UPSP A Decade After: Revitalizing Pangasinan

And The Blueprint For The Next Ten Years

Dr. Catalina L. Felicitas and Erwin S. Fernandez
Ulupan na Pansiansiay Salitan Pangasinan (UPSP)
Abstract
This article traces the history and development of the
Ulupan na Pansiansiay 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 Pansiansiay 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 dont 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, coauthor 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 editor-in-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 UPSPs 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 presidents 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 vicemayor 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. Nolascos 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 full-length 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 UPSPs 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). UPSPs 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
childrens 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 museums 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 Childrens 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 UPSPs 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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