UPSP A Decade After: Revitalizing Pangasinan
And The Blueprint For The Next Ten Years
Dr. Catalina L. Felicitas and Erwin S. Fernandez
Ulupan na Pansiansia’y Salitan Pangasinan (UPSP)
Abstract
This article traces the history and development of the Ulupan na
Pansiansia’y Salitan Pangasinan (UPSP) [Association for the Preservation
of the Pangasinan Language], the only literary organization in Pangasinan
promoting Pangasinan in literary and audio-visual productions.
Established in 2000 by concerned teachers and writers, UPSP to this year
celebrates a decade of its existence facing challenges in organization,
membership, and funding of projects. This article also presents a viable
plan for UPSP in continuing its vision and mission of revitalizing
Pangasinan for the coming decade.
Introduction
Not well-known to many Pangasinenses and more so to outsiders, the Ulupan na
Pansiansia’y Salitan Pangasinan [Association for the Preservation of the Pangasinan
Language] has been, since the year 2000 up to now, doing its share in making Pangasinan
alive, not a dying language as many would claim and those of us who love the language
would fear.
But the claim that Pangasinan as a dying language had been issued as a warning since the
1930s when Ilokanos had dominantly settled in the province (Icagasi 1982). In the late
1980s, a group called “Save the Pangasinan Dialect Movement” (SPAM) was led by Luis
F. Samson, a lawyer and then the president of the Association of Private Schools,
Colleges, and Universities (APSCU) in Region 1, Dr. Guido Tiong of Virgen Milagrosa
University Foundation and the late board member Roberto N. Ferrer who introduced a
resolution in the Pangasinan Provincial Board making the teaching of the language
compulsory in the elementary and high school curricula. Even retired UP professor
Ernesto Serote (1993) and late Pangasinan writer and editor Armando Ravanzo (1993?)
had joined the chorus in calling for immediate action for the revitalization of Pangasinan.
The decline of Pangasinan as a language had been attested to by studies. It was clear that
Pangasinan showed signs of endangerment (Anderson and Anderson 2007). An
intergenerational survey further revealed that the present generation prefers to speak and
write in Filipino and English rather than in their own language (Lomboy 2007).
But this scenario had to be dealt with by the growing and rising consciousness of
Pangasinenses in their own identity, culture and language. And one of the prime-movers
in this counter-consciousness is the UPSP. In this article, the history of UPSP since 2000
is given and the blueprint for a stronger UPSP in the coming ten years is presented.
Early beginnings: The founders’ group
To save the Pangasinan language from dying is the ultimate reason that the UPSP was
organized. We often hear Pangasinenses say, whether alarmist or not, that the Pangasinan
language is dying. Yet they do nothing about it. In fact, many don’t even speak
Pangasinan anymore. This sad predicament is known to all and the apathy of the many
could no longer be tolerated by a few academicians, concerned civic leaders and citizens
who formally organized themselves to help in the promotion, preservation and use of the
Pangasinan language.
Thus, the UPSP, known for short as Ulupan, was organized on 23 July 2000 in one of the
rooms of the Pangasinan State University, Lingayen Campus, under the leadership of the
former DTI Provincial Director Jaime Pasagoy Lucas, who is a well-known Ilocano poet
and writer and whose Pangasinense mother hails from Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The
co-founders are Dr. Perla Samson-Nelmida, an educator and proponent of Pangasinan
theater, her daughter and UP professor, Dr. Maria Rosario Nelmida-Flores, both from San
Carlos City, Atty. Bong Cruz of Dagupan City, Pastor Isidro Loresco of Mangaldan, and
four educators from the Pangasinan State University in Lingayen: Dr. Linda R. Andaya, a
retiree now based in the United States, Dr. Catalina L. Felicitas, co-author of this paper,
also a retiree from PSU as associate dean of CAST, and former college dean of the
Pangasinan Memorial College, Dr. Juanita C. Anoc, also retired PSU professor and now
dean of the College of Education in Mangatarem, and Dr. Fe Soriano, associate dean of
the Pangasinan State University in Lingayen. Jaime Lucas was elected as the first and
founding president and served for the term 2000-2003.
