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Showing posts with label Aklanon writers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aklanon writers. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Edna L. Faral

Edna Laurente Faral,
A Pride of the Aklanons in Tampa, Florida, USA

By

Melchor F. Cichon


Her passion has always been folk dancing.

Edna or SunflowR among her cybermates migrated to Florida, USA in 2001 immediately after her husband was hired by an American company in the states. She did not know that when she settled in Florida she would be a member of its famous dance troupes.

“I like to dance”, she said, “because it reflects my personality. Dancing is my inner feeling, my desire and my love. The moment I dance I'm lost in my own small world. Besides, I'm promoting our very own culture to every Filipino I encountered each time I perform. I tell them through dancing that we Filipinos have a beautiful and rich culture. Through my dance, I am encouraging our kababayan in the United States to revisit the Philippines.”

Edna started dancing at the age of seven, while in grade one and all throughout her elementary years in Batan, Aklan, her birthplace. Her interest in dancing was greatly influenced when she watched the dancers of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe and the Barangay Dance Troupe, especially because two of her fellow townmates were members of the latter dance troupe. She would always remember Ms. Nelida Cortes Abella, Nang Bebot to them, who trained them the basic to complicated steps of folkdancing.

She told herself: “it feels great to belong to those groups,” meaning the Bayanihan Dance Troupe and the Barangay Dance Troupe..”

While in the elementary grades, she was among those selected pupils to dance during intermission numbers on the programs of the school. At times she would perform during big events in their town like fiesta.

During her high school days, she joined the school's dance troupe. They had big shows before like "Dance Potpourri" in their town social hall. They would sometimes represent their school in the provincial event held in Kalibo, the capital of Aklan.

She took her high school at Kalantiaw Institute, Batan, Aklan.

Her passion in dancing reached its height when she joined the Florida-based Philippine Performing Arts Company (PPAC) and the Indak Pambata, also in Florida, USA.

After her husband, Conrad Faral of Tinga Itaas, Batangas City, came to the United States in June 2001, to work in an American company, Edna and their son, Concon, followed him.

Luckily, Conrad knows Mr. Rudy Curioso and Ms. Bing Curioso. Ms. Curioso is a choreographer of Indak Pambata and a member of the Tampa, Florida based Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. After learning that Edna and her son, Concon, are folk dancers, Bing asked them to join Indak Pambata. That started her life as a dancer in the states.

Later on, she was cast in some dances of Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. by Mr. Joey Omila, the choreographer of that group. Mr. Joey Omila is a former member of the well known Bayanihan Dance Troupe.

When Edna was asked what particular dance she likes to perform, she says: Igorot dances. She specially mentioned Banga and the Kalinga Festival Dance.

Since then, Edna has danced in the following festivals:

2002
PHILFEST 2002, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
2003
PHILFEST 2003, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
BARRIO FIESTA, Tampa, Florida
INDEPENDENCE DAY, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
MUSIKONG KAWAYAN IN CONCERT, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
SAMPAGUITA BALL, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
2004
PHILFEST 2004, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
ASIAFEST 2004, Cotanchobee Park, Downtown Tampa, Florida
ASIAN PACIFIC FESTIVAL, F. Burton Smith Regional Park, Cocoa, Florida
FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida
PAGDIRIWANG: MUSIKONG KAWAYAN IN CONCERT, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
23rd ANNUAL MAHARLIKA NIGHT, Cathedral of Jesus of Nazareth, Tampa, Florida
PHIL-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TAMPA, CHRISTMAS PARTY, Cathedral of Jesus of Nazareth, Tampa, Florida
PASKO, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
2005
PHILFEST 2005, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
ASIAFEST 2005, Cotanchobee Park, Downtown Tampa, Florida
2005 TAMPA BAY FEDERAL AGENCIE'S 6TH ANNUAL UNITY FESTIVAL, Ashley Plaza Hotel, Tampa, Florida
FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL, Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park, White Springs, Florida.
25th JUBILEE CELEBRATION FOR FATHER PROUX, Nativity Church, Brandon, Florida.

