A brief survey of Iloko literature from the beginnings to its present development, with a bibliography of works pertaining to the Iloko people and their language, by Leopoldo Y. Yabes.

ILOKO LITERATURE

Marcelino Crisologo is almost unanimously accepted by Iloko writers as the most notable novelist so far produced by
lloko literature. It is to be regretted that most of his works
still exist in manuscript form, of which, Mining wenno Ayat
t, cararua (Mining or Love of the Soul), has been published.
The unpublished novels are Pinang, Maudi a Tungiab (Last
Gasp), Codigo municipal, and Bugsot ti puso (Heart's Death
Agony). Leon C. Pichay, a nephew of the novelist and himself a novelist, believes that these novels are better in many
ways than Mining.10 But if Crisologo had written only Mining,
he would still occupy the most eminent place among the Iloko
novelists. This work is undoubtedly the best Iloko novel printed,
the masterpiece of Iloko prose. It was first published in 1914
and reprinted in 1932. It is a stirring love story connected with
the Philippine Revolution. The scene is laid alternately in the
Ilokos and Manila and the surrounding provinces, particularly
Cavite, where a great number of the events take place. It is
in many respects more truly national in character than Rizal's
novels or any of the more important novels in Tagalog because
the setting covers a wider field and because it has both Ilokos
and Tagalogs as characters. The epic story covers a period of
about a score of years.
Patriotism is the author's underlying message. In the
novel breathes the soul of a people, a spirit that has suffered
keenly from countless trials and disappointments, yet is ever
buoyant and hope-laden. Though distinctly Iloko and for that
matter Filipino, the story is not wholly Filipino. Humanity,
together with nationality, pulses through. The characters as
human beings may be found anywhere on earth, in the East or
in the West, for human beings are essentially the same all the
world over. After all, human and elemental emotions are of
the world, of humanity, not of any one nation or race.
Since 1920 there has been an ever increasing number of
Iloko novels. Among the more important novelists are as follows: Marcos E. Millon (Nasamit ken narucbus nga sabong
daguiti dardarepdep ti agbanbaniaga-Sweet and Fresh Flower
of a Traveller's Dreams, 1921); Froilan L. Donato (Binay,
1925); Tomas R. Abrajano (Nanoy, 1926); Eugenio Enriko y
Direkto (Panagballigi ti napanglaw-Triumph of the Poor),;
Mauro A. Penia (Ti arpac-My harp, 1927); Juan D. Bautista
(Yuyeng ni gasat-Fate's Paradise); Arturo R. Centeno (ABC
wenno Dagiti tallo a Jinete ditoy lubong-ABC or the Three
Horsemen of the World, 1927; Taga aw-away-From the Ooun10-This opinion was personally furnished the writer in a personal
interview with Mr. Pichay. The writer has not yet read these unpublished
novels, and so cannot comment on Mr. Pichay's views.