1. "Leron, Leron, Sinta" is a folk song about courtship. Courtship during the olden times
entails serving and gift-giving of a man to the family of the woman he intends to court. The act
would certainly please the maiden's family and would endear the guy to them. Included in the
service is picking of fruits, helping in the harvest of produce such as grains or vegetables,
household services such us fetching of water and minor repairs in the house. These acts show
the man's sincerity in his intention. Also, it proves to the woman's father his various skills and
abilities. Until the first five decades of the 20th century, these practices are still honored in some
rural areas.
"Leron" may be a man's name or a term of endearment for a young man in any Tagalog
speaking province. Someone called upon Leron to gather papaya fruits but instead of getting ripe
ones he aimed for the buds. When he got to the of the tree, the branch broke.
"Buko" means "bud" or the flowers. No one should harvest flowers or bud because it will
be wasted. This means that Leron did not have the wisdom or the good judgment that his
endeavor ended in disappointment.
"Neneng" is a term of endearment addressed to any young maiden in the Tagalog rural
areas. As in the first stanza, the girl is summoned to gather tamarinds. She climbed the tree and
was warned to be careful as the branch is swaying and she might fall. In courtship, young men
and women are warned to be careful and obey their elders' advice. Otherwise they may end up
remorseful.
In the third stanza of the song, the man courting the woman wants to prove his courage.
There is, however, a twist in the song, because instead of proving himself in battlefield, the guy
is going to prove how good his appetite is in eating. This also shows Filipino sense of humor.
"Parte ng dinulang" refers to a place in the dining table (called "dulang" in the olden times. This
is a low table very much akin to the Japanese low table used for dining) which he can assign to
himself. His bravery, therefore, can be tested in eating the food offered to him.
Dandansoy is a popular Ilonggo Folk Song, sung even by non-Ilonggos. In the song, the singer
bids farewell to a boy named Dandansoy. I remember my mother singing this song to me when I
was a kid in Iloilo. I would ask her where Payao is but unfortunately, she didn’t know. From then
on, I thought Payao was a fictional place. Little did I know that it’s a barangay in the town of
Binalbagan which I only learned when I moved here in Bacolod. Unfortunatlely, most people
from Iloilo don’t know where Payao is.
Who wrote Dandansoy?
There’s a debate going on in the net about the actual writer of Dandansoy. This song is
popularly known to be written by Augorio Abeto who hails from Binalbagan. He was a famous
Ilonggo poet in the 1930′s and also a mayor of Binalbagan in 1941-1945. I could not find a
record online as to when he actually wrote the song but there are references to his songs being
popularized during the Japanese occupation. The popularity may be because the feeling of
desolation that has engulfed the country during the war was reflected in the poignant lyrics and
melody of Dandansoy.

2. The challenger to the throne as the writer of Dandansoy is Fortunata Magsipoc Ledesma from
Culasi, Antique. Supporters of this claim said “Dandansoy” is from the phrase “ang daan nga
dalan gin usoy”.
I’m personally doubtful of the claim since the lyrics of Dandansoy is in Hiligaynon and not
Kinaray-a. I know Antiqueños can fluently write in Hiligaynon but they are a very proud people
and if they are going to write anything, it is going to be in their language. I may be wrong in this,
so in order to dispel any doubt, we are open to anybody who can provide a proof as to who
actually wrote Dandansoy.
There were also claims from Leyte that the song was originally theirs. Sometimes, Dandansoy is
also confused with Condansoy of the Cebuanos. There’s never been any doubt in my mind that
Dandansoy is an Ilonggo song. The lyrics are unmistakably in Hiligaynon.
The most popular of the old songs of music-loving Ilocanos is the “Pamulinawen.” It is believed
that it was created by an Ilocano troubadour of pre-Hispanic times who was inspired by the
sweetness of an Ilocana. The maiden might have been resplendent with character traits cherished
by the women of Ilocandia and for this reason the troubadour must have called her
“Pamulinawen” which according to the text of the song is the sweetest and most illustrious
names among Ilocanos of old. The song is now known by that name.
“Pamulinawen” is the most unique song of the Ilocanos. It possesses a certain style which is
distinctly Ilocano. It sounds ancient both in melody and language. It is cherished for this reason,
as a pearl of their ancestral culture. Because of its uniqueness and universal appeal to Ilocanos in
addition to its antiquity, the song symbolizes an inspirational fountain from which had effused all
the beautiful poetic and melodious expressions of tenderness and devotion created by Ilocano
lyricists.
