UMPIL (Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas)

The Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) will hold its 34th National Convention on August 30, 2008 at the GSIS Museum of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila.

This year’s special guest of honor, South Korean novelist and Asia Magazine Executive Director Bang Hyun-seok will discuss the theme “Trading Words, Tracing Worlds.”

A meeting discussing the Writers Welfare Act will follow. The Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas will be given out by 1 p.m.

The award is the highest form of recognition bestowed by UMPIL on Filipino writers who have published exceptional works of literature in any Philippine language. This year’s winners will receive trophies created by renowned artist Manuel Baldemor. They are:

• Ruperta Asuncion (Iluko poetry)
• Edgardo Maranan (Filipino/English poetry)
• James Na (Chinese poetry)
• Armando “Bing” Lao (Filipino screenplay)
• Delfin Tolentino (English essay)

The Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez will also be given to Prof. Ligaya Tiamson Rubin, and the Gawad Pedro Bucaneg to The Arejola Foundation for Social Responsibility, Inc.

Dr. Mario I. Miclat and Dr. Ruby G. Alcantara will host the convention. The program as follows:

• 8:00 Registration
• 9:00 National Anthem Mike M. Coroza
• Welcome Remarks Ryan V.Palad, GSIS Museum Curator
• 9:15 Chairman’s Report Vim D. Nadera, UMPIL Chair
• 9:30 Introduction of the Guest Speaker Karina Africa Bolasco
• 9:45 Keynote Speech Bang Hyun-seok, South Korea
• 11:00 Open Forum
• 12:00 LUNCH
• 1:00 UMPIL Committee Meetings
• 3:00 Pananalig sa Panitik Teo T. Antonio
• 3:15 Natatanging Bilang Neil de Mesa, Alegria Ferrer and George Yang
• 3:30 Gawad Pambansang sa Alagad ni Balagtas 2008 Ceremonies