REGIONAL

LITERATURE
Ilocos Region

PREPARED BY: TINTIN ARCALAS

TINTIN ARCALAS
Pedro Bukaneg
■ Acknowledge author of the epic Biag Ni Lam-ang.
■ A Filipino poet.
■ Was a foundling, who shortly after floating in a basket
between Bantay and Vigan was found by an old woman
■ Brought to Bantay Agustinijner priest who baptized him as
Pedro Bukaneg.

TINTIN ARCALAS
Pedro Bukaneg
■ Blind since birth, but grew up as smart and talented.
■ Took lessons in Latin and Spanish and also learned the local
dialects and Ilocano Isneg.
■ Known to translate prayers and sermons in local language.
■ Although blind, he dictated the text of his poems, song and
translations as someone wrote it down.

TINTIN ARCALAS
Pedro Bukaneg
■ Translated Doctrina Cristiana to Ilocano which was printed in
1593 as one of the first book in the Philippines and was
intended for the use in the local population.
■ In 1621, the Ilocano translation was printed in the
Augustinian Convent in Manila.
■ Known to translate prayers an sermons in local language.
■ Arte de Lengua Iloca, the first grammar book, co-authored
with Fr. Francisco Lopez
TINTIN ARCALAS
Pedro Bukaneg
■ He was born on March 1592 and died circa 1630, his
works of literature are preserved to be written in history.

TINTIN ARCALAS
Leonora Florentino
■ Mother of Philippine Women’s Literature.
■ Born on April 19, 1849 – October 4, 1884
■ Poet in Spanish and Ilocano
■ At the age of 10, she can write poems in Ilocano and speak
well in Spanish.
■ Fr. Evaristo Abaya flourished her Spanish skills and help her
voice out her thoughts in poems.

TINTIN ARCALAS
Leonora Florentino
■ She was really intelligent, yet she wasn’t allowed to study due
to her gender.
■ She was instead tutored by her mother & a series of private
teachers.
■ She married a politician named Elias de los Reyes at the age
of 14. together, they had 5 children.
■ Due to feminist nature of her writings, she was shunned by
her husband and son, she lived alone in exile and separated
from her family TINTIN ARCALAS
Leonora Florentino
■ Her well-known works literary pieces are Rucronoy
(Dedication), Naangaway a Cablaw (Good Greetings), Nalpay a
Namnama (Vanishing Hope), Benigna, Para ken Carmen,
Panay Pacada (Farewell) and more.
■ Most of her works got lost but the preserved ones are in the
library of Madrid, Londres at Paris.

TINTIN ARCALAS
Leonora Florentino
■ Although Florentino died at a young age, her works are known
not only in the Philippines but through out Europe
■ She is believed to be the first Filipina recognized as a lady
poet.

TINTIN ARCALAS
Leonora Florentino
Nalpay na namnama

Yantangay siak ket linipatnakon

TINTIN ARCALAS
Leonora Florentino
Blasted Hopes / Vanishing Hopes

But would it be my greatest joy

TINTIN ARCALAS
Isabelo de los Reyes
 Also known as Don Belong
 July 4, 1864 – October 10, 1938
 Prominent politician, writer and labor activist
 Originally founder of Aglipayan Church, an independent
Christian protestant church in the catholic tradition.
 He is the Father of Filipino Socialism

TINTIN ARCALAS
Isabelo de los Reyes
■ Due to his anti-catholic writings, he therefore got the
nickname
■ Pope Leo XIII formally excommunicated Reyes in 1903 as an
apostate
■ He followed his mother’s footsteps by initially turning to
writing as a career.
■ Won an award at the age of 23 for his first written book.
TINTIN ARCALAS
Isabelo de los Reyes
■ Became a journalist, editor, and publisher in Manila.
■ Imprisoned in 1897 for revolutionary
■ Deported to Spain, and was jailed until 1898.
■ While being there, he got influenced by the writings of
European socialists and Marxists.
■ Returning to Philippines in 1901, he founded the first labor in
the country.
TINTIN ARCALAS
Isabelo de los Reyes
■ He is also active in seeking independence from the US
■ After serving the Philippines in the 1920’s, he settled into
private life and religious writing.
■ Had a total of 27 children with 3 successive wives.

TINTIN ARCALAS
Carlos Bulosan
■ Born (November 2, 1913) to Ilocano parents in the Philippines
in Binalonan, Pangasinan.
■ Most of his youth was spent in the countryside as a farmer.
■ His hometown is the starting point of his famous semi-
autobiographical novel, America is in the Heart.
■ Left for America on July 22, 1930 at the age of 17.

TINTIN ARCALAS
Carlos Bulosan
■ Upon arriving in Seattle, he met with racism and was forced to
work in a low paying.
■ He worked as a farmworker, harvesting grapes and
asparagus, and doing other types of hard work in the fields of
California. He also worked as a dishwasher with his brother in
the famous Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.

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Carlos Bulosan
WORKS
■ America is in the Heart
■ The Laughter of My Father
■ The Cry and the Dedication
■ My Father’s Tragedy
■ The Romance of Magno Rubio
■ If you want to Know What We Are
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Carlos Bulosan
AMERICA IS IN THE HEART
“The old world is dying, but a new world is being born. It
generates inspiration from the chaos that beats upon us all. The
false grandeur and security, the number of the dead and those
about to die, will charge the forces of our courage and
determination. The old world will die so that the new world will
be born with less sacrifice and agony on the living.”
TINTIN ARCALAS
F. Sionil Jose
■ Born in Rosales, Pangasinan the setting of his many stories
(December 3, 1924)
■ Ilocano descent whose family had migrated to Pangasinan to
flee from poverty.
■ His influences: his mother, Jose Rizal
■ Critically acclaimed Filipino internationally yet underrated in
his own country.
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F. Sionil Jose
AWARDS
■ Pablo Neruda Centennial Award (2004) Philippine National
Artist for Literature (2001)
■ Chevalier dans I’Ordre des Arts et Lettres (2000)
■ Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and
Creative Communication Arts (1980)
■ City of Manila Award for Literature – 1979 Carlos Palanca
Memorial Award for Literature (1959, 1979, 1980, 1981)
TINTIN ARCALAS
F. Sionil Jose
AWARDS
■ Attended UST after WW2 but dropped out and plunged into
writing and journalism in Manila.
■ Edited various literary and journalistic publications, started a
publishing house and founded the Philippine branch of PEN,
an international organization for writers.
■ His writings talk about social justice and change to better the
lives of average Filipino families.
TINTIN ARCALAS
 FINISH LINE!!!
CONGRATULATIONS 