My first Kapampangan-related Award!!!

Digpan-ning-kagaretang-alti!

My whole spirit is currently wiggling in glee. This is so because this afternoon, I was phoned by the chairman of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF), Mr. Ricardo Nolasco, and was informed that I landed third place in the recently concluded Gawad Komisyon 2007 - the first ever literary tilt in the Philippines in 11 languages.

Naturally, I entered the Kapampangan category. Under it, there is only one subcategory: poesya (poetry). I titled my poetry collection Ing Pamiakit Ming Miyindu (Our Meeting, Mother and Child). I actually misspelled my entry's title; I indicated Pamiyikit instead of Pamiakit, and it wasn't until I submitted my papers that I realized my error.

These are the poems included in my collection:

1. Pun A Matua (Tree of Old)
2. Ligligan Pangadi (The Prayer Contest)
3. Sanu Ing Matimbang: Ing Milabas o Ing Bukas? (Which Matters More: The Past or the Future?)
4. Karing Bungang Pasuku na Lulut (For Fruits About to Fully Ripen)
5. Dumulung Ka (Go Buy)
6. Ing Anak a Tagak (The Little Egret)
7. Manukluan (Squatter)
8. Atin Ku Pung Singsing 2 (I Had A Ring 2)

The winners of Gawad Komisyon will be awarded this Friday at Dayview Hotel, Kalaw, Manila. I'm going to be wearing one of my Kapampangan shirts. Probably the one that says Karag TM, with a caricature of a bullfrog. :)