Believing in the preservation of Ilokano literary, artistic and cultural heritage as well as the enhancement of the intellectual creativity and writing craft of the Ilokanos, we, Ilokano writers, do hereby form ourselves into an association, ordain and proclaim this Constitution.

ARTICLE 1. NAME

Section 1. The name of the association shall be GUNGLO DAGITI MANNURAT NGA ILOKANO ITI FILIPINAS (Ilokano Writers Association of the Philippines, Inc.) or GUMIL Filipinas for short. The association shall be referred to thereafter as GUMIL Filipinas.

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES

Section 1. The objectives of GUMIL Filipinas shall be the following:

a) 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;

b) 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;

c) To publish books of poetry, short stories, essays, novels, historical accounts, research and critical studies, and other writings; and

d) To assist each member in pursuing his/her writing career and in fulfilling his life as a member of Philippines society.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in GUMIL Filipinas shall be open to any Ilokano who is writer by calling, a free lance writer, or a bona fide staff member of any periodical who can write or intends to write in the Iluko language.

The following categories specify the qualifications for memberships:

a) Regular member: Any Ilokano writer who has published one short story in Iluko, or one feature article, or an essay in Iluko, or three poems in Iluko in any recognized publication such as magazine, book, or broadsheet with national circulation.

b) Associate member: Any Ilokano writer who has published his/her literary works in an another language other than in Iluko. Such member is not entitled to vote.

c) Junior member: Any Ilokano who aspires to write and can become a regular member upon publication of literary works. He/She is not entitled to vote.

d) Honorary member: Though he/she is not a writer in Iluko, he/she has made an exceptional contribution toward the enrichment of Iluko literature.

Section 2. Any member who is up-to-date in meeting his financial obligations to the Association, which include payment of membership fees, shall be considered a member in good standing and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges as provided in this Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 3. Any member who fails to meet his financial obligations to the Association, which include payment of membership fees, three months after an obligation or fee is due and payable, shall be deemed to be a member in inactive status and shall automatically cease to be entitled to the rights and privileges of a member as provided for in this Constitution and By-Laws. Membership in good standing can only be regained upon payment in full of all obligations due and payable.

Section 4. Only members in good standing shall be entitled to vote in the election of officers or to take part in deliberations on vital issues concerning GUMIL Filipinas. Members in good standing are those who have paid all their obligations or fees which are due and payable at least two months before the date of election of officers or the date of deliberation on a vital issue which concerns GUMIL Filipinas and which needs a majority vote of the general membership. However, this requirement shall not apply to a member who is admitted within the above-stated two-month period, provided he has paid all dues and obligations prior to the scheduled date of election or meeting.

Section 5. Honorary membership may be conferred upon any individual who has made an exceptional contribution toward the enrichment of Ilokano literature, or who has consistently helped GUMIL Filipinas to realize its objectives. Any ten members of GUMIL Filipinas can recommend to the board of Directors an individual for honorary membership. An honorary member shall have no financial obligations to GUMIL Filipinas nor shall be entitled to vote. As often as possible, however, he/she shall be consulted on salient matters that involve the realization of the Association´s objectives.

ARTICLE IV. DUES

Section 1. The annual membership fee in GUMIL Filipinas shall be ONE HUNDRED PESOS (P100.00), whether regular, associate, or junior member. The annual fees may be increased upon approval by the Board of Directors.

Annual membership shall cover the regular collection period, April to April of each year. Any new member who is admitted on any date within the year shall hold membership up to April, in which he/she shall renew his/her membership.

Section 2. Any person who meets the qualifications as laid down under Article III and joins GUMIL Filipinas shall pay a one-time entrance fee of ONE HUNDRED PESOS (P100.00).

Section 3. All dues, fees, contributions and obligations paid shall be deposited in a bank in the name of the Association. In case of withdrawal for a certain purpose, the Board of Directors shall pass a resolution therefor, and the applications for withdrawal shall be signed by the Treasurer with conformity by the President and the Auditor.

ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The affairs of GUMIL Filipinas shall be managed by a Board of Directors composed of fifteen (15) members who shall serve a two-year term from the traditional election month of April up to the next election month of April, or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified, unless sooner separated as provided for in Section 5 of this Article.

Section 2. In the annual membership meeting, the members shall elect eight (8) directors who shall be elected by and from the members in good standing, in addition to the seven corporate officers, who shall become members of the Board pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 1, Article VII.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall not receive renumeration of any kind from GUMIL Filipinas.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall meet four (4) times annually. However, the Board may hold a special meeting on any day upon petition of five directors to take up urgent matters, provided notice to hold such meeting is served one week in advance.

Section 5. Any officer or member of the Board who fails three times to attend a regular board meeting as provided in this Constitution and By-Laws, without justifiable reason, shall be deemed as having lost interest in GUMIL Filipinas and as such be dropped automatically from the Board. He shall be replaced by the candidate with the next highest number of votes following the fifteen duty elected. The new member shall serve the unexpired term of his/her predecessor but only as Board member, unless he/she is elected to the position of officer as provided in Article VII, Section 2 of this Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 6. No action of the Board shall be valid unless it is a decision of the majority of the Board of Directors constituting a quorum.

