Gremer Chan Reyes, the elite Cebuano writer
Gremer Chan Reyes was born on July 17, 1931 in Cebu City, but he grew up in Lambusan, San Remigio. It was his literary piece “Ang Gantong ni Panyong” that ignited the fire of his literary prowess when it was finally printed in Bisaya Magazine.
In 1967, he won first prize in the story writing contest of Bisaya-Liwayway Publications. His story was “Adiyos, Major Mutaizo,” which, according to the late Lina Espina Moore, the literary giant in English and Cebuano, was a classic. Gremer also won the contests of Ludabi (Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya).
The late Godofredo Roperos (born in Balamban, Cebu, on May 29, 1930, he finished at the University of the Philippines and became technical assistant with the Malacañang Press Office and Eastern Visayas head of the Department of Public Information), long-time Cebuano columnist and writer, spoke highly of Nyor Gremer. The latest work of Gremer to be published by Bisaya Magazine is the seven-volume novel, entitled “Ang Ugma Walay Pag-abot,” which, according to Ernesto Lariosa, the Vanguard of Cebuano Literature is the best work of Gremer. It tackles about the life, dreams, and aspirations of the Cebuanos in times of peace and war.
Nyor Gremer was included in the book “Cebuano Literature, a Survey and Bio-Bibliography with Finding List” written by Prof. Resil B. Majores in 1975.
The other works that earned him recognition were “Patay nga Kalibotan” which won him the first prize in the Ludabi Contest in 1961, “Tinagoan sa Dagat” which won him the first prize in the Ludabi Contest in 1967, and “Mga Tingog sa Ulan” for which he won second prize. Professor Mojares, in his 1975 book, prophesized that Nyor Grener would become one of the most promising of the contemporary Cebuano fictionists.
Gremer Chan Reyes was awarded the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Award having been one of the “Top 15 Literary Writers in Cebuano in the Post-World War II Era.” The award was given during the Golden Jubilee Convention of Bathalad Sugbo held on February 25, 2019.
The fellow awardee of Nyor Gremer is The FREEMAN columnist Erlinda Kintanar Alburo, Bathalad Inc. founder Dr. Melquiadito Allego Jr., Ambassador Vicente Vivencio Bandillo, Lamberto Ceballos, and Potenciano “Junne” Canizares Jr.
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