REPRESENTATIVE TEXTS FROM

THE REGIONS

LUZON, VISAYAS, AND MINDANAO

 Studying our local literature from
Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao enables
us to identify ourselves with local themes,
languages, doctrines, settings, cultures,
identities, and lifestyles, as well as
national issues and perspectives.
LITERATURE OF LUZON
DEAD STARS
A SHORT STORY BY PAZ
MARQUEZ BENITEZ (LUZON)
 Dead Stars
A short story by Paz Marquez Benitez (Luzon)

On March 3, 1894, educator Paz Marquez-Benitez, was born in Lucena City,

Quezon. Benitez was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American
education system which used English as the medium of instruction. She taught at
the University of the Philippines’ English department from 1916 to 1951, acquiring a
reputation as an outstanding teacher. She became an influential figure to many
Filipino writers in the English language, including National Artist Francisco Arcellana,
who later emphatically declared, “She was the mother of us all!” In 1919, she
founded "Woman's Home Journal", the first women's magazine in the country.In
1928, she compiled "Filipino Love Stories," reportedly the first anthology of
Philippine stories in English by Filipinos, from the works of her students
 Dead Stars
A short story by Paz Marquez Benitez (Luzon)

The plot revolves around one man, Alfredo Salazar, and hislove
affairs. He is a man who believes in true love and wishes to find
happiness as a result of it. Esperanza isthe first woman he loves. Their
families knew each other, so they started their heartfelt relationship. But
it quickly fades when Alfredo meets Julia.
When he meets Julia Salas, the Judge’s sister-in-law and Alfredo’s
father's friend, he is intrigued. He’s smitten by her. Julia is a person who
is full of life and hope. Hope, dreams, and desires define this woman.
During his father's visit, he Begins to engage in deep conversations with
Julia, becoming enamored with her charm, wit, and passion. He does
not even reveal the truth about himself in his enraged state.
 During his father's visit, he begins to have deep conversations with
Julia and is drawn to her charm, wit, and passion. In his fervent state,
he does not even reveal the truth about his engagement to Esperanza.
To avoid his fiancée's scrutiny, he begins to keep secrets from
Esperanza as well. He discovers Julia's return to her hometown one
day. His eyes are doomed by the fear of losing her, and he decides to
confess his guilt and true feelings to Julia.
He goes to meet Julia after the Church function, despite the fact that his
fiancée is expecting him to come to her. When he reaches out to Julia,
he realizes she is already aware of his lies. She even wishes him well in
his marriage to Esperanza and then abandons him. When he returns
home to Esperanza, he is dealt a double blow. She's discussing loyalty
and faithfulness with a friend. Alfredo has a strong desire to speak. He
champions the cause of desire and choice over immorality. This irritates
Esperanza, who declares that she was aware of his and Julia’s
relationship. She encourages him to commit such immoral infidelity and
cancel the wedding, all in the name of his heart's content and lust.
Alfredo, on the other hand, yields to reason and sanity, and the wedding
proceeds as planned.
 He meets Julia again, as fate would have it, he is sent on some work duty to
a place near Julia’s hometown. He cannot help resist the feeling of nostalgia
and old lust for Julia. He finds an excuse and way to her place where he met
her. She is still single and he is forced to dream about a life with her instead of
Esperanza. But soon he comes to know that something is not the same after
all. Julia has changed and rather lost something now. Maybe it is her beauty,
wit, charm or even her passion, but she is a different woman. She is cold and
aloof and does not extend the same warmth and affection to him anymore. He
is saddened and reflective, and he wonders if he ever genuinely loved her. Was
it all a waste of time or just a fling? Was it only a fabrication of his imagination
that they had a romance? He is no longer alive, whatever that was. He accepts
the harsh reality that whatever there was before is no longer there.
 Alfredo and Julia's attraction is a forbidden in the story. They both felt
it was genuine, but they never accepted or confessed their feelings for
each other. However, the truth is that they never thoroughly examined
their feelings and relationship. As a result, when they reunite after eight
years, they don't feel the same way about each other. Their emotions
became temporary or fleeting, similar to the stars that are left as an
artifact of their former shine. These stars have gone stagnant,
and the fire within them has been extinguished, but they remain as
burdensome reminders of their physical existence. They are now merely
an illusion of something that cannot be brought back to life.

