Who was Kansilay? Was she fact or fiction?
Legend tells us that long before the Spaniards came to the shores of the island east of Panay, then known as Buglas, now Negros, there lived a beautiful lin-ay (maiden) named Kansilay in a village by the sea called Karobkob. She was the only daughter of Pinunong Bubog, the village head. Kansilay was betrothed to Lawa-an, a handsome and hard working “ulitao” (gentlemen) of the village and they were soon to wed. However before the wedding, Lawa-an joined the young men of the village for the yearly “ pangayam” (hunting for wildlife) which would be for one full moon. While they were away, pirates raided and plundered the village killing many including Kansilay's father. Kansilay gathered the other maidens and sought the help of the fairy Diwata who gave her a sword but was told that this is not a magic weapon. They fought valiantly but could not repulse the pirates. Lawa-an and the other men arrived in time to help and the pirates were defeated, but at the cost of Kansilay's life. In grief, the people lovingly buried her. One day, they saw a plant growing on Kansilay’s mound. The plant became a sturdy tree with purple-pink flowers, which they named after her, the first Kansilay tree, a tribute to a brave maiden.
That is the official version.
That is the official version.
Other historians and history buffs give the supposition that if ever there was a Kansilay, the time period she lived was not during the datu and rajah era but much earlier. If this is true, then swords are not yet made at this time. But even this idea cannot be validated as there is not much information on the original settlers of Negros. The earliest date on record is 1565 and nothing much before that.
The original settlers of the island of Negros are thought to be of the Ati ethnic group also found in Panay, Bohol and neighboring islands in the Visayas. They most probably arrived from Borneo 20-30,000 years ago, through what is believed to be an isthmus that in the prehistoric times connected the Philippine archipelago to Borneo via a land bridge. According to some oral traditions, they also predate the Bisaya, who now inhabit most of the Visayas. An article written by Robert Lindsey says that the Ati of Negros have apparently gone extinct. This is not true. We still have Ati communities in the mountains of Silay, particularly in Sibato.
Our oral history has handed down the story of Kansilay through the centuries and preserved by our ancestors, so whether it is fact or fiction is not a really that important. Our beloved Silay exists and to me that is all that matters.
But now I wonder...was Kansilay an Ati or a Bisaya?
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| photo retrieved from http://robertlindsay.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/the-peopling-of-the-philippines/ |
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| source: GMA |
Growing up in silay, i was always fascinated of this story and would enjoy watching it dramatized in the annual kansilay festival, especially during the time of mayor velez. However, i was a bit disapointed on the revisions that they made on the recent kansilay street dance and drama competition. I know the original story is a bit tragic, with the main protagonist's demise, however changing the lore to suit a more likable ending is, i think, inappropriate. Sorry for the rant. I do like your blog though, in fact it has kept me up all night. Also, i think kansilay was more likely to be an ati since they were the first to inhabit the island.
ReplyDeletethank you! I also think Kansilay was an Ati. BTW, how are you related to Von Mejorada?
DeleteGrowing up in silay, i was always fascinated of this story and would enjoy watching it dramatized in the annual kansilay festival, especially during the time of mayor velez. However, i was a bit disapointed on the revisions that they made on the recent kansilay street dance and drama competition. I know the original story is a bit tragic, with the main protagonist's demise, however changing the lore to suit a more likable ending is, i think, inappropriate. Sorry for the rant. I do like your blog though, in fact it has kept me up all night. Also, i think kansilay was more likely to be an ati since they were the first to inhabit the island.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in silay, i was always fascinated of this story and would enjoy watching it dramatized in the annual kansilay festival, especially during the time of mayor velez. However, i was a bit disapointed on the revisions that they made on the recent kansilay street dance and drama competition. I know the original story is a bit tragic, with the main protagonist's demise, however changing the lore to suit a more likable ending is, i think, inappropriate. Sorry for the rant. I do like your blog though, in fact it has kept me up all night. Also, i think kansilay was more likely to be an ati since they were the first to inhabit the island.
ReplyDelete