13 regional writers shine in Taboan 2010 awards

CEBU, Philippines - To honor outstanding writers in the three regions of the Visayas whose extraordinary contributions and professional achievements exemplify the ideal of literary excellence, the National Committee on Literary Arts has awarded 13 outstanding writers in the first Taboan literary awards during the culmination of the 2nd Taboan: Philippine International Writers Festival last Friday.

Recipients of the award were Magdalena Jalandoni Gonzaga, Estrella Alfon, Austregelina Espina-Moore, Edilberto Kaindong Tiempo, Temistokles Adlawan, Rene Estella Amper, Erlinda Kintanar Alburo, Merlie Alunan, Gumer Rafanan, Leoncio Deriada, Gremer Chan Reyes, Monsignor Rodolfo Escalona Villanueva (Renato Madrid for a pen name), and Resil Buagas Mojares.

They were awarded for their exemplary contributions in the field of literary that expands to various fields of writing such as novel writing, short story, poetry, scriptwriting, essay writing, composition, commentaries and the like.

The second Taboan Philippine International Writers festival was brought to Cebu last February 10 to 12 for a special treat of Visayan literatures featuring top Visayan writers.

Taboan, which means “assembly, congress or meeting place”, is a get-together of writers all over the country who have been recipients, directly or indirectly, of grants and awards from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, said Ricardo de Ungria who heads the NCLA.

It was a three-day convergence of writers - young ones and veterans - where they got to exchange views and learn from each other new ways in writing and other activities that promote learning and camaraderie among the literati.

“This was to showcase the wide range of talents cultivated and nourished by the NCCA through its Committee on Literary Arts and to affirm the Commission’s unwavering and continuing faith in, as well as investment on, the gift and fine art of writing in this country,” Ungria said about Taboan.

The highlight of this year’s Taboan was the first literary awards which were “given to the local literary artists of the first rank who have not only written well but who have also done yeoman’s work in pushing the frontiers of writing in the region,” Ungria added.

“At last, the local literary genius that remained regionally appreciated, then slowly relegated to oblivion, will now be put in the spotlight,” said Marlinda Angbetic Tan, Taboan 2010 festival director.

“Through this long-overdue accolade of local writers, we hope to entice young readers to be aware of the treasure trove of their works, especially in the major Visayan languages,” Tan said. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)