THE FAITHLESSNESS OF SINOGO

Somewhere off the northern coast of Mindanao a strong current begins to travel northward. It runs to the island of Siquijor and then, turning slightly to the east, goes racing between the islands of Cebu and Negros. At the narrow entrance between San Sebastian and Ayucatan it breaks up into hundreds of small whirlpools that make the water hiss and bubble for a distance of nearly three miles.

For steamers and large boats there is not the slightest danger, but to the native in his little sacayan with its bamboo outriggers these whirlpools are objects of dread and fear. He will go miles out of his way to escape them. If you inquire as to the reason, he will explain that the Liloan, or whirlpool, is a thing always to be avoided, and then he will tell you the story of Sinogo.

Years and years ago, when Maguayan ruled the sea and the terrible Captain launched his thunderbolts from above, the water and air were filled with swimming and flying monsters. Those that lived in the air were armed with great teeth and sharp claws; but, though they were fierce and savage, they lived together in peace, for they feared the anger of their master Captan.

In the sea, however, all was not so peaceful, for some of the monsters were so huge and savage and so confident in their strength that Maguayan could do nothing with them. He lived in constant fear of attack from these fierce subjects and finally, in despair, called on Captan to help him in his trouble.

Accordingly Captan sent his swift messengers to every part of the earth, air, and sea, and ordered that a council of all the creatures in the world should be held. He named the little island of Caueli in the center of the Sulu Sea as the meeting place, and commanded all to hasten there without delay.

Soon the members of the council began to arrive, and the sky was darkened by flying monsters, and the water boiled as the terrible reptiles of the sea rushed to the place appointed.

In a short time the little island was crowded with these dreadful creatures. There were huge Buayas from Mindanao, fierce Tikbalangs from Luzon, savage Sigbins from Negros and Bohol, hundreds of Unglocs from Panay and Leyte, and great Wak-waks and other frightful monsters from Samar and Cebu. They grouped themselves in a large circle around a golden throne on which sat Captan and Maguayan, and while waiting the commands of their master filled the air with shrieks and howls.

At length Captan raised his hand and the noise instantly stopped. Then he announced his decree. He said that Maguayan was his brother god and should be treated with the same respect. He commanded all his subjects to obey the god of the sea and told them that he would kill with a thunderbolt any that disobeyed this order. Then he desired all to return to their own regions, and again the air was filled with a noise of thunder and the sea roared and foamed as the monsters went back to their homes.

Soon there remained on the island only Captan, Maguayan, and three messengers of Captan, who were called Sinogo, Dalagan, and Guidala. These were giants in size and had large wings which enabled them to fly with great swiftness. They had long spears and sharp swords and were very brave and powerful. Of the three, Dalagan was the swiftest, Guidala the bravest, and Sinogo the handsomest and best loved by Captan.

When all the creatures were gone Maguayan thanked Captan, but the great god said that he had only done his duty in helping his brother. Then he gave Maguayan a little golden shell and explained to him its wonderful power. Maguayan had but to put it in his mouth and he could change his form to that of any creature he pleased. In case a monster, defying Captan's orders, should attack him, he had simply to change himself into a stronger monster of twice the size of his enemy, and then fight and kill him easily.

Again Maguayan thanked his brother god and, taking the shell, placed it on the throne beside him. Then Captan ordered his messengers to bring food and drink, and soon the two gods were feasting merrily.

Now it happened that Sinogo had been standing behind the throne and had heard all that had been said. He was filled with a desire to own the wonderful shell, and in spite of the many favors he had received from Captan he resolved to steal it. The more he thought of its great power, the more he longed for it. With it he could rule the earth and sea as a god, and, by hiding, he might avoid the anger of Captan. So he watched for an opportunity to make away with it. Finally his chance came. While handing Maguayan some food, he slyly caught up the shell, and soon afterwards quietly slipped away.

For some time his absence was not discovered, but all at once Captan called for his favorite messenger and, receiving no reply, ordered Dalagan to search for him. Soon Dalagan returned and reported that Sinogo could not be found on the island. At the same time Maguayan noticed that the golden shell was gone.

