Poem, Ro Mga Banwa It Aklan

While waiting for a friend in Kalibo, I thought of writing a poem to help our Aklanon pupils easily remember the 17 towns of Aklan. Here is the outcome. It can be sung with the Bahay Kubo tune.

Ro Mga Banwa It Aklan
by Melchor F, Cichon
December 8, 2019


Ro probinsya it Aklan
May desisyeteng banwa.
Tanan ra manami agtunan.

Altavas, Balete, Batan, ag Banga.

Ibajay, Kalibo, Buruanga.
Lezo, Libacao, Madalag, Makato,
Malay, Malinao ag Navas.

May tatlo pang banwa.
Tanan ra masadya
New Washington, Tangalan, Numancia.

Antonyms

Antonym 2
Melchor F. Cichon
Nov. 10, 2018

Ang Tatay ko,
Kung nasa kampo,
Brigadier General siya doon.
Pero kung nasa bahay,
Ang Nanay ko
Ang Commander-in-Chief.

Children poetry, Antonyms

Antonym 1
Ni Melchor F. Cichon
Oct. 30, 2018

 Si Tatay ro gaeaba.
Si Tatay ro gaplansa.
Si Tatay ro gatug-on.
Si Nanay ro gakaon.
Si Nanay ro gatong-it.
Si Nanay ro gamahjong.

Antonym 2
Melchor F. Cichon
Nov. 10, 2018

Ang Tatay ko,
Kung nasa kampo,
Brigadier General siya doon.
Pero kung nasa bahay,
Ang Nanay ko
Ang Commander-in-Chief.

Antonym 3 Rang Nanay si Felipe
Melchor F. Cichon
Oct. 23, 2018

Gahiyom-hiyom ako kon una ako sa baeay
Kapin pa gid kon una si Nanay ag si Tatay.
Rang Tatay gali si Annie,
Ag rang Nanay si Felipe.

Antonym 4
Melchor F. Cichon
Nov. 10, 2018

Maestro rang Tatay.
Pero kon una imaw sa baeay
Ginalekturan imaw ni Nanay.

Antonym 5

Ili-ili tueog anay,
Owa riya ring Tatay.
Igto imaw sa pangaywa nana nga baeay.
Ag sa mahjongan ro imong Nanay.

Ili-ili tulog muna,
Wala rito ang iyongTatay.
Doon siya sa pangalawa niyang bahay.
At sa mahjongan ang iyong Nanay.

Melchor F. Cichon.
Nov. 22, 2018

Children Rhyme, Isaea, Daywa, Tatlo

Isaea, Daywa, Tatlo
ni Melchor F. Cichon
Oct. 21, 2018

Isaea, Daywa, Tatlo,
Rang Tatay maestro.
Pero kon sa among baeay,
Ro maestra si Nanay,
Ro estudyante si Tatay.

Children Poetry, Itsong Palitong

Itsong Palitong

Itsong Palitong

Nahueog sa bubon.

Umagi ro paka,

Nagkaea-kaea.

**Melchor F. Cichon

Oct. 21, 2018

Poem, Gusto Ko Gid Koronahan

Gusto Ko Gid Koronahan
Melchor F. Cichon
Oct. 20, 2018

Gusto ko gid koronahan
It huya-huya
Ro tawo nga owa gasunod
Sa ana nga ginpromisa.
Gusto ko gid bayawon sa kaeangitan
Ro tawo nga owa gasunod
Sa ana nga gintug-an.
Gusto ko gid nga palingkuron
Sa gakaea-kaea nga bueawan
Ro tawo nga mabuot eang kon may kinahangean.

Poem, Sandali Lang, revised, Oct 17, 2018

Sandali Lang, Mahal

Ni Melchor F. Cichon
October 17, 2018

Sandali lang, Mahal.

Iinumin mo muna lahat
Itong tinimpa kong kape.
Sayang din naman.
Dahil sa TRAIN
Bumibitin-bitin na ang piso ko
Mula sa asin hnaggang sa galonggong.
Sandali lang, Mahal.
Pupunuin ko lang muna ang knapsack ko
Ng mga damit at kunot
Bago natin lisanin ang ating tahanan.
Hindi pa naman daw sasabog,
Katulad ng pagsabog ng Mt. Pinatubo,
Ang lumalagablab na Mayon Volcano.

Baka sa evacuation center
Ay mangangatog tayo doon.
At uubuhin si Neneng.
Mabuti kung may magbibigay sa atin ng relip.
Batid kong dinadala sa ukay-ukay
Ang mga donasyong mga kumot, baro’t sapatos.

Sandali lang, Mahal,
Hindi na ako makakahinga.

Poem, Sandali Lang, Mahal

*Note: Linisan should be lisanin.

haiku, still, empty baby crib

still, empty baby crib
still waits
for Rio Andrea's cry
Melchor F. Cichon.
Oct 11, 2018

Essay, an imaginary class

An Imaginary Class
Melchor F. Cichon


It's almost the end of a semester. Generally, all the courses in college have what we call as a culminating activity.
The following essay is delivered to an imaginary classroom having a culminating activity. And pretending myself as the teacher in an English class.
Before anything else, I would like to express my heartfelt thank to each one of you for giving me a rare opportunity to be a part of your life. I am very much positive that our togetherness for the past one semester has been meaningful to all of us.
It’s our culminating activity today.
But it does not mean that this is the end of our relationship.
For even if we have finished our course this semester, we will continue our relationships outside of this classroom, and even outside of this institution.
Four years from now, all of you must have graduated from your respective courses, and I am sure that all of you will land a job. Hopefully, a job that you and your parents have chosen. A job that can help you actualize not only your desire, but most of all your chosen need.
And perhaps, you establish your own business and create jobs for our countrymen.
And when that comes, in some moments, you will recall those memorable experiences we have had inside this classroom. How you prepared for your exams, how you pronounced some difficult words, how you constructed effective sentences or perhaps paragraphs.
And perhaps, it was here where you met the person that melted your heart whenever you see him/her. The guy that propelled your heart to come to class prepared.
Ah, English subject. It’s not only how we pronounce the words correctly, how we write the correct tenses, how we compose effective sentences. But also how we should deal with our classmates, with our teachers. In short the subject that can help shape our total personality.
Thank you and bless us all.

