Region 3

Literature

Legend and folklore has it that the name OLONGAPO was derived in context from the phrase "ULO NG APO" or Old Man's Head.

The story is that there was once a tribe whose people were disunited. A wise, old man seeing the evils that disunity sow among his people,
exerted great efforts and united the tribe. A group of villains, however, did not appreciate the fruits of the old man's efforts. They bitterly
disliked the idea of the tribe having a true and good leader. One day, the wise, old man just disappeared. After a long search, the old man's body
was found but the head was missing. The natives launched diligent efforts to locate the severed head of their leader. However their efforts
proved futile. But the search did not end there. A boy, who made a vow not to stop until he could find the old man's head, indefatigably
continued to look for it. Then one day, he came upon the old man's head resting on the tip of a bamboo pole. The villains, apparently, wanted to
disgrace the wise, old man so that disunity and its evils would again prevail among the natives. Upon seeing the head, the boy run back to his
people crying, "ULO NG APO" around the village. The phrase suck and the place was known as it is today - OLONGAPO. Legend also adds that the
old man's head became the symbol of the natives unity.

Music

. Atin ku pung sing sing - plaintive folksong about the promise of a girl to a man who finds her lost ring. (Pampanga)by Mabuhay Singers

. Atsing Rosing - another harana song, in which the singer exalts ‘Atsing Rosing’ by offering her fantastic assortment of gifts. (Pampanga)by
Andy Alviz

. O kaka, o kaka - another ‘‘basultu’’which is perfect for dancing. Many grandmother also sang this as lullabye to put their ‘apos’ to sleep.
(Pampanga)

. Basulto - sacritical love song with an accompanying dance. It originated in Victoria, Tarlac and has Pampango influences.

Dance

"Abaruray" is a construction of the words "Aba" and "Ruray" is an exclamation which is equivalent to Hey! or Hai in english Ruray is a nickname
For Aura. This dance known in the Philippines be several name such as "Hapayan",Tagayan, Pandango sa Baso and Abaroray.In a social gathering
in the Remote "barrios" of the Philippines it is customary offer wine to visitors.The offering usually made by a young lady. She goes arround with
glass and bottle of native wine offering a drink to a visitors. The wine offering is a signal of beginning of folk dancing and singing.

Architecture

Tarlac’s Capital is one of the oldest church in the province – the San Sebastian Cathedral or
more colloquially known as the Tarlac Cathedral. The parish has an interesting piece of
history, the church has been there even before Tarlac became an independent province.

Tarlac City was once part of Pampanga and the town is said to have been established in 1686
by the priests who were assigned in Magalang. The church was founded on the same year and
was administered by the Augustinians from Pampanga until 1725. Two years after (1727), the
church got separated from its distant matrix and was declared as an independent parish.

The first parochial building was established in 1740 by Father Agustion Barriocanal. A wood
and stone church was later build by Father Baltazar Gamarra in 1872 and was completed in
1890 by Father Fermin Sardon. The church, however was utterly destroyed during
the second world war and the current building was rebuilt and completed in 1945.
 Film

Directed by: Jason Paul Laxamana

Set in: Pampanga

Magkakabaung (or The Coffin Maker) is just as melancholic as its title suggests. Allen Dizon plays
Randy, a single father who accidentally kills his eight-year-old daughter (Felixia Dizon) when he
neglectfully gives her the wrong medication. After dealing with insensitive provincial nurses,
sleazy businessmen, and his estranged wife, Randy wrestles to give his daughter the burial she
deserves while ultimately struggling to bury his own guilt.(2014)

Directed by: Carlo Catu

Set in: Pampanga

My Life with a King poetry is the star of this indie film, where high school student Jaypee
(Ronwaldo Martin) forms an unlikely friendship with the King of Kapampangan Poetry, Conrado
Guinto (Francisco Guinto). We follow Jaypee as the elderly Conrado teaches him a thing or two
about poetry to impress the girl he likes. More than that, he also learns more about a unique
hometown culture he didn't even know existed. (2015)

Theater

The comedia or moro-moro play for a long time. Almost every town boasted of a comedia writer and a theater group. The lavish and
pompus comedia that Juan Alvarez Guerra saw in the 1880s in Albay has been so well described. Count on the Bikol to write protest comedias
Comedia ni Hadeng Grimaldo sa Reinong Irlanda by Sabas Armenta and Drama en Comedia de la Vida Conde Urbano by Juan Miraflor. The first
is a deviation from the Moro as villain theme; the second advocated democracy and favors electing town leaders.

