The Re-Emergence of Aklanon Literature

The Re-Emergence of Aklanon Literature

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Aklanon literature refers to all kinds of literary works in any languages written by Aklanons, either published or unpublished.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.

         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)