MIMAROPA (an acronym for Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan),was created in 2002 by Executive Order No. 103 that divided Region IV (Southern Tagalog), into Regions IV-A (Calabarzon), and IV-B. That makes it one of the youngest Philippine regions. But then we know that the oldest human skeletons in the Philippines were found in Palawan (of the Tabon Man), and there were similar finds in Marinduque caves in the 1960s, making Mimaropa also the most ancient region of all.

A region where Tagalog is widely spoken, part of Luzon but detached from it, and stretches from the periphery of Batangas and Quezon to the proximity of Borneo.

Prior to 2002 the region was simply called Southern Tagalog consisting of 11 provinces and 7 cities, even as the southern provinces on Luzon mainland have long before grouped themselves as Calabarzon..

But the initiative to create a separate region for these five island-provinces of Luzon really came from these islands themselves. It was felt that the closeness of the Calabarzon to Manila, the center of power, puts the islanders at a great disadvantage.

Calabarzon appeared to get all the economic development projects, and such projects and support funds come down to the island-provinces in trickles. Mimaropa thus became a separate group of islands. In other areas, however, the bond among the Calabarzon and Mimaropa provinces remain even closer, such as cooperation in regional tourism development.

Arts and Culture in MIMAROPA.

Because Mimaropa is ancient, it is home to indigenous peoples. The Mangyans survive in Mindoro (they speak seven different languages: Irava, Alangan, Tambuid, Hanunuo, Tadyawan, Buhid and Ratagnon).

In Palawan there are many cultural groups: Cuyonon & Agutayon, considered the ethnic elite of the province; Muslim groups such as Molbog, Jama Mapun and Tausug live in the southern coast; Tagbanuas the largest indigenous group inhabiting the central portion; And there are even smaller cultural communities like Palawan, Taut batu, Batak, Ken-uy and Kalamian.

Romblon, because it is near the Visayas has three main languages, Romblomanon, Asi and Onhan they belong to the Visayan language family.

Marinduque has no indigenous groups except Tagalogs, but many descendants of the Asi tribe live in the southern part of the island and they are known to still cling to their roots in Banton. Tagalog spoken in Marinduque has been carefully studied and it has been concluded that the language spoken here is the root from which modern national forms of speech have sprung. (1914 study by Cecilio Lopez). This study was again published by the Institute of Philippine Linguistics in 1973, and no one so far come forward to challenge it.

In the matter concerning arts councils in the area, NCCA and DILG have no compiled listings from this region. There have been attempts to establish arts councils in some places, but once there is a change in government and leadership in the province or the municipalities, the plans and programs of the arts councils are affected, to the extent that these efforts die down.

ORIENTAL MINDORO

One organization in Oriental Mindoro has incorporated the words Culture and Arts in its name: the Bongabon Municipal Tourism, Culture and Arts Council. Among its projects are the a) planting of ornamental plants along the Strong Republic National Highway within the town; b) holding of a Lantern Festival in December. c). proposed floating restaurants at the Sucol River.

This is not to say that matters pertaining to the promotion of culture and the arts are neglected in the other areas of the province. On the contrary, Oriental Mindoro has 14 municipalities and 1 city, and all of these places have, in recent years, developed their own festivals to showcase their culture and arts. Such festivals, of course, encourage creativity cultural & artistic programs. Some of these are Mahalta, Bansudani, Sulyog, Bahaghari, Biniray, and Sanduguan.

In close tie-ups with the LGUs are municipal tourism councils that spearhead these events. The tourism councils, on the other hand are composed of sectoral representatives that may also include informal cultural groups.

In Calapan City a City Museum has been put up in their city hall to showcase the Citys colorful history. A Special Program for the Arts (SPA), project of the DepEd is in place at JJ Leido National High School.

Outreach projects on workshops are also undertaken from time to time. Municipalities such as Pinamalayan undertake locally-initiated Ani ng Sining programs.

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

The situation is, more or less, the same for Occidental Mindoro. Tourism councils exist in 9 out of 15 municipalities of Occidental Mindoro. They made a strong move this year by hosting the Southern Tagalog Tourism Council Assembly in San Jose in 2009 and there, the culture and arts of the province were showcased. Assembly venue was onboard the 7107 Islands Cruise Ship.

