Preserved Ilonggo Literary Pieces: Analyzing

Hiligaynon Grammar

Background of the study

Long before the 1600s, the fertility of the Western Visayas

region in the Philippines permitted the Hiligaynon people to
develop one of the archipelago's most advanced societies. They
engaged in international trade (as evidenced by large finds of
Chinese porcelain) and created fine work in gold and
semiprecious stones.
The Western Visayas region of the Philippines includes
Panay Island, Negros Occidental, and Romblon. The region's
population numbered 5.4 million in 1990, all speakers of
Hiligaynon Ilongo or closely related dialects. Hiligaynon
speakers constitute approximately 10 percent of the national
population. They inhabit one of the major rice producing areas
of the Philippines. The landscape consists of broad plains
stretching between mountain ranges. Large rivers deposit the
volcanic sediments that make the lowlands fertile.
The Hiligaynon language is the language of Iloilo province,
which has come to be spoken throughout the Western Visayas
region. Other regions of Panay have their own distinct speech
forms (Capizeño, Aklanon, and Kiniray-a, the last spoken in
interior villages), but these are mutually intelligible with
Hiligaynon (speakers of one can understand the other).
Hiligaynon intonation is noted for its gentle lilt under which, it
is said, a curse may go unrecognized. The narrow straits link
Panay and western Negros, and Hiligaynon is spoken on both
shores. Mountains separate western from eastern Negros, where
the people speak Cebuano, a language that the Hiligaynon
people cannot readily understand. (LeBar, Frank M., ed., 1972)
 Ang Pagpangayaw sa Dutang Ginsaad: A Study of
Migration and Settlement of Ilonggos in Tacurong, Cotabato
(1951-1960's)" discusses about the migration of the Ilonggos to
Mindanao, particularly in a predominant Christian City of
Tacurong. In the 1950's all the way towards 1970's, there was a
massive migration of Ilonggos going to Mindanao. Most of them
were attracted due to the flow of information coming from "The
Land of Promise" in which they believed that they can avail any
jobs and lands in an untapped island. This changed the social,
economic, political and demographic profile of Mindanao and
marked events that would shape the Philippine history.
(Arellano, B. III, 2008)
Understanding Hiligaynon is one of the number of steps to
appreciate the literature of Ilonggo and embrace its underrated
culture. Through this paper, the promotion of the said dialect
would be highlighted and non-Hiligaynon speakers would come
to realize the hidden beauty of Ilonggos’ living language and
stories worth looking up to.
Statement of the Problem

Generally, this paper aims to analyze the quality of

morpho-semantics posed by the native Ilonggo people as applied
on their preserved contemporary literature. It will also answer
the following questions:
1. What are the morpho-semantic features reflected in the
Ilonggo’s preserved contemporary literary pieces?
2. In what context are the identified morpho-semantics projected
in terms of their preserved contemporary literature?
3. What cultural characteristics are projected in the literary genre
of the identified contemporary Ilonggo literary pieces?

Scope and Delimitation

The researchers will coordinate with native residents of

Sultan Kudarat specifically in its two major municipalities such
as Isulan and Tacurong with age ranges from fifty (50) and
higher. Ilonggos within this age bracket probably would have
more established and strong foundation of the dialect compared
to native locals on their early adulthood. Further, this will ensure
the reliability of the results for the respondents had been
cultured with the traditional and conventional culture (talking
manner, conversational method and talking etiquette) of the
native Ilonggo speakers probably took place in the early to late
90’s
Significance of the study

This study essentially shows the realization that preserving

the Ilonggo culture through their songs is not only fundamental
to know the literacy of the Ilonggo tribe concerning their
language and its structure. This study is in line with the mandate
in the Article XIV, sections 14 and 15 of the Philippine
Constitution. This constitutional mandate goes in the same vein
as the NCCA mandate that to ‘’conserve and promote the
nation’s historical and cultural heritage, it shall: 1) support,
monitor and systematize the retrieval and conservation of
artifacts of Filipino culture… and all Filipino cultural
treasures…; 2) encourage and support the study, recognition and
preservation of endangered human cultural resources…; 6)
encourage and support scholarly research and documentation of
Philippine cultural traditions, arts and crafts, as well as
significant cultural movements, achievements, and personalities
especially in the literary, visual and performing arts…; and 8)
encourage, support, systematize the audio-visual documentation
of Filipino cultural expressions in the contemporary period.’’
This study will benefit the country in general and the
Ilonggo people in particular, in terms of ‘’fostering the
preservation of their songs, enrichment and dynamic evolution
of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in
diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual
expressions.’’
Theoretical framework
The study will use ethno-linguistic approach. Whereas, he
Researchers will coordinate with the Native speakers of
Hiligaynon in the making of the manual. Criterion sampling
Techniques will be the Basis in finding the suited Respondents
for this study. By which, the respondents And Researchers will
study The Grammar structure of Hiligaynon using Preserved
Ilonggo Literary Pieces.

Definition of terms
Age- the amount of time during which a person has lived.
Beliefs- An acceptance that a statement is true or that something
exists.
Central Theme- The central idea described as the dominant
impression or universal, generic truth found in the story.
Cultural Awareness- knowing and understanding a lot about the
beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place,
or time.
Ilonggo- the Ilonggos are concentrated in the Western Visayas
region, particularly in Panay Island (Iloilo, Capiz, etc.) and
Negros Occidental. They are also found in some areas of
Mindanao. The word “Ilonggo” normally refers to a person
whose language is Hiligaynon.
Isulan- it is the provincial capital of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines.
Language- The method of human communication, either spoken
or written, consisting of the use words in a structured and
conventional way.
NCCA – This refers to the National Commission on Culture and
the Arts.
Tacurong City- Is a third class city in the province of Sultan
Kudarat, Philippines.