The Women in Literary Arts-Cebu Inc. (Wila) celebrated its 22nd anniversary with a poetry reading last Sept. 29 at Harold’s Hotel.
Members of the group read their original poems that were focused on the theme “Tipping Point.”
They are Erma Cuizon, Kaira Zoe Alburo-Cañete, Charmaine Carreon, Jona Bering, Jeneth Borlasa, Cindy Velasquez, Michelle Johanna Lim and Gloria Sommers, with guest readers Bobby Amor and Msgr. Agustin Ancajas.
book launch
The activity also highlighted the launching of Simeon Dumdum Jr.’s latest poetry book, “To the Evening Star.”
Published by the University of Santo Tomas Press, the book showcases Dumdum’s poems with “witty phrases and humorous words.”
The poems were read by Wila chairperson Haidee Palapar, Annabelle Tan-Amor, Hope Sabanpan-Yu and Dumdum’s wife Ma. Milagros Dumdum.
Dumdum said the book is a product of his hiatus while recuperating from cancer.
He said in jest that writing poems is his main occupation, while his work in the judiciary is his sideline.
Dumdum is a Regional Trial Court executive judge in Cebu City and honorary member of Wila.
On the same occasion, Wila also installed its new set of officers for 2013-2015. They are Haidee Palapar, chairperson; Jeneth Borlasa, vice chairperson; Gloria Sommers, secretary; Ma. Milagros T. Dumdum, treasurer; Annabelle Tan-Amor, auditor; and Erma Cuizon, public relations officer.
They were inducted into office by Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.
Wila also recognized its members who won in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
They are Lilia Tio, third place for Cebuano short story in 2008; Charmaine Carreon, second place for English poetry in 2012; and Jona Bering, first place for Cebuano short story for this year.