CASURATAN TI BIAGCO

The book with the Title, "Casuratan ti Biagco," an Iluko manuscript that dates back to the last years of the 19th century, was written in cuadernos in elaborate script by Don Sabas Gaerlan, from Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, according to Jane G. Gaerlan, a great granddaughter of the writer. Jane labored for 20 years reading the book, on and off, translated it, except the poems and essays,and published it in book form with the same title.

We had hope to read the story in the Internet but could not acces it. Have contacted Jane, originally from Baguio, through her e-mail address. The book was published by authorhouse and can be purchased from authorhouse.com and Amazon. Buy it from authorhouse so Jane can have the royalty.

A copy of the book arrived in the mails. I emailed Jane and thanked her for the privilege of being the first Ilokano writer to read the book. Jane works as a nurse in Chicago but lives in Tinsley Park.Illinois, with her daughter and a cat, according to her. Later, when I wrote about "Casuratan" in the Facebook, Georgina Troxel, originally from Santiago, Isabela, who lives in Texas bought a copy of the book through amazon.

Does the book validate some of the events of Philippine history? Like, for exmple, the retreat of the Katipuneros led by Aguinaldo to Cervantes where Don Sabas was teniente del pueblo, according to the book?

Chapter 10 of the book tells of the retreat of the Aguinaldo forces to the town and the death of General Gregorio del Pilar in Tirad Pass. The detail could be checked with Philippine history books. Reading it, I was asking why the youngest general of the Philippine Revolution went back to Angaki, near Tirad Pass, to engage the estimated 400 American forces that included Macabebes (from Pampanga) the following day they arrived in Cervantes, tired and exhausted crossing rivers and mountains to their temporary refuge. Forty Katipuneros against 400 superior American soldiers?

The Timpuyog Journal, magazine type in glossy paper, started serializing "Casuratan
ti Biagco" in its October 2010 issue. TJ is the bi-monthly publication of Timpuyog dagiti Mannurat iti Iluko iti Filipinas, the national association of Ilocano writers who write in the language.