Literature of the Philippines. Specifically in Metro Manila

1. PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR)
METRO MANILA
METROPOLITAN MANILA
Reporters:
Silva
Socias
Sumagaysay
 NCR does not have any provinces but compose of 16 Cities and 1 Municipality, and
divided into 4 districts.
1st District:
City of Manila – Manila itself. The Capital City of the Philippines
2nd District: 4th District
Mandaluyong City Las Piñas City
Marikina City - Shoe Capital Makati City
Pasig City Muntinlupa City
Quezon City Parañaque City
San Juan City Pasay City
Municipality of Pateros
3rd District Taguig City
Caloocan City
Malabon City
Navotas City
Valenzuela City
LANGUAGES
TAGALOG – Major
ENGLISH – Secondary
BACKGROUND:
Manila has been through the ringer, with destruction and rapid development creating
chaos where a grand colonial city once stood. During Ferdinand Marcos’ Presidential Decree
No. 824, s. 1975, created the Metropolitan of Manila (NCR).
Manila began as a small tribal settlement on the banks of the Pasig River near the
mouth of Manila Bay. It took its name from a white-flowered mangrove plant - the nilad -
which grew in abundance in the area. Maynilad, or where the nilad grows, was a fairly
prosperous Islamic community ruled by Rajah Sulayman, descendant of a royal Malay family.
On May 24, 1570, almost 50 years after Ferdinand Magellan - a Portuguese explorer under
the service of the King of Spain - first set foot on these islands, a Spanish expedition under
Marshal Martin de Goiti reached Sulayman's settlement. Encountering resistance from the
Muslim king, de Goiti retaliated by burning down the villages and capturing the artillery. The
following year, Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived at the mouth of the
Pasig River and claimed the islands in the name of the King of Spain. He established the
"distinguished and ever loyal city" of Manila, proclaiming it as the capital. Thus began more
than 300 years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.
Today the region is considered as the political, economic, social, and cultural center of
the Philippines and is one of the more modern metropolises in Southeast Asia. According to
Presidential Decree No. 940, Metro Manila is the Philippines’ seat of government but the City
of Manila is the capital. The Malacanan Palace, the official office and residence of the
President of the Philippines, and the buildings of the Supreme Court of the Philippines are
based in Metro Manila.
Metro Manila is the shopping center of the Philippines. Three “megamalls” are located
in this region and these are SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM City North Edsa which is
the 2nd largest mall in the world. Makati is regarded as the main central business district of
Metro Manila while Ortigas is the second most important business district in Metro Manila.
Metro Manila is a place of economic extremes. Many high-income citizens live in exclusive
communities such as Forbes Park in Makati and Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa. In contrast to
these residences are the slums and illegal settlement scattered across the metropolitan area
and are often found in vacant government land or in districts such as Tondo.

2. Metro Manila is rich in historical landmarks and recreational areas. Located west of
Metro Manila is the famous Rizal Park, also known as the Luneta Park. Rizal Park features the
Rizal Monument, a statue of the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Near Rizal Park is
the 400-year-old Imperial City known as Intramuros, a walled domain which was once the seat
of government during the Spanish Colonial Era and American Period.
AUTHORS:
1. Andres Bonifacio - Was born in Tondo, Manila – November 30, 1863
- Father of the Philippine Revolution
2. Emilio Jacinto - Was born in Trozo, Manila – December 15 1875.
- A Filipino Revolutionist
3. Jose Dela Cruz - Was born in Tondo, Manila – December 20, 1746.
- Known as Huseng Sisiw. “HARI NG MAKATA”
4. Jose Corazon de Jesus - Was born on Nov. 22, 1896 in Santa Cruz, Manila.
Known as Huseng Batute. “KING OF BALAGTASAN”
5. Cecilio Apostol - Was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila – November 22, 1877
6. Faustino Aguilar - Was born in Malate, Manila – February 15, 1882
- Filipino novelist, journalist, and a revolutionist.