Organization
Immediately after his election as president, the dynamic Jaime Lucas who is an able
organization man himself being then the provincial head of the Department of Trade and
Industry, moved fast: the by-laws was drafted, the organization incorporated and soon
was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Baguio City.
After the incorporation of UPSP, the quarterly magazine Balon Silew was organized and
the first issue was printed on October 28, 2000 with Linda R. Andaya as the first editorin-chief succeeded by the following editors: Mr. Sergio A. Bumadilla, Nap F. Resultay
and Erwin S. Fernandez. As provided in the by-laws, a general assembly is conducted
every two years to elect a new set of officers. The second general assembly was held on
April 25, 2003 at the Libsong Elementary School in Lingayen and Dr. Linda R. Andaya
was elected as the second president for the term 2003-2005.
Dr. Felicitas was elected third president at its third general assembly on May 21, 2005 at
the Libsong Elementary School in Lingayen, Pangasinan for the term 2005-2007. At its
fourth general assembly held last September 2, 2007 at the Amphitheater of the Central
School I in San Carlos City through the courtesy of Dr. Marcelo M. Casillan Jr., Dr.
Rodrigo B. Javier succeeded Dr. Felicitas for 2007-2009. At its fifth general assembly in
September 2009, Mr. Emiliano V. Jovellanos was elected fifth president for the term
2009-2011.
Membership growth
UPSP had a surge in membership growth as there were many Pangasinenses who were
similarly alarmed at the diminishing numbers of Pangasinan-speaking Pangasinenses.
The publication and circulation of the Balon Silew also captured the attention of
concerned Pangasinenses who love their language and joined the first generation of UPSP
members.
Following the founders’ group is the second generation of UPSP members: Sergio A.
Bumadilla, Dr. Rodrigo B. Javier, Pastor Moises Guarin, Emiliano (Mel) V. Jovellanos,
Leonarda Carrera Baltazar, Dr. Basilisa Camacho, Dr. Fe Fernandez, Dr. Florita Lopez,
Bryce Fabro, Clarita Doria, Marino R. Repalda, Elnora Dudang and Nap F. Resultay.
The third group of members included Dr. Benigno Castro, Marvin Quilates, Sonny
Villafania, Dr. Ramon Bernardo, Salvador Mallanes, Dr. Leticia Lopez, Merla Aquino,
Honorio Felomino, Dr. Lydia Buduhan, Chary Valencerina, Salome Montemayor, Mila
Pedralvez, Mrs. Cecilia Daranciang, and Larry Milanes. While the latest members we
have are the following: Melchor Orpilla, Myra Catungal, Mary Ann Macaranas, Dr.
Purificacion Mendoza and Erwin S. Fernandez.
To add are the ten life members namely Jaime P. Lucas, Linda R. Andaya, Leonarda
Carrera-Baltazar, Catalina L. Felicitas, Rodrigo B. Javier, Sonny B. Villafania, Marvin G.
Quilates, Salvador V. Mallanes, Emiliano (Mel) V. Jovellanos, Sergio A. Bumadilla,
Russell Lomboy, Elvira B. Estravo and Letecia Macaraeg.
Office facilities
There is no fixed office and facilities where UPSP holds its meetings and gatherings.
During the first few months, we usually meet at the Pangasinan State University.
Thereafter, and during the term of Director Lucas, we meet at his DTI office and
sometimes at the residence of one of the officers. So we carry our files and records from
place to place. We are looking forward that office facilities like computer, laptop and
other office material be acquired by the UPSP to be able to facilitate each operation for
better delivery of services.
Despite these hardships, we continued our rocky journey and still carry on our seemingly
“mission impossible” of helping save our language from decay. We draw our expenses
from our own pockets and work in the spirit of volunteerism. We are inspired working
however not for ourselves as officers and members, not for our families and friends but
for the whole province of Pangasinan. We accept this as a challenge on our shoulders
making steps on how to make it known and last as the leading literary group in the
province.
Balon Silew: Promoting Pangasinan as a literary language
After UPSP’s incorporation, the publication of the Balon Silew followed. The quarterly
magazine was duly registered with the National Library and the Department of Trade
Industry Dagupan City. The Balon Silew publishes the best contemporary Pangasinan
literature featuring poems, essays, news, bio-sketches, and short stories by Pangasinan
writers. Since Pangasinan as a province is a composite of other languages, few articles in
Ilocano and English are published; thus, 70 percent is in the Pangasinan language and 30
percent for writings in other languages.
