JUNE 30, 2008

TANGHALANG ATENEO STAGES A TWINBILL OF ABSURD PLAYS

Tanghalang Ateneo jumpstarts its 30th season, Echoes, wth two modern classics by Eugene Ionesco- Ang Sopranong Kalbo (translated by Rolando S. Tinio) and The Lesson- whch leap onstage on July 2 to 5 and July 9 to 12 with matinees on July 5 to 12. This will be at the Communication Studio of the Ateneo de Manila University.

The twin bill of absurd plays is entitled “?” Two by Ionesco, with the question mark representing the reaction of people who cannot comprehend what the other is saying.

And Sopranong Kalbo introduces the characters, or the non-characters rather, who engage in silly banter, storytelling and poetry recitation in attempts to relate with one another.

The Lesson is a frustrating attempt by a seemingly harmless professor to teach mathematics and philology to a bright young girl, an effort that leads to a climax of violence.

What is common to both plays is the horror of the vacuum: the emptiness of national identity in one and the emptiness of the colonial self.

Ricardo Abad and BJ Crisostomo co-direct the plays. Set design is by Monica Sebial while costume design is by Peanuts Valerio and Sam Quizon.

For more details, contact Ia Solis at 0916-5415165.

Source: The Philippine Star

JUNE 30, 2008

GANTIMPALA THEATER REVISITS FOUR CLASSICS

Ganmtimpala Theater Company opens its 31st season with Florante at Laura from August 1 to 2 and 15 to 16 at the AFP Theater and from August 8 to 10 at the SM Southmall.

The members of Gantimpala wll also stage other Filipino classics such as Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Ibong Adarna. Artistic Director Tony Espejo is ecstatic about the growth of Gantimpala. He enthuses that: "Noli, Fili, Florante and Adarna must be staple repertoire for any decent theater company…”

Gantimpala will also be staging Sleeping Beauty as translated by J. Dennis Teodosio. Capping the season wll be A Life in the Slums by National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio. It won in the 1975 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards and revolves around the lives of two sisters who lead a reversal of fortunes

The Gantimpala also has touring prodcutions of Bonifacio Ilagan's Katipunan: Mga Anak ng Bayan, Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero's Forever and Teodosio's Ang Pagong at ang Matsing.

For more details contact Gantimpala at 899-5745, 896-3503, 474-598 or e-mail gantimpalaproduction@yahoo.com.ph

Source: The Philippine Star

JUNE 30, 2008

ADARNA ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

Raising Readers: A Lecture Series on Libraries

Adarna House and Ortigas Foundation invite librarians and booklovers everywhere to Raising Readers, which will be held from July 18 to 19 (Friday and Saturday) at the Ortigas Foundation Library. A lecture series on libraries, Raising Readers will give participants ideas on how to enhance their efforts in encouraging children and young adults to discover the joys of reading. With points of discussion ranging from personal growth to community development, the series will also feature practical activities and workshops.

For further details, click here. Or contact Ergoe through ergoe@adarna.com.ph, 3723548 local 122, or 0917-3722639

Paging Parents: Effective Parenthood through Good Literature

Adarna House is Paging Parents to take part in this seminar workshop which will be held on July 12 and 19 (Saturdays) at our showroom. The first day features fora and lectures from Dr. Honey Carandang, a child psychologist, and Jeanette Patindol, single parent, professor, and author of Papa’s House, Mama’s House, an award-winning storybook about special family set-ups. The second day will feature lectures and workshops, dealing with how literature can play an integral in parenting and raising kids.

Click here for further details, or contact Vanessa through vanessa@adarna.com.ph, 3723548 local 110, or 0917-3722639

Adarna stories at Virgin Labfest 4

One series at Virgin Labfest 4, called Mga premyadong kuwentong pambata, will stage three Adarna House stories: "Terengati" (A story by Victoria Añonuevo, adapted and directed by Njel de Mesa), "Bru-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, Bru-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi (A story by Ompong Remigio, adapted by Argel Tuazon, direted by Mayen Estañero), and "Uuwi na ang Nanay Kong si Darna" (A story by Edgar Samar, adapted by Job Pagsibigan, directed by Catherine Racsag). Playdates are Saturday, July 5, 10AM and 3PM, and Sunday, July 6, 10AM and 3PM. Tickets at P200. Call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661, or the CCP Box Office at 832-3704.

