Also to be on sale are other new titles from Anvil and UP Press, inlcuding Connecting Flights, an anthology of Poems, Stories, and Essays edited by Ruey De Vera.

Featured readers for the reading this Monday, Dec 21 @ mag:net cafe Katipunan, Happy Mondays Poetry Nights LXVII: The Quintet Book Launch Edition are:

1.Carlomar Daoana

2. Gemino Abad

3. Alfred Yuson

4. Victor Peñaranda

5. Exie Abola

6. Mikael Co

7. Lourd De Veyra

8. Ramil Digal Gulle

9. Marne Kilates

10. Erik Dasig Aguliar

11. Arnold Molina Azurin

12. Marte Abueg

13. Sarge Lacuesta

14. Johanna Fernandez

15. Bethina Elmido

16. Waps San Diego

17. The Batutes

18. Sasha Martinez

19. Doodz Generoso

20. Drey Teran

21. Homer Novicio

Mag:Net is located along Katipunan Avenure, across Rustan's. This even is free of admission. The Facebook event id for this is: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220855628960&index=1

DAOANA LAUNCHES SECOND BOOK OF POETRY

Carlomar Arcangel Daoana is set to launch his poetry collection on Dec. 21 (Monday) at Mag:Net Katipunan at 7 p.m. “The Fashionista's Book of Enlightenment,” released by Designed by Words, comes seven years after his debut collection “Marginal Bliss” was published by the University of the Philippines Press.

The book will be launched with three other poetry collections: Gemino Abad's “Care of Light,” Vic Penaranda's “Pilgrim in Transit” and Alfred Yuson's “Poems Singkwenta'y Cinco.” The launch coincides with the 67th edition of Happy Mondays, a bi-weekly poetry reading program organized by Mag:Net and the poet Joel Toledo.

In a blurb, Joel Toledo describes “The Fashionista's Book of Enlightenment” as a “gathering of odes and elegies to the grand frailties of the world: from missed relatives and pets, visited cities, to the many failures of the body as it continues enduring the daily grind of modern city-living.”

A former junior associate for poetry of the UST-Center for Creative Writing and Studies, Daoana serves as the editor of the online travel guide and magazine, CommuniTrip.com.

For details, call Designed by Words at 568-2635.

Read Daoana's author profile here.

FAIGAO MEMORIAL WRITERS' WORKSHOP 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Time: 2:00pm – 10:00pm

Location: USC Retreat House, Talamban Campus

The Cornelio Faigao Memorial Writers Workshop has been supporting and promoting Bisayan literature and writers since 1984. On it's 25th anniversary, the organizers are inviting all Faigao Fellows to attend the reunion this December 19, 2009.

Registration Fee: Php 500.00 (inclusive of meals and an e-book, “Brown Child: The Best of Faigao”).

Tentative Program and Schedule:

2:00PM – Assembly @ USC-Main Campus Quadrangle

*** transportation going to TC will be available

- Registration

3:00PM – Brief Lecture on Intellectual Property Rights

(with open forum)

4:30PM – Faigao Through the Years (poetry reading)

6:30PM – Dinner

7:30PM – Tribute to Faigao Fellows who have passed on

(poetry reading and performances)

10:00PM – Closing

Visit their official website at http://www.faigaoworkshop.com.

BIENVENIDO NORIEGA JR'S BATANG PRO TO BE STAGED AT UP DILIMAN

Batang Pro is a harrowing socio-psychological study of three abused children. It is a poignant tale of three young friends who weather the hardships of life together. They brave the harsh underworld of childhood prostitution and abuse. The play examines the subject of child prostitution, sexual exploitation, urban decay and corruption.

It also focuses on the desensitization of these lost souls and on how emotional bonding leads them into a kind of protest against the harsh realization of a social system which eats its young.

Milet, 14 years old, just arrived in Manila from a nearby province in Visayas. She meets Ricky, 19 years old, a pimp and prostitute who grooms Milet as her new found ward. Nado, 16 years old, who just escaped from German pedophile, joins them. Theirs is the start of an unusual and peculiar kind of bonding. Milet and Nado choose the easy way out which is to be hit and alive leaving behind whatever is left of their dignity. Ricky chooses to live against the world as a lone survivor in a world that will continue to ravage his heart and soul into oblivion.

