The Cebuano in the Arts
A Spanish Jesuit of old, named Ignacio Francisco Alzina, noted of ancient literary pieces found in Eastern Visayas during the Spanish colonial Philippines. These were candu, haya, ambahan, canogon, bical, balac, siday and awit, which were predominantly in
Alzina’s account also mentioned that theater played a central role in the performance of poetry, rituals and dances. The Western Visayans also shared nearly the same literary forms with the rest of the islands. Among their pre-Hispanic works were the bangianay, hurobaton, paktakun, sugidanun
and amba. These were all found to be in Old Kinaray-a.
Some of the widely known and the only existing literature describing ancient Visayan society are the Hinilawod and the Maragtas, both written in a combination of Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon.
The national hero Dr. José Rizal had found in Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos delas
Islas Filipinas that one of the first known native poet in much of pre-Philippines known to Europeans was a Visayan named
Karyapa. During the golden age of native Philippine languages, at the onset of Japanese occupation, numerous Visayan names rose to literary prominence.
But, for sure, the Central Visayan region was also active in the field of arts in those days. For instance, it would have been particularly natural for Cebuanos, who are notable artists and art lovers today, to quickly embrace every emerging art form in the neighboring islands. In fact, many similar arts started in Cebu at about the same time as in the rest of the Visayas. The book Aginid: Bayok sa Atong
Tawarik, an epic retelling of a portion of ancient Cebu history, has surfaced in recent years. It tells the story of the Chola dynasty minor prince Sri Lumay of Sumatra founding and ruling the Rajahnate of Cebu. It also has accounts of Rajah Humabon and LapuLapu.
For a very long time, Aginid was in the possession of Jovito Abellana, the quintessential Cebuano artist who dabbled in sculpture, painting, was a prolific playwright, historian, poet and who practiced the native martial art, eskrima. Born on February 15, 1907, Abellana’s early passion for history was inspired by his maternal grandfather Eulogio Sanchez. Sadly, many of the written documents that his grandfather had left him were destroyed by the floods in their ancestral home in Mambaling. The Aginid was lucky to have been one of few documents that were spared. Written in Cebuano hieroglyphic called alibata, it was probably the most priceless inheritance that Abellana acquired from his great grandfather.
Against this backdrop, it is no surprise that the arts flourished in Cebu. The
linambay, the staging of the classic battle between the Christians and the Moros was perhaps the biggest theatrical production in the city in those days. One staging reportedly ran for several nights, presenting just a part of the story every night.
Cebuano music prospered as well. There developed different kinds of songs for different occasions and purposes. Certain folk songs from other Visayan provinces were adapted in Cebuano. The Hiligaynon
Dandansoy was one of those. Up until the recent past, Cebuano songwriters were the biggest names in music outside of Manila. A very popular Filipino Christmas carol Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, translated by lyricist Levi Celerio to Tagalog, was originally a Cebuano song entitled Kasadya Ning Taknaa composed in 1933 by Vicente Rubi, with lyrics by Mariano Vestil.
Cebu had since produced many art luminaries. In the heydays of Cebuano cinema in the 40s and the 70s, Gloria Sevilla was billed as the “Queen of Visayan Movies.” In music, Pilita Corrales shone as “Asia’s Queen of Songs.” And these two names were only for starters; a much longer list followed.
Currently, Cebu has made a name in the other arts. Kenneth Cobonpue is a world-class furniture designer. In high fashion, Monique Lhuillier clothes world celebrities, while Cary Santiago and Philip Rodriguez are as brilliant. In music, the University of the Visayas Chorale has been wowing standing-room audiences, here and abroad.
The Cebuano visual artists are admired everywhere. And so do the Cebuano digital media arts professionals. There is practically a Cebuano excelling in every art form.