The Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) or the Writers’ Union of the Philippines held its 50th National Writers’ Congress on April 27, 2024 at the Gimenez Gallery, University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
One of the highlights of the event was the 2024 Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, a prestigious lifetime achievement award bestowed on Filipino writers.
Jim Chiu Hung, a renowned essayist and poet in the Filipino-Chinese community, is one of the nine Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas awardees this year.
Hung was born in Jinjiang, Fujian, China, on Dec. 6, 1951. He moved to Hong Kong at the age of 9, lived there for 18 years, and then migrated to the Philippines. Upon relocating to the Philippines, he balanced work, business and writing.
For four decades, Hung has contributed to Chinese-language newspapers in the country and co-founded the Association of Chinese Columnists of the Philippines.
As a columnist, Hung is known for his honest and daring articles that tackle and critique social issues, especially within the Filipino-Chinese community. He stands out for his boldness, particularly considering the carefulness and caution that Filipino-Chinese writers often exhibit when addressing societal issues.
Hung is also one of the original members of the Thousand Islands Poetry Society, the largest and most active association of Filipino-Chinese poets. He received the Distinguished Poet Award from the association when it celebrated its 40th anniversary on Feb. 18, 2024.
While his essays showcase his boldness, his poetry is characterized by sincere and profound emotions.
Many of Hung’s poems delve into his experiences living in the Philippines and interacting with Filipinos. Several of them express his appreciation and love for the Philippines and its people.
Whether in an essay or a poem, he always prefers the good and the reasonable.
He resides in Cebu with his wife, children and grandchildren. Leading a quiet and happy life with his family, he continues to contribute essays and poetry.