JUNE 24, 2008

ARTIST STORYTELLING WORKSHOP THIS WEEKEND

Join the Acting and Reading Techniques In StoryTelling (ARTIST) Workshop on June 28-29, 2008, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at the Executive Lounge, National Library of the Philippines, T. M. Kalaw Ave. , Ermita, Manila.

The workshop fee is Php 500. Slots are limited. For confirmation and more details, please contact 0917.539.2630/ (02) 535.4689 or e-mail us at alitaptap_storytellers@yahoo.com.

JUNE 23, 2008

HIGH CHAIR POETRY READING THIS FRIDAY

The reading will be highlighted by poems from Parang by Mesandel Virtusio Arguelles and elsewhere held and lingered by Conchitina Cruz, both forthcoming collections, and How Sound Becomes A Name by Marc Gaba.

This will be on Friday, 27 June 2008, 6:00 p.m. at the Libros Filipinos Bookshop of the Filipinas Heritage Library on Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati City. Seating is limited. For inquiries, please call 892-1801 and look for Ciela.

Find out more about the High Chair poets here: http://www.highchair.com.ph

JUNE 23, 2008

DAVAO GOES UKAY BOOKAY

Check out Ukay BOOKay and experience the biggest OMF Literature Bookshop sale of the year.

You probably have a dozen books on your wishlist, but not enough budget to buy them all. Or maybe you have a favorite author whose works you'd like to collect someday. Or perhaps your friend's birthday is coming up and you know the perfect book for her. Now is the best time to buy those books. Come to the OMF Literature Bookshop on June 23-28 and get your favorite titles with up to 80% savings.

20% off
All OMF Lit local and imported titles

Ukay Finds
Books for only Php10, Php20, Php50

Book Bundles
Choose 3 fiction titles for only Php100

The OMF Literature Bookshop officially opened its doors to the Davao public in May. It's the third branch of the biggest Christian publishing house in the Philippines. In OMF Literature's 50 years of publishing truth and shaping generations, it has come out with bestsellers such as The Purpose Driven Life, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, and This is My Story.

Visit the OMF Literature Bookshop at:

Ground Floor Mitaji Building
Tionko corner Mapa Streets
Davao City
(082) 221.3416
OMFLitDavao@OMFLit.com
Mondays to Saturdays, 12nn-9pm

Visit them online www.OMFLit.com.

JUNE 22, 2008

BULAWAN ONLINE LAUNCHED

At his lecture in UP Diliman last June 19, National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario was glad to launch a new website: bulawanonline.com. He serves as chief editor while Roberto T. Añonuevo, Romulo P. Baquiran Jr., Michael M. Coroza, Vim Nadera and Fidel Rillo serve as co-editors. Phillip Kimpo Jr., Sophia Lucero, Eilene Narvaez and Ernanie Rafael are the staff members.

Bulawanonline.com gets its name from Bulawan, a refereed quarterly journal published by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. The NCCA is also one of the major forces behind panitikan.com.ph.

The maiden issue features works and commentary by Nikka Osorio, Roberto T. Añonuevo, Ronald A. Atilano, Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr., Michael M. Coroza and Virgilio S. Almario himself. Visit the new site here: http://bulawanonline.com/.

JUNE 22, 2008

JOSE RIZAL GOES ONLINE VIA FILIPINIANA.NET

The Complete Jose Rizal is the ultimate collection of Rial's works: the most definitive edition of his poetry, prose, art and correspondence were used, firmly establishing the Rizaliana canon. Read Rizal in his own words, and by way of the complete works, rediscover him as a person. Browse and view 6 maps and plans, 9 paintings, 45 sculptures, 49 sketches, 241 literary works and 954 letters.

Conceived in time for our national hero's 147th birth anniversary, the Complete Jose Rizal consolidates bibliographies by Teodoro Kalaw, Esteban Ocampo and Wenceslao Retana to create a fully searchable and fully indexed list of all of Rizal's works including full-text versions of his novels, poems and essays. The website also contains an image gallery showcasing over 100 photographs of Rizal, the people closest to him, his art and the places he visited during his travels.

With The Complete Jose Rizal, Filipiniana.net and the National Historical Institute deliver the man and the hero in equal measure. For the first time in history, Filipinos will be able to see and appreciate the staggering enormity of Rizal's mind and his unprecedented contribution to our culture, politics and history.

