Representative Texts

from the
Regions
Studying our local literature from Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao enables us to identify ourselves with local
themes, languages, doctrines, settings, cultures, identities,
and lifestyles, as well as national issues and perspectives.
We hear the hopes, fears, and sorrow of ordinary people–
the pulse and soul of a nation–as the stories mirror the
society around us. These local works across languages
enhance our national fabric and identity as a people.
Sometimes, we underestimate the importance of local
literature in the history that is continually evolving in the
Philippines; however, it is very important to preserving our
rich heritage.
LITERATURE OF LUZON
Luzon, being the largest and most populous island
in the Philippines with eight regions, has a diverse
and colorful culture. Located in the northern
portion of the archipelago, it is the economic and
political center of the nation, being home to the
country's capital city, Manila. Its literature ranges
from the folktales, myths, legends, epics, poems,
riddles, and proverbs both ritualistic and non-
ritualistic.
 Dead Stars
(A Summary)
A short story by Paz Marquez Benitez (Luzon)
(For the full text, visit http://notes.dlszobel.edu.ph/files/2013-2014/DEAD%20STARS.pdf)

About the Author

On March 3, 1894, educator Paz Marquez-Benitez, was born in Lucena City, Quezon.
Benitez was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American education system
which used English as the medium of instruction. She taught at the University of the
Philippines’ English department from 1916 to 1951, acquiring a reputation as an outstanding
teacher.
She became an influential figure to many Filipino writers in the English language, including
National Artist Francisco Arcellana, who later emphatically declared, “She was the mother of
us all!”
In 1919, she founded "Woman's Home Journal", the first women's magazine in the country.
In 1928, she compiled "Filipino Love Stories," reportedly the first anthology of Philippine
stories in English by Filipinos, from the works of her students.
Notes to the Student
Dead Stars, written during the American Period in 1925, is the
masterpiece of Paz Marquez-Benitez.
At this time, English was newly introduced, and the writers were
struggling hard while using English as a medium of expression.
In this short story, Benitez did not only talk about love. Her writing is
significant as it reflects the spirit of the time. It depicts the language,
norms, and the manners of the people during this period. We can get a
glimpse of how marriage, fidelity, and courtship were viewed during the
American Period. This serves as a mode to compare the past and the
present, and the fading traditional culture and the predominating
influential culture.
Dead Stars revolves around a man, Alfredo Salazar, and his affairs.
Alfredo Salazar believes in true love and optimism to discover
ecstasy in its stir. Esperanza is the first woman he falls in love with.
The families of both are acquainted with each other and hence they
start a loving relationship. Both get engaged after three years of
their relationship. Alfredo is a lawyer who has strong desires and
wants warmth and compassion; however, Esperanza is an
impassionate woman having strong will and principles. Alfredo’s
love for her soon fades away when he meets Julia. Julia, now,
becomes a new object of his desire.
Julia Salas is sister-in-law of the Judge, who is a friend of Alfredo’s
father. Julia is an optimistic and enthusiastic person having her own
dreams and desires.
When Alfredo comes across her, he is strongly attracted to her. On
his visit to her with his father, he engages himself in conversation
with her and is attracted to her charm. Even he is so passionate
that he does not disclose his engagement to Esperanza.
To avoid the discovery of his fiancée, he keeps secrets from
Esperanza too. His eyes are doomed when he learns about Julia’s
return to his native town. With the fear of losing her, Alfredo decides
to declare his true feeling for Julia.
When the Church’s function ends, Alfredo goes to meet her, though
his fiancé is waiting for him. When he reaches there, he learns that
Julia has already known about his engagement to Esperanza. She
wishes him for his marriage and leaves him.
On his return home, he gets a double blow. He finds Esperanza talking to
her friend about loyalty and faithfulness. Alfredo senses a desire to
communicate. He supports the reason for craving and choice over
dishonesty.
Esperanza soon confesses that she knew about his affair with Julia. In
pursuit of his lust and heart’s content, she encourages him to cancel the
wedding. However, the wedding goes ahead as scheduled and Alfred
surrenders to reason.
Near Julia’s native town, Alfredo, after eight years, is sent to some work
duty. On his visit, he feels nostalgic and cannot resist his lust for Julia
and soon finds an excuse to meet her.
Julia is still single that forces Alfred to dream about starting a new life
with her; however, Alfredo finds that the feelings he had for Julia are
gone. He is content with his life, and the perceived love he had felt for
Julia all those years was like the "light of dead stars, long extinguished,
yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens."
LITERATURE OF VISAYAS
The Visayas largely practice farming as a means of
livelihood although the people also engage in fishing,
weaving, mining, and basket making. They have strong
Roman Catholic traditions merged with cultural elements
through centuries of interaction and inter-migrations.
Some of the earliest known works were documented by a
Spanish Jesuit named Ignacio Francisco Alzina during the
Spanish colonial period. Some of the widely known and
the only existing literature describing ancient Visayan
society are the Hinilawod and the Maragtas which were in
a combination of Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon.
 Farol de Combate
A poem by Marjorie Evasco (Visayas)