7. Amado V. Hernandez - A novelist, “makata”, “mandudula”, “peryodista”, and
Ordained as “Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Larangan
ng Panitikan.
- Known as “Ka Amado, Makatang Mangagawa,
Bilanggong Makata”.
8. Severino Reyes - Well known as “Lola Basyang. Treated as the Father of
“Sarsuwela/Ama ng Dulang Tagalog”.
9. Liwayway Arceo - Feature writer, novelist, narrator, translator, editor.
10. Lualhati Torres Bautista – born in Manila, Philippines December 2, 1945. One of
the foremost Filipino female novelists in the history of
contemporary Philippine Literature. Her novels include
Dekada '70, Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?, and ‘GAPÔ.
LITERATURE
FOLKSONG(Awiting Bayan):
 Bahay Kubo – the most popular folksong in NCR and even all over the
Philippines.
Bahay Kubo
Bahay kubo, kahit munti
Ang halaman doon ay
Sari-sari
Singkamas at talong,
Sigarilyas at mani
Sitaw, bataw, patani.
Kundol, patola,
Upo’t, kalabasa.
At saka mayro’n pa
Labanos, mustasa.
Sibuyas, kamatis,
Bawang at luya
Sa paligid-ligid
Ay puno ng linga.

3. SHORT STORY (Maikling Kuwento):
Banyaga
(Liwayway A. Arceo)
Mukhang artista! Artista nga ba? Artista?
Mula nang dumating si Fely kangina ay hindi miminsang narinig niya ang tanong na iyon na tila ngayon
lamang siya nakita. Gayong umuuwi siya dalawang ulit isang taon; kung Araw ng mga Patay at kung
Pasko. O, napakadalang nga iyon, bulong niya sa sarili. At maging sa mga sandaling ito na wala nang
kumikibo at tumitingin sa kanya ay iyon din ang katunayang (wala nang kumikibo) wari ay nababasa
niya sa bawat matimping ngiting may lakip na lihim na sulyap.
At mula sa salamin sa kanyang harapan ay nakita niya si Nana Ibang sa kanyang likuran. Hinahagod
ng tingin ang kanyang kaanyuan. Matagal na pinagmasdan ang kanyang buhok. Hindi ito
makapaniwala nang sabihin niyang serbesa ang ipinambasa sa buhok niya.
- Serbesa ba ‘kamo bata ka, ha?
Ngumiti siya, kasabay ang mahinang tango. At nang makita niyang nangunot ang noo nito, idinugtong
niya ang paliwanag, hindi naman masama ang amoy, Nana.
Ngayon sa kanyang pagtindig ay hindi maikaila sa kanya ang pagtugon ng tingin nito sa kanyang suot.
Sa leeg ng kanyang terno na halos ay nakasabit lamang sa gilid ng kanyang balikat at tila nanunuksong
pinipigil ang pagsungaw ng kanyang malusog na dibdib. Sa kanyang baywang na lalong pinalantik ng
lapat na lapat na saya. Sa laylayan nito na may gilit upang makahakbang siya.
- Ibang-iba na ngayon ang…lahat!… at naulinigan niya ang buntung-hininga na kumawala sa dibdib ng
matanda niyang lola.
Napangiti siya. Alam niyang iyon din ang sasabihin ng kanyang ama na sa pagkakaalam niya ay hindi
naging maligoy minsan man sa pagsasalita. Iyon din ang narinig niyang sabi ng kanyang Ate Sedes. At
ng kanyang Insong Edong, ang balo ng kanyang Kuya Mente. At ang kanyang apat na pamangkin ay
halos hindi nakahuma nang makita siya kanginang nakatoreador ng itim at kamisadentrong rosas.
Pinagmasdan siya ng kanyang mga kanayon, mula sa ulong may taling bandana, sa kanyang salaming
may kulay, hanggang sa kanyang mga kukong mapula sa paa, na nakasungaw sa step-in na bukas ang
nguso.
- Sino kaya’ng magmamana sa pamangkin mo… matalino.