Luwa, Nag-agto ako sa Ibajay

Nag-agto ako sa Ibajay,
Nakakita ako it monay.
Gindaea ko sa baeay,
Ginkunding ako ni Nanay.
**Melchor F. Cichon
Oct. 4, 2018

It's Priceless

It's Priceless
by Melchor F. Cichon.
October 3, 2018
(revised: Oct. 4, 2018)

Even before I retired as a librarian from the University of the Philippines, I spend most of my vacant time writing. From this passion, I have written poems, articles, short stories, and flash fictions. From these creative works, I have published seven books of poems, proverbs, short stories, flash fictions, and haiku and haiga. I also have published some of my poems, articles and short stories in magazines and in newspapers. Some of them have been published in anthologies and journals like Ani; Bigkas Binalaybay: kritisismo, antolohiya; SanAG, the Literary Journal of the Fray Luis Leon Creative Desk; Patubas: an anthology of West Visayan Poetry, 1986-1994; Sa Atong Dila; an introduction to Visayan literature; and in Sansiglong Mahigit ng Makabagong Tula sa Filipinas.
But before I publish my writings in books, I published them first in my blogs and in my Facebook account. These serve as my drafts. Most of these are open to anybody. And because they are open to everybody, my works are available to anybody. Because of this, many people who are interested in Aklanon Literature including students, faculty, researchers and others have read my works. As a result, some students use my works for their literary research papers. So far, three graduate theses and a dissertation have been approved using my poems as subjects of their studies.
Because my literary works are open to the public, it is possible for some people to lift my works and put them in their blogs without asking permission from me nor putting my name as the author of those lifted works. There was a graduate student who lifted one of my articles and submitted it to a certain internet site that allows a reader to download other articles from that site provided he/she submits an article. And because this graduate student who happens to be a faculty in a private college in Aklan found my article appropriate, he uploaded my article to this site without my permission. Fortunately, he retains my name as the author of that article. I found it out when I checked the internet for an article on Aklan Literature. I immediately wrote the owner of the site and informed him that one of the articles in his site is mine and was uploaded there without my knowledge. It was deleted from his site. Just recently, I discovered too that a certain student lifted some of my poems and put them in his blog without my knowledge. What is worst is that he did not even put my name as the author of those poems. Nor their source. I accidentally discovered this when I was looking for sources in the internet on Aklanon riddles. Google led me to a blog where a group of Aklanon riddles are posted. When I read Maeara and the name of my wife, I was shocked. I immediately cut and pasted the links of his website and mine in my Facebook account to compare the contents of both blogs. With the help of some of my facebook friends, my complaint reached him. Immediately, he asked for my forgiveness. I told him that I would consider the case as close after he had deleted all those poems which he lifted from my blog without my permission and without putting their sources. He did. I forgave him.
There was another incident wherein one of my poems was published by a faculty of a university in Iloilo City along with other poems written by Western Visayas writers. I understand that that book was being used as a textbook and was being reprinted every year.
One time I attended a literary event in that university where their students were in attendance. Knowing that I was in that event, three female students of that university approached me and asked me for the meaning of the poem that was included in that textbook. After explaining to them what I thought of that poem, I asked them where they got a copy of that poem. They showed me the book itself where my poem is included. Since I know the author of that book, I approached him and told him about the poem in his book. He apologized to me for not asking permission from me. He promised he would give me a copy of the said book. After some time, he gave me a copy.
There was another instance where a chapter of an anthology is devoted to Aklanon Literature. This anthology was compiled and edited by a well-known Filipino writer. She asked my permission to publish my poems and a short story together with other poems and short stories written by other Aklanon writers. I gave her my permission. When the book was published by a university press, I saw my name as the author of my works along with the names of other contributors. Expecting that I could get a complimentary copy of the said book, but when I contacted the editor, she told me that I could not get a free copy because its printing is costly. Indeed it was because when I bought a copy of it in Makati, it cost me P1,500.00. I told myself, this is unfair. Anyway, I said, it is an honor to be included in an anthology edited by a well-known author/editor and for sure many university students and faculty members will read my works as well as those works written by other Aklanons. And that is priceless.
Please do not get me wrong.
Actually, I am not against the copying of my works and posting them in their sites or publish them in books or magazines provided he/she asks permission from me and he/she puts my name as the author of those works. I am truly happy that some people find my literary works significant.
This is also one way of spreading our Aklanon Literature. This is also one reason why some Filipino faculty members who are teaching Philippine Literature are using my works in their classes.
My granddaughter, Angelica Cichon Docena, told me two nights ago that my poems are being discussed in their classes at Universidad de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City. I know that some of my poems are also being discussed in some other institutions of higher learning like De La Salle University, University of San Agustin and UP in the Visayas.
Some undergraduate and graduate students are now studying my works for their theses and dissertations. This is also one reason why Aklanon Literature is now getting its space in Philippine Literature. What is important is I am being acknowledged as the author of those works and I am able to help develop our Aklanon Literature.
I do not exactly know why some people study my works especially my poems and short stories, but I think it is because most of the topics in my works deal on socio-cultural happenings in our country.

***
It's Priceless

by Melchor F. Cichon.

April 3, 2018

Revised: October 3, 2018

Even before I retired as a librarian from the University of the Philippines, I spend most of my vacant time writing. From this passion, I have written poems, articles, short stories, and flash fictions. From these creative works, I have published seven books of poems, proverbs, short stories, flash fictions, and haiku and haiga. I also have published some of my poems, articles and short stories in magazines and in newspapers. Some of them have been published in anthologies and journals like Ani; Bigkas Binalaybay: kritisismo, antolohiya; SanAG, the Literary Journal of the Fray Luis Leon Creative Desk; Patubas: an anthology of West Visayan Poetry, 1986-1994; Sa Atong Dila; an introduction to Visayan literature; and in Sansiglong Mahigit ng Makabagong Tula sa Filipinas.

But before I publish my writings in books, I published them first in my blogs and in my Facebook account. These serve as my drafts. Most of these are open to anybody. And because they are open to everybody, my works are available to anybody. Because of this, many people who are interested in Aklanon Literature including students, faculty, researchers and others have read my works. As a result, some students use my works for their literary research papers. So far, three graduate theses and a dissertation have been approved using my poems as subjects of their studies.

