Lemlunay: Rediscovering paradise & identity

Long before the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines, there existed lemlunay, or the concept of paradise among the T'bolis, an indigenous people of South Cotabato.

- BUM D. TENORIO, JR.

It is this paradise of everlasting bliss and delight that is celebrated in the book of poetry of National Artist Virgilio Almario: 'Lemlunay: Paggunita sa Gunita' (A Reminder for Memory), which had its launch at the Old Capitol Building of Antique last week.

Instrumental for the book's publication and launch in Antique is Sen. Loren Legarda, dubbed by Almario as "diwata ng sining at kultura ng Pilipinas" and "diwata ng Antique" for her abundant contributions to the arts and culture of the country.

"Sa kulturang T'boli, ang lemlunay ay nangangahulugang sagradong pook paraiso — isang lugar ng kapayapaan, kasaganahan, at pagbabalik-loob. Isang lupang pinapangarap balikan, hindi man pisikal, ito'y tila alaala na parte ng ating kamalayan (In the T'boli culture, lemlunay means a sacred paradise — a place of peace, bounty, and conversion. It is a land which people dream to revisit, if not in its physical state, at least in the memory of consciousness)," said Legarda before she introduced Rio Alma, nom de guerre of the National Artist.

"Hindi lamang ang mga T'boli ang may ganitong konsepto ng paraiso. Marami tayong mga lumad na may sariling konsepto ng paraiso. At iyan ay patunay ng ating kasaysayan din na talagang hindi tayo pagano. Hindi tayo mangmang (It is not only the T'boli people who have a concept of paradise. Other indigenous people also have their own concept of paradise. And that proves in our history that we are not pagans, we are not ignorant)," Rio Alma, for his part, said during the launch.

"When Magellan arrived in the Philippines, we already had our own concept of religion. We had our concept of paradise and heaven. We had gods and goddesses that we worshipped. That's why I say we are not ignorant, we are not poor, we are not without intelligence. Even before, we already had dignity as a country, as a race," said Rio Alma.