Course Title: GE 224 Ethnographic Literature

Brief Course Description: An introductory course on ethnographic

representations of diverse Filipino society and culture through literary expressions
and texts.
Time Period: Finals
Instructor: Adrian Y. Franco
Lesson: 08.2
Topic: Ilocano Literature Feature – The Poems of Leona Florentino

Leona Florentino had a very brief life. She just lived for 35 years, and had written
only a handful of poems. However, during her lifetime (1849-1884), writings by a
woman were never heard of.

Born to a family of prominence and wealth in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur on the 19th of
April in 1849, Florentino was the first Filipina who wrote poetry in the Philippines,
composing her first poem at age 10.

She did not receive any college education because the women were prohibited to
study during her time. Her mother, Isabel Florentina, tutored her when she was
just a child and a priest—Rev. Evaristo Abaya, curate priest of Vigan—later taught
her to speak and write in Spanish.

Marriage came early to Florentino at the instigation of her father Marcelino Pichay
Florentino, then the wealthiest man in Vigan (known as Ciudad Fernandina
before). At the age of 14, she was wed to politician Elias Llanes de los Reyes, who
was the alcalde mayor of Vigan at that time.

Florentino wrote bilingually in Spanish and Ilocano and was the first Filipina to
publish her work in Europe and the United States.
As mentioned in the book, “A Brief History of Iloko Literature” by Leopoldo A.
Yabes, her poetry can be found in the public libraries of Paris, London, Madrid,
and in our own National Library.

Her 22 poems were presented posthumously at the Exposicion General de Filipinas

in Madrid in 1887, some three years after her death. It was presented again at the
International Exposicion in Paris in 1889 and at the St. Louis International
Exposition in Missouri in 1904.

Florentino is recognized as the “Mother of Feminist Literature” in the Philippines.

Because of her skillful way of delivering her verses, she was considered the
“bridge” from oral tradition to written poetry. Her works were excellently lyrical
and she recited them in occasions like birthday celebrations, anniversary and other
events.

She would promise to write a poem to her friends or relatives and everyone would
await the moment when she would express her verses publicly or secretly.

Leona grew up to be adept in horseback riding and smoking cigars. Her ways were
not acceptable even for her father.

She had five children, and the most notable was Isabelo de los Reyes. Beloy (son’s
nickname) became a well-known labor leader and public servant. It was this son
who introduced her poetry to the world.

One of her most famous poems is Nalpay A Namnama (“Blasted Hope”):

 “A Blasted Hope”
Eng. Trans.

What gladness and what joy

are endowed to one who is loved

for truly there is one to share

all his sufferings and his pain.

My fate is dim, my stars so low

perhaps nothing to it can compare,

for truly I do not doubt

for presently I suffer so.

For even I did love,

the beauty whom I desired

never do I fully realize

 that I am worthy of her.

Shall I curse the hour

when first I saw the light of day

would it not have been better a thousand times

I had died when I was born.

Would I want to explain

but my tongue remains powerless

for now do I clearly see

to be spurned is my lot.

But would it be my greatest joy

to know that it is you I love,

for to you do I vow and a promise I make

it’s you alone for whom I would lay my life.

Leona died at the age of 35 after she contracted tuberculosis. This was the reason
cited by her husband Elias for prohibiting her from seeing her children.

In this monologue, Leona’s life story is revealed. It included some of her lyrical
works as translated from Ilocano or Spanish. It was performed at the Cultural
Center of the Philippines during the decade of the 90s produced by the Women’s
Desk headed then by Fe Buenaventura Mangahas. The late Adul de Leon
performed as Leona during the first production, followed by Connie Chua.

Presently, Leona Florentino has a sculpture at the Plaza fronting the house where
she lived in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Her huge, spacious, former home in Vigan has been converted into the offices of
the Provincial Tourism Center, the Vigan Heritage Commission, and the site of
Casa Leona, a restaurant named in Leona Florentino’s honor.
The following are two more poems by Leona Florentino with its original Ilocano
version and Tagalog translation.

PANAGPAKADA

Timudem man! O Imnas ni ayat,

ti un-unnoy toy seknan ni rigat;
imatangam, O puso ket imutektekannak
anusem a paliiwen toy daksanggasat.

