Why Do I Write in Aklanon?

By
Melchor F. Cichon
November 18, 2008

Why do I write in Aklanon?

This is a simple question, but it took me time to compile my reasons why indeed I write in Aklanon.

When I started writing poetry, I wrote in English, then in Tagalog, then in Aklanon.

I wrote in English because I really wanted to improve my skills in English. It has been my problem on how to communicate effectively in English. Because of that I read books on English grammar like the one by Jean Edades, English for Filipinos. Together with a friend, we studied the English grammar, its preposition, and the actual writing in English. To try how effective my English was, I tried to write short letters to the editors of Manila Times, Sunday Times Magazine, the Philippine Collegian, and other national magazines. Some of my letters were published, of course with some editing.
Then I tried writing poetry in English.

But since I did not have any formal training on poetry writing I thought that the best way to write poetry was to translate Tagalog poems into English to see how poets write poems. So I translated the works of Teo Baylen, a poet laureate from Cavite.

Little by little, I learned some poetry writing techniques.

Then I tried writing in Tagalog as it was much easier for me to express myself in Tagalog than in English.

In the early 1980s, Dr. Leoncio Deriada came to UP in Iloilo.

When he learned that I was writing poetry, he asked me to show him some of my “masterpieces”, and he told me I should learn some more. He invited me to attend creative writing workshops.

And I did.

It was also through his encouragement that I write more Aklanon poems because it would be much easier for me to convey my ideas if I write in Aklanon. I accepted his challenge.

Before that, of course I was already writing in Aklanon. In fact my poem, Inay, is the first Aklanon poem ever published in the Philippine Collegian. When I transferred to UP in Iloilo, now UPV, I wrote a poem in Aklanon. This was published in Pagbutlak. That was also the first Aklanon poem ever published in that school organ.

There are other reasons why I write in Aklanon.

Aklanon as a language is still developing like any other language. In fact it has no spelling standard. Although we have three dictionaries that provide Aklanon words, I noticed that there are some words that are spelled in a different way like: Unga and Onga; Kon and Kun; Tagipusuon and Tagipusoon. There are also some deviations like ingko or mingko, paris or kamana, pero or piru, etc.

But I usually consult the A Study of the Aklanon Dialect, vol 2, Dictionary by Vicente Salas Reyes et al., 1969, if I am not sure of the spelling.

As I continued writing poems in Aklanon, I noticed my Aklanon vocabulary has been expanding.

And I also enrich Aklanon language by incorporating words from other languages into my Aklanon works. Example, cocoon has no direct translation into Aklanon, except that it is a house of a worm. But the Tagalog has, so I used higad when I translated the haiku of Rogelio G. Mangahas. Another word which I used is ham-at, from ham-an it. Now this word is well-known especially when I published the book entitled: Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii, Inay?

Later I realized that I was not only writing for myself. Some people have noticed my literary works especially Dr. Deriada. When I published my first book of poems, Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii, he recommended me to Gawad Pampansang Alagad ni Balagtas.

In a way, not only Aklanons have been reading my literary works but also other people especially so when I set-up the website Aklanon Literature http://geocities.com/aklanonliterature). I heard that in De la Salle and in UP Diliman, Philippine literature students discuss some of my works in their classes. Someone from the University of Santo Thomas wrote me a letter saying that she was writing a term paper on my Aklanon poems.

Through my writings, I have gained some friends not only in my province but also outside. As a result, I gained some cooperation with other writers. And perhaps if not because of my Aklanon works, Prof. Tomas Talledo would not have invited me to attend a conference on why people write in their native tongues. The conference was held on May 9, 2008 at U.P. Visayas Iloilo City Campus. Or probably, I should not be here after all.
And perhaps through my example, some Aklanons have tried writing in Aklanon. Now we can see some Aklanon poems in the internet. One book, Haiku, Luwa and Other Poems by Aklanons was published in 2004 through my encouragement.

With the help of the internet, I was able to communicate with renowned haiku writers outside of the Philippines. I translated Basho’s haiku into Aklanon. This way these famous foreign writers will learn about Aklan and Aklan’s literature.