As a dancer, her choreographer, Ms. Aurora Curioso, has all praises of Edna.
Ms. Curioso says it all in her email to Edna:

“My dear Edna, siyempre naman - what can I say. You are a fast learner, you pick up right away. You remember your sequence, you help the others who are slow, you are a big support backstage and a great dancer on stage. Ano pa ba. One thing I know, if you do not deserve to be on stage and be one of my folk dancers, I will be the first to pull you out of there and tell you on your face, hoy, masaya ka. But that is not the case. As a matter of fact, you are graceful and have that pleasant smiling face which gives joy and delight to the audience.

Tita Bing.”

Dancing is not the only passion of Edna.

She is also a haiku poet.

Here are three of her haiku:

morn
the sunflower
beneath my strength

****
across the horizon
sunlight waves goodbye
to embrace tomorrow
***
sunset in Venice –
we kiss to fulfill
a promise

Edna has been dancing in Tampa, Florida but she wishes that she could go home to the Philippines and perform together with the Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. and at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Florida, USA.

Aside from being a folk dancer and a poet, Edna also works as a volunteer at St. Stephen Catholic Church for its Meals on Wheels civic project. She helps give free foods to the elderly.

Edna also works as a volunteer at Hands On Tampa Bay (HOT), a volunteer program of the United Way of Tampa Bay . Here she sorts donated food at local food bank.

Aklanon Writers

Some Akeanon Writers


Julien R. Angor hay dati nga kabulig nga editor ag artist it New Horizon (OsmeƱa High School, Manila) ag nagtuon sa Aklan College sa Kalibo, Aklan, kon siin imaw nangin editor it Aklan Collegian. Ra binaeaybay nga Manok hay nabalhag sa Ani, Dec 1991.

John Barrios hay matawag nga multi-talented nga Akeanon. Bukon eang it manogbinaeaybay si John kundi pintor, artista, ag editor. Ra mga binaeaybay hay nabalhag sa Pagbutlak (opisyal nga publikasyon it mga estudyante it CAS, University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV), Miag-ao, Iloilo); Ani 21 (1993), Patubas (1995) ag sa Mantala (2000), Homelife, SanAg (2002) ag sa Hiligaynon. Isaea imaw ro founding members it Akeanon Literary Circle. Nagdaog imaw it Second Prize sa Bigkas Binalaybay 2002 nga gindumaea it UPV Sentro Ng Wikang Filipino. Isaea imaw nga editor it Bueabod, ro poetry journal it ALC. Ro ana nga binaeaybay The Mosquito hay nagdaog it first prize sa English category sa 1994 Miag-ao Summer Arts Camp. Natawo si John sa Lezo pero nagbahoe imaw sa Kalibo. Makaron hay propesor imaw sa UP High School Iloilo.

George T. Calaor hay natawo sa Malay ag isaea sa mga nagpundar it Akeanon Literary Circle. Fellow imaw sa 24th UP National Writers Workshop in the Visayas. Nagdaog imaw it third prize sa Hiligaynon category sa National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) All-West Visayan Poetry Competition.

Pett Regno Candido hay dati nga radioman and computer –lecturer ag nangin adviser it Akeanon Literary Circle. Ra bilding nga Pett’s Place hay ginhimo nga Poet’s Place it mga miyembro it ALC. May libro imaw nga Far Beyond Eternity (1987). Ra mga binaeaybay hay nabalhag sa Poetry.com ag sa Ani 21. Nagpanaw eon si Pett.

Rommel J. Constantino hay nagtapus it B.A. Accountancy sa UP in the Visayas. Ro ana nga mga binaeaybay hay nabalhag sa Ani 21. Si Rommel hay taga-Kalibo.

Allan F. Corro. Sa ulihi ko nga impormasyon, si Allan hay nagturo sa Daja Sur National High School sa Banga, Aklan. Ro ana nga binaeaybay hay mabasa sa Ani 21.

