pieces here and there

For the most part of the first quarter, the pen’s dry. There have been revisions here and there but those are different things. Entirely different from that peculiar rush of nursing a new baby, a new piece. This must be because of being caught up with other responsibilities both relevant and not.

I sorely need the push.

And then came the little bits of news. Early last month, I’ve received an e-mail telling my poem’s inclusion in Montage, the official literary folio of University of Santo Tomas’ The Varsitarian. It was comforting news, especially when I thought the poem “The Storms Around Us” had nowhere to go.

Later last week, another editor e-mailed me that a poem of mine, “How to Identify a Crisis Without Really Trying,” is up at the Philippines Free Press website. Delightful, just delightful.

Today, I think and hope I already have the needed push.

19th iligan national writers workshop fellows

Finally, here’s the announcement of fellows for the 19th Iligan National Writers Workshop.  Wow, 19th batch. It feels like our 15th happened a long, long time ago. Anyway, seeing the list, there’s no doubt this is going to be an interesting batch. Enjoy the city of Iligan, Marvin, Phillip, Glenn, and Jesus! And to the rest of the fellows, congratulations!

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19 out of 106 applicants qualified in this year's 19th Iligan National Writers Workshop (INWW) to be held on May 14-18, 2012 at the MSU-IIT and at the Elena Tower Inn, Iligan City.

Hosted by the MSU-IIT Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Extension,
this workshop is funded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the MSU-IIT Office of the Chancellor.

The 15 writing fellows are funded by the NCCA while four of the writing fellows are funded by sponsors: Boy Abunda, and Ricardo Jorge S. Caluen, and Foundations: the Manuel E. Buenafe Writing Fellowship and the Bai Zaima Mamalinding Mother & Child Foundation, Inc..

The Jimmy Y. Balacuit, Sr. Literary Awards are likewise given to the most promising works by the writing fellows at the close of the workshop.

The writing fellows are:

Luzon
Tomas Agulto (Poetry, Filipino)
Marvin Einstein Sarmiento Mejaro (Fiction, Filipino)
Pia Montalvan (Fiction, Filipino)
Glenn L. Diaz (Fiction, English)
Phillip Y. Kimpo, Jr. (Fiction, English)

Visayas
Norman T. Darap (Fiction, Kiniray-a)
Jesus Catigan Insilada (Fiction, Kiniray-a)
Jessrel Escaran Gilbuena (Poetry, Cebuano)
Jenelyn Villegas Garcia (Poetry, Waray)
Francis Senolos (Poetry, Waray)
Aurea Lynne Geronimo (Play, Filipino)

Mindanao
Teomie Langamin Nale, Jr. (Poetry, Cebuano)
Jermafe Kae Angelo Prias (Poetry, English)
Sittie Urdoja G. Madale (Poetry, Maranao)
Anne Solon Senajon (Play, Cebuano)
Karlo Antonio Galay David (Play, Filipino)
Cheryl Love P. Sumagat (Play, Filipino)
Diandra-Ditma Aguam Macarambon (Fiction, English)
Iryne Ole Kaamino (Fiction, Cebuano)


The Evaluators:
Merlie M. Alunan, Nelia G. Balgoa, SPC Fernandez, Roger Garcia, Man Gervacio, Christine Godinez-Ortega, Tonton Daposala, Zola Gonzalez Macarambon, Phil Harold Mercurio, Raul Moldez, Maimona W. Magayoong and John Iremil Teodoro.

Panelists this year:
Merlie M. Alunan, Antonio R. Enriquez, Leoncio P. Deriada, SPC Fernandez, German V. Gervacio, J. Neil C. Garcia, John Iremil Teodoro, Macario D. Tiu, C Godinez-Ortega, and the keynote speaker, Victorio N. Sugbo.

holy boholy! here's a reflection!

I was in my hometown last holy week. On the first day of being free from the doldrums of the metro, an acquaintance of mine asked, what would you be doing? My immediate response was, of course, I’d be enjoying it like any other vacation I’ve had. Out of religious partiality or maybe something else, another question was set forth on the table: I thought you’d be reflecting. The week is for reflecting, right?




Hey, I think I have reflected too much Jean Piaget would be proud of my egocentricity. Besides, reflection is practiced (or should be practiced) every day, not only in this particular week. For how could anyone learn the weavings of living if ruminations are limited for six or seven days? Sometimes, I just couldn’t help but laugh at some of these age-old traditions.