MARINDUQUE:

In Marinduque, there was an attempt more than 10 years ago, in 1998, to establish Sining Marinduque, even with the help of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, with sectoral representatives invited from all over the province. But the timing wasnt probably right. A few months after that came elections and there was a change in provincial stewardship, the council died.

But the municipality of Gasan decided to move ahead. It established a Gasan Culture & Arts Foundation (GASCUAF), in 2001, with the Mayor of Gasan as CEO. Various cultural projects were done to the extent that Gasan became known as the cultural nerve-center of Marinduque. One of the many projects was the introduction of Gasang-Gasang Easter Festival that became a much-awaited annual event.

Again there was a change in municipal leadership after 3 years, the term of office of mayors. The festival was not held for the next two years.On the third year, without the cooperation of the new mayor as he refused to endorse or support it, GASCUAF attempted to hold the festival with various participants from the barangays.

So a curious scenario transpired where the municipal infraboys, on orders of the mayor, hastily constructed a temporary fence in every possible entry point around a public park, with bamboo and madre de cacao; the organizers tried to find an alternative venue in a DepEd facility to no avail - they were disallowed to use the public elementary school grounds that has seen such events before. So the street-dancers had to content themselves with holding the event in a not-so-public area some two kilometers away from the town center in a wide open space sa ilalim ng niyugan. People came to watch in droves to show their support.

One of the first acts of the Sangguniang Bayan ng Gasan when there was a change in leadership in the town was the passage of an Ordinance adopting Gasang-Gasang Easter Festival as the official festival of Gasan.

The provincial government of Marinduque meanwhile, under a new administration, in support of its tourism and cultural development program, entered into a MOA with the NCCA for the conduct of Philippine Arts Festival projects. It included a performance tour within the province by various local cultural groups in the six municipalities of Marinduque. Municipalities were enjoined to come up with their own showcase as part of what was dubbed the Viva Marinduque (Ani ng Sining) project that was a huge success.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque institutionalized Araw ng Marinduque, the vehicle for these arts and culture and arts activities. An ordinance for the adoption of February 21 as Araw ng Marinduque, was passed that coincides with the National Arts Month celebration.

In collaboration with the CCP outreach programs have been undertaken such as a performance by Sining Kambayoka of Marawi City, Cinemalaya Festival, and corresponding workshops related to dance and film-making.

ROMBLON

Romblon is also known for its traditional weaving and basketry. Handicrafts are a major home industry where women are engaged. Local artisans are noted for their good woodwork. The Cathedral of St. Joseph, for example, features this woodwork done by local artisans.

But it has no known arts councils in existence. Biniray Festival in Romblon is a nine-day affair in January marked by a carnival atmosphere, merry-making and dancing and is organized as a collaborative effort by government and the local church.

A special program for the Arts (SPA), however was piloted by DepEd in Looc National High School some three years ago and this is still in place, where students undergo training in singing and dancing.

PALAWAN:

In Palawan there exists, Sining at Kalinangan ng Palawan. It is an offshoot of the Palawan Crafts Program of the provincial government..The program was created in 2002 but it was only in May 2006 that space for a facility was established in the provincial capitol building. The space is now used as a multi-media cultural library and small show room for traditional items from Palawan. By design the program has two important elements:

1). To provide education and outreach to all inhabitants of Palawan on the importance of culture in the development of Palawan, 2) To encourage the establishment of culture and arts councils in all 23 municipalities in Palawan.

So far, this project has succeeded in getting some of the visual arts of the Indigenous Peoples of Palawan displayed in several areas in the capitol building. i.e. 8-piece diorama with accompanying text on the indigenous people of Palawan is found in the governors conference room.

One Kalinawa Art Foundation that aims to promote the development of indigenous peoples visual art sector, has also undertaken projects in Palawan, although it is based in Makati City. For the last three years it has held the Annual Indigenous Peoples Visual Art Show in Puerto Princesa City.

In dance, Sining Palawan Dance Troupe the official dance troupe of Palawan State University has a record of performances in various regions as well as a performances in San Francisco, California in 2007.

