Re: SAGOT KAY CHAIR LABRADOR

[Romulo Baquiran, Jr.]

dear mike, jovy, and jun:

 

heto ang edited version ng draft ni jovy.

 

joey

On Dec 19, 2007 5:11 PM, Abdon Balde <kadu...@yahoo.com> wrote:

rio,

narito ang sagot ko kay Chair Labrador ng NCCA, maaaring isama sa gagawing position paper ni Atty. Villanueva.

para sa ibang mga kaibigan, naka attach ang naunang sulat.

junbalde

December 20, 2007

 

Undersecretary Vilma L. Labrador

Chairman, NCCA

 

Thru: Executive Director Cecile Guidote Alvarez

 

 

Dear Chairman Labrador:

 

In compliance with your request, and in response to the accusations of KWF Commissioner Ricardo Nolasco I, Abdon M. Balde Jr., respectfully submit the following information and views:

 

1. I am not a Tagalog.  Like you, ako Bikolanong oragon. I was born and raised in Busac, Oas, Albay and educated in Legazpi College, all in the Bikol Region. I came to Manila for the first time in 1967, to seek employment and happiness. My native tongue is Oasnon, a variant of the Rinconada Language which is spoken from Iriga in Southern Camarines Sur to the Northern Albay towns of Camalig & Daraga. When very young I used to pray & curse in the Oasnon language. As I grow older, I read and write in the dominant language of Bikol-Naga. During my studies I started to read and write in Bikol-Albay. But I also write in Tagalog; I was in highschool when my first story was published in Liwayway Arceo's Bagong Dugo section of Liwayway Magazine in 1962. Another story was dramatized in radio DZGB in Legazpi. Once, I even published a story in a pornographic magazine, but I was young ang wild. During my 33 years in construction management, I wrote technical & business reports and literary pieces in English. But I am mighty proud of my proficiency in Tagalog or Filipino, which I truly believe to be the one and only national language that will unify us under one literature.

 

2. I am not from the University of the Philippines. I studied in Legazpi College, Legazpi City and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. I worked in construction for 33 years, rising from a mere field engineer to become the vice-president of Philrock, the largest local civil works contractor up to the '90s. I retired in the year 2000 and started a writing career which, unfortunately in this country, has no economic returns. In the first 5 years of my "retarded" life I was able to publish 5 books of fiction, 3 of which won National Book Awards. At the tender age of 57 I became probably the oldest first time winner of the Palanca Memorial Award for Literature. I also won 2 Juan C. Laya Prizes: for Best Novel & for Best Book of Fiction. I have two more novels now for printing in the UST Publishing House. I am a recipient of the 2003 Rokyaw Ibalong Highest Achievement Award in Bikol Literature and the 2007 Premio Arejola Lifetime Achievement Award. My works are published in many Bikol, Tagalog and English books and magazines. If I am frequently seen in UP, it's because it probably knows how to recognize talent and it occasionally invites me as a  lecturer in fiction writing and as a panelist in its writers workshops. I am also often invited in UST, in AUL, in DWAL and in many other schools in Bikol. But I am mighty proud of becoming part of UP, if I could—and I wish Commissioner Nolasco would feel the same.

 

3. I am a member of Wika ng Kultura at Agham (WIKA).  I am proud of being a member of an organization that supports the promotion of Filipino as the language of our culture and science—not only in name but in action—so unlike the present KWF. I joined WIKA, not because it opposes the promotion of the English language, but because it is against the degradation of the Filipino language. I am also the Vice Chairman of the Writers Union of the Philippines, a member of the Board of the Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, and a member of KABULIG Bikol Writers Association. I will continue to seek membership in other organizations, "interlocking" these may be, for as long these organizations are pro-Filipino—the language which I believe will truly bind us as one nation. I do not believe that national stability could be achieved when people are divided by many languages. "Maraming wika, matatag na bansa" is just a lot of bull. "Maraming wika, matagtag na bansa" is probably closer to the truth. By the way, I am also a member and an officer of the Lupon ng mga Tagapagtaguyod ng Wikang Filipino, the NCR Chapter of KWF—I was lured by the beautiful title. Now I know how deceptive titles could be. I am ashamed to be a member of any organization that is anti-Filipino, so I am now publicly resigning from that membership.

 

May I reiterate that I voluntarily joined the elections in December 10, 2007 because I believe that my expertise in many languages could be of help to NCCA. Many others did. Some are Tagalogs, a few are not; some are from UP, a few are not; some are members of "interlocking organizations", a few are not; some are friends, a few are not. We understand each other and we work together because we are bound by our common love for Filipino and by our willingness to serve. I still hope that you will not allow anyone with a very personal interest to destroy such cohesiveness.

 

Magkasararo man lugod kita sa pagpauswag kan sadiring tataramon buda literatura!

 

 

 

 

Abdon M. Balde Jr.

 

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