Alexander C. de Juan hay nangin vice-chair it ALC ag isaea sa mga editors it Bueabod. Nagdaog imaw it first prize sa NCCA All-West-Visayan Poetry Competition. Nangin fellow imaw sa 23rd UP National Writers Workshop. Ra binaeabay nga Bakit si Xela ay Nagdighay Pagkatapos Mag-Inom ng Coke hay isaea sa mga mayad nga binaeaybay nga ginpili ni Isagani Cruz’s Critic’s Choice (April, 1994) Starweek. Makaron si Alex hay nagaobra sa University Press it De la Salle University. Nagatuon man imaw it master’s degree sa UP Diliman. Sa Kalibo imaw natawo ag nagtapos ku ana nga B.A. Literature sa UP in the Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo.

Sumra I. de la Cruz hay bukon eang it manogbinaeaybay kundi isaea sa ginakilaea nga pintor it Aklan. Onga imaw ni Mr. Roman de la Cruz.

Roman A. de la Cruz hay editor, historian, short story writer, textbook writer, grammarian, lexicographer, lay worker. Imaw ro editor-publisher it Aklan Reporter, ag author it masunod nga libro: Life With the Family (2001), For the Child King: An Image and a Song (2001), Out of Too Much Grief (2001), Town of A Thousand (1993), Concordance on the Triune God (1997), Alone Along A Lonely Road (1973; 1987); Perceptions (c1998; 3rd printing, 2001), Is Christ God? (c1981, 3rd printing, 2001). Ro ana nga multi-lingual dictionary ro pinaka-importante nga kontribusyon nana sa Aklanon language. Imaw ro ginatawag nga Dean of Aklanon Journalists.

Vellyzarius I. de la Cruz hay isaea sa mga produktibo nga manunueat sa Aklan. Lima eon ka libro ro ana nga naobra: The Office; The Loved One; With Hope Undying; Earth Glare; ag Poems in Priase of God. Ro Akeanon nga binaeaybay ni Velly hay mabasa sa Ani 21. Nagtaliwan eon si Billy.

Greg M. Ibesate hay dati nga editor-in-chief it The Forum, ro opisyal nga publikasyon it mga estudyante sa Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Kalibo. Ro mga binaeaybay nana hay mabasa sa Ani 21.

Rosela S. Ignacio hay dati nga literary/feature editor it Aklan Collegian. Ro ana nga binaeaybay nga Baeod hay mabasa sa Ani 21.

Leo Franco B. de la Ostia hay nagtapos sa Science Development National High School sa Kalibo ag nagtuon sa John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation sa Iloilo City. Ro binaeaybay nana nga Ro Abilidad It Tawo ag A, Tao A! hay mabasa sa Ani 21.

Abou Ben G. Dianco hay nagtuon it civil engineering sa Aklan College kon siin imaw nangin English literary editor it Aklan Collegian.

Kenneth Ilio hay taga-Malinao ag naghalin sa mga maaeam nga pamilya. Ra tatay, Dominador Ilio hay kilaea sa Philippine Literature. Si Ken hay nagtapos it Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines, ag Master of Philosophy Degree sa Massey University (New Zealand), ag Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Veterinary Science sa University of Illinois at urbana-Champaign. Ra short story hay mabasa sa Stories Section it rayang website.

Dominador I. Ilio hay natawo ku 1913 sa Malinao. Nagtrabaho imaw bilang propesor sa hydraulics sa University of the Philippines College of Engineering bilang head sa Engineering Science Department ag Sekretaryo it andang kolehiyo. Tag nagatuon si Tay Doming ku anang MS in Hydraulics at the Univeristy of Iowa, nag-attend imaw sa poetry workshop ni Paul Engle. Pila sa mga libro ni Tay Doming hay:The Collected Poems of Dominador Ilio, Guerilla Memoirs (a novel), Madia-as (tales and legends in verse), The Katipunan of Aklan, and Vagaries of a Wild River. Makita ro mga binaeaybay ni Tay Doming sa http://www.malinao.net/tatay.