About the Author

Marjorie Evasco was born in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Visayas. Evasco writes
poetry in two languages, English and Cebuano-Visayan. She was a founding
member of two organizations promoting the cause of women writers: Writers
Involved in Creating Cultural Alternatives (WICCA) and Women in Literary Arts
(WILA). She has written many essays on women's poetry and is one of the
contemporary writers in the Philippines. She left Manila to regrow roots in her
home island, Bohol; she cares for a garden and plants trees. She is committed
to work for literary and cultural development and teaches graduate school.
I.
Mituwak na tuod ang uwan ug gianinaw ko
Ang kagabhion nga miasdang sa among lungsod.
Sa akong gipasilongan dinhi sa payag pahuwayan
Taliwa sa kabungturan, nakita kong gihiwa ang daang
Mangga sa dakong kilat nga mikanap sa kasadpan,
Gigukod sa nagdagan nga daugdog sa kasingkasing
Sa diwata sa kalikopan nga mibati’g kakulba-hinam
Sa panag-tagbo sa alisngaw sa huwaw ug sa bunok
Sa uwan, dala sa amihan karong ikasiyam nga buwan Sa akong
pagbalik sa akong naandan nga pinulongan.
II.
Mopauli ko sa akong banay, dala kining bungahoy
Gikan sa bukid nga akong gitamnan ug kalian-laing
Kahibulongang kahoy nga akong nahimamat dihang
Milangyaw sa ubang dapit sa gatuyok nga kalibotan:
Maalimyong peras, lunhaw ug lipaghong ang aping,
Masidlakong limon, dalag ug makapapas sa kauhaw
Sa ting-init. Tadlason ko ang karaang sementeryo
Diin ang akong kaliwat gapahuway sa kagabhion.
Dili nako sila pukawon sa ilang hingpit nga katulog,
Kay sama nila, lumalabay usab ako ning kalibutana.
III.
Didto sa kilid sa atabay nga gikubkob sa akong apohan,
Nahibaw kong gidan-agan na og usa ka farol de combate
Ang akong dalan padulong sa among pinuy-anan,
Nagtamod sa kinaunhang balaod sa panag-silingan:
Tabangan ang usa’g usa kutob sa mahimo sa inadlaw-
Adlawng buhat, kay kon mapawong ang suga sa gabii
Lagmit mapandol o madalin-as ang lumalabay, basin Unyag
mahulog sa atabay sa kadaghanan, mamatay.
Inig labay unya nako sa atabay, motimbag moinum,
Pasalamat sa silingang midaig sa farol sa kinabuhi.
Farol de Combate (Storm Lamp)
English Translation by Marjorie Evasco
I.
The rain falls lighter now and I gaze At the dark descended
onto our town.
From this mountain shelter I saw The old mango tree
struck down
By fierce lightning from the east, Thunder rumbling in the
heart
Of the guardian of the land, who thrills To the meeting of
the drought’s last sigh
With rush of rain brought by the northerlies This ninth
month of my return to my language
II.
I will go home to my people, bringing fruits From hills I had
planted to marvelous trees
I had met in my travels in other lands On this revolving
earth: fragrant pears,
Their fresh flushed cheeks, bright lemons, Yellow and
thirst-quenching in hot season.
I will go across the town’s old cemetery Where my
ancestors sleep in edgeless night.
I will not wake them in their supreme repose, I am transient
like them, simply passing through.
III.
I trust that beside the well which had been dug By my
elders, a storm lamp had been placed,
Lighting up the path toward home, the lamp- Lighter
minding the first law of neighborliness:
To help one another as best as one can in daily acts of
living, for if the lamp were put out, unlit,
Someone passing by might stumble or slide, Fall into the
neighborhood well and die.
When I pass by the well I will draw water and drink, Give
thanks to my unseen neighbor for the light.
LITERATURE
OF
MINDANAO
The literature of Mindanao is a diverse culture which
displays the features and culture of the Muslim people
in the Philippines. Mindanao has thirty-three ethno-
linguistic groups, which thirteen of them are Islamized;
nineteen are Lumads and third and fourth are Christian
settlers. Literature in Mindanao, especially the folk
literature in cultural communities as in other Filipino
groups, follow the oral tradition in that folktales, myths,
legends, epics, poems, riddles and proverbs are
handed down by word of mouth from generation to
generation.
Notes to the Student
Buyayang Buyayang is a Butuan folksong about a water strider that hardly
breaks the surface of the water as it makes its way across it. It is not the
same for communities affected by violent conflict, however. In the southern
Philippine island of Mindanao, the sound of gunfire and the screams of
residents often break the stillness of the rural landscape. Life is taken too
early, whether of a soldier, rebel, Moro, or Lumad (indigenous people).
Families flee to safety, leaving behind livelihoods and schooling. Peace
appears vague but the call for it continues.
*******
A water strider is a slender predatory bug that moves quickly across the
surface film of water, using its front legs for catching prey.
Buyayang Buyayang
(Water Strider)
A folksong from Butuan (Mindanao)
Buyayang buyayang buyayang sa tubig
Akoy nanakayan walay katig katig
Walay bugsay bugsay bukton ray pangkaykay
Pagdunggo sa baybay nagakapaykapay
Strider, water strider on the water
I go sailing with nothing, no outrigger
Not a paddle but just my arms flapping
And crazily I'm flailing once I get to shore
In Mindanao, we used to have a house
What used to be the house of our ancestors
They were gatherers of rattan and bamboo
To trade for little fishes from the sea
Minsay isang tatay payapang nag bungkal
Katabang ni nanay sa lupang gimahal
Naay isang paslit na nais mag-aral
Digmaan at sakit hinooy umiral
Once a father tilled the land peacefully
Helping mother tend the land they loved
Once a little child dreamed of going to school
But instead war and sickness were the rule