Then Captan knew that his messenger had stolen the shell and escaped. He flew into a great rage and swore he would kill Sinogo. He ordered Dalagan and Guidala to hasten to the north in search of the faithless messenger and to bring him back a prisoner.

Swiftly northward over the blue sea flew the messengers, and near the island of Guimaras caught sight of Sinogo. He saw his pursuers and flew all the swifter, but he was no match for them in speed. Nearer and nearer they came and then, drawing their swords, rushed forward to seize him.

But Sinogo was not to be easily caught. Quick as a flash, he placed the shell in his mouth and dived down into the water, at the same time changing himself into a huge crocodile-shaped Buwaya with scales like armor of steel.

In vain Dalagan and Guidala rained blows on the monster. The swords could not pierce the heavy scales.

Up through Guimaras Strait the chase went on, and Sinogo tore up the water in his flight. So great was the disturbance of the ocean that, as they rounded the northern coast of Negros, the waves dashed completely over the little island of Bacabac, sweeping away the hills and bringing the land to the level of the sea.

Still the rapid flight went on. Straight for Bantayan headed Sinogo, but suddenly changing his course he dashed into the narrow channel between Negros and Cebu. Then Dalagan, leaving Guidala to continue the chase alone, flew swiftly back to Caueli and told Captan that Sinogo was in the little strait. Up sprang the god and, flying directly east, he posted himself at the southern entrance of the channel. In his hand he held an enormous thunderbolt, and thus armed he waited for the appearance of Sinogo.

Down into the narrow entrance sped the faithless messenger, tearing up the water in his mad flight, while the brave Guidala struck in vain at his huge body. Suddenly a roar of thunder sounded and the thunderbolt fell on the back of the monster, bearing him down beneath the waves and then, stiffening like a bar of iron, pinning him to the bottom far below.

 In vain he struggled to free himself; the bar held him fast and sure. In his struggles the shell fell from his mouth, but a little Tamban caught it and brought it safely to Captan.

Thousands of years have passed, but far under the water, like a fly on a pin, Sinogo struggles in the form of a huge Buaya. The water bubbles around him and for three miles little whirlpools go racing up the channel. And the native in his little sacayan avoids the narrow entrance where the water boils and foams, for Sinogo still twists and squirms, and the Liloan is a thing to be feared and dreaded.

Bayan Ko Ni Jose Corazon de Jesus

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig na sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag.

At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad
kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di magnasang makaalpas!

Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika,
Makita kang sakdal laya.

Biography OF: Carlos P. Romulo (Carlos Peña Romulo)

Carlos P. Romulo (Carlos Peña Romulo) b. Camiling, Tarlac 14 Jan 1899 d. 15 Dec 1985. National Artist in Literature. He is the son of former governor Gregorio Romulo and Maria Peña. He was married twice: first, to Virginia Llamas, and then, to Beth Day. He studied at the Manila High School, and obtained his bachelor of arts from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1918, and his master of arts from Columbia University in 1921. He taught English briefly at UP and held several positions in newspapers like the Philippine Herald and Manila Tribune. Among the other positions he has held are: associate editor, the Citizen, 1919; editor in chief, T-V-T Publications, Manila, 1931; member, Board of Regents, UP, 1931- 1941; publisher, D-M-H-M Newspapers, Manila, 1937- 1941; secretary of Public Information and Public Relations, Pres. Manuel L. Quezon's War cabinet, Washington DC, 1943- 1944; resident commissioner of the Philippines to the United States, 1944- 1946; chief of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations 1945- 1954; Secretary of Foreign affairs, Pres. Elpidio Quirino's cabinet, 1050- 1952; Ambassador to the United States, 1952- 1953, 1955- 1962; secretary of Education and concurrent UP president, 1962 – 1968; minister of Foreign Affairs; and member, Batasang Pambansa (representing National Capital Region).

