Through poetry and books
(NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY – In its efforts to preserve its rich literary and cultural heritage, the provincial government of Northern Samar initiated a workshop attended by aspiring literary writers.
The five-day writing workshop, concluding on Tuesday (June 11), was attended by some of Eastern Visayas’ renowned literary writers.
Josiah Rei Echano, whose office, the provincial disaster risk reduction management office, is one of the main organizers of the event, said that the workshop aims to revive the interest of young Nortehanons in the rich culture and heritage of their province through poems, poetry, and book writing.
“We don’t want to lose the distinct voice of our culture and tradition. By immortalizing it in the semantics and literary devices of literature through these writing workshops, the next generations will never forget who they really are. They can march forward with pride as one people,” he said on Sunday (June 9).
Echano added: “If we lose our culture, the memory of our race, heritage, and our people will also be annihilated as if we have not existed.”
Among the invited literary artists from the region were Merlie Alunan, professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines-Tacloban and multiple Carlos Palanca Memorial awardee; Kristian Cordero, TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee; Jerry Gracio, a multi-awardee writer and former commissioner of the Commission of Filipino Language; and literature scholar Michael Carlo Villas of the Visayas State University in Baybay City.
The workshop, attended by 40 individuals across the province, is part of the month-long celebration of the founding anniversary of Northern Samar, which is marked on June 19.
The celebration is known as the “Ibabao Festival,” signifying the ancient name of the province, the site of one of the first revolts by the natives during the Spanish period.
The event, which is mainly supported by Governor Edwin Ongchuan, is also in coordination with the University of Eastern Philippines, the only government-run university in the province, based in its capital, Catarman.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