Sa yutang gisaad katin-aw sa tubig
Dayo ug lumad kalinaw ang ibig
Apan isang araw punlo ay umulan
Nawasak nahana munting kabuhayan
In this Promised Land, how clear the water
Native or stranger, clearly, we want peace
But one day the dark clouds rained bullets
Life and livelihood were all broken and lost
Didto sa Mindanao duna kami balay
Ang kanhi nga lagkaw ni nanay ug tatay
Sila gapanguhag huway ug bagakay
Arun pabayluag mga isdang gagmay
In Mindanao, we used to have a house
What used to be the house of our ancestors
They were gatherers of rattan and bamboo
To trade for little fishes from the sea
Minsay isang tatay payapang nag bungkal
Katabang ni nanay sa lupang gimahal
Naay isang paslit na nais mag-aral
Digmaan at sakit hinooy umiral
Once a father tilled the land peacefully
Helping mother tend the land they loved
Once a little child dreamed of going to school
But instead war and sickness were the rule
Halina't magmasid at maunawaan
Kuyog at kuliglig panay ang tagisan
May sa himpapawid sa radyo't lathalan
Come and look and understand
The beetles and the crickets make so much noise
It's broadcast all over the radio and the news
May sa himpapawid, may sa himpapawid
May sa himpapawid sa radio't lathalan
Ngunit di marinig ang tinig ng bayan
It's broadcast all over, it's broadcast all over
It's broadcast all over the radio and the news
But they can't hear the people's voice
In Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez, love is the
dominant theme of the story. It conveys the theme that
pertains to forbidden love. After reading the story, we can
conclude that “Love is not an emotion; it is a choice and
commitment.”
Buyayang Buyayang shows how the people in Mindanao
continue their struggle for peace. Oftentimes, peace is not
achieved because of differences in perspectives and
unwillingness to understand others. Even with our family
members and classmates, we may engage in petty fights. It
is important, however, to be at peace because it brings with
it contentment, harmony, order, and fulfillment