Visual arts

Asar-Talo by Rain Libiran (Bulacan)

- It is made by Kusot, paint, found objects, plaster of paris plywood(Bulacan)

Sambulat by Manuel Bagtas (Bataan)

- Neo-realism style is reflected in the way he uses what he calls ‘’traditional subjects’’.

PROVINCES OF REGION 3

.Aurora -Baler

.Bataan -Balanga City

.Bulacan -Malolos

.Nueva Ecija -Palayan City

.Pampanga -San Fernando City

.Tarlac -Tarlac City

. Zambales - Iba
REGION 5
Literature

Bicol Literature at the crossroads

“Bicol literature is poetry, novel or fiction written about Bicol. Not necessarily in the Bicol language, not necessarily published in Bicol, and not necessarily by a
Bicolano, but it’s about Bicol. Meaning, if it’s a short story the setting is in Bicol or its character is a Bicolano. It’s about Bicol,”. The definition of Bicol Literature was
evolved, through time and space histories. It is always a literature of displacement.

Music

The Kubing-The bamboo jaw harp

One of the few well known musical instrument from the philippines other than the kulintng and gansa, the kubing is a type of jaw harp made
from carved bambooneed that is played on the lips. The Bisayans know this instrument as ‘subing’.

Subing was a Jew’s harp- a twanging reed plucked between the lips or teeth with the open mouth as a variable resonating chamber, and since it
sounds could be shaped into a kind of code words understood only by the player and his sweetheart, it was considered the courting instrument
part excellence. -William Henry Scott

Dance

. Pantomina (Spanish for pantomime) was originally a wedding dance from the towns of Bicol’s Estandarte and Sorsogon subregions. This dance
is traditionally performed during wedding festivities by the couple and their visitors. The dance is still popular in Bicol Region even up to this
time. This pantomina is very popular in the northern part of Samar especially in towns of Allen and Capul – both directly facing Bicolandia.

. Barn Dance is any kind of dance involving traditional or folk music with traditional dancing, occasionally held in a barn but these days , much
more likely to be in any suitable building.
Architecture

Bato Church- In the latter part of 16th century, the church they built is the St. John the Baptist Church also known as the “Bato Church” in the
town of Bato, Province of Catanduanes. It is sited in the town proper of Bato. Beside the highway parallel to the extensive Bato River.The church
is built with mortar and coral limestones designed to withstand the strong storms that batters the island yearly. It is a heritage that the current
day Catanduanes values until today.

At the moment, the St. John the Baptist Church of Bato is the oldest church in the province that has stood the test of time and frequent violent
typhoons, earthquakes and other natural calamities.

Film

‘’Inay’’- a locally produced film made it to the top 5 finalist in the 2 nd Penafrancia Film Festival 2014 by Cristina Evangelista Aureus .This story is
all about Elena Abarando a mother who is has a strong faith and believe in God .

Theater

The myth of Daragang Mayon is a timeless tale of love that almost every Bicolano knows. It is the story of Magayon (beautiful maiden), the only
daughter of chieftain Makusog, and Ulap (Cloud), the brave son of a chieftain from another region. They fall in love and are engaged when
Pagtuga, a jealous suitor foils their plans to marry. Pagtuga kidnaps Makusog and threatens to kill him unless Magayon consents to marry him
instead of her beloved Ulap. To her great grief, Magayon gives up Ulap to save her father’s life. Magayon and Pagtuga are about to be wed when
Ulap disrupts the wedding and slays Pagtuga. Magayon rushes into the arms of Ulap but is struck by an arrow. As she lay dying in his arms,
Magayon is fatally stabbed in the back by one of Pagtuga’s men. The ill-starred lovers are laid to rest, together for eternity, in a mound of earth
that grew bigger and bigger with the passage of time, eventually becoming the volcano that is known as Mayon. 

Visual arts

Handy craft – one visual arts where people make things using only their hands or basic tools. The items are usually decorative and have a
particular use. Usually the term refers to the traditional methods of making things. The items often have cultural or religious value.This
handicraft represents he culture and tradition. It promotes the heritage of a country through the use of indegineous materials.
PROVINCES OF REGION 5 (Bicol region)
Albay -Legaspi City
Camarines Norte -Daet
Camarines sur -Naga
Sorsogon - Sorsogon City
Catanduanes -Virac
Masbate -Masbate City