- Sinabi ko naman sa Inso…Ibigay na sa akin…papag-aralin ko sa Maynila. Nag-iisa naman ako. Ang
hirap sa kanila…ayaw nilang maghiwa-hiwalay. Kung sinunod ko ang gusto ni Inang…noon… kung
natakot ako sa iyakan…Tumigil siya sa pagsasalita. Alam niyang hindi maikukubli ng kanyang tinig ang
kapaitang naghihimagsik sa kanyang dibdib.
- E..oo nga… Walang anu-ano’y ayon ni Nana Ibang - Tigas nga namang iyakan nang lumuwas ka…
- Noon pa man, alam kong nasa Maynila ang aking pagkakataon. Sasali ba ‘ko sa timpalak na ‘yon
kung hindi ako nakakasigurong kaya ko ang eksamen?
Hindi sumagot si Nana Ibang. Naramdaman niyang may dumamping panyolito sa kanyang batok. -
Pinagpapawisan ka na, a. Ano bang oras ang sabi ni Duardo na susunduin ka?
Alas tres daw. Hanggang ngayon ba’y ganoon dito? At napangiti siya. Alas tres o alas singko. Alas
kwatro na, ah! Kung hindi lang ako magsasaya, di dinala ko na rito ang kotse ko. Ako na ang
magmamaneho. Sa Amerika…
- Naiinip ka na ba? agaw ni Nana Ibang sa kanyang sinasabi.
- Hindi sa naiinip, e. Dapat ay nasa oras ang salitaan. Bakit ay gusto kong makabalik ngayon sa
Maynila.
- Ano? K-kahit gabi?
Napatawa si Fely. –Kung sa Amerika… nakapunta ako at nakabalik nang mag-isa, sa Maynila pa? Ilang
taon ba ‘kong wala sa Pilipinas? Ang totoo…
Biglang nauntol ang kanyang sasabihin nang marinig niya ang mahinang tatat ni Nana Ibang. At nang
tumingin siya rito ay nakita niya ang kulimlim na mukha nito. At biglang-bigla, dumaan sa kanyang
gunita ang naging anyo nito nang makita siya kangina. Ang pinipigil na paghanga at pagtataka sa
kanyang anyo. Ang walang malamang gawing pagsalubong sa kanya. At nang siya ay ipaghain ay hindi
siya isinabay sa kanyang pamangkin. Ibinukod siya ng hain, matapos mailabas ang isang maputi at
malinis na kumot na ginawang mantel. Hindi siya pinalabas sa batalan nang sabihin niyang
maghuhugas siya ng kamay. Ipinagpasok siya ng palanggana ng tubig, kasunod ang isa niyang
pamangkin na sa pangalan at larawan lalo niyang kilala sapagkat patuloy ang kanyang kaharap nang
sabihin niyang magkakamay siya.
- Ayan naman ang kubyertos…pilak ‘yan… -hiyang-hiya na sabi ng kanyang hipag. –Yan ang uwi
mo…noon…hindi nga namin ginagamit…Napatawa siya. – Kinukutsara ba naman ang alimasag?
Nagsisi siya pagkatapos sa kanyang sinabi. Napansin niyang lalong nahapis ang mukha ng kanyang
Nana Ibang. Abot ang paghingi nito ng paumanhin. Kung hindi ka ba nagbagong-loob, di sana’y
nalitson ang biik sa silong. Kasi…sabi…hindi ka raw darating…
Wala nga siyang balak na dumalo sa parangal. Ngunit naisip niyang ngayon lamang gagawin ang
gayon sa kanilang nayon. Sa ikalimampung taon ng Plaridel High School. Waring hindi niya
matatanggihan ang karangalang iniuukol sa kanya ng Samahan ng mga Nagsipagtapos sa kanilang
paaralan. Waring naglalaro sa kanyang isipan ang mga titik ng liham ng pangulo ng samahan. Parangal
sa unang babaing hukom na nagtapos sa kanila.