Ronnie A. Inventor hay nagtuon it civil engineering sa Aklan College ag kon siin imaw nag-umpisa it pagsueat. Ra mga binaeaybay hay mabasa sa Homelife ag sa Ani 21.

Nady Meren hay taga-Kalibo ag isaea sa mga founding members it Akeanon Literary Circle. Nagtapos imaw it engineering ag nagbueo it M.A. in Education sa Aklan College. Ra mga binaeaybay hay mabasa sa Ani 21.

Belle Nabor: A Filipino Haijin
As a haijin, or a haiku poet, she is recognized worldwide.

Her haiku have been published both in print and in the web. Her haiku have been published the Mainichi Daily News, a world famous newspaper that prints haiku. . Her other haiku were included in Sakura Anthology of Haiku published in Sweden along with other world famous haijin like Robert D. Wilson, Michael Rehling, an’ya, and 27 other poets, The Makata, Short Stuff, and in Poetry Country Mouse. Her popular blog, http://short.poems.blogspot.com/, that features her short poems: haiku, tanka, and cinquain, has been instrumental in her introduction to world haiku.

Her haiku were featured twice (September 2003 and Spring 2005) in the issues of Simply Haiku, edited and owned by a well known haijin, Robert D. Wilson.

In addition, some of her poetry has been printed on hand-made greeting cards made by the Red Dragonfly Cards from Malaysia.

The name of this Seventh Day Adventist lady and a boxing aficionado is Belle Nabor, an Aklanon.

Belle was born on August 2, 1972 in Ibajay, Aklan. Her father is a native of Numancia, while her mother is from Ibajay. She has one elder sister, and one younger brother. She also has one half-brother and one half-sister from her mother.

She first studied at Kalalake Elementary School in Olongapo City, then transferred to Bulwang Elementary School in Numancia, Aklan. She finished her secondary and tertiary education in Aklan College, Kalibo, Aklan. Now she works as a University Research Associate at the University of the Philippines in Diliman (UPD). At the same time, she is working for her master’s degree in education majoring in guidance and counseling at UPD where she is also studying French language.

Nita B. Payba hay taga-Altavas kon siin imaw nagaturo. Isaea imaw sa mga editors it Altavas Balita. Ro ana nga binaeaybay nga Sa Suba hay mabasa sa Ani 21.

Joeffrey L. Ricafuente hay taga-Kalibo ag imaw ro founding chair it Akeanon Literary Circle. Si Joeffrey hay bukon eang it manogbinaeaybay kundi playwright ag fictionist. Nagaturo si Goeffrey sa Aklan College. Sa Canada makaron ni Joef.

Am I. Roselo. Si Am ro pinakabata nga miyembro it Akeanon Literary Circle, pero ra mga binaeaybay ni Am hay may mature sense. Makita ra sa mga binaeaybay nana nga nabalhag sa Ani 21. Nagtapos si Am sa Science Development National High School, Kalibo, Aklan.

Monalisa T. Tabernilla hay natawo sa Makato, ag nagtapos it comparative literature sa UP in the Visayas. Ro mga binaeaybay ni Lisa hay nabalhag sa Philippine Graphic, Midweek, Diyarno Filipino ag Home Life. Makita man ro ana nga mga binaeaybay sa Ani 21.

Nynn Arwena G.Tamayo hay naga-obra sa Agrarian Reform Program sa DAR-Aklan. Nagtrabaho man imaw sa Archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes Memorial Foundation. Ginatawag si Weng-Weng nga “Big Sister” it mga Akeanon writers. Ra mga binaeaybay hay mabasa sa Ani, sa SanAg, ag sa Bueabod. Ra binaeaybay nga Haead Kay Arsena ro matawag nga isaea sa pinakmayad nga binaeaybay nga ginsueat it sangka Akeanon.