Section 7. Donations or contributions of any kind of GUMIL Filipinas from persons or organization shall be accepted by the Board through a resolution approved by its majority. The cash donations or contributions shall be turned over to the Treasurer who shall deposit them as provided in Article IV, Section 3 hereof. Donations in kind shall be taken up in the inventory of supplies or properties.

Section 8. The Board may create committees other than those provided in Article IX of this Constitution and By-Laws, with four members and one chairman composing a committee.

ARTICLE VI. ANNUAL MEETING

Section 1. An annual general membership meeting shall be held to deliberate on vital issues concerning GUMIL Filipinas and to elect the fifteen (15) members of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. The annual meeting as described in Section 1 shall be held on a Sunday of the month of April or during the national convention and literary seminar-workshop at a place and date to be decided upon by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Only members in good standing as described in Article III Sections 2 and 4 of this Constitution and By-Laws shall have the privilege to participate in the deliberation on vital issues concerning GUMIL Filipinas.

Section 4. Notice of date, time and place of the general membership annual meeting shall be published or sent to all members in good standing by appropriate means by the Secretary-General at least two weeks before the scheduled date of meeting.

Section 5. A quorum in the annual meeting shall be fifty per centum plus one of the total number of members of the Association in good standing.

ARTICLE VII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The elective corporate officers of the Association shall be the following: President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer, Auditor, Business Manager, and Public Relations Officer, all of whom shall be elected through secret balloting, for a term of two years or until their successors are duly elected and have qualified.

The elected corporate officers shall automatically fill up the remaining seven (7) seats in the Board of Directors.

Section 2. The President of the Association shall only be allowed to seek a second consecutive term.

Section 3. Only a member of GUMIL Filipinas in good standing shall be qualified to be a candidate for member of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. In case a vacancy arises from among the officers, it shall be filled through election by the members of the Board, except the office of the President, in which case the Vice-President shall take over. The officer thus elected shall serve only the unexpired term of the immediate predecessor in the position. If both the President and Vice-President resign or are separated from office, the members of the Board of Directors shall elect from among themselves a new President. He shall serve the unexpired term of the office.

ARTICLE VIII. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall preside over all meetings of GUMIL Filipinas. He/She implement and execute policies and resolutions promulgated by the Board of Directors and the provisions of this Constitution and By-Laws. He/She shall officially represent GUMIL Filipinas. The President shall, with the Treasurer and Auditor, sing all vouchers. He/She shall appoint all members of committees provided in this Constitution and By-Laws, including those the Board of Directors may create, and shall be ex-officio committee member himself/herself.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall assume all duties and responsibilities at any given time.

Section 3. The Secretary-General shall be the custodian of all records of the Association. He/She shall send out notices of regular meetings of the Baord of Directors at least two weeks before the scheduled date of meeting, furnishing each officer and director a copy of the minutes of every meeting of the Board. He/She shall take charge of applications for membership and shall furnish members of the Association with publication or printed materials put out by the Association which are useful to them as writers.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds and financial record like official receipts, vouchers and other financial documents. He/She shall present a financial statement during general membership meetings or at any time that he/she may be required to do so by officers or members of the Association. He/She shall also be custodian of the Association´s properties.

Section 5. The Auditor shall audit all funds and expenses and check the inventory of properties of the Association. Together with the Treasurer and the President, he/she shall sign all vouchers and resolutions in the connection with the withdrawal of money from the bank.

Section 6. The Business Manager shall be responsible for all preparations with respect to arranging for and providing facilities as well as sites for seminars, workshops, conferences or other projects which need physical effort or management. He/She shall see to it that chairs, tables and of the furniture needed during such meeting are in order.

Section 7. The Public Relations Officer shall look after the wholesome relations of the Association with the public, whether with individuals or organizations, whether government or private sector. He/She shall take charge of carrying out a positive and constructive publicity of important projects undertaken by the Association.

Section 8. The remaining members of the Board of Directors shall, with the Board of Officers, propose policies and resolutions in addition to performing duties which the President may assign to them from time to time.

Section 9. The advisers of the Association, who shall not be more than ten in number, shall be free to offer suggestions to promote its objectives, and shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Board as well as the Association, but shall not vote. They shall be consulted on matters where their expertise or wisdom shall benefit the Association. They shall not be entitled to any remuneration.

Section 10. The president of a provincial or other local chapter shall be entitled to attend the meetings of the Board and may participate in the deliberation of vital issues but shall have no right to vote therein.

ARTICLE IX. COMMITTEES

Section 1. To assist the Board of Directors in its function, there shall be the following committees, each composed of four members and a chairman who may be a director or any members of the Association:

• Seminar Workshop Committee
  
• Editorial Committee
  
• Finance Committee
  
• Legal and Research Committee
  
• Marketing Committee
  
• Award Committee