To give face to local Filipino heroes from various regional epics, myths and legend, a project called Bayaning Bayan: Sa Ating Mga Katutubong Epiko, Mito at Alamat” was launched by the Philippine Cultural Education Program (PCEP) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

The project is geared toward building the imagery of heroes from local literature through visual arts or painting contests, conferences and exhibits. Bayaning Bayan aims to develop, establish and popularize clear images and visualizations of local heroes identified in the Sagisag Kultura ng Filipinas, the registry of cultural icons of the country.

Galileo Zafra, consultant for literature for the Bayaning Bayan project, identified 26 characters from 14 folk literatures hailing from various regions, including characters from the “Darangen” and “Hudhud,” two of the 19 Asian Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity listed by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

From the Luzon cluster, the characters identified were Pumbakhayon, Bugan and Aliguyon from the “Hudhud” of the Ifugaos; Banna from the “Ullalim” of Kalinga; Lam-ang from “Biag ni Lam-ang” of the Ilokanos and “Kudaman” from Kudaman of Palawan.

For the Visayas, identifed as heroes from the Panay epics were Dumalapdap, Humadapnon and Labaw Donggon from Humadapnon Sulod of Panay; and Labaw Donggon and Baranugun from the Labaw Donggon Sulod of Panay.

For the Mindanao cluster, the local heroes identified were Sandayo, Bolak Sonday and Benebong of the “Sandayo” Subanon of Zamboanga; Taake and Tomitib Manaon of the “Ag Tobig nog Keboklagan” (The Kingdom of Keboklagan) Sobanon of the Zamboanga; Sakandal and Pailalam ri Bolak of the “Guman” Subanon; “Agyu” and his son Tanagyaw from the Agyu Ilianon of Northern Cotabato; Agyu, his son Baybayan and his brother Lena (also known as Lono) from the “Ulahingan” Livunganen-Arumanen; Bantugan from the “Darangen” of Maranao; Panglima Hassan from the “Parang Sabil” of the Tausug; and “Tuwaang” from the Tuwaang of the Manobo.

Zafra also devised a list of references from which artist may base their interpretations of the characters they wish to give face.

Bayaning Bayan’s contest component is open to Filipino artists 18 years old and above. Mindanao participants may submit their art entries to Jeselyn de la Cuesta on or before May 28. Shortlisted pieces will be exhibited at SM Noth Edsa’s The Block in September.

A Bayaning Bayan national conference spearheaded by the PCEP will start in September at the NCCA Leandro V. Locsin Auditorium.

Winning pieces will be awarded and published as part of the Bayaning Bayan booklet. The publication is created to supplement and aid in the development of instructional materials such as teaching manuals and multimedia resources for cultural education. It will be launched at the NCCA Locsin Auditorium in October.

Call Rene Sanchez Napeñas, head of the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office, at 527-5529 or 0928-5081057; e-mail [email protected]. Visit www.ncca.gov.ph.