2000 Gawad Alab ng Haraya Awardee

(Alab ng Haraya Awards)

His pioneering work with the peoples of Central Mindanao as well as his striving to provide clear-cut guidelines and principles by which such study is to be undertaken earned him the title "Father of Modern Filipino Folklore Studies." However, even this designation fails to capture the essence of the work of E. Arsenio Manuel, one that spans more than half a century of painstaking and detailed research and documentation.

He worked with and studied the Manuvu’ in detail, summarizing his findings and insights in a comprehensive volume called, "Manuvu’ Social Organization." Before his investigation, the community had not attracted the attention of scholars. For that reason, their social systems and language remained largely unexplored and undocumented. Immersing himself in the study, Manuel set forth to describe in detail how the system and its various aspects — economic, ritualistic, legal, and political — functioned across time.

Unfortunately, his was the first and last study ever made of the Manuvu’ culture. The society disappeared, its people most likely scattered all across Mindanao, in the wake of logging companies, ranchers, and land-grabbers.

What many consider the most important result of his anthropological fieldwork is the discovery of three ethnoepics from three different ethnic groups — the Manuvu’, the Matigsalug, and the Ilianon. He recorded all three and published them in book form. Manuel’s The Maiden of the Buhong Sky, Tuwaang Attends a Wedding, and Agyu: The Ilianon Epic of Mindanao constitute the first ever publications in book form of Philippine epics that were documented through fieldwork. Further, all three are considered significant contributions to the wealth of Philippine literature.

Considered one of the loveliest of Philippine epics, The Maiden of the Buhong Sky comes from the epic story of Tuwaang, a brave warrior who rides on lightning and defends his people from the wrath of evil enemies. Manuel retold the tale with the assistance of Saddani Paggayaw.

The story begins as Tuwaang rides to the land of Pinangayunan to rescue the Maiden of the Buhong Sky, who has fled from the unwanted courtship of the giant of Pangumanon. Incensed by her refusal, the giant attacks and is subdued and slain by Tuwaang who then brings back to life all the people the giant had killed.

In the end, after conquering yet other foes, Tuwaang gathers his people. Together they ride on the sinalimba, an air angel, towards the country of Katusan, one of the heavenly layers of the skyworld, where there is no death.

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