Federico Caballero:
IN HIS OWN EPIC STORY
GAWAD MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN
BIOGRAPHY:
Federico Caballero, a member of the Panay-Bukidnon ethnic group from the Central Panay mountains, was born on December 25, 1938; better known as Nong Pedring. He is married to Lucia Caballero and has three children. In the year 2000, he was granted GAMABA award for his efforts to preserve Panay- Bukidnon beliefs.
INFLUENCE:
Federico Caballero learned to value the epics at an early age, as he and his siblings would listen to their great-great-grandmother as she chanted while lulling them to sleep in a hammock. He was then taught to chant the epics in exchange for his help in the fields and in household chores.
He is known for his work on the documentation of the oral literature, particularly the ten epics. These epics are rendered in an extinct language related to Kinaray-a.nger.
He worked with researchers to piece together the epics of Humadapnon and Labaw Donggon. Federico Caballero encouraged the elders in the community to learn how to read and write so that they can document and preserve their indigenous traditions and beliefs. He sought help from the Bureau of Non-formal Education as he traveled to different barangays in this endeavor.
FEDERICO IN HIS OWN EPIC STORY