From time to time the Puerto Princesa City Government collaborates with CCP for Outreach projects on performances and cultural workshops.

In varying degrees therefore, culture & the arts are alive in the region. The absence of arts councils in many places, brought about by own unique situations, from lack of fund sources to political intervention or harassment even, does not stop communities from engaging in cultural and artistic activities. While it is not a general rule, it appears much easier to organize such councils in highly urbanized places where the money is. Still, big sponsors in these places suffer from so called donor fatigue. In smaller towns, this appears to be the number one challenge.

GINTONG BINHI

Gintong Binhi, the 1st Mimaropa Arts & Culture Forum, is a venue for the promotion of NCCA programs in the region. It will improve or refresh the skills of arts councils and organizations in Program Development, Project Management, & Proposal Making; establish NCCA desks in LGUs, schools, & cultural institutions; reinforce the LGU-NCCA partnership in arts & cultural promotion and organize an adhoc of Regional Arts & Culture Network in the region.

1. is an administrative region of the Philippines. It is one of two regions of the Philippines having no land border with another region,Eastern Visayas being the other. is located at the heart of the archipelago and is dubbed as the "Treasure Trove of Southern Luzon". MIMAROPA is envisioned as the food basket for the country and a haven for tourism, industry, and technology. MIMAROPA2. Region 4-B (MIMAROPA) is awarded as one of the top 5 rice producing regions in the country for 2012. The award was given by the Department of Agriculture in recognition to the region's outstanding performance in line with the rice production that contributes to the attainment of food sufficiency program of the Aquino government.3. Calapan City is the regional center Languages Tagalog is widely spoken in the region. In the interior of Mindoro, various languages are spoken by Mangyans. They are Iraya, Alangan, Tawbuid, Hanunoo, Tadyawan, Buhid, and Ratagnon. The later is a Visayan language with less than three speakers. In Romblon, there are three main languages: Romblomanon, Asi, and Onhan. These languages belong to the Visayan language family.4. Economy In 2007, MIMAROPA's economy surged by 9.4%, making it the fastest growing region in the country in that year. History Executive Order No. 103, dated May 17, 2002, divided Region IV (Southern Tagalog) into Region IV-A (CALABARZON) and Region IV-B (MIMAROPA).5. The name is an acronym combining the names of its provinces, which are: Occidental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro Marinduque Romblon Palawan6. A. LOCATION North-Batangas South- Mindoro Strait West west philippine sea East-Oriental Mindoro Occidental Mindoro7. is a province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. "Home of the Indigenous Mangyans". Its capital is Mamburao and occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro. Occidental Mindoro8. B) Climate WET PERIOD: August and September DRY PERIOD: March and April9. D) TOURIST ATTRACTIONS10. a) Apo reef -which is regarded as the second largest in the world. This 34-kilometer reef in Sablayan, which is located in Apo Island, is acclaimed as the best in Asia and as the diving mecca of the Philippines.11. b) Mt. Iglit -in San Jose is a game sanctuary for the tamaraw, a wild animal found nowhere else in the world, bearing a resemblance to the Philippine buffalo, commonly known as carabao.12. c) Bundok ng Susong Dalaga, the "Maiden's breast mountain"13. d) White Island- True to its name, this island has a mile long beach with divinely white and powdery smooth sand that makes it an ideal site for lounging under the sun. Aside from vacationers who go for swimming, fishing and scuba diving, the island is also a favourite nestling ground of turtles. Turtle eggs are often found buried in the sand, and visitors are enjoined to leave these undisturbed.14. Oriental Mindoro A) Location North-Batangas South- Semirara Caluya Islands and Antique West Occidental Mindoro East-Romblon15. (Filipino: 'Silangang Mindoro', "Eastern Mindoro"; Spanish: Mindoro Oriental) is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila. Oriental Mindoro is composed of 14 municipalities, with one city, Calapan City serving as the provincial capital.16. Oriental Mindoro has no distinct wet or dry seasons. Maximum rainfall- June to October B) CLIMATE17. D) TOURIST ATTRACTIONS18. , Puerto Galera was voted a member of the