“We would like to see how precisely these areas will effectively be implemented beyond the dried signatures”
WE OWN this buoyant feeling following the signed agreement this week between GUMIL Filipinas, the 57-year-old association of Ilokano writers here and abroad, and the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan, officially established as such in June 1965.
We have read the agreement, which persuades us that both sides are straightforward in their intention to cooperate in preserving, developing, and promoting Ilokano language, literature and culture.
While the statement provides broad strokes, we have this intuition that much can be done from the intent, given flesh and soul by the signatories, Dr. Erwin Cardona, UNP president, and award-winning fictionist Ariel Sotelo Tabag, GUMIL Filipinas president.
For instance, both are in accord that cooperation and development of activities may extend to any fields and subjects in which the two parties may identify.
The parties, as from Oct 6, have agreed to cooperate in an all-inclusive statement on general areas of mutual interest and cooperation:
Joint conferences, research activities, and programs on preservation, development and promotion of Ilokano language, literature and culture; Exchange of subject experts for lectures. and invitations to scholars/students (on the part of UNP) and members (on the part of GUMIL Filipinas) for participation in conventions, conferences, symposia and instruction;
We, as an academic and a member of GUMIL Filipinas, would like to see how precisely these areas will effectively be implemented beyond the dried signatures, even while we are aware that conditions and arrangements for specific activities and other forms of cooperation will be negotiated for each specific case.
We are upbeat that they have their eyes on language, literature and culture, given that this multilingual nation of 117 million people must be encouraged to promote and preserve their respective languages which mirror their rich culture/
But what is language, what is literature, and what is culture?
Linguists and polyglots define language as a structured system of conventional communication, using sounds, gestures, or written symbols to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas within a social group.
It serves as the primary way humans connect and share meaning, with specific forms like spoken language, signed language, and written language.
Beyond communication, language also conveys cultural identity and can be used for emotional expression and imaginative purposes.
The language referred to here is Iloco (also Ilóko, Ilúko, Ilocáno or Ilokáno), an Austronesian languag primarily spoken in the Philippines by the Ilocanos, one of the eight major languages of the multi-ethnic country with about 14 million speakers and ranks as the third most widely spoken native language.
Iloco serves as a regional lingua franca and second language among Filipins in Northern Luzon, particularly among the Cordilleran (Igorot) ethnolinguistic groups, as well as in parts of Cagayan Valley and some areas of Central Luzon, like Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales.
As an Austronesian language, Iloco or Ilocano shares linguistic ties with other Philippine languages and is related to languages such as Indonesian, Malay, Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Māori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan, and Malagasy.
It is closely related to other Northern Luzon languages and exhibits a degree of mutual intelligibility with Balangao language and certain eastern dialects of Bontoc language.
Iloco is also spoken outside of Luzon, including in Mindoro, Palawan, Mindanao, and internationally in Alberta, Vancouver, and Ontario in Canada as well as Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Hawaii, and California in the United States, owing to the extensive Ilocano diaspora in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Literature, in another corner, refers to written or spoken works considered to be of high quality and lasting artistic value, encompassing creative works like poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as the broader category of all written materials.
More than just entertainment or knowledge transmission, literature also explores complex ideas, emotions, and cultural experiences, often preserving a community’s history and identity.
In the third, culture is the complex, shared system of beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and material things that a group of people uses to make sense of their world and to live together. It includes non-physical elements like language, laws, morals, traditions, and beliefs, as well as physical (material) aspects such as art, food, fashion, and architecture.
Culture is learned, dynamic, and constantly evolving as societies interact and adapt to their environments.
We are persuaded that UNP and GUMIL Filipinas can effectively promote culture and language by collaborating on initiatives that integrate literature and cultural understanding, such as, but not limited to, joint workshops, public lectures, and shared digital platforms.
After all, literature offers a powerful lens for exploring cultural values and histories, and GUMIL Filipinas, in this digital age, can help provide community engagement and specialized expertise, create a natural partnership to foster deeper linguistic and cultural competence for students and the public.
We hold our hopes high the GUMIL Filipinas-UNP partnership will pave the way for a better understanding of the language, literature and culture of the region.
