Sumakwelan elects new officers
Officers and members of the 70-year old Sumakwelan, an organization of Hiligaynon writers in Iloilo, were sworn in by RTC Judge Narciso M. Aguilar on Saturday afternoon, February 9, at the River Queen Hotel this city. The incoming Sumakwelan officers are former Judge Nilo Par. Pamonag, Pangulo; Faustino M. Ramos, Tal-us Pangulo; Rodrigo P. Ponte Sr., Tiglikum; Emee T. Espina, Kabulig Tiglikum; Cris B. Balairos, Kuymi; Policarpio B. Sueño, Manogbusisi; Fernando S. Junsan, Manogdumala-hilikuton kag Jay Balnig, Manogpabantala.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors (Hubon Manoggiya) is Dr. Rodolfo P. Gumabong, Out-going President. The members of the Board are ex-Judge Nilo Par. Pamonag, Faustino M. Ramos, Fernando S. Junsan, Cris B. Balairos, Mariano P. Gogil Jr., former Asst. City Fiscal Atty. Agustin T. Misola; Maria Luisa D. Gibraltar; Policarpio B. Sueño, Rodrigo P. Ponte Sr., Pio Apil; Jay Balnig, J.V.D. Perez, Tony Masculino and Ric Grocen.
Pangulo Pamonag in his inaugural speech pledged to pursue the various activities of Hubon Manoggiya Dr. Gumabong like the holding of Binalaybay, Short Story Writing, Poetry contest among high school and college students including those poetry-enthusiasts in Hiligaynon. Pangulo Pamonag is also set to register the 70-year old Sumakwelan with the Security and Exchange Commission and other notable projects that will stir up enthusiasm on the Hiligaynon dialect or language which is commonly spoken in Western Visayas, Romblon, Cotabato provinces, Davao, Palawan, Metro Manila Ilonggo communities, Luzon and some parts of Bicol.
The ten datus of Panay who left Borneo in 1212 settled in Siwaragan, San Joaquin, Iloilo and finally in Malandog, Hamtic, Antique, where they finally settled. The Bornean datus spoke not only Bornean language but introduced Kinaray-a and other native dialects which later on formed into Hiligaynon. Historically speaking, Hiligaynon is the mother of all dialects which the ten datus of Panay brought with them from Borneo in the early 1212, long before Magellan landed in Mactan island in 1521. The true-blooded Ilonggos are really proud of their Hiligaynon dialect and language.