Because my literary works are open to the public, it is possible for some people to lift my works and put them in their blogs without asking permission from me nor putting my name as the author of those lifted works. There was a graduate student who lifted one of my articles and submitted it to a certain internet site that allows a reader to download other articles from that site provided he/she submits an article. And because this graduate student who happens to be a faculty in a private college in Aklan found my article appropriate, he uploaded my article to this site without my permission. Fortunately, he retains my name as the author of that article. I found it out when I checked the internet for an article on Aklan Literature. I immediately wrote the owner of the site and informed him that one of the articles in his site is mine and was uploaded there without my knowledge. It was deleted from his site. Just recently, I discovered too that a certain student lifted some of my poems and put them in his blog without my knowledge. What is worst is that he did not even put my name as the author of those poems. Nor their source. I accidentally discovered this when I was looking for sources in the internet on Aklanon riddles. Google led me to a blog where a group of Aklanon riddles are posted. When I read Maeara and the name of my wife, I was shocked. I immediately posted the website where my riddles are found and posted my blog where the originals are found to compare the contents of both blogs. With the help of some of my friends, my complaint reached him. Immediately, he asked for my forgiveness. I told him that I would consider the case as close after he had deleted all those poems which he lifted from my blog without my permission and without putting their sources. He did. I forgave him.

There was another incident wherein one of my poems was published by a faculty of a university in Iloilo City along with other poems written by Western Visayas writers. I understand that that book was being used as a textbook and was being reprinted every year.

One time I attended a literary event in that university where their students were in attendance. Knowing that I was in that event, three female students of that university approached me and asked me for the meaning of the poem that was included in that textbook. After explaining to them what I thought of that poem, I asked them where they got a copy of that poem. They showed me the book itself where my poem is included. Since I know the author of that book, I approached him and told him about the poem in his book. He apologized to me for not asking permission from me. He promised he would give me a copy of the said book. After some time, he gave me a copy.

There was another instance where a chapter of an anthology is devoted to Aklanon Literature. This anthology was compiled and edited by a well-known Filipino writer. She asked my permission to publish my poems and a short story together with other poems and short stories written by other Aklanon writers. I gave her my permission. When the book was published by a university press, I saw my name as the author of my works along with the names of other contributors. Expecting that I could get a complimentary copy of the said book, but when I contacted the editor, she told me that I could not get a free copy because its printing is costly. Indeed it was because when I bought a copy of it in Makati, it cost me P1,500.00. I told myself, this is unfair. Anyway, I said, it is an honor to be included in an anthology edited by a well-known author/editor and for sure many university students and faculty members will read my works as well as those works written by other Aklanons. And that is priceless.

Please do not get me wrong.

Actually, I am not against the copying of my works and posting them in their sites or publish them in books or magazines provided he/she asks permission from me and he/she puts my name as the author of those works. I am truly happy that some people find my literary works significant.

This is also one way of spreading our Aklanon Literature. This is also one reason why some Filipino faculty members who are teaching Philippine Literature are using my works in their classes.

My granddaughter, Angelica Cichon Docena, told me two nights ago that my poems are being discussed in their classes at Universidad de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City. I know that some of my poems are also being discussed in some other institutions of higher learning like De La Salle University, University of San Agustin and UP in the Visayas.

Some undergraduate and graduate students are now studying my works for their theses and dissertations. This is also one reason why Aklanon Literature is now getting its space in Philippine Literature. What is important is I am being acknowledged as the author of those works and I am able to help develop our Aklanon Literature.

I do not exactly know why some people study my works especially my poems and short stories, but I think it is because most of the topics in my works deal on socio-cultural happenings in our country.

The Re-Emergence of Aklanon Literature

The Re-Emergence of Aklanon Literature

By

Melchor F. Cichon

As of September 30, 2018

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.

In this paper, unless stated, Aklanon literature refers to the kind of literature written by Aklanons in their own language.

For several decades now Aklanons have been writing literary pieces in Spanish, Tagalog, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a. Surprisingly, this writer has discovered that Aklanons have been writing poems in Aklanon since 1568.

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 in old Hiligaynon spelling:

“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 bugos 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.

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.

Here is the poem:

Sa Adlaw Nga Kinamatyan Nay Doctor Jose Rizal

Ni Peping Tansinko Manyas

Rizal, sa imong taeahurong eubnganan,

Nga binunyaga’t euha king ginikanan.

Sinubeaka’t matahum’g mang kabueakan;

Adlaw ngara, akon mang ginahaearan,

Ro imong mahimayaong eubongan,

Pag pamaeandong adlaw mong kinamatyan,

Pag panubos ku kalisdanang napas-an,

Ku banwang eumos sa kagha ag kaeupigan.

Dinuea, Rizal, kabuhi mo ag eawas,

Ku manga nag gahum’g, may gawing mapintas,

Apang ri’ng ngaean ag dugo nga umawas,

Nga sa kasakitan ku banwa humaw-as,

Sa among tagiposuon wa’t pag kaeugnas,

Rayang sinabod mong timgas nga eamigas,

Ay ro kaduemanan hay nabukeas,

Umiwag masigang Adlaw’t Pilipinas.

Rizal ro eubongan imo nga linugsad,

Wa mo kahilaki, kabuhing hinaead,

Sa kaeangitan imong pinanaad,

Dugo nimo nga inuea hay mamuad,

Maga kaaeaman nga ikabansag,

Nga maga hatud ku imong mga igmanghud,

Sa KAHIMAYAAN nimo nga gina hangad,

Ku banwa natong kueabos it paead.

Hinayhay sa atong manga kabukiran,

Sa makanonggusbong adlaw mong kinamatyan,

Hayahay nga bumayaw ku kadungganan,

Ku Pilipinas naton nga naeueotan,

Nga pumadabdab sa katagiposuonan,

Ku paghigugma sa banwang binugtawan;

Kabay nga imaw mabanhaw it uman,

Agud maangkon ro KAHAMUNGAYAAN.

