The Lo-A

A Report by Ges Jaicten

●
 The form
A short poem, normally consisting of 3 to 4 lines. It
has to have a rhyme scheme usually being aaaa or
aabb. Sometimes a measure is also applied along with
the rhyme scheme.
 The tradition
It is typically practiced as a penalty during games that
are done during the blessing of the dead known as a
belasyon. Among the games are the bordon and
panyong palaran that are played in a circular form with
alternating male and female players.
 The themes
Its themes are typically sensual or absurd and intends
to be humorous to those that are listening. Often
having a logical conclusion which ends as being
funnyand absurd, or lewd and vulgar.
 Examples

Rosas, rosas nga Bulak, bulak sang

kamantigue tangkong
Soltero nga waay nobya, Dalaga nga wala sang
agi. nobyo, bingkong.
 Examples

Tapakan ko central, gupi Didto sa Bohol

Guwa kalamay, puti. May isa ka lalaki nga
manol
Panawag sa kasilyas, City
Hall.
 Examples

Nonoy hinugay paglabay-labay May ara lugar ako nga ginhalinan

Sa atubang sang amon nga balay Sa parte Aurora, nayon sa sidlangan
Basi malagari ka ni Tatay Madamo nga bulak ang akon gin-
Mawasi gid ang imo nga tinday. agyan
Solo gid ikaw Inday ang naluyagan
 Examples
●
Male: ●
Female:
Aton palapita isa ka Hardin gali ini sang
prinsesa paraiso
Nga nagapalinong sa Apang maiwat gid
puno sang granada, magbaton estado
Basi mabuyok ang Maayo kun manami ang
pinsar niya dangatan ko
Nga saakon siya Pero kun malain,
mamana kaloluoy man ako
 Examples
●
Male: ●
Female:
Abaw si inday wala gid Indi ako magpati sa imo
kaluoy sugid
Sang kabalakhoon ni Kay akon natandaan sa
Nonoy libro ni David
Bisan pa gani ang Nga ang imo gina sugid
gabok nga kahoy Lunsay lang gid mga
Nagatakas-takas kun butig
ako managhuy
 Mga Hampang
●
Bordon – Young men and women sit on the floor or
outside the house in a circle. There must first be an
“it” or “taya”. Then the group sings the bordon song
and while singing they pass around a ring or pebble,
hidden from the “it”.

●
Among the bordon songs is the song Singsing
 Ang Singsing
Singsing papanawa
Palibot-libota asta malabut
Sa Hari kag Reyna

Ang hari kag reyna

May mutyang trabungko
Dalaga si Inday
Nga maayo-ayo
 Ang Singsing
Dali-a sa paglakat
Singsing sang pagpadangat
Basi kon malipat
Yadtong huring nga makawat

Singsing ay abaw singing

Ay abaw nena, Ay abaw Neneng
Singsing ay abaw singing
Ay abaw nena, Ay abaw Neneng
 Mga Hampang
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Bordon –When they stop singing whoever has the
ring or pebble delivers a lo-a. If the lo-a recited does
not rhyme or the words do not fit as judged by the
group or the witnesses of the game, they shout
estangko. Otherwise they will shout bitor and clap
their hands. If the group is unsatisfied with the lo-a
that was recited they will sing “Tatay Meroy, walay
datsoy”.
 Mga Hampang
●
Panyong Palaran – It is similar with the bordon,
starting with the circular seating arrangment. But
this time the “it” would be the one to choose the one
to recite the Lo-A. While singing another song, the
“it” would tie a handkercheif over the head of
whomever he would like to recite the Lo-A.
 My thoughts
The Lo-A shows us the Ilonggo's tradition of
practicing a merry mourning ceremony. This
shows how we still come to respect the dead, but
mask it underneath entertaining mediums that
dampen the pain of the wounds left after loss. This
does not mean that we do not acknowledge the loss
of life, but rather because of our “family oriented
culture” we tend to be more inclined to resort to a
literary “pain-killer” in the form of these Lo-A
games.
 Conclusion
The Lo-A is an oral tradition that celebrates the
ilonggo's poetic intuition, artistry, wit and creativity.
This tradition was not exclusive to poets, but was
practiced by people who were considered as being
“common”. In this we can see that the ilonggo's
creative mind inhabits even the most mundane
crevices in our society.