Bicolano and Ilocano Literature CLPW

• Around 5 million people speak variations of Bikolano dialect in the Bicol region.
• Just like other local traditions and cultures in the country, Bikolano literature has its roots in orally transmitted poems and mythical narratives that reflect the history of the people. The transformation of the literature can be traced by going through local and national history.
• Mariano Perfecto is the first Bikolano writer who published Bikola newspaper, he was also responsible for the development of the first printing press named “Imprenta de Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia.”
• The latter development implied that Bikolano literature was dominated by religious writing at that time.
• Protest drama became a form of expressing the people’s growing resentment of the Spanish rule.
• The dramatic genre of the corridor, which was popular among the Tagalog-speaking folk, was adapted into the local Bikolcorrido, with Magamang Pobre being a popular example.
• Marne L. Kilates translations include works by major Filipino poets, the latest of which are the:

  University of the Philippines Centennial Edition of Francisco Balagtas’ Florante at Laura

  National Artist Virgilio S. Almario’s (or Rio Alma’s) Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon / Journeys, Junctions (Anvil, 2008).
• A Cloud Named Looking-for-You by Marne L. Kilates poem is inspired

  by a Yunnan legend in China.
• They say that it is the Princess Nhanzao forever drifting over the Sea of Er, looking for her love who had been turned into stone and sunk into the depths from the song by Shi Zhi–You about the Yunnan legend.
• The Mother of Philippine Folklore: Damiana Ligon Eugenio(September 27, 1921 – October 10, 2014)
• Damiana Ligon Eugenio's occupation:

  Was a Filipino female author and had several publications in the field of Philippine folklore

  A professor at the UP Diliman at the Department of English and Comparative Literature for the College of Arts Educational Attainment.
• Damiana Ligon Eugenio graduated BSE from the University of the Philippines as Cum Laude
• Kilates is also an active user of the new medium of the Internet, and publishes and edits the online poetry & art magazine called Poet’s Picturebook.
• Comedia writers have protest plays credited to their names. These are the 3 Writers:

  Sabas Armenta

  Juan Alvarez Guerra

  Juan Miraflor
• From Camarines Sur to Naga to Albay Sorsogon and every locality in between Bikolano literature has flourished, providing a lively literary flavor unrivaled by any other literary tradition.
• Damiana Ligon Eugenio completed her M.A degree in English Literature and folklore
• Marne L. Kilates has published 3 books of poetry and 9 books of translation of Filipino poetry into English.
• Marne poetry: Children of the Snarl - Aklat Peskador, 1987
• Marne poetry: Poems en Route - UST Publishing House, 1998
• Marne poetry: Mostly in Monsoon Weather - UP Press, 2007
• Marne L. Kilates was born on November 5, 1952, age 64 years old, from Daraga, Albay, Bicol
• Luis Guevarra Dato (4 July 1906 – 29 January 1985):

  • was a Filipino poet, writer, educator and politician from Baao, Camarines Sur.
  • was one of the first Filipinos to write and publish works in English.
  • was also considered as an authority on the Bicol language and culture.
  • also worked as a newspaperman for the Bicol Star, Naga times, and other Newspapers.
• Other Famous Works of Luis Guevarra Dato:

  • Manila: A Collection of Verses (1926)
  • My Book of Verses, I (1936), II undated
  • The Land of Mai: A Philippine Epic, Volume I (1975).
• Day on the Farm by Luis G. Dato
• A Cloud Named Looking-for-You by Marne L. Kilates
• Ang Duwende by Damiana Ligon Eugenio
• Kilates' own website is All Our Nameable Days where his new and past works, and his translations, may be sampled.