Panay Bukidnon Culture

Summary

In the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Alicia Margos, along with research assistants and local guides, explored the mountains of Central Panay, Philippines, to study the indigenous Bukidnon people. These expeditions aimed to document epic chanting traditions, verify the presence of ancestral mountain communities, and understand their way of life. The Bukidnon, descendants of mountain dwellers, live sustainably through farming, hunting, weaving, and charcoal-making. Their culture is preserved through epic chants, crafts, and rituals, with efforts to digitize and preserve these traditions for future generations, spearheaded by Dr. Margos and local leaders like Federico Caballero.

Takeaways

• 🌄 The research by Dr. Alicia Margos focused on exploring the mountains of Central Panay with the NCIP Region 6 personnel in the early 1980s.
• 👥 In 1991 and 1992, Dr. Margos organized her own research group to study the Panay Bukidnon, with the support of UPV Iloilo research assistants and local guides.
• 📜 The purpose of these expeditions was to gather information about the Panay Bukidnon's epic chanting traditions and verify their presence in interior areas.
• 👩‍👧‍👧 Dr. Margos documented the lives of 84-year-old women chanters and others who were descendants of mountain people in Iloilo, tracing their origins to coastal migration due to colonization.
• 🏞️ The Panay Bukidnon communities were observed living in bamboo houses and relying on farming, fishing, and weaving for their livelihood.
• 🍚 Farming activities included cultivating Visayan rice varieties and root crops, while weaving with bamboo and rattan was a common practice to augment their income.
• 🪕 Panay Bukidnon culture features unique tools, traditional techniques, and practices for hunting and gathering food from rivers and forests.
• 🎶 Epic chanting is central to Panay Bukidnon culture, with stories of mythical characters serving as both entertainment and teaching tools for younger generations.
• 🏆 Federico Caballero, a master of epic chanting, was awarded the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasure) award in 2004 for his work in preserving the tradition.
• 📚 Dr. Margos has digitized and published the Panay Bukidnon epics with the University of the Philippines, ensuring their preservation and accessibility for future generations.

Q & A

Who explored the mountains of central Panay in 1980 and 1989, and who accompanied her?

Dr. Alicia Margos explored the mountains of central Panay, accompanied by NCIP Region Six field personnel.

What was the purpose of Dr. Margos’ 1991 and 1992 expeditions to the mountains of central Panay?

The purpose of the expeditions was to explore the Panayan and Holo Woodland barangays, and to verify the presence and distribution of epic chanting in these areas.

What are some of the names historically used to refer to the mountain people of interior Panay?

The mountain people were historically referred to by names such as 'Montes' by Johanna, 'Mundos' by Aldama, and 'Solured' by Johanna.

How do the Bukidnon of Panay sustain themselves in their environment?

The Bukidnon sustain themselves through farming rice, planting root crops, making charcoal, and weaving. They also trap wild animals and fish using traditional methods.

What are some traditional tools and items found in Bukidnon households?

Traditional tools include the 'santoku' (knife), 'musong' (mortar and pestle), and 'target' (bamboo or wood tool for digging). They also use traps for hunting and tools like the 'bores' for transporting rice.

How do the Bukidnon preserve their culture through epic chanting?

Epic chanting, or 'Sugidanon,' is a way for the Bukidnon to preserve their cultural heritage. These chants tell stories about their ancestors, mythical characters, and important historical events.

Who is Federico Caballero, and why is he significant?

Federico Caballero is a National Living Treasure (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) recognized for his mastery of ten epic chants or 'Sugidanon.' He is from a family of chanters and played a key role in preserving Bukidnon epics.

What steps have been taken to preserve and popularize the epics of Panay Bukidnon?

Efforts include the digitization of epic chants, transcriptions, translations into multiple languages, and the creation of e-books and hard copies. Dr. Margos also facilitated the establishment of the School for Living Traditions (SLT) to teach these skills.

What role does the School for Living Traditions play in the preservation of Bukidnon culture?

