Anini-y and Hiligaynon

The article was interesting and I felt that it was worth reposting. =)This article was reposted without any alterations.


ANINI-Y and HILIGAYNON
compiled by Edgar H. Siscar

One of the unique towns of the province of Antique is the municipality of Anini-y. It is very important to the existence of the Hiligaynon language. It is also rich in history and tourist attractions.

The Myths and Legends of the Philippines relates Anini-y as having been peopled by Ignini tribes long before the Borneans came. Its folklore "Tubiok Lawi" and other mythical gods, diyos-diyos and anitos, told about the creation of their ancient world in Kinaray-a, the original language of ethnic people of Panay.

Anini-y: This Spanish customary writing of Y instead of I spurred researchers to finding that once upon a time, in the present area of the municipality, there existed a community called “Ignini”. It was cited to be the gateway into the prosperous Aninipay (old Panay) kingdom of Ati king Marikudo. However, cultural historians believe that “dash Y” in the name actually is “dash I” which is a Malayan suffix, meaning “place, or people of”. This suffix is only used for a place that is very important or has achieved a degree of greatness, as in the case of Hantik-I (from the "hamtik" ant), which later became Antique.
In the Hinilawod, "puro it hurao-hurao" as referring to a community of people that is now Anini-y was also cited as already existing.

The Maragtas of Monteclaro have declared that the Ten Bornean Datus landed at Imbidayan, a rock formation at a beach which is now part of Sinugbohan which is claimed by local folks to have been part of Anini-y before. The barter of Panay is claimed to have taken place near a beach beside the "kadapdapan" trees ("dapdap"), the old name of Anini-y then bounding Sinugbohan.

The town of Anini-y started as an arabal of Dao (now the town of Tobias Fornier) in the year 1843 while Spain still ruled over the island. In 1848, the parish priests of Anini-y and Dao initiated the transfer of the barrios of Magdalena, Casay, and San Francisco from Dao to Anini-y. It was then that Anini-y became a separate entity.

Anthropological research reveals that Anini-y, specifically Sira-an hot springs, and Nogas island, played a major role in the early civilization of Panay. Sira-an hot springs, which is considered “holy” by “manugbulong” or native medicine men, functioned as a quarantine station. Nogas island’s role was economic, as it was here that the “sigay nga baking” or striped golden-yellow seashell which was used as currency in the kingdom of the Atis was abundant. As such, Nogas island was the treasury of the kingdom which had to be protected until the “sigay nga baking” stopped to be used as medium of exchange.

Anini-y could be the original “irong-irong,” being shaped like the tip of the nose of the island of Panay,that served as protruding citadel of the kingdom’s center of control against seafarers like the Chinese, the Malays, and very much later the Spaniards. These strategic functions of what was to be Anini-y resulted to pre-Hispanic visitors to Panay like the Chinese and Malays staying north and a healthy distance from Marikudo’s men in the restricted area around Nogas island. They settled around Anini-y causing it to remain very sparsely populated until the coming of the Spaniards.

Anini-y started to blossom as a community with the coming of settlers from Asluman, Hamtik around 1630. Then came people from Cagayancillo an island southwest of Panay, but a couple from Alimodian and Cuyo was identified to be the first non-Ati settler in Anini-y. This explains Anini-y’s intonation to be akin to Alimodian’s. (ehs)

The Tale of Nogas and Anini (Ang Sugidanun ni Nogas kag Anini)

Along long time ago in the place called Tinigbasan, there was a datu (Village Chief) named Datu Oyong who has a daughter named Anini. Anini is always lonely because of her predicament that her parents, by tradition, are the ones who choose someone she would marry. She is troubled that her parents' choice would not be her liking.

Anini is a beautiful lass that she has many admirers. One of them was a handsome ordinary man named Nogas. Commoners were not allowed to court her according to their custom.

The fated lovers were however brought together one day while Anini was strolling along the beach alone. The two instantly took an instant liking of each other. After that day, Nogas and Anini secretly met at the beach whenever they had the opportunity but Datu Oyong eventually discovered their relationship.