Rizal, banwa’y naga antus kalisdanan,

Tuksa ro eangitnon nimo nga pueuy-an:

Tueoka makasisin-it nang kahimtangan,

Sa sugong nang gina antus nga kasakitan,

Eawod nga euha anang gina eanguyan,

Krus hay maw ra ana nga gabayan,

Nga sa kapilitan imaw hay maeugdang,

Kon ku atong manga kadugo imaw pabay-an.

Rizal, rayang adlaw nimong kinamatyan,

Among gina tahud ag gina padungganan,

Ag pag tahud ku adlaw nga kinamatyan,

Ku Makagagahum ag Hari sa tanan,

Tungod nga rayang adlaw mong kinamatyan,

Binayaw ag tinahod ro katarungan,

Ku Pilipinas naton nga nahamut-an.

Kalibo, Akean, Diciembre 1, 1913.

“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.

Here is the Aklanon version:

Haead Sa Adlaw Nga Kinamatyan Ku Napueo Ag Siyam Sa Akean

Ni

Peping Tansinko Manyas

Makangingidleis, mamingaw nga kaaganhon,

Ro pomukaw sa inyo nga katoeugon,

Inyo nga gin bugtawan…Ay!...Kamatayon,

Gin tangisan it abung tagiposuon,

Ro inantus ninyong kasakit nga sugong,

Ku pag euwas sa Banwang kaugalingon.

Himaya kamon ro adlaw ngarandaya,

Nabukeas tabon sa among mata;

Sa inyong pag kamatay, kami kumilaea,

Ku pag higugma sa binugtawang banwa,

Eamigas ro inyo nga sinabod ngara,

Nga among gina palangga ag gina higugma.

Bulahan ro inyong manga kapaearan,

Ngani kamo among gina padunggan,

Himpit, tunay amon nga gina haearan,

Ro adlaw ngara nga inyong kinamatyan,

It bugana nga manga kalipayan,

Ag among gina hadkan ro inyong eubongan. (1926)

The first Aklanon translation of the Philippine National Anthem was translated into Aklanon by G. Peping Tansinko Manyas.

“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.

Here is my version of our national anhem.

Banwang Hageangdon

ni Jose Palma

Gin-Inakeanon

ni Melchor F. Cichon

Banwang haeangdon

Onga'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.

Haead Sa Pahayagang “Ro Akeanon”

Ni Peping Tansinko Manyas

Binatyag it hagtob sa tagiposuon,

Ro kalipayan nga wa’t ikag tupong,

Pag kabaton ko, pahayagang RO AKEANON,

Pag katawo nga mabuhay eon nga handom,

Nga maga ta-o’t daean sa pag paangkon

Ag pag dalisay hambae nga kaugalingon.

Hamungayaon ag bugnaan’t kaeangitan,

Kabuhi nga haeawig ikaw hay taw-an,

Ayunan, dapigan, padunggan, unongan,

Sagupon, ag ku tanan ikaw buligan,

Ku mahiligugmaon sa banwang minat-an,

At ring kabuhi hay kadungganan’t Akean.

Batona rayang kubos nakong paarag,

Sa imong pag katawo akong nahaead,

Kabay nga riing daeang masiga nga iwag,

Sa mga kabanwaunan eumapeaag,

Ag sa katagiposuonan mamuskad,

Ro imong katuyoang eabi sa kayad-ayad.

*****Akean, Abril 26, 1913.

“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 ntitled: Eugta’ng Nahamut-an (Sinueat nay Manuel Laserna.). Its original Spanish version is also found in this book.

Here are the two versions of this poem. The Aklanon version is followed by the Spanish version.

Eugta’ng Nahamut-an

Ni Manuel Laserna

Hamut-ang Pilipinas,

Eugta nga naeueotan,

Kadalig ku imong ngaean,

Banwang nahagugmaan.

Sa handung ku hayahay,

Nga may adlaw ag bituon,

Gapusog tagiposuon

Nga sa kaeuwasan gutom.

Banwang gina mahae ag nahamut-an,

Kimo ko gina paarag tanan,

Manggad ag kusog pati kaaeaman,

Sa pag tinguha imong kalipayan.

Kong ra akong dugo pa kinahangean,

Sa pag eubos ku imng kaeuwasan,

Kabuhi indi pag kahilakan,

Kimo ko gina haead tanan.

Here is the Spanish version:

Quirida Filipina

Querida Filipina,

Tierra earisima,

Cuan dulce es tu nombre,

Patria amada.

Bajo la sombra de tu bandera,

Con sol y estrellas,

El Corazon palpita sediento de libertad.

Patria de mis amores,

Por y para ti ofrezco,

Salud y ciencia por lograr tu libertad.

Si mi sangre, salud y ciencia por lograr tu libertad.

Si mi sangre aun es necesaria para tu felicidad,

La vida es nada! Morir quisiera:

Todo per ti, hasta la mas cara.

Note: The title of the Spanish version is supplied by this writer.

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 poaino-inong nahahababaeanga sa pag pangabuhi nga pa tunyo-tunyo; nagapabugtaw it nagakinatueog nga mga taw sa andang damguhanon; nagapapalipay it maayadayad sa linaw it kalisdanan; nagata-o it pasalig sa tagipusu-on nga naga pabaya eonlang sa hunod it maea-in nga paead; ag nagatuytoy sa daean nga gina iwagan it owa naga amamaeong nga kahayag it sidlangan.”

Here are some 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 tar o 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.

Item No. 62. Ayaw pag matamataha o sikasika-a ro Makita mong parang minimong tawong sumaeangdo sa imong tangpaan ay indi mo masayran kun mas tampapaw pa ro ana ko imong baean-an o kabusali-an

Item No. 64. Tanan ro butang riya sa kalibutan may pagea-in sa datihan. Busa, atong nanid-an nga owat matulis nga indi masumpo,owat mataeas nga indi mag umae.

Item No. 105. Ponggan mo ring kaila kon ro imong naila-an nga bagay indo nimo mabu-oe sa matawhay ag matarung nga pag hingoha. Ayaw pag gamiti it paagi nga gina himo eamang kung sapat nga owa it paino-ino ag hibaeo. Kun hilipata nimo ra, kamana man it sapat ro pag hayga ag pag kabig kimo.

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. 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 Manuscript 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,

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.