UNESCO affiliated The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World. Puerto Galera is a soothing vision of shimmering seas surrounded by lush mountains. It is considered one of the most beautiful and developed beach resort community in the country. a) PUERTO GALERA19. PUERTO GALERA20. b) TAMARAW FALLS The 423 feet (129 m) waterfalls, situated alongside the road, is actually a series of asymmetrical falls, leading to the grand one, dropping to a frothy waterbed below. The cascading waterfalls is a great attraction to passers-by. Tamaraw Falls is located in Barangay Villaflor, Puerto Galera. It can be reached in two hours by taking a jeepney bound for Barangay Villaflor from Puerto Galera, or Calapan.21. TAMARAW FALLS22. c) SABANG BEACH This area is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. A cluster of nightspots abound in this area, which make it popular for evening socials. Cottages with entertainment facilities stand close to each other. Low-budget accommodations are available. It is located east of Puerto Galera, and can be reached in 15 minutes from the Puerto Galera pier by taking a jeepney or an outrigger banca.23. SABANG BEACH24. MARINDUQUE25. MARINDUQUE MAP A. LOCATION North- Tayabas Bay South- Sibuyan Sea West Mindoro East- Quezon26. Marinduque is considered the Geographical Center of the Philippine Archipelago by the Luzon Datum of 1911, the mother of all Philippine Geodetic surveys. The province is a "heart-shaped" island27. B) Climate Marinduque is categorized on Type III climate having rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year and no clear boundary between dry and wet seasons.28. D) TOURIST ATTRACTIONS29. a) PAADJAO FALLS A 15-foot high cascading falls that nature hunter might surely enjoy. This falls formed bathtubs downstream and you will enjoy its Jacuzzi-like effect. It is an ideal place for picnicking or camping, a perfect get-away for the whole family! 30. PAADJAO FALLS31. b) BELLAROCA ISLAND RESORTS and SPA This newly opened Resort is located in an exclusive island minutes away from Marinduques mainland. With Marinduques tranquil environment, Bellaroca Island Resort and Spa is perfect for tourists who wish to relax and at the same time experience luxurious amenities and services.32. BELLAROCA ISLAND RESORTS and SPA33. All villas are equipped with its own private infinity pool that look out into Sibuyan Sea. Individual golf carts are also provided. Hotel facilities include fine dining restaurant, Piano Lounge, lap pool for swimmers and deck beds for sun worshipers.34. A) LOCATION North-Marindoque Island South- Panay Island West Mindoro East-Masbate Romblon35. Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Due to its geography, the province is endowed with lush vegetation and mineral resources. The fertile soil nurtures various agricultural activities. Mining is also a lucrative industry in the province due to its vast mineral resources. Romblon is the country's leading producer of high- quality marble, comparable to that of Italy. Romblon36. B) CLIMATE Heaviest rainfall- September to January Driest- March and April Coldest- February Warmest-May37. D) TOURIST ATTRACTIONS38. Mt. Guiting-Guiting, Sibuyan Island, Romblon Romblon's highest peak. It is an attraction to mountaineers and is the province's major source of timber and metallic products. It is also abundant with wildlife, plant species, and waterfalls. a) Romblon Province Tourist Attractions, Philippines39. b) Cantingas River, Taclobo, San Fernando, Romblon Known for its enchanting vistas. In its mountain are found the world's smallest bat, the endangered wild cat or the singalong, and the hardest wood, the mancogo or iron wood. Cantingas River Valley is known to have the second cleanest inland water in the region.40. c) Busay Falls, Panangcalan, San Fernando, Romblon Desciption: One of the last remaining untouched falls in the Philippines.41. A) Location Northeast- Busuanga Island, Coron Island and Culion Island Southwest- Balabac Island West Durangan Island Palawan42. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. It lies between the west philippine Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island measuring 450 kilometres long, and 50 kilometres wide. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometres to the west, are considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the "Kalayaan Group of Islands". Palawan's economy is basically agricultural. The three major crops are palay, corn and coconut. Having natural gas reserves of approximately 30,000 trillion cubic feet, the province is the only oil-producing province in the country.