Seek and see Rizal here: http://filipiniana.net/

JUNE 20, 2008

National Children's Book Day Celebrations

The annual ceremonies celebrating National Children's Book Day, in
commemoration of the publication of Jose Rizal's Monkey and the Turtle in
Trubner's Oriental, shall once again happen at the CCP on July 15.

The ceremonies include the announcement of new books coming out in 2008,
courtesy of the country's leading children's book publishers; the awarding
of this year's Salanga and Alcala; and the induction of new PBBY members.

Visit www.pbby.org.ph for details about this year's silver anniversary celebrations.

JUNE 20, 2008

ADARNA HOUSE GOES PLACES FOR JUNE AND JULY

Our showroom is not the only place where you can find Adarna House books at a discount. Head over to one of our sales booths this month:

June 16 to July 4 – UP College of Education

June 30 to July 3 –2nd PALS Book Fair at UP Alumni Hostel

June 30 to July 4 – Montessori de Manila and Marikina City Hall Quadrangle

July 5 to 6 – Virgin Labfest at the CCP

July 17 to 18 – UP College of Arts and Letter and

July 24 to 26 – ICTED 2008 at the Manila Hotel.

June 17, 2008

U.P. Cal Sarswela Writing Contest

Rules of the Contest

1. The Contest is open to all Filipino citizens of all ages (including Filipinos holding dual citizenship) from June to August 2008.

2. The theme of the contest is "Amor, Vida, Patria" (Love, Life, Nation). The story maybe historical or contemporary in subject matter. The work must follow the three-act structure of the sarsuwela and must be written in Filipino.

3. The author must submit the entry to the Board of Judges. The deadline for submission is 3 October 2008. The office of the UP-CAL closes at 5 p.m. Entries sent by mail or courier should be postmarked no later than the same date of the deadline.

4. All entries are to be submitted to the Board of Judges, U.P. College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. The said College is in the Faculty Center (FC), UP Diliman campus.

5. All entries shall consist of a soft copy (CD in Word or Text Format) and three (3) hard copies (Times New Roman, Helvetica, or Arial Narrow fonts, 12 points, double spaced in 81/2 x 11 inches coupon bond). The recorded score (CD in MP3 or other PC compatble format) shall also be included. The author's and the composer's real names and addresses must not appear on the entry; rather, they should seal in a letter envelope both the prescribed Official Entry Form and Authorization Form, together with their bio-notes or brief résumé; and this envelope should be submitted together with the entry. On this sealed envelope should be written or typed the title of the entry and the authors' pen name.

6. In submitting the entry, the author warrants that the work is his/her own and that he/she has absolute ownership of all intellectual property rights thereto. Together with the entry, the author should submit the Official Entry Form and the Authorization Form for the Contest.

7. The submission of the entry must be accompanied by the author's written consent to abide by the rules of the Contest, duly signed by the author.

8. Authors may submit only one (1) entry.

9. The judges shall choose one (1) winner to be announced on September 30, 2008. The author and the composer shall equally divide between them the contest cash prize.

10. Winning entries shall remain with, and become the property of, the U.P. College of Arts and Letters which shall have prior right to its production and publication.

11. In order that the winning entries may be accessible to the public, the authors grant, assign and transfer to the U.P. College of Arts and Letters the following rights without any necessity of any payment other than the prize already awarded: (a) to publish from time to time the winning entry or selection or portion thereof as it may at its discretion determine; (b) to designate or appoint editors to edit the work or any portion thereof to suit the demands of publication; (c) to furnish a reasonable number of copies of the work to the National Library or other libraries; (d) to make the work available for downloading on the Internet or other electronic medium; and/or (e) allow scholars and students to make copies for their research.

In making the works accessible to scholars, students, and lovers of literature, the College only intends to promote a wider literary appreciation of the works.

12. The prize for the winning entry is P200,000.00.

13. The U.P. College of Arts and Letters has the sole right to designate the persons who shall constitute the Board of Judges for each contest category.

14. The decision of the majority of the Board of Judges for the contest is final.

15. All parties submitting entries to the UP Sarsuwela Writing Contest are deemed to have accepted all the rules of the contest, and agree to abide by them.