Here is the poem in its original script:

The Aklanon oral literature can be 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:

Nag-agto ako sa Ibajay

Masadya gid anang bay-bay

Owa ako it oras nga magtampisaw

Ay ro barko eon hay mapanaw.—Badjao

Nagpanindahan ako sa Malinao

Kaibahan ko si Tatay

Nagbakae it bolinao

Pasalubong kay nanay.--Losally R. Navarro

Manami kunta tan-awon

Kitang mga Pilipino nagahugpong;

Paano kita magtililipon

Ay owa’t trabaho sa aton.--Ni Bugoy

Kon fiesta sa Lezo,

Ro tagbaeay owa eon gaabiso

Basta bukas ro andang pwertahan

Sueod, kumaon nga owa’t dahan.--ni.Jay Jose Feliciano

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.

Mga Hueobaton

Like any other maxims, Aklanon maxims 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.

Baeay man nga bato

Kon ro gaestar hay demonyo,

Mas mayad pa ro kubo

Kon ro gaestar hay tawo.

Bag-o himuon ro anong butang,

Hunahunaa anay ro imong abutan.

Bag-o ka magkaon

Panumduma ro nagta-o kimo.

Bag-ong hari, bag-ong ugali.

Bag-ong pare, bag-ong paagi’t pagsermon.

Bangud sa gugma

Nahimo nga ikog si Maria.

Basta bata, gahuro-huro pa.

Basta kutikot,

Masyadong mahaeang.

Basta umpisa malisod.

Bisan alinon mo nga paksi

Ay pinaligos nga ugali.

Bisan alinon nga pagtago it baga,

Madabdab ay kaeayo.

Bisan ano kadueom

May kasanag.

Bisan ano kahaba ku eubid

May utbong gid.

Bisan ano kahaba nga prosesyon

Sa simbahan man gihapon madayon.

Bisan ano kapait patam-isa eang.

Bisan ano katig-a

May parti gid nga mahumok.

Komposo are folk songs. 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.

NAGTANUM AKO’T PINYA

Nagtanum ako’t pinya,

Sa binit it karsada;

Umagi ro maistra,

Good morning, maayong aga.”

“O Nanay, O Tatay,

Taw-i  ako’t piso.

Ginaalin do piso?

Ibakae it aritos!

Aritos nga moda,

Angay gid sa daeaga;

Daeagang aeon-eaon,

Angay gid pangasaw-on.

PINPIN DE SIRAPIN

Pinpin di sirapin

Kutsilyo de almacin

Haw-haw di karabaw

Batutin

Sayang pula, tatlong pera

Sayang puti, tatlong salapi

Tigbak, buang, binunu, aswang.

As for the Aklanon written literature, we find them in longer poems, short stories, novels, essays, lately haiku and haiga.

Except for riddles, composo, proverbs and luwa, most of the Aklanon written poetry, legends and short stories are in English. This is understandable because there were no venues for Aklanon literature. 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 short stories. Or those who have the means would just publish their own works.

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 evolved in Western Visayas.

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 Ilonggo, Kinaray-a and in Aklanons.

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 Prof. 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 Hiligaynon 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, 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 a literary contest. 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, although June Mijares is from Romblon but he used to work at Aklan Catholic College.  Their winning entries are included in Bigkas Binalaybay; Kritisismo, Antolohiya, edited by John E. Barrios, Melchor F. Cichon, Jonathan P. Jurilla, and J. I. 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 nag hatud 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 Dr. 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. This book became the basis for the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas Award which was bestowed to this writer by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL), making me as the first Aklanon to receive such a prestigious lifetime award.

The books on poetry by Bellysarius 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.

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.

Here are three of the five haiku:

katueondon—

ro asul nga kahayag

gaagi eampas sa kalibutan

**

tungang gabi-i—

ro eaking unga gapakalimos

sa baybaon it Boracay

**

katueondon—

si Flor nag-uli halin sa Singapore

sa sueod it kahon

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. (see the haiku below).

Another breakthrough in Aklanon literature took place in 2005 when the first Aklanon collection of short stories by Prof. John E. 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.

But after their graduation, Bueabod hibernated until today.Fortunately, I was able to create an internet version of this historical journal where all the contents of the printed version have been reproduced. It is entitled: Bueabod It Akeanon Literary Circle

 Here is the link: https://bueabodalc.blogspot.com/

While Bueabod was hibernating, 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.

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 could exchange ideas.

Then one day a certain Tata_Goloy of Numancia, Aklan opened a thread, Kangga ni Tata_Goloy in the internet. 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, Gumamila in Iloilo, 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 Inakeanon. Noting that the so-called poems posted in this new thread needed rewriting, 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 him to conduct a virtual class in poetry writing.

He agreed to conduct a virtual poetry workshop.

Adopting the technique used by Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada in creative writing workshops, this writer suggested to them that they first write and post their haiku, luwa, or longer poems in my.akeanon.com website.

And they did post their contributions in this website.

Every Saturday, this writer collected their works, wrote his comments on them and then posted the original and the corrected ones.

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, this writer has 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 is the most popular website on Aklanon literature. Unfortunately, this site is no longer available in the internet.

This writer has a blog, http://anahawleaf.blogspot.com, which features his haiku, luwa and other poems. As of  September 29, 2018, it was visited 85,091.

In 2007, Melchor F. Cichon selected 25 of the best poems written by Aklanons. The result of this collection is posted in his blog Bueabod It Akeanon Literary Circle, http://bueabodalc.blogspot.com/. Later collection became the  core of the 32 Best Aklanon Poets which I edited and published in 2009.

Also in 2007, he collected the works of Aklanon women poets. Again this collection is found in the above blog.

Both collections are first in the history of Aklanon literature.

What do Aklanon writers write? Who are the writers? What is the quality of their works?

What do Aklanon writers write?

Through the years, Aklan 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. And abroad.

Allow this writer to present some Aklanon contemporary poets and present some of their works.

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.

Two of Navarro's best haiku are:

indi magkahadlok

bisan ro atong taj mahal

hay obra sa botong.

***

si Maria Clara

nag-agto sa Amerika

pag-uli naka-minis-skirt eot-a

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.

