By
Melchor
F. Cichon
Updated:
August 13, 2017
(This
article was based on the paper which this writer read during the First
Provincial Conference on Aklanon History, Culture and Society, Second Floor,
Capt. Gil M. Mijares Bldg., 19 Martyrs St., Kalibo, Aklan, April 21, 2006.)
Aklanon
literature is alive and kicking! But it needs the support of everybody to make
it an enthusiatic part of the Philippine literature mainstream.
The word
Aklanon has two meanings. It may refer to the natives of Aklan and to their
language.
Aklanon
literature refers to all kinds of literary works in any languages written by
Aklanons, either published or unpublished. Or by other people about Aklanon
literary works.
For
several decades now Aklanons have been writing literary pieces in Spanish,
English, Tagalog, Hiligaynon, and Kinaray-a. Surprisingly, this writer has discovered
that Aklanons have been writing poems in Aklanon since 1568. One of these poems
is entitled Hambae Inakeanon written by an unknown Aklanon.
In 1925,
Gabriel M. Reyes published a novel, Toning. This 35-page novel in
Hiligaynon was published by La Panayana. It’s last paragraph summarizes its
story:
“Guincomosta
niya si Toning, hinalucan ang bata sing catapusan, cag tumaliuan nga ualay
guinbilin cundi ang masubo nga agui sang iya quinabuhi, nga nagapaguita sang
mapait nga bunga sang bisio, cag con sa cay Toning nagapaquita man sang
pagcaanyag sang virtud, cag pagcaquinahanglan sang caugdang sa isa ca babae sa
bug-os niya nga quinabuhi cag pagcahimtang.”
In 1926,
Peping Tansinko Manyas published a short novel entitled Tagiposuon nga
Hueowaran; Baeasahon Nga May Mataeupangdan. This 12-chapter novel tells about
the heroic deeds of Pedring and his wife Pasing to free their
fatherland from the colonizers. I still have to see a copy of this work,
for it seems that this is the first recorded Aklanon novel.
Included
in this work are the following poems by Manyas
“Sa Adlaw
Nga Kinamatyan nay Doctor Jose Rizal”, dated December 1, 1913. This poem tells
the significance of the death of Dr. Jose Rizal.
“Haead
Sa Adlaw Nga Kinamatyan Ku Napueo Ag Siyam Sa Akean”, 1913. This relates to the
death of the 19 Martyrs of Aklan. The English version of this poem was
published in the book Hiligaynon Literature: Texts and Contexts
(1992) edited by Lucila V. Hosillos.
The first
Aklanon translation of the Philippine National Anthem was translated into
Aklanon by G. Peping Tansinko Manyas. Here is his version:
“Kaeantahon nga Pilipinhon” (Marcha Nacional Filipina),
Sinueat nay G. Jose Palma;
Gin Inakeanon nay G. Peping Tansinko Manyas,
Musika nay G. Julian Felipe.
Eugtang nahagugmaan,
Mutya't adlaw sa Sidlangan,
Eakas nang kasilaw,
Kimo'y naga parayaw
Eugtang maparayawon,
Natawhan't mga tawong bantugan,
Manga ibang nasyon,
Ikaw paga tahuron.
II
Sa eangit kimong gatimbang,
Sa bukid, kadagatan.
Wasaag ag hangad ku tanan,
Ro imong Katimawaan.
Ro imong hayahay nga sa pakig-awayan,
Naga banaag,
Di nimo paeung makit-an.
Anang Adlaw ag Kabituonan.
III
Eugta't kalipayan ag pag hiliuyon,
Kimo'y hamungaya mag pahimunong;
Sa imong manga inunga himaya,
Mag pagin-matay kon ikaw eupigon.
I also did
my translation of our national anthem in November, 2003.
Here is my
version of our national anthem.
Banwang Hageangdon ni Jose Palma
Gin-Inakeanon ni Melchor F. Cichon
Sta. Cruz, Lezo, Aklan, November,
2003
Banwang haeangdon
Unga't Adlaw nga Oriente.
Sa imong dughan
Ro kaeayo gadabdab.
Banwa it gugma;
Duyan it baganihan.
Ro mga sumaeakay
Indi makaeapak.
Sa asul nga eangit, sa agahon
Sa bukid, sa eawod,
Ring binaeaybay gasiga,
Sa mahae nga kahilwayan.
Ro kasiga king bandera
Gatao't pwersa sa kadaeag-an.
Maski hin--uno ring bituon, ring
adlaw
Owa't pagkapaeong.
Eugta't kalipayan, eugta it
pagmahae.
Sa imong sabak himaya ro pangabuhi.
Gloria para kamon nga maghaead it
dugo
Kon kimo may magsipaea.
“Haead Sa
Pahayagang “Ro Akeanon”, April 26, 1913. This poem highlights the contributions
of this newspaper to the development of Aklan.
“Sa
Manga Kadaeagahan Nga Tubo Sa Akean”, April, 1914. This poem relates the beauty
of Aklanon ladies who are ready to offer their lives for their country.
Also in
this book is Manyas’ translation of the Spanish poem by Manuel Laserna
entitled: Eugta’ng Nahamut-an (Sinueat nay Manuel Laserna.). Its original
Spanish version is also found in this book.
In 1957,
Tente Undoy published Mga Bilisad-on. This includes 105 maxims in
Akeanon.