Napakislot pa si Fely nang marinig ang busina ng isang tumigil na sasakyan sa harap ng bahay. Alam
na niya ang kahulugan niyon. Dumating na ang sundo upang ihatid siya sa bayan, sa gusali ng
paaralan.
Hindi muna niya isinuot ang kanyang sapatos na mataas at payat ang takong.

4. - Sa kotse na, ang sabi niya kay Nana Ibang. Ang hindi niya sinabi: Baka ako masilat… Baka ako hindi
makapanaog sa hagdang kawayan.
Ngunit sa kanyang pagyuko upang damputin ang kanyang sapatos ay naunahan siya ng matanda.
Kasunod niya ito na bitbit ang kanyang sapatos. Sa paligid ng kotse ay maraming mukhang nakatingin
sa kanya. Ang pinto ng kotse ay hawak ng isang lalaking nang mapagsino niya ay bahagya siyang
napatigil. Napakunot ang noo niya.
- Ako nga si Duardo!
Pinigil niya ang buntunghiningang ibig kumawala sa kanyang dibdib. Nang makaupo na siya ay iniabot
ni Nana Ibang ang kanyang sapatos. Yumuko ito at dinampot naman ang tsinelas na hinubad niya.
Isinara ni Duardo ang pinto ng kotse at sa tabi ng tsuper ito naupo.
- Bakit hindi ka rito? tanong niya? Masasal ang kaba ng kanyang dibdib. May presidente ba ng
samahan na ganyan?
A…e…-Hindi kinakailangang makita niyang nakaharap si Duardo. Napansin niya sa pagsasalita nito
ang panginginig ng labi. A… Alangan na ‘ata…
Tumigas ang mukha ni Fely. Nagtiim ang kanyang kalooban. Si Duardo ang tanging lalaking naging
malapit sa kanya. Noon. Ngayon, nalaman niyang guro ito sa paaralang kanilang pinagtapusan. At ito
rin ang pangulo ng Samahan ng mga Nagsisipagtapos.
- Natutuwa kami at nagpaunlak ka… Walang anu-ano’y sabi ni Duardo. Dalawampu’t dalawang taon
na…
- Huwag mo nang sabihin ang taon!- nagtatawang sabi ni Fely. Tumatanda ako…
- Hindi ka nagbabago, sabi ni Duardo. Parang mas…mas…bata ka ngayon. Sayang… hindi ka makikita
ni Monang…
- Monang? napaangat ang likod ni Fely.
- Kaklase natin… sa apat na grado. paliwanag ni Duardo. Kami ang… at napahagikhik ito. –
Kamakalawa lang niya isinilang ang aming pang-anim…
- “Congratulations!” pilit na pilit ang kanyang pagngiti. Tila siya biglang naalinsanganan. Tila siya inip na
inip sa pagtakbo ng sasakyan.
- Magugulat ka sa eskuwela natin ngayon. Patuloy ni Duardo nang hindi siya kumibo. Ibang-iba
kaysa…noon.
- Piho nga, patianod niya. Hindi naman kasi ‘ko nagagawi sa bayan tuwing uuwi ako. Lagi pa ‘kong
nagmamadali…
Bagung-bago sa kanyang paningin ang gusali. At nang isungaw niya ang kanyang mukha sa bintana ng
sasakyan ay nakita ang mga matang nakamasid sa kanya. Isinuot niya ang salaming may kulay. Tila
hindi na niya matatagalan ang nakalarawan sa mukha ng mga sumasalubong sa kanya.
At nang buksan ni Duardo ang pinto ng kotse upang makaibis siya ay lalong nagtumining ang
kahungkagang nadarama niya kangina pa. At may sumungaw na luha sa kanyang mga mata. Tila hindi
na niya nakikilala at hindi na siya makikilala pa ng pook na binalikan niya.
