(Opening remarks, 2008 Ilokano Drama and Video Festival of the Ilokano Language and Literature Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa, April 12, 2008, ART Auditorium, UH Manoa, Hon, HI. Original in Ilokano, and delivered in that language; English free translation flashed on screen for non-Ilokano viewers.)
Good morning to all of you, ladies and gentlemen:
They say that language is the dwelling place of the soul, that in language is where our identity is kept forever.
This is the reason why at the end of each semester, the Ilokano Language and Literature Program of the University of Hawai`i, holds this drama and video festival, a cultural show that highlights our Ilokano language, our Ilokano literature, and our Ilokano culture.
With pride we dedicate the hardships of our students so that in that virtue attendant to that pride we have, we hope that our students will be moved to continue with that feeling seeded in their heart.
That feeling is none other but the premium value they give to the Ilokano language they have inherited, that despite the fact that this is no longer their first language, they have shown relentlessness in studying this language so that in the end, through the sacred ritual of going back to the home of language, they are able to call back their wandering souls.
Even as we tell these to our students, we tell this same thing to ourselves.
Because we are also a party to the covenant with our identity as a people, the covenant that endlessly reminds us that this is our moral responsibility, that this is our obligation—this valuing and pride that we have to give our Ilokano language.
To all those who came to take part in this celebration, we pray the living ember of your help, support, and caring kindness will never be extinguished.
Your very presence today confirms your support to what we are doing in this program.
We thank you for being with us. Good day to all of you.
NAIMBAG A BIGATYO AMIN, APO A TALLAONG:
KUNADA A TI LENGGUAHE KET BALAY TI KARARUA, A TI PAGSASAO KET SADIAY A NAITELIMENG TI KINAASINNO.
DAYTOY TI GAPUNA NGA ITI UDI TI KADA SEMESTRE MANGIPARANG TI PROGRAMATAYO ITI ILOKANO LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE ITI UNIVERSIDAD TI HAWAI`I ITI KASTOY A PABUYA A MANGITAN-OK ITI PAGSASAOTAYO, ITI LITERATURATAYO, KEN ITI KULTURATAYO.
SIPAPANNAKKELKAMI A MANGIDATON KADAKAYO NGARUD ITA DAGITOY A NAGRIGRIGATAN DAGITI ADALANTAYO TAPNO ITI BIRTUD DAYTA PANAGPANNAKKEL KET MAGUTIGOT KOMA DAGITI UBBING NGA ADALANTAYO KET ILAYONDA TI KARIRIKNA A NAIMULA ITI PUSODA.
DAYTA A KARIRIKNA KET AWAN SABALI NO DI TI PANANGIPATEG TI PAGSASAO A TINAWIDNA, A NUMAN PAY DAYTOY KET SAANDAN A PAGSASAO, KET NAYNAY TI REGGETDA A MANGADAL ITI DAYTOY TAPNO ITI KASTA, BABAEN ITI SAGRADO A RITUAL TI PANAGSUBLI ITI BALAY TI LENGGUAHE, KET MAPASUBLIDA MET LAENG TI AGTALTALAWATAW A KARARUADA.
URAY NO IBAGATAYO TI KASTOY, KASTOY MET LAENG TI IPATPATIGMAANTAYO KADAGITI BAGBAGITAYO.
TA NGAMIN PARTIDOTAYO MET LAENG ITI DAYTOY A TULAG TI KINAASINNO—TI TULAG A MANGIBAGBAGA A MORAL A RESPONSIBILIDADTAYO, A PAGREBBENGANTAYO—TI MANGITANDUDO ITI LENGGUAHE NGA ILOKANO.
KADAGITI IMMAY ITATTA NAKITARIPNONG KADATAYO, SAPAY TA TI BEGGANG TI AYUDAYO, TI ALIPATO TI SUPORTAYO, KET TI TEMTEM TI PANAGAYATYO ITI PULI KET DINTO MAIDDEP.
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TI KAADDAYO KET KUMPIRMASION TI SUPORTAYO KADAGITOY NGA ILUNGLUNGALONGMI.
AGYAMANKAMI AMIN ITI IDADAR-AYYO KET NAIMBAG NGA ALDAWYO AMIN.
A S Agcaoili
Hon, HI
Apr 12/08
3 comments:
Agyamankami for the Ilokano program and your endless supply of words, inspiration and your investment to us, the Ilokano youth. Thank you for believing in us :)
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thanks, debbie. you all are an inspiration for this struggle in the name of social, lingustic, and cultural justice.
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