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.

10

ILOKO LITERATURE

says Alexander Lippay, "the, folk-songs of Ilocandia as a whole
are more expressive of joy, vigor, activity, and optimism....
They are expressive of the true spirit of Ilocanos.... "Evidently the Ilokos, despite their centuries of subjection, have not lost
the vigorous and optimistic spirit of their forbears.
1. The War-Songs:-Although to our knowledge no specimen, written or oral, of 'the war-songs of old have come
down to us, it can be deduced from the nature of the present
folk-songs and from the character of the people that these warsongs-as well as many of the other types of songs —were full
of pep and vigor and joy. For then the people were free; they
had no foreign masters; nature was lavish in her bounty; and
life was one long song of activity and freedom and joy.
2. The "Dallot": - The dalUot, believed to be ont
of the most primitive Iloko songs, is an extemporized
song with an ancient air and with a dramatic element,
still popular today, peculiar to the Iloko peasantry. It
is performed by a man and a woman usually in wedding, baptismal, or other feasts. The man sings to the accompaniment
of his kutibeng, an old native five-stringed musical instrument
similar to the guitar, although much smaller. He uses a refrain,
quite uniform throughout the region and quite meaningless, to
break the monotony of his song:5a
Dallanj aya daldallot,
Dallang aya dumidinallot.
The woman, who either sits or stands before him, answers him
in improvised verse. Follows a match of wits on any questions but usually on the question of love; and a remarkable
display of wit on' the part of either actor is met with applause.
The dallot, most possibly, contains the genesis of the Iloko
drama.
3. The "Badeng" or Love Song:-The ancient Ilokos, like
ail peoples, expressed their love in song and verse. The young
men serenaded the objects of their affections and sang to them
songs of love. The following song, "Pamulinawen", one of the
oldest love songs extant, possibly of pre-Spanish date, is still
very popular today, known practically by all the people:
Pamulinawen, Pusok imdengamman
Toy umas-asog, agrayo ita sadiam,
Panuvotemman, dika pagintutulngan
Toy agayat, agrayo ita sadiam.
Pamulinawen, my Love, please hear
Me who am sighing, longing for you;
5a-This refrain cannot be rendered into sensible English. Translations of Iloko scngs, poems, proverbs, riddles, etc., which will be cited
hereafter, are not literal but free. This is so because some of these examples
contain I!oko words and turns of expression which cannot be translated at
all or which cannot be adequately rendered into English.