The highlight of last week’s final leg of The First Bikol Book Festival, in tribute to Gubatnon writer Delfin Fresnosa, was the afternoon Tertulia entitled “Remembering Tandoz: A Celebration of the Life and Works of Delfin Fresnosa”, held at the Gubat Heritage Center, Gubat, Sorsogon.
The event, attended by the entire delegation of literary circles, together with representatives of the LGU and local educators, featured musical performances, community dancing, and the reading of one of the most celebrated short stories of Mr. Fresnosa’s “Dark”.
During the program, curator of the Center, Carl del Prado Duka read excerpts of the academic paper “A Veronican Revisited: Delfin Fresnosa and His Works” by Dr. Teresita Erestain to reintroduce Fresnosa to the audience.
However, the highlight of the afternoon was a short roundtable discussion on the legacy of the late writer with the National Book Development Board – Philippines’s Director Anthony Balisi and Mr. Carlos Escobar, together with writer and film critic Mr. Tito Genova Valiente, educator Mrs. Helen Rosales, Rappler’s Senior Editor Joel Pablo Salud.
It was moderated by Prof. Kristian Sendon Cordero of the Ateneo de Naga University Press and Savage Mind: Arts, Books, Cinema.
A historical moment for the local cultural movement in Gubat, during the program the announcement of the National Artist for Literature nomination movement for Delfin Fresnosa was announced, in the presence of Mr. Fresnosa’s children Ms. Sylvia Fresnosa and Mrs. Grace Fresnosa-Calibo as part of the agenda of the succeeding Bikol Book Festival.
Appreciation for organizers were cited, especially to Prof. Kristian Sendon Cordero for making Gubat as the final leg of the historic First Bikol Book Festival.
