Irog-Irog: Making Space for Contributions and Critique of the Tiempos and the Silliman Workshop

Abstract

Edilberto and Edith L Tiempo have been under scrutiny recently in relation to their perceived participation in the cultural diplomacy arm of American Empire. An article from a few years back, by the poet and critic Conchitina Cruz, viewed this from the lens of a Filipino nationalist Renato Constantino, who was keen on elucidating a vision of the “miseducation of the Filipino,” alongside the ideas of Eric Bennett on the life and work of former Iowa Writers Workshop Director Paul Engle in
relation to the Cold War. Cruz’s scrutiny is problematic because of the arguably inappropriate use of the framework by Constantino. This essay presents typically unseen aspects of the life and work of the Tiempos, particularly
that of Edilberto. The goal of the presentation is to complicate the understanding of the couple’s work, which is more aligned to the way Constantino discussed the way Filipinos worked and made choices in the light of nationalist concerns. Ultimately, an alternative is given to Cruz’s highly structured and limiting frame, one connected with more local approaches that involve
connection with the kalooban, as embodied in a composed song in the Cebuano-Visayan language. What is hoped for is a kind of critical approach that allows for a more reasonable scrutiny, in which useful and harmful aspects are weighed to serve the strengthening of national interests.