Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Cebuano writers win in literary contest
CEBUANOS won awards in the Gawad Komisyon 2006.
A national literary competition sponsored by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, the Gawad Komisyon 2006 aims to boost regional writing in the country through an annual competition in poetry and fiction in various divisions (Cebuano, Iluko, Pangasinense, Hili-gaynon and Tagalog).
For the poetry category (Cebuano division), Sun.Star Weekend editor Michael U. Obenieta won the first prize for his collection of poems titled “Teknolohibat.” He took home a P15,000-cash prize and a roundtrip plane fare.
Sun.Star Superbalita columnist Ernesto Lariosa placed 2nd and took home P12,000 plus free roundtrip plane ticket.
Oliver Flores placed 3rd and won P8,000 plus a roundtrip ticket.
Fiction
Honorable mention honors went to Arlaine Obe-nieta, Gumer Rafanan and Angie Nellas.
For the fiction category, Dindin Villarino romped off the top prize of P15,000 plus a free roundtrip plane fare for her short story “Kina-kusgang Unos.”
Gumer Rafanan and Marlo Geocallo, both from Mindanao, took the 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively.
The runners-up were Gremer Chan Reyes, Tran-quilino Udarbe and Fred Monternel.
All the winners in the Cebuano category are members of the Cebuano writers group Bathalan-ong Halad sa Dagang (Bathalad).
The board of judges was composed of Dr. Jaime An Lim, lawyer Junne Cańi-zares and Bisaya Magazine editors Edgar Godin and Richel Dorotan.
Vice President Noli de Castro graced the awarding ceremony of Gawad Ko-misyon 2006 and the closing of the Buwan ng Wika celebration at the Philippine Columbian in Manila.