In Farol de Combate by Marjorie Evasco, the line “Once

a local, always a local” is evident as the persona goes back
home and appreciates her hometown and the
neighborhood’s simple acts of kindness. This poem is a
great reminder for us to always treasure our roots no
matter how far we have gone. What about you? Where are
your roots? How beautiful are your roots?
What is your stand on love? Do you agree or disagree on
the statement?
Directions: Write a position paper to express your
arguments. A position paper is a written report outlining
your attitude or intentions regarding a particular matter.
Follow the format and be guided by the rubric for scoring
(30 points).
FORMAT OF THE POSITION PAPER
I. Introduction ___A. Introduce the topic ___B. Provide background on the
topic to explain why it is important ___C. Assert your view of the topic.
II. Your Position ___A. Assert point #1 of your position _____1. Give your
educated and informed opinion _____2. Provide support/proof using more
than one source (preferably three)
III. Conclusion ___A. Restate your position ___B. Provide a plan of action
but do not introduce new information
Directions: Check the sample on the next page and create
a slogan with 5-8 words. Be guided by the rubric for scoring
(30 points).
Directions: Write a 7-line poem following the format below
on your answer sheet. Be guided by the rubric for scoring
on the next page (40 points).
Unique Title
Line 1 – Include significance of literature.
Line 2 – Include another significance of literature.
Line 3 – Include endurance of Philippine literature through
different periods.
Line 4 – Write the beauty of Philippine literature.
Line 5 – Write the beauty of Philippine literature.
Line 6 – Suggest how to appreciate own literature.
Line 7 – Give a challenge to the future generation.
Cebuanos have a rich oral tradition, including
legends, folktales, and folksongs associated with
specific locales. The generic form for poetry is
balak, characterized by the presence of enigma or
metaphor called balaybay or sambingay. The prose
narratives developed into the sugilanon or short
story, the first example of which is “Maming” (1901)
by Vicente Sotto, the “father of Cebuano letters”;
and later into the sugilambong or novel.
Of the many publications before the war, only
Bisaya has survived as literary outlet of Cebuano.
Because of the rise in prestige of English and later
Tagalog, postwar Cebuano literature was
downgraded to third class although Cebuano was
still the language of home and street. A new vigor
in poetry was contributed by bilingual writers
whose exposure to Western modes and styles
helped strengthen the poetic utterance with
irregular rhythms, precise and concrete diction and
practical attitudes.
Writers’ groups certainly contributed to literary growth,
notably the Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya (LUDABI) and
Bathalan-ong Halad sa Dagang (BATHALAD). The latter is
an offshoot of the former, which was at one time headed by
Marcel Navarra, the “father of the modern short story in
Cebuano.” By sponsoring regular workshops and contests
and publishing their outputs and entries, these groups have
encouraged younger writers to start writing, and older
writers to shift in style and attitude. The recent set of
bilingual writers consists of Mike Obenieta, Adonis Durado,
and Januar Yap who are members of the Tarantula group.
Matud Nila
A Cebuano love song
Words and Music by Wenceslao “Ben” Zubiri
Matud nila ako dili angay
Nga magmamanggad sa imong gugma,
Matud nila ikaw dili malipay,
Kai wa ako'y bahanding nga kanimo igasa,
Gugmang putli mao day pasalig
Maoy bahanding labaw sa bulawan
Matud nila kaanugon lamang
Sa imong gugma ug parayeg,
Dili maluba kining pagbati
Bisan sa unsa nga katarungan
Kay unsa pay bili ning kinabuhi
Kon sa gugma mo hinikawan
Ingna ko nga dili ka motuo
Sa mga pagtamay kong naangkon
Ingna ko nga dili mo kawangon
Damgo ko'g pasalig sa gugma mo
They Say
English Translation
People tell me that I am not worthy
To desire and aspire for your love
People tell me I can't make you happy
I have no gold or treasure or any wealth to
offer
It's my true love I promise to give you
It's worth more than what money can bring you
People say that you waste precious moments
To give me your love and your caress.
I will always have this deep emotion
It will never end for any reason
For here's the only way my life has meaning
Dreaming of the day you'll share your feelings
Tell me you'll ignore what folks are saying
That I've given up in desperation
Tell me that you'll wait - I'll keep on yearning
Till I earn the promise of your love

