WIN Canada hails poets in Pangasinan language
LINGAYEN— The Writers International Network (WIN) Canada recognized on Monday (November 23) top promoters of the Pangasinan native language.
In an awarding ceremony held at the Urduja House, Lingayen, two special citations and six distinction awards were presented by WIN founder and president, Ashok Bhargava.
Special citations were awarded to Governor Amado Espino Jr. and to Virginia Jasmin Pasalo, commissioner of the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission.
Meanwhile, the six local writers that received the Distinguished Writer and Poet Award were Prescillano Bermudez, Sergio Bumadilla, Leonarda (Amor Cico) Carrera, Ferdinand Quintos (posthumous award), Caroline Nazareno, and Santiago Villafania.
PUNCH columnist Pasalo reads her Pangasinan poem
The award given to Espino was for the efforts of the provincial government in promoting cultural and heritage conservation through various programs, projects, and activities like the Kurit Panlunggaring, the only literary contest in Pangasinan language.
“Our native language as a people is but one of distinct manifestations of Pangasinan’s rich cultural heritage. It is a treasure that must be conserved, protected, and promoted,” said Espino in his acceptance speech.
He also thanked the WIN Canada for recognizing their efforts in promoting the Pangasinan language.
Bhargava said the passion of Gov. Espino to keep Pangasinan’s arts and culture alive has made all the difference.
Pasalo was specially cited for her valuable support in the promotion of the Pangasinan language and literature, and for her sustained initiatives in environmental protection particularly through collective action, narratives and poetry.
She urged “writers and the media practitioners to write about the environment, to care about the sea, and to care about our trees, and to care about each other.”
Villafania commended the Espino administration for giving importance to promotion and preservation of Pangasinan’s culture and arts.
Fr. Weng Escano, delivered an impromptu poem dedicated to Gov. Espino who not only revived Pangasinan arts and culture but more importantly, preserved vital symbol of identity among Pangasinenses
The WIN initiator disclosed that it was through Villafania that his organization was able to know about the aspiring and professional writers and poets in Pangasinan.“Pangasinan writers are as good as any world-class writers so after recognizing people in Ireland, Italy, France, we came here,” he said.
The first Pangasinan writer to receive a WIN award was Lila Shahani who was awarded the Outspoken Writer Award in 2013.
He added that at present, only Pangasinan writers, in the entire nation, were recognized by the WIN Canada but said they will consider other provinces as well.
After the awarding, there was a poetry reading by Pasalo, Villafania, and Bhargava.(Johanne Macob/RRB-PIO)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
