in the green fields and their triumphs in great cities. This is followed by "Loyalty for Our Country and Humanity," a tribute to America as a sanctuary of migrants. President Barack Obama reacted to this work: "...We should be proud of what we have accomplished together...It’s the optimism and hard work of people like you that have changed our country for the better..." After that, come "Today is Your Special" a birthday greetings; "Home Sweet Home" an upliftment of family togetherness; "Celebrate a Recommitment" an anniversary song; "Live and Share Christ to the World" for evangelization, etc. These pieces show De Francia's way of encouraging his fellow Filipinos to impart their heritage, culture and traditions to the world. As a bridge for this idea, he has been sponsoring a short story writing contest in English, the DEfrancia Awards for Literature(DEAL), since 2017. The GUMIL - Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano On October 19, 1968, GUMIL Filipinas (Ilokano Writers Association of the Philippines) was organized in Baguio. Arturo M. Padua, then mayor of Sison, Pangasinan, was elected president. The officers took their oath of office before President Ferdinand E. Marcos.GUMIL Filipinas or Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Filipinas, Inc.', was incorporated and registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission on January 8, 1977. GUMIL Filipinas' main objectives are: To provide a forum in which Ilokano writers can undertake common and cooperative efforts to improve their craft of writing literary, historical, research and other works; To enrich Ilokano literature and cultural heritage as phases of the national identity by encouraging the members to concentrate on writing extensively and intensively about the social, economic, cultural and other aspects of growth and development among the Ilokanos through literature, history, research, or the like; To publish books of poetry, short stories, essays, novels, historical accounts, research and critical studies, and other writings; and To assist each member in pursuing his/her writing career and in fulfilling his life as a member of Philippines society.(Excerpted from an essay by Jose A. Bragado)Notable worksBiag ni Lam-ang – a pre-colonial epic poem; first translated into English in September 1916Pasion de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo (1621) – the first Ilocano pasyon and the first Philippine language pasyon overall, written by Antonio Mejia and published in 1845Sumario de las Indulgencias de la Santa Correa (1719) – an Ilocano book written by Jacinto Rivera "Castora Benigna" (before 1884) – a poem