Legarda mourns passing of Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero

Legarda mourns passing of Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero

Senator Loren Legarda praised the achievements of the late Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico “Nong Pedring” Caballero as someone who left an indelible mark on the nation’s heritage.

Caballero, who died recently at the age of 88, was honored in 2000 with the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan award as an epic chanter of the Panay-Bukidnon community.

“He was the embodiment of dedication to the Panay-Bukidnon community, keeping the Sugidanon or the epic tales of Central Panay alive and vibrant by faithfully chanting them in the Kinaray-a language,” said Legarda in her privilege speech on Tuesday, August 27.

“His commitment to safeguarding the 10 Panay epic stories has ensured that the rich oral traditions of his people will be passed down to future generations,” she added.

From a tender age, Caballero’s love for his people’s folklore was evident, fostered by his mother and great-great-grandmother through the epic stories chanted.

Caballero’s vigorous efforts to master the epic stories of the Panay-Bukidnon were fueled by an earnest desire to keep the stories alive in the hearts and minds of his people.

Nong Pedring worked closely with scholars and educational institutions to transcribe the oral narratives, now known as the Sugidanon, a 10-volume series published by the University of the Philippines (UP).

“It was a privilege to share his story with a broader audience and highlight the depth of his wisdom and the love he bore for his cultural heritage,” remarked Legarda.

“It is an honor to be a storyteller for a great storyteller, and in several ways, I am humbled to become part of the stories as you are all. His passing is a significant loss, but the legacy he leaves behind as a guardian of our nation’s cultural wealth will forever be cherished,” she continued. (30)

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Legarda, nagluluksa sa pagpanaw ni Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero

Inalala ni Senador Loren Legarda ang buhay at mga naging tagumpay ng yumaong Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico “Nong Pedring” Caballero, na tumatak sa pamana ng bansa.

Pumanaw kamakailan si Caballero sa edad na 88. Siya ay tumanggap ng Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan noong taong 2000 bilang mang-aawit ng mga epiko sa komunidad ng Panay-Bukidnon.

“He was the embodiment of dedication to the Panay-Bukidnon community, keeping the Sugidanon or the epic tales of Central Panay alive and vibrant by faithfully chanting them in the Kinaray-a language,” sabi ni Legarda sa kanyang privilege speech noong Martes, Agosto 27.

“His commitment to safeguarding the 10 Panay epic stories has ensured that the rich oral traditions of his people will be passed down to future generations,” dagdag niya.

Mula sa murang edad, kitang-kita na ang pagmamahal ni Caballero sa mga alamat ng kanyang bayan, na itinuro sa kanya ng kanyang ina at lola sa pamamagitan ng pag-awit.

Sinikap ni Caballero na araling maigi ang epiko ng Panay-Bukidnon, at mapanatili ang mga kuwento sa puso at isipan ng kanyang mga kababayan.

Nakipagtulungan siya sa mga iskolar upang mailathala ang oral na naratibo, na ngayon ay tinatawag na Sugidanon, isang seryeng may 10 volumes, na inilimbag ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP).

“It was a privilege to share his story with a broader audience and highlight the depth of his wisdom and the love he bore for his cultural heritage,” wika ni Legarda.

“It is an honor to be a storyteller for a great storyteller, and in several ways, I am humbled to become part of the stories as you are all. His passing is a significant loss, but the legacy he leaves behind as a guardian of our nation’s cultural wealth will forever be cherished,” dagdag ng senadora. (30)