21st Century Literature
Libon Private High School
Topic: The Literature of Bicol Region
1.1 Literary forms from Bicol (Tigsik and Rawitdawit)
1.2 Life and works of Estelito Baylon Jacob and Abdon Balde Jr.
Objectives: Demonstrate understanding and appreciation of the 21st Century Philippine Literature from
the regions through:
1. Reading and analyzing a poem or literature written by a regional writer;
2. Appreciate the contribution of regional literature to the national literary tradition;
3. Create an alternative version of the literature using multimedia.
The Bicol Region:
The Bicol region or simply Bicol refers to the 6 provinces in the southern part of Luzon comprised of
Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon in the mainland and offshore are Catanduanes and
Masbate.
The Region is also known by another name, Ibalon, (11) although the origin is unclear. BIKOL IS
THE LANGUAGE of almost 5 million people in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte,
Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon that constitute the Bikol Region.
The Bikol people have a writing tradition with roots in its ancient folkways. Still extant are charm verses
exploiting the possibilities of words in folk poems and narratives with mythical content, and bound with
early historical fragments which part of the people’s lives.
ABDON BALDE JR. (12)
He was born on September 12, 1946. A contemporary Bicolano writer in Bikol, Filipino, and
English. He was awarded as one of the Outstanding Bikolano Artists for 2009 in Literary Arts
category in Naga City, and Southeast Asian Writers Awards for the Philippines in Thailand last
2009. He is one of the directors in Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL). In 2012, he
was named Poet laureate of Albay. He was born in Busac, Oas, Albay.
A type of narrative poem from Bicol often use as a vehicle of social and political criticism.
WARA NA SINDA GABOS
By: Abdon Balde
Wara na, wara na sinda gabos
Trangkilo na an kapalibutan
An paghibi dapat nang matapos
.
Nakalihis na su makuring paros
Sa nagkagaraba na kaharongan
Wara na, wara na sinda gabos
.
May bulong pa daw sa mga pagtios
Na pagabat sa satuyang daghan?
An paghibi dapat nang matapos.
.
Ipamugtak nang biyo an buot
Na wara nang mabalik nuarin man
Wara na, wara na sinda gabos
.
Dai mo na baya ipagpadagos
An pagparakutkot sa natambunan
An paghibi dapat nang matapos
.
Su nalubong bayaan nang lubos
Magpahingalo sa kamurawayan
Wara na, wara na sinda gabos
An paghibi dapat nang matapos
1. What is the poem all about?
2. Can you consider this literature form a pertinent part of Philippine Literature? Explain your answer.
TIGSIK
Tigsikan is derived from “Tigsik” or the art of expressing a toast or an idea in the form similar to
that of the Japanese “Haiku”. Tigsiks are often delivered spontaneously with two to four lines and eight
or more syllables in each line, ending in a mono rhythmic pattern.
Bikolanos are known from being expressive: funny, hilarious and romantic. Tigsik was one
medium they used to express their thoughts, especially during the olden times .
STOP HUMMS
ESTELITO BAYLON JACOB
He was born on September 3, 1973. He finished his secondary education at the Ateneo de Naga
University and earned the degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in English in the
same school.
Jacob is one of the 40 authors published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for
their UBOD Writers Series project. He is one of the editors of BANGRAW, a Bikol magazine, and
currently the president of KABULIG-Bikol, Bikol Writers Association.
Sidok
Estelito Baylon Jacob
I.
Sinidok ta ka
Dawa aram ko
Na lulugadon
Kan saimong karagkadag
An makubalkong kamot.
II.
Dai akong labot.
Ta kun ako mamomoot giraray,
Ika paman giraray
An sakong sisidukon.
III.
Ngunyan ngani
Dai ako naghuhuna
Na sa pag-agi kan panahon,
An matarom mong pako
Padagos na nagtitirig
Sa sakong palad-
Tuninong, daing hagubhob,
Magian, papel-papelan.
