Explorations in Philippine Folklore A native syllabary was in use: 3 vowels (a,i-e,o-

u) and 14 consonants (b,d,g,h,l,m,n,ng,p,s,t,w

Folk Literature
and y)
Oral Lore or "oral tradition" is a form of human
This native syllabary fell into disuse among
communication wherein knowledge, art, ideas
Christianized Filipinos
and cultural material is received, preserved and
transmitted orally from one generation to The remains were destroyed by missionaries
another. who believed the indigenous pagan culture was
the handicraft of evil.
The Folk Literature Tradition

Folklore is derived from “lore” (traditional

learning of the folk)

It refers to any group of people bound together

by some common factor such as language,
religion, occupation, etc.

It is also called “oral literature”

Historical Development

In an earlier age, all literature was “oral”

Hence, oral transmission was the norm in the

absence of a “fixed” form of writing.
The variety and abundance of Philippine
literature evolved even before the colonial
periods.
Any member of the community was a
“potential” poet or storyteller for so long as he
knew the language and had been attentive to
the conventions of form.
The Classification System of Folklore
A. Folk Narratives/ Folk tales
These are traditional literatures that tell a story,
in prose or in verse.
Myths, legends, and folktales, fables, epics
B. Folk Songs

Historical Overview of Philippine Oral Lore (Lullabies, Drinking Songs, Love Songs, Songs of
Death and Religious Songs)
Folk tales, epics, poems and marathon chants
existed in most ethno linguistic groups that C. Folk Speech
were passed on from generation to generation Riddles and Proverbs and Charms
through word of mouth.
A. The Deities of Philippine Mythology
Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase
a rich past through their folk speeches, folk
songs, folk narratives and indigenous rituals and
mimetic dances that affirm our ties with our
Southeast Asian neighbors.

Folk Epics
Lam-Ang - It was first recorded among the
Christian Ilokos in 1889. It relates the
adventures of the hero, Lam-ang, who was born
already endowed with the power of speech and
with supernatural strength.
Tuwaang - It is a pagan epic discovered by
Manuel in 1956. In the “Maiden of the Buhong
Sky”, it tells of Tuwaang’s adventures in his
mission of giving protection to the maiden
pursued by the rejected suitor, a giant who
wreaked havoc on her country.
Hinilawud - It is also a pagan epic, recorded
only in recent times among the Sulod of Panay.
It is especially notable for its richly intensive
narration, and considered to be the longest epic
so far recorded in the Philippines.
Bantugan - It is a Maranaw epic. Its central
character being the most popular hero of the
Muslim “darangan” or epic song. Bantugan is a
prince who excels not only as a valiant warrior
but also a fabulous lover.
B. Folk Songs
It is one which has been orally handed down
from one generation to the next.
A folk song is a ballad if: first, it must tell a story
from beginning to end; second, it must be sung
to a rounded melody; and lastly, it must be
learned from the lips of others rather than by
reading.
Folk songs that do not tell a story are of great
variety. They are expressed in terms of the
stages of human life such as: songs of infancy
and childhood, love and courtship, wedding
songs, work songs, drinking and convivial songs.
Boat song (talindaw)-
Victory songs (tagumpay)
-Lullaby (uyayi)
-Wedding song (ihiman)
C. Folk Speech: Riddles and Proverbs
Riddles or talinghaga are enigmatic and puzzling
questions expressed memorably. Tigmo in
Cebuano, bugtong in Tagalog, paktakon in
Ilongo and patototdon in Bicol. Central to the
riddle is the talinghaga or metaphor because it
"reveals subtle resemblances between two
unlike objects" and one's power of observation
and wit are put to the test.
Proverbs
Proverbs, on the other hand, express “the wit of
one, the wisdom of many”. It is a common and
pithy expression, which embodies some moral
precept or admitted truth.
E.g. Walang bingi dito sa mundo gaya ng ayaw
making (None so deaf as he that won’t hear)
They are metaphorical in nature, which are
derived from the common everyday life and
occupations of the folk.