The SLT helps pass down cultural knowledge by teaching children epic chanting, weaving, dancing, and playing traditional musical instruments. Elders serve as teachers to preserve these skills for future generations.

What are some traditional Bukidnon dances, and what do they symbolize?

Traditional dances like the 'Binanog' and 'Eaglehawk' dance symbolize Bukidnon heritage. The dances are inspired by ancient ancestors who were good dancers, and performers wear traditional attire made from ancient coins and intricate embroidery.

Outlines

00:00

🗺️ Exploration of the Central Panay Mountains (1980-1990s)

In the 1980s, Dr. Alicia Margo explored the mountains of Central Panay with NCIP Region VI personnel. Later, she formed her own research team to document indigenous peoples, particularly focusing on the Panayan and Holo-Woodland communities. The research aimed to understand the distribution of epic chanting and confirm the identity of these mountain peoples, who are theorized to have descended from coastal inhabitants forced inland by colonizers. Margo’s work uncovered valuable insights into the livelihoods, living conditions, and cultural practices of these communities, shedding light on their migration patterns and connection to the environment.

05:02

🌿 Farming, Charcoal Making, and Craftsmanship in Bukidnon Communities

The Bukidnon people lead self-sustaining lives centered on farming, charcoal production, and craftsmanship. They cultivate rice, root crops, and coffee, with root crops becoming essential during lean months. Their crafting skills, especially weaving bamboo and rattan, are widely practiced to fulfill daily needs and generate additional income. They also hunt wild animals using traps and gather food from rivers and forests. Despite external influences, their connection to nature remains integral to their culture, reflected in their respect for spirit beings and reliance on traditional healing methods.

10:04

📜 Epic Chanter Federico Caballero: A Living Cultural Treasure

Federico Caballero, recognized as a National Living Treasure in 2004, is a master of ten epic stories, part of a long oral tradition called 'sugidanon.' Coming from a family of epic chanters, Caballero preserves the legacy of his ancestors, who were also shamans and cultural arbiters. The epics, passed down through generations, narrate stories of mythical figures and serve as both entertainment and lessons for the younger generations. They reveal much about the worldview and social structure of the ancestors of the Panay Bukidnon, enriching the cultural heritage of the region.

15:07

🎶 Preserving the Legacy of Sugidanon and Traditional Arts

Dr. Alicia Margo and Federico Caballero worked to preserve the ancient epics and cultural practices of the Panay Bukidnon. Traditional dances like the Binanog, intricate embroidery inspired by the environment, and musical instruments like the gongs are still taught in informal schools, known as the School of Living Traditions (SLTs). These schools keep the culture alive, passing down knowledge to younger generations through activities like epic chanting and traditional crafts, helping preserve a rich heritage that continues to shape the identity of the Panay Bukidnon people.

20:43

📚 Efforts to Digitize and Publish the Panay Bukidnon Epics

Dr. Alicia Margo has led efforts to digitize and transcribe the Panay Bukidnon epics, transforming them from vulnerable tape recordings into digital formats. With the assistance of UP Visayas, these epics are now being published in various languages, including Kinaray-a, Filipino, and English. The goal is to ensure these stories remain accessible to future generations. Margo calls upon scholars to continue researching these epics and the culture of the Bukidnon, emphasizing that preserving and sharing this knowledge is crucial to keeping the heritage alive.

Keywords

💡Bukidnon

Bukidnon refers to the indigenous group of people living in the mountains of Panay, central Philippines. They are known for their rich cultural practices, including farming, weaving, and epic chanting. In the video script, the Bukidnon people are central to the narrative, with their traditions and way of life being explored and documented by Dr. Alicia Margo's research.

💡Epic Chanting

Epic chanting is a traditional form of oral storytelling performed by the Bukidnon people, often passed down through generations. These epics, like 'Sugidanon,' recount the adventures and exploits of mythical characters. The video emphasizes the role of epic chanting as a way to preserve cultural heritage, with the chant stories serving both educational and entertainment purposes.

