Jerry B. Gracio is a writer and cultural worker. He was born in Tondo, Manila but spent his childhood in the small village of Nenita in Mondragon, Northen Samar. He worked in a sardine factory while studying at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, was an organizer of the youth and informal sector, development and popular education officer of NGOs, and government worker for the LGUs of Malabon and Valenzuela, before finally becoming a full-time writer for television and film, and work for ABS-CBN. He is the author of six books. His honors as a writer include the University of the Philippines Centennial Prize for Literature. In 2015, he was awarded the Southeast Asia (SEAWrite Award) in Bangkok, the highest award bestowed to regional writers. He was awarded the Gawad Parangal as Outstanding Citizen of CAMANAVA by UE and Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela as a unique citizen of the City of Valenzuela. He is the former Commissioner for Samar-Leyte in the Filipino Language Commission under the Office of the President of the Philippines. He resigned as Commissioner in July in protest of the prevailing government practices. He dreams of a government of workers and of common people.
NOMINEES
Villamor Mostrales
Second Nominee
Born in Umingan, Pangasinan, Villamor A. Mostrales Sr., attended Tabuk, Kalinga High School, and graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of A.B. Political Science at the Baguio Colleges Foundation where his professor was Atty. Ernesto Arellano. After graduation, he worked and became an employee of the Pines Hotel in Baguio and became an active member of the Pines Hotel General Workers Union (PHGWU) and later became its adviser. As a result of being active in the union, he became a political prisoner and was imprisoned from October 1972 to March 1973. As a union organizer, he large-scale organized the Pan Am Employees Union of Pan American Manufacturing with Ka Lando and Ka Mando of KMU. He returned to school in 1975 as a working student and obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Manuel L. Quezon University School of Laws. He continued his studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the Baguio Colleges Foundation in 1979. From 1978 to 1984 he was the Office Clerk / Branch Admin of the ALU-TUCP Baguio Chapter. From 1985 to 1986 he was the Head of Labor Relations of the Manila Luzon Region of the ALU-TUCP and from 1986 to 1987, he was the Head of Organizing and CBA of the ALU-TUCP. From 1988 to 1990 he was freelance in providing legal assistance to workers. In 1995 he became part of the National Federation of Labor (NFL). And in 1998, he and Ka Are co-founded the Legal Advocates for Workers’ Interest (LAWIN) which still serves the workers. He is currently the Executive Vice-President of the National Confederation of Labor (NCL). In 1977, he married Delia Vergara Mostrales and were blessed with nine children, seven daughters and two sons, all of whom were successful professionals both inside and outside the country.
Nelson Tanalgo
Third Nominee
Si Ka Nelson "Iso" Tanalgo, tubong Bacolod City, Negros, ay naging manggagawa sa pabrika sa Valenzuela, noong panahong ang siyudad ay binansagang “Strike Capital of the Philippines”. Kasalukuyan siyang labor advocate sa isang sentrong obrero na tumutulong sa pagresolba sa mga problemang kinakaharap ng mga manggagawa sa kanilang mga trabaho. Tunay na manggagawa ang kinatawan ng KAPAMILYA Partylist.