2010 INTERNATIONAL WRITING PROGRAM RESIDENCY NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS

The Ateneo de Manila (Phlippines) 2010 International Writing Program (IWP) Residency is now open for nominations. The objective of this program is to bring together a wide range of international and U.S. writers to examine current trends in literature including fiction, drama, poetry, and screenwriting and to explore the creative process involved in writing.

Participants will spend 10 weeks in residence at the University of Iowa presenting their work to local audiences, participating in university level workshops and working with translators. The program also includes field trips to attend literary events in order to meet and possibly collaborate with local writers and artists from other fields. Expenses of selected applicants will be covered by the embassy of the United States.Poets, fiction writers, dramatists, and screenwriters are eligible to apply. Literary translators and writers whose publications and careers focus on creative non-fiction (feature journalism, cultural commentary, biography, and memoirs) are also eligible for this program.

CFO TASK FORCE NCLEX LAUNCHES ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION FOR FILIPINO NURSES

In honor of Filipino nurses, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas through the Presidential Task Force on NCLEX, launched an essay writing competition open to all Filipino writers with the theme Heralds of Care: reflections on the Filipino nursing legacy of caring for the country and the world. Winning entries will be published as a compilation, and will be given a cash prize of P10,000.00 and a plaque of recognition from the organizers.

Contest Rules

Open to all writers and literary enthusiasts writing in the Waray language.

1. Entries must consist of five (5) poems.

2. Only unpublished works are eligible. A work that has been awarded a prize in another contest is not qualified for the contest.

3. All entries should be written originally in Waray and not a translation of a work written in another language.

4. Entries must be submitted in four copies, double spaced on 8 1/2 x 11 inches bond paper with one inch margin on all sides and the page number typed consecutively, e.g., 1 of 7, 2 of 7 and so on. Font must be Arial and font size must be 12. Entry must be submitted with pseudonym only and not the author's real name. Author's name and pseudonym must be submitted in a separate sealed envelope together with a bio-data containing the author's literary background, a 2x2 ID picture, and contact information. A notarized declaration of originality and authenticity of authorship must accompany the entry.

ADARNA ACTIVITIES FOR THE SUMMER SLATED

2010 Summer Klasrum Adarna for Kids

The line-up of our summer workshops for kids is now available. Our summer classes are especially designed to have kids enjoy their summer through learning and literature. The classes offered this year are short story writing for kids aged 13 to 16, book illustrating for 9 to 12 year olds, and book-making for 6 to 11 year olds.

The complete details are available here . For inquiries and slot reservation, please call 372-3548 local 110 or e-mail grace[at]adarna.com.ph.

POET'SPICTUREBOOK 36 NOW ONLINE

Dear readers & friends,

Here's poet'sPicturebook No.36.

All new poetry, art, photography, essay.

Looking good but should get even better

with your new contributions.

Send them now to this email's address.

Visit the new issue.

Marne L. Kilates

Editor

--

Marne Kilates. marne.kilates@gmail.com

Site: http://nameabledays.jimdo.com/

Ezine: poet'sPicturebook at

http://marnescriptsmain.blogspot.com/

The Filipino poetry group Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will launch the “Sining ng Tugma at Sukat (STS; Art of Rhyme and Meter) 2010” with the first leg in San Fabian, Pangasinan on March 6, 2010.

The STS is a series of free seminar-workshops on poetry in Filipino, to be held in nine towns across nine provinces of Luzon from March to December 2010. Teachers of Filipino from public high schools are the intended beneficiaries, with LIRA and the NCCA's local partners determining the composition of each town's delegates.

The STS is on its second year, with the first edition being held in 2008. In that year, LIRA and the NCCA taught poetry to around 430 delegates in ten towns across Luzon, namely General Trias, Cavite; Dagupan City, Pangasinan; City of Manila; Mauban, Quezon; Subic, Zambales; Taguig City; Quezon City; Pasig City; Angono, Rizal; and Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

ROMEO FORBES CHILDREN'S STORYWRITING COMPETITION NOW OPEN

It's that time of year again!

CANVAS invites you to join and submit an entry its annual Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing competition, and possibly see your written text rendered in full color in a children's book.

This year, 13 Artists* Awardee Don Salubayba does the honors and provides the inspiration with this untitled contest piece:

* Given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines every three years, the Thirteen Artists Award is the country's most prestigious award given to any Filipino artist under the age of 40, and is intended to nurture and promote artistic excellence by recognizing progressive and innovative art.

Contest Rules and Conditions

1. The Romeo Forbes Children's Storywriting Competition is open to all Filipinos.

2. Entries must not have been previously published, and all entrants must warrant the originality of their submitted entries.

