LITERATURE IN REGION 2

CAGAYAN VALLEY (LAMBAK NG CAGAYAN IN FILIPINO)

Cagayan Valley is a region of the Philippines, also designated as Region II or Region 02. It is composed of
five provinces, namely: Batanes,Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. It has three cities;
Cauayan City, its regional center-Tuguegarao, and its commercial center-Santiago City.

 Batanes (Land Of The True Insulars)

 Cagayan ( A True Spelunker's Paradise)
 Isabela ( Rice Granary Of The North)
 Nueva Vizcaya (Watershed Haven Of The Valley)
 Quirino (Forest Heartland of Cagayan)
Writers and Literary Works
Florentino Hornedo
Fernando Maramag
Edith L. Tiempo
Ybanag Literature
The Ibanag are an ethnolinguistic minority numbering a little more than half a million people, who
inhabit the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya. They are one of the largest ethnolinguistic
minorities in the Philippines.
Ibanag or Ybanag Folk Literature
Ybanag folk literature, like any other literature , is the expression of cabayano' s joys and sorrows, hopes
and fears, loves and hatred, the every ingredients that whipped up all the literary genre handed down to
us.
Ybanag folk literature is didactic, moralistic, predominantly sentimental, romantic, socialistic, comic and
spiritual-- all aimed at uniting Cabayanos, brave like the kasi or wild cock that challenges them to
greatness at sunrise; mission-oriented like Bannag on whose banks their forebears were rooted; graceful
as the bamboo that bends the winds of challenges; sturdy as the Manga in the typhoons as
controversies.
Example of Literature:
Cagayan Epic: Biuag and Malana

The Ybanag Folk Poetry

Ibanag folk poetry is purely sung, which explains how it was handed down to the present: by way of oral
transmission.
Ibanags have the singular honor of having two epic songs, the Salomon and the Pasion. The Salomon, to
the accompaniment of the "cinco-cinco" (a five-stringed instrument) is sung during the Christmas season
before improvised home altars, supported through the night with wine, coffee, chocolate, and native
cakes.
It is narrative on the conception, birth and life of the Baby Christ, filled with episodes that teach
Cagayano children Ibanag virtues of truthfulness, honesty, loyalty, industry and devotion.
Solomon song perform
The cinco-cinco

Verzo and Verzistas

The verzo is the Ibanag counterpart of the Spanish coplas, a four-line rhymed Spanish songs which
appeared during the Golden Age of Spain's Literature. Often composed on the spot by the versista
during social occasions like weddings, baptisms, it is intended to entertain and to moralize.
It may evoke sadness, joy, laughter, reiicule or wisdom. The verzista is Cagayan's version of the scop,
minstrel, bards of England and European countries who is lavishly repaid by the host with gift or cash,
palay, corn or any food stuff.
Among the most popular versos are the "Osse-osse" and the "Kilingkingan" usually giving the vocal
accompaniment
Folk Songs
 Other folk songs are love songs most often with promises, pledges, assurances, lessons to teach
and guidance to give.
 The growth of Ibanag songs and singers reached its peak when the haranaor serenade in rustic
communities was both a form of nocturnal recreation among the "babbagitolay" and a way of
starting courtship for a "magingnganay."
 Love folksongs were common during weddings and other socials.
 Some Ibanag folk songs were inspired by the reaction of people toward their environment;
expression of feelings and emotions caused by their work, labors, government leaders and
relationship among fellowmen.
o PAGAYAYA
o REJOICING
Ibanag Proverbs
Ibanag "unoni" or proverbs are either in prose or poetry. hey are preachy and pedagogic as well as
theological.

Ibanag Riddles
A "palavvun" (riddle) is any misleading, mystifying or puzzling question to be solved or guessed, either as
a mere game or a more serious challenge. For Ibanags, it is both a folk amusement or a mental
excursion. It is aimed at relaxation, entertainment and at pacifying anger and feuds.
The riddle itself means leadership. When a leader stands to campaign, he appears small, lowly, humble,
a willing servant of the people. When elected and sits in his position, he begins to be tall. Tall in visions,
hopes, aspirations for his people. Tall in whatever good things he does for the people.