MADRID, Spain.
The awards ceremony for the IV "Pedro Poveda" International Competition, organized by Pedro Poveda Secretariat, took place on December 3, anniversary of the birth of Saint Pedro Poveda.
This year the competition centered on the theme "Josefa Segovia in the Work of Poveda" with the idea of recreating, through narrative language, the biography of this woman, pillar in the development and expansion of the Teresian Association.
Among the attendees, which exceeded two hundred, were some of the authors. A large group that had come from Jaen was well recognized, giving rise to a warm exchange of friendship and joy. In addition to the winning young people, family and representatives of the faculty from Pedro Poveda School had also traveled to Madrid from Jaén, including the principal, Ana María Quirós.
The event, endearing and exciting because of the content and outward expression, began by recounting some of the details of this program. After thanking the Teresian Association (TA) President, Maite Uribe; members of the Council; Ana Garcia Aguado, Director of the TA in Spain; and all other attendees, details were given on the successful IV Competition, the interest it has generated, the large participation, and the writings submitted.
Fifty-four stories were submitted by authors, mostly young writers. The international participation in this competition is noteworthy: a good number of stories were written in English, several from the Philippines (translated by Esther González, Berta Marco, and Carmen Irusteta); some in Portuguese from Brazil (translated by Guadalupe Pedrero); others from Palma de Mallorca, Guadix, Seville, North of Spain and, of course, Madrid. A group from Jaen, as expected, was noteworthy, since Jaén is the hometown of Josefa Segovia and they received the first prize. Likewise, there was a group of stories sent from Eastern Spain (Alicante, Alcoy ...).
The jury was composed of Marisol Izquierdo García, literature Professor; Elvira Martínez Gómez, who a rich literary knowledge; María Simón Molina, Literature Professor; Fabiola Bustamante who read the English papers and Guadalupe Pedrero who read the Portuguese ones. Marisa Rodríguez, director of Pedro Poveda Secretariat, was the facilitator.
The selection criteria, in addition to the technical ones, that were explained by the member of the jury. These included the capacity to reflect significant values represented by Josefa Segovia: her universal character, her positive outlook in life, her faith and knowledge, her hope in the future, the importance of study, the advancement of women, solidarity ...
Using these criteria, the following were the prizes and the awardees:
The first prize went to Jaén --happy coincidence! - for the story titled "JS architect of a dream." The authors were Irene Martínez Cruz and Laura Bartolomé Lechuga. The news of the award was well received in Jaén. When presenting the award, Elvira Martínez stressed the originality of the idea, the good use of narrative language, and the ability to stir up some suspense, typical of any well-told story. The awardees had the opportunity to address the public and express how they got the idea for their story.
The Second prize was awarded to the story titled "A small voice," sent from Davao (Philippines) where they have celebrated it with great joy. The author: Bettina Irene Pueyo. "A small voice," said Marisol Izquierdo in her presentation, “is the story of Josefa Segovia told by a woman of the Higaonon tribe in the jungle of Bukidnon (Philippines). We have recognized in this story how well it was written, the perfect combination of memories, feelings and knowledge of subject, its agile and simple style that captures the reader’s attention." The reading of some passages in Spanish and English, with the collaboration of Fabiola Bustamante, gave a taste of the work to the audience that followed the event with great interest at all times.
The Third prize went to the work "Face to face ... and from eyes to the heart", from Madrid. Author: Carmen Rodríguez Pérez.The originality of the subject and its treatment, as well as the right narrative rhythm, were highlighted by María Simón in her analysis of a story that took place in Los Negrales, looking at two large photographs of Pedro Poveda and Josefa Segovia who undertake a long and interesting conversation. “It was a futuristic story with a youthful freshness,” said the presenter, “well written and full of deep and fun details.”
Given the large participation and interest, the jury also awarded three honorable mentions: "Tracks," by Gloria Sanz Ródenas from Alcoy (Alicante); "Eu procurava outra Josefa" written in Portuguese and sent from Rio de Janeiro by Renata de Carvalho; and Maria Antonia MuñozFernández, from Jaén, received the third honorable mention. The latter was present and had the opportunity to say a few words about her work.
Many other stories were recognized but no additional awards were given.All the stories, winners or not, will be published soon.
The event ended with some words of gratitude to the audience. When the ceremony was adjourned the public showed smiling faces after having spent a great time listening to the beautiful stories on Josefa Segovia’s biography and her character: a woman of her time and also our contemporary who gave her life defending the dignity of each person, the promotion of women, the value of study and good professionalism, a woman of faith who walked together with others in solidarity, values that are still very relevant!.
Marisa Rodríguez