Tan-ok Ti Kailokuan
By VIM NADERA GODOFREDO REYES, The Pride of Ilocandia, Dr. Paul Zaparalla’s English translation of Eliseo Bragado Contillo’s Tan-ok ti Kailokuan , the biography of Dr. Godofredo S. Reyes, is supposed to be published soon. However, Dr. Reyes could not wait for the said book about him, foreworded by Juan S.P. Hidalgo Jr., a former managing editor of Bannawag, and edited by Cles Rambaud, editor of Bannawag, the best-selling weekly Iloko magazine, where he used to contribute. The Poet Laureate of Ilocandia-- who excelled in Bucanegan or the extemporaneous verbal joust in Iluko-- died from a “lingering illness” on July 5 at the age of 91. A businessman, mayor, governor, congressman, educator, and founder/president/chairman of the board of St. Mary’s College in his hometown in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur-- Dr. Reyes practiced medicine in Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and Nueva Ecija after serving as the battalion surgeon of the 66th Infantry that fought in Northern Luzon during World War II. During the...