JUNE 17, 2008

CALL FOR PAPERS ON THE SARSUWELA

In line with the celebrations for the University of the Philippines Centennial, the University of the Philippines Diliman will be holding the National Conference on the Sarsuwela. The project, headed by the College of Arts and Letters, is inviting scholars, teachers, students and theatre practitioners to submit papers that investigate the Sarsuwela from the following perspectives:

•  Sarsuwela: The Literary Form

•  Sarsuwela and the Hispanization of the Islands

•  Sarsuwela and History

•  Sarsuwela, Aesthetics and Sensibility

•  Sarsuwela: Translations, Negotiations and Adaptations to Modernity

•  Sarsuwela: Deconstruction and Reconstruction

•  Sarsuwela, Kundiman and other Musical Elements

•  Performances of Sarsuwela in Other Regions and Other Languages

•  Sarsuwela and the Elements of Theatre and Performance

•  Any other papers related to sarsuwela

Interested parties should submit two-paragraph research abstracts on or before 19 September 2008. Abstracts that have been selected for presentation will be announced on 17 October 2008. Completed papers, with an approximate length of five thousand words (standard format), should be submitted to the organizers on or before 12 December 2008.

Those who wish to participate in the conference as official delegates will be charged three thousand pesos (PhP 3000.00) for the conference fee, with a ten percent discount for participants who can pay on or before 17 December 2008.

The conference will start on 25 February, and will end on 27 February 2009.

Hard copies of research abstracts can be forwarded to the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Letters, second floor, Bulwagang Rizal, UP Diliman. Soft copies can be E-mailed to the following addresses: vlad.gonzales@gmail.com (Mr. Vladimeir Gonzales), and jayson23_dgp@yahoo.com (Mr. Jayson Petras). The abstracts should also contain the researcher's name, affiliations, a brief bionote, and contact information.

Additional inquries can be sent via the same e-mail addresses, or through telephone number 924-4899.

JUNE 16, 2008

panitikan.com.ph exclusive

WRITERS DIRECTORY NOW AVAILABLE

Apart from the author profiles which are a staple on the site, panitikan.com.ph is making available the Writers Directory its staff was also at work on. The side project was a labor of love for the staff and is yet another brain child of Vim Nadera, UP ICW director. The staff members were Anna Sanchez, Beverly Siy, Eva Garcia-Cadiz, Arvin Mangohig, Francis Paolo Quina and Vic Nierva.

Use of the directory is free but panitikan.com.ph or the UP Institute of Creative Writing must always be acknowledged as sources. By no means complete, the directory will be updated to include more authors in the future.

1. Right click here.

2. Choose "save as..."

3. Extract via Winrar. Files are in pdf format.

JUNE 13, 2008

THE STORY OF PETA BOOK NOW AVAILABLE

After more than 10 laborious years of research, compiling, writing and editing, the book on the story of PETA is finally available to the public.

Entitled A Continuing Narrative on Philippine Theater: The Story of PETA, is a 740 plus page volume and may be considered a collective biography that provides a comprehensive yet intimate account of its lifework, from 1967 to 2007. It highlights the company’s unique approach and contribution to Philippine theater aesthetics, performance and pedagogy, and to popular education.

PETA began by asserting the then radical view of creating and performing plays in Filipino. A solid record of some 400 plays written, translated, adapted, published and performed, shaped the company’s and indeed the country’s theater history, enriching it through theater forms and techniques that express local, national and universal themes.

PETA’s pedagogy and aesthetics for people’s theater, a unique and powerful curriculum for training in theater and the arts has inspired artist-teachers to share their skills, talents and experiences with others, directed toward individual human development and societal transformation.

This book presents a chronicle of the collective journey of men and women who have inscribed a powerful presence in Philippine theater history. Woven together, their stories provide strings of hope and inspiration, a remarkable tapestry of dreams dedicated to Philippine theater, society, and nation.

As PETA enters its fifth decade of existence, it continues to nurture young artists who will metamorphose into artists-teachers-leaders and carry on the torch of art to inspire many to become cultural creatives.

To order, you may contact:

PETA Marketing & Public Relations Office

4/F The PETA Theater Center

5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City

Telefax No. (02) 410.0821

June 12, 2008

SID GOMEZ HILDAWA, LATE FILIPINO ARTIST AND POET, FETED AT EMBASSY SOIREE

In homage to the late artist and poet Sid Gomez Hildawa who had an untimely death last March at age 45, the Philippine Embassy in Paris gathered local and visiting wordsmiths and musicians for a soiree at the Chancery last 17 May.