[ Palawan43. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometres to the west, are considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the "Kalayaan Group of Islands". Palawan's economy is basically agricultural. The three major crops are palay, corn and coconut. Having natural gas reserves of approximately 30,000 trillion cubic feet, the province is the only oil-producing province in the country.44. Torrential rains-July and August Sea voyage-March to early June when the seas are calm. Average Temp.- 31 degrees C B) Climate45. D) TOURIST ATTRACTIONS46. Coron Reefs. Seven enchanting lakes surrounded by craggy limestone cliffs attract hundreds of nature lovers to this island in northern Palawan, near the town of Coron.47. Tabon Caves. Known as the ""Cradle of Philippine Civilization,"" Tabon Caves consists of a series of chambers where anthropologists discovered the remains of crude man and his tools. Anthropological significance came to the fore with the discovery of the remains of the 22,000 year old Tabon Man in one of its interiors, along with other artifacts decades ago.48. The world's longest underground river system accessible to man can be found at the St. Paul National Park in Purto Princesa, Palawan. A world heritage site, this natural wonder features an 8.2 kilometer navigable underground river that winds through a spectacular cave before emptying out in to the West Philippine Sea.49. TRIVIAS A) The Philippines' biggest game preserve and wildlife sanctuary of exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan is located on Calauit Island. it is a major conservation showcase for wildlife habitat holding the single distinction as the first successful wildlife translocation experiment in Asia.50. B) World's Smallest Hoofed Mammal - South of Palawan., lies the Balabac Island, home of the world's smallest hoofed mammal - the Philippine mouse deer. Locally known as Pilandok (tragalus nigicans), this ruminant stands only about 40 centimeters at the shoulder level. C) Palawan is home to the seacow, known locally as dugong, a unique animal, being the only herbivorous mammal in existence today.51. D) The Tubbataha Reefs is the country's premier dive spot and is listed in the UNESCO world heritage site. The Marine park covers 33,200 hectares and contains what is believed to be the world's largest grouping of marine life, per unit area. Scientists claimed that more than 300 coral species, and at least 40 families and 379 species of fish were recorded in the area.52. Now please prepare for group activity. Divide the class in to 4. Count 1-4. THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING53. MARINDUQUE Marinduque is part of Region IV-B, also known as MIMAROPA which includes the provinces of MIndoro, MArinduque, ROmblon and PAlawan.54. MARINDUQUE It is composed of six municipalities namely:55. MORIONES FESTIVAL The Moriones is an annual festival held on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque .The "Moriones" are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks.56. MORIONES FESTIVAL Fierce-looking, often bearded masks of hand carved wood or paper-mache topped by a helmet adorned with multi-hued paper flowers complete the typical morion garb. Painted wooden swords, spears, and shields are considered basic paraphernalia.57. MORIONES FESTIVAL The practice, as research points out, originated in the town of Mogpog circa 1880s. Father Dionisio Santiago, the local parish priest during that time, is credited to have started it as a means of focusing the attention of his parishioners to Lenten religious activities.58. MORIONES FESTIVAL In Valencia, Spain there is a similar celebration called Festival de Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians Festival). It is almost certain that the word "Moriones" was derived from "Moros". Another possible derivation is from the Spanish word "muri" (root verb:morir) meaning "(3rd person singular) died".59. MORIONES FESTIVAL The priest was influenced by the story of Longinus, a roman centurion, who was present during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. One of his eye was blind, and when he speared the side of Jesus, drops of blood fell to his blind eye and then he was able to see.60. MORIONES FESTIVAL This miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and earned the ire of his fellow centurions. The re-enactment reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded.61. MORIONES FESTIVAL The Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals.

