Folk culture of the Central Visayas / Pacifico N. Aprieto

The Kalinangan Series of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports seeks to provide source material on the folk culture of the different regions of the Philippines. It is intended for use in the teaching of civics and culture and social studies as aid to teachers and pupils in gaining a fuller appreciation of the many facts of our native culture that together shape the Filipino identity and character. Folk cultures are roots that are expressive of the inescapable fact that we are inextricably bound by common origins and suggestive of what probably we fatally overlook -- that in the indigeneous ways and lores of our people may lie the elusive answers to many of the crucial questions that confront us as a nation. We have only to ponder on the technological marvel that is the rice tearraces of the Ifugaos or the fierce independence of the Muslims to be reminded that as a people we are heir to ancient traditions that nourish virtues of self-reliance, ingenuity and strength of character and preserve the enriching sense of beauty emanating from our fathers' art, music, dances, games, and folklore. By accident of history, these virtues and strength have been relegated to mere cultural artifacts or interesting topics of scholarly studies. But beneath the colonial veneer of our history, they remain strong, waiting only to be rediscovered. --Foreword of the book