Philippine Ambassador to France José Abeto Zaide reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs the event – entitled Alaala: An Evening of Spoken Word and Music In Remembrance of Sid Gomez Hildawa. This was made part of the Embassy’s cultural calendar to take advantage of the Parisian sojourn of Dr Marjorie Evasco, a friend of Hildawa and one of the foremost Filipino poets writing in English and Cebuano.

The Embassy organized the event together with the Sanlikha Collective of Filipino artists residing in France, including installation artist Sandra Palomar, painter-musician Joon Claudio, sculptor Gaston Damag, and thespian Connie Chua.

All four artists performed at the event, improvising on a reading of Hildawa’s poetry (Palomar and Damag) or performing their own musical composition (Claudio). Chua performed her impression of Dahon by Huseng Batute.

An architect by training, Hildawa was at the time of his death director of the visual, literary and media arts department of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He was also a painter and exhibited in the Philippines and abroad. Hildawa won Carlos Palanca Awards for his poetry and a play, and was a British Council fellow for art and architecture.

Evasco led other poets – Shirley Lua, Anthony Tan, and Maya Jezewski – in reading poems by Hildawa as well as their own. Fictionists Reine Marie Melvin and Geneva-based Manolita Farolan Doise read excerpts from their novels-in-progress, respectively.

The event was hosted by Consul Angela Ponce. At the “open mike”, Consul-General Rosalita Prospero and Consul Igor Bailen read their favorite poems by Hildawa.

source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph

June 12, 2008

UP Press Centennial Activities

The following are the University of the Philippines Press activities in celebration of the centenary of the University of the Philippines. All events are open to the public.

June 8 to 30. The UPP Centennial Flags. In celebration of the UP Centennial, we are sprucing up our front lawn with an installation of flags in UP colors forming the number 100.

June 9 to 30. Centennial Book Sale. Shoppers can expect discounts of up to 80% on UPP titles. Non-UPP titles are included in the sale. As we expect hordes of UP alumni to come visit the university this month, we have a special offer. Anybody who buys at least P1000.00 worth of books and other products may purchase the titles included in our special UPiana selection at a 30% discount.

The UPiana selection includes books that are specifically about UP and are perfect for anyone waxing nostalgic or simply eager to learn more about our alma mater. They are also ideal gifts for long lost classmates and family members who are also from UP.

We have spruced up the UP Press Bookstore in Diliman in preparation for the display of the University of the Philippines Press Centennial Publications, which will begin to be released by the second half of June. UP Press Book Store – Diliman is at the ground floor of Balay Kalinaw. Store hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. A break from 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is observed. Similar sales will be held at the other branches of UP Press Book Store in Baguio, Cebu, and Davao.

June 21. UP Press at the Grand Alumni Homecoming. We have a booth showcasing UP Press titles and the UP Press Centennial Publications at the Araneta Coliseum during the Grand Alumni Homecoming.

July 10. First Launching of the UP Press Centennial Publications. We are hosting a cocktail party at Balay Kalinaw at 6:00 p.m. to mark the launch of the first installment of The University of the Philippines Press Centennial Publications, a landmark collection selected from our highly-acclaimed roster of titles.
This collection comprises excellent works carefully selected by the University of the Philippines Press Editorial Board from our classic, latest, and forthcoming titles. Written by some of the best minds the University has produced, The University of the Philippines Press Centennial Publications includes books which have added to the intellectual ferment, impacted upon aspects of life and culture, served as pioneering studies, and provided summative views on important topics.
Among the authors are National Scientists, National Artists, and respected scholars. To put it simply, these titles are among the most excellent of the excellent. What better way to honor a university that has, for the past one hundred years, led the Philippines in all academic and artistic pursuits?
The University of the Philippines Press Centennial Publications will be identified by a special logo affixed to their covers.

September 13. Grand Launching of the UP Press Centennial Publications. A special gathering of all the writers and editors whose books were selected as part of The University of the Philippines Press Centennial Publications at the SMX Convention Center of Mall of Asia during the Manila International Book Fair. The fete begins at 6:30 p.m.
Visit the UP Press Pavilion at the Manila International Book Fair to sample and purchase The University of the Philippines Press Centennial Publications and our regular titles and avail of special discounts on selected items.

