PHILIPPINE

LITERATURE FROM
THE REGIONS
LITERARY WORKS
BY WRITERS
FROM LUZON
 Luzon is the largest island group in the
Philippines. It is divided into eight regions:
Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region,
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR),
National Capital Region (NCR), Bicol Region,
Central Luzon, MIMAROPA (Mindoro,
Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), and
CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas,
Rizal, and Quezon).
The major regional languages in
Luzon are Bikolano, Ilokano,
Kapampangan, Pangasinense,
and Tagalog.
Some ethnic groups that can be
found in Luzon are Aetas, Igorots,
Ibalois, Mangyans, Apayaos,
Kalingas, and Itnegs.
 BELOW ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR
LITERARY WORKS FROM LUZON:
 Ibalon or Ibalong (Bicol Region)—This is an epic about three
heroes—Baltog, Handiong, and Bantong—who all defeated their
adversaries.
 Hudhud (Cagayan Valley Region)—This is an epic chanted by the
Ifugaos during harvest.
 It is about a folk hero named Aliguyon and his 3-year battle with
Pumbakhayon.
 “The Legend of Maria Makiling” (CALABARZON)—This is a story about
a mountain in Laguna named Makiling that was guarded by a fairy
named Maria. The townsfolk fondly called her Mariang Makiling.
 Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilocos Region)—This is an epic about Lam-ang, a
man with extraordinary strength who sets out to find his missing father
Don Juan.
Biag ni Lam-ang excerpt (Luzon)
 Lam-ang told his wife Kannoyan, “And I have a premonition that a monster
fish, berkakan, will catch and eat me up. And for a sign that I have been
eaten up, our staircase will dance, our kasuuran will topple down, and our
stove will break to pieces.” Lam-ang prepared himself for the task the next
day. He sought the place where rarang were abundant. When he saw one
creeping at the bottom, he dived but could not find it. He dived for the
second time and fell exactly into the mouth of a big berkakan.
Analysis:
 Despite Lam-ang’s premonition, he proceeded to fulfill the task of fishing
for rarang, which led to his demise. From Lam-ang’s actions, we can infer
that aside from knowing the turn of events, he probably knew that he can
still be brought back to life with the help of his pet dog and rooster, which
was why he did not hesitate to proceed with accomplishing the task.
 LITERARY WORKS BY WRITERS
FROM LUZON

Thewriters used the Filipino cultural

elements below:
Kundiman - This is a genre of Tagalog folk
love songs that express an intense longing
for a beloved, a cause, or the motherland.
They are usually played in minor chord,
giving them a sad, melancholic sound.
 LITERARY WORKS BY WRITERS
FROM LUZON

Kambubulag - This is the

Kapampangan term for a type of
native moth. It comes from the root
word “bulag” meaning “blind,” and
there are Filipino superstitions about
becoming blind after encountering
moths.
 LITERARY WORKS BY WRITERS
FROM LUZON

Kundiman and kambubulag folk tales

are part of Filipino folk literature. They
can be a source of inspiration, or they
can be used as literary devices. Also,
writing a poem or a story around those
cultural symbols reawakens interest in
those literary forms.
 LITERARY WORKS BY WRITERS
FROM LUZON
In “The Kambubulag” (2013) the writer used
a Filipino cultural symbol of bad luck,
the kambubulag, to create the fictional
urban legend of the Kambubulag Road. Old
folk legends of the moth being a harbinger
of death is prevalent in Luzon. It signals the
reader to regard the woman and her
superstition as out of the ordinary.
 LITERARY WORKS BY WRITERS
FROM LUZON

Context is the background

of the text which may have
been influenced by the
author’s life, language,
society, and culture.
 LITERARY WORKS BY WRITERS
FROM LUZON

