“Bamboo Whispers” Promotes PH Mangyan Tradition to DC Audience

Mangyan Heritage Center President Lolita Delgado Fansler recites a sample of an Ambahan, the traditional poetry of the Hanunuo Mangyans, to a diverse DC audience during the book presentation and poetry reading of “Bamboo Whispers, Poetry of the Mangyan” at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on 19 September 2018. (Washington PE photo)

WASHINGTON D.C. 01 October 2018 – Sentro Rizal Washington DC, the US-Philippines Society and Mangyan Heritage Center jointly hosted the event, “Bamboo Whispers: A Peek into the Filipino Soul,” featuring the first overseas launch of the book entitled, “Bamboo Whispers, Poetry of the Mangyan”, at the Philippine Embassy in Washington Chancery Annex on 19 September 2018.

Mangyan is a collective name of eight indigenous ethnic groups living in Mindoro island, Philippines. Among these eight groups are the Hanunuo and Buhid Mangyans, who are still practicing a pre-Spanish syllabic writing system known as the “Mangyan Scripts.” This style of writing was declared National Cultural Treasures in 1997 and were officially inscribed in the Memory of the World Register of UNESCO in 1999.

One of the literary products of the Mangyan Scripts is the “Ambahan” or the traditional poetry of the Hanunuo Mangyans. It is usually carved on bamboo and often reflects their everyday thoughts and feelings on life.

“I hope that you will agree with me when I say that as Filipinos, we have the responsibility to preserve and promote our indigenous cultures. These cultures are unique treasures that separate us from other countries, and make up the very soul of the Filipino,” said Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, as he welcomed guests to the event.

Mangyan Heritage Center President and Bamboo Whispers co-editor Lolita Delgado Fansler delivered a very interesting and informative lecture about the Mangyan culture, languages and tradition that included presenting photos of ambahan bamboo inscriptions and Mangyan handicrafts, and chanting of ambahan poetry to the delight of the audience.

“This is why I am passionate to show Filipinos, Americans, even the world, represented here today that we have these precious, living, cultural treasures: poetry composed by indigenous people, written in a pre-Hispanic script still being used today,” said Ms. Delgado in emphasizing the Mangyan Heritage Center’s mission “to keep the culture thriving.”

“‘Bamboo Whispers’ is our attempt at documenting a magnificent Filipino heritage in its original Mangyan language, and the three official languages in our country’s history: Spanish, English and Filipino,” Ms. Delgado further added.

Members of the audience, including Dr. David Turner, Embassy Public Diplomacy Officer Darell Artates, Gerald Gloria, and US-Philippines Society President Ambassador John Maisto also had the pleasure of reading ambahan poetry to the audience in English, Filipino, Mangyan Chant, and Spanish languages, respectively.

"We were privileged to assist in bringing ‘Bamboo Whispers’ to the Sentro Rizal. The fascinating presentation on a rich pre-Hispanic Filipino literary art form clearly riveted the audience, eliciting many questions including on how to support efforts to preserve a unique cultural tradition amid change in the modern world,” said US-Philippines Society President Ambassador John Maisto.

“I am also pleased to note the contribution of American anthropologists and Peace Corps volunteers in researching and helping to preserve Mangyan poetry. A special thanks to all those from outside Washington who made the trip to attend this rich and highly informative program,” Ambassador Maisto concluded.

The book featuring the best 100 Mangyan Poetry in two scripts and four languages, with the translations into Filipino, English and Spanish by various poets received the 2018 Gintong Aklat or Golden Book Award in the arts and humanities category on 13 September 2018 in the Philippines. END

For more information, visit www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippineembassy-usa.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinUSA @philippinesusa on Twitter

Ms. Lolita Fansler engages the audience at a post-lecture discussion on the Philippine Mangyan tradition and the book “Bamboo Whispers. (Washington PE photo)

From left: US-Philippines Society President Ambassador John F. Maisto; Mangyan Heritage Center President Lolita Delgado Fansler; Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel G. Romualdez; and US-Philippines Society Executive Director Hank Hendrickson at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on 19 September 2018. (Washington PE photo)

Members of the audience check out original Mangyan handicrafts and copies of the book “Bamboo Whispers” displayed at the event venue prior to the beginning of the formal program. (Washington PE photo)