The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) held a forum on Panitikang Rehiyonal and launched 21 books for the second Aklat ng Bayan, as part of the celebration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.
The forum featured professors Junley Lazaga of the University of the Philippines-Baguio, Kristian Cordero of Ateneo de Naga University and John Iremil Teodoro of Miriam College, all prominent writers and poets.
Lazaga focused on Pedro Bucaneg, the father of Ilocano literature, and the historical beginnings of Ilocano literature. He said regional literature could not be separated from national literature.
Cordero focused on Bicolano literature while Teodoro talked about Western Visayan literature.
Teodoro said the national language should be celebrated every day, not just for a month.
Renowned poet and author Rebecca Añonuevo said every day should be an occasion to honor the national language.
KWF launched the second Aklat ng Bayan, part of its long-term project to start the Aklatan ng Bayan (Library of Knowledge) that will promote the use of the Filipino language in creative writing and research.
Commissioner Purificacion Delima, KWF officer in charge, said Aklat ng Bayan would showcase different materials on language and literature from different regions, aside from those in Filipino.
Delima said Aklat ng Bayan aimed to enrich and develop the Filipino language in both verbal and written forms.
She said KWF wants to develop a national culture and literature that would promote a national identity.
The books launched included Filipino translations of classics like “Seven Stories” by Anton Chekhov,
“Gitanjali” by Rabindranath Tagore, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” by Ernest Hemingway, “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka and “The Necklace and Other Stories” by Guy de Maupassant.
Anthologies from different Philippine languages included “Mga Retrato han Akon Bungto at iba pang Akda” (Waray), “Pagbalik sang Babaylan” (Hiligaynon), “Dandaniw Ilokano” (Ilokano), “Pagdakëp sa Ilahas” (Kinaray-a), and “An Satuyang Kakanon sa Aro-aldaw” (Bikol).
Among the books on philosophy, translation, literature, language and culture were “Bayung Sunis,” “Huseng Sisiw,” “Buhay at Kulturang Filipino,” “Ang Rebolusyong Filipino,” “Atlas ng mga Bansa sa Mundo,” “Ang Republika ni Mabini,” “Introduksiyon sa Pagsasalin,” “Naku, ang Maynila!,” “Isang Sariling Wikang Pambansa” and “Sawikaan: Isang Dekada ng Pagpili ng Salita ng Taon.”
The books will be available at the KWF booth at the Manila International Book Fair on Sept. 16-20 at SM Mall of Asia. Anne Dominguez, Contributor