Bannawag
has played and still plays a major role in the development of Iloko literature. At present, it
publishes poems (daniw), short stories (sarita), novels (nobela), essays (salaysay), comics,
biographies, folktales and many others including what some call avant garde literary output. It is the
only magazine where Ilokano writers hope to publish most of their writings.
During the magazine's infancy years in the 1930s, most of its contents were translations from
the Liwayway magazine save a novel by Hermogenes F. Belen titled "Nadaraan a Linnaaw" (Blood-
stained Dew) which was serialized in 1947. Other writers at that time included Benjamin M.
Pascual, David D. Campañano, Godofredo S. Reyes, Benito de Castro, Jose P. Acance, Benjamin
Gray, Marcelino A. Foronda, Jr.
In the 1960s, poems, short stories and novels published by the Bannawag became better — in
craftsmanship, development of plots and themes, among others. Writers by then, most of whom
were college students and professionals, had a bigger library of literary books.
To help in the development of the Iloko short story, Bannawag launched a writing contest in 1961.
The judges were Prof. Santiago Alcantara of the National University, Prof. Angel C. Anden of
the Manuel L. Quezon University, and Dr. Marcelino A. Foronda, Jr. of the De La Salle University-
Manila. This contest lasted until 1970. One of the judges said the quality of Iloko short stories was
competitive with those written in English. Before the martial-law era, most of the poems, stories and
novels dwelt on political unrest and protests, like rallies and demonstrations by students,
professionals and workers against the government.(From an essay by Jose A. Bragado. Bragado
is one of the foremost writers in contemporary Ilokano literature. He is a former literary editor
of Bannawag magazine and past president of GUMIL, an international association of Ilokano
writers.)
Iloko Literature: Today and Tomorrow[edit]
Ilokano writers have also published their works in foreign countries. One of the most popular authors
of Ilocano ancestry abroad was the late Carlos Bulosan, a California immigrant born to Ilokano
parents in Pangasinan. And currently, the most internationally translated Filipino author is an Ilokano
from Rosales, Pangasinan—Francisco Sionil Jose, popularly known as F. Sionil Jose. He is famous
for his Rosales saga, a five-novel work about an Ilokano clan, virtually documenting Philippine
history from Spanish time to the years of the Marcos administration. The novels, translated in about
22 languages, are circulated and read around the world.
Back home, many Iloko writers have won major prizes in the annual Palanca Awards, the most
prestigious and most anticipated of all literary contests in the Philippines. These famous winners'
names include Reynaldo A. Duque, Ricarte Agnes, Aurelio S. Agcaoili, Lorenzo G. Tabin, Jaime M.
Agpalo Jr., Prescillano N. Bermudez, William V. Alvarado, Maria Fres-Felix, Clarito G. de Francia,
Arnold Pascual Jose, Eden Aquino Alviar, Severino Pablo, Ariel S. Tabag, Daniel L. Nesperos, Roy
V. Aragon, Danilo Antalan, Joel B. Manuel, Bernardo D. Tabbada, Noli S. Dumlao and others.
Clarito G. de Francia expanded his writings by composing songs in English, when he immigrated to
the U.S. His first work "Fil-Am Song" deals with the pursuit of Filipino-Americans' struggles in the
green fields and their triumphs in great cities. This is followed by "Loyalty for Our Country and
Humanity," a tribute to America as a sanctuary of migrants. President Barack Obama reacted to this
work: "...We should be proud of what we have accomplished together...It’s the optimism and hard
work of people like you that have changed our country for the better..." After that, come "Today is
Your Special" a birthday greetings; "Home Sweet Home" an upliftment of family togetherness;
"Celebrate a Recommitment" an anniversary song; "Live and Share Christ to the World" for
evangelization, etc. These pieces show De Francia's way of encouraging his fellow Filipinos to
impart their heritage, culture and traditions to the world. As a bridge for this idea, he has been
sponsoring a short story writing contest in English, the DEfrancia Awards for Literature(DEAL), since
2017.
The GUMIL - Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano[edit]
Main article: GUMIL Filipinas
On October 19, 1968, GUMIL Filipinas (Ilokano Writers Association of the Philippines) was
organized in Baguio. Arturo M. Padua, then mayor of Sison, Pangasinan, was elected president. The
officers took their oath of office before President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
GUMIL Filipinas or Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Filipinas, Inc., was incorporated and
registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission on January 8, 1977.
GUMIL Filipinas' main objectives are:
o To provide a forum in which Ilokano writers can undertake common and
cooperative efforts to improve their craft of writing literary, historical,
research and other works;
o To enrich Ilokano literature and cultural heritage as phases of the national
identity by encouraging the members to concentrate on writing extensively
and intensively about the social, economic, cultural and other aspects of
growth and development among the Ilokanos through literature, history,
research, or the like;
o To publish books of poetry, short stories, essays, novels, historical accounts,
research and critical studies, and other writings; and
o To assist each member in pursuing his/her writing career and in fulfilling his
life as a member of Philippines society.
(Excerpted from an essay by Jose A. Bragado)