EPIC:
IBONG ADARNA – Ibong Adarna is an epic written in the 17th Century about an
eponymous magical bird. The title's longer form during the Spanish Era was "Korrido
at Buhay na Pinagdaanan ng Tatlóng Principeng Magkakapatid na anak nang Haring
Fernando at nang Reyna Valeriana sa Kahariang Berbania" (Filipino for "Corrido and
Life Lived by the Three Princes, children of King Fernando and Queen Valeriana in the
Kingdom of Berbania"). The author of the largely known epic was claimed to be
José de la Cruz or "Huseng Sisiw", but until now the real author was never known.
NOVEL (Nobela):
Bata, Bata Pa’no ka Ginawa?
by Lualhati Torres Bautista
The novel begun with an introductory chapter about the graduation day from
kindergarten of Maya, Lea’s daughter. A program and a celebration were held. In the
beginning, everything in Lea’s life were going smoothly – her life in connection with her
children, with friends of the opposite gender, and with her volunteer work for a human
rights organization. But Lea’s children were both growing-up – and Lea could see their
gradual transformation. There were the changes in their ways and personalities:
Maya’s curiosity was becoming more obvious every day, while Ojie was crossing the
boundaries from boyhood to teenage to adulthood. In the end, all three, and especially
Lea, have to confront Philippine society’s view of single motherhood; and the novel
itself brazens out to the questions of how it is to be a mother, how a mother executes
this role through modern-day concepts of parenthood, and on how fast the life of a
person.
Main Characters:
Lea – The protagonist and the hero of the
story
Maya – Daughter of Lea
Ojie – Son of Lea
Ding – Live-in partner of Lea. Father of
Maya
Raffy – First husband of Lea, Father of Ojie
Johnny – Best Friend and Officemate of
Lea

5. RIDDLES (Bugtong):
1. Butong binalot ng bakal, bakal na binalot ng kristal. = Lansones (Lanzones)
(Seed that is wrap in steel, steel that is wrap in crystal).
2. Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang. = Ulan (Rain)
(Adam's hair, you can't count.)
3. Nagtago si Pedro, labas ang ulo. = Pako (Nail)
(Pedro hides but you can still see his head. )
4. May puno walang bunga, may dahon walang sanga = Sandok (Ladle)
(There is a trunk but there are no fruits, there is leaf but there’s no branch)
PROVERBS (Mga Kasabihan):
1. Never trust someone you don't know. / Never trust a stranger.
(Huwag kang magtiwala sa 'di mo kakilala.)
2. If you don't know how to look back to where you came from, you will not reach
your destination
(Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa
paroroonan.)
POEM (Tula):
 Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa – Andres Bonifacio
 Kay Rizal – Cecilio Apostol
 Bayan Ko (My Country) is a Tagalog poem was written by José Corazón de
Jesús in 1929. It was set to music by Constancio de Guzman and became a
very popular song during the struggle against the dictatorship of Ferdinand
Marcos in the 1980s.
BAYAN KO
Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag.
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa.
Ibon mang may layang lumipad
Kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di magnasang makaalpas!
Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika,
Makita kang sakdal laya!
FESTIVALS:
 Manila
1. Feast of the Black Nazarene – (January 9th) It is marked by a tumultuous procession
attended by a full-packed crowds filling the entire surroundings of the Quiapo Church and portions of
Quezon Boulevard where the church is located. The big Black Nazarene statue carrying a cross is
paraded on a float. Taken out of the church, it leads a tedious procession around the church vicinity.
Thousands of devotees from various parts of the country attend this event, pulling and pushing the
float. Manila festivals that gather big crowds like this often end up with casualties each year but
devotees nonetheless continue with the annual celebrations.
2. Liberation of Manila – (Every 3rd day of February) A historic event is celebrated in
Manila. Among historical Manila festivals, the event highlights the important decision of General
Douglas MacArthur to prioritize the liberation of Manila over that of Formosa in Word War II. Hence, in
February 3 1945 Manila was liberated by American Forces from the Japanese. However, this event is
observed with simple ceremonies.
