The writers of Carcar, Cebu (Last of three parts)

(This is the final installment of the series of article on the writers of Carcar taken from the entry of the book Cebuano Literature: A Survey and Bio-Bibliography with Finding List written by Prof. Resil Mojares in 1975)

DIOSDADO G. ALESNA. He was born in Carcar on May 18, 1909. He studied at the Carcar Institute then at the Cebu Provincial High School (now Abellana National School named in honor of Cebu’s martyred Governor Hilario Abellana) and at the University of the Visayas (founded by Don Vicente Gullas, father of the sibling congressmen representing the First District of Cebu, Eduardo, presently Talisay City Mayor, elected in 2001, reelected in 2016, and Jose “Dodong” Gullas, chairman of The FREEMAN, Cebu’s oldest newspaper founded in 1919). Alesna wrote the poems: “Ang Gahum sa Awit,” “Kalimti ug Biyai,” and “Si Kristo sa Balabag.” His writings were LUDABI prize winners. In 1966 he was honored by the LUDABI as the Most Outstanding Poet for the Last 10 years. He used the pen names Diody Mangkoy, Tancredo Rigor, Reynaldo Lap, Buntia, Melendres La Roca, and Flordeliz Makaluluoy.

BONIFACIO T. DEIPARINE. He was born in Carcar on May 25, 1918. He studied at the following schools: Carcar Academy, Southwestern University, and the University of San Carlos. He wrote fiction and verse and published it in Nasud, Babaye, Lamdag, and Bisaya publications.

It has also to be noted that Carcar also produced a publication of its own. It was called The Carcar Herald, although it lasted for less than a year. It was published in Carcar and its publisher was a member of the Alfafara Clan, his name was Celestino T. Alfafara and its associate editor was Constancio N. Barcenas.

GALILEO G. VARGA. He was born in Carcar in 1918. He studied Law at the University of the Philippines. He was a playwright and among of his works were “Hinikalimtan” and “Tipasi” in 1936. He served Carcar as mayor before the war. He succeeded Leoncio Gantuangco and was succeeded by Atty. Abundio A. Aldemita as mayor, who was also the Guerrilla Mayor of Carcar and post-war mayor.

In 1964, the councilors of Carcar were members of the various writer clans of the town, they were Atty. Dativa Alfafara, Abuncio Cano, Ramon T. Barcenilla, Ceferino G. Alesna, Dominador Alcoseba, Vicente M. Florido (Atty. Mariano M. Florido became one of Cebu’s most prolific writer in Spanish, English, and Cebuano) and Porferio Gantuangco.