💡Panay

Panay is the geographical region in central Philippines where the Bukidnon people live, specifically in the interior mountains. The script discusses explorations in the heartland of Panay to document and preserve the culture of its indigenous peoples. Panay’s rivers and mountains serve as important features in both their physical environment and cultural practices.

💡Sugidanon

Sugidanon refers to the epic literature of the Panay Bukidnon, composed of long-form stories chanted by designated storytellers, known as chanters. These epics provide moral lessons and reflect the social structure and worldview of the Bukidnon people. The preservation and publication of these epics are highlighted as crucial efforts to sustain their cultural identity.

💡Dr. Alicia Margo

Dr. Alicia Margo is a key figure in the video, a researcher who explored the central Panay region to document the Bukidnon culture, especially focusing on epic chanting and their way of life. Her work, along with other cultural advocates, has contributed to the preservation of a dying cultural heritage, bringing greater recognition to the indigenous people of Panay.

💡Federico Caballero

Federico Caballero is a master epic chanter from the Bukidnon community, awarded the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasures) in 2004 for his preservation of traditional epic literature. His role in safeguarding the epic traditions of Panay is a focal point in the video, as he continues to pass on these stories to future generations.

💡Sugidanon School for Living Traditions

The Sugidanon School for Living Traditions is an informal educational initiative mentioned in the script, where elders teach younger generations about epic chanting, weaving, and traditional music. The school's role is vital in preserving the cultural practices of the Panay Bukidnon, ensuring that these skills and stories continue to thrive.

💡Bamboo House

A bamboo house refers to the traditional one-room houses of the Bukidnon people, elevated on bamboo poles. These houses symbolize the simplicity of mountain life and are often furnished with tools for farming and household tasks. This detail underscores the self-sustaining, agricultural lifestyle of the Bukidnon people, as described in the script.

💡Trap Making

Trap making is an important survival skill of the Bukidnon people, used for catching wild animals like wild boars and deer. Traditional traps such as the 'limbaon' and 'luba' are designed to capture animals for food. The script highlights these techniques as examples of how the Bukidnon people live harmoniously with nature, utilizing resources for their sustenance.

💡Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA)

The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) is a prestigious award given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in the Philippines to individuals who have preserved traditional cultural practices. Federico Caballero's recognition with this award emphasizes the importance of his role in maintaining and passing down the epic chanting tradition of the Panay Bukidnon.

Highlights

In 1989, Dr. Alicia Margos explored the mountains of Central Panay for 10 days with NCIP Region 6 field personnel.

In 1991-1992, Dr. Margos organized her own research group to explore the heartland of Panay, with UPV Iloilo research assistants and a local guide.

The aim of the expeditions was to study the presence and distribution of epic chanting traditions in Central Panay.

Dr. Margos encountered an 84-year-old chant maiden and learned that mountain inhabitants were descendants of indigenous people who once lived on the coast.

Her research theorized that the people of Central Panay moved inland to the mountains following the course of two major rivers, Halawod and Panay.

The Bukidnon communities of Central Panay are descendants of the Montez or Mundos people, living in bamboo houses and practicing agriculture.

These mountain dwellers rely on farming rice, coffee, root crops, and weaving bamboo and rattan products to sustain their livelihood.

The Bukidnon communities also practice traditional hunting methods, such as setting traps for wild boars and deer.

Epic chanting, or 'sugidanon,' forms a crucial part of the cultural heritage of the Panay Bukidnon people, passed down through generations.

Federico Caballero, a master epic chanter, was awarded the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) in 2004 for his role in preserving the epic chanting tradition.

The epics are rich with stories of mythical heroes like Humadapnon and Labaw Donggon, centering on romance, adventure, and social values.

Dr. Margos facilitated the digital preservation of these epics, converting tape recordings to DVDs and securing their transcription and translation into multiple languages.

The preservation efforts include creating an e-book and hard copy publications to further research and dissemination of the Bukidnon culture and epics.

