Pines City Colleges

GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

First Semester, A.Y. 2021-2022

Course Number: Lit 101

Course Title: Literature of the Philippines

Modular Learning Guide # 4

Topic: Philippine Poetry

Expected Time of Completion: 3 hours
A. Learning Outcomes
The students are able to value and interpret the literatures of the different regions in the
Philippines in a metrical form; appreciate Filipino culture as reflected in both traditional and
contemporary poetry of the Philippines; write a poem using the techniques and elements of poetry

B. Learning Content

Chant
The Ifugaos observe a social ritual where the mettle of the young men of the community
is put to test. Done usually after the camote cuttings have been planted, the ceremony involves a
sham battle-using stones, instead of sharp weapons – between groups of young men. It is believed
that the warriors who suffer the most bruises from such a battle will reap a rich harvest of
camotes; the bigger the bumps on the head they sustain, the bigger the camotes. As the fight goes
on the cheerers, composed of women, children, and older men chant the following song. Its words
do not mean anything at all, but it is used to taunt the participants. (Arciaga, Azarcon, Ceniza,
Literature of the Philippines)

Bagbagto (Cordillera)
Bag-bag-to, bag-bag-to lambik 
Tulambik, tulambawikan 
Bawikan, bawikalanay 
Kalanay, kalanapunay 
Napunay, napunayagta 
Nayagta, nayagtakumpa 
Takumpa, takumpaya-aw 
Paya-aw, paya-atimbaw
Atimbaw, atingawistan
Gawistan, gawistannabu
Tanabu, tanabuga-ay 
Buga-ay, buga-ay madon…

From Morr Pungayan’s writings on Baguio Midland Courier (Sept. 7, 2009)

AND BEFORE THE coming of the Spaniards? What literature could we produce as evidence of
our lifestyles? The Bagbagto stands out as one. Hereunder, I present the first five lines – with
analyses in contemporary Igudut language(s).
Bagbagto, bagbagtolambik ( tolambik which means “to roll over”)
Tolambik, tolambawikan ( bawikan which must be a noun common for animals which does this
or that.)
Bawikan, Bawikalanai (Kala nai which suggests “here’s my weapon (e.g) take it”
Kalanai, Kalanayakta (Naayak et ya which means “am here, come on! fight me”)
Nayakta, Nayapayaw (Nay [di] apayaw [but] which warns: “but be careful, I might get you too!”)
Payaaw Paya astimbao (‘payaw [isunga] estem bao which states [but since we’re both here] do

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 your best.”)
ALL AND ALL, the first five lines of Bagbagto sends forth a challenge to the enemy – re-
worded thus in English, as simply as can be done, to wit:
1st line: Let’s fight (or play) Bagbagto ~ that where we roll over when we are hit;
2nd line: When we roll over, hit, we’re like the Bawikan sleeping upside down;
3rd line: Here’s my weapon take it if you can;
4th line: But beware I am here [who holds it] and you too may instead be taken by me;
5th line: [So,] estem bao! Prepare, come on, en garde!

Folk Songs
Manang Biday (Ilokano)

Manang Biday, ilukat mo man

‘Ta bintana ikalumbabam
Ta kitaem ‘toy kinayawan
Ay, matayakon no dinak kaasian

Siasinnoka nga aglabaslabas

‘Toy hardinko pagay-ayamak
Ammom ngarud a balasangak
Sabong ni lirio, di pay nag ukrad

Denggem, ading, ta bilinenka

Ta inkanto ‘diay sadi daya
Agalakanto’t bunga ti mangga
Ken lansones pay, adu a kita

No nababa, dimo gaw-aten

No nangato, dika sukdalen
No naregreg, dika piduten
Ngem labas labasamto met laeng

Daytoy paniok no maregregko

Ti makapidut isublinanto
Ta nagmarka iti naganko
Nabordaan pay ti sinanpuso

Alaem dayta kutsilio

Ta abriem ‘toy barukongko
Tapno maipapasmo ti guram
Kaniak ken sentimiento
Listen to it: [Link]

Pamulinawen (Ilokano)

Pamulinawen, pusok indengam man 

Toy umas-asug agrayod'ta sadiam. 
Panunotem man inka pagintutulngan 
Toy agayat, agukkoy dita sadiam. 

