Region 7 (Central Visayas)

I.Demographic Profile

-Definition-

-Central Visayas is a region of the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VII.

Major islands are the eponymous Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, together with the eastern part
of Negros. The regional center is Cebu City.

It consists of 4 provinces: Cebu,Bohol,Negros Oriental,and Siquijor . and three highly

urbanized cities (Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue).

-Central Visayas it is the second most populous region in the Visayas.

- Central Visayas is the second smallest region in the Philippines with a total land area of
14,923 square kilometers. This constitutes about 5% of the country’s land area. 

-  Central Visayas is one of the Visayas supra-regions whose strength is tourism.

-  The land area of the region is 15,895.66 km2 (6,137.35 sq mi)

Bohol
  The island seems to have even more history than usual of long and bitter fighting against
foreign invaders, Spanish, American and Japanese. This represents the concept of blood-
brotherhood between Miguel Lopez de Legapi and Sikatuna.

Cebu
 The Philippine province of Cebu includes the island of Cebu and a number of smaller islands
nearby. Cebu City is the capital. The Province has rich in mineral resources, with copper and
cements the leading products, and also produces large amount of coconut oil, rice and maize.

Negros Oriental 
It occupies the eastern part of the island of Negros. in twenty-two towns and three cities,
Dumaguete (capital), Canlaon and Bais. The population has long been a mix of Negritos,
Malays and Chinese.

Siquijor
 The island of Siquijor is the smallest (at 343.5 sq.km.), least populous (at 82,000most recent
census), and the newest province in the region. It comprises six towns, the municipality of
Siquijor serving as the capital.
-Map Location-

Location in the Philippines: 10°00′N 123°30′E

-Seasonal Variations-

-November to May the wind blows on a northeasterly direction with an average wind velocity
of eleven kilometers per hour.

-June to October the southwesterly winds prevail with an average wind velocity of seven
kilometers per hour. 

-The hottest months are February, March and April and the coldest month is January

-Physical Features-

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park

Chocolate Hills Salagdoong Beach

-Pictures & Captions-

Magellan’s Cross Baclayon Church in Bohol  Town of Cebu

Lapu-Lapu Shrine Alona Beach

-Topography-

-Topography. With the exception of Bohol, the topography of Central Visayas is rugged

and is characterized by highlands dominating the interior of the provinces, with narrow strips of
arable land lining the coast
 .

-Population-

- The population of Region VII (Central Visayas) as of August 1, 2015 was 6,041,903 based on
the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN 2015).

II.Tribal Association

-Livelihood & and Community-

-The 4-H Club Youth Development Program of ATI 

-Training course on Goat Raising Production

-Aklan,known for weaving cloth made from pinya fibers.

-Bastos,The first set of pinya fibers

-Linawan,The first finer set of pinya fibers.

-Kulhadan,simple machine with blades used for stripping Bariw leaves

-Patadyong,important industry in Iloilo.

-Paghahabol,a term used for weaving in Badiangan,Iloilo.

-Pictures & Captions-

Aklan Kulhadan Patadyong

Paghahabol

III.Socio Cultural Profile

-Language and Dialects- -Political Structure-

-Cebuano Provinces - 4

-Boholano Cities - 16

-Bantayanon Municipalities - 97

-Porohanon Barangays - 2,446

-Tagalog Cong. Districts - 11

- English

-Culture,Traditions,Customs,and Beliefs-
-Procession during the feast day of the - Devotees inside the Bascilica del Santos.

Santo Niño.

-Leaving your slippers outside the house will bring bad luck.

-Going to sleep with wet hair will make you go crazy.

-Doing the "simbako" prevents any untoward incident from happening.

-Clipping your nails at night is tantamount to cursing your family members.

-Putting your nail clippings in between the pages of a book will make you smart.

-Foods-

-Humba -Lumpiang Ubod -Chicken Inasal

-Pocherong Bisaya -Chicken Molo Soup

-La paz Batchoy -Kinilaw

IV.Contributions to Phil. Lit.