These story give us an idea to not do things without thinking about it. It is
good to follow your heart, but it is not always the right thing to do.
WHY DO YOU THINK
PAZ BENITEZ
NAMED THE STORY
“DEAD STAR”?
HOW ARE
WOMEN
DEPICTED IN
THE STORY?
LITERATURE OF
VISAYAS
Some of the widely known and the only existing
literature describing ancient Visayan society are
the Hinilawod and the Maragtas which were in a
combination of Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon.
Farol de Combate
A poem by Marjorie Evasco (Visayas)
Marjorie Evasco was born in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Visayas. Evasco
writes poetry in two languages, English and Cebuano-Visayan. She was
a founding member of two organizations promoting the cause of women
writers: Writers Involved in Creating Cultural Alternatives (WICCA) and
Women in Literary Arts (WILA). She has written many essays on
women's poetry and is one of the contemporary writers in the
Philippines. She left Manila to regrow roots in her home island, Bohol;
she cares for a garden and plants trees. She is committed to work for
literary and cultural development and teaches graduate school.
 Farol de Combate (Storm Lamp)

I. I.
Mituwak na tuod ang uwan ug gianinaw ko The rain falls lighter now and I gaze
Ang kagabhion nga miasdang sa among lungsod. At the dark descended onto our town.
Sa akong gipasilongan dinhi sa payag pahuwayan From this mountain shelter I saw
Taliwa sa kabungturan, nakita kong gihiwa ang daang The old mango tree struck down
Mangga sa dakong kilat nga mikanap sa kasadpan, By fierce lightning from the east,
Gigukod sa nagdagan nga daugdog sa kasingkasing Thunder rumbling in the heart
Sa diwata sa kalikopan nga mibati’g kakulba-hinam Of the guardian of the land, who thrills
Sa panag-tagbo sa alisngaw sa huwaw ug sa bunok To the meeting of the drought’s last sigh
Sa uwan, dala sa amihan karong ikasiyam nga buwan With rush of rain brought by the northerlies
Sa akong pagbalik sa akong naandan nga pinulongan. This ninth month of my return to my language.
 Farol de Combate (Storm Lamp)

II. II.
Mopauli ko sa akong banay, dala kining bungahoy I will go home to my people, bringing fruits
Gikan sa bukid nga akong gitamnan ug kalian-laing From hills I had planted to marvelous trees
Kahibulongang kahoy nga akong nahimamat dihang I had met in my travels in other lands
Milangyaw sa ubang dapit sa gatuyok nga kalibotan: On this revolving earth: fragrant pears,
Maalimyong peras, lunhaw ug lipaghong ang aping, Their fresh flushed cheeks, bright lemons,
Masidlakong limon, dalag ug makapapas sa kauhaw Yellow and thirst-quenching in hot season.
Sa ting-init. Tadlason ko ang karaang sementeryo I will go across the town’s old cemetery
Diin ang akong kaliwat gapahuway sa kagabhion. Where my ancestors sleep in edgeless night.
Dili nako sila pukawon sa ilang hingpit nga katulog, I will not wake them in their supreme repose,
Kay sama nila, lumalabay usab ako ning kalibutana. I am transient like them, simply passing through.
 Farol de Combate (Storm Lamp)

III. III.
Didto sa kilid sa atabay nga gikubkob sa akong apohan, I trust that beside the well which had been dug
Nahibaw kong gidan-agan na og usa ka farol de combate By my elders, a storm lamp had been placed,
Ang akong dalan padulong sa among pinuy-anan, Lighting up the path toward home, the lamp
Nagtamod sa kinaunhang balaod sa panag-silingan: Lighter minding the first law of neighborliness:
Tabangan ang usa’g usa kutob sa mahimo sa inadlaw To help one another as best as one can in daily
Adlawng buhat, kay kon mapawong ang suga sa gabii acts of living, for if the lamp were put out, unlit,
Lagmit mapandol o madalin-as ang lumalabay, basin Someone passing by might stumble or slide,
Unyag mahulog sa atabay sa kadaghanan, mamatay. Fall into the neighborhood well and die.
Inig labay unya nako sa atabay, motimbag moinum, When I pass by the well I will draw water and drink,
Pasalamat sa silingang midaig sa farol sa kinabuhi. Give thanks to my unseen neighbor for the light.
3. WHAT SCENERY DO YOU SEE AS YOU
READ FAROL DE COMBATE?
4. WHAT DO VISAYANS VALUE IN
THE POEM?
Farol de Combate is a Visayan poem about the arrival of a local to her hometown
after years of being away. As she walks along the streets entering her hometown,
she observes the intricate details she had missed and declares her devotion to her
native land. She goes on by noticing a farol de combante left illumined to guide
neighbors as they walk home during the dark. She ends by appreciating the
thoughtfulness of neighbors helping one another through simple acts of. The poem
is not only a mere description of one’s coming home but a picture of hospitality and
humility. A probinsyano/probinsyana, no matter how long he/she lives in the urban,
would still yearn for his/her hometown. There is warmth in the province among the
folks and the neighborhood. This poem may be very much linked to the author’s
experience as she left Manila to go back to her hometown in Bohol.

