Region VIII- Eastern

Visayas Literature
(folktales and
poems)

P R E S E N T E D B Y: M A C A R A I G ,
C H A R L E N E M A E F.
Eastern Visayas Eastern Visayas
• This region is the eastern boundary of
the Philippines.

• It encompasses the two large islands

of Leyte and Samar connected by the
Philippine Longest Bridge, and other
provinces and several minor islands.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 2

 Eastern Visayas

Waray are a subgroup of the Visayan

people primary language is Waray-Waray.

PROVINCES CAPITALS

Biliran Naval

Samar Catbalogan

Northern Samar Catarman

Eastern Samar Borongan

Leyte Tacloban

Southern Leyte Maasin

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 3

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 4
 BILIRAN
Biliran Island was known as Isla de Panamao. The term refers to
an ethnic fishing net. The present name, adopted between 17th
and early 18th century, was derived from a native grass called
borobiliran which grew abundantly in the island’s plains. The first
town named Biliran, was founded in 1712. During this time, the
island was a part of Cebu Province. On April 8, 1959. The island
was only made an independent province on May 11, 1992 by
virtue of Republic Act No. 7160, making it one of the newest
provinces in the country.
Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 5
 Samar Province

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 6

 SAMAR
Legend says that when the Spaniards arrived in Homonhon Island, they
met a wounded man and asked the name of the place, he replied "samad"
which implies of what had happened to him for he didn't understand
Spanish. So, the word "samad" was adopted with an alteration in the last
letter (from d to r). The name Samar was derived from the local dialect
"Samad", meaning wound or cut, which aptly describes the rough physical
features of the island that is rugged and deeply dissected by streams or a
multitude of rivers dissect the island in various directions like crease-
crossing wounds.
Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 7
 Northern Samar
Province

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 8

 NORTHERN SAMAR
The province is composed largely of low and extremely rugged hills
and small lowland areas. It also has small and discontinuous areas
along the coasts and its rivers are usually accompanied by alluvial
plains and valleys. The province is endowed with relatively rich and
fertile soil that most crops can grow on it.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 9

 Eastern Samar
Province

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 10

 EASTERN SAMAR
Eastern part of the island known as Ibabao and distinct from Samar
which was the name of the western part. Magellan called the place
where he landed at Homonhon Island "The Watering Place of
Good Signs".

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 11

 Leyte Province

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 12

 LEYTE
The island of Leyte is known as Tandaya during the 16th century.
Leyte is also known as the site of
the largest naval battle in modern history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf,
which took place during the Second World War.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 13

 Southern Leyte

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 14

 SOUTHERN LEYTE
Southern Leyte has contributed to the economic development of
the country by an inter-island transportation system, with ferries
transporting people and goods between Liloan and Surigao del
Norte in Mindanao. The province is well known for its quality abaca
products and the country's major producer of abaca fiber.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 15

Eastern Visayas
Literature
Eastern Visayas
Literature •
The literature of Eastern Visayas refers to the
literature written in Waray and Cebuano
by writers from the region.
• that it is usually Waray literature that is
being described.
• Waray literature that has been collected,
recorded, and documented by scholars and
researchers, a movement largely spurred by
the interest of German priests.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 17

Eastern Visayas
Literature
• Fr. Ignatio Francisco Alzina
documented the poetic forms. He
also described the susumaton and
posong, early forms of narratives.
• Theater tradition was very much
in place – in the performance of
poetry, rituals, and mimetic
dances.

Sample Footer Text 18

Eastern Visayas
Literature • Eco de Samar y Leyte - a long running
magazine in the 1900s, published articles
and literary works in Spanish, Waray and
English.
• Sanghiran San Binisaya - writers as well as
the illustrados in the community banded
together for the purpose of cultivating the
Waray language.
• Fiction in waray did not flourish because it
lacks a venue for publication

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 19

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 20
Sample Footer Text 21
 Bowaon and Totoon (Falsehood and Truth)
(Waray) by Eduardo Sabile

• "Bowaon and Totoon" is a story about two friends who are

very different from each other. Bowaon is portrayed as the
aggressive one, while Totoon is more patient and
compassionate. The story reflects the conflict between these two
characters, showcasing their contrasting qualities. Bowaon is
characterized as an impatient and envious man, while Totoon is
depicted as a kind and optimistic individual. The story unfolds
in various settings such as a village, a forest, a reef, and a
palace, and involves other characters such as a king, a princess,
and a dead body, among others. This story is a parable that is
part of Waray literature, a regional literature in the
Philippines, and it explores themes of truth and falsehood,
patience and impulsiveness, and kindness and aggression.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 22

 An Balud - Translated by Lilia Tolentino, SPC
(Waray Poems)

Daw nasusunog sidsid han langit pati han dagat nagdadalit

Bangin ha unhan, may nagcaingin, may madlos huyog hinin

hangin.

Inin mganga balud, mulayan han dagat nga dit na calawdan,

nagbabalarbagat.

An gabi nga dulom, an tubig maranggat ng nacacaliaw manga

dumaragat.

• Heaven and sea seem to be on fire. Perhaps there’s a kaingin

somewhere There’s a strong wind blowing the waves. These
waves are toys of the sea Coming from the ocean Where night
encounters the dark. Bright waters give hope to seamen.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 23

 An Balud is a Waray
poem that portrays
feelings of longing,
loneliness, and sadness.
the story of a person who
misses someone dearly
who is no longer there

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 24

 Aningal Tikang ha Huron
by Kan Iluminado Lucente

Aadto kuno ha sawang

An damo nga kalipayan
Sadto kuno tirok
Ngatanan nga kaupayan.