About the Author
Wenceslao "Ben" Zubiri (1911- 1969), also
known as Iyo Karpo, was a Cebuano
composer, actor, and media personality.
His most famous composition, for which he
wrote both the lyrics and music, is the song
Matud Nila (in English "They Say") in 1941.
Zubiri was born on the island of Cebu in
1911. From an early age, he was said to
have displayed an ability in singing and
music.
A street in Barangay Labangon in Cebu
City was later named in Zubiri's honor.
The version of Matud Nila at present time
was performed by Pilita Corales, a
Cebuano singer. The original version of this
song was first sung by Ben Zubiri himself.
Notes to the Student
Matud Nila is a classic Kundiman (Filipino term for love
songs) written in 1941 during the Japanese Period when
Philippine literature in English came to a halt and allowed
literature in the native languages to step forward. These
songs are used to serenade women as part of the phases
of traditional Filipino courtship. Matud Nila has been
labeled by some as the cultural anthem of the Cebuanos.
It is a very beautiful song about a man, pleading for love
from his beloved. It is part of the Filipino culture for woman
to consider the opinion of her family and relatives before
deciding to be in a relationship with a man.
This is a sad song about a man's expression of love and
hope despite the suffering of being deemed unworthy by
the people around them. The song ends with a message
that he will keep on yearning for her love with the hope
that his beloved will not be persuaded by the prejudice of
others.
Balaki Ko, ‘Day, Samtang Gasakay
English Translation
Ta’g Habal-habal a Habal-habal
A Cebuano poem by Adonis G. Durado
Balaki ko, Day
Samtang gasakay ta’g habalhabal.
Idat-ol og samut kanang imong dughan
Nganhi sa akong bukobuko
Aron mas mabatyagan ko ang hinagubtob
Sa imong kasingkasing.
Sa mga libaong nga atong malabyan
Gaksa ko paghugot
Sama sa lastikong
Mipungpong sa imong buhok.
Ug sa kainit sa imong ginhawa
Gitika kining akong dughan.
Ang mga balili unya
Nga naghalok sa ‘tong batiis
Isipon tang kaugaligong mga dila.
Dayon samtang nagakatulin
Kining atong dagan,
Mamiyong tag maghangad
Ngadto sa kawanangan
Aron sugaton ang taligsik
Sa uwan, dahon, ug bulak.
Recite to Me, Miss, a Poem while We Ride a Habal-habal
Recite to me, Miss
A poem while we ride a haba-lhabal.
Stick your chest closer
Here on my back
So that I can feel better the beatings
Of your heart.
With the potholes that dot our way
Embrace me tightly
Like the rubber bands
That you use to tie your hair.
And with the warmth of your breaths
Tickle this heart of mine.
And the amorseco
That kiss our legs
Let’s think of them as our own tongues.
Then while we’re speeding up
Our ride
Let’s close our eyes and face
The wide sky
To meet the drizzle
Of rain, leaves, and flowers.
About the Author
Adonis Durado (born on 1975) is a contemporary writer
and an award-winning Cebuano poet, visual journalist,
and graphic designer. He was born in Cebu City and is a
fine arts graduate from the University of San Carlos. In
2017, he received the Knight Fellowship from the School
of Visual Communication at Ohio University.
Durado has published four books of Cebuano poems. His
recent collection To Whom It May Not Concern
(Pahinungod sa Di Hintungdan) was a finalist of the 2019
International Book Awards.
According to National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares:
"Durado’s poetry glories in the richness of folk and popular
speech – earthy and playful, reckless and disciplined,
vulgar and sly, comic and (as in all good comics)
subversive. But it is also poetry that is vitally current and
global. Imagine Yoyoy Villame reborn as a poet and
graphic artist who fancies De Chirico and Magritte and
reads Derrida and Szymborska. Durado is one of the most
exciting poets now writing in the country, in any language."
Notes to the Student
Balaki Ko, ‘Day, Samtang Gasakay Ta’g Habal-habal
is a contemporary Cebuano poem that describes a
very common situation in the provincial areas – a
habal-habal ride – but the unique thing about this
habal-habal ride is that when you yourself
experience the words articulated by the persona you
would know that it has a romantic and somehow
sensual feel to it. The speaker, the driver of the
habal-habal, tells his passenger, a woman who is
most probably his lover, to hold on to him tighter for
him to feel her heartbeat more clearly against his
back. His want for her to cling to him tight can be
interpreted as an expression of love. This craving of
physical intimacy between the characters suggests
of young love, as young couples usually act as if
they cannot get enough of each other and have to
have their hands on each other constantly.
Mainly, the poem is about a young couple who go for
a ride on a habal-habal, with the driver using the
proximity as a reason for the girl to be intimate.
Matud Nila is a song that expresses the inner
thoughts of a man yearning for the love from his
beloved despite the suffering of being deemed
unworthy by the people around them. Suppose you
are the lover who will write a response song, what
would you say?
Directions: Write a five-line song in response to
Matud Nila using the melody of the song itself on
your answer sheet. Include a unique and creative
title. Be guided by rubric for scoring (30 points).