Adonis Durado of Western Washington University Recognized with National Book Award

Adonis Durado's 'Ang Nakayatak kay Nayatakan' Wins Best Poetry Book in Bisayan

Cebuano, also known as Bisaya or Sebwano, is an Austronesian language spoken in the southern Philippines. As of 2023, there are approximately 20 million speakers of Cebuano worldwide, making it the second most spoken native language in the Philippines. In a world dominated by English, writers in the Cebuano language often face challenges in publishing their work. However, this dominance was recently challenged by Adonis Durado, who received the Philippines National Book Award for his poetry collection titled "Ang Nakayatak kay Nayatakan (Who Steps Upon is Stepped Upon)." He won in the Best Book of Poetry in Binsaya (Cebuano) category.

The Philippines National Book Awards, co-sponsored by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC), is a distinguished and long-standing honor. This award recognizes the most outstanding books written, designed, and published in the Philippines, highlighting the creative efforts involved in book publishing. Adonis Durado, an Assistant Professor of Visual Communication at the Scripps College of Communication and an MFA graduate from 2020, received the award in the Best Book of Poetry in Binsaya (Cebuano) category. This year, 235 titles were submitted across 34 categories, representing seven languages spoken in the country: Filipino, English, Bikol, Binisaya (Cebuano), Hiligaynon, Tausug, and Waray. This marks the 41st year of the awards.

Winning the award has been described as a form of vindication for Durado, a Cebuano speaker. It has been noted that this may be the first book to receive recognition in the category of Cebuano poetry. The award-winning book represents Durado's fifth collection and includes more than 60 poems addressing a range of topics, from local experiences to global news events, all enriched with Cebuano humor. The title, "Ang Nakayatak kay Nayatakan," functions as a Cebuano tongue-twister.

With over 20 years of professional experience as a visual journalist, art director, and design manager in Asia and the Middle East, Durado joined Ohio University as a Knight Fellow. After earning a Master of Fine Arts in Communication Media Arts, he commenced his role as an assistant professor of visual communication. Durado first explored poetry during his tenure as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper at the University of San Carlos in the Philippines. Despite the perceived distinctions, poetry and visual communication are interconnected. Success as a designer is attributed to a profound respect for texts and a comprehensive understanding of content. Poetry is said to inform graphic design, while design simultaneously enriches the poetic process.

Editor’s Note:

Adonis Durado, Assistant Professor at the Scripps College of Communication, is the most recent Cebuano writer to be honored by the Philippines National Book Award for his poetry collection. This remarkable achievement not only showcases his literary prowess but also highlights the rich cultural heritage of the Cebuano language. In a multilingual country like the Philippines, receiving the award is a testament to the importance of preserving and promoting regional languages. 

Skoobuzz congratulates Adonis Durado, as his success serves as an inspiration to aspiring writers and poets, encouraging them to explore and celebrate their linguistic heritage.