Daksanggasat konak a ta maipusay

toy naldaang unay a bangkay;
ngem ni lagip dinto met bumalakday,
agnanayonto laeng a sitatarabay.

Kas panagpakada dagitoy nga innak baliksen,

ta toy bagik maipanaw kadagita taeng;
taeng ni ragsak, liwliwa nga innak lak-amen,
dinto met mapunas nga innak pampanunoten.

Silaladingit toy puso nga agpakada,

Adios laing, napusaksak nga asusena;
Iti sayamusom ti barukongko ipenpennaka,
tapno dinto maumag ti agdaplay a banglona.
 Siaaddaakto laeng, ti taeng ni alinaay,
ta ditoy panunot salemseman ni tarumpingay;
tarabayennakto ni napait a liday,
ket isunto kaniak ti mangay-ay-ay.

Dios ti kumuyog, O napnuan sayaksak,

nga esmanto dagiti agay-ayat;
Dios ti kumuyog, salimetmetmo mangalasag,
ta tapno dayta sudim, taknengmo ti di marakrak.

ANG PAGPAPAALAM
(Panagpakada)

O Mutya ng pag-ibig, ako’y dinggin

Nasadlak sa hirap at dumaraing;
O Puso, maanong amutan ng tingin,
Ang kaawa-awa’y iyong pansinin.

Tunay ngang kaawa-awa

Itong inulila ng yumao
Nguni gumagaang ang pakiramdam
Pagkat alaala mo’y laging kaakbay.

At bilang pamamaalam
 Sa iyong piling ako’y lilisan
Pagkat nalasap ko ang tuwa at ligaya
Na hindi mawawala sa aking alaala.

Malungkot akong magpapaalam--

Adyos, Liyag, mabangong asucena;
Sa aking masamyong dibdib itatago kita,
Nang ang bango mo’y di na maglaho pa.

Ngayo’y lagi nang kalong ng katahimikan

At kasa-kasama ng mapait na lumbay
Pagkat sa diwa ko’y umiibis ang kalungkutan
Nagbibigay-wari ng kahabagan.

Samahan ka ng Diyos, O punong-puno ng sigla

Gayundin yaong sa pag-ibig nagnanasa,
Samahan ka ng Diyos, ikaw na nagtatago ng pag-irog
Ang puri mo’t dangal kailanma’y di madudurog.

AS-ASUG TI MAYSA A NAPAAY

Nasnebanak ti nasaem a sasainnek, ay ayat!
ta diman la agtanak ti lak-amen a tuok ken rigat;
isuna kadin isunan; ala isunan yantangay detoy biag,
diak duaduaenen a suminan itoy bagik a daksanggasat.
 Ay, ayat, ayaunayen ti sanaang
ni patay sumken nakalkaldaang
ta iti maysa nga agayat a dida pagayatan,
nakasaksakit nakem a maimatangan.

Narangas dagiti laingmo ken sayaksakmo naulpit,

nadawel, kitaem man toy silaladingit;
ta naallilaw man dagitoy matak idi a buybuyaek,
ta iti inanama ken talek isuda kaniak ti namatalged.

Ngem eppes man dagidi nga inanama,

ta diak impapan a kastoy ti tungpalna,
tungpal tanem ket itan ti nagbanaganna,
datoy bagik ta isu ti kaikarianna.

MGA HINANAKIT NG ISANG NABIGO

(As-Asug Ti Maysa A Napaay)

O Pag-ibig, sa makikirot na hibik ako’y natitigmak

Sapagkat ayaw pumayapa ng dusa at hirap;
O maanong tumigil ka na sa pananalasa
Pagkat walang alinlangang buhay ko’y papanaw na.

O Pag-ibig, anong hapdi, anong sakit,

Kamatayan kang sumasanib
 Dahil ang umiibig na hindi iniibig
Napakasakit, napakakirot sa pangmasid.

Kay lupit, kay lupit ng kilos mo’t sigla,

Iniiwan akong nagdurusa;
Nalinlang na ganap ang aking mata
Winasak ang tiwala at aking pag-asa.

Ngunit ang umasa’y walang katuturan

Hindi ko akalaing ito ang kahihinatnan
Bangkay ako ngayong naturingan
Pagkat wala nang halaga ang aking katawan.