A celebrated author of children’s stories and literary
professor from the University of the Philippines, Eugene Evasco has further
cemented his stature in the world of Filipino literature as he joins this year
the ranks of Palanca Hall of Famers.

The distinction is given to those who have won five
first prizes in the annual Palanca Awards, and who, at the same time, have
consistently met the critical standards of the various Boards of Judges, and
maintained a reputation in the literary circles worthy of recognition by his
peers.

Evasco won his fifth Palanca first prize
for “May Tiyanak Sa Loob Ng Aking Bag” under the newly introduced category, Tulang
Isinulat Para Sa Mga Bata in the 2009 literary competition.

Starting at a very young age, Evasco already has a
distinct fondness for the written word. As a child, he would yearn to read and
be read stories appropriate for his age. But, aside from a dearth of Filipino
children's books at that time, his parents could barely afford to buy him such
luxury.

In his adolescence, the pervasive need to satisfy
the child within him served as inspiration for Evasco to pursue a degree in
Creative Writing and subsequently do his share in enriching Filipino
literature.

Says Evasco, “May
bata sa aking sarili na lagi’t laging naghahanap ng mga katha bago matulog. Isa
ito sa dahilan kung bakit ako nagsusulat para sa bata: para sa sarili, para sa
batang bersiyon ng sarili (There is a child within
me who is always looking for a story before I go to sleep. This is one reason
why I write for children: for my own happiness, for the happiness of the child
within me).”

Aside from these personal reasons, Evasco also said
that he chose this genre because he also wants to enrich and be a part of
everyone else's childhood
through his stories.

In 1995, Evasco's resolve to build a career in
writing stories was further strengthened
when, as a UP freshman, he met renowned pioneers in children's
literature - Amelia Lapena Bonifacio, Rene Villanueva, and Virgilio Almario – at the UP Writers Workshop in Baguio City.

His successful literary career is, in some way, in
response to these literary pioneers' challenge to take writing as a craft
seriously, especially if writing for children.

Two years after, in 1997, Adarna House published
his first book entitled “Federico” which is about one child's friendship with
another with Down's Syndrome.

Now a professor at the University of the
Philippines' Creative Writing department, Evasco teaches his student that
writing for children is not an easy work and that it is as complicated a craft
as adult literature.

According to him, “Marapat tugunan ng sinumang manunulat para sa bata
ang hamon ng pagkamalikhain, ang kapangahasan, ang mataas na pagturing sa
kathang pambata, at ang pagtataguyod ng mayamang wika para sa kapakanan ng
henerasyon ng Filipinong mambabasa (Any
writer who wish to create stories for children should respond to the challenge
of creativity, boldness, high regard for children's literature, and patronage
of a rich language for the benefit of generations of Filipino readers).”

Evasco further elaborates, “May tungkulin ang panitikan para ipakilala ang
pagkabata bilang lehitimong yugto ng pagkatao at hindi isang panahon na dapat
madalian o isumpa. Paggalang, para sa akin, ang pangunahing prinsipyo sa
pagsulat para sa bata (Literature has a role
to present childhood as a legitimate chapter of one's personality development,
not a mere stage that should be rushed or cursed. Respect, for me, is the
foremost principle of writing for children).”

Evasco also elucidated that, on top of its seeming
role to help a child understand his surroundings, it is also time that
children's books fulfill its role in nurturing the culture of the society where
the child belongs. And, more importantly, help build a child's sense of nationalism.

Now in Nice, France on an Erasmus Mundus
study grant sponsored by the European Union, Evasco cited the example of how
the French people's love for their own language and literature – with their
libraries featuring a huge collection of books written by and in French – has
resulted in a very progressive country.

Says the multi-awarded writer, “Tulad ng mga Pranses, hangarin ko ng makapagluwal
ng henerasyon ng mga mambabasang magtatanggol sa pagkabata at sa panitikan, may
pananalig sa magandang kinabukasan para sa sarili at kapwa, na magtataguyod sa
pagbubuo ng pinapangarap na bansa (Like
the French, I wish to give birth to generations of readers who will uphold
childhood and its literature, with faith in their good future and that of their
fellowmen, and always with the desire to help build the country).

“Para
sa pagbubuo ng pagkatao at pagka-makabansa,
ibinabahagi ko sa mga batang mambabasa ang aking alay sa kanilang
kauna-unahang panitikang babasahin (For
the formation of one's personhood and love of country, I am sharing to my young
readers my offering for their first-ever literary reading).”

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