Cordillera Literature 2x3s3l

CORDILLERA LITERATURE (Lit1)

CORDILLERA  Native themselves have their own versions of the origin myths to explain how they come to be.  1908 the cordillera region was organized as one istrative unit called the Mountain Province  CAR composed of Baguio, Abra, Apayao, Bengut, Ifugao, kalinga and Mountain Province.  These prejudices are best summed up in the word Igorot, which is invariably used as a collective designation for the native peoples of the Cordillera.  The indigenous population of the Cordillera actually consists of several distinct ethno linguistic groups of which the major areas are the Bontok, Ibaloy, Ifugao, kalinga, kankanay and tinguian. EPIC POETRY  Many Philippine epic tradition have vanished, but at least two long heroic narrative in verse in the Cordillera have been preserved and fully documented.  The ifugao hudhud and the kalinga ullalim.  In hudhud, this hero is Alinguyon a mythical figure known both for his wealth and his powers.  Three occasions when the hudhud sung:  During wake for a member of the upper class  Weeding time when women wok the rice fields  Harvest season  Hudhud is sometimes called a harvest song because it is sung more often than during harvest.  Only women can sing the hudhud, with soloist and chorus singing alternately.  Hudhud verses hae irregular lines and there is no apparent attempt to adapt a consistent rhyming scheme.  The ullalim are long ballads chanted either by men or women during feasts and other social occasions such as peace pact assemblies.  The ullalim represents the epic tradition of southern kalinga.