“An iroy nga tuna matam-is pagpuy-an
Bisan ngain siplat puros kasangkayan
Hahani an hingpit nga at’ kalipayan
Hahani hira Nanay pati kabugtu-an.”  

So begins ”Iroy nga tuna”, a poem originally penned by Leyte’s foremost man of letters, Illuminado Lucente which later was set to music by Federico Acebedo and became a popular song in the 1940’s, a time when the Waray-waray people were struggling, together with the whole nation, for empowerment and independence from American “tutelage.”

The song is a timeless articulation of the people’s desire for autonomy, which explains why it has endured through the years. It signifies that the process of decolonization, like the project of nationhood, is an unfinished business in the Philippines. For a world-colonial stranglehold, the task remains partially accomplished, if not undone.

That is why, here at the Leyte Normal University, classes taking up the course, “Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings,” in cooperation with the Social Science Unit, staged for the first time, “lectures, Exhibits, and Performance” with the theme, “Kabayanihang Bayan: Oral Narratives, Histories, and Nationhood” from March 6-11, 2006 as part of the university’s week-long celebration of its 85 th Foundation Days.

The exhibit highlighted the deeds of local heroes and some artifacts pertaining to Leyte-Samar culture.

The artifacts were placed inside a cave-like structure that was designed by AB Communications 4-1 students led by Gunther Ryan Ramos, one of those few, young visual artists in the region.

“The exhibit is actually a replication of what our ninuno did in the past where they made caves as a sanctuary for worship, as a sacred burial ground for the dead. It was so held in reverence by folk people that certain rituals ha d to accompany the entrance and exit of it,” Mr. Gunther Ryan Ramos said referring to the installation of the artifacts and exhibit of heroes inside a cave-like structure.

Works of Nel Zabala, Attitipalo artists and Kolor BISAYA were also displayed as part of the exhibit for students, teachers, and visitors to appreciate.

Lectures on local history were also held during the week. Prof. Daniel Talde, of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas – Tacloban College presented his paper entitled, “Women in History: Focus on Leyte and Samar.”

His paper emphasized the role of women in the resistance movement against colonialism. “The ideological apparatus of traditional historians,” Prof. Talde stressed, “is based on the patriarchal ideology where men are seen as more superior than women, where power is based on sex.”

He pointed out that women also played an important role in the history of the nation when seen from the viewpoint of social history. “Women,” Prof. Talde disclosed, “were active in feeding intelligence information and nursing the wounded,” roles that were not minor, in the strictest sense.

When asked by the An Lantawan what should be done to eliminate such “psychically harmful” gender stereotypes in history, he simply replied, “Education – we must introduce a subject on Women in History where the role of women especially from the marginalized sector is given proper recognition. History teachers must, therefore, also know oral history.

Another paper presenter was Dr. Rolando Borrinaga of the University of the Philippines-School of Health Sciences in Palo. His paper entitled, “The Biliran Religious Revolt of 1765-1774’ was about a decade-long revolt against the Spanish colonizers led by Fr. Gaspar Guevarra who won many converts especially among the women.

He observes that only a few appreciate local heroes such as Fr. Guevarra. “We need a way or recognizing the work of local heroes. We must, at least, have a practical definition of heroism that if you do something out of the ordinary, that is heroism. Heroism should be seen as it is without cynical and moral filters,” Dr. Borrinaga added.

He further disclosed that what made Biliran Island a good place for sustaining a successful revolt against the colonizers was that the island had already a long history of resistance since Lapu-lapu, whom Borrinaga claims, hailed from Biliran.

Prof. Pablo Amascual, a faculty member of the Social Science Unit of the Leyte Normal University and current Executive Assistant to the University President, also gave a lecture on “President Sergio Osmena in Tacloban City (1944-1945)”.

Various performances from university students and guest artists were also held. Among them were “Mga Siday” by Folk Media and Theater Arts students, excerpts from Rizal’s immortal works, the Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo by Rizal classes under the direction of Prof. Jose N. Lianza, and reading of the works of Dr. Victor N. Sugbo, a Palanca Awardee from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas-Tacloban College, also performed by Folk Media and Theater Arts students.

At the entrance of the exhibit and performance area, the last line of “Iroy nga Tuna” was mounted. It reads thus:

“Duruyog kita pag-ampo inin katiripon
Nga di na bumalik an pagkauripon
Kairo han at’ sumurunod
Kon tulo nga bituin ngan adlwa matunod.”