“Bayaning Bayan: Sa Ating mga Katutubong Epiko Mito at Alamat,” a project spearheaded by the Philippine Cultural Education Program (PCEP) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), was launched to give face to Filipino heroes from various regional epics, myths and legends.
The project is geared towards building the imagery of heroes from local literature through visual arts or painting contest, conferences and exhibits. It aims to develop, establish and popularize clear images and visualizations of local heroes identified in the Sagisag Kultura ng Filipinas, the registry of cultural icons of the country.
Dr. Galileo Zafra, consultant for literature for the Bayaning Bayan project, identified 26 characters from 14 folk literatures hailing from various regions to be featured in the project. On top of the list were Darangen and Hudhud, two of the 19 Asian “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” listed by UNESCO.
From Luzon, the characters identified were Pumbakhayon, Bugan and Aliguyon from the Hudhud of the Ifugaos; Banna from the Ullalim of Kalinga; Lam-ang from Biag ni Lam-ang of the Ilokanos and Kudaman from Kudaman of Palawan.
In Visayan, culled from the Panay epics were Dumalapdap, Humadapnon and Labaw Donggon from Humadapnon Sulod of Panay; and Labaw Donggon and Baranugun from the Labaw Donggon Sulod of Panay.
For Mindanao, identified local heroes were Sandayo, Bolak Sonday, and Benebong of the Sandayo Subanon of Zamboanga; Taake and Tomitib Manaon of the Ag Tobig Nog Keboklagan (The Kingdom of Keboklagan) Sobanon of the Zamboanga; Sakandal and Pailalam ri Bolak of the Guman Subanon; Agyu and his son Tanagyaw from the Agyu Ilianon of Northern Cotabato; Agyu, his son Baybayan and his brother Lena (also known as Lono) from the Ulahingan Livunganen-Arumanen; Bantugan from the Darangen of Maranao; Panglima Hassan from the Parang Sabil of the Tausug; and Tuwaang from the Tuwaang of the Manobo.
Zafra also devised a list of references from which artist may base their interpretations of the characters they wish to give face.
Bayaning Bayan’s contest component is open to Filipino artists 18 years old and above. For Mindanao participants, they may submit their respective artworks to Jeselyn Dela Cuesta on or before May 28.
Shortlisted pieces will be exhibited at SM Noth EDSA’s The Block in September.
A Bayaning Bayan National Conference spearheaded by the PCEP will also commence in September at the NCCA Leandro V. Locsin Auditorium.
Finally, the winning pieces will be awarded and published as part of the Bayaning Bayan Booklet, created to supplement and aid in the development of instructional materials such as teaching manuals and multimedia resources for cultural education. It will be launched at the NCCA Locsin Auditorium in October
Joining literary coordinator Zafra in the Bayaning Bayan panel are Joseph “Sonny” Cristobal, PCEP head, Salvado Ching, artistic coordinator, and Rene Napeñas, head of the Public Affairs and Information Office of the NCCA.
For inquiries and more details on the contest, contact Joseph “Sonny” Cristobal at 527-2192 local 309 or Rene Napeñas at 527-5529 or 0928-5081057. E-mail firstname.lastname@example.org or email@example.com, or visit www.ncca.gov.ph.