December 12. Centennial Thanksgiving. We are hosting a cocktail party at Balay Kalinaw in UP Diliman as thanksgiving for the Centennial and as way to mark the completion of The University of the Philippines Press Centennial Publications. The party begins at 6:00 p.m.

December 15 to 21. UPP Joins UP Para sa Bayan. Check out our tent at the Academic Oval in UP Diliman. Selling hours are from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.

http://www.upd.edu.ph/~uppress/home.html

JUNE 10, 2008

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE GAWAD ALAGAD NI BALAGTAS AND GAWAD PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ

The Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) is now accepting nominations for the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas and Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez for Outstanding Educators.

Qualified for the Gawad Balagtas are living Filipino writers who have 1)contributed outstanding works in any language currently used in the Philippines; 2) dedicated their lives and talents to the development, propagation, and promotion of any Philippine literature; 3) are accepted and recognized by their peers or by their leaders for their significant pioneering work or their contribution to the enrichment of their particular literary form.

The latest Gawad Balagtas winners are Charlson Ong (fiction in English), Jose R. Munsayac (fiction in Filipino), Joaquin Sy (translation and essay), and Prescillano N. Bermudez (fiction in Iluko).

Outstanding educators in the field of literature and communication are qualified to be nominated for the Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez. Roque Angel J. Ferriols, S.J. is the 2007 awardee.

Individuals, or literary groups or institutions may nominate writers and teachers for the respective awards. Each nomination must contain proper documentation of nominee’s literary career, his/her biodata, and recent photo (passport size, four copies).

Nominations must be submitted on or before 30 June 2008 to Prof. Vim Nadera, Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas, c/o Institute of Creative Writing Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines or emailed to vimnadera@yahoo.com.

JUNE 7, 2008

ILIGAN WORKSHOP ENDS WITH AWARDS FOR FELLOWS

The 15th Iligan National Writers workshop capped this year's event with the Jimmy Y. Balacuit Awards to the following fellows:

Fiction:

First: Sara Jane Domingo Sebastian ( Luzon , fiction, Filipino) -- "Amahinasyon"

Second: Efmer E. Agustin (Visayas-Cebuano) - "Kasayuran ug Borloloy"

Third: Samantha Echavez - (Luzon-Fiction English) "The Whore Fairy"

Poetry:

First: Erick Dasig Aguilar ( Luzon- poetry Filipino) "Baseco, Baseco II, Baseco III"

Second: Leonilo P. Lopido( Visayas-Waray poetry) - "Pagliay-liay, Alugan, Hi Pititay"

Special Prize for Individual Poem - Nino Manaog (Visayas-English poem) -"Encanto"

Honorable Mention for Individual Poem - Luciano L. Abia (Visayas-Waray poem) - "Lagatob han dughan hin batan-on nga mangirisda"

The 1st Manuel Buenafe Writing Fellow Award was presented to Yakan fellow Marion Guerrero. This endowment named after poet-fictionist Buenafe who grew up in Lanao and later became UN-FAO representative is awarded by the Buenafe heirs to ensure an additional Mindanao slot in the competitive workshop. Next year, historian Ricardo Jorge Caluen will award his bursary.

Complementing the awards ceremonies during the closing program was the launch of Fire and Faith in Writing (Christine Godinez-Ortega, ed.), published proceedings of the workshop last year. The Iligan workshop publishes its proceedings every year to document the creative writing process. The fellows also read their poems and those of last year's in a concert.

Panelists include Ortega, the workshop director, keynote speaker Antonio Enriquez, Ralph Semino Galan, Victor Sugbo, Chari Cruz-Lucero, German Gervacio, Leo Deriada, and Steven P.C. Fernandez.

The Iligan workshop is one of three institutionalized national workshops in the country today. It is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and conducted by the Mindanao Creative Writers Group, Inc. and the MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology Media --- of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOKS FROM NATIONAL BOOK AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR

A new book by National Book Award-winning author Jose A. Carillo, The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors, went off the press last week. It was released simultaneously with the second updated edition of Mr. Carillo's award-winning and bestselling first book, English Plain and Simple: No-Nonsense Ways to Learn Today's Global Language.

The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors is a delightful, insightful guide to how English really works. If consists of the author's incisive, no-holds-barred critiques of the most annoying grammar and usage errors that crop up in today's newspapers and magazines as well as in the broadcast media and on the web. As the author suggests, no self-respecting writer, editor, or publisher ought to publish until he or she has studied and taken to heart the English-usage prescriptions and caveats of this book.

