Interviewing an Ilocano Writer

A Memoir sewn together

As John Cheever once quoted that literature has been the salvation of the damned, literature has inspired and guided lover, routed despair and can perhaps save the world, which just means that it has been a fundamental part of one’s life for it places an emphasis on many topics from human tragedies to tales of the ever-popular search for love. It is just physically written in words but these come alive in the imagination of the mind and its ability to comprehend the simplicity or complexity of the text. No doubt that from our ancestors up to now, literature keeps on nurturing and being developed by writers who are teaching their readers within the journeys inscribed in pages. Writers who’ve been passionate in this endeavour that made them popular through their way and styles in writing which made a significant impact to the readers and as time passes by, Ilocanos kept in being exposed to literature in the most stripped forms to as complex as an hundred-pages pieces which is the first step that many take towards the literary world.

Progressively, Ilocanos gradually became writers and explored different genres from the earliest age up to now. Comprehending situations from many perspectives led them to come up folk songs, riddles, proverbs, lamentations called dung-aw, and epic stories in written or oral forms until the time of the Spaniards wherein there was a study of Iloko poetry that could be found in the Gramatica Ilokana which was published in 1895. Basically speaking, our literature goes with the shape of the styles of those who ruled our country but Ilocano writers never hesitated to show their wit in this field and one of them was Pedro Bukaneg who was named as the “Father of Ilocano Poetry and Literature”. Subsequently, Ilocano literature developed in many means and now, religious literatures are being used in the church to worship the Lord.

Another breakthrough in our literature was when Bannawag magazine hit the streets and reached its headland wherein Ilocanos started to write literary pieces wherein they have different themes but aim to express themselves through writing and as a result, the pair of fresh eyes of the Ilocano readers made a reflection on their own lives that taught them morals and encourage them to practice good judgment. These pieces were meant to be reflective of human nature, both the good and bad. Henceforth, Ilocano writers just want to impact change through their writings and let them envision different situations that led more intrusive in this society.

Many have entered in this field but few have proven their worth as a writer which is to inspire others by means of their pieces and one of them is Jennifer Marianne Peralta a.ka Shuleng who considers being a mother of four and a grandmother as the most precious title that she could ever be proud of. A Bachelor of Arts in Communications major in Broadcast Communication, minor in Communication research graduate in University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman by a scholarship grant wherein while having her tertiary school, she gave birth to two children. It might took her longer years to finish her studies when she enrolled at University of Santo Tomas (UST), Divine Word College of Laoag (DWCL) and Northwestern University (NWU) due to unexpected pregnancy but successfully got her diploma at UP Diliman by year 1996. A 44-year old woman who seems to be pounded with lots of experiences since she was in her primary and secondary school wherein she always excelled in different competitions in extemporaneous speaking, debates and also in campus journalism that made her college journey much easier despite all the struggles along the way being a mother.

Right after her graduation, NWU hired her as the Executive Assistant of the president as well as an instructor in English Literature, Argumentation and Debate but ended up decided to become a full time mother and gave birth again to another two children whom she contemplates as an inspirational figure in her writings and talks. She has been eyeing for that idea in the making that could inspire others and fruitfully put up Project Becoming Me which aims to conduct various workshops that could expound the idea of life, happiness, contentment, odds and trials, self- discovery and character development. Recently, she was also invited to be a part of Thought Leaders Philippines Speakers and Trainers Bureau under MSS Business Solutions. With her popularity, she has even tried to be a YouTube icon by making a channel and uploaded several videos as she uses Visayan-accent that let her personality be more known to the people. But upon her social media life, she tends to use Facebook as her own diary and posts different perspectives about life and contentment as a being.

With well-known writers in the town, it’s really hard up to reach out to them but she was just the one who showed the real manifestation of humility for she has accepted the request without second thought and upon her character, undeniably she could be a person whom people can get pieces of advice and the real essence of writing which is a product of her first book which was titled “Project Becoming Me” which is just a compilation of all her Facebook posts through the years. It might not be that special except that it is a journey of a woman trying to find the significance of her being. A book that welcomes its readers into her life full of hoy, unhappiness, frustrations, gratefulness and realizations which she coursed through the different stages brought by life.

