ways obvious and hidden. Part of the harvest <strong>is</strong> a lively book trade. Despite the economic cr<strong>is</strong><strong>is</strong>, books are publ<strong>is</strong>hed by large and small presses, <strong>in</strong> ways peculiar and special to a develop<strong>in</strong>g country. Paper be<strong>in</strong>g locally the most expensive element <strong>in</strong> the publication process, all k<strong>in</strong>ds of paper are used—kraft, newspr<strong>in</strong>t, handmade, trimm<strong>in</strong>gs, surpluses—<strong>in</strong> small runs that would be thought uneconomical and impractical <strong>in</strong> other countries. Textbooks are no longer dependent on foreign sources, but are filled with local works. Because of the language, books <strong>in</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong> circulate pr<strong>in</strong>cipally to schools and to the educated elite. There <strong>is</strong> no popular market for writ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong>, because the local romances, which proliferate <strong>in</strong> bookstores, rental outlets, newspaper and market stalls, are be<strong>in</strong>g written <strong>in</strong> Filip<strong>in</strong>o. The kernel of the harvest, however, after the w<strong>in</strong>now<strong>in</strong>g and the bundl<strong>in</strong>g of sheaves, <strong>is</strong> th<strong>is</strong> <strong>literature</strong>. Its germ <strong>is</strong> <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong> reality, as rendered <strong>in</strong> th<strong>is</strong> alien language adopted and adapted through h<strong>is</strong>tory. Certa<strong>in</strong>ly it <strong>is</strong> <strong>in</strong> a Filip<strong>in</strong>o <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong> or, as Abad puts it, a language from <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong>—“found (re<strong>in</strong>vested from a given natural language) to establ<strong>is</strong>h its forms/<strong>in</strong> our imag<strong>in</strong>ation”(1989:2-3). It <strong>is</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong> as no other national would use it, hav<strong>in</strong>g been given its shape by the effort to bend it around a culture not native to it, but to another language. If, as Calalang found, it was not suitable for the render<strong>in</strong>g of some elements of <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong> life, e.g.,flora, fauna, food, then the <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong> writer turned to those elements that were suitably rendered—and that became the subject matter of <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong> writ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong>. Certa<strong>in</strong>ly it has been suitable for the experience of the educated, the urbanized, the exiled, and the alienated. It <strong>is</strong> effective <strong>in</strong> the analys<strong>is</strong> and critic<strong>is</strong>m of modern liv<strong>in</strong>g. It <strong>is</strong> the language of access to global experience, and also the language with which the world outside can have access to our <strong>in</strong>ner world. As Brit<strong>is</strong>h <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong> has changed with the Empire writ<strong>in</strong>g back, so has American <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong> changed, with its former colony writ<strong>in</strong>g back. And so have American perceptions of the countries’ mutual experience—the Filip<strong>in</strong>o-American years and relations—changed, with the ex-colonials talk<strong>in</strong>g back. The current emphas<strong>is</strong> on the teach<strong>in</strong>g of the national language, its use <strong>in</strong> government, media and art, has caused <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong> writ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the vernacular to develop as it should have done long ago. It has not, however, reduced the audience for writ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong>, for th<strong>is</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s what it always was—the educated elite, who speak and live the language. It has, however, made sure that all, especially those who do not have access to <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong>, have access to <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong> language and <strong>literature</strong> and thought. The writers <strong>in</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>is</strong>h</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ue to have their place <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong> sun. Although their writ<strong>in</strong>gs cannot reach the mass majority or <strong>in</strong>fluence their th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g, they are anthologized, publ<strong>is</strong>hed <strong>in</strong> textbooks, the national newspapers and
popular magaz<strong>in</strong>es, collected <strong>in</strong>to volumes, encouraged by grants, workshops, courses. forums, symposia, and critical attention. They also and more importantly feed and develop the m<strong>in</strong>ds of the young writers who will take their place someday. • D.G. Fernandez References Abad, Gem<strong>in</strong>o and Edna Zapanta-Manlapaz. Man of Earth. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1989. Alegre, Edilberto and Doreen G. Fernandez. The Writer and H<strong>is</strong> Milieu. Manila: De La Salle University Press, 1984. Calalang, Casiano. “How Shall We Write?” <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong>s Herald (May 1927), 8. Lopez, Salvador P. Literature and Society. Manila: <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong> Book Guild, 1940. Lumbera, Bienvenido and Cynthia Nograles-Lumbera. <strong>Philipp<strong>in</strong>e</strong> Literature: A H<strong>is</strong>tory and an Anthology. Manila: National Book Store, 1982.
Change language