Rehiyon VIII (Silangang Visayas) PDF

# Rehiyon VIII (Silangang Visayas) This region is known as Eastern Visayas. The three islands that is comprised by this region are: - Leyte (Northern and Southern) - Samar (Northern, Western, and Eastern), and - Biliran. ## Provinces and Capitals The provinces and their capitals include: - Wes...

# Rehiyon VIII (Silangang Visayas) This region is known as Eastern Visayas. The three islands that is comprised by this region are: - Leyte (Northern and Southern) - Samar (Northern, Western, and Eastern), and - Biliran. ## Provinces and Capitals The provinces and their capitals include: - Western Samar - Catbalogan - Northern Samar - Catarman - Eastern Samar - Borongan - Northern Leyte - Tacloban - Southern Leyte - Maasim - Biliran - Naval ## Location Region VIII is located on the eastern side of the Visayan archipelago. It’s bordered to the north by the Bicol Peninsula, to the east by the Pacific Ocean, to the south by Surigao, to the southwest by Bohol, to the west by the Camotes Sea, and to the northwest by the Visayan Sea. The region faces the Pacific Ocean which is where typhoons that pass through the Philippines originate. The area is known as the “Typhoon Belt” and is prone to typhoons. ## Topography The region is characterized by its water bodies, mountain ranges, deep valleys, and coastlines. The region is known as “The Seat of History” because of the historical incidents that took place there including: - The arrival of Magellan - The first mass in the Philippines - The return General Douglas MacArthur ## Cities The region includes the following cities: - Baybay - Borongan - Calbayog - Catbalogan - Maasim - Ormoc - Palo - Tacloban ## Tacloban City Tacloban City is the center of industry, commerce, and education in Eastern Visayas. ## Languages The region speaks the following languages: - Abaknon - Baybayanon - Cebuano - Kinabaliwan - Waray-waray ## Tourist Attractions Some of the tourist attractions in the region include the: - Tres Marias Mountains - Biliran ## Islands The islands include: - Homonhon Island - Pinipisakan Falls - Pink Beach - Rock Formation - Calbiga Cave - Divinuvo Island - Kalanggaman Island - San Juanico Bridge - Biliran Bridge - Wawa ### Historical Sites - Isla ng Limasawa (Southern Leyte) - This is where Magellan first landed and held the first mass in the Philippines. - Palo, Leyte - This is where General MacArthur fulfilled his promise, “I shall return”. This is also where the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese began. - Palo, Leyte - Guinhangdan Hill ## Samar Samar is the third largest island of in the Philippines. - Mount Suiro - (Southern Biliran) is 1,300 meters - Mount Capotoan - (Samar) is 850 meters - Mount Lobi - is the highest mountain in Eastern Visayas (Samar) measuring 1,349 meters. ## Rivers in Eastern and Northern Samar: - Ulot River - Oras River - Catarman River - Catubig River - Palapag River ## Culture - The Waray people of Samar are adept in Arnis. Arnis is a martial art that uses sticks, hard wood or yantok. It requires strength, quick footwork, a stable posture and clear thinking. The movements are similar to Eskrima which uses swords, bolos and Kris. Wood or metal can also be used as a shield. ## Traditions ### Tatooing Tatooing is a tradition practiced by the Bisaya. The Spanish called them Pintados. When Magellan first arrived he was impressed by colorful clothing. However, upon closer examination, he discovered that the colorful designs adorned the people themselves. - The Pintados de Leyte festival is a vibrant event held in Tacloban City every June 30th. This commemorates the Pintados’ role in the Visayas region. It’s similar to the Ati-atihan festival in Region VII and the Sinulog festival in Region VIII ### Turugpo / Tunggahan This tradition is a fight between animals (carabao, horses, or other animals) and is held in the annual festival of Carigara, Leyte. It's seen as a form of protest against the Spanish. Instead of attending the Spanish-led celebrations, the people gather in an open space outside the town to watch the fight. ### Wedding Traditions - The Bakayaw is a Waray wedding tradition. The newlywed couple dance the tinikling and kuratsa while guests throw money at them. The money can be used to buy