3. Writers may submit only one entry, in English or Filipino, which shall be of 1,600 words or less.

IPAG OPENS ITS 32ND YEAR

As the Tiger Year opens, IPAG closes its 32nd Season with another big roar: 3 full-feature productions spread over 30 performances in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Naga City, Lipa, Bukidnon, and Manila, excluding other short performances.

Besides these performances, IPAG has brought its dramaturgy to various parts of the country in lectures and workshops.

Next season, our 33rd, we open with Suhi, an adaptation of one of the most endearing classical plays, Oedipus Tyrranus, but re-formed in our settings, in multi-media in a Post Modern frame.

BAGUIO CALLIGRAPHY BOOK LAUNCH SET AT SM CITY BAGUIO

Baguio Calligraphy, a collection of poetry and fiction from the Cordillera's premier city, will be launched on March 7, Sunday at 4 p.m. at the National Bookstore in SM City Baguio.

The anthology, a project of the Baguio Writers Group, is edited by Francis C. Macansantos and Luchie B. Maranan with an introduction by Cirilo F. Bautista. It is published by Anvil Publishing Inc.

ORTIGAS FOUNDATION HOSTS COURSE ON BOOK REPAIR

A three-day book and paper treatment repair class that will focus on:

- Common treatment, stabilization, binding structure rehabilitation, image integration and partial restoration of single sheets and bound printed materials.

- Acquiring basic knowledge on the elements of book rehabilitation and some practical skills on repairing and treating old and new books.

- Identifying materials needed and how to prepare and explore other alternative supplies and their other uses. It will also cover basic procedures in repairing and cleaning textblock, cover, signatures and bindings.

- Participants will be working some portions of their project in the library's conservation laboratory

FELLOWS FOR THE 49TH UP NATIONAL WRITERS WORKSHOP ANNOUNCED

The University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing (UP ICW) announces the fellows to the 49 th UP National Writers Workshop to be held from April 04 to 11 in Camp John Hay, Baguio City. The fellows and associates of the UP ICW selected twelve writers in mid-career to participate in the annual workshop. This year's workshop director is UP College of Mass Communication Dean Rolando Tolentino.

This year's fellows for English are Marc Escalona Gaba and Mabi David Balangue for Poetry, Karl de Mesa, Timothy Montes, and Dada Felix for fiction, and April Yap and Faye Ilogon for creative nonfiction.

Fellows for Filipino are Raya Martin and Jim Libiran for dulang pampelikula, Kristian Cordero and Alwynn Javier for tula, and Jun Sungkit for kuwento.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO THE LIRA POETRY CLINIC 2010

LIRA is now accepting sign-ups for its yearly poetry clinic. The regular clinic period is from June to August and will be held every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, although several more sessions will be held until November.

All those interested must submit one Word Document file containing the following: one-page bio data, ID picture, contact numbers, and five (5) poems in Filipino, to palihan@liraonline.org. An envelope containing the requirements may also be dropped off at the LIRA pigeon hole at the UP Institute of Creative Writing, 2/F Faculty Center, UP Diliman, 1101 Quezon City.

All submissions should be in on or before April 30, 2010.

ABDON BALDE JR LAUNCHES NEW BOOK

Tuloy na tuloy na ang book launching ng ika-walong libro ni Abdon Balde Jr na mula sa UST Publishing House. Inaanyayahan and lahat na dumalo sa Pebrero 17, 2010, 10am, sa Tomas Aquinas Research Complex Auditorium, España, Manila .

Heto ang kuwento:
Isang Gurkha mula sa Himalaya ang ipinadpad sa Donsol, Sorsogon, at kinailangang tumawid sa dagat ng mga Butanding at sa ilog ng mga alitaptap upang iligtas ang isang napakagandang babaing dinukot at itinago sa kagubatan ng Sibago.

NATIONAL ARTIST F. SIONIL JOSE, GUEST IN CAVITE 'S YOUNG WRITERS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The transformational influence of creative writing on the youth of today is expected to be discussed by National Artist and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee F. Sionil Jose in the 3rd General Assembly of the Cavite Young Writers Association, Inc. (CYWA) according to its president, aspiring writer and film maker Ronald Verzo.

The Assembly will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the campus of St. Dominic College of Asia , an emerging educational institution in the gateway of Cavite , in Maliksi II, Bacoor.

Other distinguished guests who will join the young writers are Governor Erineo”Ayong” Maliksi and Mrs. Lani Mercado, the wife of Senator Ramon Revilla.

