PhilippineLiterature Region IX an administrative region and a peninsula known as Zamboanga Peninsula ( ZamPen ) 2001 Pagadian City – the regional center of ZamPen .Region IX Previously known as Western Mindanao before the enactment of Executive Order No. 36 on September 19. . Zamboanga del Sur 3.Provinces in Region IX consists of 3 provinces 1. Zamboanga Sibugay . Zamboanga del Norte 2. Cities in Region IX 5 component cities Dapitan City. ZDS Zamboanga City Isabela City. Basilan . ZDN Pagadian City. ZDN Dipolog City. e. i..Evolution of the Name Zamboanga Early Malay settlers called the region “Jambangan” which means “City of Flowers”. These Malays who built their settlements by the river banks were Subanons.“people of the river”. . . building their frail huts along the shorelines and confused Jambangan with Samboangan. the Samas and the Badjaos who all the way in their vintas also settled here. Later. Samboangan comes from the word “sabuan” the wooden pole which they used to help push their vintas in shallow waters or to ready these for mooring. . Tribal Heritage o About a third of the region’s population is composed of ethnic people. are actually distinct from each other in culture. Samals. . Yakans. Badjaos. usually erroneously classified under the general heading of Muslims. and the Subanons of Zamboanga del Norte. o They are generally divided into the Tausugs. and Zamboanga Sibugay. o These groups. Zamboanga del Sur. Subanens / Subanons o considered the aborigines of Zamboanga o derived from suba (river). means people of the river . . and the northern Badjaos of the Basilan and Zamboanga groups o they go on land and are buried on land and make frequent trips to their cemeteries to seek favors from spirits of their deceased ancestors and relatives . who call themselves a single “bangsa” or ethnic group. spent their lives on their small boats o two groups: the southern Badjaos of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.Badjaos o the Philippine “sea gypsies”. . Samas o generally inhabit the shorelines of northern and southern Sulu. o Seven Sama groups inhabit Zamboanga City: the Sama Banguingui. Sama Ubian. Sama Laminusa. and Sama Bitali. . Sama Siasi. Tawi-Tawi. Basilan. Sama Daungung. as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula and nearby islands. Sama Kaunlunga. . an amalgam of different cultures and foreign influence that dates back to as early as the 13th century. Arabia. India. is predominantly Tausug. and Japan. when Sulu was trading with China. Jolo. the East Indies.Tausugs the most politically dominant group in the Sulu Archipelago They have a rich culture. . which has been the seat of power. They formed the Sultanate of Sulu in the 15th century. . The loom that they use. has one end fastened to the wall and the other. ending in a cord. is worn around the waist of the weaver. found also in Isabela City and nearby Zamboanga City Yakan men and women are distinguished by skin-tight trousers and bulky waist sashes which serve as protection from bladed weapons or as hummocks in the hills at night. They boast of their intricately designed hand-woven cloth which no other tribe in the country can imitate. being the type normally used in Indonesia.Yakans Lamitan is the home base of the Yakans. . Ternate and Zamboanga City .Chavacano The long and relatively continuous presence of the Spaniards amidst many Filipino ethnic groupings gave birth to a unique dialect — Chavacano. The dialect is spoken in Cavite. Davao. a Spanish patois and the predominant medium of communication in the city today. Cotabato. of Zamboanga Peninsula . . ."The White Horse of Alih" is a story of shame. and redemption. The short story is about the quaint Spanish/American colonial culture of the people of Zamboanga set picturesquely against an Islamic background. dishonor. o It also details the rich Islamic culture cultivated in most Moro-Islamic areas as they define themselves against the slow emergence of a new culture during the Spanish and American Occupations. . The Elements . SETTING -> A Moro Village in Zamboanga during the American Occupation. Lucy. CHARACTERS -> Alih. Fermina. the girl from Balete. PLOT -> Alih and Omar devise a plan to redeem their shame by killing someone. Omar. . the Imam. RESOLUTION -> Alih is arrested by the authorities. CLIMAX -> Alih kills his brother. . CONFLICT -> Alih and Omar want redemption for the dishonor brought upon them.EXPOSITION -> Alih and Omar are robbed by pirates while sailing across the sea. Omar. his fate remains ambiguous. Summary . .• The White Horse of Alih" tells the story of young Alih. and his older brother Omar. as they try to redeem themselves from the shame of being robbed of all of their prized possessions. Alih and Omar decide that the only way to strip themselves of their shame is to cleanse their body. prepare themselves for burial. Omar believes that Allah will send the eponymous white horses for them to be carried to paradise. By killing some random person (and in turn being killed by the authorities). and kill someone. . • Before the actual plan was carried off. a Christian barmaid he drunkenly flirted with before he was sentenced to jail for six (6) months. an American girl he met when he was in First Grade. Fermina.• It was during the Fourth of July Parade at the plaza. and the girl from Balete to whom he lost his virginity. Alih reminisces about the three women who have made incredible impacts in his life: Lucy. . In the end. intent on killing anyone who stands in his way. .As he comes back to reality. a drunken Omar rampages around the plaza. As the float came closer. Alih kills Omar and is arrested by the authorities. he starts to compare the girl to the girl from Balete he slept with. Suddenly. As Omar comes closer to the parade girl. Alih runs in a flash to save her. he sees a girl atop a float at the back of the parade. The White Horse Explained . warns Alih and Omar not to continue their plans. or village priest. The Imam. . In the end. Allah shall send for a white horse to retrieve his soul and bring it to paradise. and bloodshed will not redeem them.The eponymous White Horse comes from a Moro legend which explains that if a Moro should kill someone (and be killed in the process). Alih decides his houri (being the girls he has shared his life with) is more important than his white horse. where thousands of houri (women) are waiting for him. as the story is not true. Mig Alvarez Enriquez -> Zamboangueno -> short story writer -> novelist -> playwright . Works NOVELS: The Devil Flower House of Images Two Liberation Plays Fourth of July. Twice Told PLAYS: Lam-Ang Labaw Donggon Bantugan SHORT STORIES: The White Horse of Alih A Tale of Two Houses Maria Clara Death of a House The Other Maria Clara . . The Guman of Dumalinao Subanon folk epic ( Dumalinao. Zamboanga del Sur) tells of battles fought to defend peace loving kingdoms against invaders always chanted during night time .