20 young Bikolnon poets to be honored in Premyo Manlagñit

Out of 195 entries of young poets coming from different parts of the Bicol region, twenty young poets have been selected as finalist in the first Premyo Gualberto Cea Manlagñit, a poetry prize named in honor of the late poet, lyricist, journalist, visual artist, lawyer and public servant, Gualberto Cea Manlagñit who aside from being a former mayor of Tigaon, Camarines Sur was also the lyricist of the famous adaptation Sa Baybayon nin Sisiran popularized by kundiman diva from Catanduanes, Carmen Camacho.

The first poetry prize is an ekphrasis writing competition. Young poets were asked to write their Bikol poem based on one of the paintings of Manlagñit which critic and anthropologist, Tito Genova Valiente in his column in the Business Mirror describes as hauntingly beautiful and original. Here is the list of the poet’s name, their school and place of origin and the title of their cited works.

Berde an Kolor nin Saiyang mga Luha

Lady Propogo

Ligao National High School

Bay, Ligao, Albay

Sa Baybay Sisiran Moot an Kapahingaloan

Shiela Mae Espeña

Gabao High School Sorsogon

Irosin, Sorsogon

Tesoro sa Likod nin Diklom

Mary Joy Rito

Maura N. Subio National High School

Sarung Banggui sa Baybay Sisiran

Angelo Wallace Saba

Tabaco National High School

Bangraw kan Sinarom sa Baybayon nin Sisiran

Melbert Lucido

Casay Lupi National High School

Casay, Lupi, Camarines Sur

An Istorya kan Kalangitan asin Kadagatan

Marlaurence Marco

Naga City Science High School

Recuerdo

Azalea Pereña

Jovellar National High School

Jovellar, Albay

Lulubngan

Allyza Mae Paz

Perpetual Help National High School, Iriga City

Berdeng Asupring Oras

Dhan Carl Biag

Perpetual Help National High School

Iriga City

Sulnopan

Jessa Mae Villar

Mariners Polytechnic Colleges

Naga City

Surmatun san mga Balud

Ian Moralde Falcon

Masbate National High School

Masbate

Sa Baybay Sisiran

Karyl Tugay

Palta National High School

Virac, Catanduanes

Tibaad pa man

Camille Caganda

Santiago Integrated School

Santiago, Iriga City

Manipesto san Sirangan

Clarence Espedido

Bulusan National High School

Bulusan, Sorsogon

Manlangit, Manlupa, Maninit, Manugma

Jan Maraño

Camarines Sur National Highschool

Momento

Sheralyn Bajamundi

Manito, Albay

Makabungog na Pagkasilensio

Vicente Bercasio II

Malinao National High School

Albay

Saksi

Joshua Zed Pangilinan

Pandan School of Arts and Trades

Catanduanes

Handom Ko an Imo Pagbalik

Tristan Amaro

Pagsulnop

John Ace Viola

Camarines Sur National High School

The members of the jury are Bikol writer and theologian Fr. Philip Bersabe, award-winning poet and TV screen writer Enrique Villasis, UP Professor Tuting Hernandez of the Department of Linguistics, poet and filmmaker and Savage Mind creative director, Kristian Sendon Cordero, Bicol Mail columnist and film critic and public anthropologist, Tito Genova Valiente and the California-based poet and migrant rights worker, Cynthia T. Buiza. The winning poet(s) will receive a special medallion designed by Rustom Pujado and created by Seth Gacer, cash prizes, and book packages courtesy of ADNU Press, Savage Mind Bookshop and the family of Atty. Manlagñit. The announcement of winners will be made tonight, September 15, 2021 in a virtual ceremony. The family of Gualberto Manlagñit has agreed that for next year the competition will be open for the young visual artists to do their artworks which will be based from one of the poems of their father.