Her compilation is subdivided into five parts which deals about her life in means of quotes, letters, pictures, stories and messages that illustrates the simplicity out of her being. By her 44 years of existence, she has proven that experience is truly the best teacher that could influence others’ lives. Each chapter represents a huge portion of actuality and first is the ‘Me” hood which is considered the core of the book which just means that the concept of self is after all the beginning and end of ourselves. It consists of quotes which have been written as she continues to discover who she is and her process wasn’t that easy for each line has either cost her a heartbreak or a happy moment. But behind her remarkable lines are memories within herself that made her a better person and proves that the only person who can define one’s self is yourself. Leccion de life which just means life lessons is the second chapter of the book which she has experienced and stood the test of time. For her, the beauty of life is not in those colossal moments of achievements and success but in those reticent moments that her heart skip a beat or two and considered life that has been a roller coaster ride with a series of storms and rainbows along the way. This part targets people to see this life as a battlefield full of odds yet it pounds you to become that warrior to conquer every bout and become victorious. It consists of notes to self and self-reminders which are all bout positivity and greatness of one’s self.

Tough times as the third chapter wherein it’s inevitable for us not to experiences and goes to be in a lot of hard one situations and difficult times. But the things are always to keep things in perspective because sometimes we allow each and every problem get bigger rather, it’s a must to move forward to make changes. Acknowledge fear and deal with it and always keep positive thoughts in a negative mind. The fourth one is the Mommy Duty, a mother inspired quotes who seems to be the most important person for she has been the one who suffered a lot to bring a child into this world and impart the basics and teachings in this world. A mother who seems to be an inspirational figure which can be read in the book by her stories of hardships of having a child with their troubles along the way of growing up and a smile of mother for every success of her children. Not to forget he stories wither her better half and how they raised such family. Last part is the Bliss which is all about love. Love that runs this world and the driving force for every action which is according to her.

She wrote this book out her of life and doesn’t want to end her life without making one. Her compilation was also a compilation of her life and every line seems relevant to her as what humanity taught herand she wrote every word trying to craft a significant change by publishing such book. This book revolves about her family, experiences, happy moments and downfalls, stand as a citizen, as a daughter, as a mother, as a wife and her self alone. Her experiences was brought into words to enlighten others as well and can be seen her simplicity as she runs her life being positive as always despite all the difficulties. It speaks out about her gratefulness for her children as they are now almost at the peak of the success on their chosen endeavour and she is still proud of herself even though she has faced a lot of hard and tough times that made her humiliated those days. She considered those as powerful motivation to continue life and live it at its best.

For Ilocanos, this literary piece could be easily comprehended and appreciated for it has a lot of Ilocano life-based experiences which were converted into texts that can serve as a reflection on their own. A story of a loving mother which is not a rare idea for all of the Ilocano moms who can do a lot of sacrifices for her family and stands as a guide and light for her children. This book represents all the Ilocano out there who seems to be idealistic in their own but still trying to etch themselves to be better and make every dream a reality. Another one that can be seen in the book which is a characteristics of every Ilocano is that amidst every struggles, gratefulness for the Almighty Creator should come first and have that ability to be thankful in any means.

Truly that literature changes many aspects in our lives and this could only be relevant to those who really care for it allows us to explore and contemplate the human condition and Jennifer Marianne Peralta actually proved that the power of literature lies partly in its capacity to change and surprise us, including the shock of understanding other lives. By the help of people and experiences, literatures comes effortlessly and can be easily written and now using technological approach. Everybody can write about realization for every happenings and that’s the essence of literature. Even if there are too many people who believe that literature is simply not important or underestimate its abilities stand the test of time and give us knowledge, this is a stigma in society which needs to be rectified and attest that this could expand our horizons from a leap into the past.

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