So for the long holiday, forgive me, I opted for leisure. Armed with new music from Kimbra, Moonface, TV Girl, Beach House, Ramona Falls, and Coldplay, I went back to my favorite beach in Panglao, dipped in pools when the former was not enough, feasted in new food spots around town, stood as parent for a dear fellow’s college graduation, received truths that were unbelievable to grasp, listened to my sister and nephew play the piano beautifully, bonded with family over games of Scrabble, Monopoly, Boggle, and many more. I even made cupcakes and other desserts (along with three pairs of hands) in long afternoons. Fortunately, they were a success.


I could rattle out a hundred reasons why I did what I did, but I think this is enough: at my age, I have to know what is important to me, know who are important to me, and stick to them. This is one reflection I could share to anyone. For now.

51st silliman university national writers workshop fellows

Finally, after five long years, there’s a Sillimanian in this summer’s Silliman University National Writers Workshop. Five years. I remember finding myself wide-eyed at being surrounded by amazing people (in all shapes and sizes) in that workshop last 2008, my first, and comforted at the thought that writing was something I’d really love to do. Even though I personally don’t know my next-in-line, I still find it a great relief. Also, congratulations to Debbie and the rest of the fellows!

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National Writers Workshop Director-in-Residence Rowena Tiempo Torrevillas and Silliman University are pleased to announce that the following writers have been accepted as fellows for the 51st Silliman University National Writers Workshop scheduled on April 30-May 18, 2012 at the Silliman University Rose Lamb Sobrepeña Writers Village, Camp Lookout, Valencia.

For Poetry

CD Borden (University of San Carlos)
Deborah Rosalind Nieto (University of Santo Tomas)

For Fiction

Michael Aaron Gomez (Silliman University)
Thomas David Chavez (Philippine Normal University)
Michelle Abigail Tiu Tan (Ateneo de Manila University)
Christian Tablazon (University of the Philippines–Diliman)
Timothy James Dimacali (University of the Philippines-Diliman)
Ma. Vida Frances Cruz (Ateneo de Manila University)

For Creative Non-Fiction

Hazel Meghan Hamile (University of the Philippines–Mindanao)
Zendy Victoria Sue Valencia (University of Santo Tomas)

For Drama
Karlo Antonio David (Ateneo De Davao University)

12th iyas creative writing workshop fellows

Congratulations, Ynna and Miro! You can stop eating right now. The city of Bacolod would probably fill you up with a year’s worth of sumptuous food. Pasalubong!

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The IYAS Creative Writing Workshop of the University of St. La Salle (USLS), Bacolod City, has selected 15 Fellows for 2012, out of 81 applicants from the country and abroad. Here are fellows:

Fiction Fellows

Maria Amparao Warren (English)
Brylle B. Tabora (English)
Chuckie Perez Manio (Filipino)
Anthony de la Cruz (Filipino)
Daryl Nino Toring Jabil (Cebuano)
Fr. Reynaldo Villanoy Jr. (Hiligaynon)

Poetry Fellows

Miro Frances D. Capili (English)
Ramon Enrico Damasing (English)
Early Sol Gadong (Hiligaynon)
GL John Clavel Haro (Hiligaynon)
Mariane A.R.T. Abuan (Filipino)
Gratian Paul R. Tidor (Cebuano)
CD Borden (Cebuano)

Drama Fellows

Fundador Tipon III (Hiligaynon)
Mario Mendez (Filipino)

IYAS will interface with the Kritika National Workshop on Art and Cultural Criticism sponsored by the De La Salle University Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center (BNSCWC) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) which will also be held on the same dates at USLS.

The interface activities are: film screening of “Oro, Plata, Mata” by Peque Gallaga; a craft and reading lecture by Dr. Stuart Cooke; and an introduction to Negrense culture through trips to cultural landmarks in Talisay, Silay, and Victorias cities.

The IYAS Workshop Director is Dr. Marjorie Evasco and the panelists for this year are Dr. Genevieve Asenjo, Dr. Ronald Baytan, Prof. Danilo M. Reyes, Ms. Grace Monte de Ramos, Mr. John Iremil Teodoro, and guest panelist Dr. Cooke from Australia. IYAS Founder Dr. Elsie Coscolluela also sits in the panel.

The IYAS Creative Writing Workshop is co-sponsored by the BNSCWC and the NCCA, and will be held on April 22 – 28, 2012 at the Balay Kalinungan Complex of the USLS, Bacolod City.