This is
how Tente Undoy describes bilisad-on or maxim:
“Ro
bilisad-on hay mga matimgas ag matadlong nga bisaea nga hanungod sa mga kamatuoran
sa kinabuhi sa ibabaw it kalibutan. Ro anang kusog ku rondayang mga kamatuoran
naga patadlong ku tiku nga ugali; nagapapatagumpa-aw it paino-inong
nahahababaeanga sa pag pangabuhi nga pa tunyo-tunyo; nagapabugtaw it
nagakinatueog nga mga tawo sa andang damguhanon; nagapapalipay it maayadayad sa
linaw it kalisdanan; nagata-o it pasalig sa tagipusu-on nga naga pabaya eon
lang sa hunod it maea-in nga paead; ag nagatuytoy sa daean nga gina iwagan it
owa naga amamaeong nga kahayag it sidlangan.”
Here are two
of them (unedited):
Item 7. Ro
pinaligos nga ugali mabudlay mabanlawan. Ro kaeangsa ku hugom it ugaling
watsayud ginakangil-ad it kadagayaan.
Item No.
11. Kinahangean nga duea-on ta ro pagkahadluk sa atong painoino ay kun ro tawo
ma-unahan it kahadluk sa atubangan it disgrasya, naduea eagi ro katunga ku
anang kusog sa eawas ag kapagsik ka hibaeo.
We can see
some of the old Aklanon poems in the book Contributions of the Aklan Mind
to Philippine Literature by Beato de la Cruz. In this particular
book, one can find some pre-Spanish literature, literature of the Spanish
period, Spanish writers in Aklan, and the writers in the vernacular.
But the
oldest Aklanon poem that this writer has known is The “Song of Balinganga”
Balinganga
was said to be the eldest son of Bangkaaya, one of the first Malayan datus who
migrated to Panay Island in 1212.
Nabor
(1968) gives us a good background of this poem:
The “Song
of Balinganga”
“Other
than the syllabary itself, the most antiquated sample of Old Inakeanon writing
that we have so far is the 1911 reproduction made by Capitan Juan Orbista of
the 1725 Moysing reproduction of the 1568 Kabanyag reproduction of the original
“Song of Balinganga.” According to tradition, the original and the rest of its
copies were written on hardwood (amaga) tablets.
The
Juan Orbista reproduction was submitted by Apolinar Orbista, Sr., eldest son of
the former, to the chairman of the Aklaniana Research Society in appropriate
ceremonies held at the Aklan College Auditorium in 1962.
In
his manuscript, Orbista (the elder) explains that his reproduction is but a
hokwa or a copy of a writing which goes back to Balinganga, The Orbista
Manuscripts, contains a number of other songs and poems in Inakeanon writing,
It also contains Orbista’s transcription of the famous Code of Kalantiaw from
the original syllabic writing system into contemporary Inakeanon graphics.”
Here
is the poem:
Hambae Inakeanon
Author: Unknown
I
Hambae
Inakeanon
Manat
saeaysayon
Hanongod
sa dato,
Nga
si Bangkaaya,
Ag
anang asawa,
Imaw
si Katorong,
Kat
sanda nga daywa
Mga
bataon pa.
II
Sanda
hay nagkita
Sa
sangka daeanon,
Daeagang
malangya
Miron
nga dongganon:
Ag
sanglit gaoy eon
Rato
nga daeaga,
Pomaeapit
dayon
Datong
miron kana.
III
Sinangpit
nat dayon
Nga
kana omaba,
Agod
di gaoyon,
Makapahoway
pa.
Dayon
na nga abhon
Ay
mana eat opa,
Kono,
kabog-at na
Kato
nga daeaga.
IV
Naghinadya
dayon
Miron
ag daeaga:
Nagpanaw
sa nayon
Kon
tawgon Tawaya
Nag-abot
panag-on
Sanda
nag-asawa,
Nagin
malipayon
Pangabohi
nanda.
This poem
was set into music by Mrs. Mila dela Rosa of Lezo, Aklan in August, 2010.
The
Aklanon oral literatures are found in our luwa, riddles, legends, proverbs, and
composo.
Luwa is a
form of poetry that is usually written in four lines. It used to be the first
stanza of corrido, that kind of poetry that relates the exploits of kings and
princes.
Because
luwa were recited in the wakes as a part of a punishment to whoever is the
loser in a game like konggit, truth or consequence, and bordon, they are very
much appreciated if the lines have rhymes, rhythms, and humor.
Luwa
have aaaa, aabb, and abab rhyme structure. Occasionally, we can find luwa
that have abcd endings.
Example of
an aaaa rhyme:
Pag-agto
ko sa Ibajay
May hakita
ako nga patay
Ginbagting
ko ra eagay
Mas
mabaskog pa sa lingganay.—Unknown
For
the aabb example:
Pag-agto
ko sa bukid
Nakakita
ako it ibid;
Paglingot
ko sa waea
Gatueok
kakon rang nobya.--Melchor F. Cichon
For
the abab ending, here is an example.
Igto sa
bukid
May busay
nga naga-ilig;
Kon
magpaligos igto si Ismid
May daeang
butong nga binulig.--Melchor F. Cichon
And for
abcd scheme, here is an example:
Ikaw ro
kalipay
Ku
tagipusuon kong gakusmaod,
Ikaw ro
nagpahamtang
Ku
probinsya it Akean sa bug-os nga kalibutan.--Cirilo Castillon, Jr.
