ILIGAN City ― I heard over the radio a lawyer who was all praises for somebody. But I couldn't tell yet who he was talking about. I then had suspicions as to who lawyer Leo Zaragoza was talking about, who he said died. On June 17.
It was Marcelo "Mar" Geocallo. That multi-awarded writer of the "Bisaya" genre. Yes, multi-awarded. But underappreciated. He died on said date, at age 83, of a lingering illness.
Consider some of the awards accorded to him: First prize in poetry, "Dagayday sa Hunahuna" sponsored by the Cebu Arts and Foundation, 1982, two times winner from Liwayway Publishing, Inc. (BISAYA- PAGCOR) Annual Literary Contest in Manila where he got second and third in 1998, and 1999 respectively in the short story category. Too, he was a recipient of plaques of appreciation from "Bisaya" magazine during the annual awards ceremonies for various short stories during the year 1978. Also in that same year.
In 1999, he won first and third prizes in the short story and one-act play in the BATHALAD - Cebu contest.
There were other awards during his lifetime and it filled more than a page of bond paper, both in Mindanao and Luzon organizations as sponsors.
He really was a gem of a writer, as many of his writings were included in such books as "Sanggi," "Cebuano Poetry,/"Kawit sa Kabuntagon," which are 100 poems in English and Cebuano. It was learned too that in an anthology written by Resil B., Mojares, his name was one of those mentioned as the 100 most important writers in said medium.
These all could be searched at Google/Wikipedia.
But like the song by Barbra Streisand which says " Some good things never last," Nong Mar, as he was fondly called now wrote 30, so to speak. He hailed from San Fernando Cebu but early on. his family transferred to Mindanao, at Linamon, Lanao del Norte. He was married to Madolin Jovita Canoy and they had 5 children, Michael Marlo, Marlyn, Maryola, Maruche (PSK), and Margie.
His writings really had depth, sensuality, and relatable as you can see there the struggles and challenges you and I encounter in this journey of life, from the cradle to the grave.
Yet lately, his daughter-in-law, Inday, the wife of Marlo, related how he struggled with seeming dementia. At times, when he traveled alone in this city, he couldn't tell a taxi driver where he lived. And he had to be taken to a police station.
I first met Mar at a national convention of LUDABI (Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya) in Cebu City in the late '80s. I went there as one of the delegates of Cagayan de Oro City as I was a member there. I made some "noise" at that convention. Shortly thereafter, in this city of Iligan where my family lived though I worked in CDO, Mar materialized in the staff house assigned to us by my hubby Bert's company. Mar and another member, Ludo Salcedo convinced me to join the Iligan/Lanao Norte chapter. I had no intention of doing so; as I did not want to spread myself thin, but I obliged. How could one refuse such an achiever like Mar?
In December '22, Mar attended the organization's Christmas party. As I approached him to talk with him, for a while his mind seemed to go blank. He seemed not to know me.
And then recognition! We talked about the"Bisaya" magazine. Like the fate of several publications during these digital times, and add to that this Covid-19 thing with the lockdowns, it is only going online. As in, "The show must go online…"
And I remember again, the lyrics of Streisand's song…But Mar, rest easy now. We will always keep you in our hearts. For we all love you. You have touched the hearts of several people with your writings. May your tribe increase!
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