School programs, called the School for Living Traditions (SLT), were established to teach epic chanting, weaving, and traditional music to the younger generation.

The work of Dr. Margos and Federico Caballero secured the recognition of the Panay Bukidnon as an indigenous group, ensuring the survival of their cultural legacy.

Transcripts

in 1980 and 1989

yippie Visayas based on topologies dr.

Alicia

margos had a chance to explore the

mountains of central Pinay for ten days

with a group of ncip region six field

personnel taking the eastern route to

central panel with interior tapas copies

as the target two years later in 1991

and 1992 she organized her own group

composed of UPV Iloilo research

assistants

anarres le Mosul and Judith Bobbito

along with a hollow woodland youth

Ricardo chimeric serving as the guide in

her journey to the heartland of Panay

why is agencies facilitated funding

support recognizing that there is a

dearth of information in this area of

research the purpose of that trip was to

see more of the pond yayan and holo

woodland barren guys she as well

verified the presence and distribution

of epic chanting in these areas it was

during that Trek that she was able to

see an 84 year old kept maiden as well

as women chanters who were sisters or

close relatives of a benefit she also

learned that the people inhabited the

Interior mountains of the past copies

and Kelleen of Iloilo are descendants of

mountain people of interior pnai

previously called by various names

Montez by Johanna mundos by Aldama

and so lured by Johanna she theorized

that their origin was once the coast

before the colonizers came in

but move to the farm mountains following

the course of two major rivers Hollywood

and pnai rivers dr. Makos also explored

center panel in the early 1990s to

clarify and strongly established the IP

identity of an I became known and

thereby clarifying their ethnic name all

Mountain dwellers in central panel

covering the four provinces upon I

bukidnon the use of the names Halle

Woodman and I yawn yawn yawn yawn and

Erin on our names referring to their

source of sustenance the Halawa and pan

a weaver respectively

living in mineral or grips and houses

these villagers must have come from the

Seacoast

but move to the interior and near water

bodies the rivers and tricks in bukidnon

house is usually a one-room affair that

is elevated from the ground by bamboo

poles and is made of bamboo and the

father who won a common fixture in the

household is a do young and a Miss own

where they pound the rice other tools

and materials that you can find inside

their houses are the following

santoku a long black knife for cutting

musong and hollow a mortar and pestle

for pounding rice target a bamboo or

wood sharpened at the end for digging

holes bow in a small River endoscopy

tied to once waste containing rice seeds

the bores is a big woven container made

of bamboo strips for containing caverns

of rice and a wok a bolo

it is from the canoe pond or land the

mountains hills and patches of land

where they form and get the Visayan

varieties of rice such as Messiah and

malodor while working on the farm there

were songs being sung to entertain

themselves their lives in the mountains

focused around tilling the land in

searching the environment for their

sustainance fighting in farming is a

common activity they also make charcoal

that they sell to the lowlands the

bukidnon spent arts of trekking through

a rugged trail and rivers carrying their

products to the nearby market by means

of a short bamboo pole called - um -

hang on this balances whatever it is

that they are transporting in their

bodies and makes the baggage bearable

they also plant coffee Amaka

Gabi palawan and other root crops root

crops are staples during lean months

when rice is not available weaving is a

common activity for the bukidnon because

of the availability of bamboo and rattan

products from these are used in their

everyday chores and are sold to augment

their needs it is in the cattle unum or

forest where they trap wild animals

using Milotic limba owned and bleep it

they place traps for wild animals such

as legged wild boars and deers a limb

bone is a hole big enough to trap the

animal with sharp pointed bamboo sticks

or Luba and cover it on top with leaves

cieaned or bug hood is a hanging rope

serving a strap sep on a branch of a

sloping area the pig lopaka curved

branch

Dimpy set under a tree and once the

safety is released the pigs legs is

caught the Liuba also a chopped works

when a wild boar jumps on it and if it

is hit by a pointed stick the farmer or

hunter traces the blood to locate it it

