Abstract:
The Sambals in the northern part of Zambales had a vibrant literature of songs
documented in Goschnick's (1989) Tina Sambal songs and poems. Traditional songs were
selected from the book to explore the identity and values of Sambal at the time of Goschnick’s
writing. As part of the fabric of Filipino society, the study of Sambal's identity and values
contributes to one aspect of the multicultural and multilingual nature of Filipino identity and
value system. Through employing an ethnoliterary approach, the study analyzed twenty-seven
(27) traditional songs using the theories of mimetic, rhetorical, representation, and cultural
memory. The study also employed community field study and key-informant guided interviews
to verify the identified identity and values. Eight (8) key informants from barangays in
Candelaria, Masinloc, and Botolan participated in the study. Based on the results, the traditional
Sambal songs reflect the life, challenges, and aspirations of the Sambal people within the specific
historical context. At the time of Goschnick’s writing, the Sambal people’s identity based on the
selected traditional songs were religious, family-centered, aware, romantic, artistic, performers,
patriotic, and connected. The values exhibited then was concentrated on God, family, self, lover,
community, education, happiness, dead loved ones, heritage, and native land. In the present, the
Sambal people continue to embody the said identity and practice the said values but with varying
degrees as the key informants reported that community gatherings where traditional Sambal
songs are sung become less common. On the other hand, comparison and contrast of Sambal
values and mainstream Filipino values suggest similarities as well as the complexity of the
Sambal values system. At this point, the study recommends further exploration of the Sambal
identity and values in Botolan, Iba, Palauig, Sta. Cruz, Bolinao, and Panitian, and to consider
integrating the study’s results in promoting the Sambal traditional songs in social media or
integrating it in the educational curriculum.
