By Hanah Tabios
In a bid to promote the colorful history of the so-called Tiger City of the Philippines, young Filipino artists from the College of Fine Arts of University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman have created legendary murals of folklore lovers ‘Manda and ‘Luyong’ at the pillars of the Shaw Boulevard flyover along EDSA that would greet passing motorists.
Ang Gerilya Facebook page/ MANILA BULLETIN
The project, which was a commissioned artwork in partnership with the local government unit (LGU) of Mandaluyong, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and Davies Paints Philippines, was created by artists from “Ang Gerilya”, a group that has been advocating the promotion and preservation of Filipino culture and history across the country. Their artworks include art exhibits, street art, graffiti, and murals, among others.
On its official website, it said that there were different stories on the origin of the ancient name “Mandaluyong”. Among them was the famous folklore citing that the city was named after the love story between tribal couple, Manda and Luyong.
Manda was a lovely daughter of a village chieftain, while Luyong was a “Maharlika” despised Manda’s father.
According to some historians, associating Maharlika to “noblemen’” was a case of ‘mistranslation’ of Spanish historical texts. In fact, the word actually means “free man” or an ordinary person who is free.
But as Luyong emerged victorious in a series of tribal competitions, he was able to win his lover’s hand.
They were later married amid the objection of Manda’s father.
They settled in a place which was later called Mandaluyong, a literal concoction of their names.