Campus Press Awards Malay, Ordoñez

Today’s generation of aspiring writers is always looking for inspiration. This year’s recipients of the Gawad Marcelo H. del Pilar have never failed them. They are Armando Malay, a committed journalist who skillfully wielded his pen against the enemies of press freedom, and Elmer Ordoñez, a literary icon and educator who has consistently sided with the people.

BY BULATLAT.COM

Ordoñez (left), receiving award from CEGP officers, is an inspiration to young writers

The two were awarded the Gawad Marcelo H. del Pilar by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, a nationwide organization of campus writers, last May 27. The Gawad is given to CEGP alumni who have made significant contributions to press freedom.

Both Malay and Ordoñez were nominated by the Philippine Collegian, student publication of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus, where the two served as editors-in-chief in 1934 and 1951, respectively. Malay died at the age of 89 on May 15 or 12 days before he was to receive the award. The award was given posthumously by CEGP.

The Dean

In a statement, former editor of the Philippine Collegian Kaye Luis Alave read during the awarding ceremonies, “If Armando Malay would be remembered for anything after his death, it would definitely be for his lessons of exactitude, precision and correctness in journalism and his strong faith in the capacity of the media to liberate and empower the people.  These, among others, earned for him the respect and reverence of his colleagues and his former students who until now refer to him as ‘The Dean’.”

In 1966, Malay taught journalism at the then Institute of Mass Communications in UP Diliman. Later, he was appointed Dean of Student Affairs.

Shunning “neutrality in journalism,” The Dean contributed immensely to the broad resistance to Marcos dictatorship.  During Martial Law, he was arrested several times for his “subversive” articles published in the We Forum and Malaya.

Malay did not only uphold the integrity and prestige of the press but also fought alongside other patriots for the people’s rights and welfare. An activist-journalist, The Dean advocated press freedom, human rights and other noble causes. 

During the ‘80s, The Dean was very supportive of the campus press, as he became resident speaker to CEGP gatherings. Together with student writers, he experienced being hit by truncheon-wielding police during rallies.

Literary icon

If Dean Malay used journalism to advance the interests of the people, Ordoñez has literature.

Having written several books on literature including Nationalist Literature and Emergent Literature, Ordoñez has been known as the country’s foremost expert in underground literature.

Ordoñez, holder of a doctorate degree in English from University of Wisconsin, taught English in UP Diliman.  He was chairman of the UP Writers Workshop and executive director of the UP Press in 1965-1966 and 1968-1970.  

Like Malay, Ordoñez was a fierce critic of the Marcos dictatorship. He lived in exile in Canada from 1973 to 1987, actively participating in anti-Martial Law activities.

He also served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and, later, as vice president for academic affairs, at the Lyceum of the Philippines.  One of his first projects was to launch a creative writing workshop, the first in many decades. 

In school officials’ meetings, Ordoñez consistently asserted the rights of the students, earning him the reputation of being the only progressive in an otherwise conservative academic institution.

During his days at the Philippine Collegian, Ordoñez and his contemporaries fought for academic freedom and opposed government intervention in UP affairs.

He currently chairs the Board of Directors of IBON Foundation and teaches Protest Literature at Kalayaan College in Marikina City.

He is working on another book titled Diliman: Homage to the ‘50s.

Colleagues

During the awarding ceremonies, Ordoñez reserved a seat beside him for Dean Malay.  “He was my older colleague. It is appropriate that I receive this award with him.”

His acceptance speech was more of a tribute to Dean Malay.

Both wrote for the Manila Times in 1954 and belong to the Upsilon Fraternity. Bulatlat.com

Photos by Aubrey Makilan

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