Nemesio “Totoy” S. Baldesco Sr. (born 1954 or 1955) is a Filipino poet and pedicab driver from Calbayog, Samar who primarily does literary works in Waray.[1][2] He is a recipient of Gawad Parangal of UMPIL (Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas).[3][4] He is known as the “Father of Waray Poetry” (Amay han Siday).[5][6][7][8]

Nemesio Baldesco
Baldesco in 2014
Baldesco in 2014
Born1954 or 1955 (age 68–69)
OccupationPoet, pedicab driver
LanguageWaray
NationalityFilipino
Notable awardsGantimpalang Ani Award for Poetry
Gawad Komisyon Karangalang Banggit for Poetry
Gawad Parangal of UMPIL

He was also given the Gantimpalang Ani Award for Poetry in 1994 by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Gawad Komisyon Karangalang Banggit for Poetry by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) in 2007.[1]

Personal life edit

Baldesco is married to Ana Baldesco who is also a writer. They have children who are also involved in arts and literature.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Lopido, Neil (2010-06-01). "Tricycle driver wins national award on poetry". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  2. ^ "Award-winning Poet to Perform Siday at SSU". Samar State University. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  3. ^ "PEN to hold free seminar-worshop for literature teachers in Western Samar; top writers featured". Inquirer Lifestyle. 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  4. ^ "Umpil to hold writers' congress, bestow awards in Roxas City". Manila Times. 2018-04-22. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  5. ^ Mercurio, Phil Harold. "In Focus: The 5th Lamiraw Regional Creative Writing Workshop". National Commission for Culture and Arts. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  6. ^ "6 writers represent R-8 in Taboan Nat'l Writers Festival | ugnayan.com news". www.ugnayan.com. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  7. ^ "Tomasinong makata, hinirang na 'Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas'" [Thomasian poet hailed as Gawad Balagtas awardee] (in Filipino). Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  8. ^ "Samar Heritage Museum, Samar State University, Catbalogan (2020)". www.schoolandcollegelistings.com. Retrieved 2020-07-07.