MIMAROPARegion IV-B is otherwise known as MIMAROPA. The name is the acronym of the five provinces comprising the region which are: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. MIMAROPA is originally part of Region IV (Southern Tagalog Region) but due to Executive Order No. 103 dated May 17, 2002, Region IV was divided intoRegion IV-A(CALABARZON) and Region IV-B (MIMAROPA).On May 23, 2005, Palawan was moved to Region VI by Executive Order No. 429. After this move, Region IV-B was called MIMARO instead of MIMAROPA. However, Palaweos criticized the move and they prefer to stay with Region IV-B. As a result, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued. Executive Order No. 429 was held in abeyance pending the approval of the implementation plan. The region is composed of 2 cities and 71 municipalities.

MIMAROPA region lies along the southern portion of Luzon. The region is archipelagic, having no land border with another region. It is bounded in the north by CALABARZON and the Verde Island; in the southeast by Bicol region and the Pacific Ocean; in the south lies Panay Islands and on the west of the region is the South China Sea. Of the five provinces comprising the region, the province of Palawan is the biggest and the province of Marinduque is the smallest island province.

The regions economy relies mostly on agriculture, fishing and ecotourism. It is one of the countrys top producers of rice, banana, coconut, mango, cashew, papaya and cassava, which are among the countrys top export products. Since the region is composed of island provinces, fishing is a major source of income for the inhabitants of the region. It is the second top fish producer in the country and also ranks as the second top producer of seaweeds, representing about 21% of the countrys total output.

MIMAROPAs tourism industry is one of the busiest in the country. The region is home to Palawans serene tropical beauty. Some of them are Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and El Nido Marine Reserve Park. Marinduque, the countrys Lenten capital, is famous for their Moriones Festival held every year. Tourists who are looking for a rich dose of natural wonders can go to Puerto Galera and experience its beautiful sunset and vibrant party scene. Divers can also seek the marine wonders of Occidental Mindoros Apo Reef.

MIMAROPA is indeed one of the countrys most famous and profitable regions because of its abundance of environmental beauty and natural products.

Sponsored links *Boac Cathedral(Marinduque Island)

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Be the first to review this attractionCategory:Landmarks/ Points of InterestVisitor photos(1)Early Philippine LiteratureDR. LILIA QUINDOZA-SANTIAGO

The early inhabitants of the Philippine archipelago had a native alphabet or syllabary which among the Tagalogs was calledbaybayin,an inscription akin to Sanskrit. It was through thebaybayinthat literary forms such as songs, riddles and proverbs, lyric and short poems as well as parts of epic poems were written. The bulk of these early literature however was just passed on through oral recitation and incantation and were transcribed into the Roman alphabet only centuries later by Spanish chroniclers and other scholars. It is believed that replacement of thebaybayinby the Roman alphabet must have obliterated a significant aspect of indigenous Philippine literature. Among the early forms, it is theawitor the song that has endured. Most ethnolinguistic communities remember the native tunes and lyrics of their songs. Fathers Chirino and Colin noted that among the Tagalogs, there were some 16 song forms for various occasions. Among these are theuyayiorhele, a lullaby for putting a child to sleep; thesoliraninis a song for travelers while thetalindawis the seafarers song; thekumintangis a war song; themaluwayis a song for collective labor while thekundimanis a melancholic love song. Thedalit, is a song-ritual usually sung to the rhythm of dance. Thepanambitanis a courtship song while thepamanhikanis a song-ritual of the would-be bridegroom to his would-be bride as he asks permission to marry her. Thesubliis another dance-ritual song of courtship and marriage. In the north, among the Ilocanos, the more popular song forms are thedallotand theduayya,both love songs, and thedung-awwhich is a dirge or a wake song. The Bontoc of Mountain Province have thebagbagto, a song ritual for harvest, while the Ivatan up in the Batanes islands have three most popular folk song forms: thelaji, thekantaand thekalusan.Thelajiis a lyric rendition of a song usually sung after a days work when people gather together in their houses to chat and drink the native wine, palek and just find time to be merry. Dr. Florentino Hornedos research of the Ivatanlajiyielded this following sample :MAPAW AKO NA KANU NAPNU DU VAKAG A DINAHURIS(Sung by informant Juana Cataluna)Mapaw ako na kanu napnu nu vakaga nidutdut mo a dinahuri a machipaywayamdu nadpun a kadaisa mo a minaypanananudnu mudag a inawa, inawa nu vatutuk,paychalugisugitan nu pinatapatana vuhung nu tadina, a vuhung nu tadina;nia pachiduvangi chu a nanaryo nu lasaa inawa ko nu asi nu tugitnginiladang ko nu mutin, ina nikarusan ko nupinsuan a tavayay duka di chu dulivanya mapaytanung sa huvid du putuhana nauri su madinay duyu kahenakenI HAVE BECOME LIGHTER

