In celebration of the National Literature Month, the Sentro ng Wika at Kultura (SWAK) at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) conducted the first online Tertulyang Pampanitikan last April 28. 

With the theme, “Kasaysayan, Wika at Panitikan: Pundasyon ng Pamanang Kultura ng mga Ilokano,” the event virtually convened students and teachers from various schools in the country to talk about Ilokano history, language, and literature. 

Resource speakers were Dr. Joel B. Lopez, schools division superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Batac; Mr. Jayson L. Antonio, local historian and sangguniang bayan secretary in Piddig, Ilocos Norte; and Mr. Leonardo D. Tejano, chief of MMSU Center of Ilokano and Amianan Studies. 

Lopez explained the use of baybayin (an ancient pre-colonial Philippine writing system) with his topic, Silabaryo Ilokano: Ilokanong Pasulat sa Panahon ng mga Katutubo.

Meanwhile, Antonio shared his insights on how the Filipino society is reflected in Ilokano literature through his topic, Ang Panitikang Ilokano: Pagsipat sa Kasaysayan at Kultura ng Lahing Filipino.

For his part, Tejano talked about language, consciousness, and literature in the context of Filipino society by discussing Constante C. Casabar’s book, Dagiti Mariing iti Parbangon (Silang Nagigising sa Madaling Araw). 

Dr. Maria Eliza S. Lopez, MMSU-SWK chief, said more than 300 joined the event via Zoom and 1,600 watched via Facebook live of the MMSU College of Teacher Education. 

She added the participants come from MMSU, North Luzon Philippine State College in Ilocos Sur, Apayao State College and Swan National Agricultural and Trade High School in Apayao, Aurora State College of Technology, Cavite State University, Benedictine School of Cavite, Cebu Normal School, Mindoro State University, and Western Mindanao State University. 

Spearheaded by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, and the National Book Development Board, the literature month celebration revolved around the theme, “Limandaang Taon ng Pagsulat sa Kalibutang Filipino” (500 Years of Writing the Filipino World). – Niña Christelle M. Sumintac