Midterm Period

(Week 1)

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

Lesson 10: The Geographic, Ethnolinguistic and Literary Dimensions of the Visayan
Regions

Objective: Writing a close analysis and critical interpretation of literary texts and doing an
adaptation of these require from the learner the ability to:

1. identify the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary

history from pre- colonial to the contemporary

Lesson Content:

Region VI: WESTERN VISAYAS - Kabisay-an Nakatundan

Geographic Dimensions

o Region VI (Western Visayas Region: Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo,

Guimaras)
o Region VI is tri-island region surrounded by various bodies of water
and is bordered by: North - Sibuyan Sea, East - Visayan Sea, South -
Panay Gulf-Sulu Sea, West - Sulu Sea
o The main Island is called “Panay Island”

Ethnolinguistic Dimensions

o Ethnolinguistic Peoples of Western Visayas Region: Hiligaynon,

Karay-a/Kiniray-a, Aklanon, Capiznon, Bisaya/Binisay-a.
o Hiligaynon is spoken in Ilo-ilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Capiz,
South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, Masbate
o Hiligaynon comes from the word ‘Ilawod’ (people of the coast)
o Hiligaynon is the 4th most spoken local language (9M)
o Karay-a/Kiniray-a is spoken in the mountains of Antique, Aklan and
parts of Capiz.
o Karay-a/Kiniray-a comes from Iraya which means people of the
highlands.
Significant Tagalog Literary Contributions of the Past Centuries

▪ Magdalena Jalandoni (Ang Gitara, Ang Dalaga sa Tindahan)

▪ Graciano Lopez-Jaena (journalist in La Solidaridad)

Region VII: CENTRAL VISAYAS - Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an

Geographic Dimensions

o Region VII (Central Visayas Region: Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor)

o Region VII is a Bisayan region surrounded by various bodies of water
and is bordered by: North - Visayan Sea, East - Camotes Sea, South -
Bohol Sea, West - Tañon Strait

Ethnolinguistic Dimensions

o Ethnolinguistic Peoples of Central Visayas Region: Bisaya/Binisaya,

Cebuano.
o Cebuano is spoken in Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Biliran, Western and
Southern Leyte and Negros Oriental
o Cebu comes from the word ‘Zubu, Sugbo’ which was a name of an
ancient Rajanate or kingdom around 13th-16th century.
o Cebuano/Bisaya is the 2nd most spoken local language after Tagalog
(21M)
o Karay-a/Kiniray-a is spoken in the mountains of Antique, Aklan and
parts of Capiz.
o Karay-a/Kiniray-a comes from Iraya which means people of the
highlands.

Significant Tagalog Literary Contributions of the Past Centuries

▪ Vicente Sotto (Maming, first Cebuano written literature, father of

Cebuano literature)
Region VIII: EASTERN VISAYAS - Sinirangan Kabisay-an

Geographic Dimensions

o Region VIII (Eastern Visayas Region: Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran,

Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar)
o Region VII is a pre-dominantly Waray-speaking region surrounded by
various bodies of water and is bordered by: North - San Bernardino
Strait, East - Philippine Sea, South - Bohol Sea, West - Camotes Sea

Ethnolinguistic Dimensions

o Ethnolinguistic Peoples of Eastern Visayas Region: Waray/Waray-

Waray, Bisaya/Binisaya, Cebuano.
o Waray/Waray-Waray is spoken in Leyte, Samar, Biliran, parts of
Masbate, Surigao del Norte and Sur, and parts of Sorsogon
o Waray/Waray-Waray comes from the word ‘wara’ which which means
‘nothing’, the most commonly used and heard word from the natives
there.
o Waray/Waray-Waray is the 6th largest spoken language (around 3M)
o Karay-a/Kiniray-a is spoken in the mountains of Antique, Aklan and
parts of Capiz.
o Karay-a/Kiniray-a comes from Iraya which means people of the
highlands.

Significant Tagalog Literary Contributions of the Past Centuries

▪ Vicente Sotto (Maming, first Cebuano written literature, father of

Cebuano literature)
▪ Hadi hadi and Waray zarzuela
▪ Norberto Romualdez Sr., Iluminado Lucente and Pedro Acerden
(zarzuela writers of Waray language)