‘Babayeng Tagluwas’: Light in Panay’s Disaster Stories

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By Phillippe Angelo T. Hiñosa

Panayanon women and their central roles in disaster narratives were the focus of the public lecture “Babayeng Tagluwas: Figurations of Women in the Lore and Literature of Disaster Stories in Panay.”

The event was organized by West Visayas State University MAARAM in partnership with the National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo.

Professor Eliodora L. Dimzon of the University of the Philippines Visayas provided insights into the origin and meaning of the term tagluwas.

Derived from the prefix tag- (a person or entity associated with an action or role) and luwas (to save or protect), a babayeng tagluwas refers to a woman with supernatural abilities who protects her community and averts disasters.

Dimzon explored the Panay Bukidnon’s Sugidanon epics and highlighted the story of Magnalitong Yawa, a binukot(secluded woman) who transforms into a man to rescue the epic hero Humadapnon.

She also discussed notable babayeng tagluwas figures in Panayanon literature, including Juanita Cruz from Magdalena Jalandoni’s novel, the guerrilla Elena, and the binukot Estrella Bangotbanwa from Tubungan, Iloilo.

“Tagluwas, in various forms and contexts, has indeed become a binding figuration of women from the lore to contemporary literary productions,” Dimzon explained.

She emphasized the importance of reexamining the role of women in Panayanon cultural narratives and how their stories continue to shape modern concepts of resilience and recovery.

Dimzon concluded, “Respecting the tumandok voices through our lore and local contemporary narratives may also mean ‘re-specting’—or viewing them in a new light and from multiple perspectives.”