Launch of English version
of Hiligaynon novel slated

The English translation of Ramon Muzones’s “Margosatubig”, the first Hiligaynon international best seller, that was done by Ma. Cecilia Locsin-Nava, will be launched by the Negros Museum on August 31, at 5:30 p.m., in Bacolod City, a press release from organizers said.

The novel is a blend of history, legend, romance and epic of a Muslim hero’s struggle to regain Margosatubig, the kingdom his grandfather lost to an ambitious tyrant. It was written after the Second World War, and struck a nationalistic chord with its post-war audience, who read into Muzones’s portrayal of his hero’s repeated efforts to wrest back control of his kingdom the Philippines’ own attempts to ward off successive foreign invasions, the press release also said.

By translating Muzones’s work to English, Nava made the novel available not only to non-Ilonggo–speaking readers, but resulted in the conferment of the Gawad Balagtas Award by the Writers Union of the Philippines in 1988, the Gawad sa Sining trophy by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1989, and the Gawad Bonifacio Centennial posthumous award by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 1998, to Muzones, who was also declared “The Most Outstanding Hiligaynon Writer of the Century”, the press release said.

Meanwhile, Nava will deliver a lecture on Muzones at 4:30 p.m. today at the University of St. La Salle MM Auditorium. Those interested may contact the Negros Museum at 470-85080, the press release added.*

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Training vs. child
trafficking held

Twenty-five leaders of indigenous peoples’ tribes attended a three-day “Training of Community Educator of IP on Anti-Child Trafficking” at the Technology and Livelihood Development Center of the Negros Occidental Barangay Center in Bacolod City, recently, a press release from the Capitol said.

The IPs came from the Ati, Ata and Bukidnon indigenous cultural communities in the towns of Hinoba-an, Candoni, Isabela, Murcia and Calatrava, and the cities of Kabankalan, Himamaylan, Sagay, Cadiz and Silay.

The activity was initiated by the Philippines Against Child Trafficking.  Topics discussed were the “Review on Human Rights with Reference to Children’s Rights and Effects of Trafficking” by Sheila Grace Formento, PACT national secretariat training officer; and the “Definition of Trafficking in Persons” by Jenie Macalipsay, PACT Negros Occidental treasurer, the press release also said.

The activity was in collaboration with the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples–Negros Occidental Community Service Center, and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the press release added.*

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