‘Bisayang Dako’ launched at Wila’s 24th
It was a legendary night for Women in Literary Arts-Cebu Inc. (Wila) as one of its most prolific members launched a book centered on the Cebuano culture and arts.
Dr. Erlinda Kintanar-Alburo, contemporary Cebuano language scholar, launched her newest offering
to Cebuano literature, Bisayang Dako: Writing Cebuano Culture and
Arts. Published by the USC Press, the book is a collection of 64 essays pinpointing the concerns of the ordinary Cebuano.
These essays were formerly published from Alburo’s now defunct columns, Diyandi in the Freeman Magazine and Promdiwise in Sugbo News, while some were papers presented in anthropology and literature meetings. The essays are divided into seven chapters: On Culture and Arts, On Folklore, On History, On the Literary Arts, On the Native Tongue, On Women Writing and On Men Writing.
Alburo’s writings concerned mainly on the meager national exposure of Cebu’s culture and arts. In her preface, she writes how lucky Cebu is that its three dailies more or less consistently feature culture and arts but the rest of the world doesn’t seem to know or care what Cebuanos are doing.
The book launching was part of Wila’s 24th anniversary celebration last Sept. 26 at the Sinulog Hall of the Rizal Memorial Museum and Library. Wila’s founding president, Erma M. Cuizon, inducted a new set of officers during the event. The new officers are as follows: Hope Sabanpan-Yu, president; Desiree Balota, vice-president; Joanalyn Gabales, secretary; Jeneth Borlasa, treasurer; and Cindy Velasquez, public relations officer.
Haidee Emmie Palapar, Wila’s outgoing president, shared how this year will be a special year for Wila since they are preparing for their silver anniversary next year. “We are thinking of coming up with a coffee table book that contains the history of Wila and features each of its members and their works. We will also feature important spots in Cebu. We want to emphasize that Wila is really Cebu,” Palapar said.
Women in Literary Arts-Cebu Inc. is the longest running creative writing group of women in the Philippines, formed in 1991 for the promotion of Cebuano or Philippine literature and to especially foster the women’s voice in the art of writing.