tarasul part 2.....

excerpt from the paper i read....

Continuing Development of Tausug Tarasul

            After 1974, the publication of tarasuls and other oral traditions have stopped. Apart from Sulu Studies and dissertations there are no other means of publishing tarasuls and other Tausug literary works.

            Although, there are yet more tausug tarasuls, kissas and other forms that need to be shared to the rest of the world. These literary treasures are just there waiting to be discovered and brought out for all of us to appreciate at the same time keep them for the next generation to see that Sulu is not after all what people outside Sulu perceive the place to be.

            Another interesting thing to note is how these new tarasuls developed and how the language has evolved, for instance the theme has nowadays varied. Today there are tarasuls composed by members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which I believe have never been published. There are also recent tarasuls on the life of the youth who have engaged in vices such as “shabu.” Some tarasuls that came about today were reminders for the youth to go to school.

            Nevertheless, these sample tarasuls of mine submitted by the students of Mindanao State University-Sulu (MSU) still need to be verified and check for their authenticity.

Silawak sin Raayat ha Paghambuuk Magtaimanghud

(Shout of the Masses for Unity)

           

                        Bismillah muna-muna amon hilimpal

            Asala-muallaikum saplag pakatilingkal

            Ulangig paghambuuk batda tumampal

            Sin salam kasi lasa labtik hi lapal

            Paghambuuk taimanghud in hisilawak

            Lapal pagkasilasa aku masuwak

            Sibub dab a masuuk iban malawak

            Misan mapinda maglupad uwak

            Silawak sin raayat pamandugahan

            In ulangig sin tingog subay jagahan

            Subay na maghambuuk pa kasawahan

            Magtaimanghud ha antarah karnah sin tuhan

            Maghambuuk ha karna sin maha-sutsi

            In ako, ikaw, sila subay magsaksi

            In pagiggil, pagpitna andoh papasi

            Tumtuma pagtibuuk mahinang gusi

            Silawak sin raayat bilang pagmahil

            Pa mag kapot balis ayaw magpahil-pahil

            In liyalawag sin kami awal pa ahil

            Kasambuhan sin hulah in lumahil

            Paghambuuk sin kami in iangot

            Pagtaimanghud sin katan in miyimuhot

            Sibuh da in maaslag iban manahot

            Bat in hula sumanyang ngan manahot

            Paghambuuk, pagtaimanghud ya angan-angan

            In liyalawag namoh in kasangyangan

            In su ay patabuun bang biyah jambangan

            Kahatulan sin hulah bat da awn kapamintungan

            In miyumuhot sin kami hulah mahatul

            In pagkaput sarah amon mabuntol

            Malawah in pagbunnuh bahli pagdugtul

            Kasanyangan sin katan amon magbaktul.

tarasul

 am sharing the abstract and introduction of the paper i read at the Pambansang Kumperensya sa Panitikan  on Nobyembre 3, 2000, Pulungang Recto, Bulwagang Rizal, UP Diliman, Lunsod Quezon. I am grateful to Dr. Galileo Zafra for giving us the opportunity to share our tarasuls...

Abstract

            This paper presents the various Tausug Tarasul from both published and unpublished forms. It also seeks to understand the messages depicted in the Tarasul. How Hadis and Tarasul differ based on the development of its forms and use of language. How Tarasul becomes a reflection of life and what has been its impact on the people. How the milieu plays an important role in the development of the Tarasul. How the modern world have influenced the messages imparted in the modern Tarasul. How the rebels show their sentiments in their Tarasul; and the Hadis Tarasul that was once a homilitic song evolved into poems on everyday life and eventually became a poetry of lament and unfulfilled dreams and hopes

            This paper also seeks to challenge the scholars to conduct further studies and in depth analysis of our Tausug Tarasul which would soon become endangered amidst the violence and diverse interest of our local leaders.

            As the Tarasul of today laments of what has been happening on their once beautiful and bountiful land, today, I am here to share my sentiments about the fast disappearing beautiful literary world of the Tausug.

            For someone who was born and raised in Jolo, one would truly be able to appreciate the beauty of the cultural richness of the Tausugs. Or was it because I have both parents who despite their Catholic faith have still inculcated in us the wonderful culture of the Tausugs.

            Sulu, a group of islands located between Mindanao and Borneo, was once an abundant place where there is continuous rainfall, exotic tropical fruits that wildly grew, fish were plentiful Sulu is known as Lupah Sug or Land of the Current, Thus, Tausug means people of the current.

            Sulu has survived several invasions where its sultanate had steadfastly preserved its culture for centuries. However, today globalization now ultimately begins to impede the minds of the youth from appreciating their own culture. The youths of today in Jolo would never be able or simply refuse to understand what their forebears have fought for, that is the preservation of their culture. Now, they have allowed their very own culture to soon die not under the hands of foreign invaders; but also by the invasion of their very own kin who for selfish interest have forgotten the needs of their innermost being, the food of their soul which happens to teach them values in the form of Hadis and Tarasul. Tarasul is a poetry which has been with them for centuries, a poetry that pierces one’s soul. A poetry that attempts to express our innermost thoughts. Songs that make us reflect on what life has given us, on how we can gratefully reciprocate the gifts of nature. Songs that would keep us alive, instead of arguments that would make us die a thousand deaths because of foreign invasion, conflict of interests that have destroyed our beautiful Lupah Sug.  

