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.

CHAPTER IV
THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
"Years and years rolled on. Religious ceremonies, rites that caught
the eye, songs, lights, images decked with gold, worship in a strange language, legends, miracles, and sermons-all these hypnotized the already
naturally superstitious spirit of the country, but did not succeed in destroying it altogether in spite of the whole system afterwards developed and
operated with unyielding tenacity."-Jose Rizal.l
The eighteenth century is characterized by the dearth
of its literary works, either in printed or in manuscript
form. Most of the works that have been recorded were not
published at all or were published only during the following
century. Some of the printed works were written during the
previous century, and only a few were written and published
during the same (eighteenth) century. Literary development
did not receive any impetus; on the contrary it was retarded.
Possibly this was chiefly because of the numerous uprisings
that occurred in the region during the century, and secondarily
because of the distance of Manila where the printing presses
were located. History records several uprisings during the century, the most serious and widespread of which was the Ilokos
revolt of 1762 led by Diego Silang. Silang made himself master
of the region for some time and but for his assassination, he
could have made the situation harder for the Spanish authorities. These revolts, and the epidemics and famines which ravaged the region,2 plus the great distance of the region from
the printing presses in Manila, naturally dampened the spirit
of the writers to write and publish works.
As in the previous century, most of the writers were friars.
Very few native writers are recorded to have done any writing.
It is, however, believed that the friars were aided by native
writers, but their collaboration was not acknowledged most possibly because of race prejudice.
A. RELIGIOUS LITERATURE
Throughout this century the religious works predominated
over the non-religious writings. In 1721 Fr. Guillermo Sebastian's Escudos del cristiano, written toward the end of the
previous century, was printed. About the opening of the century Fr. Luis F. Marzan, who died in San Nicolas in 1723,
wrote in Iloko several manuscript works entitled, Via Crucis y
misterios del Rosario con la bendicion papal; Vidas de los patriarcas Abraham, Isaac, Jacob y Jose; Vidas de todos Apostoles
1-"The Philippines a Century Hence", in Quirino and Hilario, Thinking fcr Ourselves, p. 217.
2-See Historia de Ilocos, chapters on the eighteenth century.