Refrain:
Essem nga diak malipatan ta nasudi unay a nagan, 
Uray sadin ti ayan, lugar sadino man, 
Aw-awagan di agsarday, ta naganmo kasam-itan. 
No malagipka, pusok ti mabang-aran. 

Adu a sabsabong, narway a rosrosas 

Ti adda't ditoy a di nga mabuybuya, 
Ngem awan man laeng ti pakaliwliwaan 
No di dayta sudim ken kapintas. 

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 Aywen, biagko, indengam man. 
Iyasasokko nga inaldaw 
Ta diak to a kayat ti sabali nga imnas 
Sika laeng, o, biagko, ita ken uray tanemman 
No malagipka, pusok ti mabang-aran. 

Dakay nga ububbing, didakam' tultuladen 

Ta dakkel kamin nga agiinnarem 
Ta ituloyyo ta panagadalyo 
Tapno inkay magun-od kakaligumanyo
Listen to it: [Link]

Malinak Lay Labi (Pangasinan)

Malinac lay labi, Oras lay mareen

Mapalpalnay dagem, Katekep toy linaew
Samit day kugip ko, Binangonan kon tampol
Lapu’d say linggas mo, Sikan-sikay amamayoen

Refrain:

Lalo la bilay no sika lay nanengneng

Napunas lan amin so ermin ya akbibiten
No nanonotan ko lay samit day ugalim
Agtaka nalingwanan anggad kaoyos na bilay
Listen to it: [Link]

Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan)

Atin cu pung singsing

Metung yang timpucan
Amana que iti
Cang indung ibatan
Sancan queng sininup
Quing metong a caban
Mewala ya iti
E cu camalayan.

Quing sucal nin lub cu 

Susucdal quing banua
Mengurus cung gamat
Babo ning lamesa
Ninumang manaquit
Queng singsing cung mana
Calulung pusu cu
Manginu ya que ya.
Listen to it: [Link]

Sarong Banggui (Bicol)

Sarung banggui sa higdaan

Nakadangog ako hinuni nin sarung gamgam
Sa luba ko katorogan
Bako kundi simong boses iyo palan

Dagos ako bangon si sakuyang mata iminuklat,

Sa tahaw nin kadikluman ako nangalagkalag
Si sakuyang mata ipinasiring ko sa itaas
Simong Log nahiling ko iwanag.

Duman sa iraya bantog buayahon

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 Lumangoy si nonoy sa kalipong awon
Dai mahiling niya ang saiyang kailusyon.
Listen to it: [Link]

Dandansoy (Bisaya)

Dandansoy, bayaan ta ikaw, pa-uli ako sa payaw

Ugaling kon ikaw hidlawon, ang payaw imo lang lantawon.
Dandansoy, kin imo apason, bisan tubig di magbalon
Igaling kon ikaw uhawon, sa dalan magbobon-bobon.
Listen to it: [Link]

Modern Songs (Cordillera)

Nan Layad En Sikhafan popularized by Lourdes (Fangki) Gomeyac as Layad

I suppose you are all familiar with this song most especially if you are from the Cordillera.
Listen to it: [Link]
There are many versions to this song so I don’t want to focus much on the lyrics. What I want you to read
is the history of the song which is posted on Bontoc Municipal Library Facebook Page written by Van
Bacwaden Galgala.

Just so you know, the original song is titled "Nan Layad En Sikhafan" and not "Nan Layad Nan
Likatan." The lyrics of the song were written by our great grandfather, Christopher Ngong-o
Oakes (circa 1917 during his bachelor days) of Bontoc, Mountain Province and sung to the
melody of "Love at Home" by John Hugh McNaughton which was a very popular song during
their time. The lyrics were translated to English by siblings Sofia Oakes Bacwaden and Estella
Oakes Felwa (daughters of Christopher Oakes) .

The song is a heartbreak song. It is about a love so deep and beautiful but when it ended, the
pain felt was just as deep. It is a song of despair and a lamentation of a love all past and gone
(nar-os cha am-in). The last stanza is a plea (to the maiden) for compassion (sumeg-ang ka man)
to rekindle the love (wedwechas fangonen ta) and be together in marriage (ta't ampay en
among ta, omafong ta'y chuwa).

Some accounts would say that the song was written by Christopher Oakes after getting
heartbroken when his relationship with a Bontoc lass failed. Some say that it was with a Bontoc
lass who later married a Mr. Claver while some would say that it was a Bontoc lass who later
married a Mr. Diaz. Nagwapo gamin kanu nan ikit mi ay nay sunga, kanan lola Sofia.

