21ST CENTURY LITERATURE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD- THIRD

QUARTER
ITERATURE FROM VISAYAS

Introduction
Exploring Visayas as the Cradle of Filipino Life Experiences
Visayas is one of the three main geographical islands of the Philippines. Located
at the central part, it consists of multiple islands that are divided in sub-regions:
Western, Central, and Eastern. The major islands of Visayas are Panay, Cebu, Negros,
Bohol, Leyte, and Samar. There are various languages used in Visayas such as
Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, and Inabaknon. But the widely spoken languages are Waray,
Ilonggo and Cebuano. Despite their numerous languages and dialects, the people still
speak English and Tagalog.
Visayas is home of many cultural heritages and breathtaking landscapes, and it
houses some of the attractive and most anticipated religious and cultural festivals in
the country. Ati-atihan, Dinagyang, Sinulog, Pintados, Higantes, and Maskara are just
some of the known and crowd-drawing festivals in Visayas. Its scenic spots include the
Chocolate Hills and the white sand beach of Boracay.

Knowing the Author

CECILIA M. BRAINARD is a Cebuana born and youngest in the Manguerra
Family. Manguerra studied at St. Theresa’s College and Maryknoll College in the
Philippines. She has authored and edited nineteen books. She is one of founding
members of PAWWA or Phippine American Women Writers and Artists. Manguerra’s
passion for writing started after the death of his father. Her famous works include
When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, Magdalena, and Woman with Horns and other
stories.

Setting the Context

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE AS A TOOL IN EXAMINING HUMAN
EXPERIENCES
Literature allows us to see and examine the rich history of places and diverse
nature and experiences of people. According to Judith Ceasar, an English professor at
the American University of Sharaj, reading narratives will allow us to emphasize and
understand people since literature prompts us to critique and analyze these gives us
room to have deeper view of issues and situations.
Philippine Literature presents the varying aspects of a Filipino. It tells and shares
the triumphs and downfalls of Filipinos, the traditions and innovations in lifestyle, and
the molding and cracking of the nation’s history.
The Filipino identity has developed through time because of the many stories
that it has produced. Despite all these, one Filipino characteristic has always stood out
—Resiliency.

Reading the Text: FEATURE ARTICLE (ESSAY)

Childhood in the Path of Typhoons
Cecilia M. Brainard
Filipinos are used to typhoons. I grew up in the Philippines knowing it has
two seasons – the “wet” and the “dry.” More than 20 typhoons whip through the
Philippines in a year. I could smell the rain when it was coming. I knew that if the
moon had a ring around it, there would be rain the next day. I knew that the
excited twittering of birds also meant rain was coming.
At a young age, I could gauge just how strong the typhoon was, not only
based on the storm signal warnings, but on how thick and dark the clouds were,
how heavy the rain fell, how strong the wind blew. It became instinctive to know
how dangerous a storm was.
In Cebu City, where I grew up, a siren would blow the warning signals when
a typhoon was approaching. Storm Signal No. 1 meant rain and some wind, but we
still went to school. No. 2 meant stronger rain and wind. We were excused from
school, but it was safe enough to go to the movies or to a friend’s house. We
would also listen to announcements on the radio. We knew a storm was coming,
but the radio news gave us an inkling of its severity.
We took Storm Signals Nos. 3 and 4 seriously and stayed indoors because it
meant the rain and wind were very powerful. The streets would flood; branches of
trees could break; trees could be uprooted, corrugated metal roofing could come
loose and fly about, electric power lines could break. It was dangerous to be
outside. We stayed home with canned goods, water, candles, and matches,
because it was a given that electricity and telephones would be cut off during
typhoons.
We waited out the storm in the safety of our homes. That’s how it is; that is
what the Filipinos expect and do when a storm is coming.
Even before the Western media started focusing on super typhoon Haiyan,
I’d been following the news on the Internet. Friends in Cebu, Philippines, who had
just been battered by the 7.1 magnitude earthquake last October 15, were giving
me a blow-by-blow account as they hunkered down and waited for Haiyan. After
the super typhoon passed, someone jubilantly e-mailed, “We survived.”
Facebook pictures were posted of the damage in Cebu City, which didn’t
look too bad: Streets littered with debris, trees uprooted, cars flipped over on
their sides, some roofing damaged, store signs askew. And so for a few hours at
least, a sense of relief washed over me – until a friend received a text message
from the parish priest of Odlot in Northern Cebu:
“Church no more roof and ceiling. 95% of parishioners homeless. We need
help. Food and water.”
Deep inside, I had known that a country can’t get away unscathed when a
super typhoon like Haiyan hits it, and the text from Father Desuyo brought me
back to reality.
As communications resumed, the world understood the awful destruction that
Haiyan had wrought in Samar, Leyte, Northern Cebu, and other parts of Central
Philippines.
It has been painful to see images of villages destroyed, of people wandering
around in the midst of all the rubble, of survivors holding up signs begging for
food and water. What I find most nerve wracking are the pictures of the dead lying
by the roadside or under rubble. Filipinos have much respect and love for their
dead, and so these images indicate just how desperate survivors are that they
can’t take the time to bury their loved ones.
I can’t help but wonder what went so wrong. Why were Filipinos caught off
guard? Why didn’t the government plan better for Haiyan – or Yolanda, as the
super typhoon is called in the Philippines? Why have so many people died? Why
are survivors left on their own?
I have no doubt that the survivors and victims of Haiyan had done their part:
Like they always have, they had stocked up on basic necessities and hunkered
down in the safest place they could think of.
But here’s the thing: Even though Filipinos knew that Haiyan was the
strongest typhoon in recorded history to make landfall, they did not have the
collective memory of something this powerful. No one expected the great
destruction of Haiyan. No one expected its 15- to 20-foot tsunami-like surge.
 Here’s the irony: Many people died in the evacuation centers or gymnasiums
or churches where they sought refuge, from drowning and from the buildings
collapsing.
Here’s a fact: The death toll will rise because the Philippines has 7,100
islands, and in those islands, many coastal villages have not yet been accounted
for.
Now, Haiyan will never be forgotten. The super typhoon is part of the
Filipinos’ collective memory, when before, it was unimaginable.

Look for a pair. Then, copy and answer the following on a 1 whole sheet of paper.
Note: Please be honest. NO SEARCHING AND COPYING OF ANSWERS.

1. Why is the Philippines visited by several typhoons?

2. What are the situations that can be observed when there is a typhoon?
3. What happens to majority of Filipinos after a typhoon?
4. Despite knowing that the Philippines is prone to typhoons, why are the Filipinos
still caught off guard every time a typhoon hits?
5. What does this tell of the Filipino mentality towards disaster preparedness?