About | Santiago Villafania

Manuscript for the 2nd edition of the Pinabli tan arum ni'ran Anlong is now ready for printing. I've come out the this 2nd edition at once because of some errors in the first copies of the book. I also working on the new cover of the book. To all my sponsors outside the country, I will send your complimentary copies soonest.

On the other hand, NCCA BARES FIRST SET OF DIONATEXT POETRY WINNERS

Raymund Pambid of Cavite City and Fernando Gonzales of Las Pinas City were chosen as the TextMakata ng Linggo for the first week of the DIONATEXT Poetry Writing Contest.

The winners of the consolation prizes are: Rosemarie Pacio, Lamperto Espedido, Dovie Germio, Arlene Tan, Ricardo Palaypay, German Gervacio, Joselito Nilo T. Cruz and Joel Malabanan.

There were a total 10,000 entries for the initial week of the contest. DIONATEXT is sponsored by The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in cooperation with the Filipinas Institute of Translation, Inc., Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) and the UP Institute of Creative Writing (ICW).

National Artist Virgilio S. Almario, chair of the board of judges, remarked that most of the entries delved on family ties, proof of the contestants' awareness of the importance of harmonious relationships and love within the family. He said though that it would be good to have more entries on other aspects of family life such as love among siblings and the crucial role of members of extended families such as the elderly and even househelp. The judges look forward to fresher metaphors and new insights. They also hope that the contestants would be more conscious of higher levels of rhyme.

The contest aims to popularize and revitalize the tradition of one of the oldest forms of poetry by using modern technology. The diona is a short poem composed of three versified rhyming lines. Each line consists only of seven syllables expressing a complete thought.

DIONATEXT entries must be written in Filipino and must express love within the family. Contestants must submit their entries through text to any of the following numbers: (0927) 4641814 at (0918) 2252718. Entries must be accompanied by the name and address of the author. Entries must be received not later than 5 p.m. every Friday of the contest week. Every week for the month of February, judges will pick 2 winners (Text Makata ng Linggo) who will receive P5,000 each. Eight consolation prizes of P2,000 will be awarded. The winning entries will be compiled in a book which will be released at the awarding ceremonies. For inquiries, call Badong at 922-1830.

Here are the winning entries:

1st placers:
Ang payong ko'y si Inay
Kapote ko si Itay
Sa maulan kong buhay.
-Raymund Pambid
Cavite City

Aanhin yamang Saudi,
O yen ng Japayuki,
Kung wala ka sa tabi?
-Fernando R. Gonzales
Las Piñas City

Consolation prizes:

Pamilya'y parang araw,
Malayo man sa tanaw,
Nagbibigay ng tanglaw.
-Rosemarie Pacio
Mankayan, Benguet

Ang batang nasa duyan
Kailangang bantayan,
Iugoy at kantahan.
-Lamberto Espedido

Mama ko at papa ko,
Ate, kuya, at ako,
Sabay mag-ocho-ocho.
-Dovie Germio,
Makati City

Bertdey ng nanay ngayon,
Handa ko ay sotanghon,
Paborito niya `yon.
-Arlene Tan
Davao City

Nagdildil man ng asin,
para ring nag-fried chicken
kung pamilya'y kapiling.
-Ricardo A. Palaypay
Caloocan City

Sa paglisan mo bunso
`Wag kabigin ang pinto,
Sisilip pa ang puso.
-German Gervacio
Pasig City

Sanggol na iniluwal
Bunga ng pagmamahal,
Biyaya ng Maykapal.
-Joselito Nilo T. Cruz
Pasig City

Anak ay saranggola
pisi ang disiplina:
paghila o alagwa!
-Joel Costa Malabanan
Indang, Cavite