a house or a carabao ### Harvest Festival - The people of the valley (Catubig, Samar) celebrate the harvest of palay by working together to make pinipig. Music is played and they sing while working. The celebration includes drinking tuba and eating sitsaron. ### Religion - The people of Waray are religious. The three dominant religions of the area are Iglesia ni Kristo, Protestants, and Roman Catholic. #### Religious Festivals - The Santo Nino festival commemorates the first saint brought to the Philippines by Magellan. It is held for three days. A procession is held with the statue accompanied by music. There are also singing competitions and before the day of the festival, amature singing competitions are held to entertain the crowds. ## Taber - The “Taber” is a tradition where people sell a variety of food at a low price. ## Deities - Humalageres - Divine Rank (The Director) - Laon - God the Maker (The ____) - Larao'an - God of Art (The Beauty) ## Other Festivals - Embahada - Catarman, Northern Samar - Agta Festival - Bobon, Northern Samar - Mayaw-mayaw Festival - Pinabacdac, Samar - Ajunay Festival - Maasim, Leyte - Subing-subing Festival - Biliran, Leyte ## Livelihood - Fishing - Farming - Mining ## Agricultural Products - Rice - Bananas - Corn - Sugarcane - Coconut - Products made from bamboo - Pottery - Ceramics ## Fruits - Avocado - Lanzones - Langka - Bayabas - Mango - Pineapple - Papaya - Mangosteen - Watermelon ## Economy - Eastern Visayas is the largest source of rice in the Philippines and the center of commerce and education. ### Industries - Agriculture: rice, corn, banana, and coconut production - Industry: basket weaving, metal crafting and jewelry, wood crafting, bamboo crafting, pottery, ceramic making - Other: manufacturing, wholesale, retail, mining, fishing and tourism. ## Transportation - Eastern Visayas acts as a link between Luzon and Mindanao for land transportation. - There are many strategically located airports and ports on the islands - The Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban is the main gateway to Eastern Visayas. ## Ports - Tacloban - Baybay - Catbalogan - Calbayog - Borongan - Allen - Ormoc - Bato - Hilongos - Maasim - Sogod - Naval ## Culture - The **Tinikling** is the national dance of the Philippines. - Some popular Waray dances include the **Kuratsa**. - The **Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company** is a local dance group that has performed all over the world. ## Literature: The dominant language spoken in the area is Waray. Some believe that literature in the region should be called **Leytenhon-Samarnon Literature** but it is also referred to as **Waray Literature**. - **Victor Sugbo** stated that Eastern Visayas has a long and rich history of literature predating Spanish colonization. ### Types of Poetry: - Ambhan – this type of poetry is used to entertain at gatherings. - Balak - This poetry is used for courtship. It is sung and accompanied by two instruments known as Coriapi and Corlong. - Haya - This type of poetry is sung in honor of ancestors - Sidai - This type of poetry is used to honor a person, a place or a region. - Awit - This type of poetry is used for singing while traveling by sea. ### Proverbs - **Pirok hin mata** - What happens when a person is startled - **Paghitapo han mga bulbulon** - What happens when people get angry - **An kalibutan nagsirom** - What it means to be in the dark - **Pilik-mata** - What eyelashes are - **Matang natatakpan ng buhok** - When the person can not see - **Ang paligid ay angdilim** - To be in the dark - **Luob hin mata** - To look inside - **Kundi diri nakakita** - To not see - **Balay-balay ni Enggot** - What means to be home - **Puros may higot** - Means to be in prison ### Sayings - **Maayaw pa mangabuhing mag-isa** - It’s better to be alone - **Kaysa magkaasawa kag bungangera.