-Literary Works

1.The Chambers of the Sea by Edith L. Tiempo

2.The Clay Pipe by Marcel M. Navarra

3.Legend of Dumaguete by Edilberto K. Tiempo

4.Sicalac and Sicavay

-Poems-

1. Kay Ang Kahilom Usa Usab Ka Siloy by Michael Obenieta

2.Caracoa by Michael Obenieta

3.The Poem of the World by Michael Obenieta

-Short Stories-

1. Sicalac and Sicavay

2. The Story of the First Durian (The Hermit’s Three Wishes)

-Famous Authors-

1.Michael Obenieta

2.Martin Abellana

3. Edith L. Tiempo

4. Edilberto Kaindong Tiempo

V.Selected Lit. Piece

-Author’s Background-

1.Michael Obenieta -was born in Cebu ,Philippines and a truly Cebuano indeed.  He writes poetry and
prose in both Cebuano and English. In addition to having a fellow for English poetry in the dumaguete
,UP and Iligan workshops ,Myke was published international ,national and local anthropologies and
magazines ,including the Free Press ,Graphics ,Panorama ,Inquirer ,Home life and Bisaya. He has many
compositions or poems should I say. The most famous work of him are “New writers speak up and
mantala” , “Likhaan” , “Fiction(1996 to 1997)” ,“Caracoa” ,”Insearch of heroes” , “The poem of the
world” and “The best of Youngblood(Anvil Publishing)”. 

2.Martin Abellana (1904–1989) was a Filipino Visayan writer. He was a teacher by profession. In

the years 1956 to 1958, he was president of the LUDABI, a group of writers in Cebuano. His novels
are characterized by a concern for the working class.
Abellana National School, Cebu City is named after him.
3.Edith L. Tiempo, poet, fiction writer, teacher and literary critic was a Filipino writer in the
English language. Tiempo was born in Quezon City, but later became a resident of Kawit,
Cavite.  Born: 22 April 1919, Bayombong Died: 21 August 2011, Dumaguete

4.Edilberto Kaindong Tiempo, also known as E. K. Tiempo, was a Filipino writer and
professor. He and his wife, Edith L. Tiempo, are credited by Silliman University with establishing
"a tradition in excellence in creative writing and the teaching of literacy craft which continues to
this day" at that university. Wikipedia

Sicalac and Sicavay

(A Visayan Creation Myth)
Once there were two gods, Captan and Maguayan.One day, Captan planted a bamboo in agarden. It
grew and split into two sections, and stepped out a man who was named Sicalac andwoman named
Sicavay.Sicalac asked Sicavay's hand for marriage because there were no other people on earth.She
refused because they were brother and sister, having been conceived out of the same reed.Sicalac
persistently pleaded with her and finally they decided to consult the tunas of the sea, thedoves of the air
and the earthquake, who agreed that they should marry so that the world will be populated. Finally,
they decided to go ahead and got married and had a son named Sibo. Thenthey had a daughter named
Samar. Sibo and Samar had a daughter named Luplupan who grewup and married Pandaguan, who was
also a son of Sicalac and Sicavay. Lupluban and Pandaguanhad a son named Anoranor.Pandaguan
invented the fishing net and he caught a shark when he used it but the shark did not survive for long out
of the water. He cried loudly to the Gods.The god Captan, sent the flies to find out why Pandaguan
was making such a loud lamentation but the flies refused to obey so they were condemned to
scavenge among filthy and rotten thingsfrom then on. Then, the god sent the weevils and he discovered
about Pandaguan’s grief and he struck him dead by a thunderbolt. Pandaguan stayed in the infernal
regions but the gods took pityon him and brought him back to the world.Pandaguan discovered that his
wife Luplupan concubine of Maracoyrun.Pandaguan got angry and went back to infernal regions, vowing
never to return to the world

 
Theme:

*The story is about how the first people appeared on earth

*It telss a story of equal birthing of man and woman throughout the archipelago thatassert a woman’s
equal position with a man within the tribal systems.

Moral Lesson:

*We should only do things or decisions as long as it is necessary and acceptable.