Bienvenido Noriega Jr's Batang Pro opens this December 19, 2009, 6pm and 8pm, Aldaba Hall (at the back of the University Theater), UP Diliman. Ticket price is at P250.00. For details, please contact: 02-5022519 09175942090.

Read Bienvenido Noriega Jr's author profile here.

MUSEO PAMBATA SUPPORTS LITERACY CAMPAIGN WITH CHRISTMAS CARDS

It's Christmas cards giving season once again! For 12 years straight, Museo Pambata has been holding a Christmas card fund-raising campaign that supports its Mobile Library Program, an outreach reading program that brings the joys of books and storytelling to underserved children all throughout the year.

This Christmas 2009, Museo Pambata offers Christmas card collection in packs of 10 or bulk orders. Designed pro-bono by four of the country's best artists and children's book illustrators, Museo Pambata's cards depict the Christmas spirit of Filipino children and families: “Christmas Eve Dinner” by Robert Alejandro; “Christmas Angel” by Beth Parrocha-Doctolero; “Patintero sa Bisperas ng Pasko” by Jo Ann Bereber-Gando; and “Christmas Tarsier” by Pepper Roxas.

Each card comes with a detachable bookmarker, and are available at the Pasalubong shop at Museo Pambata. Bulk orders are also accepted. For further inquiries, please call 5231797 to 98, 5360595 or email info@museopambata.org.

An anthology edited by Ruel S. De Vera, with poems, stories and essays by 20 Filipino writers.

Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: National Bookstore, Glorietta 5, Ayala Avenue. The book will be available at National + Powerbooks nationwide.

Description

Connecting Flights: Filipinos Write from Elsewhere, edited by Ruel S. De Vera, with poems, stories and essays by Dean Francis Alfar, Butch Dalisay, Lourd De Veyra, Karla Delgado, Chato Garcellano, Ramil Digal Gulle, Jing Hidalgo, Alya Honasan, Marne Kilates, Sarge Lacuesta, Ambeth Ocampo, Charlson Ong, Manuel Quezon D.M. Reyes, Sev Sarmenta, Alice M. Sun-Cua, Yvette Tan, Joel Toledo, Krip Yuson and Jessica Zafra

This one is a travel book, an anthology of poems, stories and essays by 20 Filipino writers on 20 foreign destinations.

If you can't make it to the launch, just buy the book! Please consider giving it to friends and family who love to travel, or to Filipino friends who live abroad.

25TH DLSU LITERARY AWARDS LAUNCHED

Start Time: Monday, November 30, 2009 at 1:00am

End Time: Monday, January 4, 2010 at 5:00pm

Location: 501 Gabriel Connon Hall De La Salle University-Manila

Description

the 25th Literary Awards competition is now open for submissions! This contest is open to all UNDERGRADUATE students of all campuses of DE LA SALLE PHILIPPINES who are officially enrolled in the the second term of academic year 2009-2010.

Entries may be handed over to the Student Publications Office, 501 Bro. Gabriel Connon Hall, De La Salle University-Manila or may be e-mailed to litaw.dlsu@yahoo.com

The categories one may submit in are:

Poetry/Tula

Short Story/Maikling Kwento

Essay/Sanaysay

CASH PRIZES for winners in each category are:

1st place = P2,500

2nd place = P2,000

3rd place = P1,500

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS ON JANUARY 4, 2010

For more information, visit the Malate Literary Folio website and download a copy of the details.

www.malateliteraryfolio.org

UP WRITERS NIGHT SET FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11

Christmas is always something to look forward to in UP Diliman. And Christmas on campus is not complete without the annual UP Writers Night organized by the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing (UP ICW). This year's celebration for writers and literature enthusiasts will be held on December 11, 2009, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Balay Kalinaw.

UP Writers Night coordinator, Dr. Mario Miclat, Dean of the UP Asian Center and UP ICW Associate, says the celebration signals the return to the more laidback and low-key gatherings of the 90's. The decision was made in keeping with the series of calamities that have hit the nation in 2009.

UP Writers Night's activities for this year include a forum on the best first books of 2007 and 2008, a journal launch, a book donation drive launch, performances by writers and musicians, and an open mic.