There are
luwa with Spanish and English words:
Ora
pronubis
Ro habakae
ni Nanay ibis
Duminum
kubiskum
Ana ra nga
gintuom—Melchor F. Cichon
There are
bawdy luwa, but they are full of imagery. Here is an example:
Pag-agto
ko sa Boracay
Napusa ro
ay Inday nga tuway;
Pagkasayod
ka anang nanay,
Ana imaw
nga ginminueay.--Melchor F. Cichon
There are
luwa that have double meanings. These are the luwa that belong to the adults,
if they can decipher the meaning. Here two examples.
Masupsup
kunta ako
Sa maisot
mo nga tuway
Ugaling ra
diperensya
May
guardia nga anay. --Melchor F. Cichon
Maligos
kunta ako
Sa maisot
mo nga sapa
Ugaling ro
kinasaea
May
guardia civil sa tunga.--Unknown
There are
luwa that are really metaphysical. Here is one:
Kon gusto
mo gid man ako
Nga mangin
nobya mo;
Ro adlaw
imo nga tukuran
Agod indi
kita madueman.--Melchor F. Cichon
Here are
some contemporary luwa with traditional undertone.
Luwa:
Hara ro
pila ko nga mga luwa:
Si Inday
owa gid it kaeo-oy
Kay Nonoy
sa Kuwait nagapainit.
Kon imaw
ngani eamigon
Masuhot sa
haboe ni Ambeth.
***
Sa amon
nga barangay
Kadasig
magtubo ro paeay.
Nagasabud
pa eang si Tatay,
Nagapadaeawat
eo’t bugas si Nanay.
***
Ku
nagtaliwan nga eleksiyon,
Ro mga
pisuson nag-agto sa amon.
Ugaling
paghambae ko nga maboto ako kay Juan Posong,
Dayon ra
eumpat sa hagdan namon.
***
Ku
Ati-atihan 2005 sa Kalibo,
Sa
plaza nag-eapta ro mga tawo
Ay
nagpaburot ka armalite
Si
SPO1 Jonathan Moreño.
Patugmahanon
Like any
other people, Aklanons like riddles. Here are some of them.
Anwang
Magueang
eon si Isyang indi pa gihapon kantigo mag-iwang.
Aritos
Daywa ka
itlog, gakabit-kabit.
Kon
gapasueod, masakit; kon sa sueod eon, nagapamamit.
Aswete
Ro kaeo ni
Esko, puno it bueawan.
Maitum ag
boebueon, mapuea kon busikaron.
Atis
Batsihon
ra ueo, pero ra utok manami supsupon.
Si San
Pedro, gueoson ra gueo.
Baba
Bubon nga
madueom, puno it sanduko.
Bubon nga
madaeum, puno it espada.
Yabe
Sanggabiing
ungot, agahon eon nagabot.
Mga
Hueobaton
Like any
other people, Aklanons also have proverbs that serve as reminder to
everyone. Here are some of them:
Babaye, madanlog ro atong kalibutan.
Magdahan ka gid ay basi ka hidaphag
Ag ro imong alima hay maeapukan.
***
Babaye, ring kadungganan haeongi
Agod ring mga unga
Indi magpanunod king kahueoy-anan.
Komposo are
folk songs. Some Aklanon folk songs deal on environment like the following:
MAMUGON
Mamugon ako, mamugon
Sa tawo nga manggaranon;
Alas dos ako pakan-on, ay, ay,
Orasyon ako paulion.
Pag-abot ko man sa baeay,
Mangayo ako it humay;
Tinuro ako ni Tatay, ay, ay,
Una sa eusong ro paeay.
Alinon ko man ro paeay,
Eawas ko karon ginabudlay;
Kon buhi kunta si Nanay, ay,.ay,
Makaon ako, mapahuway.
MAGMAMANI
Kaming magmamani, duro sa kaimoe;
Kaming magmamani, nga makaeueuoy;
Kaming magmamani, nga owa't ikasuboe;
Among ginapakita ro mehoras namon sa Daja.
Ay sa kailo kaming magmamani,
Birang do among saya, kulintas nga mani;
Singsing ag pulseras, aritos nga mani,
Among ginapakita ro mehoras namon sa Daja.
TIKWI! ABAW RONG BANUG
Tikwi! Abaw rong Banug
Nga nagbalik sa ginpukanan.
Siniba ni Bukbulilaw,
Nga batadbataran.
Aklanons are also fond of tongue twisters especially when
they wish to joke non-Aklanon speakers. Here are some of them:
Nagakatunaw ro baeangaw
sa baeanaw.— -Melchor F. Cichon
Nagbakae it kueon si
Manong sa Dungon. -- Melchor F. Cichon
Nagbinalintong ro hurong
sa sueod it kueon.--Melchor F. Cichon
Nagdaeausdos ro mga puea
nga sapatos sa kilid it hunos-hunos.--Melchor f. Cichon
Nagdueoeom ro mga bituon
pagwahig ku madamoe nga gae-um.--Melchor F. Cichon
Nag-eaeaw ro mga manakaw
sa pagkaduea ku andang kaeaeaw.--Melchor F.Cichon, June 12, 2011
Naghayog ro eayog nga
niyog paglinog.--Maeara, July 23, 2011
Nagkaeaeaeunot ro eanot
sa idaeum it niyog.—-Melchor F. Cichon
Nagkueoy ro tueoy nga
aloy sa eambat ni Tay Anoy. --Jose Jose Ronald T.Inguillo
Nagmaeaeaea ro mga
daeaga sa Maeara. --Melcichon, Aug. 18, 2012
Nagpueaw ro antulihaw sa
paghinueat it paghueaw it uean sa may puno it dueaw.--Melcichon, May 21, 2013
As for the Aklanon written literature, we find them in
poems, short stories, novels, essays, and lately, flash fictions.
