Bathalad-Sugbo (Golden Jubilee)
Bathalad-Sugbo held its Golden Jubilee Convention last February 25, 2019 at the Palm Grass Hotel along Junquera Street (named after General Inocencio Junquera), Cebu City. The history of the famed Cebuano writers group was written by Nyor Lamberto Ceballos in the convention’s booklet. During the convention the Top 15 Literary Writers in Cebuano in the Post-World War II Era were conferred the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Award.
The Bathalad Sugbo or the Bathalan-ong Halad sa Dagang Inc. (Cebu) was established on August 19, 1969 in a meeting held at Sesong’s Restaurant in Talisay (now a city). It was hosted by Nyor Ernesto D. Lariosa who was then a teacher at the Talisay Malayan Academy. In attendance was Poet Melquiadito Allego Jr. (the founder who became a Doctor of Medicine) who was a member then of the LUDABI or the Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya Inc.
The steering committee was headed by Novelist Lorenzo B. Canoy, co-chaired by Ernesto D. Lariosa. It was Pantaleon S. Auman who led the group from 1978 to 1988. When it was formally organized, Ernesto D. Lariosa became its first president, followed by Vicente “Butch” Bandillo (who is now an ambassador) from 1990 to 1992. Rogelio S. Pono was president from 1992 to 1993, Lamberto G. Ceballos (1993-1994), Ernesto D. Lariosa (1996-1998), Alfredo U. Cabinatan (1998-2000), Pantaleon S. Auman (2000-2003), Lamberto G. Ceballos (2003-2004) and Gaudisio B. Ypon (2004-2005).
Michael Obenieta was elected head for 2005-2007. In January 2008, in a meeting presided by Dr. Mel Allego Jr., Josua Cabrera was chosen acting president until a regular president will be elected come 2009.
Then Neile Genica Mijares (first woman president) succeeded Josua Cabrera in 2010. In 2011 Jeremiah Bondoc was elected president. In a convention held on January 28, 2017, Rolando “Dodong” Morallo was elected president, the latter was succeeded by Karla Quimsing.
It was in 1963 when a student from the Southwestern University organized a poetry group, called ALBICALARIVI Poetry Group taken from the syllables of their surnames: AL: Melquiadito Allego Jr., Urias Almagro, BI-Romeo Birao, CA-Zosimo Cabungcal, LA-Ernesto D. Lariosa, RI-Edfer Rigodon, VI-Antonio Villavito. The original name of the association was Batan-ong Halad Sa Dagang, it was later change to what it is called now. D.M. Estabaya, Dean of Writers, called the group as Street Poets. Elected as president during the Golden Jubilee Convention was C.D. Borden.
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