That (story above) was how I knew it too. However, according to my grandma Sofia, the song
was actually written by Christopher Oakes when an Ilokano friend of his, who was deeply in
love with a lass from Payag-eo, Sagada, was deeply heartbroken over the failed relationship.
The Payag-eo lass later on married then Assemblyman George Tait (his first wife). The lyrics
were mainly written by Christopher Oakes with some contributions by his then group of
friends. All these, I just learned awhile ago from my grandma Sofia.

Accordingly, the song was first sung in public in 1947 during the Bontoc Town Fiesta (1st
celebration of the the fiesta after the war) by a group of high school boys led by now Atty. Jaime
Gomez along with Antonio Yawan. Grandma Sofia remembers her dad (Christopher Oakes)
dictating to them the lyrics of the song from memory.
Per grandma Sofia's recount, the song was again sung in public, this time in 4 voices as taught
by Mrs. Saboy, by a group representing Blocks 1 and 2 (Chakchakan area) which included Mr.

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Chaokas during one of the popular Community Nights annualy held in All Saints Mission
School (grandma cannot recall the year.)

The song was later on recorded and popularized by Mr. Pedro Chinalpan as "Nan Layad Nan
Likatan" changing the melody of the first line of the chorus. More recordings and renditions of
the song were made such as that popularized by Lourdes Gomeyac (then popularly known as
Lourdes Fangki) and that of the Pe'tune Band of which our cousins Janus Carlo Ananayo and
Brax Felwa Domatog, great grandsons of Oakes, were members.

Now why do we sing the 'Layad' in weddings? It is not actually the original song "Nan Layad
En Sikhafan" (First and second image) which is supposed to be sung during weddings. Our
grandmother Sofia came out with another version of the song (third photo), tweaking the lyrics
making it appropriate for weddings hence titled "Layad Ta'y Chachama." She came out with the
lyrics for our cousin's, (her first granddaughter) Zenith Rose Bacwaden Dalog’s wedding to
Clarence Dalog on April 9,1999 where it was first sung. Thus, that’s the version that should
be sung during weddings - the happier, more positive one that speaks of eternal love. This was
also the version sung during my wedding on June 2018 as requested by the grandma directed
by cousin Zenith, the ASC choir director (for those who were wondering then ).

Danum by Salidummay
Listen to it: [Link]

Kasla ak kuma kenka a danum a napigsa

Ta aguyasak agpababa
Ing-gana waya waya u-u-uwaay…
Kitaem kadi kadwa ti danum idjay bantay
Nag-ayos nagpababa ing-gana idjay bay-bay u-u-uwaay…

Uray anya ti ikastam

Uray man nu lap-pedam
Mabirukan na latta
Dalan ti waya waya u-u-uwaay…

Uray man nu mabulanan

Uray man nu matawenan
Isu latta ti madanunan
Bay-bay a kalawaan u-u-uwaay…

Ti kaiyarigan na ti danum a napigsa

Dangadang ti umili sigurado agbaligi u-u-uwaay…
Ma idadanes nga umili
Bumang bangon lumablaban
Isuda ti sadiri
Panangbaliw ti kagimungan u-u-uwaay…

Uray anya man ti rigat

Mabayag man ti gubat
Isu latta madanunan
Nawaya a masakbayan u-u-uwaay…

Note: Let us all be a ‘danum’. I hope you find inspiration from this song to keep on going like the water
no matter what is going in our own crazy world. Let us all find our own will to keep on flowing.

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Salawikain (Proverb)
Ambahan ni Ka Bestreng Kutsero (o mga Tagulaylay at Bulaybulay sa Kahirapan ni Rio Alma )
(Region 3)
Note: Tagulaylay means monotonous way of singing or peaceful singing and bulaybulay means
meditation.

At aanhin pa ang damo

Kung patay na ang kabayo?
Aanhin pa ang kabayo
Kung patay na ang negosyo?
Aanhin pa ang negosyo
Kung patay na ang Kutsero?
 
Oy, pahiram nga ng piso
Me patupada sa San Mateo
Doon, kahit na dehado
Pag bin’wenas, nananalo.
 
At aanhin pa ang damo….
 