POET ABAD AND FICTIONIST BALDE WIN ANI NG DANGAL AWARDS

Poet and critic Gémino H. Abad, who has been awarded one of the most prestigious international literary awards, the Premio Feronia Foreign Author Prize – Citta di Fiano 2009, and Bikolano novelist Abdon M. Balde Jr. who won the 2009 SEA Write Award in Bangkok, Thailand are going to receive the Ani ng Dangal Awards in Heroes Hall, Malacañang on February 26, 2010.

Jimmy Abad is Emeritus University Professor at the College of Arts and Letters, U.P. Diliman. Jun Balde is a novelist who's latest book, “Sibago,” a novel set in Donsol, Sorsogon, is going to be launched by UST Publishing House on February 17, 2010 at the Tomas Aquinas Research Complex, UST, España, Manila.

CALL FOR PAPERS/
PRESENTATIONS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POSTCOLONIAL PRAXIS

Theories, Cultural Practices and Movements for the Global South 

July 21-23, 2010 

Bulwagang Rizal (Faculty Center), College of Arts & Letters

University of the Philippines-Diliman

Through this conference, we invite participants from other parts of the Philippines and from other former colonies /countries in the “Global South” (i.e., “underdeveloped , “developing”, “Third World”, decolonizing societies) to re-examine and to re-territorialize Anglo-American, English, American, French, German, Dutch, Hispanic, Latin American Studies, programs and projects. The conference aims to provide a venue for the construction of a general programmatic of postcolonial knowledge-production and other postcolonial cultural practices which can be disseminated through formal educational institutions as curricula and courses; informal/alternative educational groups; professional organizations; mass media; computer-aided technologies, and through cultural networks .

PAPET ASEAN 2010 THIS FEBRUARY

For the first time in Pinoy theater history, ASEAN artists, experts and scholars on puppetry converge in a 3-day celebration that is the 2nd ASEAN Puppetry Festival, dubbed “PAPET ASEAN 2010: Celebrating ASEAN Puppet Traditions.”

The celebration, hosted by the country's first organization of Filipino puppeteering groups (known as the Samahan ng mga Papetir ng Pilipinas), brings the artistry of puppet-theater to the fore as the different ASEAN puppet traditions vie for the spotlight in the one venue for sharing the knowledge, expertise, passion, and advancement of the arts—the University of the Philippines.

ORTIGAS FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES FOR FEBRUARY

Ortigas Foundation, Inc. presents Mapping the Mind, to be held from February 17 to 27, 2010. This is a week long event that will feature talks, workshops and exhibit related to art and history, environment and literature.

Pause, Unpause

A visual arts exhibit by artist Liza Flores

February 18 to March 17

FULLY BOOKED SETS WRITING FOR HEALING SEMINAR

Fully Booked n the face of sadness, grief, even tragedy, words offer comfort and strength. By reading other people's words, we are given the comfort of knowing we are not alone. By writing with our own words, we are given the chance of molding our experiences for the sake of others.

The writing for healing workshop led by Palanca Award-winning poet Lawrence ypil will help participants discover the power of words to give shape to loss and meaning to tragedy. Through guided reflections, writing exercises, and journaling tips , the workshop will show the different ways creative expression through writing can help to heal not just ourselves, but also the people around us.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO WAYWAYA 2010 LITERARY FOLIO

Once in a blue moon, there was one on New Year's Eve*. The Manila Collegian will again be releasing its annual literary folio, WAYWAYA 2010, with the theme “Once in a Blue Moon.” We are encouraging students, faculty members, and personnel of the University of the Philippines Manila to contribute original, unpublished works (literary works such as poems, short stories, essays, lyrics, visual/digital artworks, photographs, etc.) for the completion of the folio. Entries are encouraged to align with the theme through portrayal of rare, important, and unforgettable moments in life.

GAWAD PANITIKAN PANGKALUSUGAN CONTEST LAUNCHED

The Mu Sigma Phi Sorority is now accepting entries for the first Gawad Panitikang Pangkalusuga: A Nationwide Children's Storybook Writing Competition on Health

Theme: "Tabi-tabi po" (Exploring Philippine Health Myths)

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The contest is open to all individuals aged 18 and above and currently residing in the Philippines. Participants are challenged to break away from a clinical, straightforward, and sanitized presentation of health, and to mold it in a form that is enjoyable and of interest for its young audience. We highly encourage participants to explore different writing methods, literary forms (prose or poetry), genres (i.e. comedy, horror, science fiction, fantasy) and approaches in presenting an otherwise serious and scientific topic. Entries should be easy to read by children aged five to ten (5-10) years old, and can be easily relayed to them even by poorly literate adults (parents or guardians).