Poetika at Politika ni Rolando Tolentino

i intend to share not only my views,thoughts and opinion, but also the works, opinion of other poets, writers whom other people have not encountered or read....allow me to share the book i have started reading recently, POETIKA AT POLITIKA, by Rolando Tolentino...i am convinced that literature, poetry can make a difference in our country..it would help shape the minds of our leaders as well as pressure and influence them....


ITO ANG SINULAT NI ROLANDO TOLENTINO sa introduksyon ng kanyang libro:


Ang hinaharap ay dinadanas na sa kasalukuyan kahit pa ang kasalukuyan ay nakalugmok na sa mga pinagdaanan.Ang bisyon sa hinaharap, ang pagtatangkang butintingin, himayin at pagbuhusan na ito ng panahon at pagpupursigi, ay produktibong indikasyon na ang manunulat, lao na ang kasalukuyang henerasyon, ay tumataya na sa hugis, laman at substansya ng yugtong darating.Na ang akedemisasyon ng disiplinang malikhaing pagsulat ay nagbibigay-kahilingan sa manunulat ng paglilinaw--ng kanilang panlipunang relasyon sa hinaharap.


Hirap ang manunulat sa talakayin--lalo na kung ipasusulat--ang kanyang poetika.Pilosopikal ang kahilingan, sa lebel ng abstraksyon ng idea.Isipin na lamang:ang tula at akdang pampanitikan ay isang konkretasyon ng ideal, at kung gayon, ang poetika ay isang konkretasyon ng abstraksyon ng konkretasyon ng ideal.Paano susulatin ang abstraksyon at materialisasyon ng ideal?


At dagdag pa rito, ang pagsasalin ng poetika sa politikang tinitindigan ng manunulat;kung paano siyang hinuhubog ng politika sa kanyang sinusulat, at nakakapagsiwalat ng nakakaagapay, umaayon at tumutinggaling politika;at kung ano ang kasabayang proyekto ng itinitindig na politika sa kanyang pinagtitindigang poetika.


- Rolando Tolentino

An Essay and Critique on Nationalist Literature

I thought of sharing this essay I wrote for my Emerging Literature class on July 14, 2003.I am privileged to have a class under Dr.Elmer Ordonez....We were asked to critique the following books: The Nationalist Literary Tradition -by Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera; Introduction in Nationalist Literary Tradition-by Dr. Elmer Ordonez, Towards a National Literature-By Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera; and Some thoughts on National Literature, by Cirilo Bautista. I thought this essay would be very apt as my opening salvo for my blogspot journey.....I believe we need to have a strong sense of nationhood to achieve that elusive peace...we need to deepen our understanding of our roots and culture to be able to grow as one nation.And the leaders must strive to work hard towards social change...


The struggles of the Filipinos during the Spanish colonization, Japanese imperialism, American Occupation, and Marcos dictatorship have shaped the history of the Filipinos as well as heightened its literature.


The oppression of the colonizers made the writers strong and use various forms of medium to express their sentiments in the need for reform as they try to influence their audience in different medium. During the Spanish time, their writings became a form of propaganda to influence the people and make them see what was really going on. The experiences and history have contributed to the development of literary history.


Nevertheless, as the country moved on from one oppressive tyrant to the other, the writers saw the  need to have one National Literature that would bind them. This became evident after the post-colonial era and before EDSA.There was a need to weed out ideas. There was a need to re-educate the people. The challenge now lies on the new breed of writers.From Baltazar's Florante at Laura, Rizal's Noli and Fili, Aurelio Tolentino's seditious plays, to Bonifacio's poems, as well as Jacinto's essays have all communicated and ignited a revolution among the masses and intellectuals.It has helped liberate the Filipino people.It created action among the people. They have revolted against their oppressors.


However, there was lull in the 50's, but it emerged again in the 70's during the Marcos dictatorship.It was because of control, curtailment of freedom that elicited protest and uprising from the people. It is through literary works that helped ignited a fire and en-kindled passion in a nation. Even if they have to do it underground, still it helped shook the battleground. It inspired the Filipinos to go out and defend their rights. This time it is geared towards "national democracy" ---- a cry for social justice.According to Jose Ma. Sison, this has become their framework for the masses to achieve their social emancipation."


"Nationalist consciousness implanted among the writers by the mass movement of the late '60's has found a way of asserting itself through approved artistic trends. Nativist nationalism encourages artists to look back to the country's past to retrieve forgotten material---- a neglected form of a historical moment of interest to the present." There is a need to look into the commitment based on the development of literary tradition. Because of suppression, modern writers were able to use different metaphors.It is now a question of literary forms by using metaphors to hide its true meanings, "It is because of deep sense of commitment, aspirations, of the people that help "constitute a nation,"  says Lumbera. Colonial intrusion he says, has disrupted the cultural life of people.But by setting up a national literature despite academic influence would help achieve and develop social change.There must be collective thought and dignity despite diverse culture and strong regionalistic views, for nationalism is the sentiment of an oppressed nation. Nationalism helps to reconcile ideas, and helps make a nation stronger.It helps bind the people, it helps eliminate partisanship. What is a true Filipino Nation? It must be a nation that cuts across creed, race, region, and language.There must be one true National Literature----- a literature that sheds light and enlightens everyone to move on. It must this time purify our regionalistic views.

my first attempt to blog my views

now i have an official blogspot, through this i believe i can share my thoughts, views, and opinions.i am not trying to change the world but, i can somehow make a difference...looking forward to writing in the next days...