Here is an example of his luwa:

Manami kunta tan-awon

Kitang mga Pilipino nagahugpong;

Paano kita magtililipon

Ay owa’t trabaho sa aton?

Ellamae Fernandez was born on April 18, 1986. She is from Lezo, Aklan. Here is an example of her work:

Dominggo’t hapon—

nasa binggohan

nagasi-einggitan

Jay Jose Feliciano is from Kalibo, Aklan. He is presently working in Alaska, USA. Here is one of his poems:

paraisong pinas

naka-Mercedes nga gobyerno

nakakanggang pumueoyo

Ma. Terry F. Marte is from Poblacion, Lezo, Aklan. Here is an example of her haiku:

indi mahuyap nga euha

ro nahueog sa madamoe nga paead

sa idaeum it adlaw

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. Here are four of her finest haiku:

Oh, Eangit

Oh, eangit…

sa punta ka eang

kang tudlo

Sueat

Sueat

halin kimo

ginatago sa dughan

Ikaw ag Ako

huo-

ikaw ag ako

sa tulay nga butong gaeatay

Renelyn Beglinger-Vallejo is married to a Swiss national and they now live in Switzerland. She was born in Ochando, Banga, Aklan.

Boracay

Dayang Boracay

Nga ginatawag nga paraiso—

Ham-at maputi ro baeas

Indi kaparis sa Kalibo?

7 kakilometro dayang isla

Maisot manlang ikumpara sa iba.

Ham-an abu nga hotel

Nga ginpatindog iya?

Owa sanda nahadlok’nga eumubog ra?

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. Here are his haiku and his luwa:

Rang Amigo

Rang anino

akong amigo

hasta sa katapusan.

***

Nag-agto Ako sa Kalibo

Nag-agto ako sa Kalibo

Nakakita ako’t mag-asawang mueto

Umalagwa gid ako it tudo

Iwag manlang gali’t awto.

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.

Matig-ang Bagoe

matig-ang bagoe

gapanago sa amamakoe

hin-aga mano-eo

Jawili

Abaw kanami isipon

Ro Jawili nga mahae nakon

Ano natabo kimo makaron

Musyon akon ikaw nga tatapon

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.

Here are some of her works:

Haiku Selections

sa sueod it train

madasig man

maghueag ro siyudad

***

gaoy eon sa pagtinan-aw

it kalibutan, ro kuhoe –

nagpanago’t uman

Tanka Selections

Pag-eubong

ro kahon sa atic

hay puno’t sueat, lus-aw nga tinta

ratong owa’t kaeag nga papel—gausoy

bukon kato’t madali

ro pagpapahuway kana

Nagakahigugmang Manogbinaeaybay

para kino, maumpisa ako’t pagsueat

ku rayang binaeaybay, bag-ong hugpong

nga mga bisaea kaibahan kay tagipusuong

puno it pag-eaom

indi ako makahambae

Halipatan Ro Oras

galingkod kita nga daywa

sa idaeum it kabituonan

gabueabod ro atong mga alima

owa naton hipan-uhi

ro pag-abot it kaagahon

Edmund Saldivia. The poet is a licensed engineer. He now works as a system analyst in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is a native of Kalibo, Aklan.

Cacique

(Rent-Seekers)

Ku panahon it Kastila,

Ro cacique bugana.

Sanda ro ginasaligan,

Ku eugta it simbahan.

Ginatunga do patubas,

Sa mamueogon may bawas.

Sa mangunguma ikap-at nga parte,

Ro habilin ana ku prayle.

Sa makarong henerasyon,

Ro cacique, iya gihapon.

Maeapit sa trono,

Alipores it palasyo.

Inutang nga kapital,

Si Juan ro kolateral.

Pasaka taga dag-on,

Paeas-anon naton.

Kalbong kagueangan,

Abandonadong minahan,

Basta eat-a inaywan,

Pagkatapos panginpuslan.

Ma-inpluwensyang anino,

Sa tugpa-an it eroplano.

Kontrolado ro kargamento,

Sa daungan it barko.

Tubi ag kuryente,

Sa alima ga-agi.

Yutilidad monopolyado,

Pasilidad manipulado.

Owa’t mayad nga amot,

Sa agrikultura ag industriya.

Parasitiko,

Sa ikonomiya it banwa.

George Calaor. An Aklanon who wishes to have better Philippines, George has been writing poems with social relevance. Here is one of his best poems.

Sakada

Buyti't hugot ring spading

Ag hawani ratong mga panamgo

Nga ginakapyutan it kalisud

Iya sa maliway nga kampo.

Tapsa ro mga pagduhaduha

Nga nagapaeuya sa eawas

Ag pas-anon ro mga kalisud

Nga nagapabakod it dughan.

Nagadaea it pag-eaom.

Ag sa pangamuyo mo

Buksi ring tagipusuon

Ag isugid sa Ginuo

Ro bug-us nimo nga ginapangayu:

Nga ro katubwan hay mangin saksi

Sa pag-abot ku oras,

Sa mabahoe nga kadaeag-an—

Ag padayon nga kahilwayan.

Another contemporary Aklanon poet is Milagros dela Rosa Ibañez, an Aklanon nurse-poet.

Mila or Milesrn in cyberspace, is a nurse. She got her BSN degree in La Concordia College of Nursing in Manila in 1978.

Born in Poblacion, Lezo, Aklan, Mila now resides in California, USA.

And she is motherly. I felt this when she learned that I was operated.  She called me up. She shared to me her expertise in nursing. She gave me tips on how I should take the post-operation treatment. Not only that, Mila is a happy lady. Her motto tells it all: A smile is contagious, be a carrier.

But she is not only a nurse.

She is also a poet and an author of books for children.

It was in my.akeanon.com that she showed her talent in poetry.

She sent some of her poems in Iskul Bukol and later in Haiku in Akeanon.

She writes in English and in Aklanon. But she writes much better in Aklanon, especially luwa, and haiku.

Let us look into some of her poems:

Hay, pangabuhi ko!

Kahapon eang nag sweldo

Dinaea sa Gaisano

Sipot pati sinsilyo.

This next poem shows her concern on our environment.

Bagyong Undang

Among eambon sa pangpang it suba

Sa palibot, may kamunsil nga magapa.