is in the cut to be gun or water bodies

such as rivers waters Springs and

streams where they get food also by

chopping fish and freshwater shrimps

wicked non children also make the

waterfalls as their playing ground

belanov is a method of catching

endogenous little fishes in the river

hole door knob by using a cloth tied on

the neck some traditional techniques

used for gathering food are the

following but the one where branches of

trees are placed on one part of the

river for water to flow and allow fishes

and crustaceans to come in the own a

fish trap or a woman bamboo chart is set

against the flow of the river current to

allow fish to come be now gone a fish

trap with a bait pot one inside it is

similar to a cone a pond is a huge

bamboo trap set on the intersection of

the river where in two sides of the

flowing water goes to the trap diving

down the deep part of the river armed

with a bus light pointed Eva or Lance

using a lengthy to protect the eyes and

see clearly through the water the big

fishes and freshwater shrimps

so Laura pa'dar mom are catching fishes

crabs and crustaceans and the early

evening by using a torch to attract

these fishes and crustaceans respect to

the spirit beings inhabiting the forests

the rivers and the land prevails in the

bukidnon psyche despite having

missionaries coming from the lowland and

Western medicines reaching the bookid

once they are still strongly attached to

the Bible honest and the muharram that

offer cure and provides advice after a

day's work a night with Eden would

listen to the elder members of the

family who would sing sugi-dono these

are epics that tells the exploits of the

mythical characters of whom adopt none

labelled dong-geun malecon yahwah and

others epics are sang are chanted long

stories handed down mostly by capped

maidens our benefit the epic chance give

lessons and shows the worldview and

social structure of the epoch people the

ancestors of the pan I became known it

also serves a syllabus for children and

as entertainment its theme are mostly

about romance and adventure who know the

traditional reading figures in the lives

of the bukidnon as it is a time for fist

and celebration people come to join the

celebration and enjoy the rapid day of

the bride and groom's parents

Federico Caballero - ohon was awarded

the Gama ba or the National living

treasure by the National Commission for

culture and the arts in the year 2004

epic literature this is for his mastery

of the ten epochs or sous-vide a non

soggy Bannon comes from the term su give

to tell or narrate he comes from a

family of at least five generations of

epic chapters his great-grandparents are

mostly chanters or mono so given on

Babylon or shamans and Monocacy arbiters

this is from the lineage of envelope in

to anger on who is Lula Sousa his

siblings are also good epic chanters by

emo will be among the oil or moola the

lon rodolfo entire sea a beer on good

chanters come from the family with a

benefit lineage benefit is a maiden

jealously hidden from the eyes of man

and commands a high bride gift at the

early age of four or five or even before

the girl is born the child is already

pledged for marriage to a young boy as

agreed by the parents

this is sealed by a Taurus a precious

material or gift to seal the agreement

in the course of dr. mother's research

she has collected a series of sugi-dono

stories about the adventures of

different characters that revolves

around the land and sea a total of 10

epic stories of 13 volumes were

gathering this article column where pi

boron goes to a hunting spree with his

dog the comb and cuts a magical bamboo

tree all by masala Don a great witch and

monster Umberto Chi tells of a hermit

woman or an ugly monster who owns a gold

pubic hair and took to her care two

beautiful young girls very calm father

is about a gold medallion but Sinan lion

offers for marriage to a lovely benefit

map anion who was already pledged in a

child marriage tool about dong Geun

hence conflict follows Bella knockin on

the other hand tells about a warrior who

goes to Hollywood to pursue Matt an iron

but was interrupted by 71 at the river

began and ends with a fight where Berlin

Ocwen was defeated

Columbus is about a huge crowd Ramos and

Laden a man from the underworld fells in

love with Matt an iron and commands

column PI to disguise as an island to

deceive her Laguna a diet II from the

upper world fells in love with a lovely

matt an iron silicon ion is about Matt

an eye on who is now wife of La Belle

Dugan who longs for her sister in Alexa

ping gun and persuades La Belle Dugan to

get her from Sinag nyan and make her his

wife to come adapt known in his story of

