The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Today. April 11, 2023, is the 91st birth anniversary of Bienvenido L. Lumbera, National Artist for Literature (1932). Bienvenido L. Lumbera was a poet, librettist, and scholar As a poet, he introduced to Tagalog literature what is now known as Bagay poetry, a landmark aesthetic tendency that has helped to change the vernacular poetic tradition. … Read more
Rare Centuries-old Books at San Agustin Museum Displayed at the San Agustin Museum are rare, centuries-old books in the Philippines during the Spanish occupation. These are writings that represent the languages of the archipelago to Spanish colonial missionaries’ tradition. Compendido Del Arte De La Lengua TagalaFr. Gaspar De S. Agustin1879 Arte De La Lengua ZebuanaFr. … Read more
Introducing our admin, co-conjurer & Hiligaynon learning facilitator, Raffy Bunal @raffybun. Raffy is a cultural worker across oceans and is a movement artist and theatermaker with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies. They recently were in immersion with Parangal Dance Company @parangaldance to deepen dance, music, and ritual research with indigenous communities across Maguindanao: Cotabato, Zamboanga, … Read more
Kawatasan It’s World Poetry Day, so here are the Kapampángan words for “poetry” with one coming from its root word for “poet” and the other from the Spanish word for “poetry”! KAWATÁSAN • (kuh-wuh-TAH-suhn)poetryTagálog (Filipino): tula, pánúláan Root WordWÁTAS • (WAH-tuhs)poetTagálog (Filipino): mánunulà, makátà POÉSIA • (poh-EH-shuh)poetry, poemTagálog (Filipino): tulâ, pánúláan EtymologyFrom Spanish poesía (“poetry, … Read more
Kapampángan Butterfly Game during Funeral Wakes: Talubangan The talubangan is a Kapampángan game of riddles played by young boys and girls during funeral wakes where boys play the role of butterflies who come with riddles that are fitted from one “flower” (played by the girls) to another until they found a match (someone who can … Read more