Except for
riddles, composo, proverbs and luwa, most of the Aklanon written poetry,
legends and short stories are in English. This is understandable because before
the advent of the internet, there were no venues for Aklanon literature. School
administrators would not even allow their students to publish Aklanon poems in
their school organs. If there were, they were very limited. We have for example
the Aklan Reporter, published and edited by Mr. Roman de la Cruz,
that used to publish Aklanon poems and short stories. Or those who have the
means would just publish their own works. One of those was the late Roman A. de
la Cruz. Known as the Dean of Journalism and History of Aklan, Tay Roman, among
others, wrote a book entitled Alone Along a Lonely Road and other
stories in 1973.
As a
result, most of the Aklanon writers would contribute their pieces to national
magazines like the Philippines Free Press, Liwayway and Sunday
Times Magazine. But the competition in these magazines is very stiff.
After
the 1986 EDSA Revolution, a new literary revolution in Western Visayas
sprouted.
Spearheaded
by Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada, a former professor in literature at the U.P. in the
Visayas, a literary revolution took place almost simultaneously in Iloilo,
Antique, and Aklan.
Through
his encouragement and with funding from the Cultural Center of the Philippines
and later through the Presidential Commission for Culture and the Arts, which
later gave way for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA),
writers in these provinces started to write poems and short stories in
Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and in Aklanon.
The
NCCA encouraged the establishments of local arts councils and subsidized
conferences, workshops and publications. It also awarded writing grants and
venue grants. Two of these writers who availed of these writing grants were
John Barrios and this writer. The Bishop Gabriel Reyes Foundation also availed
of these grants.
Dr.
Deriada’s “political approach” to encourage local writers to write in their own
languages was effective. He said this to Kinaray-a writers.
“My
politicizing would begin by my saying: There is no such thing as a superior
language. No one can give power and dignity to your language except you. Your
language has dignity and power if you can do three things with it: sing your
songs in it, compose your poems in it, and pray in it. If you can do these in
Kinaray-a, then your language is the same level as any language in the world.”
Later,
he used the same approach to Aklanon writers.
After
conducting creative writing workshops and contests among Ilonggo and Kinaray-a
writers, Dr. Deriada continued his crusade to Aklan. Here is how he practically
twisted the arms of Aklanon writers to write in Aklanon:
“Liberating
itself likewise from literary oblivion was Aklanon. Just as the Antiquenos were
forming Tabig, emerging Aklanon writers also formed the Aklanon Literary Circle
in Kalibo. Spearheading this was Melchor F. Cichon, a librarian at UP Visayas.
Ably assisting him was UP Visayas student John E. Barrios.
“In
my various workshops in Iloilo, Cichon had been there listening to the things I
was telling Kinaray-a writers to challenge them. Cichon - and Barrios - took
the challenge and soon the Aklan issue of Ani, which I edited with Cichon, et
al., was published by the CCP and launched in Kalibo in early 1993. Cichon, who
was by then writing in English and Tagalog-based Filipino, turned out to be the
leading poet in his language and has the distinction of being the first Aklanon
ever to publish a book of poems in his own language. Eventually, Cichon and
Barrios won writing grants from the CCP.”
The
first creative writing workshop held in Kalibo, Aklan was on November 9-10,
1991 under the leadership of Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada. It was sponsored by
the newly established Aklanon writers’ group, the Akeanon Literary Circle.
On January 28, 1994, the first issue of Bueabod, the literary journal of
Akeanon Literary Circle, was launched in Kalibo, Aklan. It was in the
same occasion when the special Aklanon Issue of Ani was launched.
Aside
from encouraging the writers in Western Visayas to write, he also encouraged
them to enter into literary contests. One of these contests is the Bigkas
Binalaybay.
This
annual written and oral poetry competitions have produced a considerable number
of poems in Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, Filipino and Aklanon.
Through
the years, Aklanon poets have been winning in this contest. This includes
Melchor F. Cichon, Rommel Constantino, Alexander de Juan, Rocky Abello,
Antonio F. Tolentino, and June Mijares. Their winning entries are included in Bigkas
Binalaybay; Kritisismo, Antolohiya, edited by John E. Barrios, Melchor
F. Cichon, Jonathan P. Jurilla, and John
Iremil E. Teodoro, 2008.
When
the Aklanon Literary Circle (ALC) was formed in the 1990s, Melchor
Cichon, John Barrios and Alexander de Juan put up Bueabod, the
literary journal of ALC. It was a one-page mimeograph or photo-copied journal.
In this journal some contemporary Aklanon poets like John Barrios, Pett
Candido, Alexander de Juan, Jeoffrey Ricafuente, Rommel Constantino and others
contributed poems. It was also in this journal where the Aklanon poems of
Dominador Ilio and Roman de la Cruz first appeared. Both writers are considered
the finest among the elder Aklanon English writers.