floorball use talks about home addict

moon one which is about the Quran ban

who baduk moon to which is the belukha

de Bie kuma Duckman three home now and

humid upland fourth begin la one this is

by far the longest of the epochs with

three-month storytelling they tell of

humid uplands pursuant firmly their

wedding and misunderstandings

Alejo is about a sweet scented flower

the beautiful militant yahwah was

pursued by the handsome adapt known

using a garland of sweet-scented flowers

called Alejo Nabu he's a ceremonial

ritual where are you

now an old woman gets sick and performs

a ceremony of power transferred to her

daughter Molly all conflicts in the epic

I settled with loud Cena as arbiter or

my new casaya

when federico kabalyero became a gamma

awardee even later on I was built in

Quran and later in a colada to propagate

the culture every Saturday children

would go to school and learn about epic

chanting weaving and playing musical

instruments so LS banana dancing the

school for living traditions are

informal schools with living elders

serving as masters teaching the children

with skills during weekends there were

eight more SLPs built in Cali new yellow

and the masks apiece segi Danone or epic

chanting gives lessons and entertainment

and as far as children to learn the

skills of elders and their ancestors

banana banks and Eaglehawk dance

mentioned in the sous vide on own still

survives today

to remind the younger generation of

ebony ancestors who are good dancers

women who dance spin alone where sigh :

headdress winning Kieth necklace and the

oneplus belt which are all made of

ancient coins panel walk is a special

needle work in traditionally designed

form of embroidery most of which are

inspired by plants and animals in the

environment and by the epic characters

and are being embroidered in the clothes

of bookid nuns that are used during

special occasions this also have sevilla

comma designs inspired by the skin of

the python snake and matin poonai that

is patterned after the eyes of the pune

bird an epic character in the Alejo a

child with interest in any other

traditional musical instruments are

thought or encouraged to learn the

following Gong leap get the combo so

Gong Gong Sabine bija or Kuja be Kuja P

is a string instrument likened to a

guitar

aside from epic chanting there are other

other literature's that are sang by the

book ignorance this are allow hi i'm

bahar paljah and below allow high are

long stories but shorter than the epics

and told in a chanting style I'm behind

on the other hand are chanted lines sang

by the elders when they gather it

expresses a longing or parting the lot

is a chanted repartee with a general

theme centered on love between a couple

a young man and a woman or a parent and

child

Walt Alda which is also a chanted

repartee is used to outwit or indirectly

insult in a subtle manner the other

person

23 years had elapsed since we first

started working on the ethics of a knife

the sugidama and now we want to show to

this present generation that these

epochs are their very own to value and

to carry dr. Marquez has facilitated the

digitalising of the epics from the

sensitive tape recording to DVDs with

the assistance of the UPP element colors

of music they were transcribed and

encoded with the help of our researchers

the archive documents of the ten epochs

with breaking volumes at the Center for

s design studies were secured and later

on translated to canary a Filipino and

English eventually it will be an e-book

copies and hard copies we shall all be

published by the U P press there are

many more that needs to be done and dr.

Marquez invites scholars and cultural

workers to continue research on the

ethics in the bukidnon culture the words

of dr. Marquez and math agree has gone

far because of the dedication that they

gave to resurrect a dying culture in the

heartland of pnai we are now recipients

of a rich cultural heritage the place of

the pnai bukidnon and their recognition

as an endogenous group has been secured

it is a legacy that dr. Alicia Margo's

and gababa awardee Federico Caballero

have bestowed upon us the panel Janos

26 years that loves since I started

exploring central tonight for the

presence of the ethics

I started translating the ethics 23

years ago and now we have published epic

coin which is about to come out I wish

to thank the University of the

Philippines for making possible the

publication of the ethics as well as its

popularization

nobody in my

fiberlite not a new find a body and a

video harem don't ah da Barra doughnut

machine guru by da Oh messy Oh bye Tony

paparazzi Funai Matta boxy man I