*We should always accept that things happen for a reason and that all things on Earthcome to an end

*We should obey the authority for us to be safe but, we should also remember to obeyonly those that
obey the moral policies or rules.

*We should be careful not to love or marry somebody else other than the one we marriedand we have
promised to love forever because it is one of God’s will

The Legend of Dumaguete by Edilberto K. Tiempo

This is a legend of Dumaguete, the capital of the province of Negros Occidental. From this town can be
seen five islands, viz., Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Mindanao, and Siquijor.
There is no one on the great island of Negros who does not love the name of Catalina. Even the wild
mountain men speak it with respect, and down in the coast towns at night, when the typhoon is lashing
the waters of Tanon Strait, and the rain and wind make the nipa leaves on the roofs dance and rattle,
the older people gather their little black-eyed grandchildren around the shell of burning cocoanut oil
and tell them her story.

Many years ago there lived in Dumaguete a poor tuba seller named Banog, who made his daily rounds
to the houses just as the milkman does in far-off America. But instead of a rattling wagon he had only a
long bamboo from which he poured the drink, and in place of sweet milk he left the sap of the cocoanut
tree.

The bad custom of mixing tungud, a kind of red bark, with the sap, and thus making of it a strong liquor,
had not yet been known, so Banog, though poor, was respected, and the people tried in every way to
help him and his daughter Catalina.

Catalina was a beautiful girl of sixteen and very good and industrious, but with many strange ways. She
scarcely ever spoke a word and spent most of her time in looking out over the sea. Sometimes she
would suddenly stand erect and, clasping her hands, would remain for a long time looking up at the sky
as if she saw something that no one else could see. On account of these strange manners the people
thought her a wonderful girl and she was supposed to have mysterious powers.

One day many ships came up from the island of Mindanao and hundreds of fierce Moros landed.
Shouting and waving their terrible knives, they fell upon the peaceful people and killed many, among
them poor Banog. Then they robbed and burned the houses and, seizing all the women they could find,
set sail for their great southern island. Among the prisoners was Catalina. With her eyes fixed on the sky
she sat very quiet and still in the bow of one of the boats, and though her companions spoke often to
her she made no reply.

Suddenly she sprang into the water and a wonderful thing occurred, for, instead of sinking, she walked
lightly over the waves toward the distant shore. The Moros were so astonished that they did not try to
stop her and she reached the land safely.

Many people who had hidden in the forests ran out to meet her but she spoke to no one. With her eyes
still fixed above she walked through the burning town and along the road to Dalugdug, the Thunder
mountain, that lies behind Dumaguete.

On Dalugdug there lived a terrible Sigbin. Its body was like that of a monstrous crow, but just under its
neck were two long legs like those of a grasshopper, which enabled it to leap great distances without
using its wings. It ate any one who came near its home, so when the people saw Catalina start to climb
the mountain they begged her to come back. She paid no heed to their cries, however, but went up
higher and higher, till her white dress seemed merely a speck on the mountain side.

All at once she seemed to stop and raise her hands. Then a fearful shriek was heard, and the fierce
Sigbin came rushing down the mountain. It appeared to be greatly frightened, for it took tremendous
leaps and screamed as if in terror. Over the heads of the people it jumped, and, reaching the shore,
cleared the narrow channel and disappeared among the mountains of the island of Cebu.

When the people saw that the Sigbin had gone they ran up the mountain and searched everywhere for
Catalina, but they could find no trace of her. Sorrowfully they returned to their homes and busied
themselves in building new houses and in making their town beautiful once more.

Several years passed in peace and then again the Moro boats came up from Mindanao. The men
hurriedly gathered on the beach to meet them, and the women and children hid in the cocoanut groves.

This time the Moros had no quick and easy victory, for the Visayans, armed with bolos and remembering
their lost wives and sisters, fought furiously, and for a time drove the enemy before them. But more
Moro boats arrived and numbers told against the defenders. Slowly but surely they fell fighting until but
a few remained.

