Why the Sky is High

(Hiligaynon)

In the olden days the sky was so low---so low that it could be reached by a

stick of ordinary length. The people in those days said that God had created the sky

in such a way that he could hear his people when they called to him. In turn, God

could send his blessings to earth as soon as men needed them. Because of this

close connection between God and his subjects, the people were provided for, and

they did not need to work.

Whenever they wanted to eat, they could simply call God. Before their

request was made, almost, the food would be on the table; but after the expulsion

of Adam and Eve, God made men work for their own living. With this change in their

condition came the custom of holding feasts, when the men would rest from their

labors.

One day one of the chiefs, Abing by name, held a feast. Many people came to

enjoy it. A sayao, or native war-dance, was given in honor of the men belonging to

the chief, and it was acted by men brandishing spears. While acting, one of the

actors, who was drunk, tried to show his skill, but he forgot that the sky was so low.

When he darted his spear, he happened to pierce the sky, and one of the gods was

wounded. This angered God the Father: so he raised the sky as we have it today

far from the earth.

Source: Department of Education Grade 7 English Learning Package

List of Difficult Words and Synonyms

1. Ordinary – common, normal, typical, usual, regular, standard

2. Connection – relationship, link, linkage, attachment, association, affiliation
3. Request – appeal, demand, call, plea, order, desire
4. Expulsion – removal, exile, banishment, eviction, dismissal, suspension
5. Custom – practice, tradition, way, convention, ritual, observance
6. Labors – work, job, employment, efforts, industry, chore
7. Brandishing – waiving, raising, swinging, wielding, displaying, flaunting
8. Pierce – enter, cut, slice, penetrate, stab, prick
9. Wounded – hurt, harmed, injured, bruised, damaged, impaired
10. Angered – annoyed, enraged, provoked, irritated, maddened, pissed
 The People of the Philippines

by the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board

1
The Filipino is basically of Malay stock with a sprinkling of Chinese,
American, Spanish and Arab blood. The Philippines has a population of 70 million,
and it is hard to distinguish accurately the lines between stocks. From a long history
of Western colonial rule, interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders
evolved a people of a unique blend of east and west, both in appearance and
culture.
2
The Filipino character is actually a little bit of all the cultures put together.
The bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos are famous for is
said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The close family relations are said to have
been inherited from the Chinese. The piousness comes from the Spaniards who
introduced Christianity in the 16th century. Hospitality is a common denominator in
the Filipino character and this is what distinguishes the Filipino. Filipinos are
probably one of the few, if not the only, English-proficient Oriental people today.
Pilipino is the official national language, with English considered as the country's
unofficial one.

3
The Filipinos are divided geographically and culturally into regions, and each
regional group is recognizable by distinct traits and dialects – the sturdy and frugal
llocanos of the north, the industrious Tagalogs of the central plains, the carefree
Visayans from the central islands and the colorful tribesmen and religious Moslems
of Mindanao. Tribal communities can be found scattered across the archipelago.
The Philippines has more than 111 dialects spoken, owing to the subdivisions of
these basic regional and cultural groups.

4
Some 80 percent of the population is Catholic, Spain's lasting legacy. About
15 percent is Moslem and these people can be found basically in Mindanao. The rest
of the population is made up mostly of smaller Christian denominations and
Buddhist.
 5
The country is marked by a true blend of cultures; truly in the Philippines,
East meets West. The background of the people is Indonesian and Malay. There are
Chinese and Spanish elements as well. The history of American rule and contact
with merchants and traders culminated in a unique blend of East and West, both in
the appearance and culture of the people of the Filipinos, or people of the
Philippines.

Source: Department of Education Grade 7 English Learning Package

List of Difficult Words and Synonyms

1. Distinguish – differentiate, determine, separate, discern, decide, characterize

2. Interspersed – weaved, mixed, combined, blended, interlaced, mingled
3. Evolved – grew, matured, expanded, unfolded, changed, developed
4. Camaraderie – friendship, fellowship, closeness, companionship,
brotherhood, sisterhood
5. Inherited – acquired, derived, obtained, received, transmitted, bequeathed
6. Piousness – devotion, holiness, spirituality, sanctity, piety, religiousness
7. Frugal – thrifty, prudent, saving, conserving, preserving, economical
8. Scattered – separated, dispersed, spread, distributed, segregated,
disseminated
9. Legacy – contribution, gift, memory, heritage, offering, inheritance
10. Culminated – closed, concluded, ended, completed, terminated, finished
 The First Monkey
(Iloko Version)

Long ago in a thick forest, a young girl lived under the care of the goddess of
weaving. Here she lived happily and without care, for everything that she wanted to
eat was provided for her by her patroness.

One day the goddess said to the girl, “Take this cotton, clean it, and make out
a dress for yourself out of it.” Now, the girl knew nothing about making cloth and
weaving it, so she said to the goddess, “When the cotton is cleaned, is it ready for
use?”

“No,” answered the guardian, “after it is cleaned, it must be beaten.”

“Well, after it is beaten, is it ready for use?” said the lazy girl. The goddess
said that before it could be used, it would have to be spun. “Well, after it is spun,”
persisted the saucy maiden, “is it ready for use?”

“No, it must next be woven into cloth, cut, and sewn,” answered the patient
goddess.

“Oh!” said, the girl, “it will take a long time and much hard work to make
clothes that way. This leather hide which you have given me to beat the cotton on,
will make me better clothing, because it will wear longer.” So she covered herself
with the leather. The goddess was so angry at the girl for her laziness that she
decided that the leather should not only be her dress but also her very skin.

Then the goddess took the stick for beating the cotton and thrusting it
between the maiden’s buttocks said to her, “This stick will become part of your body,
and you will use it for climbing purposes. As a penalty for laziness, henceforth you
shall live in tress in the forest, and there you will find your fruit.”
 Thus, originated the first monkey with a coat of leather and a tail.