I have become lighter than a basketof beaten cotton in the presenceof so many relatives all heavily adornedwith double necklaces of gold and precious beads;heavy earrings of gold hunglike leaves upon their ears;but I sit in their midst with a necklace of lasa seedsinterspersed with the humble seed of the tugitugiand cheap green beads of glass, adorned with a crossmade of squash shell because I know nothow to tie properly a string around my neck,which is the proper and decorous thing for a youngwoman

Tagalog riddles are calledbugtong,while the Ilocanos call theseburburtia.Usually, riddles are made to rhyme and utilize thetalinghaga, a form of metaphor whose signification eventually conveys the meaning of the answer to the riddle. Riddles such as these for instance illustrate the use of the talinghaga:Hindi hari, hindi pariAng damit ay sari-sari(Sagot: sampayan)May puno, walang bungaMay dahon, walang sanga(Sagot: sandok)Neither king nor priest>But has a variety ofclothes(Answer: clothesline)It is a treetrunk but is without fruitIt has leaves but has no branches(Answer: ladle)

Sometimes, the riddles are relayed through familiar indigenous forms of poetry such as theambahan,which is a monorhyming heptasyllabic poem attributed to the Hanunuu-Mangyan ethnic group in Mindoro. Apart from relaying riddles,ambahansare also used to narrate common folk experiences. Father Antoon Postma has collected a number of these ambahans, an example of which would be the following:Ako mana manrigsansa may panayo pinggansa may tupas balianako ud nakarigsaninambing bahayawansinag-uli batanganI would like to take a bathscoop the water with a platewash the hair with lemon juice;but I could not take a bath,because the river is dammedwith a lot of sturdy trunks

A poetic form similar to theambahanis thetanaga.Unlike theambahanwhose length is indefinite, thetanagais a compact seven-syllable quatrain. Poets test their skills at rhyme, meter and metaphor through thetanagabecause not only is it rhymed and measured but also exacts skillful use of words to create a puzzle that demands some kind of an answer. Notice how this is used in the followingKatitibay ka, tulosSakaling datnang agos,Akoy mumunting lumot,Sa iyoy pupulupotYou may stand sturdyBut when the waters flow>I, the humble mossCan strangle you.

Mataas man ang bundok>Pantay man sa bakodYamang mapagtaluktokSa pantay rin aanod.The mountain may be highIt may reach the skyRiches greedily accumulatedWill eventually be leveled

Tagalog proverbs are calledsalawikainorsawikainwhile they are termedsarsaritain Iloko. Like most proverbs the world over, Philippine proverbs contain sayings which prescribes norms, imparts a lesson or simply reflects standard norms, traditions and beliefs in the community. Professor Damiana Eugenio classifies Philippine proverbs into six groups according to subject matter. These are (1) proverbs expressing a general attitude towards life and the laws that govern life; (2) ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues and condemning certain vices; (3) proverbs expressing a system of values; (4) proverbs expressing general truths and observations about life and human nature; (5) humorous proverbs and (6) miscellaneous proverbs. From her study, Eugenio observes that it is possible to formulate a fairly comprehensive philosophy of life of the Filipino. The following proverb for instance, which is one of the most popular, signifies the importance of looking back at ones roots and origins. In a way, this proverb also echoes the Filipino value of "utang na loob" or ones debt of gratitude to those who have contributed to his or her success.Ang hindi lumilingon sa pinanggalinganHindi makararating sa paroroonanA person who does not remember where he/she came fromWill never reach his/her destination