3. Feast of the Sto. Nino - This event is centered on the district of Tondo, Manila where
replicas of the Sto. Nino or “Little Child” are huddled together in various costumes atop a flowery float
and paraded around selected streets in Tondo. Among very colorful Manila Festivals, this feast fills
the streets with dancers, tots, teens, and senior citizens, in bright costumes depicting clothes in early
Hispanic times.
 Mandaluyong
1. Lavandero Festival – (Feb 1- 6) The unique festival focused on the city’s ancient
tradition of washing clothes in the once clean and clear waters of the Pasig
River. Amusingly, focal point of the festival is the men participants washing
clothes instead of women.

6.  Marikina
1. Marikina Sapatos Festival – (Oct. 15 up to Nov. 30) Since Marikina is the shoe
capital of the Philippines, they celebrate the Sapatos Festival. it's almost a
month-long celebration. Sapatos Festival is celebrated because of the excellence and
the advancement of their products. Since Marikina also exports shoes to other cities.
 Pasig
1. Bambino Festival - This festival is celebrated in honor of the Sto. Nino, whose
innocence, purity of spirit, and love have had a profound influence on the lives of
Pasiguenos. An exhibit featuring the various images of the Blessed Child.
2. Itik-Itik Festival - Held on the last Sunday of February that is the Feast of
Barangay Kalawaan’s beloved patroness, St. Martha, this event highlights the
barangay’s yield, the Itik ( a species of duck), hence the name of the festival.
 Quezon City
1. Mango Festival – (May 15-17) Mango growers from different parts of the country
will be displaying their harvests for sale during the three-day event. At the same time,
there will be different activities such as lectures on good agricultural practices in
mango, pest and disease control, processing, marketing and other related topics.
2. La Loma Festival – (3rd Sunday of May) Dressing up the Lechon and parading
them down the main streets.
 San-Juan
1. The Feast Day of San Juan – (June 24) – The feast day of Saint John the Baptist
and people from the city named after the saint take all the liberty to baptize just about
everyone in sight during this day.
 Caloocan
1. Pamaypay Festival – (Feb 12, 2014) Pamaypay is a tool that we use to surge heat.
It can come in different colors and sizes, depending on your taste. The use of pamaypay is
one of many trait we got from the Spaniards. It symbolizes beauty and simplicity. We often
see it in a typical Maria Clara portrait or often describe in a book being held by finesse
Filipina. It is usually paired with barot's saya; the national dress in the Philippines.
 Malabon
1. Luglugan Pancit Malabon Festival - (10th of December) Considered as one of
its kind culinary festival in Metro Manila. Highlight of the event other than street dancing,
and marching band exhibition is the presentation of the Giant Bilaos of Pancit Malabon.
 Navotas
1. Pangisdaan Festival – (January 15) One of the highlights of the Navotas Day
celebration, featuring a street dancing and float competition focusing on the fishing
industry.
 Valenzuela
1. Feast of San Diego de Alcala - (12th of November)
Celebration of the feast of the oldest church in Valenzuela City, which includes annual
boat racing, streetdancing and different activities of the festival.
 Las Piñas
1. Bamboo Organ Festival – (February 17-23) Features musical instruments and
cultural presentation showing the instruments unique qualities and best attributes.
 Makati
1. Caracol - Conceptualized in 1988, CARACOL is a Spanish term for snail and refers to
"the shell used by the people to protect them from life's detrimental realities." It is a
combination of the three major ethnic festivals of the Philippines. Declared official festival
of Makati through the passage of Resolution 351. Held every last Sunday of January.
2. BAILES delos ARCOS - (June 29) During the feast day of the Saints Peter and Paul
at Barangay Poblacion by daughters of past participants with impeccable reputations
as homage to the Virgen dela Rosa for her kindness. Dancers are trained for a year.
 Muntinlupa
1. Dinagsa Festival – (March 1 – 5) A celebration in honor of the city’s patron saint
Sto. Niño de Muntinlupa highlighted by a streetdancing participated in by representatives
from different barangays, schools, youth sectors and groups from other cities in Metro
Manila. A variety show will also be held in the evening after the streetdancing.