Here
is a poem by Dominador Ilio:
Bita
Ro
masi-ut nga katamnan it bita
(Ro
anang mapait nga panit it kahoy
Gina
ea-ga para bueong sa takig)
Hay
kadueom ku kinaunang eubnganan
Nga
gintawag nga Bita.
Ro
baeay ku tatlong magmanghod
Nga
si Anacleta, si Josefa ag si Lorenza
Hay
una sa maeunang nga aeagyan sa Bita.
Ro
baeay ku ap-at nga eaking magmanghud
Nga
si Manuel, si Tomas, si Amadeo,
Ag
si Jose una man sa daean pa Bita.
Sanda
tanan nagsaad nga mamuyo sa maeayo,
Sa
maeayo-eayo sa Bita.
Ngani
pinangasawa ni Amadeo si Anacleta
Ag
nagbungkas sanda it paag sa Kabangkat,
Si
Manuel dinaea nana s Josefa ag idto
Nagbaeay
ag nanguma sa bukid it San Dimas,
Pinangasawa
ni Tomas si Lorenza ag sa Kogon
Nananum
sanda it abung euy-a ag eunga
Si
Jose inapok sa Patnongon sa Antique
Idto
nangasawa ag wa gid hibalik sa Bita.
Apang
sa kabuhayan, ro andang mga inunga
Ro
naghatud kanda tanan balik sa Bita.
Here
is one of the Aklanon poems of Roman de la Cruz:
Panaeambiton
Tampuean
mo ku imong
Mainit-init
nga paead
Ro
maeamig ko nga likod
Ag
tug-anan mo ako
Nga
indi mo eon pag-aywan.
Tamda
ro atong kahapon
Kat
owa ka pa magtugbong sa syudad.
Nagsumpaan
kita nga magmaeahaean
Hasta
sa kamatayon
Suno
sa kudlit ku atong paead.
Kon
pumanaw ka it uman
Kahil-o
man dayang gugma.
Ako
magataliwan
It
dayon.
Many
of the poems published in this journal were anthologized in Patubas, Ani
(Aklanon issue), and in Mantala. Some of them were selected as best
poems of the month by Mr. Isagani Cruz in his column Critic at Large.
From
1986 to 2000, three books were published by NCCA edited by Deriada et al. which
included Aklanon poems. One of these books is the Ani Aklanon issue. In
1999, the book by Melchor F. Cichon, Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii ? (Bakit
Madilim Ang Gabi?) was published. The second edition of this book was
published in 2016.
The
books on poetry by Bellysarius I. de la Cruz came out within this period. These
are With Hope Undying (1988); Earth Glare (1994)
and Poems in Praise of God (1997). In 2000, the novel of Roman de
la Cruz, Life with the Family, a folk autobiographical novel came
out. Bellysarius also published in 2003 the first Aklanon translation of the
Holy Bible entitled Ro Bag-o nga Kasugtanan ku Baeaan nga Biblia.
In
1998, five Aklanon short stories were published in the book: Selebrasyon
at Lamentasyon: Antolohiya ng Maikling Kuwento ng Panay edited by
Carmen L. de los Santos, Ma. Milagros G. Lachica and John E. Barrios.
A
breakthrough came out in 2002 when the first Aklanon haiku written by this
writer came out in SanAg, the literary journal of the Fray Luis
de Leon Creative Writing Desk, University of San Agustin, Iloilo City.
Another
breakthrough in Aklanon literature took place in 2002 when the haiku by this
writer was published in Heron’s Nest, an international haiku journal
based in America. Another breakthrough in Aklanon literature took place in 2005
when the first Aklanon collection of short stories by John Barrios, Engkant(aw)o
ag iba pa nga Tag-ud nga Istorya came out.
When
the Aklanon Literary Circle was formed, almost all the members then were
college students like John Barrios, Alexander de Juan, Jeoffrey Villafuente,
and Rommel Constantino. The youngest was Am Roselo. He was still a high school
student then. Among the five writers, unfortunately, only Barrios has
continued to write. And after their graduation, Bueabod has
stopped its circulation.
While
Bueabod was resting, a new writing venue was evolving in the
Philippines. This is the internet.
And
with the internet, a new kind of Aklanon literature evolved. This is what is
now known as the Aklanon virtual literature.
Through
the internet new Aklanon writers were discovered and new types of poems were
added to Aklanon literature. These are haiku, senryu, and tanka. These are all
Japanese types of short poems which had never been utilized by Aklanon writers
until the new millennium. Lately, some Aklanons have been writing flash
fictions.
As
mentioned earlier, the new crop of Aklanon poets came out as a result of the
appearance of this website: http://www.my.akeanon.com/.
This
website was created by a group of young Aklanons where Aklanons from different
parts of the globe can exchange ideas.
Then
one day a certain Tata_Goloy opened a thread, Kangga ni Tata_Goloy. In
this website, many Aklanons posted their opinions on how to further develop
Aklan. Some of the contributors include
beeSPUNKY
in Canada, bugoy in Federated States of Micronesia, Cinderella in
Alaska, USA, ember in Manila, kal in Alaska, miss-terryosa in
Iloilo City, SunflowR in Florida, USA, Swiss in Switzerland, Tata-Goloy
in Michigan, USA, Toryo in one of the states in USA, water sprite
, in Manila, yamanitoshi in Makati, Manila, and Maeara, in Iloilo. All
of them are Aklanons and have one common desire—to write essays and poems. All
the contributors used aliases.