Farol de Combate is a Spanish term for a storm lamp, or a kerosene lamp, an oil
lamp with a glass chimney and perforated metal lid to protect the flame from high
winds.
LITERATURE OF MINDANAO
Literature in Mindanao, especially the folk
literature in cultural communities as in other
Filipino groups, follow the oral tradition in that
folktales, myths, legends, epics, poems, riddles
and proverbs are handed down by word of mouth
from generation to generation.
 BUYAYANG BUYAYANG
(WATER STRIDER)
A FOLKSONG FROM BUTUAN (MINDANAO)
 Buyayang Buyayang

Buyayang buyayang buyayang sa tubig

Akoy nanakayan walay katig katig
Walay bugsay bugsay bukton ray pangkaykay
Pagdunggo sa baybay nagakapaykapay
Strider, water strider on the water
I go sailing with nothing, no outrigger
Not a paddle but just my arms flapping
And crazily I'm flailing once I get to shore
Sa yutang gisaad katin-aw sa tubig
Dayo ug lumad kalinaw ang ibig
Apan isang araw punlo ay umulan
Nawasak nahana munting kabuhayan
In this Promised Land, how clear the water
Native or stranger, clearly, we want peace
But one day the dark clouds rained bullets
Life and livelihood were all broken and lost
Didto sa Mindanao duna kami balay
Ang kanhi nga lagkaw ni nanay ug tatay
Sila gapanguhag huway ug bagakay
Arun pabayluag mga isdang gagmay
In Mindanao, we used to have a house
What used to be the house of our ancestors
They were gatherers of rattan and bamboo
To trade for little fishes from the sea
Minsay isang tatay payapang nag bungkal
Katabang ni nanay sa lupang gimahal
Naay isang paslit na nais mag-aral
Digmaan at sakit hinooy umiral
Once a father tilled the land peacefully
Helping mother tend the land they loved
Once a little child dreamed of going to school
But instead war and sickness were the rule
Halina't magmasid at maunawaan
Kuyog at kuliglig panay ang tagisan
May sa himpapawid sa radyo't lathalan
Come and look and understand
The beetles and the crickets make so much noise
It's broadcast all over the radio and the news
May sa himpapawid, may sa himpapawid
May sa himpapawid sa radio't lathalan
Ngunit di marinig ang tinig ng bayan
It's broadcast all over, it's broadcast all over
It's broadcast all over the radio and the news
But they can't hear the people's voice
5. WHAT ARE BEING AFFECTED
NEGATIVELY IN BUYAYANG
BUYAYANG?
6. WHAT DOES THE WATER STRIDER
SYMBOLIZE IN THE FOLKSONG IN
RELATION TO PEACE?
Buyayang Buyayang is a Butuan folksong about a water strider
that hardly breaks the surface of the water as it makes its way
across it. It is not the same for communities affected by violent
conflict, however. In the southern Philippine island of
Mindanao, the sound of gunfire and the screams of residents
often break the stillness of the rural landscape. Life is taken too
early, whether of a soldier, rebel, Moro, or Lumad (indigenous
people). Families flee to safety, leaving behind livelihoods and
schooling. Peace appears vague but the call for it continues.
 TASK 1
It is important, however, to be at peace because it brings with it
contentment, harmony, order, and fulfillment. If you were to promote
peace, what would you say?

Directions: Check the sample on the next page and create a slogan
with 5-8 words. Beguided by the rubric for scoring (30 points).
CATEGORY EXCELLENT ACCOMPLISHED DEVELOPING
(10 points) (8 points) (6 points)

Content The slogan shows a The slogan somewhat The slogan shows an
clear phrase shows a phrase unclear
promoting peace. promoting peace. phrase for promoting
peace.

Creativity The student shows The student shows an The student shows an
an original artistic original work that artistic work that may
work. lacks not be original or
artistry. unoriginal
work that lacks artistry.

Neatness The poster is very The poster is The poster is not neat.
neat. somewhat neat.