Oy, dibdib mo’y anong samyo
Kahit pans’yam na ang bunso,
Bukas, ako’y pasa-Pajo..
Oy, tena nga sa kulambo
 
At aanhin pa ang damo…
 
Oy, kelan pa ang ligaya
sa pasada ng kalesa?
Pag kumalam ang bituka
Di makuha sa hinyebra!
  
At aanhin pa ang damo
Kung patay na ang kabayo?
Aanhin pa ang kabayo
Kung patay na ang negosyo?
Aanhin pa ang negosyo
Kung patay na ang Kutsero?
 
Oy, paano kung mamatay,
O kabayo ay mapilay?
Sabihin bang me dangal
Ang me utang kahit saan?
 
At aanhin pa ang damo…
 
Oy, ba’t ito ang sinapit?
Ang Diyos ba’y naiidlip?
Tunay ‘atang sa daigdig
Pansahog lang ang maliit…
 
At aanhin pa ang damo….
 
Oy, me TB ma’t me hika
Katawan ko’y sasagasa
Dugo’t pawis ay mantika
Sa nguso ng b’waya’t linta!
 

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 At aanhin pa ang damo…
 
Oy, sa gabi ng tagtuyot,
Paghiga mo’t walang kumot
Natutulog ka sa lungkot
Nagigising ka sa poot!
 
Aanhin pa ang kutsero
Kung patay na ang negosyo?
Aanhin pa ang negosyo
Kung patay na ang kabayo?
Aanhin pa ang kabayo
Kung patay na ang damuho!

Riddles
Aeta Riddles (Region 3)
Muminuddukam
A ningngijjitam.
Filipino translation: May korona pero hindi reyna
May kaliskis pero hindi isda.
Ajar tangapakkingnga niuk
Awayya ipagalliuk.
Filipino translation: Kapag hiniwa mo,
Naghihilom nang walang pilat.
Assini nga pinasco ni Apu
Nga magismagel yu uluna.
Filipino translation: Isang kuwebang may itak sa loob
Puno ng buto pero hindi libingan.

Tagbanwa Riddles (Region 4)

Tinigbas kung saggiring
Ega maglaya-laya
Filipino translation: Ako’y punong sanggiring
Hindi namamatay kahit putulin
Anang puno kakahoyan
Anang sanga ka bugtongan
Anang dahon kaniogan.
Filipino translation: Ang puno ay kahoy
Ang sanga ay uway
Ang dahon ay niyog
Dakula nga balay, libut it lalawagan .
Filipino translation: Malaking bahay, libot ng durungawan.

Subanon Riddles (Region 9)

Sintulun ni Apu’ bila
Mtongow mu mondoka dun.
Filipino translation: Sinturon ni Apu
Walang puwedeng humiram

Migludoy si Molumbu’ ilan ni Molanggas

Dinag si Molumbio
Filipino translation: Nagbuno si taba at payat
Si taba ang natalo.
Mokugulang pongnanap,
Gombata’ pongikud
Filipino translation: Gumagapang ang matanda
Nakaupo and bata.
Mogulang poglunip
poktua’ da ok pusod non.
Filipino translation: Pag sumisid si tanda

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 Nakalitaw and pusod.

Poems
Liham ni Pinay Mula sa Brunei (NCR)
by Elynia Ruth S. Mabanglo

Ako’y guro, asawa at ina.

Isang babae--pupol ng pabango, pulbos at seda,
Kaulayaw ng batya, kaldero at kama.
Napagod yata ako’t nanghinawa,
Nagsikap mangibang-lupa.
 
Iyo’t iyon din ang lalaking umuupo sa kabisera,
Nagbabasa ng diyaryo uma-umaga.
Naghihintay siya ng kape at naninigarilyo,
Habang kagkag ako sa pagitan ng kuna at libro,
Nagpapahid ng lipstick at nagpapatulo ng gripo.
Hindi siya nag-aangat ng mukha
Umaaso man ang kawali o umiingit ang bata.
Hinahatdan ko siya ng brief at tuwalya sa banyo,
Inaaliw kung mainit ang ulo.
Wala siyang paliwanag
Kung bakit hindi siya umuwi magdamag,
Ngunit kunot na kunot ang kanyang noo
Kapag umaalis ako ng Linggo.
Ayaw niya ng galunggong at saluyot
Kahit pipis ang sobreng inabot,
Ibig pa yatang maghimala ako ng ulam
Kahit ang pangrenta’y laging kulang.
 
