TEN young wordsmiths in the Cebuano language will be honored as outstanding writers of the decade on Aug. 19, 2019—the 50th founding anniversary of Bathalan-on Halad sa Dagang (Bathalad) Sugbo, a group of creative writers.
The event is the second part of the Bathalad-Sugbo’s golden jubilee. The first part of the group’s yearlong celebration of its founding was held at Palm Grass-The Cebu Heritage Hotel in Cebu City last Feb. 25 and the top 15 writers in the Post-World War II era were awarded.
On Aug. 19, Bathalad-Sugbo will award Michael Obenieta, Richel Dorotan, Januar Yap, Josua Cabrera, CD Borden, Kevin Lagunda, Adonis Durado, Jeremiah Bondoc, Raul Moldez and Cindy Velasquez.
The search and selection committee for the 10 outstanding young writers based its decision on the quality of the writers’ respective body of works, and their participation in the promotion and development of Cebuano language and literature in the past 10 years.
Dr. Mel Allego, Ernesto D. Lariosa and Lamberto G. Ceballos comprise the search and selection committee.
Allego founded Bathalad-Sugbo, while Lariosa served as the co-chairman of the literary group during its infancy stage.
Lariosa later became Bathalad-Sugbo’s first president after it became a formal organization in 1989. Ceballos served twice as president of the group.
The three vanguard writers were among those proclaimed as 15 top living Cebuano writers. The other awardees were poet-diplomat Vicente Bandillo, Erlinda K. Alburo, lawyer Potenciano “Junne” Cañizares, Roger Pono, Marcelo Geocallo, lawyer Cesar P. Kilaton, Ricardo Baladjay, Ricardo Patalinjug, Gremer Chan Reyes, Edfer C. Rigodon, Don Pag-usara and Arturo G. Peñaserada. (S)