"Bearers of Tradition"
Disclaimer: This article is focused on the Bicolano tradition and requires familiarity with the local dialect and culture.
Bicolandia is one of the most diverse regions in the country. Were each town has its own unique identity and traditions. We may have the local dialect we call Bicolano. But the language itself is comprised of variations depending on which part of Bicol you are residing.
For example, If you are staying in Iriga, a Riconda area. It has a different tone and variety of words compared to Bicol-Naga.
Fact: Bicolano dialect is further classified as
Bikol Central or Central Bikolano
Isarog Agta and Mt. Iraya Agta (Lake Buhi Agta) - in danger of becoming extinct
Southern Catanduanes
Rinconada Bikol or Iriga Bikol
Albay Bicolano or Albay Bicol
Mt. Iriga Agta
Bisakol
Bikol languages - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Despite this, We can agree that Bicol as a whole has a common identity. We have Mayon Volcano, Caramoan Islands, CWC, Beautiful beaches of Sorsogon, Sili, Penafrancia Festival, Mahal na Ina, Ibalon festival, and many more.
Among all these familiar commonalities, we also have our unique form of poetry.
I did not start writing articles or essays on one eventful day.
I started as one student sending entries of Local poems to the school magazine. This is to make fun of our teachers or just a good laugh for everyone to read.
If we have those bashers on Facebook, YouTube, or any social media platform, back in the Ateneo days, we have Tigsik as a way to bash or get back to just about anything or anyone.
Tigsik is Bicols' original poetry. It's our local equivalent of "Japanese Haiku." But unlike Haiku, Tigsik is most often deliberate and spontaneous. Inform of cyclical or flattering phrases.
Fact: Haiku is a type of short-form poetry originally from Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consists of three phrases that contain a kireji, or "cutting word",17 on in a 5, 7, 5 pattern, and a kigo, or seasonal reference.
Tigsik was popular during the gathering in pubs. When friends show their wits while mixing it with humor. As an art form, it reflects the beautiful Bicolano culture.
But Tigsik itself is only a form of "Rawitdawit" or narrative poem. Rawitdawit became popular in the mid-thirties as a vehicle of social and political criticism.
Back then, in the Ateneo high school in the both old campus and the new. Students were indirectly encouraged to keep the original Bicolano poetry alive. In every issue of the school magazine, there will be a dedicated page for Tigsikan. Inside are several entries submitted by students.
This unintentionally resulted in keeping the Tigsik tradition alive. Seeing peers posting a Tigskik on the magazine, whether about them or not, will consequently write a new Tigskik for the next magazine issue.
To give you an idea of what a tigsik will be like, I made a few proses, but apologies if this is corny or not exactly right. I had been rusty for a decade.
Tigsik ko mga mga Bicolano,
Dawa sain na ruparop ma destino,
Sa Mahal na Ina dai nalilingaw mag deboto.
Tigsik ko ang terminal kang jeep pa Calabanaga,
May LCC , BDO saka Angena na kita,
Alagad ang last trip nindo alas Nuebe pa nangad baga.
Tigsik ko COVID na ini,
Ano naman , punduhi naman daw kami,
Sa naga gusto mi naman mag inum saka mag bayle.
This is how Tigsik looks like in our school magazine.
Tigsik ko adviser ko kadto sa ateneo,
Tano maam tig pa demote mo tulos ako,
Sinulo ko sana man baga basurahan kadto.
Tigsik ko Atenista kang mag COED sana
hirikolhikol sa mga 2nd year, dai nag pupurundo,
Grabe paaram mag CR ito palan mapurulbo.
Tigsik ko mga 4th year sa panahon mi kadto,
Ano na naman na mga trip nindo,
Tigrurulutaban doorknob kang cr sa floor na ito.
Maray sana kung mang hahamot kang laway nindo.
It had been years since I read a new Tigsik. This is unfortunate since it is a unique Bicolano heritage. It represents the beauty of our culture and literature.
In this age of social media where traditions reemerge in moderns forms. Much of the cyberspace concludes that "Fliptop" or rap battle is the evolution of "Balagtasan." This is partly correct because two opposing parties debate in the street language of rap. But in fact, Fliptop is more directly relates to Visayan "Bikal."
Fliptop became popular because the younger generation was able to connect with it. It speaks their language and the form is modern. If local literature is to survive. It must adapt to this modern age.
Fact: The Bikal was a kind of poetic joust between two men or two women in which they criticized each other's physical or moral shortcoming. But we're expected to harbor no hard feelings afterward. They could continue for an hour or two, encouraged by raucous laughter and occasional help from the sidelines.
Fact: The Balagtasan is a traditional Filipino art form where two protagonists debate the merits of a theme – one supporting it and the other arguing against it. The first balagtasan recorded in Philippine history was held in 1924 to commemorate the birth of national poet Francisco Balthazar Balagtas, hence the name balagtasan.
Fact: FlipTop Rap Battle League (Fliptop for short) is the first and largest running professional rap battle conference in the Philippines founded by Alaric Riam Yuson (known as Anygma) in 2010. The league promotes Pinoy hip hop. FlipTop is heavily influenced by the original rap battle leagues in the West founded in 2008 Grind Time Now (US), King of the Dot (Canada), and Don't Flop (UK), which inspired the creation of FlipTop and other battle leagues around the world.
This was comparable during our time. How we manage to kept Tigsikan alive. Where it was popularized because it was fun for us to read, a way to post a decent laugh or just a plain trip.
In this modern age. If we can use social media platforms and evolve our Tigsikan for the younger generations to connect. Not only we'll ensure the continuity of our tradition, but maybe we can also spread it outside of our region.
"Change is the only constant in this world. Therefore we must adapt."