“Pamulinawen” is the most popular song among Ilocanos. There is no genuine Ilocano, who does
not know the song by heart. Because of its appeal to the Ilocanos, it has become the regional
theme song of Ilocandia.
the song is a request from a lady who lost her ring given by her mother. she will give her heart to
a man who can find the beloved ring..
Sarung Banggi
Sarung banggi sa higdaan
Nakadangog ako hinuni nin sarung gamgam;
Sa lubha ko katorogan
Bako kundi simong boses iyo palan..
Dagos ako bangon si sakuyang mata binuklat,
Kadtong kadikloman ako nangalagkalag,
Si sakong pagheling pasiring sa itaas,
Naheling ko simong lauog maliwanag.
Isang Gabi
Isang gabi bago ako humiga sa kama
Narinig ko ang isang huni ng ibon
Akala ko ito'y isang paniginip
Pero natanto ko na boses mo pala iyon
Binuksan ko ang aking mga mata at bumangon
At sinubukang makakita sa kadiliman
Tumingin ako sa paligid tapos tumingala sa taas
Nakita ko ang iyong maaliwalas na mukha.

3. The Philippines has been under Spanish rule for more than 300 years. The Spanish
conquistadores claimed the archipelago in the name of their king, and laid the foundation of the
Spanish administration in the Philippines. They brought their culture with them and influenced
the Filipino way life in every facets: economic, social, religious, and cultural. (Agoncillo, 196o)
The early friars helped in the conquest of the country, and propagated Christianity. Thus, most
of the first printed books in the country have been written or translated by the friars, and are
greatly influenced by religion.
Way before the Spaniards’ coming, the ancient Filipinos had both oral and written literature.
This consisted of:
1. mito (myth), which told different versions about the creation of the world;
2. alamat (legend), which told the origin of man, animals, plants, and places ;
3. awit (songs), sung for both everyday life and special occasions;
4. salawikain (proverbs), which were wise sayings and adages;
5. bugtong (riddles), which consisted of puzzles presented in creative language.
Among their songs were: talindaw (boat songs), indulanin (street songs), diyuna (revelry
songs), tagumpay (war songs), uyayi (also oyayi, lullabies), tagulaylay (songs for the dead),
ihiman (wedding songs) and tigpasin (rowing songs). (Lacsamana, 1987)
They had passed this down for generations through retelling and the specimens of those which
survived were written on barks of certain trees and on the inner surface of the bamboo, through a
pointed pieces of sticks or iron. These pens they called sipol.
Unfortunately, most parts of this rich literature were unpreserved and were lost. With the
destruction of Filipino manuscripsts by early Spanish missionaries, the country followed the
Spanish pattern. (Agoncillo, 1960).
The first missionaries were introduced the art of prinitng to some talented Filipinos. Thus, the
first books in the country were those printed and published only in the Spanish times. . What
were these books?
Doctrina Christiana:
Isa sa pinakauna ng libro na nailathala sa Pilipinas noong pananhon ng mga Kastila . Libro na
nauukol sa pananampalatayang Kristiyano o Kristiyanismo.
Ito ang kauna una unahang aklat na nailimbag sa Pilipinas noong 1593 na naglalaman ng mga
aral at turo ng Kristiyanismo.
Ang ibig sabihin nito ay ang aral ng ating Panginoong Hesu Kristo na dapat nating sundin sa

4. araw araw ng ating buhay na nakasulat sa Biblia.
Unang aklat na naisulat sa Pilipinas.
It is the first religion textbook printed in Spanish and tagalog in 1593.
Ang aklat na "Nuestra Señora del Rosario" ay naglalahad ng mga talambuhay ng mga Santo,
nobena, at mga iba't ibang tanong at sagot sa relihiyon. Kinilala rin si Padre Blancas di San Jose
sa akda niyang Memorial de la Christiana lengua tagala at arte y reglas de la lengua tagala, na
tumatalakay sa mga tuntunin sa pagsasalita at pagsulat ng Tagalog.