Datu Oyong was against their relationship. He does not want Anini to marry Nogas, a mere simpleton...unless... unless Nogas gives him whatever he would ask for. He asked for a spring on the rocky shoreline of Tinagbasan that could cure skin diseases.

Nogas walked towards the sea with his boggling mind until he reached the rocky shoreline. He has no power to let the water flow from the rocks. Out of the water a giant emerged. Touched by Nogas love for Anini the gaint helped Nogas fulfill the Datu's wish. The giant said, "Only your sincere love for Anini would surely let the water flow. The water will continue to flow for as long as you love Anini."

Nogas felt warm water flowing at his feet. His joy was immeasurable when he saw the water sprouting from the rocks where he stands. When he turned to thank the giant, the giant was already gone.

Datu Oyong was still not satisfied, and to be able to avert the marriage of his daughter to Nogas he thought of another impossible thing for Nogas to accomplish. He asked for an island that he could see from the window of his house that could prevent the waves from destroying the houses near the shoreline.

Nogas immediately left, boarded his boat and sailed out to the sea without knowing where to go. He hopelessly hit the water with his paddle. The wind suddenly picked up and waves harshly bellowed. From a big wave a mermaid appeared before him. The mermaid helped him but with conditions. She made him promise that he would invite her to his wedding and that he would take care of the island, the trees, animals and the waters around. Nogas agreed and the earth shook and and the waves swelled again. When the sea calmed, an island with white beaches, teeming with green tress and birds was in front of him.

Nogas has fulfilled the datu's wish. Now the datu has no other choice but be true to his words and to prepare for the wedding of Nogas and Anini.

On the wedding day held on the island , Nogas forgot about his promise to the mermaid that he would invite her. The mermaid was insulted and was very angry. In the midst of the revelry the whole island suddenly shook. The sea receded from the shoreline and the waves swell. Atop the wave appeared the mermaid. Nogas asked for forgiveness for breaking his promise. The mermaid said, "For the sake of Anini, I will not punish you because her love for you knows no bound. for the second time, promise me that you would take care of this island, the animals, the birds, the mangroves and the trees."

As years passed by, Nogas became a changed man. He became greedy. He wanted to amass more wealth and become more powerful. He started to cut trees at Tinigbasan and the mangroves on the island and sold them off. All that could be turned to wealth he exchanged for gold.

The mermaid got angry because Nogas did not keep his promise again.. Nogas asked for forgiveness but the mermaid did not heed him . She said, " I have done everything to help you because I have seen goodness in you. The giant on the rocks and I are one and the same. I did not remiss in reminding. Because of your disobedience, I will separate you and Anini. I will give her back to the lands of her father. You, Nogas, will remian in this island. you are no longer worthy to be with her. But if you really love her, you will have to build a bridge of rocks, in order that the island and the mainland meet. When this shall be done, then you shall cross this bridge to reclaim Anini - that is, if she will wait for you."

The winds howled and the waves swelled and swept the lovers apart.

Thanks EC Dropppers

I would like to thank the following for the many EC drops:

Best Travel & Tours (http://iconnectworld.blogspot.com)
The Crazy Project (http://thecrazyproject.blogspot.com)
Andrey's Adventures in Australia (http://andrey5045.blogspot.com)
MP3 Weekly (http://directmp3blog.blogspot.com)

Finding Nemo in Nogas Island.

At last, after a few months of hiatus (again) I am posting a new blog tonight. I was searching the net last night for some interesting things about Anini-y or Nogas Island and I came across this wonderful montage.

The montage is a documentation of an outing by a group of friends. They went to Nogas Island, aside from the Sira-an Hot Spring. Sira-an Hot Spring is one of the famous tourist destinations of Anini-y, Antique (others are Nogas Island and the Simbahan ng Anini-y). It is in Brgy. Nato.

Anyway, the video is amazing. They have underwater shots and they found Nemo (clown fish).



Summer is fast approaching and hopefully I will get the chance to snorkel in Nogas Island.