THE publication of Malagilion: Sonnets tan Villanelles by Santiago B. Villafania (363 pp. Manila: Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and Emilio Aguinaldo College, 2007) should be a source of rejoicing for readers of regional literatures. This second book by Pangasinan’s leading poet today is impressive in both form and substance. Villafania has created 300 sonnets and 50 villanelles in his own language that attempt to reflect the primacy of native culture and return the poet to the central stage of social life. There is a sense of urgency here, considering that Pangasinan literature is in a lamentable state. As the Villafania himself said, “Pangasinan poets today lack the invigorating environment of a literary movement. We are alone in a wasteland and without support from the ‘cultural ambient.’ We are a dying tribe on the verge of extinction.” His hyperbole aside, Pangasinan really has not done well in competition with English, Tagalog, and Ilocano; there are no significant literary and journalistic publications to nourish and sustain a regional literature; and the provincial government does not seem to give priority to the revitalization of Pangasinan as a common medium of communication, in spite of the fact that it has more than one and a half million speakers.

Indeed, Pangasinan’s case is similar to those of other regions in the country whose literary development suffers in the multilingual setting. They are disadvantaged and imperiled by the continuing global influence of English and the vigilance of major local languages asserting their claim to a national audience. Because of this, changing the situation for the better is a gargantuan task, if not impossible. It needs massive and simultaneous efforts from all sectors of society. On the government’s side, programs for the resurgence and spread of Pangasinan must be made, like instituting literary awards, writers’ training centers, and publication outlets. On the part of the Department of Education, it should push Pangasinan as the medium of instruction in the elementary level and situate Pangasinan literature in the curriculum. On the part of the writers, achieving literary excellence should be the primary concern. This involves organizing the practitioners into a no-nonsense group that will systematize production and disseminate of their works and maintain a healthy creative environment. Without sacrificing their individual writing activities, they should interact with private and government agencies to help restore pride in Pangasinan culture and rescue its literary heritage from stagnation.

The writers must assume leadership in this matter, of course, for their works are the building blocks of the envisioned change. Such book as Malagilion is a step in that direction. As Crisanta Nelmida-Flores says in her introduction, “Writing more and more about the need to revitalize the anlong tradition (Pangasinan poetry) and to recognize the Pangasinan language, Villafania is evidently writing for the present and future crop of writers in Pangasinan. Coaxing them to write in the vernacular, instilling in them the love of origin and language, and agitating the young uninitiated Pangasinan folk to take a decisive path.” And Villafania takes his mission seriously, as indicated by his book title—a combination from “malapati” (dove), “agila” (eagle), and “lion” (lion). He explains, “Malapati symbolizes the birth and infancy of Pangasinan anlong. The agila is the Now flying high. The lion is the future of anlong asserting its place in the national consciousness and psyche.” When the future will come remains to be seen, but Ricardo Ma. Nolasco of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino is right in saying that the book has an added significance. “It is a call to other writers in other Philippine languages to enrich their writing, for without local literatures, a true national literature is impossible.”

– from Breaking Signs by Cirilo F. Bautista (Philippine Panorama, 16 Dec. 2007, pp.25-26)

Labels: articles, Cirilo Bautista, Malagilion, pangasinan

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