UNIT I LESSON 1: PRE-COLONIAL AND ETHNIC ORAL LITERATURE

CONTENT STANDARDS:
1. Folk Speeches
2. Folk Songs
3. Folk Narratives
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
1. Write a close analysis and critical interpretation of a literary text in terms of form and theme, with a
description of its context derived from research; and,
2. Create an adaptation of a text into other creative forms using multimedia
LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
1. Identify the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history from pre-colonial
to the contemporary.
2. Identify representative texts and authors from each region.
3. Value the contributions of local writers to the development of regional literary traditions.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Learn about the oral literature of different indigenous groups in the Philippines before colonization;
2. Understand the different forms of literature in the earlier times;
3. Write a modern-day tale based on your own experiences, practical observations, or associated stories
of the past.

Introduction:

Oral literary tradition reflects the Filipino's expressions about himself and the world he revolves in.
The Filipinos are travelers who migrated by land and by sea known today as the barangay. Through their
voyages, life and communities, the themes and ideas for their literature have been put together. Miguel
Lopez de Loarca, as cited in The Philippine Islands (1905), has mentioned after having stayed in the Islands
longer, that the natives are not acquainted with the art of writing and that their preservation of ancient lore is
through their songs.

Origin of myths and legends, and rowing songs probably accompanied by a bamboo flute are what
previous chroniclers have remarked. As these are passed on from generation to generation, these sung
poetries are not written.

Florentino Hornedo, in An Essay on Philippine Ethnic Literature (1992), has noted that even if oral
literature may not have been recorded, the following characteristics can be determined from the old
accounts:
a. The Visayan and the Tagalog of the 16th and 17th centuries had flourishing oral literary traditions rendered
in song;
b. That the contents of these sung literary traditions were largely narratives in the form of creation myths and
legends about the exploits of heroes and lyrics in the form of dirges and lamentations in praise of the dead;
c. That these songs were sung during feasts and banquets as well as funerals,
wakes and other death-related occasions, and when people of sizable number were working together or
rowing their boats;
d. That the singing of these songs was part of the literary tradition; and
e. That the tradition, with variations, was widespread.
 The learned cultures and traditions have been acquired through the help of the wisdom passed on
from the ancestors. These oral literatures continue to thrive in many of our indigenous communities
especially those who are in rural landscapes. These can be classified into folk speech, folk songs, and folk
narrative.

EXPLORE:

Folk Speech
Riddles are one of the shortest forms included in the family of Folk Speeches together with proverbs and
aphorisms. Riddles are traditional expressions using one or more images that refer to an object that has to
be guessed. Proverbs and Aphorisms are pithy expressions and observations stating a general truth.

The following riddles are from different regions of the Philippines.

1. Tagalog
For thunder:
Vaca co sa Maynila, hangang ditoi, dinig ang unga.
My cow in Manila, whose mooing is heard here.

2. Kapampangan
For a lamp:
Metung a butil a pale kitmu ne ing bale.
A single grain of rice, filled the whole house.

3. Visayan
For the friar or priest:
Sin-o ang napatay nga guin lubung sa tiyan sang iya nanay?
Who died, who was buried in his mother's bosom ?
4. Ilocano:
For a bat (paniki):
Ania iti pinarsua iti Dios a balin suec a maturog?
What thing that God made sleeps with its head down?

5. Pangasinan:
For a church:
Nacno agapaldua.
Only half full.

6. Gaddang:
For a candle:
Masondug a cayu talaque na donna.
A slender tree which bears only one leaf.

The following proverbs are from different regions of the Philippines.

1. Bicolano
To express that change must start with oneself:
Sighidan mo ngona aan sadiring natad Sweep your own yard,
Bago ka maninghid kan sa ibang natad before you sweep another's.

2. Tagalog
To express how one is responsible for the consequences of his or her actions.
Walang naninira sa bakal kundi sariling kalawang.
Nothing destroys iron but its own corrosion.

3. llocano
To show why labor is important.
Nu dika agtrabaho, dika agbiag.
If you don't work, you won't live.

To show the essence of camaraderie.

Maamammomto ti pudno a gayyem inton sika tay agkasapulan.
A true friend is known in time of need.

Ambahan
This is the ancient script of the Hanunuo Mangyan of Mindoro etched in the
bamboo cylinders.

