Letters to the Editor
Letters to the
editor are welcome on this page. Only those with complete name,
signature, contact number and return address for verification
shall be considered for publication, subject to editing and space
limitation when necessary - Editor-in-Chief.
Cordero reader
One of the reasons why I keep on reading the Bicol Mail via the
www.Bicolmail.com is I enjoy reading the column — Santigwar by
Kristian Cordero. His column made me in touch and feel the beauty
of the Bicol language, nonetheless relearn the language again.
His current column on “Post-kolonyalismo sa literaturang Bikol” is
a very interesting one. Specially his comments on Manila being the
universal center of literature in the Philippines, with the
negative effect on Philippine literature by making it more
avant-garde, by spicing it up, by adding eroticism and foul
language.
Can’t blame these good writers though, they are individualist, the
very nature of Western thought as Mr. Cordero said: “pagbaranga,
an pagpadis-padis, an pagsuhay-suhay. Ini sa hona ko an halakbang
na pagkakaiba niyato sa pag-isip kan mga tawo duman”.
What is important is Bicolanos should be able to admire and love
literature: by teaching to love and enjoy good drama, poetry and
novels. It would be great if these works were written in Bicol.
But we know, this can’t happen, Bicol literature is as rare as
Halley’s comet. So, why not translate existing great works into
Bicol language.
I love to see if anyone could translate into Bicol: War & Peace,
Grapes of Wrath, Accidental Death of An Anarchist, Burial of
Thebes, El Filibusterismo, Noli Me Tangere, and other great works.
If someone can do that, then the Bicol language will flourish.
We don’t have to worry about the “taglish” literature of Manila.
Manny Ilao
Vancouver, BC, Canada