BARLAAN AT JOSAPHAT
Ang kasaysayan ng barlaan at josaphat ay umiikot sa nabigong pagsisikap ng isang hari na
mailayo sa kristyano ang anak na prinsipe. naituro ni tomas Apostol ang aral ng diyos sa indya,
na pinaghaharian noon ni abenir. Dahil sa hulang magiging kristyano ang kanyang magiging
anak na lalaki, sinikap na ibukod ng tirahan at kapaligiran ang prinsipeng Josaphat sapul noong
isilang ito. sa paglaki ni Josaphat. Narinig nya ang tungkol sa kamaharlikaan ng bagong
relihiyon. Natutuhan niyang pag-isipan ang buhay ng kamatayn nang matanaw niya ang isang
taong kahabag-habag.
Nabalitaan ng matandang paring si Barlaan, na nasa Senaar, ang tungkol sa mabuting kalooban
ni Josaphat. Nagpanggap siyang isang tagapagtinda kya nakatagpo niya si Josaphat, na nahikayat
niyang magpabinyag. Lahat ng ito'y lingid sa kaalaman ni haring Abenir hanggang sa makaalis
na sa palasyo si Barlaan.
Nang matuklasan ni haring Abenir ang nangyari sa ank, iniutos niyang dakpin si barlaan, ngunit
di ito matagpuan. May pinapagpanggap na Barlaan ang hari at siyang dinakip. Sa gayon, sa pag-
aakalang malagim ang kararatnan ng kaibigang pari, nagtapat si Josaphat sa hari. Ngunit ang
ganito'y nagging daan para pagsikapan ni Josaphat na hikayatin ang ama. Napagkillala ni Abenir
na kailangang paghimok ang gamitin sa anak at hindi pagbabanta. Sa gayon, hinamon ni Abenir
ang anak saka ang mga kapanalig nito sa isang pagtatalo, at kung mananalo si Josaphat at
Barlaan Magpapabinyag ang hari at ang mga kampon nito. Nanalo sina Josaphat.
May tauhan ang hari na nahikayat nang una ni Josaphat kya nagalit ang hari. Pinalitan niya ng
mga Mapanuksong babae ang mga tagasilbi sa palasyo. Nagdamdam si Josaphat sa ama dahil sa
tangkang pagbubulid nito sa kanya sa kasamaan.
Iminungkahi ng ministro ni Abenir na hayaang mamuno sa isang hiwalay na kaharian si
Josaphat. Pumayag si Abenir. Subalit maraming tao ang lumipat sa kaharian ni Josaphat,kya
naisip ni Abenir na marapat lang na pabinyag siya. Iniwan niya ang kaharian kay Josaphat at
namuhay siya nang tahimik hanggang sa mamatay. Ibig din naming manahimik ni Josaphat kya
iniwan niya ang kaharian sa isang tapat na tauhan, si Barachias, at hinanap niya si Barlaan
hanggang sa matagpuan niya ito.

5. Minsan tinawag ni Barlaan si Josaphat at sinabing malapit na siyang mamatay. Pinasundo niya
kay Josaphat ang mga monghe sa di-kalayuang monesteryo. Nagmisa si Barlaan bago mamatay.
Nanaginip minsan si Josaphat at nakita niya ang dalawang korona: isa para sa kanya at isa para
sa ama. Sinabi niyang hindi marapat ang kanyang ama. Lumitaw sa pangitain si barlaan at sinisi
siya nito. Nagsisi si Josaphat. Namuhay siya bilang ermitanyo. Nang mamatay siya, inilibing
siya sa puntod ni Barlaan.
Nang mapag-alaman ni Barachias na namatay na si Josaphat, pinahanap niya ang libingan nito.
Nang hukayin nila ang puntod, natagpuan nilang buo ang mga mabango pang bangkay ng
dalawa, na napabantog mula noon, kya naman marami pa ang nagpabinyag.
In 1865, Padre Mariano Sevilla, a Filipino priest from Tundo wrote Flores de Mayo. This is
based on Italian Mazzanelli’s “Misa de Magggio” or “Buwan ng Mayo” . Ang mga Dalit Kay
Maria are made up of songs praising and honoring the Mary, Virgin Mother. It became
customary to sing these during processions every month of May in different places in the
Philippines, such as Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas and Quezon.
Alibata was changed into roman alphabet because of the influence of the Americans, and it was
introduced to Filipinos during world war where Thomasites were the one teaching Filipinos with
the English language and also the roman alphabet. And as of now, the modern times, only those
native Filipinos on high mountains are trained to write alibata, and it's also not a major subject
on some universities, to teach alibata and write alibata for the whole year, because Filipinos and
other people from all around the world usually follow the Roman Alphabet.