F. Sionil Jose, National Artist for Literature, will speak before some 100 Ilocano writers in Metro Manila during the 50th anniversary of their association on Dec. 11 at the Penthouse of the Aberdeen in Quezon City.
The 92-year-old, Rosales-born Jose, whose lineage is from the Ilocos and whose forefathers migrated to Pangasinan, is expected to discuss “roots” in the term’s meaning in literature and ancestry.
The most widely read Filipino fictionist in the English language, Jose owns the Solidaridad Book Shop in Manila, and his novels have been translated into 22 languages.
The two-part anniversary program includes handing awards to 14 former presidents of GUMIL Metro Manila, the group of Ilocano fictionists and non-fictionists residing in the metropolis, founded in December 1966 in Manila by pillars of Ilokano literature headed by Dr. Hermogenes F. Belen of La Union.
GUMIL Metro Manila, one of a dozen chapters of the national organization GUMIL Filipinas, has published more than 30 books and anthologies, which include the works of its members.
The second portion will be the cultural presentation, where two books will be launched – “Fighting Pogi” by Dionisio S. Bulong, from Sta. Teresita, Cagayan, editor of the Ilokano magazine Bannawag from 1978 to 2005, and “Kalinawa” by Linda Lingbaoan-Bulong of Peñarrubia, Abra.
“Fighting Pogi” is a 376-page, 44-chapter novel, first serialized in Bannawag from May 1982 to May 1983. Published by Saniata Publications, the novel revolves around Macario Mangirus, from whose character and determination the title of the book is derived.
Mangirus epitomizes the innate ambition and determination of many Ilokanos who are in the low rungs of economic life. But Mangirus reaches the acme of his ambition – in a style both lucid and entertaining – with the continuing encouragement by his peers.
The 6”x9” book, priced at P450 (with discount during the launching ceremonies), has Ariel Tabag as book cover designer, Jun Lofamia as cover illustrator, and Roy Aragon as layout artist.