Diction is the choice of

words that suit the
writer’s intended
purpose.
LITERARY WORKS
BY WRITERS
FROM VISAYAS
Visayas is the smallest island group in the
Philippines. It is divided into three regions:
Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern
Visayas.
The major regional languages in Visayas are
Cebuano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Kinaray-a,
and Waray.
The seven main islands in Visayas are Bohol,
Cebu, Panay, Samar, Negros, Leyte, and
Masbate.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR
LITERARY WORKS FROM VISAYAS:
 Hinilawod(Western Visayas)—This is an epic that tells about
the adventures of three demigod brothers, namely,
Dumalapdap, Labaw Donggon, and Humadapnon. This
28,000verse epic is one of the longest epics in the world.
 “Sicalac
and Sicavay” (Central Visayas)—This is a creation
myth about how man (Sicalac) and woman (Sicavay)
came into existence through a bamboo shoot.
 “TungkungLangit and Alunsina” (Western Visayas)—This is a
creation myth about the gods Tungkung Langit and
Alunsina.
Tungkung Langit and Alunsina excerpt (Visayas)
 One day, Tungkung Langit told Alunsina that he would be away from
home for some time to put an end to the chaotic disturbances in the
flow of time and in the position of things. However, despite this
purpose, Alunsina sent the breeze to spy on Tungkung Langit. This
made Tungkung Langit very angry upon knowing about it.
 Immediately after Tungkung Langit’s return from his trip, he scolded
Alunsina, saying that it was ungodly of her to get jealous, considering
that there are no other creatures living in the world but the two of
them. A quarrel ensued between Alunsina and Tungkung Langit.
Analysis:
 Although this was a creation myth, the excerpt presented above was
applicable to present-day situation on how gender roles were
stereotyped—the woman as emotional/ jealous, and the man as
emotionally distant and responsible (doing the hard labor).
LITERARY WORKS
BY WRITERS
FROM
MINDANAO
Mindanao is the second largest island group in
the Philippines. It is divided into six regions:

Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern

Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato,
Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and
General Santos), ARMM (Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao), and Caraga Region.
Themajor regional languages in Mindanao are
Chavacano, Maguindanao, Maranao, and Tausug.
The region is generally inhabited by Muslims.
Although they are no longer a majority, the Islamic
culture is still evident.
Large groups of ethnic minorities can be found in
Mindanao, such as Maranao, Magindanao, Ilanun,
and Sangil. These groups are also referred to as
Moro. Meanwhile, the following groups are found in
the uplands: the Bagobo, Bukidnon, Manadaya,
Manobo, and Subanon.
BELOW ARE THE MAJOR LITERARY WORKS
FROM MINDANAO:
 Bantugan—This is a Maranao epic that tells about the brave
Prince Bantugan of Bumbaran whom no one dares to
challenge. King Madali is jealous of his brother Bantugan and
commands his people not to talk to Bantugan. This prompts
Bantugan to leave their kingdom.
 Ag Tobig nog Keboklagan or The Kingdom of Keboklagan—
This is a Subanen epic that is chanted or performed during
their week-long buklog festival. It tells the life and adventures
of an extraordinary hero named Taake.
 Ulahingan—This is a Manobo epic about Agyu and his family who fled due to a
conflict with their rulers. A fairy guides them and promises to grant them immortality
after they surpass various challenges.
Indarapatra at Sulayman—This is an epic about
four creatures that came to wreak havoc in
Mindanao. King Indarapatra sends his brother
Prince Sulayman to save the land from the
creatures.

Tuwaang Attends a Wedding—This is a Bagobo

epic about a hero named Tuwaang who attends
the wedding of the Maiden Monawon.
Tuwaang Attends a Wedding excerpt (Synopsis and translation by E. Arsenio
Manuel)
 Finally,only Tuwaang and the Young Man of Sukadna were left. The Young
Man of Sukadna threw Tuwaang against a boulder. Tuwaang resurfaced
and got hold of the Young Man of Sukadna. Once again, the Young Man
of Sukadna confronted Tuwaang. Tuwaang was thrust into the earth and
further sank into its depths—into the Underworld. There, Tuwaang asked for
Tuwaha’s help, the god of the Underworld, to defeat the Young Man of
Sukadna. As Tuwaang surfaced, he summoned the golden flute in which
the Young Man of Sukadna keeps his life.
Analysis:
 From the excerpt, we can infer that Tuwaang cheated on the Young Man
of Sukadna. Given the events in the excerpt, the fight between Tuwaang
and the Young Man of Sukadna was a match, with both bearing
extraordinary strength. However, Tuwaang enlisted the help of Tuwaha,
allowing him to defeat the Young Man of Sukadna. Had he fought fairly, the
 LITERARY WORKS BY WRITERS
FROM LUZON
TIPS
Toknow the context of any literary work lets
you gain a deeper insight into its theme and
meaning. Here are two ways to get the
context of a literary work:
by doing a close reading of the text
byidentifying sociocultural elements
present in the text
1. Form a group of three.
2. Analyze the epic: G1.IBALON/IBALONG , G2. SICALAC AND
SICAVAY, G3. INDARAPATRA AT SULAYMAN (A copy is available
online.)
3. With your group, discuss the answers to the following:
 Describe EACH character and their abilities.
 What Filipino traits are shown in the story?
 Describe the plot.
LEARNING
 IdentifyTASKS:
and describe the conflict(s) in the story.
 What is the theme(s)?
4. Present your analysis through a slide presentation. Be ready to