The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) has honored Adrian Pete M. Pregonir with the prestigious title of “Makata ng Taón” (Poet of the Year) for his poem, “Sa Muhón ng Iyong Kabáong Maibábaón ang mga Guhò ng Kahápon.”
Pregonir was born in Koronadal City but grew up in Maasim, Sarangani Province. He continued his studies in South Cotabato, writing in Filipino, Hiligaynon, and Kinaray-a.
Adrian Pete M. Pregonir (2nd from left) receives his awards from the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino for winning the prestigious title of “Makata ng Taón” for his poem, “Sa Muhón ng Iyong Kabáong Maibábaón ang mga Guhò ng Kahápon.” Pregonir bagged a P30,000 cash prize, a plaque, and a medal during the grand awarding ceremony on April 17 at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City. (Photograb from the RTVM Facebook page)
Pregonir received a cash prize of P30,000, a plaque, and a medal in celebration of his literary achievement. The grand awarding ceremony took place on April 17 at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City.
“I believe in the capability of my collection because it is the fruit of my solidarity and effort. This award is important to me because it gives me and other writers a space to succeed and be read by others,” said Pregonir.
Pregonir was a poetry fellow at the Davao Writers Workshop (2018), the Rogelio Sicat Workshop (2021), the San Agustin Writers Workshop (2021), TAHAD: Creative Nonfiction in Hiligaynon Workshop (2021), and Kahirupan Bantugan in Writing-Sulat Hanasan in Binalaybay (2021).
Numerous readings, magazines, and anthologies have published his works, including Liwayway, Tumandok Hiligaynon, Dagmay, Cotabato Literary Journal, TLDTD: Biannual Journal of Filipino Poets, Dx Machina 4 of UP Likhaan, Ani 41 of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Lakbay: Anthology of Wandering Poems of 7 Eyes Productions, and others.
He has won awards for the Rene O. Villanueva Award for Essay, Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, Bantugan in Kinaray-a Writing, Bienvenido Lumbera Award, and Padya Dungug Kinaray-a.
"’Literature and Peace’ is the theme of this year's National Literature Month. Let us strive to discover the truth through writing that promotes peace. To all the writers, let us use our stories, poems, plays, essays, and others, for the cause of peace. Literature has a significant responsibility in propagating this,” he said.
Talaang Gintô: Makata ng Taón is a poetry writing competition organized by the KWF. It aims to invigorate and elevate the quality of Filipino poetry by recognizing the talents and voices of both veteran and emerging poets in the art of poetry.
Rowell S. Ulang also won the second prize for his poem “At Pagkatápos, Magpapatúloy pa rin Akóng Maglakad.” He was awarded P20,000 and a plaque.
Meanwhile, Allan John A. Andres and Andre Alfonso R. Gutierrez both won the third prize for their respective poems, "Nakikiraán lang ang Lahat sa Novaliches" and “Propesíya sa Pagítan ng mga Taludtód.” (Genory Vanz Alfasain/Voice of the Youth Network/PIA SarGen)
