Vicente Garces


Vicente Hermosa Garces, also known as Vicente Garces and Nyor Inting, was a Filipino Visayan politician, writer, and poet. His famous written works in Cebuano were published in Visayan newspaper, Bag-ong Kusog. He also served as mayor in the then municipality of Talisay, Cebu, Philippines from 1925 to 1937.

Early life and education

Vicente H. Garces was to parents Agapito Garces and Teodora Hermosa born on December 18, 1887. The family used to reside in the district of Parian, Cebu City. He attended school at the Colegio de San Carlos, and then proceeded to take a law degree at the Lyceum de Manila.
At age 18, he married Resureccion Bangoy and bore 13 children namely Alfreda, Agapito, Asteria, Clarita, Jesusa, Jose, Mariano, Pilar, Resureccion, Sincletica, Teodora, Vicente, and Virginio. Upon his marriage, he settled in Talisay, Cebu with his wife and children. The Garces ancestral house still stands today in Barangay Poblacion.

Literary career

Garces wrote for the Vicente Rama-owned Visayan newspaper, Bag-ong Kusog, using the pseudonyms Garvi and Kampisaw, after the name of a bird. His earliest published works included Kaniya Gibuhat ang Iyang Nabuhat , Mahinuklogogng Paglubong ni Alicia , and May Katarongan kang Imo Akong Hikalimtan . He was regarded as one of the pioneers in Cebuano short story genre and his story, Mahinuklogogng Paglubong ni Alicia , is considered part of the regional literary canon.
He organized Dilang Bisaya, a literary group established 1963, and became its first president.

Political career

Garces was the local leader in Talisay of the political party, Partido Democrata. The party included Vicente Rama and Vicente Sotto, both of whom were his colleagues in journalism. In 1925, he ran in the election and won as mayor in the then municipality of Talisay. He served from 1925 to 1931. In September 5, 1971, he died at the age of 83.

Historical commemoration