He was a founding member of the Philippine Academy of Sciences and Humanities member of Alpha Phi Omega, Phi Kappa Phi, National Press Club (Washington DC) and the National Research Council of the Philippines, among others.

One of the earliest poems was “Who are the Great? About teachers who gave inspiration to Filipinos. He authored the plays. Daughters for Sale, 1924; Rizal, A Chronicle Play, 1926; and Juli, 1927; as well as the textbooks, Better English, 1924, and College Composition, 1925. His other published works are: I Saw the fall of the Philippines, 1942; Mother America, 1943; My Brother Americans, 1945; I See the Philippines Rise, 1946; The United (a novel), 1951; Crusade in Asia, 1955; The Meaning of Bandung; The Magsaysay Story, 1956, with Marvin M. Gray; Friend to Friend, 1958, with Pearl s. Buck; I walked With Heroes (autobiography), 1961; Mission to Asia; The Dialogue Begins, 1964; Contemporary Nationalism and World Order, Identity and Change: Towards a National Definition, 1965; Evasions and Response, 1966; The University and external Aid; Clarifying the Asian Mystique; and In the Mainstream of Diplomacy.
Romulo received honorary degrees from such institutions as Notre Dame University, Indiana 1935; University of Athens, 1948; Harvard University, 1950; Chungang University, Korea, 1961; Thammasat University, Thailand, 1964; and University of California, 1965, among others. He has received numerous awards, among them the Pulitzer prize for journalism, for work in the United Nations for peace, 1947 and 1948; Golden Heart Presidential Award, 1954; Hellenic University Award of Philadelphia Award, for his book, Crusade in Asia, 1955; Republic Cultural Heritage Award, 1965; Rizal Pro Patria Award, 1971; and World Peace Award from the World federalists association of New York, 1976. He was declared National Artist in 1984. – M. J. Barrios

Biography of: Francisco Arcellana

Personal

Francisco Arcellana (Zacarias Eugene Francisco Quino Arcellana) aka Frank V. Sta. Cruz, Manila 6 Sept 16 1916. National Artist Literature. He is the fourth of 18 children of Jose Arcellana y Cabaneiro and Epifanio Quino. He is married to Emerenciana Yuvienco with whom he has six children, one of whom, Juaniyo is an essayist, poet and fictionist. He received his first schooling in Tondo. The idea of writing occurred to him at the Tondo Intermediate School but it was at the Manila West High School (later Torres High School) that he took up writing actively as staff member of The Torres Torch, the school organ.

Education

In 1932 Arcellana entered the University of the Philippines (UP) as a pre-medicine student and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor of philosophy in degree. In his junior year, mainly because of the publication of his “trilogy of the turtles” in the Literary Apprentice, Arcellana was invited to join the UP Writers Club by Manuel Arguilla – who at that time was already a campus literary figure. In 1934, he edited and published Expression, a quarterly of experimental writing. It caught the attention of Jose Garcia Villa who started a correspondence with Arcellana. It also spawned the Veronicans, a group of 13 pre-WWII who rebelled against traditional forms and themes in Philippine literature.

 Career

Arcellana went on to medical school after receiving his bachelor's degree while holding jobs in Herald Midweek Magazine, where his weekly column “Art and Life” (later retitled “Life and Letters”) appeared, and in Philcross, the publication of the Philippine Red Cross. The war stopped his schooling. After the war, he continued working in media and publishing and began a career in the academe. He was manager of the International News Service and the editor of This Week. He joined the UP Department of English and Comparative Literature and served as adviser of the Philippine Collegian and director of the UP Creative Writing Center, 1979- 1982. Under a Rockefeller Foundation grant he became a fellow in creative writing, 1956- 1957, at the University of Iowa and Breadloaf Writers' Conference.

Know Literature Works and Awards Received

In 1932 Arcellana published his first story. “The Man Who Could Be Poe” in Graphic while still a student at Torres High School. The following year two of his short stories, “Death is a Factory” and “Lina,” were included in Jose Garcia Villa's honor roll. During the 1930's, which he calls his most productive period, he wrote his most significant stories including, “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal” cited in 1938 by Villa as the year's best. He also began writing poetry at this time, many of them appearing in Philippine Collegian, Graphic and Herald Midweek Magazine.