The celebration begins with the Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award forum at Balay Kalinaw Conference Room C at 5:00 p.m. The forum will honor the four best books published in 2007 and 2008 by first time book authors. These are The El Bimbo Variations by Adam David, The Proxy Eros by Mookie Katigbak, Girl Trouble by Alan Navarra, and Antisipasyon by Victor Dennis T. Nierva. The forum will be participated in by the panel of judges composed of UP Professor Neil Garcia, DLSU Professor David, Bayot, and award-winning poet Angelo Suarez.

At 7:00 p.m. the celebration moves to the second floor of Balay Kalinaw for the Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award ceremony. This year's winner is Adam David for The El Bimbo Variations . David will receive a plaque and a cash prize of P50,000.00 from the Madrigal-Gonzalez family. Best-selling author Vlad Gonzales will perform a selection from David's winning book.

Likhaan Journal 3 will be launched after the awarding. Likhaan Journal is the refereed journal of the UP ICW and is the only literary refereed journal in the Philippines. Dr. Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, UP Vice President for Public Affairs and UP ICW Fellow, edited this year's volume. The contributors are Mikael Co, Kristian Cordero, Carlomar Daoana, Karl De Mesa, Chuckberry Pascual, Zosimo Quibilan Jr., Rica Santos, Joel Toledo, Edgardo Marranan, Ana Maria Harper, Dustin Celestino, Frank Cimatu, Joi Barrios, Vlad Gonzales, Butch Guerrero, Sharon Pangilinan, Jun Cruz Reyes, Rommel Rodriguez, Ricardo de Ungria, Eugene Evasco, and National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera. Likhaan Journal 3 is published by the UP ICW and comes out once a year. Previous editors are Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. and National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario.

Because of the damage caused by typhoon Ondoy on the libraries of many writers, day care centers and public school libraries, the UP ICW is launching Operation Libreng Libro on UP Writers Night. Dr. Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., UP ICW Director, says, “the book donation drive aims to help rebuild the collections lost to the flood.” Guests are encouraged to bring books and cash donations (for the purchase of books) to the event. The books will be distributed after UP Writers Night.

A series of performances by musicians and writers and an open mic complete the evening. Among the performers are Makiling Ensemble, The Batutes, Los Chupacabras, Cel Flores Coscolluela, Babes Alejo with the Nukluz, Mikael Co, Banaue Miclat, and UP Professor Emeritus and UP ICW Adviser Gemino Abad.

Likhaan Journal 3 and the best first books of 2007 and 2008 honored by the Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award Forum will be available at the UP Press Bookstore on the ground floor of Balay Kalinaw. The bookstore will remain open for the duration of UP Writers Night to allow Christmas shoppers and guests more time to avail of their year-end discount sale.

Balay Kalinaw is at the corner of Guerrero and Dagohoy Streets in UP Diliman, Quezon City. UP Writers Night is open to the public and admission free. For details, contact the UP ICW Secretariat at (02) 9221830.

POETSPICTUREBOOK NO. 33 NOW ONLINE



Dear Readers & Friends,

Here's poet'sPicturebook No. 33,

"Keeping Fastened, the Gray November Issue."

Click here or the ezine name above

to view it & enjoy!

Marne L. Kilates

Editor

--

Send your contributions of poetry, art,

photography, and essays for Poet'sPicturebook

literary and art ezine to this email address,

or view it at http://marnescriptsmain.blogspot.com/ .

UP WRITERS NIGHT 2009 SLATED

No December is complete for any writer without the traditional Writers Night. Roads lead to UP Diliman, where the UP Institute of Creative Writing plays host to writers of every persuasion for reunions, book sales, poetry readings, awards, and more.

This year, guests are encouraged to bring books and cash donations (for the purchase of books) to help rebuild libraries of writers, day care centers, and public schools that were affected by typhoon Ondoy. The books will be distributed after UP Writers Night by the Likhaan UP ICW as part of Operation Libreng Libro.

Likhaan Journal 3 and the best first books of 2007 and 2008 honored by the Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award Forum will be available at the UP Press Bookstore on the ground floor of Balay Kalinaw. The bookstore will remain open for the duration of UP Writers Night to allow Christmas shoppers and guests more time to avail of their year end discount sale.