Its first quarterly issue was published in October 2000 with 500 copies subscribed by the
members and for general circulation. Now it is maintained to 300 copies per quarterly
issue. One vexing problem that UPSP had to surmount is the circulation and printing of
Balon Silew due to lack of funds. Despite these difficulties, UPSP had continuously
pushed through the Balon Silew publication up the latest issue we have on circulation
today.
Under the second president’s administration, Dr. Linda Andaya, the publication of the
Balon Silew was made possible through the sponsorship of our WAPSA friends
(Washington-Pangasinan Sisterhood Association) through our representative Mrs. Cecilia
B. Daranciang as the authorized liaison officer abroad until 2004. We thank them for
their patronage and support. To name a few of the WAPSA donors, included in the list
are Rick Beltran, Francisco Palisoc, Alma Veloria, and Lydia Romero.
During the third term, in spite of financial and manpower constraints, the quarterly
publication of Balon Silew issue was continuously sustained. This was made possible
through the kindness of our benevolent benefactors whom we had patiently approached.
The UPSP had produced 27 different quarterly issues since 2000 up to 2007 equivalent to
a total of 6200 copies of Balon Silew. Printing of the Balon Silew declined during the
term 2007-2009 due to stubborn financial constraints. Only two issues were printed to
include the issue under the new administration.
UPSP patrons and benefactors
Foremost among UPSP patrons and benefactors is Dr. Marcelo M Casillan Jr., educator,
NGO practitioner and philanthropist from San Carlos City who served as UPSP
consultant and adviser. He donated an amount that sustained the printing of the Balon
Silew for seven consecutive issues at P 8000 per quarter issue, and other projects, making
the Balon Silew quarterly issues near complete during the third term.
Another loyal benefactor is Engr. Orlando R. Bartolome, present vice-mayor of Lingayen
who also supported the printing of the Balon Silew. He also serves as UPSP consultant
and adviser whose residence hosted several UPSP meetings. He was also diligent in
going with us to several events in representation of UPSP for networking with writers and
similar associations and allowed the free use of his van for a number of times.
Also to be thanked for is the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF or the Commission on
the Filipino Language) under Dr. Ricardo Ma. D. Nolasco. It was during Dr. Nolasco’s
term that Pangasinan and other non-Tagalog languages were included in the writing
contest for poetry and short story sponsored by the commission.
Along with the commission, the Don Jose de Guzman Tamayo Foundation under Dr.
Antonio L. Tamayo who is also the incumbent commissioner for Pangasinan language
sponsored the First Conference on Revitalizing Pangasinan Language and Cultural
Heritage held at Urdaneta City in November 2007. The Foundation is also credited for a
grant of P15,000 – enough to bail us out of our printing obligation for December 2007
issue of the Balon Silew at the printing press.
We also extend our sincere acknowledgement to Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr., for donating
P 20,000 when he was still Congressman so that half of this amount was paid for the
December 2008 printing of the Balon Silew and other projects. During his term as
governor, Gov. Espino has recognized Pangasinan as sort of official language of the
province and ordered the speaking of Pangasinan in transactions at the Provincial Capitol.
This is an opening that UPSP had to take advantage of in the next decade since a cultural
renaissance in Pangasinan is in the offing.
UPSP activities
The terms of the first and founding president, Jaime P. Lucas, and the second, Linda R.
Andaya, spanned five years (2000-2005) of numerous activities during which seminars
on book writing, essay writing, poetry writing, and news writing were held. World Poetry
Day was celebrated with poetry reading held at the then Computronix College, now
Colegio de Dagupan.
During the third term, in May 2006, we established network with the Komisyon sa
Wikang Filipino, headed by Dr. Nolasco, and managed to have Pangasinan included as
one of the featured language in the poetry writing contest. Six budding Pangasinan poets
garnered three major awards and three consolation prices. About 26 different entries were
recorded to the said contest sponsored by the commission.
In 2007 Pangasinan was included in two contest categories: poetry and short story
sponsored jointly by the KWF and the Dr. Jose de Guzman Tamayo Foundation. Only the
Pangasinan poetry yielded another set of promising poets in the Pangasinan language.