Some of his works have been translated into Tagalog, Malaysian, Italian, German and Russian, and many have been anthologized. Two major collections of his works are: Selected Stories, 1962, and The Francisco Arcellana Sampler, 1990. He also edited the Philippine PEN Anthology of Short Stories, 1962, and Fifteen Stories: Story Masters 5, 1973. Arcellana credits Erskine Caldwell and Whit Burnett as influences. From 1928 to 1939, 14 of his short stories were included in Jose Garcia Villa's honor roll. His short story “The Flowers of May” won second prize in 1951 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature. Another short story, “Wing of Madness,” placed second in the Philippines Free Press literary contest in 1953, He also received the first award in art criticism from the Art Association of the Philippines in 1954, the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan award from the city government of Manila in 1981, and the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas for English fiction from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipino (UMPIL) in 1988. He was conferred a doctorate in humane letters, honoris causa, by the UP in 1989. He was proclaimed National Artist in Literature in 1990 – lawrence avillano

Biography of : Amado V. Hernandez

Photo Credit to National Commission For Culture and the Arts

Amado V . Hernandez (Amado Vera Hernandez) aka Amante Hernani, Herminia dela Riva, Julio Abril. B. Tondo, was born in Manila 13 Sept 1903 and died in Manila 24 March 1970.

He is a National Artist in Literature. He is the son of Juan Hernandez and Clara Vera. He married sarswela actress and kundiman queen Atang dela Rama.

He studied in Gagalangin, Tondo, the Manila High School, and the American Correspondence School where he finished a bachelor of arts degree.

He began his writing career, as a journalist and later editor of various pre-WWII Tagalog newspapers, like Watawat, Pagkakaisa, Makabayan, Sampaguita and Mabuhay Extra. He joined the Akademya ng Wikang Tagalog and the Manila Press Club, During WWII; he served as an intelligence officer for the resistance.

After the war, he was appointed and elected as councilor of Manila in 1945 and 1947, respectively. He sponsored ordinances aimed at promoting worker's rights and freedom. As he immersed himself in the labor movement in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Hernandez's sympathy for the working class grew into strong identification with their struggle for social justice and liberation. He represented the Newspaper Guild of the Philippines in the country's biggest and most militant labor federation, the Congress of Labor Organizations (CLO). In 1947, he was elected the president of the CLO. Because of pursuing the worker's cause, he was imprisoned in 1951 for alleged subversive activities. He was released on parole in 1956 after five years and six months of detention, and was finally acquitted of all charges in 1964. He returned to journalistic practice, writing as a columnist for Taliba from 1962 to 1967, serving as editor of the radical newspaper, Ang Masa , until his death 1970.

"Amado V. Hernandez's poetic sensibility was initially developed in literary circles. "

During the second decade he was a member and vice-president of Aklatang Bayan where he associated with Lope K. Santos, Valeriano Hernandez- Peña, Iñigo Ed. Regalado, and Julian Cruz Balmaseda; later he joined Ilaw at Panitik, where he became close to Jose Corazon de Jesus, Florentino Collantes, and Deogracias Risario.

He wrote poems on sundry topics for his daily column “Sariling Hardin” (My Own Garden) in Pagkakaisa from 1926 to 1932. He continued writing poems for his column “Pangkasalukuyan” (Today) in Mabuhay from 1932 to 1934.

In 1929 he challenged de Jesus, the acknowledged “King of Balagtasan,” to debate in verse on the issue of nationalism and independence. For almost a month, they articulated their positions daily in the newspapers they worked for: de Jesus in Taliba, Hernandez in Pagkakaisa .