Then
a certain Badjao opened a new thread in my.akeanon.com. He called it
Iskul Bukol.
In
this thread, some of the above contributors posted poems in Akeanon. Noting
that the so-called poems posted in this new thread needed editing, Maeara
posted some comments to improve their works.
Then
SunflowR posted a haiku written by Melchor F. Cichon from Heron’s Nest, an
online haiku journal based in America.
Here
is the copy of that haiku. It is a poem on the impact of the eruption of Mt.
Pinatubo to a town in Pampanga: And this is the first haiku published in an
international journal written by an Aklanon
Sunday
morning—
a
boy digs in the mud
that
buried a cathedral
Heron’s Nest,
Vol. IV, No. 9: September, 2002
Knowing
that Maeara is no other than this writer, Tata_Goloy asked me to conduct a
virtual class in poetry writing, which I did.
Adopting
the technique used by Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada in creative writing workshops, I
suggested to them that they first write and post their haiku, luwa, or longer
poems in my.akeanon.com website so I could write my comments on them.
And
they did post their contributions in this website.
Every
Saturday, I collected their works, wrote my comments on them and then posted
the original and the corrected ones in the website.
The
result of that virtual workshop is the book: Haiku, Luwa and Other Poems
Written by Aklanons edited by Melchor F. Cichon, Edna Laurente Faral and
Losally R. Navarro (2005).
But
before this, I had developed a website that focuses on Aklanon literature (http://www.geocities.com/Aklanonliterature). In
this website one can find Aklanon riddles, maxims, luwa, longer poems, songs,
legends, short stories, profiles of Aklanon writers, annotated Aklanon
bibliography, and haiku. As of April 17, 2006, this website was visited 16, 417
times. Modesty aside, this website was the most popular website on
Aklanon literature. Unfortunately, this portal folded. But some of the literary
works can still be read there. Before it folded, I transferred the whole
contents in my new website called, Aklanon Literature Archive. (https://aklanonlitarchive.blogspot.com/). As of
August 5, 2017, it has reached 460, 052 views.
I
have another website, http://anahawleaf.blogspot.com, which features my
poems and fictions.
In
2007, I selected 25 of the best poems written by Aklanons. The result of this
collection is posted in my blog Bueabod It Akeanon Literary Circle,
http://bueabodalc.blogspot.com/. In the same year, I collected the works of
Aklanon women poets. Again this collection is found in the above blog. Two
years after that, I published The 32 Best Aklanon Poets, the anthology
of Aklanon poems. Then in 2011, I published Matimgas nga Paeanoblion;
anthology of poems written by Aklanon, followed by Maiden: a collection
of haiga on Filipino women, also the first of its kind not only in Aklan
but throughout the country. In 2015, the second edition of my book, Ham-at
Madueom Ro Gabii, was released. On the same year, Al F. Dela Cruz of
Balete, Aklan, published his collection of Aklanon poems with English
translation, Sa Gihapon; mga Binaeaybay para sa Engkantada it Manaya-nayang
Banwa. The following year, my Mga Pabula ni Aesop sa Akeanon came
out, followed by Mga Bueawanon nga Hueobaton sa Akeanon. Hopefully this
month, my new ezine, Eangit, a collection of flash fictions and a collection
of my love poems, Raya Rang Pasalig, Parayaw with Filipino translation
done by Sharon Concepcion Masula will be released by Kasingkasing Press.
In
2010, Mila S. dela Rosa compiled her poems and tongue twisters, which I edited,
in the book entitled: When I Fall in Love; haiku, luwa, tongue twisters and
other poems. This I understand is the first collection of poems written by
a Lezonian, because Maria Josephine Barrios, known as Joi Barrios from Kalibo
has published literary books like Ang Pagiging Babae ay Pamumuhay sa Panahon
ng Digma (1990); Bailaya: Mga Dula Para sa Kababaihan (1997); Minatamis
at iba pang Tula ng Pag-ibig (1998); and Prince Charming at iba pang
Nobelang Romantiko (2001). According to Virgilio Almario, one of the best
recognized literary critics and a scholar of Filipino poetry, Barrios is one of
only four recognizable women poets in Philippine literature. I heard that NVM
Gonzales and Jose Dalisay have Aklanon roots. But then again, not one of them
has written any poem in Aklanon.
What
do Aklanon writers write? Who are the writers? What is the quality of their
works?
Through
the years, Aklanon writers, like other writers in the Philippines, wrote on
oppression, corruption, poverty, exploitation of women and the environment,
love, religion, politics, insurgency, and hope. This is so because many of them
are college trained and have gone to many places outside of Aklan like Manila,
Iloilo, Antique, America, and other places abroad.
Allow
this writer to present some Aklanon contemporary poets.
Losally R. Navarro
was born in Banga, Aklan on January 3, 1973 but grew up in Malinao. Losally now
stays in Calvary, Alberta, Canada. In the February issue of Homelife, a
national magazine, one of her haiku was published.
Amzi V. Martinez
was born in December 1976 in Balete, Aklan. He is presently working in Tofol,
Lelu, Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia as a Vocational Instructor.
