Encounters with a future leader

I met Niño in a writers' workshop. I remember him calling me on the phone to announce the great news that I've been selected, along with six other fellows, to join the historic event, for it was the first writers' workshop in Pagadian. Of course, I was overwhelmed at the thought of conversing, finally, with some of the acclaimed writers in the country.

The workshop participants met online, but it still is a baptism of fire for the seven of us. In the panel, there was the poet Christine Godinez-Ortega, founding director of the Iligan National Writers' Workshop and pioneer of various cultural and artistic movements in Mindanao; poet Rebecca T. Añonuevo who is also a literary critic and herself a recipient of national awards; playwright and historian Karlo Antonio Galay David, current director of the Mindanao Creative & Cultural Workers' Group and quite a fascinating figure in our contemporary literary scene; poet and musician Gerald Castillo Galindez whose interest encompasses the various creative arts; and poet, fictionist and Bathalad Cebu president CD Borden who surprised us with his critical essays on some of the workshop pieces. We fellows all wondered how long it'll take us to go back to writing, or whether we should at all write again, as we realize that there is so much to improve.

Who would've thought that its convener is a high school student?

From start to finish, Niño facilitated the workshop with an air of confidence only exhibited by those who reach a certain level of maturation from intellectual activity, as seen in the likes of Quezon in the anecdotes about him. I have both admiration and envy for this young man, for while I, already a teacher, was hoping for a workshop to happen in this place, he, a senior high school student, made it happen for everyone!

I cannot emphasize this enough: the workshop is a turning point in Pagadian's literature and social consciousness, although it is only history that will have the last say, for the way of letters, of education, is never radical.

A week after the workshop, I met him online again in a national conference on regional literatures hosted by the NCCA. He was presenting his research on the folk literature of the Lakewood Subanen. I heard him spoke again at another national conference hosted by the MCCWG at the end of April. Then he made another online public appearance last month when he moderated a talk between two creative artists from Cotabato.

A rich cultural heritage is yet to be rediscovered by its people. But the breeze is changing in Pagadian, thanks to a young man who brought the passion for writing and literature back to us.

I will say this for a third time: Niño is a senior high school student. He will soon fly to Ontario for a college degree.

The Pagadian Writers' Workshop was held on March 23-25 this year.

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Read Niño's poem on this site.