Abanse, BWG!

Among the board resolutions passed by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) was this:

"WHEREAS, Baguio Writers Group, as nominated, deserves the 2013 Gawad Pedro Bucaneg for Oustanding Institution for literary advancement..."

It was signed by Dr. Michael Coroza, UMPIL secretary general, and Karina Bolasco, chair.

The souvenir program for the 39th UMPIL Congress and 28th Gawad Pambansang Alagad Balagtas carried a group photo of BWG members and this description of the awardee:

"Literature in the city thrived even more with the passionate encourage and advocacy of the Baguio Writers Group (BWG) from the decade of the '80s and the group has since then pursued its artistic vision without letup. Based on the successes over the years, the organization promises the further advancement of literature  and the recognition of creative writing together with related arts in order to reach a broader audience. Through forums, presentations, and publications, the organization is able to spark more enthusiasm in both writers and readers to enliven Filipino literature in Baguio."

Representing the group at the awards rites was BWG president Frank Cimatu. Some others  were also there at the right place (Leong Hall, Ateneo de Manila University), right time (Aug. 31 at the end of Buwan ng Wika).

Pedro Bucaneg, by the way, "was a foremost Ilocano poet and Christian missionary born in Bantay, Abra" Go to http://www.poemhunter.com/pedro-bucaneg/biography/ for more on his life. May he infuse BWG with more vigor!

Mabuhay, Baguio Writers Group!

Grace Subido and Frank Cimatu hold up with pride and joy the Gawad Pedro Bucaneg and program.

Frank receives the award in behalf of BWG. With him onstage are National Artist Virgilio Almario, BWG's Ed Maranan, Grace Subido, Babeth Lolarga and UMPIL's Karina Bolasco

Frank with the other winners of the Gawad Balagtas (from left): Francisco T. Ponce represented by his sister (Iluko stories), Roland Tolentino (essays), Floy Quintos (plays) and Alice Tan Gonzales (Hiligaynon literature) represented by John Iremil Teodoro

356 political prisoners go on hunger strike

356 political prisoners go on hunger strike
that was the piece that won the chit estella journalism prize, print category.

thank you to the simbulan-estella families (the late chit was roland's wife), the u.p. department of journalism & vera files. mabuhay si chit estella!

to the philippine daily inquirer, it was great fun, but it was one of those things. i raise my glass of good cheer & wish thee another 27 years of being numero uno.

love & squalor,
your contributor since 1992 B-)

From left: Anonymous woman in dark Calvin Klein shades, cotton top, linen slacks and ergonomic working woman's shoes; Prof. Roland Simbulan; University of the Philippines President Alfredo Pascual who also happens to be an Upsilonian (woot! woot!); Dean Roland Tolentino of the UP College of Mass Communication; and Prof. Raul Pangalangan, former UP College of Law dean and the new publisher of Philippine Daily Inquirer. Photo courtesy of Vera Files/Yahoo Philippines

Lolarga and Silverio win 1st Chit Estella awards

By Eimor P. Santos, VERA Files

In death, Vera Files trustee and journalism professor Lourdes "Chit" Estella Simbulan continues to champion human rights campaign in the country.

The 1^st Chit Estella Journalism Awards honored the best journalistic reports on human rights, Dec. 7. This is in line with the celebration of the National Human Rights Consciousness Week with the theme, "My Voice Counts in Ending Impunity: I Work for Human Rights-Based Governance".

Inquirer Publisher Raul Pangalangan receives award in behalf of Elizabeth Lolarga

This year's awardees were Ina Alleco Silverio of Bulatlat.com for her online story, "Three months after Sendong, Iligan residents still far from rebuilding their lives" and Elizabeth Lolarga of the Philippine Daily Inquirer for her print story, "365 political prisoners go on hunger strike".

The works of Silverio and Lolarga were chosen among seven other finalists, four from online and two from print which were all published between October 1, 2011 and October 1, 2012. The winners each received P10,000 and a trophy, funded by the Simbulan-Estella family, and co-presented by the University of the Philippines Department of Journalism and Vera Files.

The Chit Estella Journalism Awards and and the Memorial Lectures that followed  awarding ceremonies  are intended to keep alive Simbulan's ideals of excellent journalism and human rights advocacy.

Simbulan, better known by her byline Chit Estella, died in a vehicular accident May 13 last year on  Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. She was 53.

Former Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo, who was the guest speaker, presented a historical perspective of the human rights situation in the country and its connection with the counter-insurgency campaign of the government."Araw-araw may nangyayaring paglabag sa karapatan, lalo na ng maliliit na mamamayan (Everyday violations of human rights happen, especially to the common man)," he said Satur Ocampo during the memorial lecture of the said awards ceremony at the UP College of Mass Communication Auditorium.

A journalist with the old Manila Times before the declaration of Martial Law in 1971,Ocampo spent many years in the underground movement and as a  political prisoner. He now writes a column for the Philippine Star.

Satur OcampoOcampo called on President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino to exercise his powers as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to  end human rights violations, especially now that more and more children are becoming victims. He cited the report of the local rights group Karapatan which revealed that children aged 10-16 are being raped, tortured and illegally arrested by the military.

Human Rights Commissioner Cecilia "Coco" Quisumbing acknowledged the vital role of the media in stopping human rights violations.  She enjoined media to " stay away from press release journalism" and  do more research in doing reports.

Estella's husband, UP Prof. Roland Simbulan, said Chit's death has led him to another advocacy: road safety. He now heads a group called Families of Road Victims and Survivors, basically a support group but is also working on making roads in the country safe.

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for "true.")

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/lolarga-silverio-win-1st-chit-estella-awards-040456299.html;_ylt=AqYvQQnvinXnHILHpIj.QmPhV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTFnZmkyMjJyBG1pdANCbG9nIEluZGV4IGJ5IEJsb2cEcG9zAzEwBHNlYwNNZWRpYUJsb2dJbmRleA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpYWhhajZmBGludGwDcGgEbGFuZwNlbi1waARwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3#more-id