Ako’y guro, asawa at ina.
Isang babae-- napapagal sa pagiging babae.
Itinakda ng kabahaging masumpa sa walis, labada’t oyayi
Kahit may propesyo’t kumikita ng salapi.
Iyo’t iyon din ang ruta ng araw-araw--
Kabagutang nakalatag sa kahabaan
Ng bahay at paaralan, ng kusina’t higaan.
 
May karapatan ba akong magmukmok?
Saan ako tatakbo kung ako’y malungkot?
May beerhouse at massage parlor na tambayan
Ang kabiyak kong nag-aasam,
Nasa bintana ako’t naghihintay.
Nagbabaga ang katawan ko sa paghahanap,
May krus ang dila ko’t di makapangusap.
Humihingi ng tinapay ang mga anak ko,
Itinotodo ko ang bolyum ng radyo.
Napagod yata ako’t nanghinawa,
Nagsikap mangibang-lupa.
 
Noon ako nanaginip na nakapantalon,
Nagpapadala ng dolyar at pasalubong.
Nakakahinga na ako ngayon nang maluwag,
Walang susi ang bibig, ang isip ay bukas.
Aaminin kong ako’y nangungulila
Ngunit sariling kape ko na ang tinitimpla.
Nag-aabang ako ng sulat sa tarangkaha’t pinto,
Sa telepono’y nabubusog ang puso.
Umiiyak ako noong una,
Nagagamot pala ang lahat sa pagbabasa.

8
 
Ito lamang ang sagot,
Bayaang lalaki ang maglaba ng kumot.

To the Man I Married (Region 5)

by Angela M. Gloria

You are my earth and all the earth implies:

The gravity that ballasts me in space,
The air I breathe, the land that stills my cries
For food and shelter against devouring days.

You are the earth whose orbit marks my way

And sets my north and south, my east and west,
You are the final, elemental clay
The driven heart must turn to for its rest.

If in your arms that hold me now so near

I lift my keening thoughts to Helicon
As trees long rooted to the earth uprear
Their quickening leaves and flowers to the sun,

You who are earth, O never doubt that I

Need you no less because I need the sky!

I cannot love you with a love

That outcompares the boundless sea,
For that were false, as no such love
And no such ocean can ever be.
But I can love you with a love
As finite as the wave that dies
And dying holds from crest to crest
The blue of everlasting skies.

Bonsai (Region 7)
by Edith Tiempo

All that I love

I fold over once
And once again
And keep in a box
Or a slit in a hollow post
Or in my shoe.

All that I love?

Why, yes, but for the moment-
And for all time, both.
Something that folds and keeps easy,
Son’s note or Dad’s one gaudy tie,
A roto picture of a queen,
A blue Indian shawl, even
A money bill.

It’s utter sublimation,

A feat, this heart’s control
Moment to moment
To scale all love down
To a cupped hand’s size

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Till seashells are broken pieces
From God’s own bright teeth,
And life and love are real
Things you can run and
Breathless hand over
To the merest child.

C. Learning Activities
True or False Questions (20 points)
Make sure you are logged in to your [Link] account.
If you have understood already your learning content then you may proceed to the 4th
learning activity posted or assigned in your Google Classroom.
Do not forget to submit or turn-in your answers.
Do not forget also to mark your activity as done.

D. Resources
[Link]
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[Link]

E. Assessment
Poetry Writing (20 points)
Make sure you are still logged in to your [Link] account.
If you are done already with your learning activity then you may now proceed to your
assessment posted or assigned in your Google Classroom.
Do not forget to submit or turn-in your answers.
Do not forget also to mark your assessment as done.

 Encode your own created poem in Assessment 4 form on your Google Classroom.
 Make sure that you are going to observe some literary elements that you have read
from your modules in creating your own work of poetry.
 Your poem can be written in Kankanaey, Ilocano, Filipino or English. If you are
going to use another language like Ibaloi or Korean please provide an English
translation so your instructor can understand it.
 Your poem should be 4 stanzas or more and each stanza has to have three verses or
more.

F. References
Arciaga, M.L., Azarcon, T.S. Ceniza, E.L. Literature of the Philippines. Baguio, Saint
Louis University.

Prepared by: Noted by:

Cherry Cawis Engr. Cecilia L. Cabanilla

Department Head

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