TANYA Lopez, the workshop director of “Holistic and Artistic Initiatives in LaSallian Learning (Haill) Project” requested the Silay City Government to send me as instructor in a workshop, “Introduction to Visayan Literature.” The office of Mayor Mark Golez granted the request.
The said workshop for future stage actors (USLS students) was held at the Artists’ Hub of the University of St. La Salle (USLS) on April 17 to 18. This was officially approved by Gerard Grey, Artists’ Hub director in cooperation with the Tanggapan ng Pangulo Pambansang Komisyon Para sa Kultura at Mga Sining (National Commission for the Culture and the Arts). Cleo Patricio assisted us all the way.
For me, another door has been opened wherein I could share the precious things in Hiligaynon (Ilonggo, Panayano) that I learned from my “sacada” mentors and friends who practiced “babaylanism.” In the preparation of my modules, I was inspired by two researchers, Mariel Francisco and Fe Maria Arriola.
Our first day was exciting because the workshop participants were made to introduce themselves theatrically and they were to score (using body medium) the chant for Kang Laun. A background on Hiligaynon literature was thoroughly discussed thus identifying Hiligaynon as one of the six major dialects listed as belonging to the Bisaya language alongside with Sugbuhanon, Waray-waray, Aklanon, Hamtikanon and Hiniraya.
We traced the origin of “Bisaya.” The original home of the “Bisaya” people that focuses on Borneo legend that says that the word “bisaya” means beautiful. That touches also on Enrique de Malacca, the slave of Magellan who was the first circumnavigator of the world. The relationship of “Buglas” (Negros) and “Aninipay” (Panay) was significantly explained.
Our ancestors started our history and Hiligaynon literature that were written later. Most of the stories have been forgotten and some remembered them as legends. Stories were made by “taga-ubos” (lowlanders), “taga-bukid” (highlanders), “taga-uma” (from the farm), and “taga-baybay” (from the coastal area).
The evolution of Hiligaynon literature has been enculturated to us by the Negritoes, Indonesians, and Malays. Here in Buglas (Negros), we should be proud of our leaders who were “dalagangan” (may dala sang maisog nga dungan). They are leaders by virtue of their courage, skills, and powerful personalities (“soul-force”). This is vividly explained by Sir Modesto Sao-noy in “History of Occidental Negros.”
A leader with “dungan” is “dungganon” (honorable). The root word is “dungga” (listen). Leadership in Buglas was personal not hereditary as in the case of the datu, lakan, and sultan. Kang Laun was the chief god and the bird Manaul was the spirit of the gods that acted as their messenger. There were unseen creatures in sacred places. They were the “tag-lugar” and humans should perform the “panabi-tabi” so that they could be excused.
If harmed by the elementals or nature spirits, our ancestors asked for the help of the “babaylan,” a gifted person in the community who could be a medium to reach the spirit world. He could also function as a priest, doctor, or consultant who could foretell the future.
Stories that have been a part of our history and colorful literature have been derived from the explorations of the “babaylan” as he encountered the “maranhig,” “aswang,” “bulalakaw,” “kataw,” “mantiw,” “kapre,” “sigbin,” “tayho,” “san termo,” “murto,” “agta,” “bagat,” “kama-kama,” “muwa” and the other creatures from the dark side.
At first, I thought these were just stories that would be our springboard for Hiligaynon literature. Most of the folktales were part of my research in the countryside of my hometown Silay. The students attending my workshop started with their personal and vicarious experiences also on things within the twilight zone... far beyond our dimension.
The fertile minds and the highly-colored imagination of my participants during the first day almost gave me an assurance that at the end of the workshop, we will be able to craft and present on stage a multifariousness of scenes to depict intermixture of talents. And that happened! (To be continued)