English Plain and Simple: No-Nonsense Ways to Learn Today's Global Language won the National Book Award in linguistics from the Manila Critics' Circle in 2005, is a unique creation in that it may be read simply for pleasure or as part of a rigorous self-review. It seeks to help non-native English speakers improve their written English without having to go back to the classroom. Each of its chapters is a delightful, entertaining essay built around an important lesson or insight into the language. Readers will have a truly enjoyable learning experience reading this book, for they can go straight to any chapter that strikes their fancy and need not worry about missing any prerequisite instruction.

These books may be browsed at www.manilatimes.net/josecarillobooks. Group or bulk orders may be placed with the publishers by e-mail to books@manilatimes.net.

JUNE 5, 2008

ALMARIO LECTURE, BOOK LAUNCH SET ON JUNE 19

Virgilio S. Almario will give an intriguing lecture entitled “Rizal's German Literary Connections” on Thursday, 19 June 2008, 2:30 pm at the Pulungang Claro M. Recto, Bulwagang Rizal, UP Diliman. Almario will also launch his latest book Rizal: Nobelista, a collection of critical essays on the literary greatness of the Noli and Fili .

Rio Alma, as he is also known, is an eminent poet, critic, translator, editor, teacher and cultural manager. His critical work encompasses vital studies on the issue of national language, some of which are gathered in Filipino ng mga Filipino (1993) and Tradisyon at Wikang Filipino (1998). He has also translated the best writers of the world like the poet Pablo Neruda. The sustained superior quality of his literary output and his vision of a national literature in Filipino have been recognized by the Palanca Awards, Ten Outstanding Young Men Awards, the SEAWrite Award and the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino Makata ng Taon Award. On 25 June 2003, he was proclaimed National Artist for Literature. He is currently the Dean of the UP College of Arts and Letters.

Dean Almario's lecture is part of UP ICW Centennial Panayam Series, in which outstanding writers, former directors and founding members of the leading Institute speak about the writing process, literary criticism and other topics.

The Pulungang C.M. Recto, famous for its circular design, has been newly renovated in time for the UP Centennial. Almario's lecture will be the first main event to be held at the historic venue as it coincides with Jose Rizal's birth date.

with reports from Arvin Abejo Mangohig

JUNE 4, 2008

NBDB BOOK CLUB HOSTED MADRIGAL GONZALEZ BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD WINNER

Arvin Abejo Mangohig

The National Book Development Board hosted Rica Bolipata-Santos, winner of the 2007 Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award for a discussion of her creation. This was done last May 30, Friday at Cafea on Sgt. Esguerra St , Quezon City .

Her book, Love, Desire, Children etc, Reflections of a Young Wife, was published by Milflores and bested several other literary debuts. The award is facilitated by the UP Institute of Creative Writing, which also coordinates panitikan.com.ph. The book is available in National Books Stores and Powerbooks for only P290.

The NBDB Book Club has also recently hosted Dean Alfar for his The Kite of Stars. For more information on future events, interested parties may call the NBDB secretariat at 926-8238 or e-mail them at oed@nbdb,gov.ph

ILIGAN WOKSHOP OPENS, PREMIERES ORIGAMI BY POET EVASCO

The MSU-IIT Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) presented the preview of the world premiere of Marjorie M. Evasco's Origami in the opening of the 15th Iligan National Writers Workshop on Monday, May 26 at the MSU-IIT Mini Theatre.

SEAWrite awardee Antonio R. Enriquez delivered the keynote lecture in the program that will formally introduce the 15 writing fellows representing Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao . The workshop ran until May 30, its culminating event being the launch of the book Faith and Fire in Writing (proceedings from last year's workshop, edited by workshop director Christine Godinez-Ortega). The event also featured the production of selected readings entitled Kape, Lipstik ug Balak Gikan sa Malipayong Kinabuhi. Awards for this year's workshop included the already-institutionalized Jimmy Balacuit Literary Awards and the 1st Manuel E. Buenafe Writing Fellowship.

Origami is recreated with a scenario by Steven P.C. Fernandez and the choreography is by Leilani Monterola-Fernandez. Original music is adapted using traditional Japanese instruments and movements of the Noh merging with contemporary dance.

back to current news and events | home