My other reason for writing in Aklanon is to prove that there is a distinct Aklanon literature, not a subgroup of Hiligaynon literature. For many years, some people have thought that there is only one literature in Western Visayas until we the present writers have advocated that Aklanon literature is not a subgroup of Hiligaynon literature, but parallel to it.

Still other reason why I write in Aklanon is to earn money, although very little by being asked to translate Aklanon poems, short stories and other works for their theses or researches.

Lastly, I write in Aklanon to expose the social and environmental cancers that ferment in our country, and hopefully will prick the consciousness of our leaders. To me poetry is a social responsibility.

All the poems that you are about to read were written for a contest, and fortunately, they won prizes. Ay, Saeamat is one of the poems in the collection that won a writing grant in poetry writing in Aklanon from the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Eva, Si Adan won third prize in the regional contest sponsored by Sentro ng Wika, UP in the Visayas and the NCCA, while Si Ambong, Ati won first prize in the same contest, professional written category.

As you read my poems, you will notice that the incidents mentioned in the poems were based on Philippine history, current events and culture.

Ay, Saeamat cites the cycle of human life.: birth, marriage, and death. In each stage, Filipinos celebrate or honor it. In each celebration, Filipinos prepare foods for the visitors, either invited or not.

To add tension, I included this line: “Maski salin eon lang.” in the last line of the first stanza. To heighten the tension, I included the following lines that reflect the common incidents during Martial Law time:

Pirme eon lang abi nga linaga nga kamote
Ro ginapamahaw namon ni Nanay
Ay ginkangay abi si Tatay
Ni Hepe M sa Kampo K
Ay kuno nagpakaon si Tatay it limang katawo
Nga may bitbit nga sako
Ag sang dag-on eon imaw
Nga owa kauli.
Ag hasta makaron ra’y Tatay
Nga sanggutan
Hay owa eon
Hibag-euti.

The second poem, Eva si Adan talks about man’s wrong perceptions about women’s capability and power. These can be seen in these lines:

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.

I wrote Si Ambong, Ati primarily for a contest. This poem won first prize in the written professional category. This poem exposes how lowlanders ostracize the Ati in Iloilo City, and in other provinces in Panay, and the neglect being done by our government toward the Atis. The persona hopes that the Ati will be given equal opportunity in education and other benefits being availed of by the lowlanders. Ambong in Kinaray-a is beautiful.

The first few lines portray the sad plight of Ati in Iloilo City:

Si Ambong, Ati—maitum.
Kueong ra buhok, gision ra eambong, ga siki.
Gakung-kong, kung-kong ka maeupsi nga eapsag
Gapakalimos sa Jaro Cathedral, sa J.M. Basa Street
Ay gintabog eon ra pamilya sa eugta nga anay ginaayaman nanda’t haeo.
Si Ambong, Ati, maitum, indi kantigo magbasa, indi kantigo magsueat
Maski ka anang ngaean ay sa andang barangay owa’t eskuylahan.
Si Ambong, Ati, ginasinggit-singgitan, ginadela-delaan
It mga unga kun imaw mag-agi sa daean ay maitum.
Ginapahadlok it mga nanay sa andang gatangis nga mga unga.
O sa mga unga nga indi magtueog.
Kon fiesta, ginataw-an si Ambong it salin nga suea
Ginasueod sa plastic o sa bag-ong bukas nga lata.
Kun bukon ngani, ginabagsakan it gate.
Agod makayupyop it sigarilyo, gapamueot si Ambong it upos sa kalye.
Agod makasamit it hamburger o juice sa pakite,
Ginapaeapitan ni Ambong ro nagakaon maski sin-o nga anang maagyan.
Pag-abot it gabii, maeugad si Ambong sa sidewalk o sa waiting shed
Kahulid ka anang maeupsing eabsag—
Mayad eang kun may karton nga banig ag owa’t baha o uean --
Agod magbaskug euman ra tuhod sa pagpakalimos pagka-aga.