Folk Song
As much of the oral literature is sung, these are usually lullaby songs, songs
about victory and praise, songs on love and courtship, songs for weddings and
wakes, and occasional songs for drinking and working. These are what is known
today as Folk songs. The following are examples of folk songs of different
themes:

1. Song for the homeland (llonggo)

Iloilo Ang Akon Banwa
lloilo ang banwa ko guinahingadlan
Matam-is nga pulong ang amon guinmat-an
Indi ko ikaw bulagan Banwa kong nahamut-an
Ikaw ang guintunaan sang kalipayan

My beloved hometown lloilo

Sweet words which we grew up with
I will not leave you my dear hometown
You are the source of joy and happiness

2. A children song (Cebuano)

Ako anak ni Tatay I'm my father's son,
Ako anak ni Tatay, Handsomer than anyone,
Ako ra'y guapo ug diyutay; When it's fiesta time,
Panahon sa tingpamiesta, Only I have a tie to wear.)
Ako ra'y duna'y korbata.
3. Laji about overcoming all obstacles in the name of love (Ivatan)
Muyin Paru Ninu
Muyin para oinu si tauri a maoiaoanu
Du chinuhat ko a danum oia di ku s'di pachilupa
Ta pakaynaynamen koa mavuya?
As anu madiman aku, oia ivuvun mo ava yekn

De asked nu kuku mo ta pachisuusuvuay

Ko du kanen
mo a mahutu as pachidiludilupay ko
Du inumen mo a danum.

Whose face do I behold mirrored

Upon the warm water l am about to drink?
I dare not drink that the vision I may prolong
If I die, bury me not
At the Cross of San Felix: bury me
Under your fingernails, that I may
Be eaten along with every food you eat; that I may
Be drunk along with every cup
of water you drink.
-Translated by Florentino Hornedo

4. Humor Song (Tagalog)

Awit ng Pulubi
Doon po sa amin bayan ng San Roque,
May nagkatuwaan apat na pulubí
Nagsayaw ang pilay, kurmanta ang pipi,
Nanood ang bulag, making ang bingi.

Once in my dear native town of San Roque,

Four poor ragged beggars met to have a good time:
The lame man danced, while the dumb one sang.
The blind man watched, and the deaf one listened.
-Translation by Eugenio 1982 as cited in Hornedo 1992)

5. Funeral Song (Bontoc)

Si inan Talangey
San Nakwas ay nadiko, ay ba'w si inan - Talangey
Dadaet isangadil, isaan sad- en san tetey
Da't san ab-abiik na napika et ay omey
Bayawan ay manateng ab'abik di natey
Aydaet mailokoy sinn anito'y sinkaweywey
Nan danen daet mattao bayaw ya mabaginey.

After she died, she Inan Talangey

They tied her to the death chair near the ladder The her soul stated to go
To join the souls of the dead
She went with a long line of anitos
Their path was grassy and among the mabaginey (thorny plants).
(Translated by Eugenio 1982 as cited in Hornedo 1992)

Folk Tale
The myths. legends, animal and trickster tales are the stories in prose handed down by word of mouth
through the generations. These are called Folk Tales.

1. Myths
These are traditional narratives about earlier histories that are believed to be true accounts of events.
They are used to explain the way things are in the world. They are associated with sacred practices that
accompany rituals. Popular myths are creation or origin tales.

One popular Tagalog and Visayan myth is about the origin of the lslands. According to this tale, the
sea and the sky have a big conflict. Waves lashed the sky and stones were thrown at the sea. These stones
became the islands. The myth of the first woman (babae) and first man (lalaki) is also mentioned in this myth
when a bamboo tree was opened after being pecked by a lawin.

Another creation myth is found among the Subanon of Mindanao which is about the great god Diwata
who had an only son Demowata. Demowata wanted to be on his own. Diwata took a piece of heaven and
created the earth. Le and Lebon (first humans) were fashioned from clay that has been cracked into to two
equal halves to be friends with Demowata. Diwata left Balag in charge to look over earth and Demowata.
However, Balag betrayed his master and seduced the humans. Balag was turned to an eel and tempted the
humans to touch the forbidden water. After having splashed with water, Le and Lebon's bodies swelled, being
creatures of clay. Diwata forgave the humans but has not restored the original grace over the land. He took
his son back to the heavens and left the humans to fend for themselves on the cursed earth left with only
betel nut to chew as a reminder of how bitter life is.

