NEWS
February 16, 2004

RDL-CLEAR, IBASO back First Writeshop on Local Tongues
Eddie G. Fetalvero

The first Writers' Workshop on Three Romblomanon Languages gathered 30 writing fellows representing the asi, ini (romblomanon) and onhan groups and six campus paper advisers all over the province last February 2-4, 2004 at the Community Outreach Center Building of Romblon State College, Odiongan, Romblon. The activity was sponsored by RDL-CLEAR and IBA Student Organization.

The three-day workshop was initiated to preserve the local languages whose frequency of use is gradually dissipating in the local community. It focused on the composition of various literary genres in the native language like essay, poem, short story and play. A short lecture was also done prior to each workshop. Discussing the roles of Romblomanon writers on the enrichment of the local culture was Eddie G. Fetalvero, the information and communication officer of the Romblon Studies Center for Culture and the Arts. Prof. Amparo C. Galicia, the head of English Department talked on the uses of figure of speech in the local literature while Dr. Mario A. Fetalver, Jr. explicated the various styles of writing poems and short stories. PIA Information Officer Jose Rizal M. Reyes, also a Romblon Text Columnist and a local radio commentator, talked about famous Romblomanon writers and their works.

The third day of the workshop was the panel evaluation of the outputs. This was held at Mountain Spring Resort in barangay Rizal, a farm house and resort located at the southern outskirts of Poblacion conducive for this kind of gathering. The asi group was divided into two: the Asi 1 composed of young Asi writers whose works were paneled and critiqued by Ish Fabicon and Dodong Reyes; and Asi 2 composed of younger (once) Asi writers whose works were paneled and critiqued by Abner Faminiano (Asi Writer's Club) and Alberto Perez Jr. (The Eastern Arrow). Serving as panelists for the onhan and ini groups were Prof. Amparo C. Galicia and Betty F. Fetalver and Flaviano Muyo and Maritess Martos, respectively.

At the Mountain Spring resort, the Institute of Business and Accountancy expressed their gratitude for the efforts and assistance of RDL-CLEAR to the institute through a framed certificate of appreciation. It was also in the same place where the term "ini" was resolved to be used officially in reference to all towns speaking the Romblomanon language. Thereafter, the tri-lingual association of Romblomanon writers called AIO (asi, ini, onhan) was organized with the following elected officers: President, Jaynes F. Flores (The Harrow); Executive Vice President, Reynald Andres (IBA); Vice Presidents Asi, Benedict Orozo; Ini, Erwil Roda (IBA); Onhan, Albert Tuliao (The Bay Echo); Secretary, Rose Ann Gonzales (The Eastern Arrow); Treasurer, Renmel Solidum (RSC SLHS); PRO's, Franco Rico (RSC Sawang), Eric Teñoso (The Harrow), Jimvim Fabella (The Harrow) at Zyra De Castro (The Bay Echo).

The challenge to preserve and enrich the local literature was embodied in Jose Rizal Reyes' discourse, "We have to move fast now. The older generations are passing away and with them the unwritten memories of our language and our past. If only to protect our identity and heritage as a people, we should preserve the Onhan, Ini and Asi languages before they become unrecognizable from their older forms, before a useful part of our past is lost forever."

Each of the participants was given certificate of participation and a copy of the 108-page compilation of outputs during the first two days of the workshop.