 Parañaque
1. The Sunduan Festival - (February 13) A bigger, grander reenactment of what has
evolved as a courtship ritual, and takes place the day right before Valentine’s, giving the
occasion a heightened atmosphere of love in the air.
 Pasay

7. 1. Talulot Festival - Talulot is named after the Filipino word for petal, in honor of St.
Therese of the Child Jesus who is also known as God’s Little Flower. Devotees of Saint
Therese believe that she sends a flower or flowers as a sign of granted prayer.
 Pateros
1. Balot sa Puti Festival – (Jan 31, 2014) Annual festivity in Pateros. The most
anticipated part of the event is the cooking contest. It involves as its main ingredient is the
Balut, where the egg is cooked in innovative and new dishes to the delight of the
spectators.
 Taguig
1. Sta. Anang Banak Taguig River Festival - A grand parade which honors the
patroness Saint Anne. The festival is an annual event that rooted from religious and
mythical beliefs that made up the ethnic race once called "taga-giik."
MYTHOLOGY:
The First Man and Woman
According to this myth, the first creations were the sea, the sky, and a giant bird. How
they appeared was not mentioned, but they just existed. There was no land yet, so the
giant bird just flew continuously. According to the myth, the bird finally grew tired of
flying, but the predicament was that there was nothing yet to land on. Being smart, or
so the myth avers, the bird instigated the sea to throw rocks on the sky.
Somehow the sky was hit, and it retaliated by a tremendous downpour. The rocks
thrown plus the downpour later produced land masses all over the world, says the
myth. The land produced plants much later. Now the giant bird had something to perch
on. As it was relaxing on a branch, the myth says, it became thirsty. So the bird flew
again in search of fresh water, this time. But the sea yielded nothing but salt water. So
the bird tried searching on the land. It came upon a cluster of shrubberies where giant
weeds grew nearby. The giant bird, the myth continues, knew that these giant weeds
had stored water between their knots. So the bird started pecking on a bamboo, the
name of the giant weeds.
After much pecking, the bamboo remained the same. The myth says that when the
bird was about to leave for another round of search, voices from inside the bamboo
urged it to continue pecking. The bird obliged, but to no avail. Finally, being a smart
bird, it picked up a big rock with its claws, flew high, and, the myth says, dropped the
thing on the bamboo. It crashed open the bamboo and from inside, the myth declares,
appeared a man and a woman, naked. That shooed scared the bird off. It was its first
time to see humans.
Without realizing it, the bird was instrumental to the creation of the land masses all
over the world and the first human beings, as far as this myth is concerned. But for the
bird, all it wanted was something to land on to get some rest, and some fresh water to
quench its thirst.
REFLECTION:
The National Capital Region of the Philippines or known as Metro Manila is the
smallest region, but regardless of its small land area this is the region where different
culture unites. This is a diverse region, different cultures from all over the nation and
even foreign cultures flock on this metropolis. Metro Manila has experienced too much
agony in the past, there is a lot of warfare and violence that made a scar in our history
but without those sufferings there is no Filipino in our dictionaries. Those struggles in
the past it’s what made us now, whatever bad happened Manila remains strong and
able to conquer any obstacles. Now observe Metro Manila it’s a great metropolis of
great economy, the center of education and culture, center of the government, and the
heart of our industry. Here, where everything started and so it must continue infinitely.
Our literature is the bank of past knowledge, whatever we have learned in this
region we have to treasure it, especially those authors who did a great impact in our
history, their works and doings, and the good morals we all have learned. We can feel
their love in our country so we must love it with all our hearts too. Those beautiful
literary works must be known and be preserved for more generations to come,
because without them we are no more, and because literature is the mirror of our
culture, it reflects how beautiful our customs, it shows how colorful, wonderful our
bountiful culture is, and it is the one that make us FILIPINO.