Literary Arts Development in Negros Oriental

 

Dumaguete City is the center of learning for Literature and creative writing. One of the legacies is the National Summer Creative Writing Workshop the oldest in Asia, every May writers from all over the country gather here and in Camp lockout in Valencia Negros Oriental for learning and fellowship among the creative minds.

 

  

The influence of English language and literature by our American Missionaries from Silliman,American Thomasites of Negros Oriental High School and the Provincial School ( now Negros Oriental State University) ,visiting English Professors in Foundation University and the SPC Sisters of St. Paul University first introduced French literature in Negros Island.

 

  

The Postwar era was the beginning of rediscovering literary pieces that were lost during the War, with the Tiempos of Silliman and Saavedra of St. Paul showing us to love literature and how we glimpse of the magic of each character in the story was immortalized. Let focus on two great cities in Negros Oriental Bais and Tanjay where prolific writers, researchers, Poets, English and Literature Professors came from. 

 

 We began with the literary background of Tanjay City starting with the late Dr. Timoteo Sibala Oracion ( Anthropologist,Historian and Writer ). He recorded a piece of oral literature like a chant or prayer to bless the results of a hunt is one of early transcribed by Dr. Oracion in his old study of the Negritos culture and traditions. Most of his founded studies were about the Pre-colonial times in our cultural communities in Negros .

 

 Tanjay’s literary heritage will trace back to the families of the town. Cabello family matriarch Carmen Enaje Cabello Martinez who was a teacher who produced two Palanca award-winners David Cabello Martinez once called the “champions of semantics,” and their stories indeed deserve to be heard and another daughter is the famous writer Elsie Victoria Martinez-Coscolluela first Filipina Hall of Fame in Palanca Awards.

 

 

 

Martinez uncle Society Historian, editor, and Literary Writer Antonino “Dodong” Calumpang wrote several articles in National and local newspapers & magazines about the life of Negrenses.

 

 Young generation Tanjayanon Ron Jacob Calumpang writer and Theatre actor wrote several literary and autobiographies of famous people in Tanjay. While Poet and medical doctor Gerard Jude Bumanglag humanize and will  take us to a real-world of human emotions like sadness, pain, and happiness in his 10 masterpieces poems.

 

 

Ayla Lopez-Sedon a native of tugas Tanjay started to write at the early age of 15. She creatively chooses her words that make it more interesting and deeper for the readers. I, personally, love to read her poems. This is because I like poems that are mysterious and with deep meaning that challenges me to think hard about what it meant. I find it so astounding that how powerful words are and such talent coming from a person like Ayla.

 

 

 

 Bais City is another city with so many local writers but was not recognized by Literary people in this province. Starting with the Baena la Familia Baisanon historian Josefa Baena Villanueva Perez ( Writer, Researcher, and Visual Artist ) also has a compilation of folk tales, Beliefs, and Folkways and legends with the helped of her English Teacher husband Serafin Perez , some of her works are used during the Negros Oriental Centennial Celebration and the dissertation of her daughter a famous literature professor Sandra Perez Duran .

 

 

 

International Poet Simon Anton Nino Diego Galera Baena, Some of his works have already been published in Mascara Literary Review, Philippines Free Press, The James Franco Review, The Blue Hour Magazine, and  The American Journal of Poetry

 

 

 

He is the author of the chapbook, The Magnum Opus Persists in the Evening (Jacar Press). His poems have appeared or will appear, in The Cortland Review, Louisiana Literature, Fifth Wednesday, Osiris, Talking River Review, The Inflectionist Review, North Dakota Quarterly, Phantom Drift, Skidrow Penthouse, among others. He is the editor of the online journal, January Review.

 

 

 

Tichie Ann Saycon Econg-Baena a Doctor of Philosophy in English a writer, editor of literary works Literature & English and researcher always bring pride to her hometown.In 2019 she received an Outstanding International educator award from Bangkok Thailand. Her works reflect a deep appreciation beyond this imagining soul.

 

 

 

Mother and son tandem made a landscape in Literary arts in Bais City Leonaga Tulabing. Larena fondly call “Ganda” wrote seven poems since 1973 with her son Josefino "Penn"T. Larena Jr. writer, poet, and historian ,he wrote 10 poems the latest works are The Room in 2020 and Rizal Eternal Love in 2021. I also remembered one Baisanon poet, the late Coring de Guia. She wrote poems and showcased her works in 2001-02. during an art exhibit.

 

 

 

Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Villanueva from the Villanueva clan of Bais City is shortlisted for the country’s highest recognition given to Filipinoartists, Villanueva, also known by his pen name Renato E. Madrid, is a candidate for literature and music, he is author of ‘Southern Harvest (1996)’, a collection of stories, and two novels titled ‘Devil Wings (1997)’ and ‘Mass for the Death of an Enemy’ (2000). Rolin Migyuel Cadallo Obina award-winning Palanca poet, writer, and playwright from Bais City

 

 

 At the end of the day, we will find our meaning and purpose in each of our lives. The feelings of despair and hopelessness will eventually fade and will be changed with desires and aspirations. If we have faith in Him, with God everything is impossible and all those emotions will transform into new hope and desire. The legacy of every Negrosanon will live on in giving values to literature and creative writing in the country.

 

  

Happy National Literature Month 2021