List of Difficult Words and Synonyms

1. Weaving – spinning, knitting, looping, sewing, braiding, fabricating

2. Patroness – protector, sponsor, supporter, benefactor, guardian, donor
3. Beaten – pounded, battered, whipped, thumped, formed, shaped
4. Spun – netted, turned, twirled, twisted, curled, whirled
5. Sewn – stitched, embroidered, mended, patched, sewed, tailored
6. Patient – calm, forgiving, gentle, tolerant, composed, understanding
7. Laziness - inactivity, indolence, dullness, slackness, idleness,
sluggishness
8. Thrusting – pushing, inserting, shoving, plunging, forcing, pressing
9. Penalty – fine, sanction, reparation, forfeiture, punishment, compensation
10. Originated – emerged, began, appeared, started, came, appeared
 The Origin of this World (Maranao)
from the Anthology of Philippine Myths by Damiana L. Eugenio

1
According to Maranaw folklore, this world was created by a great Being. It is
not known, however, who exactly is this great Being. Or how many days it took him
to create this world.

2
This world is divided into seven layers. The earth has also seven layers.
Each layer is inhabited by a different kind of being. The uppermost layer, for
example, is the place we are inhabiting. The second layer is being inhabited by
dwarfs. These dwarfs are short, plump, and long-haired. They are locally known as
Karibanga. The Karibanga are said to possess magical powers. They are usually
invisible to the human eye. The third layer of the earth which is found under the sea
or lake is inhabited by nymphs. These nymphs also possess certain magical powers.
It is stated in the story of Rajah Indarapatra that he met and fell in love with the
princess-nymph with whom he had a child.

3
The sky also consists of seven layers. Each layer has a door which is
guarded day and night by huge mythical birds called garoda. The seventh layer of
the sky is the seat of heaven which is also divided into seven layers. Every layer in
the sky is inhabited by angels. Maranaws believe that angels do not need food. They
all possess wings with which they fly.

4
Heaven which is found on the seventh layer of the sky is where good
people‘s
spirits go after death. Saints are assigned to the seventh layer while persons
who―barely made it‖ are confined to the lower most layer which is found at the
bottom of heaven.
 5
It is in heaven where we find the tree-of-life. On each leaf of the tree-of-life is
written the name of every person living on earth. As soon as a leaf ripens or dries
and falls, the person whose name it carries also dies.

6
The soul of every person is found in tightly covered jars kept in one section
of heaven. This particular section of heaven is closely guarded by a monster with a
thousand eyes, named Walo. Walo, in addition to his thousand eyes, has also eight
hairy heads. The epic Darangan speaks of Madale, Bantugan‘s brother and,
Mabaning, Husband of Lawanen, entering this section and retrieving the soul of
Bantugan.

List of Difficult Words and Synonyms

1. Folklore – myth, legend, tale, folktale, story, lore

2. Inhabited – occupied, settled, populated, lived-in, stayed, resided
3. Plump – chubby, fat, stout, round, fleshy, full
4. Possess – have, own, carry, keep, hold, bear
5. Invisible – unseen, hidden, concealed, covert, obscured, imperceptible
6. Mythical – legendary, unreal, imaginary, fantastical, made-up, fictional
7. Assigned – designated, established, placed, arranged, settled, set
8. Confined – restricted, limited, restrained, enclosed, cramped, detained
9. Ripens – matures, flourishes, blossoms, seasons, develops, burgeons
10. Retrieving – recovering, rescuing, reclaiming, restoring, regaining,
retaining
 Culture scholars say ‘Amaya’ is inaccurate, misleading

By: Nestor P. Burgos Jr. - Reporter

Inquirer Visayas / 08:23 PM June 11, 2011

ILOILO CITY – An award-winning epic-chanter who belonged to an

indigenous group on Panay Island has raised concerns over the depiction of its
cultural beliefs and practices on GMA 7‘s new series, ―Amaya.

Federico Caballero, 73, an elder of the Panay-Bukidnon community, said that,

while the show may be fictional, the portrayal of its people‘s practices, terms and
beliefs are inaccurate.

Some of the things depicted do not reflect our culture, Caballero tells the
Philippine Daily Inquirer.

About the Kapuso series, Caballero objected to the characterization of a

supposed binukot (well-kept maiden) – Amaya, played by actress Marian Rivera.

In an article posted on the network‘s website, www.gmanews.tv, the show‘s

producers and writers say Amaya‘s character was inspired by the binukot of the
Panay-Bukidnon indigenous people.

The show, which premiered on May 30, liberally uses words in Hiligaynon
and Kiniray, languages associated with the Panay-Bukidnon people.

Caballero said it was inaccurate, at times offensive, to show supposed

binukot and members of the community half-naked or wearing skimpy clothes. ―Our
people, most especially the binukot, are conservative. We wear clothes that hardly
expose skin, he stresses.

List of Difficult Words and Synonyms

1. Indigenous – original, native, domestic, local, regional, earliest

2. Depiction – description, portrayal, account, representation, narrative,
illustration
3. Fictional – imaginary, invented, made-up, unreal, mythical, fabricated
4. Inaccurate – wrong, incorrect, false, erroneous, invalid, untrue
5. Reflect – show, reveal, express, display, indicate, demonstrate
6. Objected – protested, argued, disagreed, contended, disputed, debated
7. Premiered – launched, started, began, appeared, debuted, emerged
8. Associated – linked, tied, related, connected, affiliated, combined
9. Offensive – hurtful, rude, disgusting, disrespectful, insulting, unpleasant
10. Conservative – proper, formal, respectable, moderate, traditional,
conventional