Mythologies of the Capiznon Tribe

“Capiznon” is derived from the word kapis, a seashell obtained from the mollusk Placuna placenta and used to make square panes for windows, and the suffix non, meaning “people.” The term refers to the culture, language, and people of Capiz province, one of Panay Island’s four provinces: Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Aklan. Capiz is bounded by the Sibuyan Sea in the north, Aklan province in the northwest, Antique province in the west, and Iloilo province in the south and southwest. As of 2007, its population was 701,664, making it the third most populous province in the region. Its capital is Roxas City; its municipalities are Cuartero, Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, Ivisan, Jamindan, Maayon, Mambusao, Pan-ay, Panit-an, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, Sapian, Sigma, and Tapaz. The Capiznon people belong to a larger group called Visayan, and the Capiznon language is a subclassification of the Visayan language. It is closely related to Hiligaynon, 91% of which Capiznon speakers comprehend. It is considered one of four languages constituting the peripheral subgroup of central Visayan languages, the other three being Hiligaynon, Masbatenyo, and Camotes. Though frequently mistaken to be the same as Hiligaynon, Capiznon has certain features that make it a different language. Capiznon possessive pronouns are formed by the addition of a t-prefix to the Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, and Aklanon pronouns, thus: t-akon (I), t-aton (we-inclusive), t-amon (we-exclusive), t-imo (you), t-inyo (you plural), t-iya (he/she), and t-ila (they). These pronouns adopt the nominative and accusative case and are always in the middle or end (not in the beginning) of a sentence. These pronouns are similar in form to those of nearby but more distantly related languages such as Karay-a and Aklanon. In Capiznon, the third-person singular pronoun tiya (pronounced “cha” or “tsa”) precedes personal pronouns for emphasis, thus forming double pronouns in an utterance. For example “Indi tiya takon” can mean either “It wasn’t me” or “I won’t (do it/like it).” Additionally, some Capiznon words are not Hiligaynon but are similar to Aklanon or Waray, such as yandâ (now), laong (to request permission), bundol (dull), halâ (to say), and gumangkun (nephew/niece). Words such as gutus (to walk), likot (weeds or litter), uyapad (rice fields), pinsan (as a whole), and hinipu (youngest child) have no known cognates among nearby languages. Some words that are found both in Hiligaynon and Capiznon may have different meanings. Libud, meaning “to peddle” in Hiligaynon, means “to stroll” in Capiznon. Tina-i, meaning “intestines” in Hiligaynon, means “stomach” in Capiznon. Palak, meaning “to panic” or “to rattle ” in Hiligaynon, means “to brag” in Capiznon.

The term “Capiznon” came from the combination of the word “kapis,” which is what the shell of the Placuna placenta mollusk is called, and the suffix “non,” which means people. It is a general term used for the culture, people, and language of Capiz. Since Capiz is located in the Visayas, they are technically called Visayans, and the language they use is a subclass of the Visayan Language – it is most similar to the Hiligaynon language, with some terms from Aklanon and Kinaray-a. Capiz has a unique culture; and they express it well through arts and music. One material is widely used for various products in Capiz. There is a distinct shell that is popularly used in jewelry – it is the shell of the Placuna placenta mollusk, called Capiz shells. These shells are comparable to the Mother of Pearls or Nacre as these two marine treasures have similarities in their quality. The Capiz shell has two parts: the shell covering and the meat inside, which is edible. Sometimes, it also contains pearls, mainly white. Back then, during the Spanish period, Capiz shells were used as a substitute for glass – that’s why they are also called windowpane oysters. Now, it is being used as a main material in numerous products, such as jewelry pieces, home decor like lampshades and chandeliers, and kitchen utensils like bowls and plates. Many Capiznos use this magnificent material to show off their skills and creativity by making beautiful art pieces. For adventurous people, when visiting Capiz, you should never forget to go to The Capiz Eco Park and Cultural Village. There are plenty of activities to choose from when visiting these tourist spots: wall climbing, trekking, and strolling through the ethnic houses of the indigenous tribes. After a nice stroll, there are wellness huts where you can have a relaxing massage. You can experience the culture of the different indigenous tribes like Aetas, the Tumandoks, and the Panay-Bukidnon. When you get there, the natives will welcome you with sombreros made with coconut palm leaves and friendship bracelets, which they call pulseras, created by the locals. Some natives teach tourists how to do basket weaving and abaca weaving.

In the late afternoon of April 23, 2017, Villareal Stadium in Roxas City, Capiz, bustled with eager spectators and harried but high-spirited performers in vibrant costumes of traditional attires, monsters and glittering gowns. One by one, the performing groups, representing their towns, roused the crowds with music and dances depicting the stories and cultures of their towns in the first street dancing event of the Capiztahan, the Western Visayan province’s festival. Capiztahan, portmanteau of Capiz and kapistahan, meaning “feasting” or “fiesta,” was held this year from April 21 to 23 to celebrate the province’s foundation anniversary. It was moved from its usual dates of April 14, 15 and 16, because of this year's observance of the Holy Week. The festival commemorated the establishment of a civil government in the area in April 15, 1901, during the American colonial era, from being an encomienda during the Spanish colonial time. Capiz is one of the four provinces on Panay Island in central Philippines. Like its adjacent province Iloilo, its people is predominantly Hiligaynon, with communities of Panay Bukidnon in the interior upland areas. The festival is one the province’s way of showing its distinction. Incorporated also into the festival is the commemoration of the death anniversary Manuel Acuña Roxas, who became the Philippines’ president, after whom the capital is named, and is one of the province’s most illustrious. But history is just a launching pad for gathering together, merriment and spectacle. Capiztahan is mostly a motley of events and activities, many of which have become de-rigueur features of contemporary Philippine festivals. In the recent one, there were sports events such as arnis, basketball, bowling and triathlon tournaments, and gatherings for different sectors of the community. The fair and the night market showcased local products. There were band performances and contest, and night entertainment. Of course, the beauty pageant Mutya sang Halaran sa Capizatahan was also much anticipated. Several events allowed people to experience local culture; some, though unoriginal, were done with Capiznon flavor and flair. A new annex of the Paranublion: The Roxas City Museum was inaugurated. The five-year-old Pasundayag Capisnon, formerly called Parade of Lights, enlivened the streets with dancers in costumes studded with lights and floats of lights, depicting sea creatures. Fiesta Capiznon was a communal feasting, where guests and visitors were invited to partake of the food in a Philippine fiesta tradition, but this was made grander with large piles of seafood, such as oyster, shrimp, prawn, crab and squid, laid out on the tables, attesting to the province’s promotion of being the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines.” The Palumbaanay Sportsfest incorporated traditional games as well as aspects of traditional crafts such as nipa-thatch making, net mending and rice pounding, while the Baroto Race on Panay River used the local boats.