Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasure) Federico Caballero, an epic chanter and culture bearer of the Sulod-Bukidnon tribe in Central Panay, was laid to rest in Calinog, Iloilo on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Caballero died on Aug. 17 at the age of 88.
“We are here today to honor him as a hero. He is a treasure of the nation,” researcher Anna Razel Ramirez said in an interview on the sidelines of the necrological services at Calinog public plaza.
Ramirez, associate researcher for the Epics of Panay, and Dr. Alicia Magos, professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines Visayas, worked with Caballero in documenting the oral traditions of the Sulod-Bukidnon in 1993.
“Caballero is the one who chanted the epics of Panay, the complete version. We recorded with Dr. Alice Magos back in 1993 the epics of Panay with 13 titles. He was the only one who was able to deliver at the time when these chants were supposed to be dying,” she added.
She added Caballero’s death was a big loss to the Visayas because he was the only Gawad Manlilikha Ng Bayan for the region.
“That’s something that cannot be transferred. It’s not an inheritance. If some others would rise from the Visayas, that would be for another kind of cultural heritage,” Magos said.
Magos said Caballero’s sustained years of interest in leading and cooperating with people who took time and interest in reviving their Indigenous culture, encouraged people, especially in the GMA (Garangan, Masaroy, and Agcalaga) villages, to take interest in the indigenous culture, particularly in epic chanting.
Their study also inspired the revival of the traditional dance “Binanog” and the “panubok” or traditional embroidery.
Merlyn Delfin, local coordinator of Caballero for almost 10 years, said it was a cherished opportunity to work with him.
“I am immensely certain that Tatay Pedring’s legacy will continue to permeate the aspects of our cultural lives and forever live on in every chant, every dance, every storytelling, every ritual, and every performance. For what truly matters outlive every one of us,” she said.
Fellow Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees Estelita Bantilan (textile weaver) from Sarangani and Teofilo Garcia (maker of Ilocano hat tabungaw) from San Quintin, Abra attended the funeral rites.
Bantilan was thankful to see Caballero for the last time, following their first meeting in Malacañang Palace, Manila in 2018.
Garcia, on the other hand, said he considered Caballero, whom he first saw in 2012, also in Malacañang, his big brother, and was thankful for Caballero’s many contributions.
Edwin Antonio, vice head of the National Committee on Northern Cultural Communities, said they traveled all the way from Luzon to pay their last respects to an institution.
“He is a teacher, a mentor when it comes to oral traditions of Panay Bukidnon,” he said in an interview.
He shared that during the IP (Indigenous Peoples) Youth Katutubo Exchange in 2017, they visited the school for living traditions managed by Caballero and the youth delegates were happy listening to his oral chants.
GAMABA executive council member Dr. Felipe De Leon Jr. said in his message that indigenous culture is significant in establishing one’s identity.
Calinog Municipal Administrator Rachel Manero said Caballero was a big loss because he was valued not only by his family and the town, but by the whole country.
“Thank you for being the key to sustaining the epic of Sugidanon of Panay. Your stories gave color to the lives of our indigenous people in Panay. Your legacy remains alive,” she said.
Caballero’s daughter, Nancy, said his father dedicated his life to crossing rivers in the mountains for research on their culture.
The half-day service culminated with the reading of Presidential Proclamation 678 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., declaring Sept. 3 as a day of national mourning over the passing of Caballero.
From the municipal public plaza, Caballero was transported back to Barangay Garangan for his final resting place.Perla Lena/PNA
Photo by Bombo Radyo-Iloilo
