SANTA ANA, Cagayan—This coastal town in northeastern Philippines will host the national convention and literary workshop-seminar of GUMIL Filipinas, the largest formally organized group of Ilocano literary writers in the country and abroad.
The three-day affair starting April 20, which coincides with its 50th anniversary—with delegates from the country’s GUMIL chapters and those from Greece, Hongkong, Alaska and Canada—includes a workshop Ilocanos call “Dap-ayan” where budding writers are expected to hone their skills in the various literary genres.
The annual convention, presided by the association president Vilmer Viloria, incumbent member of the Cagayan provincial board, will also see the giving out of executive leadership awards (for former presidents); Tan-ok Gumiliano (outstanding GUMIL member for helping the association achieve its vision in the past 50 years); Pedro Bucaneg and Leona Florentino Awards.
Manila Standard night editor Honor Blanco Cabie, book author, 2011 Pedro Bucaneg Awardee and erstwhile president of GUMIL Filipinas (1995 to 1999) from Ilocos Norte, will receive the executive leadership award as well as Tan-ok Gumiliano.
Cles Rambaud, managing editor of the weekly Ilocano magazine Bannawag and author of the updated Ilocano orthography, also from Ilocos Norte, will receive the Pedro Bucaneg Award while Eden Cachola-Bulong, from Ilocos Sur, who has written much on the role of women in the family, will get the Leona Florentino Award.
The Bucaneg Award, named after the Father of Iloko Literature, is the highest award given by GUMIL to male writers for their contribution in enriching the culture of Ilocanos through their writings.
The Florentino Award, named after the first Ilocano woman poet, is given by GUMIL to female writers whose writings have helped endorse the Ilocano culture.
GUMIL Filipinas, founded in October 1968 with a national convention in Baguio City, has had 13 presidents—one each from Pangasinan and Isabela, six from Ilocos Sur, two from Ilocos Norte, and three from Cagayan.
The 50—the number is equal to the years of GUMIL’s existence—Tan-ok GUMILiano Award include six women and 12 to be given posthumously.
They also include Juan S.P. Hidalgo Jr., Dr. Fernando Sanches and Prescillano Bermudez of Pangasinan; retired RTC Judge Joven Costales of La Union; Dr. Godofredo Reyes, Ilocandia’s poet laureate, Jose Bragado, and Reynaldo Duque of Ilocos Sur; Baldovino Ab. Valdez and Atty. Nole Lansangan of Isabela; Roland Urata, Antonio Urata, and Arthur Urata of Cagayan; and Cabie, Rambaud, Elizabeth Raquel and retired RTC Judge Guillermo Andaya of Ilocos Norte.
Members of the Tan-ok board of judges were Mario Tejada, chairman; Joel Manuel, vice chairman; members Arthur Urata, Prescillano Bermudez, Neyo Valdez, and the incumbent president Viloria as ex-officio.
