Mangyan Tagabukid Komposo: An Oral Tradition of Sibuyan, Romblon

Abstract

Oral tradition undergoes a process through the transmission of messages by word of mouth over time. As the messages are passed down, they become oral tradition (Vansina 1985). In this view, music is a part of oral tradition that is already in the minds of the people. Music is socially meaningful because it provides the means by which people recognize identities, places, and boundaries that separate them. It also illustrates some ways in which musical performances provide the means by which ethnicities are constructed and mobilized (Stokes 1997).

The “Mangyan Tagabukid” in Sibuyan Island in Romblon is known for the “komposo” oral tradition. Several functions of music are best seen in several forms that survived through oral transmission and diffusion from other neighboring provinces because of migration. One way of expressing emotions, feelings, and ideas is done through composing “komposo” as it is locally called. This was derived from the Spanish term “composo,” meaning composition. During the Spanish times, it was used as a tool for oral mass communication.

This study is a response to the call for the inclusion of Romblomanons to the musical traditions of the Philippines. It also hopes to articulate Romblon’s cultural identity from its often-overlooked musical traditions. There are existing folk songs or komposo in the province of Romblon but these are neither written nor recorded. Few researches have been made towards this direction

The main purpose of this paper was to collect, document, and analyze the surviving komposo from Mangyan Tagabukid of Sibuyan Island in Romblon province. The komposos were analyzed textually in terms of syllabication, figurative language, and theme. On the other hand, the musical aspects of each komposo were analyzed using the western formula. The study hoped to contribute to the articulation of the collective cultural identity of the indigenous peoples of Sibuyan Island in terms of their musical tradition. Furthermore, data were gathered through interviews, fieldwork, and immersion. Ethnographic methods were utilized; the researcher became an active participant in the ethnic’s group society, collecting data through participant- observation and taking field notes. Processes such as documentation and analysis of data were considered in terms of text, and context. The collected songs were also classified according to themes.

Based on the given data, “komposo” is one of the music forms that survived through oral transmission and diffusion from other neighboring provinces because of migration. On textual analysis, “komposo” functions in several contexts and it reveals the consciousness and identity of the province.