The most exciting poetic as well as narrative forms of early Philippine literature however are the Philippine epics or ethno-epics as critics and anthropologists call them. Almost all the major ethnic groups in the country have an epic that is chanted in a variety of rituals. Because chanting is the mode by which these epics have been produced, many of them still remain unwritten. The ASEAN-sponsored study of Filipino epics asserts that there are about one hundred (100) extant epics in the Philippines that have been discovered, most of these from the island of Palawan. The ASEAN anthology features only translations into English and Filipino onAliguyon(Hudhud) of the Ifugao, translated by Amador Daguio, and edited by Josefina Mariano,Biag ni Lam-angof the Ilocano, composite text by Leopoldo Yabes and translated by Jovita Ventura Castro,Labaw Donggon, the Sulod epic, the text by Dr. F. Landa Jocano and translated by Rosella Jean Makasian-Puno;Agyu or OlahingorUlahinganof the Manobos, composite text by Patricia Melendres Cruz from transcriptions of E. Arsenio Manuel, Elena Maquiso, Carmen Ching Unabia, and Corazon Manuel andSandayoof the Subanun, text and translation by Virgilio Resma. The editor/translators of these epics cite five common characteristics of these Filipino epics. One, most of these epics are designated by names which means song, or chant, like the Ifugaohudhud, the Manoboolagingor the Subanonsguman. Two, the epics are episodic and proceed through constructions that areen palier. There are repetitions of scenes at every episode the more familiar among these would be the chewing of the betel nut, battle chants, getting dressed for marriage, etc. Three, the epics abound with supernatural characters thediwatas, anitos, and other benign spirits who come to the aid of the hero. Four, these epics are also reflective of the society where they originate . They portray ethnic society before the coming of the Muslims (1380) and the Christians (1521) and serve as vehicles for the transmission of ethnic customs and wisdom. Five, there are always several versions of these epics, as well as a proliferation of episodes, phenomenon that is explained by orality of the genre and its transmission through the ages to among the generations of the group. Aliguyonor the Hudhud of the Ifugaos tells of the exploits of Aliguyon as he battles his arch enemy, Pambukhayon among rice fields and terraces and instructs his people to be steadfast and learn the wisdom of warfare and of peacemaking during harvest seasons. Biag ni Lam-ang(Life of Lamang) tells of the adventures of the prodigious epic hero, Lam-ang who exhibits extraordinary powers at a very early age. At nine months he is able to go to war to look for his fathers killers. Then while in search of lady love, Ines Kannoyan, he is swallowed by a big fish, but his rooster and his friends bring him back to life. Labaw Donggonis about the amorous exploits of the son of a goddess Alunsina, by a mortal, Datu Paubari. The polygamous hero battles the huge monster Manaluntad for the hand of Abyang Ginbitinan; then he fights Sikay Padalogdog, the giant with a hundred arms to win Abyang Doronoon and confronts the lord of darkness, Saragnayan, to win Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata. TheAgyu or Olahingis a three part epic that starts with thepahmara(invocation) then thekepuunpuun( a narration of the past) and thesengedurog(an episode complete in itself). All three parts narrate the exploits of the hero as he leads his people who have been driven out of their land to Nalandangan, a land of utopia where there are no landgrabbers and oppressors. Sandayo,tells of the story of the hero with the same name, who is born through extraordinary circumstances as he fell out of the hair of his mother while she was combing it on the ninth stroke. Thence he leads his people in the fight against invaders of their land and waterways. Other known epics areBantuganof the Maranao, theDaranganwhich is a Muslim epic, theKudamanof Palawan which was transcribed by Dr. Nicole McDonald, theAlimof the Ifugao, theHinilawodof Panay, theIbalonof Bikol andTuwaangof the Manobo, which was transcribed by anthropologist E. Arsenio Manuel.. The Tagalog have no known epic but it is generally believed that the story of Bernardo Carpio, the man who has been detained by the huge mountains of Montalban is their epic. > Dr. Resil Mojares, literary scholar, asserts that the generic origins of the Filipino novel are found in the epic narratives . As for shorter narratives, there are stories that tell of the origins of the people, of the stars, the sky and the seas. A common story of the origin of man and woman is that of Sicalac (man) and Sicavay (woman) who came out of a bamboo after being pecked by a bird. This, and other stories of equal birthing of man and woman throughout the archipelago could actually assert womans equality with man among indigenous settings. The eminent scholar and critic, Don Isabelo de los Reyes, had collected a good number of folk tales, legends and myths which he had exhibited in Madrid in 1887 and won a distinguished award of merit for it. These are now anthologized in a bookEl Folklore Filipino(1996).

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