LIFE OF FEDERICO CABALLERO
Federico Caballero or ”Nong Pedring” is a GAMABA awardee for the year 2000. He is awarded the GAMABA or Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan for preserving an oral language that is almost extinct.
He used the language called the Kinaray-a for creating the ten epics, which are titled “Tikum Kadlum”, “Amburukay”, “Derikaryong Pada”, “Balanakon”, “Kalampay Sugidanon”, “Pahagunong”, “Sinagnayan”, “Humadapnon”, “Nagbuhis”, and “Alayaw”.
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Federico learned to chant epics from his mother and grandmother who used to sing epics for him and his siblings while going to sleep. It was then his interest of folklore grew and continued to grow as each time his mother and grandmother tells him an episode of the epics. After his mother and grandmother passed away, he continued to pursue his interest as he documented and collaborated with other researchers of folklores.
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The traditions and documented epics of Federico Caballero were referred to as Labaw Dunggon and Humadapnon epics. Both epics were passed on to younger generations. Furthermore, Federico Caballero not only archived his epics for future generations to learn from, but he also coordinated with the Bureau of Nonformal Education to teach people how to read and write, as well as promote epic chanting tradition.