In February 2007 we have completed the draft of Tagano ed Kelang, the first anthology
of published and unpublished poems and essays by Pangasinan writers now ready for
printing but still needs additional funding.
The blueprint for Pangasinan cultural renaissance
It can be correctly said that early organizations had called for the revitalization of
Pangasinan but it was the UPSP which succeeded and survived what it started in 2000 up
to the present. But there is no need to be complacent since the organization faces a lot of
challenges in terms of funding, organization and membership and project
implementation.
Unlike other cultural organizations that are well-funded, the UPSP since its founding
days had to scrape for funds to exist. We have to beg from civic-spirited citizens, political
leaders, and businessmen just to survive. All our officers and members serve on a
voluntary basis with no compensation or honorarium whatsoever. We offer our time and
energy just for the sake of our beloved Pangasinan language.
As noted earlier, the recognition of Pangasinan by Gov. Espino had to be taken advantage
of. The growing consciousness of Pangasinenses as regards their identity and culture as
embodied in the language had to be exploited as well. A select group of young
Pangasinenses in the fields of history, literature and film leads the way for the
revitalization of Pangasinan culture – a cultural renaissance in the making. Studies on the
history of Pangasinan and the advocacy for Pangasinan studies had been published
(2008). In 2007 a collection of poetry in Pangasinan had been released. Recently, a fulllength feature film in the Pangasinan language, the Anacbanua, won honors in the 2009
Cinemanila International Film Festival.
The annual culture fund. To sustain this momentum and with the objective of creating a
pool of creative writers and artists in the Pangasinan language, the UPSP had passed a
resolution on December 27, 2009 to be submitted to the Provincial Government of
Pangasinan requesting for the creation of an annual culture fund “for the promotion of
Pangasinan language, literature and culture, and shall be put under a Trust Fund solely for
the promotion and development of Pangasinan language, literature and culture.” The
establishment of an annual culture fund agrees with the Executive Order No. 0073-2009
signed by Gov. Espino mandating the creation of Pangasinan Culture and Arts Group.
This fund is stipulated to provide financial support for the publication of literary and
audiovisual (not limited to film, music and painting) productions featuring the
Pangasinan language, the staging of festivals, modern theater and zarzuela in Pangasinan,
extending to television and radio shows and the sponsorship of creative writing
workshops and literary contests in Pangasinan. In part, this annual culture fund answers
UPSP’s perennial lack of fund and opens other organizations and independent individuals
with similar goals of preserving and revitalizing Pangasinan to spearhead their own
projects with the funding subject to the approval of the committee appointed to manage
the fund.
In the resolution, the UPSP also requests the provincial board to pass “a resolution
requiring all Pangasinan weeklies and publications to designate a section in the
Pangasinan language where Pangasinan writers can publish their poetry, short story and
essay with corresponding payment to the writers to encourage and sustain them in their
writing.” Again, it also requests the provincial board to pass “a resolution requiring all
Pangasinan AM and FM radio stations to allot at least a Thirty Minute Primetime Airtime
everyday devoted to music, programs and infomercials in the Pangasinan language to
instill pride and cultural awareness among Pangasinenses.”
UPSP chapters and the seeking of generous patrons
To create a wider base for UPSP membership, there is a need to establish UPSP chapters
in all towns and cities of Pangasinan, and in Pangasinan communities outside the
province such as in Paniqui and Camiling in Tarlac, some towns in Zambales and La
Union, some areas in Metro Manila and Mindanao as well as Pangasinan enclaves in the
United States particularly California, in Saudi Arabia and other countries where a
significant number of Pangasinenses live. Members are classified into two: those who
write in Pangasinan and those who read the magazine or support the UPSP. Types of
membership are divided into two according to the amount of dues a member pays: annual
(P300) and lifetime (P3000).
To augment the minimum amount collected from membership dues and the minimal sales
from the Balon Silew, seeking the support of would-be patrons who would cash in some
financial support in the following categories: Bronze Patron: P 10, 000; Silver Patron: P
20, 000; Golden Patron: P 30, 000; and Diamond Patron: P 50, 000 would put UPSP in
some financial autonomy enabling it to shoulder its own operating expenses, rent its own
space and buy necessary office equipment.
