CAR’s Literature Influence by Geographical Features, Culture and History

CAR’s Literature Influence by Geographical Features, Culture and History

One of the regions which have rich literature is Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Igorots, which is one of the tribes, found in CAR. They are the one who signifies people in the Philippines maybe because they are the best example in describing who is Filipinos and they are rich in beliefs, customs, rituals, traditions and other cultural practices. The Ifugao do not have a systematic form of writing, but their oral literature - recorded traditions, beliefs and rituals prove to the bountiful wealth of literary arts in the region.

Cordillera Administrative Region’s literature best describes that they have rich culture to which Filipinos have to proud of because until now they preserve and still practice their customs and traditions that ideally shows their unique and bountiful literatures. Some of the famous literary works  of this region are Hudhud (epic), Ullalim (ballad), Dangdang-Ay (song), The Giantess and Three Children (short story), Wedding Dance (short story), Agga a  ya agge a (song), Canao (ritual)and Tuingguian Flood Myth (myth). These are some of the literature of CAR that influenced by their geographical features, culture and history. The famous epic of Ifugao is the Hudhud which depicts the rivalry of different tribes not only in Ifugao but almost all areas in the region. Epics revolve around supernatural events or heroic deeds and they embody or validate the beliefs and customs and ideals of a community. At past time when this region was not highly organized and govern by command of the provincial and local government, different tribes in the region have their own governance and idealism that’s why rivalry aroused in every tribe. Hudhud is one of the literary works of CAR explained the extreme clash of tribes in the mountainous region in order to fight their own beliefs.  There are some of traditional songs of CAR express norms or codes of behavior, community beliefs or they instill values in order to teach to young generation their beliefs and values that they need to follow. It also expresses the hopes and aspirations, the people's lifestyles as well as their loves as what the Ullalim trying to emphasized, a romantic tale in which the hero fights for his undying love to his maiden. The literature of CAR represents their lifestyles and values that are really interesting to know and discover more. The topographic formation of the Cordillera mountain range, which has greatly influenced the upstream migration of peoples in the Cordillera into the locality, agrees the various dialects pattern formation. The difference in dialectal culture however, did not form variation in cultural development as almost every Cordillera people shares similar cultural identity among different tribes. Different versions of Ullalim is best describes it but still connotes a romantic tale of the hero and his maiden. The Cordillera region is known for its unique musical instruments that they used in performing their rituals and festivals to show their strong belief on the power of the Almighty referred as Kabunyan. Aside from the prayers which are made to the gods, some are recited as invocations to further one’s good health, cure sickness, insure a successful marriage or headhunting raid, and eve to assist in performing witchcraft.

 Through the literature of the regions, provinces or cities gives man an overview of their culture and history that added interest to know and understand their work or arts in terms of writings.