<P> The comedia, otherwise known as the moro - moro, and the zarzuela were presented for the first time in the Ilocos in the 19th century . The comedia, a highly picturesque presentation of the wars between Christians and Muslims, and the zarzuela, an equally picturesque depiction of what is at once melodrama, comic - opera, and the skit interminably preoccupied with the eternal theme of boy - meets - girl - who - always - live - happily - ever - after - against - seemingly - impossible - odds are still as popular today as they were when first staged in the Ilocos . </P> <P> The comedia was scripted from the corridos like Principe Don Juan, Ari Esteban ken Reyna Hipolita, Doce Paris, Bernardo Carpio, Jaime del Prado . Marcelino Mena Crisologo helped popularize the zarzuela based on the culture and tradition of the Ilokanos particularly those in Vigan, Ilocos Sur . So did Pascual Agcaoili y Guerrero (1880--1958) of Ilocos Norte who wrote and staged "Daguiti Agpaspasukmon Basi," and Isaias R. Lazo (1887--1983) of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur who wrote comedia and zarzuela . </P> <P> The year 1892 saw the printing for the first time of the first Iloko novel, written by Fr . Rufino Redondo, an Augustinian friar, titled "Matilde de Sinapangan ." Another Iloko novel which was written before the end of the 19th century by one Don Quintin Alcid was "Ayat, Kaanonto Ngata?" ("Love, When Shall it Be?"). </P> <P> Arturo Centeno of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, also wrote three novels titled "Apay a Di Mangasawa?" ("Why Doesn't He Get Married?"), "Dispensara" and "Padi a Puraw Wenno Naamo a Kibin" ("A White Priest or a Good Guide"). </P>

It was the very first book on ilokano grammar written by francisco lopez