PHL Ambassador Attends the 2nd Princess Maha Chakri Award Ceremony
Dr. Jesus Catigan Insilada from Calinog, Iloilo is the awardee from the Philippines, known as a Hiligaynon poet, a short story writer and a novelist.
13 October 2017 BANGKOK – Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon attends the 2nd Princess Maha Chakri Award Ceremony held at Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Center at Central World on October 11.
The award was presented by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to 11 outstanding teachers from countries in Southeast Asia who made significant impact on their students’ lives, including Dr. Jesus Catigan Insilada from Calinog, Iloilo. END
Ambassador Aragon with Dr Krissanapong Kirtikara Chairman of Princess Maha Chakri Award Foundation and Prof. Juan Miguel Luz, AIM and Dean of a Stephen Zuellig Graduate school of Development Management at 2017 Princess Maha Chakri Award. Prof. Luz, likewise received a token of appreciation from HRH Princess Sirindhorn as one of the individuals supporting the Award Foundation.
Jesus Catigan Insilada: A Writing Teacher
Dr. Jesus Catigan Insilada: A Writing Teacher
By Melchor F. Cichon
January 3, 2015
Among the contemporary literary people from Western Visayas, Dr. Jesus Insilada is known as a Hiligaynon poet, a short story writer and a novelist.
And through hard work, he has won two Palanca awards for his Hiligaynon short stories in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, he was an honoree of the Many Faces of the Teacher (Bato Balane Foundation), and in 2014 he was chosen as one of the 2014 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers awardees for the Secondary level. At present (2015) he teaches English at Alcarde Gustilo Memorial National High School in Calinog, Iloilo.
In addition, Dr. Insilada has published more than 60 short stories, 10 poems in Hiligaynon and Liwayway. Three of his Hiligaynon novels have been serialized in Hiligaynon magazine. These are Panubok, Ang Gugma ni Valentina, and Mga Alibangbang sa Handurawan.
Dr. Insilada has a Master of Arts in English and Literature, and a Doctor of Education, major in Educational Management degrees.
But who is Dr. Jesus Insilada? Let us open some of his windows.
Dr. Insilada, or Jes, among his peers, was born on March 24, 1978 in Calinog, Iloilo. His parents are Vicente Insilada and Aurelia Catigan, both farmers. He said that not one of his parents has tried writing literary pieces, although his late grandfather from Escalante, Negros Occidental really had talent in writing but none of his works was published.
As a young boy, Jes had already showed his scholastic superiority. He was a valedictorian when he graduated at Alibunan Elementary School, Alibunan, Calinog. He graduated with honors at Calinog Agricultural and Industrial College-High School Department, and graduated as cum laude at Calinog Agricultural and Industrial College.
From high school to college, he was a staff member of their school organs, the Farmer’s Choice, and the Goldern Harvest, respectively.
Then in 2008, he attended his first creative writing workshop at the University of San Agustin. After that he started sending his works to Hiligaynon magazine where his first published work, a short story, Salamat Sa Sugilanon, was published. After that workshop, he kept on sending entries to almost all workshops in the country. However, there are still creative writing workshops which he hopes to attend.
When I asked him on what topic/s he is writing about, he said “Be it poetry or story, I usually write about the life, triumphs, culture of the people in my place. I’m into culture-based writing. When I write about my place and my people, I feel I do my share of promoting our culture. By the way, I am a Panay Bukidnon, a Jalaudnon to be specific.”
Of the many poems, short stories and novels that he has written, he considers his Palanca award winning works as his masterpieces for they have passed the standards of the judges and he is confident of their quality.
Since he already has won several awards that only few people have won, I asked him what else he wants to achieve. His answer is simple:
“I want to be remembered as a teacher who also writes. I wish to continue what I have started. It has been my advocacy to write about the beauty and the uniqueness of my culture. I wish to continue highlighting my culture in the lessons and in my writings.”