Ambahan is a traditional form of poetry by the Hanunó'o Mangyan people of Mindoro, Philippines.[1]
Surat Mangyan Hanunoo
Mangyan Syllabic Script or Surat Mangyan The Mangyans of Southern Mindoro, Philippines, (also referred to as Hanunuo Mangyans),are still practicing a pre- Spanish syllabic writing system that was in general use all over the Philippines at the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century. Surat Mangyan (Buhid & Hanunuo) are syllabaries listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Registry in 1999 and declared as National Cultural Treasures in 1997. Our group would like to revive the indigenous script in the community of Buhid especially to the younger generations. Surat mangyan education program “Surat Mangyan” is one of the few remaining Filipino indigenous pre-hispanic “baybayin” or syllabic scripts. This program was designed for the preservation and teaching of “Surat Mangyan”, among its young generation who are fast becoming ignorant of a valuable cultural heritage.
Characteristics[edit]
The ambahan has several characteristics.[2] First, it is rhythmic poetic expression with a meter of seven syllable lines and having rhythmic end-syllables. It is also most often presented as a chant without a determined musical pitch or musical instrument accompaniment. Finally, it is meant to express in an allegorical way, liberally using poetic language, certain situations or certain characteristics referred to by the one reciting the poem.
The characteristic of the ambahan of having seven syllables in a single line distinguishes it from other forms of poetry of the Hanunó'o Mangyans. This particular feature has exceptions; the first part of the ambahan may have more than seven syllables although this portion may not be considered as the poem proper and only serves as an introduction. This may be due to the shortage of suitable word combinations for a certain line or the line could not be further shortened. A line could also be shorter than seven syllables in order to preserve the meaning of the line which would have been changed by the addition of syllables although this is rare.[2]
Surat Mangyan Postma
Reading and subjects[edit]
The ambahan is traditionally sung and may focus on various topics such as courtship, giving advice to the young, asking for a place to stay, and saying goodbye to a friend.[3]
Surat Mangyan Alphabet
Preservation[edit]
Ambahan is traditionally recorded on bamboo. It is inscribed in the material using Surat Mangyan, an indigenous script predating the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines.[4] Mangyan Poet Ginaw Bilog was recognized for the preservation of his people's tradition in 1993 who also records the ambahan in a notebook.[3] The mode of transmission of the poetry prevents the carrier from adding his own content or modification, ensuring the purity of the poetry.[5]
References[edit]
- ^'Ambahan'. Mangyan Heritage Center. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ abPostma, Antoon (1981). 'Introduction to ambahan'. Treasure of a Minority. Arnoldus Press. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ abde Leon, Felipe (5 May 2017). 'National Living Treasures: Ginaw Bilog'. National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^Postma, Antoon (March 1995). 'The Ambahan: A Mangyan Poem of Mindoro'. Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society. University of San Carlos Publications. 23 (1): 44–61. JSTOR29792176phq
- ^Alegre, Edilberto; Fernandez, Doreen (2017-09-17). Writers & Their Milieu: An Oral History of First Generation Writers in English -. Anvil Publishing, Inc. ISBN978-971-27-2738-2.
Surat Mangyan Translation