•  For its fourth issue, Likhaan: the journal of Contemporary Philippine Literature 4, will accept submissions in the following genres, in both English and Filipino:

•  Short stories ranging from about 12 to 30 pages double-spaced, in 11-12 points Times New Roman, New York, Palatino, Book Antiqua, Arial or some such standard font. (A suite of short pieces will be considered.)

•  A suite of four to seven poems, out of which the editors might choose three to five. (Long poems will be considered in lieu of a suite.)

•  Creative nonfiction (essays, memoirs, profiles, etc.), subject to the same length limitations as short stories (see above).

•  Critical/ scholarly essays, subject to the same length limitations as short stories (see above).

•  Excerpts from graphic novels, or full short graphic stories, for reproduction in black and white on no more than 10 printed pages, 6” x 9”. (Excerpts should be accompanied by a synopsis of the full narrative.)

CALL FOR MANUSCRIPTS TO THE 49TH SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY NATIONAL WRITERS WORKSHOP

The Silliman University National Writers Workshop is now accepting applications for the 49th National Writers Workshop to be held 3-21 May 2010 in Dumaguete City.

This Writers Workshop is offering fifteen fellowships to promising young writers who would like a chance to hone their craft and refine their style. Fellows will be provided housing, a modest stipend, and a subsidy to partially defray costs of their transportation.

UST ANNOUNCES FIRST THOMASIAN WRITERS WORKSHOP

The office of the Writer-in-Residence of the University of Santo Tomas is announcing the holding of the very first Thomasian Writers Workshop which will be held this summer at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) campus in Manila.

This first of a series of annual workshops catering exclusively to Thomasians is open to writers—students, alumni, faculty members or non-teaching staffers—who have not been awarded fellowships to any national writing workshop.

The workshop will be held from May 10 to 15, 2010 at the St. Raymund's Building in UST and the last two days of the workshop will be tentatively held in a resort in Laguna.

UP DECL TO HOST POSTCOLONIAL PRAXIS CONFERENCE

Through this conference, we invite participants from other parts of the Philippines and from other former colonies /countries in the “Global South” (i.e., “underdeveloped , “developing”, “ Third World ”, decolonizing societies) to re-examine and to re-territorialize Anglo-American, English, American, French, German, Dutch, Hispanic, Latin American Studies, programs and projects. The conference aims to provide a venue for the construction of a general programmatic of postcolonial knowledge-production and other postcolonial cultural practices which can be disseminated through formal educational institutions as curricula and courses; informal/alternative educational groups; professional organizations; mass media; computer-aided technologies, and through cultural networks. To be engaged in this process are hundreds of scholars from the humanities and social sciences, teachers, creative writers, journalists and broadcast media practitioners , studio, visual and performance artists, architects, design specialists.

UBOD NEW AUTHORS NAMED

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Ateneo Institute for Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP) have finalized the list of accepted new authors for the project entitled UBOD: The New Authors Series II. This creative endeavor had its first inception back in 2005, when the chapbooks of forty (40) new authors from different parts of the country were launched at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

For this year, fourteen (14) authors from different regions were chosen to have their literary works published as chapbooks. These new authors are: Sherma Espino Benosa (Short story, Iluko), Aida Campos Tiama (Poetry, Iluko), Christoffer Mitch Cerda (Short Story, Tagalog), Mar Anthony Simon dela Cruz (Short Story, Tagalog), Marlon Hacla (Poetry, Tagalog), Francisco Arias Montesena (Poetry, Tagalog), Jerome Hipolito (Poetry, Bikol), Adrian V. Remodo (Poetry, Bikol), Jay Gallera Malaga (Poetry, Hiligaynon), JV Perez (Short Story, Hiligaynon), Leonilo Lopido (Poetry, Waray), Phil Harold Mercurio (Poetry, Waray), Janis Claire B. Salvacion (Poetry, Waray), and Noel P. Tuazon (Poetry, Binisaya-Sugbuanon).

GINA ALAJAR AND BIBETH ORTEZA TAKE TURNS AS MRS. B

On April 28, 2007, farmer-activist Jonas Burgos, son of Edita and the late press freedom icon Jose “Joe” Burgos Jr., was abducted by unidentified men and a woman while having lunch at the Hapag Kainan restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City. He was dragged into a waiting van and has been missing since then.

Jonas' love for farming and the poor farmers of the society prompted him to take up BS Agriculture at the Benguet State University. When he was abducted, he was a member of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB), a provincial chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). While managing the family's farm in Bulacan, he shared his knowledge with other farmers and introduced organic farming to them.

