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Bicolano propagandist inspires

revial of Bicol literature
By Juan Escandor Jr.

A Bicolano propagandist, during the period of propaganda movement in the late 19th century, has inspired the revival of Bicol literature through a system of recognition held here every year.

Named the “Premio Tomas Arejola” in honor of Tomas Arejola, a member of the ilustrado from Nueva Caceres (Naga City) who joined the propaganda movement in late 1800s in Madrid, the recognition aims to popularize the use of and generate literature in Bicol language. (The Bicol language comprised of several dominant dialects like the ones spoken in Naga, Albay, Daet, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon and the Rinconada dialect in the fourth district of Camarines Sur and the Miraya dialect in the third district of Albay.)

Sense of one’s self
Carlo Arejola, managing director of the sponsoring organization The Arejola Foundation, said the foundation, in behalf of his great granduncle, wanted to focus on the power of the pen to continue the legacy of the Bicol propagandist’s “love and dedication to freedom that brings back the sense of one’s self.”

Carlo further explained that the Premio Tomas Arejola wanted to contribute “to the arduous task of reviving the dying Bicol language and culture.”

(Photo Caption) Tomas and Mercedes Arejola in 1914


He said that it’s frustrating that Bicol is not even included in the categories of Palanca Award unlike Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Cebuano and Tagalog.

“We wanted to elevate Bicol language to literature to preserve the original dialects and help them grow before they are totally marginalized,” Carlo said.

Last December 17, the second Premio Arejola showcased literature for children in Bicol that included children’s stories and one-act plays.

Carlo said they view that the popularization of children’s literature in Bicol could help propagate the Bicol language and its appreciation.

Bicolano propagandist
Tomas, the late 19th century Bicolano propagandist, has move around in the circle of the ilustrados or the “learned ones” in Spain and Europe while studying law at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He was an active member of the propaganda movement that sought the assimilation of the Philippines as province of Spain.

(Photo Caption) (From left) Sony Sendon, Jason Chancoco and Francisco Peñones received plaque, medal and cash award as winners of the 2005 Premio Tomas Arejola for Children’s Literature.

He ex-changed letters with Dr. Jose Rizal, the recognized leader of the propagandists in Madrid, and Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, an Austrian ethnologist who actively supported the cause of the propagandists.

According to Evelyn Caldera Soriano, author of the book “Two Bicolano Revolutionaries: Tomas and Ludovico Arejola”, Tomas also regularly associated with Antonio Luna and Miguel Morayta, two prominent figures of the propaganda movement.

Ludovico was a military officer of the revolutionary government under Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, appointed Coronel de la Milicia Territorial and tasked to organize the milicias in Ambos Camarines (two Camarines provinces) and Catanduanes.

Soriano, a grandniece of the Arejolas and an associate professor and director of European Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University, further revealed that the Bicolano propagandist, though least known, has penned statements and position papers of the propaganda movement.

The author, who has traced documents, affidavits and correspondence in Europe and from museums and archives, has even unraveled Tomas’ skills to project neutrality between contending personalities inside the circle of ilustrados in Madrid—the anti-propaganda forces like Wenceslao Retana, Mir Deas and Quioquiap and the prominent propaganda forces like Rizal and Antonio Luna.

Rizal’s sympathizers
But the Bicolano propagandist was among those listed as one of Rizal’s sympathizers in Antonio Luna’s letter to the national hero on October 22, 1888. The propaganda movement then was supporting Rizal to lead a Filipino Colony.

Soriano has also uncovered that her granduncle has even been elected member of the Malolos Congress under the revolutionary government of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

(Photo Caption) (From left) Prof. Lilia Realubit cuts the ribbon while Fr. William Tan, Mrs. Josefina A. Dabu and Carlo Arejola, managing director of the Tomas Arejola Foundation, look on during the blessing and inauguration of the General Ludovico Arejo Information Center at the second floor of Dabu Bldg. in Naga City.

But she said Tomas was unable to come home to dispose of his function and instead was asked by the revolutionary government to organize a revolutionary committee in Madrid.

The Bicolano propagandist represented the Malolos government abroad and was a signatory to the Malolos Constitution.

Tomas’ remarkable career as a propagandist, revolutionary, negotiator and political leader spanned decades from the revolution against Spain to the American war of subjugation to the First Philippine Assembly.
He died a statesman in 1926.

Instrument of change
Carlos said that in the spirit of his great granduncle’s fervor to use the pen as an instrument of change, the Premio Tomas Arejola this year is broadened to include poetry, fiction, essay, drama and novel categories—all in Bicol language.

The managing director believed that the broad categories open to all writers would also improve the dynamics of the Premio Tomas Arejo with more options to choose from.

Carlo said that in the first Premio Tomas Arejola in 2004, poetry and fiction were the categories opened. The first entries were written by writers across ages with two young writers emerging as winners. Kristian Cordero and Rizalde Manrique, both in the twenties, received the first Premio Tomas Arejola recognition.

He mused that even in the second Premio Tomas Arejola last December, the finalists in the children’s story and one-act play, the categories opened in 2005, the recognitions were bestowed to mostly young writers.

The second Premio Tomas Arejola for children’s story category was awarded to Jose Jason L. Chancoco and Sonny C. Sendon, both in their 20s, and Francisco Peñones, a writer in his 50s.

Young writers
“It’s really a good thing that there were lots of entries from young writers. I am happy that there is hope to keep our advocacy for Bicol language’s preservation and appreciation,” Carlo observed.

But the judges of Premio Tomas Arejola composed of retired University of the Philippines Prof. Maria Lilia F. Realubit, Department of Education Dir. Orfelina O. Tuy and Prof. Lorna Billanes, Ph.D. candidate for creative writing at Mirriam College, did not give recognition in the second Premio Tomas Arejola the entries submitted in the category of one-act play.

Realubit, the chairperson of the three-person board of judges, said the entries in one-act play did not qualify for the standard format of the category.

Carlo revealed that this year, the third Premio Tomas Arejola would be accepting entries from writers beginning February.

“It will be open to all writers in Bicol language and no age limit is imposed. But writers under 18 years old are required to submit their parents’ consent,” he said.
The managing director said the Tomas Arejola Foundation also conducts writers’ workshop prior to the selection of works for the Premio Tomas Arejola.

For this year, he said, the writers’ workshop will accept applicants who are at least 16 years old and have submitted either three poems, one short story or one-act play written in Bicol language.

Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado, a practicing writer, recalled that the interest in reviving Bicol literature has actually started in 1973 with the organization of the Heritage Society.

But Bordado said it did not gain momentum until the writers’ workshop in 1993 which was facilitated by known writers like Teo Antonio and Butch Dalisay and from then on, he said, several initiatives to revive Bicol literature were undertaken.

Among them, he said, were the organization of writers’ group called “Kabulig”, the publication of “Mga Tula Para ki Ina” and the meeting of Bicol writers in Aquinas University in 2000.

The vice mayor said the Premio Tomas Arejola is a noble initiative beyond politics that inspires, gives guidance and incentives and serves as lighthouse to writers in Bicol.

(For more information on the third Premio Tomas Arejola, contact Carlo Arejola, managing director of The Tomas Arejola Foundation, 2nd Floor Dabu Bldg., Elias Angeles St., Naga City or send inquiries to SurataBikol@gmail.com)