Dr. Malayang: 'Literature Reveals Spirit, Soul of Nation'

Silliman University President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III received the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining awarded recently to the Silliman University National Writers Workshop (SUNWW) by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The Gawad CCP Para sa Sining is the highest distinction given by CCP in recognition of an individual or an organization's contributions to Philippine arts and culture. 

CCP conferred the award on a total of eight recipients, with the SUNWW being the lone organization receiving the Tanging Parangal for arts training and education. Seven individuals were honored: Zeneida A. Amador for Theater; Cirilo F. Bautista for Literature; Brenda V. Fajardo for Visual Arts; Agnes Locsin for Dance, Ramon P. Santos for Music; Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon for Film and Broadcast Arts; Florentino H. Hornedo for Cultural Anthropology. 

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Malayang said: “Creative writing and literature—like all art—reveal the spirit and soul of a nation. They deserve our collective commitment to keep their flames alive. Silliman will do so.“

Among those present from Silliman with the President was Prof. Leonor M. Briones, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, English and Literature Department Chairperson Dr. Evelyn Mascuñana and SUNWW Coordinator Mr. Ian R. Casocot. 

(Silliman University President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III delivering his acceptance speech at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. [Photo credit: Cultural Center of the Philippines website].)

 Full Acceptance Speech of Dr. Malayang 

On behalf of all of us in Silliman, and our Board of Trustees chaired by Prof. Leonor M. Briones, and, too, of the many men and women who fired the vision and kept the faith to sustain the Silliman University National Summer Writers Workshop, and most especially on behalf of Dr. Edilberto and National Artist Dr. Edith Tiempo, under whose tutelage and with whose energy many Filipino writers had taken their first steps in this difficult and serious craft, I thank the Cultural Center of the Philippines for this honor and for recognizing the role and value of the Silliman Workshop in advancing the literary heritage of our people. 

Creative writing and literature—like all art—reveal the spirit and soul of a nation. They deserve our collective commitment to keep their flames alive. Silliman will do so.

And with the same faith and commitment of our faculty and staff, students, and supportive alumni like Atty. and Mrs. Enrique Sobrepeña, who for long had supported this workshop, as well as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and friends like the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia and the Embassy of the United States of America in Manila, I trust that we won’t ever fail to keep trudging along the pathways first opened for us by the venerable Edilberto and Edith Tiempo.