Ilocano writers’ group turns gold

By Mar T. Supnad

Ilocano writers from Region 1, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Cagayan Valley who are residing in Metro Manila will mark today (Dec. 11) their group’s 50th anniversary with presidential awards and a cultural presentation at the Penthouse of the Aberdeen Court in Quezon City.

The nearly 100 writers – poets, novelists, short story writers, playwrights and essayists – will have F. Sionil Jose, National Artist for Literature, as their guest of honor and speaker.

Jose, owner of the book shop Solidaridad in Manila, whose novels have been translated into 22 languages, will discuss the importance of “roots” in the broadest meaning of the term, with emphasis on literature and blood ancestry.

The anniversary program has two parts: The first covers handing awards to 14 former presidents of GUMIL Metro Manila, founded in December, 1966 in Manila by the Ilokano literati headed by Dr. Hermogenes F. Belen of La Union.

Among the former president-awardees are Cles B. Rambaud, managing editor of Bannawag; Dionisio S. Bulong, former editor of Bannawag; Jose A. Bragado, former literary editor of Bannawag; and Honor Blanco Cabie, former senior editor of the Manila Bulletin and author of a Journalism book.