UP Visayas relaunches Panay literary gems

Photos by Mariela Angella Oladive

The University of the Philippines Visayas, through its Information and Publications Office and Office of Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, relaunched 20 books published by UP Press on June 30 at the UP Performing Arts Hall of the Museum of Arts and Cultural Heritage.

The relaunch featured the 13 titles of the Sugidanon, the epics of Panay, and seven books by UP Visayas and Western Visayas authors.

The gathering celebrated Panay’s Indigenous oral tradition and the continuing vitality of contemporary literature in Western Visayas.

It brought together writers, scholars, cultural workers, students, members of the Panay Bukidnon community, and advocates of regional literature.

Martin Genodepa, director of the Office of Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, delivered the opening remarks and emphasized the university’s continuing role in safeguarding, promoting, and sharing the region’s cultural heritage.

The centerpiece of the program was the ceremonial presentation of the Sugidanon volumes and the seven literary books to the communities from which the epics and writers originated.

Galileo S. Zafra, director of UP Press, formally handed over the books to community representatives, symbolizing the return of knowledge to its cultural bearers.

In his message, Zafra emphasized the importance of publishing regional literature, saying making these works widely available helps preserve cultural heritage, promote local voices, and ensure that regional literary traditions and histories become part of the broader national discourse.

Representing the Panay Bukidnon were members of the Caballero family led by Romulo Caballero, Teresita Caballero, Rolando Caballero, and Rodolfo Caballero.

The Caballero family has preserved the centuries-old chanting tradition of the Sugidanon, which became the subject of pioneering documentation and research initiated by Alicia P. Magos, professor emeritus, in 1993.

Anna Razel L. Ramirez, Magos’ longtime research associate, presented the Sugidanon volumes and acknowledged the decades of collaborative work between the university and the Panay Bukidnon community that made the publication of the epics possible.

The volumes were chanted by Federico Caballero, a Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan awardee for epic chanting, with contributions from his siblings.

The titles are “Tikum Kadlum,” “Amburukay,” “Derikaryong Pada,” “Pahagunong,” “Kalampay,” “Sinagnayan,” “Balanakon,” “Humadapnon: Tarangban,” “Humadapnon: Pagbalukat ka Biday,” “Humadapnon: Hungaw,” “Humadapnon: Ginalawan,” “Alayaw,” and “Nagbuhis.”

The program also featured the presentation of seven books published by UP Press.

Noel C. Galon, publisher of Kasingkasing Press and member of Hubon Manunulat, introduced the seven UP Press titles authored by Panay writers.

Galon underscored the importance of cultural repatriation through books and expressed hope that the return of the Sugidanon and the seven books to their source communities would inspire similar efforts for other important cultural works and Indigenous knowledge collections.

The books are “Ang Kalye nga Wala sing Kamatayon: The Palanca Award-Winning Short Stories of Leoncio P. Deriada,” edited by Dulce Maria V. Deriada; “In the Womb of the Earth and Other Stories: Self-Translation from Hiligaynon Into English” by Alice Tan Gonzales; “Benjamin” by Angel Magahum, translated into Filipino by John E. Barrios and Fennie Mae T. Tanangonan; “Lugar Lang: Mga Tula” by Jaku Mata; “The Warrior and the Giant” by Bryan Mari Argos; “Ang Itim na Orkidyas ng Isla Boracay: Mga Kuwento” by Genevieve L. Asenjo; and “Indi Natun Kinahanglan kang Duro nga Tinaga sa Atun Tunga (Hindi Natin Kailangan ng Maraming Salita sa Ating Pagitan): Mga Tula sa Kinaray-a & Filipino,” also by Genevieve L. Asenjo.

Representing the university, Alice G. Ferrer, vice chancellor for academic affairs of UP Visayas, delivered a message highlighting the university’s commitment to preserving Indigenous knowledge systems and promoting regional scholarship.

Ferrer also paid tribute to the life and work of Magos, whose decades of research with the Panay Bukidnon community have helped ensure that one of the country’s major oral epics will continue to inspire future generations.

Sen. Loren Legarda, in a message sent for the event, said, “I take note and commend the launch of Suguidanon and seven UP Press books by Panay authors, which reflects the vibrancy of regional scholarship and the richness of Philippine literature. By bringing these voices to a wider audience, UP Press and UP Visayas fulfill the vital role of our universities as centers of learning, culture, memory, and critical thought,” Legarda said.

The event also featured an audio recording sample of the Sugidanon chanted by Preciosa “Anggoran” Caballero and prepared by David Guadalupe of the UP Center for Ethnomusicology in UP Diliman.

Among those present were Commissioner Alex Santina of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; Reynold Tan, vice chancellor for planning and development; Hanny Jan Mediodia, director of the Office of Continuing Education and Pahinungod; John Barrios; Renato Casinao, Panay cluster head of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts; and Pearl Joy Asenjo, representing Genevieve L. Asenjo.

The event also recognized the team behind the preparation of the Sugidanon manuscripts for publication.

Present during the relaunch were Eliodora Dimzon, Teresita Quezon, Analina Caballero, Jemelie Limoso, Gemma Lim, Ma. Joji Tan, Agnes Dimzon, Adonis Rebong, Lilibeth Letrero, Michelle Villavert, and others.

The program also acknowledged artistic collaborators Liby Limoso, Caiden Ramirez, Alan Cabalfin, Jhunne Manay, Gian Genoveza, Alven Polido, and Ramon Ramirez, who did the photography.

Carlson Alelis hosted the event.

The relaunch served not only as a celebration of books but also as a reaffirmation of the university’s commitment to ethical collaboration with Indigenous communities.

By returning the published Sugidanon to the Panay Bukidnon, UP Visayas and UP Press honored the community’s enduring stewardship of one of the country’s most significant oral literary traditions while celebrating the flourishing literary voices of Western Visayas. (UPV-IPO)