5:00 to 6:00 p.m. /Balay Kalinaw-Seminar Room C

FORUM - Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award

Neil Garcia, David Bayot, Gelo Suarez, Chingbee Cruz, Adam David, Mookie Katigbak, Alan Navarra, Vic Nierva

7:00 to 10:00 p.m. / Balay Kalinaw - Second Floor and UP Press Bookstore

AWARDING - Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award

Jose Dalisay, Chingbee Cruz, Gisella Montinola, Adam David

LAUNCHING - Likhaan Journal 3

Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, Mikael Co, Kristian Cordero, Carlomar Daoana, Karl De Mesa, Chuckberry Pascual, Zosimo Quibilan Jr., Rica Santos, JOel Toledo, Edgardo Marranan, Ana Maria Harper, Dustin Celestino, Frank Cimatu, Joi Barrios, Vlad Gonzales, Butch Guerrero, Sharon Pangilinan, Jun Cruz Reyes, Rommel Rodriguez, Ricardo de Ungria, Eugene Evasco, Bienvenido Lumbera

LAUNCHING - Operation Libreng Libro

Mario Miclat

PERFORMANCES

Makiling Ensemble. The Batutes, Los Chupacabras, Adam David, Vlad Gonzales, Cel Flores Coscolluela, Babes Alejo, Mikael Co, Banaue Miclat, Gemino Abad

OPEN MIC SESSION

ADAM DAVID WINS BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD



The Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing is pleased to announce the winner of the 9 th Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award. Adam David's The El Bimbo Variations , a collection of 99 retellings of the first line from the lyrics of the song “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by the Eraserheads, bested three other finalists to win the prize. The book was published by The Youth & Beauty Brigade in 2008.

Described as "one of the most experimental and avant-garde poets of his generation" ( The Routledge Concise History of Southeast Asian Writing in English , 2009), David joins the ranks of Angelo Lacuesta, Elen Sicat, Ma. Felisa Batacan, Luna Sicat-Cleto, Vicente Groyon, Kristian Cordero, Rica Bolipata Santos, and Zosimo Quibilan, Jr., whose first books are winners of the prestigious award. David is a zinester, bookmaker, and freelance writer.

The El Bimbo Variations , along with finalists The Proxy Eros (Anvil Publishing, 2008) by Mookie Katigbak, Girl Trouble (Visual Print Enterprises, 2007) by Alan Navarra, and Antisipasyon (Goldprint Publishing House, 2007) by Victor Dennis T. Nierva, will be honored in a forum on December 11, 5 pm, at the basement of Balay Kalinaw in UP Diliman. The Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award Forum will feature a discussion of the four best first books in English for 2007 and 2008 and the state of Philippine literature by this year's panel of judges: UP ICW Fellow and UP Professor J. Neil Garcia, De La Salle University Professor and Literature Department Chairperson David Bayot, and award-winning poet Angelo Suarez. After the forum, the award ceremony will be held at 7 pm at the second floor of Balay Kalinaw. Both events, which are free and open to the public, are part of the annual UP Writers Night.

The Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award is given annually to the writer of the best first book within a two-year period. The award alternates between English and Filipino writers. The winner receives a prize of P50,000.00 from the Madrigal Gonzalez family. A forum usually precedes the award ceremony, which coincides with UP Writers Night. The award is administered by the Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing.

For more details, please contact the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing Secretariat at (02) 922-1830.

BEST FIRST BOOKS IN ENGLISH TO BE HONORED



A writer's first book is cause for celebration, more so if the book happens to be selected as one of the best of its kind. On December 11, 2009, the four best first books in English for 2007 and 2008 will be honored in a forum in UP Diliman. The forum is in line with the conferment of the prestigious Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award to one of the four finalists.

The finalists are The El Bimbo Variations by Adam David, The Proxy Eros by Mookie Katigbak, Girl Trouble by Alan Navarra, and Antisipasyon by Victor Dennis T. Nierva.

The El Bimbo Variations is a collection of 99 retellings of the first line from the lyrics of the song “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by the Eraserheads. David studied in the University of the Philippines, lives in Cubao, Quezon City and is a zinester. He has been a bookmaker by trade since 1999. The El Bimbo Variations was published by The Youth & Beauty Brigade in 2008.

