LITERARY SYMBOL OF MY ETHNIC CULTURE: PARANG SABIL KISSA

Rich cultures and unique traditions uphold Philippine literature. They reflect the diversity that separates our country from any other in the world. But was it ever a priority to pay notice of them? Grabbing a book on Philippine literature and browsing along its pages was never my interest. Perhaps that is why I failed to notice this particular literary work that my own community in my country was able to contribute. The Parang Sabil, a significant epic of the Tausog (my ethnic tribe), has marked its place in Philippine literature. This truth gives me a sense of pride for my Tausug community. But it's a shame how I've never learned anything about it, until now. Even if it is striving at the brink of survival, I feel fortunate that it found its way and landed onto my palms for me to read and discover. So much is to be learned and understood about the Tausug community. Some may find our ways barbaric or even foolish but by averting from this closed-mindedness, much of it will surely be appreciated. But it is also important to realize that not all of our traditions can be linked to the Islamic religion. This distinction is often very hard for people to set up. Also, our ancestors have established routine customs that most of us, even until now, continues to preserve. Such customs were presented in the Parang Sabil Kissa. The parang sabil kissa, interchangeably referred to as ballads as well as epics, depending on their seriousness and length, are quite familiar to the Tausugs, the natives of the Sulu province in the Philippines. They are sung in order to perform a twofold function – to entertain and instruct. The singers of this oral tradition may be male or female, and most of them can be found in mainland Jolo. As literary materials, the parang sabil kissa are in verse whose lines rhyme, and the language used, which is Tausug or Bahasa Sug, has special intensity. These kissa are usually composed of several stanzas. When they are sung, the singer, usually a female, also plays the Tausug gabbang or native bamboo xylophone, accompanied with the biyula or native violin played by a male companion. As cultural materials, the parang sabil kissa reflect the life ways of us Tausogs ,especially our values. Since they are handed down from one generation to the next, they can be considered as carriers of the our cultural heritage, which is our source of ethnic or cultural identity. Moreover, they do not only mirror the our customs across generations; they also preserve these in the process. As historical materials, the parang sabil kissa narrate the our historical experience and circumstances, especially the our repulsive reaction to the incursion of foreign invaders and our subsequent retaliatory actions and decisions in order to defend our freedom, homeland, and way of life. In contemporary history, some parang sabil kissa narrate the fate of the revolutionary movements and our leaders. The individual characters in the epic have reminded me of the limits and extent of the human spirit. I sometimes find it difficult to believe how people can manage to risk their lives and endure unimaginable situations. When provoked, these circumstances can become reality. Perhaps this can be associated to the Tausug people who are known for their strong personalities and intimidating characters. This facade is often portrayed that people tend to create unintended impressions towards the Tausug. I believe that it is my responsibility, as well as the rest of my fellow Tausugs, to erase this negative notion about us. We have to prove that we are important additions to society and that we can be productive. Perhaps the most divisive issue that Parang Sabil has injected into its content is that of jihad. Different perspectives have been taken by various Muslim radicals about this. Whatever it may be, being a believer of Allah myself, I'm sure it has nothing to do with killing innocent people. Islam has never taught anything about murder and oppression. I still believe that it is an obligation to protect one's religion but I would never have the courage to take another life, whatever the reasons may be. Indeed, Parang Sabil, just like any literary work, serves its purpose as it travels along time. During the time of the Spaniards, it might have been a call to end an existing despised regime. However, in this generation, it serves as an avenue to reveal the richness and prominence of an overlooked culture.