Advocating MLE
To sustain the preservation of the Pangasinan language, UPSP had to cooperate as much
as possible with Department of Education (DepEd) particularly Pangasinan division
superintendents in the implementation of MLE (multilingual education). UPSP’s mission
of revitalizing the language will come to naught without creating a pool of readers in this
language. To develop readers in the Pangasinan language, Pangasinan should be taught in
the preschool, elementary, secondary and college levels. Among these readers, one would
come out as a writer who will sustain the development of Pangasinan literature. UPSP
had published the Balon Silew since 2000 featuring poems, short stories, and novels in
the Pangasinan language so that there are available materials in the local language. Also,
UPSP had tried to come out recently with uniform orthography but there are issues that
need to be resolved. UPSP, however, had to develop a group of writers in its fold
specializing in children’s and juvenile literatures to cater to the need for materials for
preschoolers and first and second graders.
Campaigning for a center for Pangasinan studies and a creative writing center
Gov. Espino had directed the renovation of the Sison auditorium to house the Pangasinan
heritage museum. Since early 2000s, UPSP had called for the establishment of a center
for Pangasinan studies in which a museum about Pangasinan culture and history is a
component. With Sison auditorium as the repository of Pangasinan culture, UPSP could
cooperate and even offer its services to realize the showcasing of Pangasinan culture and
history in one splendid place. UPSP can also suggest to the Pangasinan provincial
government the incorporation of research as one of museum’s functions.
But the UPSP can still advocate for the establishment of a center for Pangasinan studies
in one state-funded university in Pangasinan, specifically the Pangasinan State
University. This center will develop courses on Pangasinan studies that are not limited to
Pangasinan history, literature and linguistics, research on the same areas but not limited
to them and even conceptualize an AB degree in Pangasinan studies (Fernandez 2008).
To promote Pangasinan literature and make Pangasinan a leading literary language in the
country, a creative writing center should also be established first in one local university,
possibly the Pangasinan State University.
UPSP must negotiate with university officials and present proposals toward these ends
explaining their justifications in line with the vision of revitalizing Pangasinan language
and culture and as part of a wider cultural renaissance in the Pangasinan language. In
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), local universities and
colleges in Pangasinan could customize their research and literary programs to suit an
agenda for Pangasinan studies and creative writing program in Pangasinan. UPSP can
also lobby for laws mandating the establishment of these centers.
Strengthen networking with national and international agencies
Aside from cooperating with the DepEd regarding MLE, UPSP should strengthen its
networking with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the KWF
and the Jose de Guzman Tamayo Foundation. NCCA funds cultural activities. UPSP can
tie up with NCCA in major UPSP projects. UPSP should aim for its inclusion in the
NCCA as representative for the Pangasinan language. UPSP should continue its
partnership with KWF and the Jose de Guzman Tamayo Foundation. UPSP should also
seek partnership with international organizations such as SIL International (Summer
Institute of Linguistics), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization) and the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund).
Conclusion
Revitalizing Pangasinan rests on Pangasinenses themselves. UPSP took this enormous
task to its shoulders of leading the way toward cultural renaissance. UPSP had proven
that local initiatives do matter and achieve results. But to sustain UPSP’s advocacies, the
blueprint for the next decade had to be complemented with concrete action. UPSP knows
that it cannot do it alone. It needs the strong support from the provincial government of
Pangasinan. It requires the cooperation and assistance of liberated Pangasinenses
themselves who had joined the ranks of cultural warriors after they have freed themselves
from the chains that put in yoke their ethnic identity for the sake of uniformity and
national identity.
The challenges facing UPSP is monumental but they are not insurmountable as they
would like to appear. In the tradition of Urduja, Malong and Palaris, the Pangasinenses
rallied by the UPSP can brave them all for the sake of the next generation, heirs of a
living Pangasinan heritage and language, which we owe to our beloved freedom-loving
ancestors.
To fellow Pangasinenses, itandoro so salitan Pangasinan or in English, uphold the
Pangasinan language. To non-Pangasinenses, itandoro tayo so dilin salita or in English,
uphold our own respective languages. Mabilay tan matalunggaring so salitan Pangasinan!
Salamat.
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