Since the abduction almost three years ago, the Burgos family, headed by Edith Burgos, has been searching relentlessly for Jonas. Mrs. Burgos has taken all the avenues -- courts, police, military, morgues, government agencies including the Office of the President, international organizations and the streets -- to look for her son.

Edith Burgos now brings her search to the stage with a monologue dubbed as “Mrs. B." The one-act play will be starred by veteran actresses/directors Gina Alajar and Bibeth Orteza who will alternately play the role of Edith Burgos.

DULAANG UP STAGES ANG MUNTIK NANG DI MAPIGILANG PAGHAHARI NI ARTURO UI

On its final offering this 34 th theater season, Dulaang UP presents Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui in translation, Ang Muntik Nang Di Mapigilang Paghahari ni Arturo Ui.

Alexander Cortez directs a new translation by UP Theater students Patrick Valera, Katte Sabate and Joshua So; Music composition by Diwa de Leon and Choreography by Dexter Santos. Musical Direction by Krina Cayabyab, Lighting Design by John Batalla, Set Design by Ohm David, Sound Design by Jethro Joaquin, Photography by Jojit Lorenzo, Poster Design by Paolo Santillan, Video design by Winter David, and Costume Styling by Trineth Villasis.

POET'S PICTUREBOOK NO.35 NOW OUT

faith&fate, poet'sPicturebook No. 35, the first of Year Three, is now online. New poets and new poetry. Contributions continue to surprise us, but artists & photographers seem a little laid back these days. Send those fantastic shots now. For our cover. Our inside pages. To view the new and continually intiguing little online magazine, poet'sPicturebook.

Send your contributions of poetry, art, photography, and essays for Poet'sPicturebook, the monthly literary & art ezine, to this email address, or view it at http://marnescriptsmain.blogspot.com/

IYAS WORKSHOP NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

Be One of the 15 Fellows of the 10th IYAS Creative Writing Workshop. This will be held on April 25-May 01, 2010 at the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City.

• Applicants should submit original work: either 6 poems, 2 short stories, or 2 one-act play using a pseudonym, in five (5) computer-encoded copies of entries; font size 12, bound or fastened, in separate folders, and soft copies in a CD (MSWord).

• These are to be accompanied by a sealed size 10 business envelope with the author's real name and pseudonym, a 2x2 ID photo, and short resume, which must be mailed on or before March 12, 2010.

NCCA LAUNCHES CULTURE PAGE WRITING COMPETITION FOR SCHOOL ORGANS

The Culture Page Writing Competition is one of the activities lined-up for the 2010 Philippine International Arts Festival to celebrate the National Arts Month (NAM) per Presidential Proclamation No. 683 come February organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

With the overall goal of promoting Filipino arts and artists to all sectors of society especially to the grass roots level, NCCA reaches out to the youth sector by raising their consciousness and sensitivity to the beauty, diversity, and richness of our arts and culture hence, this competition is being launched to encourage schools, colleges, and universities to feature upcoming NAM events through essays, editorials, photos, photo essays, poems, and other articles relevant to the celebration of NAM.

BOOK COUNCIL OF SINGAPORE INVITES FILIPINO WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS TO ASIAN FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN'S CONTENT

For the past 10 years, the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS or The Book Council in short) has organised the Asian Children's Writers & Illustrators Conference (ACWIC) to develop new materials for children. It now aims to expand ACWIC 's reach by including the new initiative that AFCC promises. The Festival, with a series of innovative programmes, seeks to fill the direct need for quality Asian Children's content worldwide, particularly in Asia .

The inaugural AFCC will be held in Singapore in May 2010 and will be organised by the Book Council and The Arts House.

Download their fact sheet here (in MS Word format, right click and save content as).

View their e-flyer here.

This book examines the discourse of contemporary West Visayan literature on region/nation and the global order, which may evince a particular imagining of the nation from a regional standpoint. It describes how the region and the nation are constructed and deconstructed in the writings in the three lingua franca (Hiligaynon, Filipino, and English), published from 1986 (EDSA Revolution) to 2003.

Cruz studies the award winning work of Leoncio Deriada, John Iremil Teodoro, Vicente Garcia Groyon, Alice Tan-Gonzales, Genevieve L. Asenjo, Isabel Sebullen, and Alice Sun-Cua. He argues that "Contemporary West Visayan Literature, metaphorically speaking, is rechanneling the way Filipinos think about the Filipino nation and its regions, to keep the center of the nation from making regional belonging a reason for exclusion.