This learning content about the significance of regional literature is taken from the perspective of Resil B. Mojares, the 2018 National Artist for Literature.
Regional literature is a component of national literature.
Regional literature comprises the literary traditions, written or oral, of various ethno-linguistic groups in the country, and communities that have distinct geographical settings and identities. Since it is associated with a different and lower social class, it lies close to the native grounds; thus, providing the insights into a different order of reality with its own characteristic patterns of thinking and feeling and modes of expression, across social classes and geographical regions. There is a need to study regional literature, not only because it will lead to a more just estimation of Philippine cultural history, but also to deeply understand the overall continuity pf the Philippine literary tradition and to enhance the value of tradition for Filipinos today.
Regional literature serves as the primary means of regional expression and identity. In preserving a history of the collective experience of a certain group of people, regional literature must provide a comprehensive characteristics of the people and forces that shaped their lives and made the region distinct. Moreover, regional literature, ideally should give those native to the region a sense of how they became who they are today.
Philippine literature should not be limited to urban or certain areas only. Revaluing the concept of national literature calls for an investigation or in-depth study on regional literature which include both the written and oral traditions.
1. Regional literature has a crucial role in the formation of national literature.
Philippine literature is yet fragmented (watak-watak) as for Constantino and Sikat. In as much as the different regions make up the Philippine nation, regional literature also makes up a national literature.
2. "Broadly-based, systematic" study of regional literature is needed for regional literature is crucial in revaluing the concept of national literature.
The total body of literary traditions in the Philippines is still to have that popular level where there is interregional appreciation. For Rolando Tinio, there still remains a huge number of regional literature uncollected. When an extensive research is done on these vernacular literature, the national literary sensibility can be rightly then characterized.
3. Regional literature, though contrary to the "ruling literature", is a component of national literature.
The concept of regional may be opposed to that of the literature of court and capital which is in English language; but, regional literature that contains the region's respective traditions expressed on its own language is part of the national literature of the Philippines.
4. Regional literature in 1900s have higher readership figures and volume of literary productions.
In 1930s, the Cebuano Bag-ong Kusog magazine has a weekly circulation of 10, 975 compared to the 6, 500 monthly circulation of the Philippine Magazine, written in English. With such data, it only entails that in respective regions, if only, there are still local circulations of regional literature at an affordable price for the masses, there shall be more readership on such local literature compared to the sophisticated literature in English in the nation's bookstores.
5. Provinces have rich oral traditions that would serve as foundation on national literature.
If only extensive efforts shall be made by literary scholars, then they would be able to testify that provinces in the country have rich oral traditions that more firmly and richly defined the native cultural tradition of the land.
6. Regional literature will complete Philippine literature, and make it unflawed.
Philippine literature shall only be complete and unflawed if due consideration is accorded to vernacular literature or regional literature.
7. Regional literature, though associated with the lower class, is close to the native grounds.
Philippine literature associated with the elite class is but limited. Regional literature though associated with the poor or lower social class, should be studied to gain deep understanding of the Philippine cultural landscape across social classes and geographical regions. Regional literature is close to the precolonial literary traditions, or close to who the native Filipino is.
8. Regional literature will enhance the value of tradition for us today.
Regional literature shall define and strengthen tradition. Through the study of the regional literature, Filipinos of today shall enhance the value of literary tradition that diversify the common literary experiences of people.
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