2. The Waray is the epitome of the “BISAYA”, the fun loving, warm, kinship
nurturing peoples of the eastern islands of our archipelago namely Samar,
Leyte and Biliran. Aside from giving importance in life their domiciles,
families, relations and their material environs; they treasure so much and
hold in endearment their pride as peoples of the Philippines and their
strong connection to their Faith in the Supreme God whose will and
intervention is greater than their own and in any human or natural
phenomena…
THE
WARAY
3. KNOWING THE
PAST>>>
The PINTADOS
"The Bisayans are called Pintados because they are in fact so,
not by nature although they are well-built, well-featured and
white, but by painting their entire bodies from head to foot as
soon as they are young men with strength and courage enough
to endure the torture of painting. In the old days, they painted
themselves when they had performed some brave deed. They
paint themselves by first drawing blood with pricks from a very
sharp point, following the design and lines previously marked
by the craftsmen in the art, and then over the fresh blood
applying a black powder that can never again be erased. They
do not paint the whole body at one time, but part by part, so
that the painting takes many days to complete. In the former
times they had to perform a new feat of bravery for each of the
parts that were to be painted. The paintings are very elegant,
and well proportioned to the members and parts where they
are located. I used to say there, captivated and astonished by
the appearance of one of these, that if they brought it to
Europe a great deal of money could be made by displaying it.
Children are not painted. The women paint the whole of one
hand and a part of the other.“
Alzina, Francisco S.J., “Historias de las Islas y Indios de
Bisaias…1668”
4. THE WARRIOR “GARBOSO” The first impression of the western man on the
native in Leyte could be read in Pigafetta's
account in Limasawa when he described the
brother of Rajah Siani of that island: He "was the
handsomest among these people. His hair was
very black and of shoulder length; he had a silk
cloth on his head and two large gold rings hang
from the ears. He wore a cotton cloth,
embroidered with silk to cover himself from
waist down to the knees. On his side, he wore a
dagger with a long handle, all of gold, with its
scabbard made of carved wood. With this he
wore upon him scents of storac and binoin
(benzoin). He was tanned and his face was all
painted... The painted king was called Colambu
and the other Rajah Siani." (Blair &
Robertson))4]
Pigafetta described the garb on Siani as painted,
although the markings were tattoos which were
shared by many peoples of the Islands upon the
period of discovery by the Spaniards. He was
describing then the manner of grooming of
Pintado men especially those who belonged to
the upper structure of society.
9. SUGUIHON the triumphant SUITOR and the
Vengeful WARRIOR
Suguihon, Bungansakit’s lover
and consequently husband may
have consequently belonged to
the Visayan Aristocracy and
warrior class. He is said to be a
converted native for recent
interpretations of the legend
described the marriage of
Bungansakit and Suguihon to be
in a Christian ceremony..
WARAY MACHISMO
“Bisan han mga bisan, Saypa han
mga Saypa” (Waray idiom)
Alden Lugnasin as SUGUIHON in Ballet
Philippines “BUNGANSAKIT” (Fruit of
Sacrifice)