In 1940, he published his first anthology of poems entitled Kayumanggi at Iba pang Tula (Brown and Other Poems). His prison ordeal provided the creative impulse of most of the poems in his collection, Isang Dipang Langit (A Stretch of Sky), 1961 and the epic, Bayang Malaya (Free Country), 1969, both of which were written behind bars.. Most famous of his poems are “Isang Dipang Langit,” “Panata sa Kalayaan” (Oath to Freedom), “Bartolina” (Solitary Confinement), “Ang Dalaw” (The Visit), and “Kung Tuyo Na ang Luha Mo Aking Bayan” (When Your Tears Dry Up, My Country).

He published short stories in different newspapers among them “Wala ng Lunas” (No More Remedy), “Kulang sa Dilig” (Needs Watering), “Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas” (Fly in a Glass of Milk), “Dalawang Metro sa Lupang Di-Malipad ng Uwak” (Two Meters in Land That Stretches Forever), “Ipinanganak ang Isang Kaaway sa Sosyedad” (An Enemy of the Society is Born), “Isang Ulo ng Litson” (Head of a Roast Pig), and “Kislap ng Utak,Pawis ng Noo” (Sparkle of Brain, Sweat on the Forehead).

His experiences as a guerilla, labor leader, and a political detainee were shaped into the novels Mga Ibong Mandaranggit (Birds of Prey), 1969, and Luha ng Buwaya (Crocodile's Tears), 1972.

Hernandez wrote plays based on prison experiences: Muntinglupa , 1957; Hagdan sa Bahaghari (Stairway to the Rainbow), 1958; Ang mga Kagalang- galang (The Venerables), 1959; and Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol (Two Sides of A Coin), 1960.

He has written many essays, among them, “Si Atang at ang Dulaan” (Atang and the Theater), “Si Jose Corazon de Jesus at ang Ating Panulaan” (Jose Corazon de Jesus and Our Poetry), and “Pilipinismo: Susi sa Bayang Tagumpay” (Filipinism: Key to a Successful Country), among others. In these works, he exposed what he perceived to be the neocolonial nature of Philippine Society and pushed for nationalist and progressive agenda to end the long history of the workers' and people's oppression.

"In the pre-WWII era, Amado V. Hernandez won more than 20 awards for his short stories and poems. "

In 1925, he was proclaimed “Makata ng Ilaw at Panitik” (Poet of Ilaw and Panitik). In 1931 his story “Wala Nang Lunas” won two gold medals also from the Ilaw and Panitik. His stories, “Pilipinas” (Philippines) and “Kayumanggi” (Brown), both won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1938 and 1940, respectively. He won the Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Isang Dipang Langit, 1962; the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature fro his four plays: Muntinglupa, 1958, Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol , 1961, both first prize winners; and Hagdan sa Bahaghari, 1959, and Ang mga Kagalang-galang , 1960, both second prize winners; the NPC-ESSO Journalism Award for his novel Luha ng Buwaya, 1963, his “Pili sa Pinili” (Chosen form the Select) in Taliba, 1964, and for his essay, “Report on Indonesia,” in 1965; the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan award from the city government of Manila, 1964; the first Balagtas Memorial Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines for Bayang Malaya , 1969; and the Tanglaw ng Lahi Award from the Ateneo de Manila, 1970. He was proclaimed National Artist for posthumously in 1973 for “his contribution to the development of Tagalog prose.” 

Roberto T. Añonuevo

He was raised in Pasig, Philippines. He was able to travel to different countries throughout his lifetime. He was inducted into the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards Hall of Fame for his poems from Talaang Ginto: Gawad Collantes (1990, 1993, 1999) Panorama Poetry Contest (1993) at Diyaryo Filipino (1990). He was one of the honored representatives of the Philippines in the Second ASEAN Poetry Conference Workshop in 1995.

His first book of poetry was published by the De La Salle University in 1994 and is entitled Paghipo sa Matnag-tubig. Ateneo de Manila University then published his other collection known as Pagsiping sa Lupain.

He was made President of the Linangan sa Imahen sa Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) in the same year.[2] He also founded ORAGON which is an organization of the most talented writers of the Philippines.[3]

He is currently the Vice-Chairman of UMPIL – the largest formal group of Filipino writers.
Awards

Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature