MEET THE CHANTER
FREDERICO CABALLERO
Caballero who is commonly known as "Nong Pedring", is of the Panay-Bukidnon people from the Central Panay mountains. 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.
His love of folklore began at a young age. He used to hear tales of grand adventures as bedtime stories from his mother and grandmother, Anggoy Omil. It was also his mother who taught him how to recite these epic. When Anggoy and his mother died, he went on to continue the traditions and documented these epics which are referred to as the Labaw Dunggon and Humadapnon epics with researchers.
In his spare time, he also works with the Department of Education’s Bureau of Non-Formal Education. He visits various villages to teach people how to read and write and encourage them to study well.
.jpg)
01
Federico Caballero was born eighty-one years ago, on the 25th of December year 1938, near the stream of the river Pan-ay at the border of Masaroy, Calinog, and Tapaz, Capiz.
02
He was granted the GAMABA Award in the year 2000 due to his efforts to preserve Panay - Bukidnon's beliefs, literature by encouraging researchers and culture advocates to write them to teach younger members in their community.
03
He is considered as a bantugan, for he is someone who has achieved distinction and has a positive influence on his community.
04
He used to work as the Manughusay, an arbiter who helps resolve disputes and conflicts in the community. This was his way of dispensing justice in the community.
05
Federico Caballero is married to Lucia, who is a “binukot’ similarly to a princess in Panay-Bukidnon Tradition, and has three children.
06
He was granted the GAMABA Award in the year 2000 due to his efforts to preserve Panay - Bukidnon's beliefs, literature by encouraging researchers and culture advocates to write them to teach younger members in their community.
07
He is seen as a jack of all trades because he is good at anything that others tell him to do,.
08
In SY 2000–2001, together with Dr. Alicia P. Magos, he helped pioneer the first School for Living Tradition (SLT) in the Visayas located in Barangay Garangan, on the border of Tapaz, Capiz, and Calinog, Iloilo.