The Proxy Eros is a collection of poems on love, desire, and the act of making. Katigbak resides in Quezon City and is currently taking her PhD at the University of the Philippines. She holds degrees from Ateneo de Manila University and New School University New York . The Proxy Eros was published by Anvil Publishing, Inc. in 2008.

Antisipasyon asin iba pang rawitdawit sa Bikol asin Ingles is a collection of poems in Bicol with selected translations into English by Marne Kilates and H. Francisco Penones Jr. Nierva resides in Camarines Sur and was born in Naga City . He is currently finishing his MA at the University of the Philippines and is teaching in Ateneo de Naga Univeristy. Antisipasyon was published by Goldprint Publishing House in 2007.

Girl Trouble is a story told in various forms, from short stories and koans to print and billboard layouts and advertising storyboards. Navarra is a graduate of the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City. Girl Trouble was published by Visual Print Enterprises in 2007.

The Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award is given annually to the writer of the best first book within a two-year period. The award alternates between English and Filipino writers. The winner receives a prize of P50,000.00 from the Madrigal Gonzalez family. A forum usually precedes the award ceremony, which coincides with UP Writers Night. The award is administered by the Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing.

The award was established in 2001 and the following writers have won. Angelo Lacuesta for Life after X and Other Stories , Elen Sicat for Paghuhunos , Ma. Felisa Batacan for Smaller and Smaller Circles , Luna Sicat-Cleto for Makinilyang Altar , Vicente Groyon for The Sky over Dimas, English, Kristian Cordero for Mga Tulang Tulala , Rica Bolipata Santos for Love, Desire, Children, etc. , and Zosimo Quibilan, Jr. for Pagluwas .

This year's panel of judges is composed of UP ICW Fellow and UP Professor J. Neil Garcia, De La Salle University Professor David Bayot, and award-winning poet Angelo Suarez. The judges will be in the forum to talk about the merits of the four best books.

The Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award Forum will be held at the basement of Balay Kalinaw in UP Diliman at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The awarding will be held during UP Writers Night at 7 o'clock in the evening at the second floor of Balay Kalinaw. Both events are open to the public and admission free.

For more details, please contact the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing Secretariat at (02) 922-1830.

UP ICW ANNOUNCES BEST FIRST BOOK NOMINEES FOR 2009

Arvin Abejo Mangohig

The UP Institute of Creative Writing and the Madrigal-Gonzalez family are pleased to announce the nominees for the Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award for 2009. The nominees are: The Proxy Eros by Mookie Katigbak, Stories From Another Time by Benjamin Bautista, Antisipasyon by Victor Dennis T. Nierva , The El Bimbo Variations by Adam David , Girl Trouble by Alan Navarra, Trese: Murder on Balete Drive by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, I Hate My Mother by Perpilili Vivienne Tiongson and Playing It Safe by Gerry T. Los Baños.

The Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award is administered by the UP ICW and is generously sponsored by Atty. Gizela Gonzalez-Montinola and the Madrigal-Gonzalez family. Each year, alternating between Filipino and English, the UP ICW selects from the list of first-time authors and their works and grants the cash prize of P50,000 and a plaque during Writers Night. Former winners include Sarg Lacuesta, Luna Sicat Cleto, Kristian Cordero, and Vincent Groyon. Last year's winner was Pagluwas by Zosimo Quibilan published by the UP Press.

This year's selection mirrors the changing landscape of Philippine literature as it includes the bestselling graphic novel Trese, a collaboration between Tan and Baldisimo—a possibly controversial inclusion among purist circles. Katigbak is acknowledged for her first volume of "lovely and genteel" poetry (according to Conchitina Cruz), published by Anvil. Nierva's book is a strong contender as it has already won a National Book Award for Poetry. David dazzles with his postmodernist experiments. Tiongson's novel about teen emotions is “pitch-perfect,” according to reviewer Tarie Sabido. Gregorio Brillantes hails Bautista as “exceptional and remarkable,” comparing him to stylists Joaquin and Polotan. UP Press Deputy Director Gerry Los Baños rounds out this year's selection with his first novel for young readers, a story of young love.

This year's winner will be awarded on Writers Night at the UP Diliman on December 11.

home