Melcichon Biography

The Aklan Literati
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Melchor F. Cichon was born in Sta. Cruz, Lezo, Aklan on April 7, 1945. He is the youngest of eight children of the late Jose N. Cichon and Desposoria Francisco of the same place. He is married to Pilma Dollolasa Cichon with whom he has four children: Melchor, Jr., Vanessa, Ranel Vincent, and Eugene.
The author attended the U.P. Miag-ao Summer Creative Writing Workshop, the Cultural Center of the Philippines-Liwayway Publication Creative Writing Workshop in Baguio City, the National Summer Creative Writing Workshop in Dumaguete City, and the Third Iligan National Writers Workshop and Literature Teachers Conference in 1996. He was one of the 14 fellows in the UPV Centennial First All-Visayas Workshop held in Tacloban City in 2008.
Some of his poems have been published in Hiligaynon, Yuhum, Philippines Free Press, Philippine Graphic, Home Life, Philippine Collegian, Aklan Reporter, Philippine Panorama, Pagbutlak, Dagyaw, Bueabod, Banga, Patubas, Busay, Media Watch, SanAg and Heron’s Nest.
He won first prize in the first Home Life poetry contest in 1994. He is also the first Aklanon CCP grantee for Aklanon poetry in 1994. On August 25, 2001, he was awarded the 2001 Gawad Pambansang Alagad Ni Balagtas Award, the first Aklanon to receive such prestigious award. The award was presented to him by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL). On October 19, 2018, he became the first Aklanon Taboan Awardee for his craft of poetry in a full life of exemplary service as a librarian and steadfast advocate of Aklanon Literature given by The National Commission for Culture and the Arts. In January, 2021, he became the first Aklanon librarian to receive the PAARL Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020.
He co-edited Bueabod, the poetry journal of Aklan Literary Circle, together with John Barrios and Alex de Juan. He won third prize in the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, U.P. Essay Writing Contest in 1994, and won second prize (Aklanon Category) and third prize (Filipino Category) in the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts poetry contest. He won third prize in Hari/Hara Sang Binalaybay (King/Queen of Poetry) in 1998 poetry contest sponsored by U.P. in the Visayas Sentro ng Wikang Filipino. In 2002, he was a finalist in a regional poetry writing contest sponsored by the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, U.P. in the Visayas, Iloilo City. He maintains several websites like Aklanon Literature (http://www.geocities.com/aklanonliterature.com). His electronic book Philippine Oddities was published by Electromedia, Makati, in July 2001. Some of his literary books include the following:
2021—The Re-emergence of Aklanon Literature. Iloilo City. 117p.
2017—Eangit; mga sobra katag-od nga sugilanon sa Akeanon.
Guimaras:Kasingkasing Press. 23p.
2016—Mga Bueawanon nga Hueobaton in Akeanon. Guimaras: Kasingkasing Press. 89p.
2016---Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii. 2nd. ed. Guimaras: Kasingkasing Press. 142p.
2012—Siniad-Siad nga Kaeangitan. (Strips of Heavens). Iloilo City: Libro Agustino University of San Agustin. 94p.
2011--Editor, Matimgas nga Paeanoblion; anthology of Poems Written by Aklanons. Lezo, Aklan: Tierra Alta. 103p.
2009—Editor, When I Fall In Love: Haiku, Luha, Tongue Twisters and Other Poems by Mila De La Serna. Lezo, Aklan: Tierra Alta. 72 p.
2009—Editor, The 32 Best Aklanon Poets. Lezo, Aklan: Tierra Alta Publications. 64 p.
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Ngayong Agosto, samahan ninyo kaming ipagdiwang ang ika-limang taon ng The Aklan Literati at nang patuloy na pagpapayabong ng panitikan sa probinsya sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakilala ng mga manunulat sa Aklan.
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