Below are  three of my complete Aklanon poems:

Ay, Saeamat

Ay, saeamat
Ay may bunyag eon man
Sa among barangay—
Makasamit eon man ako’t
Sutanghon ag litson
Maski salin eon lang.

Pirme eon lang abi nga galunggong ag dayok
Ro suea namon ni Nanay.

Ay, saeamat
Ay may eubong eon man
Sa among barangay—
Makasamit eon man ako’t
Libreng siopao
May Coke o Pepsi pang pangtulak.

Pirme eon lang abi nga linaga nga kamote
Ro ginapamahaw namon ni Nanay
Ay ginkangay abi si Tatay
Ni Hepe M sa Kampo K
Ay kuno nagpakaon si Tatay it limang katawo
Nga may bitbit nga sako
Ag sang dag-on eon imaw
Nga owa kauli.
Ag hasta makaron ra’y Tatay
Nga sanggutan
Hay owa eon
Hibag-euti.



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 mo magamit
Tanan ring utok, eawas 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.

Si Ambong, Ati

Si Ambong, Ati—maitum.
Kueong ra buhok, gision ra eambong, gasiki.
Gakung-kong, kung-kong ka maeupsi nga eapsag
Gapakalimos sa Jaro Cathedral, sa J.M. Basa Street
Ay gintabog eon ra pamilya sa eugta nga anay ginaayaman nanda’t haeo.
Si Ambong, Ati, maitum, indi kantigo magbasa, indi kantigo magsueat
Maski ka anang ngaean ay sa andang barangay owa’t eskuylahan.
Si Ambong, Ati, ginasinggit-singgitan, ginadela-delaan
It mga unga kun imaw mag-agi sa daean ay maitum.
Ginapahadlok it mga nanay sa andang gatangis nga mga unga.
O sa mga unga nga indi magtueog.
Kon fiesta, ginataw-an si Ambong it salin nga suea
Ginasueod sa plastic o sa bag-ong bukas nga lata.
Kon bukon ngani, ginabagsakan it gate.
Agod makayupyop it sigarilyo, gapamueot si Ambong it upos sa kalye.
Agod makasamit it hamburger o juice sa pakite,
Ginapaeapitan ni Ambong ro nagakaon maski sin-o nga anang maagyan.
Pag-abot it gabii, maeugad si Ambong sa sidewalk o sa waiting shed
Kahulid ka anang maeupsing eabsag—
Mayad eang kun may karton nga banig ag owa’t baha o uean --
Agod magbaskug euman ra tuhod sa pagpakalimos pagka-aga.
Si Ambong, Ati—maitum. Ra ele-ele, ra hibi, ra pangamuyo
Indi mabatian, indi mabatyagan it gobyerno sa siyudad it tawo.
Ra singgit it tabang hay singgit sa Pluto.
Si Ambong, Ati-- maitum, indi makit-an it atong gobyerno.
Kon Dinagyang, sa selebrasyon etsa pwera si Ambong.
Eutay kuno imaw sa mga bisitang dumueo-ong.
Si Ambong, maitum, ginatabog it blue guard
Bag-o pa man imaw maka-eapak sa gate it Atrium ag SM Shoemart
Kunta may Gloria nga magbatak kay Ambong sa libtong it kaimueon
Agod sa ulihi ro gobyerno may buwes nga masukot kay Ambong;
Agod sa ulihi makabakae man imaw it Levis o barong
Agod sa ulihi makaeskuyla man sa U.P. ra mga inapo;
Agod sa ulihi owa kana’t magtamay, owa’t magtabog
Kon imaw mag-agto sa SM City ag sa Atrium.
Si Ambong, Ati--Maitum. Apo ni Maniwantiwan.
Ag Filipino. Pares kimo, pares kakon.
Kon ham-at owa imaw sa listahan it mga Filipino nga dapat buligan?
Kon ham-at indi imaw makasueod sa atong ugsaran?
Kon ham-at indi naton imaw maagbayan?
Kon ham-at indi imaw makadungan katon magkaon sa restauran?
Siyudad man baea ra’t tawo, indi baea, banwa? Indi baea, banwa?