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.