'Toy napigket nga daga
Pitpitenmi nga umuna
Danggayanmi't kankanta
Takkiagmi a napigsa
Kettang ken bannogmi
dikam igingina 

     Mannamili
     Ilokano Folk Song

ABSTRACT

Writing has been a part of my life; I started to write early as soon as I had the faculty to contemplate on the mysteries of language and its sounds.  The nationally circulated Bannawag started me off to appreciate what good writing in the language is—good writing that is sweet and at the same time leaves you wanting for more.  My late father was an avid reader of that magazine, and as soon as I could read, I would share in that eagerness to get hold of that reading material each week.  I was five or six years old when I learned to read while sitting beside him as he read all those stories.  Eventually, as I got to be older, Bannawag gave me the freedom to write to heart’s content, with an ever-ready venue for my writings.  

Writing, I realized early on, helped me—it continues to help me—look at the land of my forefathers, my ancestors, and my kin.  This is the reason why many of my works always go back to my Abbarit, Baybayabas, and Labut, the places that are closest to my heart.  There are the settings of my world as a writer and they will remain to be the places whose speech and stories I will continue to explore.

Nakem Centennial Conference Secretariat
E-mail: nakemconference@yahoo.com or precye@aol.com
Phone:  808-956-8405.  FAX:  808- 956-5978
Website developed and maintained by Raymund Ll. Liongson