Ellamae Fernandez
was born on April 18, 1986. She is from Lezo, Aklan.
Jay Jose Feliciano
is from Kalibo, Aklan. He is presently working in Alaska, USA.
Ma. Terry F. Marte
is from Poblacion, Lezo, Aklan.
Edna Romulo Laurente Faral
was born in Batan, Aklan but resides in Tampa, Florida with her family. She is
not only a folk dancer par excellence, but a fine haijin as well.
Renelyn Beglinger-Vallejo
is married to a Swiss national and they now live in Switzerland. She was born
in Ochando, Banga, Aklan.
Cirilo Castillon, Jr.
or Tata Goloy was born in Badio, Numancia. After working at the U.S. Naval Base
in Subic Bay, Olongapo City, he then went to Saudi Arabia, and later on settled
in Michigan , USA.
Cris Ocampo.
Cris was born in Kalibo and finished his high school at Pilot Science
Development National High School , (now Regional Science High School) in
Kalibo, Aklan. A martial law baby, one can see his political ideas in his haiku
and luwa.
Belle Nabor.
Her haiku have been published the Mainichi Daily News, a world famous newspaper
that prints haiku. . Her other haiku were included in Sakura Anthology of Haiku
published in Sweden along with other world famous haijin like Robert D. Wilson,
Michael Rehling, an’ya, and 27 other poets, The Makata, Short Stuff, and in
Poetry Country Mouse. Her popular blog, http://short.poems.blogspot.com/,
that features her short poems: haiku, tanka, and cinquain, has been
instrumental in her introduction to world haiku.
Edmund Saldivia. He
is a licensed engineer. He now works as a system analyst in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. He is a native of Kalibo, Aklan.
George
Calaor. An Aklanon who wishes to have better
Philippines, George has been writing poems with social relevance.
Alrom
Ricafuente is from Kalibo and has been writing
poetry and flash fictions.
It was also during this period that I started to write short
stories. One of the stories that I wrote is Silabu, a story about family
relationships. It was anthologized in the book, Sa Atong Dila, edited by
Merlie Alunan. Aside from short stories, the author also translated fables and
proverbs into Aklanon, and lately flash fictions.
Analysis of the three periods of the Aklanon literature
Pre-Deriada, Before 1986
During
this period, Aklanon writers were writing mostly in English and Spanish. But
there were some Aklanon writers who wrote in Aklanon.
The
most prominent among these writers were Peping Tansinko Manyas, Manuel Laserna,
Roman de la Cruz, Leopoldo A. de la Cruz, and Dominador Ilio.
Although,
NVM Gonzales, Josephine Barrios and Jose Dalisay are all Aklanons by blood,
they never have written any Aklanon poem or short story.
Of
those who wrote poems in Aklanon were Manuel Laserna and Peping Manyas. In
their writings, both Laserna and Manyas wrote on freedom and love of country.
Their writing structure was mostly rhymed and metered.
Deriada Period, 1986-2004.
During this period, new Aklanon writers were discovered. Influenced by Deriada,
through his creative writing workshops and private conversations with the
Aklanon writers, these new writers wrote mostly in Aklanon, English, and in
Filipino. Almost all of them wrote in free verse, except Mr. Roman de la Cruz,
who preferred to write in rhyme, but not metered. Their topics are now widened:
love, poverty, nationalism, environment, gender. This was due to the writers'
diverse milieu and experiences. All the new writers have gone to college and
have traveled outside of Aklan. The many contests and grants given by the NCCA
have boostered their enthusiasms. The help and encouragement of Dr. Deriada in
the re-emergence of Aklanon literature is great. It was during this time that
the special issue of Ani came out. It was during this period that some
poems in Aklanon came out in anthologies like Mantala and in Patubas.
It was also in this period that Alexander de Juan, Roman de la Cruz, John
Barrios and myself won local and national awards and book writing grants. My
book Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii (Bakit Madilim ang Gabi) was
published. I eventually won the coveted Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas
(for Aklanon Poetry). It was given by Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas
(UMPIL), the first Aklanon to receive that award. In 2017, Maria Josephine
Barrios, popularly known as Joi Barrios received the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni
Balagtas award, the second Aklanon to receive it. Joi is a poet, activist,
scriptwriter, actress, translator and teacher. Born in 1962, she completed her
Ph.D. in Philippine Literature at the University of the Philippines (UP).
It
was also during this period that the New Testament was translated into Aklanon
by Vellyzarius and was published by Macar Enterprises.
Post-Deriada Period, 2005-2007
With
the emergence of the World Wide Web and through my encouragement many new Aklanon
poets were discovered. Many of them are Aklanons living in America and Europe.
Through the internet and the creation of the website: http://www.my.akeanon.com/,
many of the newly discovered Aklanon poets contributed their poems in this
website. They wrote haiku, luwa and other poems. The result of their creative
works were published in a book: Haiku, Luwa and Other Poems by Aklanon
edited by Melchor F. Cichon, Edna Laurente Faral, and Losally Navarro. Through
my encouragement, it was also during this period where many Aklanon luwa were
written and published in the internet and in the books. The subjects of their
works were varied: love, nature, under development, gender, nationalism,
poverty and almost all topics. The latest addition to Aklanon literature is the
publication in the internet of poetry for children. Unfortunately, very
few Aklanon writers write children’s poetry and stories.
