jurist and statesman.

Literary Works:
Drama
• An Pagtabang ni San Miguel (The aid of St. Michael)
• An Anak han Manaranggot (The Tuba Gatherer’s
Child)
 LITERATURE FROM
MINDANAO/ NORTHERN
MINDANAO
LITERATURE IN REGION X(Northern Mindanao)
Designated as Region X of the Philippines.

Northern Mindanao (Filipino:Hilagang Mindanao) is

composed of five provinces and two cities classified as
highly-urbanized, all occupying the north-central part of
Mindanao island,and the island-province of Camiguin. The
regional center isCagayan De Oro City, where the national
government's regional offices and other big establishments
are located.
Cultural groups
• Majority of the region's inhabitants are migrants from Cebu
and Iloilo. There are also inhabitants of Waray, Tagalog and
Maranao descent.
Component cities
• Bukidnon.
• Malaybalay City
• Valencia City • Ozamiz City
• Misamis Occidental • Tangub City
• Oroquieta City • Misamis Oriental
• Gingoog City
Literary piece
• The Flood Story
• Bukidnon (Mindanao)
A long time ago there was avery big crab which crawled
into the sea.And when he went in he crowded the water out so
that it ran all over the earth and covered all the land. Now
about one moon before this happened, a wise man had told the
people that they must build a large raft. They did as he
commanded and cut many large trees, until they had enough
to makethree layers.
 These they bound tightly together, and when it was done
they fastened the raft with a long rattan cord toa big pole in
the earth.Soon after this the floods came.
White water poured out of the hills, andthe sea rose and
covered even the highest mountains. The people and animals
on theraft were safe, but all the others drowned.When the
waters went down andthe raft was again on the ground, it
wasnear their old home, for the rattan cordhad held.But these
were the only people left onthe whole earth.
Authors and their Works
Short stories
• The Battle at Tagoloan
• Dusk in Capillahan
• The Cemetery Keeper
• A Day in the Lives of CoalMinersRegino L Gonzales, Jr.
• The guman of dumalinao(suban-on) - Damiana L.
Eugenio(misamis occidental)
•Manobo. - Lydia Mary De Leon(camiguin)
• Pagpagayuk Mahiwagang Ibon Ng Katutubong Bukidnon
(The Magical Bird of Bukidnon) Piya Constantino
• “Batbat Hi Udan” (The Story of Udan)-Bukidnon’s 1st epic
Novel Telesforo S. Sungkit, JrOther Author’s
• The guman of dumalinao (suban-on)
• Damiana L. Eugenio(misamis occidental)
Vocal Music in General
• The most important means of musical expression of the
Bukidnonis vocal music. As a rule, a male or female solo
singer performs without the accompaniment of anymusical
instrument. The onlyexception is the collective singing of
women called tabúk during the kaligà ceremonies. The
most important types of vocal music arethe epic chants
collectively called ulagíng and the chants and prayers
connected with the kaligà ceremonies
 Also widely used arethe improvised songs limbay and the
song-speeches dasang of the Banwaon, Bukidnon and
Higaunensub groups, the improvised salâ of the Talaandig
and, to a certainextent, the ballads idangdang. Other song
types are only of minoror of merely regional importance.
• At this point, it has to be stressed that the names of song
types as given by the Bukidnon actually refer to categories
of function based on text content andless to categories based
on musical characteristics. It might, forexample, happen that
a kaligà or ulagíng melody is used for a salâ performance.
But even these categories of function are only vaguely
defined, and abstract orgeneral terms like “music”,“musical
instrument”, “song”, etc.,are lacking in the Binukid
language. The word which comes closest in meaning to the
word“melody” is lageng (“[sound of the]voice”).
The Epic Chants
• The ulagíng epic, which recalls the adventures of the main
hero Agyu and his brothers and sisters, issung at night time
for at least some hours, in some cases up to several nights. In
performing the ulagíng, the Talaandig use three different
singing styles which areall influenced by specific guiding
spirits: the aggressive, syllabic ulagíng or umanen style, the
more contemplative, melismatic nánangen style, and the
ilangiten style (from the word langit,“highest heaven”) with
sustained,high-pitched tones.
• In the Talaandig area, a second singer, sometimes the epic
singer himself or herself, will intersperse the ulagíng with
performances of another song type called salâ which, in a
contemplative way,usually deals with philosophic
considerations. Besides its connection with the ulagíng, the
salâ is an important vocal genre inits own right.
• In the Talaandig area, a second singer, sometimes the epic
singer himself or herself, will intersperse the ulagíng with
performances of another song type called salâ which, in a
contemplative way,
 Thats All
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