Oral Lore: Construct of the Imagined Island

This qualitative study aimed to trace, collect, and analyze the oral lores of the imagined island, Tambaliza. Using the content analysis method, this study examined, classified, and analyzed the oral lores as revealed in the accounts or stories of the islanders of 14 potential key informants who were purposively chosen local residents of Island Barangay of Tambaliza, Concepcion, Iloilo for the year 2021. The data were collected over a certain period of time using interviews, journal entries, observations, focused group-discussion, and the themes were drawn using open, axial, and selective coding. The results showed that the collected oral lores were: loa, prose texts, ballads, ritual, lyric song, hurobaton, paktakon, daigon and poems. These oral lores were the researcher’s bases for the analysis and interpretation to determine the themes. The results revealed the majestic island Tambaliza’s location and geographical sketch, origin of the place, names of sitios, barangays, and landmarks in the island. It also indicated the economy, rich natural resources, tourism, and fishing industry. The result further revealed the people clearly defined ways and actions as culturallyoriented islanders; how they live happily and peacefully; their beliefs and traditions, and the occupation and livelihood of the people – mostly fishing and farming. The lores also revealed the natives’ behaviors and characteristics as loving, hospitable, unselfish, generous, polite, respectful, thankful, obedient, persistent, resilient, confident and most of all having a deep faith in the Almighty Lord. The interview from the folks indicated future directions and prospects in Tambaliza as an imagined island in the specific areas: tourism, economy and livelihood of the people, education, faith and religion. The development programs and projects are supported by the local government. It is hoped therefore, that with a clear roadmap for development, Tambaliza with its rich oral tradition, natural resources and productive citizens imbued with the love for education and strong faith in the great Almighty Lord, Tambaliza’s dream for progress will not be in vain. The values of education and faith remain the paramount directions of the island from which people of Tambaliza must draw inspiration from.