Pag-agi it bagyo ag baha,

Inanud, pati mga manok ag baboy nga alaga.

Her love and respect to her father can be seen in her poem:

Dungganong Ama

Nasyon nga gin dipindihan,

Banwa'ng tinubu-an,

Pamilya'ng gin giyahan,

Naga kasubo, bangud sa imong pagtaliwan.

But Mila can also write love poem. Here are two of them:

the lone traveler

hurries home

to kiss me goodnight

***

Pouring rain--

One umbrella

Shoulder to shoulder

Her joke is suggestive:

sandlot--

imprints of rubber shoes

over another

There is still another Aklanon poet. He is from Numancia, Aklan but now resides in Canada. I believe that he is one of the brightest Aklanon contemporary writers. He writes very good luwa and haiku. Many of his works are published in htt://www.my.akeanon.com. He is very secretive of his name, but he is known as Libtong.

Here are some of his works:

after all that melting, your foot prints on fresh snow this morning...

***

huni it agagangis --

ginatapu-tapoh

ro eugaeogan it anwang

***

pihak nga buean--

pihak man ro pitik

k'ang pihak nga dughan

Another contemporary literary figure is Perry Mangilaya. He is the present editor in chief of Liwayway magazine. He is from Ibajay. He writes poems, short stories, and novels.

Melchor F. Cichon is from Lezo. He works as a librarian by day and a poet by night. Here  are three of his works:

brown-out—

nagsueod ro aninipot

sa baeay namon

***

Ku Ati-atihan 2005 sa Kalibo

Sa plaza nag-eapta ro mga tawo

Ay nagpaburot ka armalite

Si SPO1 Jonathan Moreño

***

EVA, SI ADAN

Bangud ginabot ka eang kuno sa gusok ni Adan

Agud may anang hampang-hampangan,

Maistorya-istoryahan ag mapautwas-utwasan

Sa oras nga anang kinahangean

Hay abu eon nga ngaean

Ro andang ginsueat sa imong daean:

Salome, Magdalena, Maria Clara, Bagyo Esyang.

Bangud mahuyang kuno ring dughan,

Maski ro bagyo nga makaeuka't butong

Ag makapaeunod it barko

Hay ginapapangaean man gihapon kimo.

Pero owa madumdumi't mga eaki

Nga maski si Mark Anthony

Hapatiyog-tiyog ni Cleopatra

Maski sa guwa it kama.

Owa nanda madumdumi nga si Gabriela gali

Ro nagpahaba't daean ni Diego Silang.

Ag sa Edsa kon owa ring kaeambong

Maghigot it rosas sa punta't armalite ni Freddie

Hay basi owa si Cory makasindi't kandila

Sa ermita't Malakanyang.

Mayad gid sanda magpalitik kon paano

Ka eang mapasunod-sunod sa andang ikog.

Owa gid sanda gapalitik kon paano mor magamit

Tanan ring utok, wawas ag hueag

Para kita tanan makatakas sa linaw it utang.

Owa ka gid kuno't kalibutan

Sa pagdumaea't gobyerno o simbahan.

Mayad ka eang kuno maghibi-hibi, magkiri-kiri

Kon magumon ring hilo sa imong saeag-utan.

Kon abu ring hasayran ag kon maghambae ka't

Kontra sa sueondan nga anda man nga hinimuan

Isaea ka ka amasona ag dapat eang nga isilda.

O kon bukon ngani myembro ka't grupo ni Brainda.

Eva, tupong gid eang kamo ni Adan

Sa tanan nga lugar, sa tanan nga butang.

Kon ham-at imo imaw nga ginapagustuhan?

O gusto mo gid eang nga ipadumdom

Nga kon ham-at makapalingkod imaw it leon

Hay ikaw ro anang kaibahan.

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 enthusiasm. The help 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 Mantala and in Patubas. It was also in this period that Alexander de Juan, Roman de la Cruz, John Barrios and Melchor F. Cichon won local and national awards and book writing grants. The book Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii (Bakit Madilim ang Gabi) by Melchor F. Cichon was published. He eventually won the coveted Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas (for Aklanon Poetry). It was given by Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL).

It was also during this period that the New Testament was translated and published in Macar Enterprises. It was translated by Vellyzarius de la Cruz.

Post-Deriada Period, 2005-

With the emergence of the World Wide Web and through the encouragement of Melchor F. Cichon, 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. It was also during this period where many Aklanon luwa were written. The subjects of their works were varied: love, nature, under development, gender, nationalism, poverty and almost all topics. It was during this period also where luwa writing was given emphasis and published in the internet . The latest addition to Aklanon literature is the publication in the internet of poetry for children. However, only about three poets who have been writing on this: Melchor F. Cichon, Cirilo Castillon, Jr. and Edna Laurente Faral.

It was also through the internet that this writer has discovered some more Aklanon writers like Shur Mangilaya and his brother Perry Mangilaya. Shur is based in Aklan while his brother stays in  Metro Manila and presently the editor of Liwayway Magazine where some of my Filipino poems have been published. John Barrios short story was also published in this national magazine.

At present, October 12, 2018,  the following literary books have been written/edited by Aklanon contemporary writers:

Ani Aklanon. Edited by Leoncio P.Deriada, Melchor F. Cichon, Pett R. Candido, Joeffrey L. Ricafuente, Nady M. Meren. Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines. December 1993.

Barrios, John E. and Barrios, Jebbie E. 2015. Lima ka mga hitabo ; isaeang adlaw sa kabuhi ni Payo. Kalibo, Aklan: RB Publishing, 2015. No pagination.

Barrios, John, ed. 9 stories: Angel Esto, Chloe Reynaldo, Alrom Ricafuente. Kalibo: Museo Escuela, 2015. 24p.

Barrios, John. Si Kilat ag si Daeugdog. Gin-istorya it uman ni John Barrios. Kalibo, Aklan. RB Publishig, 2012. No pagination.

Barrios, John. Si Kilat ag si Daeugdog; gin-istorya it uman ni John Barrios. Kalibo, Aklan: RB Publishing, 2012. No pagination.

Cichon, Melchor F. and Masula, Sharon C. Raya rang pasalig, Parayaw; ito ang pangako ko, Mahal. Guimaras : Kasingkasing Press, 2018. 116p.