In
2017, a new type of fiction was popularized in Panay. It is called flash
fiction.
Flash
fiction is a story on any subject from six to two thousand words. Some Aklanon
writers like Perry Mangilaya, the present editor-in-chief of Liwayway and me
write flash fictions. Perry Mangilaya writes in Filipino while I write in
English, Filipino, Hiligaynon and in Aklanon. Here are some of my works.
Hayahay
Melchor F. Cichon
Ginbaha it Bagyo Frank so suba. Pag-agi ni Pilma sa pangpang
it suba, hakita nana ro naga-eutaw-eutaw nga hayahay it Pilipinas. Gin-eumpatan
nana ra agod salbaron ra. Pagkadakop nana kara, dali-dali imaw nga nag-eangoy
pabalik sa pangpang. Maskin basa ra eambong, dumeritso imaw sa munisipyo ag
gintao ro hayahay sa meyor.
Flash Fictions ni Melchor F. Cichon December, 2016
Ugsad
Melchor F. Cichon
Nagharana si Ambeth kag si Itsong sa balay nanday Thelma.
Pagpa-uli nila, gulpi nga ginhakwat sila sang isa ka kapre.
“Naghambal gid ako sa inyo nga indi kamo maghuharana kay
Thelma kay nobya ko siya. Dungol gid kamo!”
“Indi na gid, promise. Buhii lang kami,” sabat si Itsong.
“Sige!”
Liay
Melchor F. Cichon
Alas tres it agahon. Gaeaha it puto si
Diday sa kusina. Gulpi nagkaeaskaeas ro liay sa idaeum it baeay. Ginhakwat ni
Diday ro ginaeagaan ag ginbubo ro nagabukae-bukae nga tubi sa butong nga saeog.
Pagkaagahon, si Lola Barang, nga ginakuno-kuno nga aswang, hay gin-ICU bangod
napaso ra bilog nga eawas.
Pari
Melchor F. Cichon
Dominggo it hapon. May limang
kaeaeakihan nga naga-inum it tuba sa binit it karsada. Nag-agi ro sangka pari
ag nagpangutana kanda kon siin ro simbahan sa andang banwa. “Mga migo, siin
dapit ro simbahan riya?” pangutana ku pari. “Dumiretso ka eang. Pag-abot mo sa
krusing hay magliko ka sa waea. Makita mo dayon ro simbahan,” sabat ni Lydio.
“Abu gid nga saeamat kinyo. Ako gali ro bag-o ninyo nga pari. Buligan ko kamo
sa pag-agto sa eangit.”
“Indi ka ngani kantigo mag-agto sa
simbahan, sa eangit pa,” sabat ni Lydio.
What is next for Aklanon writers?
From
the above statements, it is noticeable that Aklanon literature for children
like nursery rhymes, and short stories, are very scarce. Likewise, academic
studies on Aklanon literature are very few. This writer hopes that this gap
will soon be filled up by the present and future Aklanon writers.
It
seems too that Aklanon contemporary writers will still write poetry, but mostly
short poetry, like luwa and haiku. But I hope that someone will write novels
and plays in Aklanon.
As
for the contents, Aklanon poets and fiction writers will still be writing
poems, etc. with social relevance as they are still experiencing the impact of
poverty, injustices, corruption, environmental degradation, and many other
social issues.
In
conclusion, Aklanon literature has a tradition to think of. Through the
centuries, Aklanons have been writing different types of literature: poems,
short stories, novels, riddles, songs, maxims, and legends. Through the
internet Aklanon writers have been exposed to world literature particularly the
short poems like haiku and tanka and fictions. This will surely improve Aklanon
literature.
Sources:
Barrios, John E., Cichon, Melchor F., Jurilla, Jonathan P.
and Teodoro, J. I. E., eds. Bigkas Binalaybay; Kritisismo, antolohiya. Iloilo
City: Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Visayas and
Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining, 2008. 171p.
Cichon, Melchor F. Belle Nabor: A Filipino Haijin. Posted
November 28, 2005. http://www.akeanon.com/.
Retrieved: April 16, 2006.
Cichon, Melchor F. Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada: Masiglang Lider
Sa Muling Pag-Uswag Ng Malikhaing Panulat sa Western Visayas. Daluyan, the
official publication of the Sentro Ng Wikang Filipino, University of the
Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 8-11, 1994.
De Juan, Alexander C. Ang Pag-ahon Ng Nakasulat na
Literaturang Aklanon. Daluyan, the official publication of the Sentro Ng
Wikang Filipino, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, vol. 5,
No. 2, pp.15-16, 1994.
De la Cruz, Beato. Contributions of the Aklan Mind to
Philippine Literature. San Juan, Rizal: Kalantiao Press, 1958. 97p.
Manyas, Peping Tansinko. Tagiposuon Nga Hueowaran. Daeang
Rizal, Kalibo, Capiz. 1926. 26p. (Photo-copy)
Nabor, Fiorella I. “An Inquiry into the Ancient Inakeanon
Writing System,” Silliman Journal, Ist Quarter, 1968, pp. 54-86 ((Photo-copy)
Reyes,
Gabriel M. Toning. Mandurriao, Iloilo, 1925. 35p. (Photo-copy)
Tente
Undoy. Mga Bilisad-n ni Tente Undoy. San Juan, Rizal, Kalantiaw Publications,
Inc. 37p. (Photo-copy)