** - Than to be married to a gossiping woman. - **Ang tam-is nga bunga** - The sweet fruit - **Nay panit sa bitig ang timpla** - Has a bitter taste. ### Riddles: - **Baston ni Kapitan** - What is a snake? - **Tuna an taguan** - What is a snake’s hideaway? - **Ikaw an nagbuka** - What is an eye? - **Ako an nakakita** - What is the eye? - **Usa la an guinsudlan, Tulo an inulputan** - What is a shirt? ### Songs - **Ang lubi maupay nga tanaman** (Coconut Song) - **Tong-tong-tong Pakitong-kitong** (A happy song) - **Dandansoy** (A popular Waray song, similar to a lullaby) - **Lawiswis Kawayan** (Bamboo’s rustling sound in a song) - **Alibangbang** (The butterfly, used as a metaphor about a happy person) - **An Iroy Nga Tuna** (The Beloved Land) ## Famous Writers: - **Fr. Ignacio Francisco Alcina** - He is known for his collection of literature, plays, poetry, rituals, and dances that highlight the stories and culture of the Waray people. - **Jaime C. De Veyra** - He was a journalist and graduate of San Juan de Letran and the University of Santo Tomas. He founded El Nuevo Dia (The New Day) (1900), El Renacimiento (The Renaissance) (1905), El Ideal (The Ideal) (1901), La Vanguardia, Nation I - Pro Independence Paper and La Nueva Era (The New Era) (1901). He also founded Sanghiran San Binisaya (The Waray Academy), a group dedicated to Waray studies. He served as a journalist since 1900, exposed the abuse of the Philippine Constabulary, was the Governor of Leyte (1906) and head of the Spanish Department at the University of the Philippines (1909). - **Mallari Esmael Villanueva** - He is known for his essays: Death Comes From the Boy's Mother (1932), Into the World of Words (1974), and Note for a Vedictory (1936) - **Malay Gonzaldo Cue** - He was a member of the Muling Pagsilang organization and he wrote Vidas Manileños. - **Macabenta Eduardo** - He is a famous Bisaya writer. His novel, Un Dia Sobre El Mar (One Day at Sea) (1920), became famous. He took studies in the Lyceum of Manila and was a lawyer at Leyte Colleges. - **Vicente de Veyra** - He served as the president of The Waray Academy and editor of Leader (1924) and El Obrero (1925). - **Petronillo B. Daroy** - He is known for his essays. He wrote The Politics of Imagination (1956) in both Filipino and English and Against the National Grain (1965), which focused on Philippine Art and Institutions. He also wrote his thesis, Ideas of European Liberialism in the Novels of Rizal, for the Philippine Social Science and Humanities Review, 1967. He was a NEC Aid Fellow (1995), Rocketeller Fellow (1964) and John Ciandi Fellow at the Breadloaf Writers Conference (1964) - **Edelberto K. Tiempo** - He is known for his novels Cry Slaughter (1953) and Wafeh in the Night (1953). The last was translated into six European languages. His other novels include More Than Conquerors (1964), To Be Free (1972), Cracked Mirror (1984) and Standard Bearer (1985). He won first place in the University of the Philippines Golden Anniversary Awards (1955), third place in the Don Carlos Palanca Awards, a Manila Cultural Award, the Malacañan Literary Award, an Outstanding Silimanian Award (1981), and the National Book Award. - **Jastino Maghacot Dormiendo** - He was a historian, literary critic and writer from Calbayog. He wrote two books: Best of the Philippines (1989) and Doon Po Sa Amin, May Namagaling (1993). - **Carlos Angeles** - He is from Tacloban City. His works included: Heart of the Island (1947), A Dove Lion Book of Philippine Poetry, A Bruise of Ashes, and A Stun of Jewels. He won first place in the Carlos Palanca Memorial for Literature in 1964 - **Fernando Buyer** - He is from Kalunangan, Leyte. He wrote short stories, plays and novels. His poetry includes Ang Suga (An Ilaw) (1906) which was his first poem, Barasohan sa ma magbabalak (Puso ng mga Manunula) (1938) which means Heart of the Poets, Kasakit ug Kalipay (Kalungkutan at Kaligayahan) which means Sadness and Joy, Balangaw (Bahaghari) which means Rainbow. His plays include Si Kristo Gikawat (Ninakaw ang Imahen ni Kristo), Lucia (1912) and Baile Officila (Sayaw Opisyal) (1913). His novel is Panimalas sa Isa ka Aswang (Gamit ng Isang Aswang) (1913). His short stories include Mga Damgo sa Usa ka Pari (Mga Panaginip ng Isang Pari) which means The Dreams of a Priest and Dungog sa Kamatayan (Karangalan ng Kamatayan) (1923). - **Eugenio Arevalo Viacrucis** - He is from Palompon, Leyte. He is a poet and writer. He won many writing competitions in the Panitikan sa Lubas sa Dagong Bisaya (LUSDABI) competition (1957). - **Merle N. Alunan** - She is a writer from Eastern Visayas and is known as an English writer. Her works include Heart Stone and Sacred Tree.