BANGUI, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The country’s well-known Ilokano writers’ group successfully held its first face-to-face literary writing workshop on August 19-21, 2022 at the Bangui National High School here since the onslaught of COVID-19 in 2020.
 
The literary writing workshop dubbed as Pasnaan 11, is the lone Ilokano literary writing workshop undertaken by the Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat Nga Ilokano iti Filipinas (GUMIL Filipinas), the national association of Ilokano writers here and abroad, in collaboration with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) and the Bannawag magazine.
 
Despite the presence of pandemic, GUMIL Filipinas president Remy Albano said that the association remains steadfast in preserving and nurturing the Ilokano literary arts with the help of the KWF and the Bannawag magazine.
 
“We will continue this Pasnaan as a prime program of our association to sustain the development of the Ilokano literature that aligns to the fast-changing communication technology,” said Albano. 
 
Neyo Valdez, GUMIL Filipinas secretary-general and workshop director, said this year’s Pasnaan discussed the writing skills for the Ilokano flash fiction – the newest style of short story writing.
 
“This is the first time that we tackled only one type of literary writing skill for the annual Ilokano writing workshop to focus on the latest style of Ilokano short story writing,” said Valdez.
 
Among the fellows who successfully finished the three-day workshop were the following: Maria Lourdes Ladi Opinaldo, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Taiwan and resident of Purok 1, Barangay Ar-arampang, Balaoan, La Union; Lito Hilidon of Barangay Poblacion East, Asingan, Pangasinan; Jorge Richard Guerrero, an employee of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) residing in Barangay 5, San Pedro, Laoag City; Archie Anipot, a police residing in Barangay Capangpangan, Vigan City; Michael Corpuz of Barangay 17, San Felipe, Sarrat Ilocos Norte; and  Arnel Asis of  Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
 
Serving as panelists during the workshop were the following prominent Ilokano writers: Bannawag managing editor Cles Rambaud, Joel Manuel, Estela Bisquera Guerrero, Juan Al. Asuncion, Junley Lazaga, and Romel Pascua. 
 
Other Ilokano writers who were guest panelists during the workshop output presentation were Daniel Nesperos, Aileen Rambaud, Ely Raquel, and Dr. Virginia Duldulao. 
 
Manuel, a multi-awarded Ilokano literary writer and principal of the host school of this year’s Pasnaan, said the recently concluded Pasnaan was held in honor of Jose Garvida Flores, a prominent Ilokano poet, playwright, and politician who served as vice governor of Ilocos Norte and hails from Bangui.
 
Meanwhile, at least 96 Ilokano writers have already graduated from the Pasnaan Ilokano literary writing workshop since it started in 2010.
 
The Pasnaan literary workshop is a pet project of GUMIL Filipinas to hone the writing skills of budding Ilokano writers. (JCR/AMB/FGL, PIA 1)