2. Legends
These stories are about heroes and local tales of buried treasures, enchanters, fairies, ghosts and
saints. Legends are usually secular. These tell how things have come to be. Examples of these are the
legends of Mariang Makiling of the Tagalog which is popularized by Jose Rizal, an enchantress of Mt.
Makiling in Laguna, and Maria Cacao of the Cebuano, a fairy who owns a big cacao plantation. These two
legends have a similar tale wherein they both vanish along with the gifts of grace they have blessed the land
with due to the unbecoming nature of the people living in the land.

3. Fables
These stories are about animals taking on human qualities. Usually, the theme on cleverness and
deceptiveness are shown by how an animal outwits another animal. The intention of telling such tales is to
impart a certain moral or lesson to its listeners or readers. A tale popularized by Jose Rizal was The Tortoise
and the Monkey. Some examples from the regions are the Tingguian tale "The Carabao and the Shell'', the
Tagalog fable "The Crab and its Mother", and the Cebuano story "The Frog Who Wished to be as Big as an
Ox".
One of the most popular characters in folk literature is the trickster. There are popular tricksters from
different folk tales such as the Tagalog's Mariang Alimango, the Visayan Pusong, and Mindanao's Pilandoc.
4. Epics
The longest narrative poems of the Philippines are the ethno epics. According to E. Arsenio Manuel in
Hornedo (1992), these are also based on oral tradition which depict supernatural events or heroic deeds
which embody or validate beliefs, ídeals, practices, or life values of the people. As it is an epic, the heroes in
these tales are treated as supermen with supernatural capabilities. The oldest epic to be recorded in the
Philippines is the lloko Biag ni Lam-ang. Also, the Ifugao Hudhud is considered to be "one of the gems of
Philippines oral literature of the northern tribal cultures," which is about the exploits of Aliguynon. There are
numerous epics across the islands Iike the Palawan's Kudaman, the Manobo's Tuwaang, the Maranao's
Kalinga Ullalim, the Bukidnon's Olaging which is about the Battle of Nalandangan and the invincible hero
Agio, and the Panay Island's Hinilawod also known as the epic of Labaw Donggon. Today, many have been
in translation other than the previously mentioned such as the Darangen of the Maranaw, the Ulahingan of
the Livunganen-Arumanen Manobo of Cotabato, Bugan of Ifugao, the Raja Madaya, and the Agyu.

5. Ballads
Shorter than the epics are the ballads which depict particular events. Popular ballads are the
following: Parang Sabil of Sulu, western sub- Cordillera in the Ilocos inland's Allusan, Da Delnagen ken
Annusan Lumawig. and the legend of Indayuan.

EXPLAIN:
Multimedia Integration

We owe today from yesterday. Many of the works today in different media are derived from the works
of the past. All forms of art and literature can be intertextual.

You can research sample literary works interspersed in the varied media of arts and culture.

1. Folklore in Movies
The movie, Tiyanak (Goblin), aired in 1988 and directed by Peque Gallaga, follows the famous lore of an
infant that transforms into a gruesome paranormal creature.
2. Folklore in Artwork
The painting of the mysterious Maria Cacao of the Cebuanos is an artwork by Mariliza Reyes Bulaong.
3. Folklore in Theatre
The musical play by Tanghalang Pilipino, Lam-ang: An Ethno-Epic Musical whose lyrics are written by a
popular 21st century writer Eljay Castro Deldoc, and music and lyrics by Jen Darlene Torres was staged
December 2019 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. This legendary
epic is the most recent adaptation brought to the Philippine stage.

EVALUATION:
A. Classify the following forms.
FOLK SPEECH FOLK SONG FOLK NARRATIVE

1. Myth 6. Riddle
2. Proverb 7. Epic
3. Lullaby 8. Rowing Song
4. Legend 9. Funeral Dirge
5. Fable 10. Ballad
B. ldentify whether the statement is true or false.
1. Riddles are one of the shortest forms of folk song.
2. Mariang Makiling is an example of a myth.
3. Some folk songs are about victory and praise.
4. Verses in Ambahan are part of the folk tales.
5. Epics are the longest folk narratives that talk about the journey of a hero.
6. Folk tales are only written in prose.
7. There is usually a trickster in some fables.
8. Ballads are shorter than epics and usually tell about a particular event.
9. Legends are sacred while myths are secular.
10. Oral Tradition stopped during the colonization period.

C. Reflect on the following questions. Answer in complete sentence/s.

1. What is the significance of literature in the precolonial period in today’s time?
2. What makes the oral literature unique?
3. How can you help preserve or enrich the oral literary tradition?
4. What is the impact of writing literature?
5. What story from ancient times do you find interesting? Why?