Cultural heritage defines us. Even when we 'evolve' from it, our sense of identity will always link back to that which gave us our core- our roots. Continuity gives us beacon to move towards even if in the process we may branch away. But our fundamental base is our heritage.

One area for HERITAGE preservation is languages which are fast getting diluted because of tech advancement.

This was my primary concern when I started writing my first volume of Ilocano anthology cn historical figures of humanity (e.g. Mother Teresa, Joan of Arc, Da Vinci, Mozart, Einstein, Hawking, Curie, Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, San Anonio of Egypt, etc).

I had this catalogued, printed and released in Australia for archival purposes, with courtesy copies sent to DEPED- main office and region 1. (I didn't get acknowledgement so I hope they received their copies).

The copies were sent as courtesy because legal deposits (official copies) are at Australian Nat'l Library, South Australia Parliamentary Research Library, SA State and local libraries.

Also, the book titled which is titled "Samut-Samot iti Tarikayo" (Cobwebs on Wooden Pillar/ Samut-samot sa Punong Haligi) is accessible in electronic version in libraries worldwide through library links). Print and electronic versions of the book are also available online.

First set of complimentary hard prints of the book have been sent to (Ilocano province) Abra through a parish. They are meant for libraries and schools so that they would be freely accessible for reading to educationally marginalised Ilocano youth who may not be able to proceed to higher education but have basic literacy.

A second set of complimentary hard prints is set for Cordilleras through an NGO this month. The cost of publication, the complimentary prints and shipment were my own and all these are my way of giving back to my roots.

In response to feedback from fellow Ilocanos in the diaspora- "I speak and understand Ilocano but I can't read", a podcast of the narratives is made available in major podcast platforms under "Kuwentong Pilipino sa Tagalog at Ilocano" with a Tagalog audio version.

A second volume of Ilocano anthology will soon be out, too.

I urge fellow writers to document and find ways to archive local dialects.

To check out the podcast, try this link:

music.amazon.com/podcasts/c2cf1c05-06f2-42b9-b502-a57fd214f7b5/kuwentong-pilipino-sa-tagalog-at-iloc...

to purchase the book:

music.amazon.com/podcasts/c2cf1c05-06f2-42b9-b502-a57fd214f7b5/kuwentong-pilipino-sa-tagalog-at-iloc...

Or:

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/samut-samot-iti-tarikayo-norma-hennessy/1141312352

Or

www.dymocks.com.au/book/samut-samot-iti-tarikayo-by-norma-hennessy-9780645442311