Waray gud liliwon

Ngan waray gud kakawang
Ngan bis’ ano nga ungad’on
Han tawo didto ha sawang

Waray man daw ada didto

Panhune han katamsihan;
Waray didto mga maya
Mga sabong nga aranihan.

Ngan damay kabab’ihan

Burungyog panginoon
Ha bukid, mga patag
Ug ha mga hagnaon.

Ha amon pagkakablas
Waray gad pagtipa;
Ha sawang nga kabuhi
Waray ko man kaipa.

Kay dinhi may pagsanag man

Han adlaw ngan han bulan
Sample Footer Text Ngan dinhe an huyuhoy 2/8/20XX 25
 Aningal Tikang ha Huron
by Kan Iluminado Lucente
translated

In the wilderness, they say,

There are many joys.
There, hidden, Is all that is good.
Nothing will be lost,

And nothing will be lacking,

No matter what man does In the wilderness.
There, it seems,
There is no hint of sorrow;

There are no mayas (birds),

No common flowers.
And women are scarce,
Scattered lords In the mountains, the plains,

And in the fields. In our nakedness,

There is no shame;
In the life of the wilderness,
I have no regret.

For here, too, shines

The sun and the moon,
And here the breeze is a whisper
Of the coming of prosperity.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 26

 Aningal Tikang ha
Huron is a beautiful
Waray poem that
seems to reflect on the
simplicity and richness
of life in the wilderness
(sawang), possibly
symbolizing a simpler,
more natural state of
being.
Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 27
 Ehoes from Farm by Jonatham T. Jefferson
Translated by the Staff of Leyte- Samar Studies

They say it is in town that many joys are to be found that it is

there where good things abound.

Nothing is wanting, they say, nothing is unobtainable whatever

man may in town desire.

But surely there no bird songs are heard. No mayas are scattered
in the field of ripening grain.

And sometimes night finds them still companionably eating in

the hills, the plains, and in the ricefields.

Of our poverty I don’t complain, for life in town I have no envy.

For here shines as well the sun and the moon and here the gentle
breeze is balm for weariness.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 28

 Echoes from the Farm is a
poem that seems to contrast
life in the city with life on the
farm. It suggests that while
the city is often seen as a
place of joy and abundance,
the farm, despite its
hardships, also has its own
merits.
Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 29
 Mga Bukad ha Mayo (An Excerpt)
kan Eduardo Makabenta

Magpakaruruyag ngan pinili,

burak ngan tsampaka, marol nga hamili,
rosas, asusenas, rosal nga mahambot
nga nagangalimwag sa hangin talambot,
an ira alimyon abot ha hirayo.
Magpakawiwili nga bukad ha Mayo.
Bukad nga kadam’an luob an ar’tuna,
magpakabibihag ha panhunahuna,
may walingwaling ngan may mga manan-aw
Nga makalilipay ha mata pagtan-aw,
may sangyaw, may diri, mga masarayo,
magdamit malaya, di bukad ha Mayo.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 30

 Mga Bukad ha Mayo (An Excerpt)
kan Eduardo Makabenta Translated by the Staff of Leyte- Samar Studies

How lovely and how choice are the ilang-ilang, champaca and sampaguita the
fragrant roses, rosal and azucena: their scent fills the air and is wafted far
away… sweet flowers of May.

Flowers cover our native land so exquisite they captivate the mind the waling-
waling and other orchids with colors to delight the eyes loved or not, they are
still admired though they wither fast, they are flowers of May.

Even the common gumamela in the morning very proudly blooms, the
calachuchi, the marigold, have beauty and fragnance to rival others, we don't
have to go to other places, we have many flowers of May.

Flowers of all kinds have we no need is there to name them, there are plant
flowers, and live flowers, too, who are the adornment of our existence,

Flowers that can burn our hearts like fire in month of May.

Many of these flowers come from afar they have blossomed from ailen seeds of
have been transplanted from other lands their beauty has no price… yet they
are not my choice I prefer our own flowers of May.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 31

 Mga Bukad Ha Mayo is a
Waray poem that beautifully
describes the blossoming of
flowers in May. The poet,
Eduardo Makabenta, uses
vivid imagery to capture the
essence of different flowers
and their enchanting beauty.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 32

 The Least Miracle
by Carlos A. Angeles

Someday there will be sudden miracles

Conjured in the potent noon and male hour
And shall be no news, nor shall appear in papers.
In the only bed then in the old house
I lay with my leg broken from a fall
And bathed in my own blood and marrow.
We all thought wrongly I might die,
And for a time I could not walk again.
It was a sorcerer who limned a fertile cross
Above my wound-then I let fall my crutches.
And those in the gallery, upon seeing, knelt
Before the formal triumph of the saint,
While my father wept for me who had
The last, the least faith of us all.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 33

 The Least Miracle by Carlos A.
Angeles is a poignant poem
that depicts a person's
longing for a miracle in the
face of suffering and
adversity.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 34

The way to get started is to
quit talking and begin
doing.

2/8/20XX 35
 Thank You
Presenter Name:
MACARAIG, CHARLENE MAE F.

Sample Footer Text 2/8/20XX 36