Winners of TMIF Salip iti Salaysy Para Kadagiti Agdadamo Identified

We had to finish the job yesterday. Mar R. Llarenas's car broke down because of a bum battery. We were going to Alicia town to meet Rogie C. Baysa for the final judging of Salip iti Salaysay Para Kadagiti Agdadamo. Mabayag pay, Manong, intextna, meaning the battery was being recharged. I was waiting at the "child-friendly" park in San Mateo town along the national hghway Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Mar materialized with a tricycle and a driver. So we rushed to Rogie's place at the poblacion passing wide green fields on either side of the road. Here are the results of a long and difficult process. For one reason or another, we decided not to award the first prize. Second place, Herdy La. Yumul, an instructor of the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, and one of the country's top bloggers (P5,000 cash prize and certificate); third place, Nhia Paddayuman, a wheel-chair- bound ever-smiling girl from Ramon, Isabela (P4,000 cash prize and certificate.) These are the major winners of the contest sponsored by Timpuyog dagiti Mannurat iti Iluko iti Filipinas and funded by Lady Fele Mann, a Filipina civic-leader in Darwin Australia. A special prize (P2,000 cash prize and certificate was given to Mayvelyn Gapuzan, MMSU College of Education, Laoag campus.)

The consolation prizes of P1,000 each was won by Jessica Aiza Lictao of Bagulin, La Union and Jean Marie Dulay, whose home address and other circumstances are not known. The awarding of the prizes will be made in the evening of May 19 during the 4th TMI-Global International Iluko Literary Conference at the Philippine Ports Authority Convention Hall in Poro Point, San Fernando City. We cross our fingers that all the winners will attend the affair.