Cichon, Melchor F. Eangit; mga sobra katag-od nga sugilanon sa Akeanon. Guimaras: Kasingkasing Press, 2017. 23p.

Cichon, Melchor F. Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii? (Bakit Madilim ang Gabii?) Kalibo, Aklan: the Author. Printed at Macar Enterprise, Kalibo, Aklan. 92p.

Cichon, Melchor F. Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii? (Bakit Madilim ang Gabii?). 2^nd ed. Guimaras: Kasingkasing Press, 2015. 142p.

Cichon, Melchor F. Ham-at madueom ro gabii?; a collection of Aklanon poems with Filipino translation. Guimaras: Kasingkasing Press, 2015. 142p.

Cichon, Melchor F. Love Can Find A Way And Other Proverbs on Love.Compiled by Melchor F. Cichon.  Privately published. Iloilo City, 2003.

Cichon, Melchor F. Maiden: a collection of Filipino women. Lezo, Aklan: Tierra Alta Publications, 2012. v, 54p.

Cichon, Melchor F. Mga pabula ni Aesop sa Akeanon. Guimaras:  Kasingkasing Press, 2016. 61p.

Cichon, Melchor F. Siniad-siad nga kaeangitan (strips of heavens); a collection of Akeanon poems. Iloilo City, Libro Agustino University of San Agustin. 2012. 94p.

Cichon, Melchor F., ed.  Matimgas Nga Paeanoblion; anthology of poems written by Aklanons. Lezo, Aklan: Tierra Alta Publications, 2011. 103p.

Cichon, Melchor F., ed.  The 32 best Aklanon poets. Lezo, Aklan: Tierra Alta Publications, 2009. 64p.

Cichon, Melchor F., ed. Matimgas nga paeanoblion; anthology of poems written by Aklanons. Lezo, Aklna: Tierra Alta Publications, 2011. 103p.

Cichon, Melchor F., Faral, Edna L. and Navarro, Losally, eds. Haiku, Luwa and Other Poems by Aklanon.  Kalibo, Aklan, Published privately by the editor and others and was printed by Macar Enterprises. 2005.

Cichon, Melchor F., Tabanera-Feliciano, Rita Hilda, and Mindanao, Pamela Joy  Esmeralda. Guimaras: Kasingkasing Press, 2016. 89p.

De Juan, Alexander, compiler. Balagtasan sa FB [1—4] (Ongoing FB anthology # 1); mula sa Facebook Notes ni Alexander de Juan. Kalibo, Aklan. RB Print & Copy Center. 2010. No pagination.

De Juan, Alexander, compiler. Binaeaybay: sa Ngaean ni Tay Oming (Ongoing FB anthology # 2: Aklanon poems); a Facebook Note  by Alexander de Juan. RB Print & Copy Center. 2010. No pagination.

De los Santos, Carmen L. Lachica, Ma. Milagros, Barrios, John E., translators. Selebrasyon at Lamentasyon; Antolohiya ng Maikling Kuwento ng Panay. Quezon City: U.P. SWF, 1998. 235p.

Dela Cruz, Al F. Sa gihapon; mga binaeaybay para sa engkantada it manaya-nayang banwa. Quezon City: San Agustin  Center of Studies, Mass Media Center Publications, 2015. 128p.

Dela Rosa, Mila  and Rains, C. J. Mommy’s little helper. Indianapolis, USA: Dog Ear Publishing, 2015. No pagination.

Problems being encountered by Aklanon writers

Unlike the English and Filipino writers, Aklanon writers encounter a lot of problems.

1. There are not enough copies of Aklanon dictionaries. At the moment, there are five Aklanon dictionaries. The book by Reyes et al. is now out of print, while that of de la Cruz is expensive. The work by Braulio and that of Pastrama are not that many.

Here is a list of dictionaries related to Aklanon language:

At the moment, there are five Aklanon dictionaries. Here are four of them:

Braulio, Eleanor Perucho. Akean-Filipino leksicon, 1997-98. Kalibo, Aklan: Macar Enterprises, 1999.

Dela Cruz, Roman A. Five-language dictionary (Panay Island): English, Tagalog, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Aklanon. Kalibo,Aklan:  Rock Publishing, 2003.

Pastrana, Theodore Acevedo. Mga magkahueogan ag buko’t makahueogan nga mga tinaga sa Inakeanon (a thesaurus of Aklanon words). No place of publication, no publisher. 2012.

Reyes, Vicente Salas, et al. A Study of the Aklanon Dialect, vol two, Dictionary. Kalibo, Aklan: Public Domain, 1969. (This is the first Aklanon dictionary. Volume 1 of this is on Aklanon grammar

The second problem is the lack of encouragement and financial support from school administrators on the publication of their school organs.

There are very few Aklanons who are dedicated in producing literary pieces.

Very few literature teachers in Aklan discuss the literary works of Aklanons writers in their literature classes.

There is a lack of literary contests in Aklan.

Workshops for creative writers are not held oftenly in Aklan especially for high school students, and those who are new in creative writing.

Lack of outlets for their outputs, although there are now blogs and facebook pages which can easily be built.

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. This writer hopes that this gap will soon be filled up by the present and future Aklanon writers.

As for the contents, I sincerely hope that Aklanon poets and fiction writers will focus their writings socio-cultural and environmental problems as they are still experiencing the impact of poverty, injustices, corruption, environmental degradation, and many other social issues.

And I hope that they will also write in Aklanon especially now that we are experiencing the lack of reading materials for our Mother Tongue curriculum. And I hope that our teachers will attend literary workshops so that their literary writing skills will be improved. Not only that, once we have a lot of Aklanons who can write literary pieces in Aklanon, our Aklanon literature will likewise be improved. At the moment, exept for the poem of Dominador Ilio, there are no poems or short stories that are included in the textbooks on Philippine regional literature.

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.

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.

Deriada, Leoncio. Literature engineering in West Visayas. Forum, Opisyal na Pahayagan ng Universidad ng Pilipinas, March 28, 2006. http://www.up.edu.ph/forum/2000/03/28/litengg.html, retrieved: April 13, 2006.

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)

*(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.)