Suddenly a bridge of clouds unfolded from Dalugdug to the town, and across it came the lost Catalina
holding a beehive in her hands. Then she spoke and thousands of bees flew from the hive to the ground.
Again she spoke and waved her hand, and the bees changed into little black men with long sharp spears,
who charged the Moros and killed every one of them.

Then Catalina, the hive still in her hand, went back over the bridge and disappeared once more in the
mountain.

The people came out of their hiding places, crowding around the little black men and questioning them,
but they received no answer. Instead the little warriors gathered together and ran into the forest and up
the mountain side, where they were soon lost to view.

Such is the story of Catalina, Since that time Dumaguete has been safe from the Moros. The Sigbin has
never returned to Negros. It still lives in the mountains of Cebu and the people are so afraid of it that
they lock themselves in their houses after dark and can hardly be induced to come out. Up in the
mountains of Negros live the little black men. They are called Negritos and are very savage and wild.

The savior of Dumaguete still lives in Dalugdug and is worshiped by the people. And in the town, now
grown into a big busy city, the old people for years to come will tell their grandchildren the story of
Catalina.

Moral Lesson:

 Nothing bad will ever happen to us if we just strongly believe and have faith that we will be protected.

Theme:

It is a story of the faith and hope of the people of Dumaguete during the times of their Land’s Trouble.

Kay Ang Kahilom Usa Usab Ka Siloy by Michael Obenieta

Empty all rhyme, every metaphor, 
If ascends the wings of mother's sigh: 
Alas, ita this gredwan ra ta, 
eaten raw unta'ng inengles understand yet ... 

His tongue stretched 

the flames of anthropomorphic and anthropomorphic hair 
. It's a little bit rotten. 
In his eyes it's soft, jerky. 

As he laid down the ancient 

fireplace As the writers pressed on 
our new plaque. In the green 
My groin on the root and the seeds, it is clear 

And the shining light in our lamps. 

In our amber wall
His hand, feathered 
in my hand I put it in my mouth. So you do not 

like me Like her , she says, she's wet in the garden ...

It's still clear today, it's not her, 
The sound of her voice. And I believe 
That the flashed letters of the alphabet 

That he mixed with broth as letting 

In my earring I said It was 
my tongue with words 
That had wings, until I was now 

in the cloud. But even though the mother was 

upset , It seemed like a foreigner, no Laughing 
voice in her smile 
except our tiredness.

The Story of the First Durian (The Hermit’s Three Wishes)

Barom-Mai was an old and ugly king who lived in a kingdom called Calinan in the Visayas hundreds of
years ago. Although he was powerful, he was helpless when it came to winning the love of his young
bride, Madayaw-Bayho (daughter of Tageb, king of the pirates).
Barom-Mai asked his advisers to help him win his bride’s love, and Matigam (the wisest of advisers) told
him about Impit Purok, a hermit who lived in a cave in Mt. Apo.

They went to the hermit and he asked for three things: the egg of the black tabon bird, twelve ladles of
fresh milk from a white carabao without blemish, and the nectar from the flower of the tree-of-make-
believe.
The egg will be used to soften the bride’s heart; the milk, to make her kind; and, the nectar, to make her
see Barom-Mai as a young and handsome king.

The king finds the egg through the help of Pawikan, the king of the sea turtles. He luckily gets milk from
a white carabao the following breakfast, thanks to his cook. Hangin-Bai, the nymph of the air, leads him
to her sister, the wood nymph who had the magic flower in her hair.
Barom-Mai gives the three things to Impit Purok, who asked him to prepare a big feast after Barom-Mai
wins his queen back, and to invite Impit Purok as the king’s guest of honor.

Impit Purok mixes the three ingredients and instructs Barom-Mai to plant the mixture in the royal
garden. The morning after it was planted, a tree grew. It had a sweet smell and tasted good. When
Madayaw-Bayho was given the fruit, she fell in love with Barom-Mai.

The king throws a big feast but forgets to invite Impit Purok. In retaliation, Impit casts a curse upon the
fruit: The sweet smell was replaced with a foul odor while the smooth skin of the fruit was covered with
thorns, which is how the durian smells and looks today.