10 FELLOWSHIPS OPEN FOR THE 8TH SAN AGUSTIN WRITERS WORKSHOP

THE Fray Luis de Leon Creative Writing Institute is now accepting applications for writing fellowships in the 8th San Agustin Writers Workshop to be held on May 3-7, 2010 at the Casa Santo Agostino, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

The fellowships are open to writers in Western Visayas who are willing to learn the craft of short story and poetry writing from the panelists led by Palanca-Hall of Famer Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada and Palanca-winning writers Prof. Alice Tan-Gonzales and Dr. Isidoro M. Cruz.

Interested applicants must submit the following : application letter; letter of character reference from any faculty member of their school or any established writer in the region; curriculum vitae with colored ID picture, contact numbers (landline/cellular phone/email address); parent's consent to attend the workshop (for minors); and creative works (2 short stories and 2 poems) in Aklanon, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Filipino, or English. Please provide Filipino or English translations for poems in the regional languages.

Fellowships include free board and lodging in Iloilo City during the workshop for out-of-town fellows, and transportation allowances. The list of fellows will be announced on April 19, 2010.

The deadline for the submission of application is on April 5, 2010. Please send applications to: PROF. JIGGER S. LATOZA, UCRP Director, University Coordinating Center for Research & Publications, University of San Agustin , General Luna Street , Iloilo City 5000.

For more information, you may contact:
Ms. Mona V. Pico/Ms. Carmen G. Dureza
University Coordinating Center for Research and Publications
Telephone No. : (033) 337-4841 (to 44) loc. 242
Telefax (direct line) : (033) 337-7716
E-mail Ad : usa.research@yahoo.com.ph

LITERATURE AND LIES: WRITING, WRITERS AND WASTEBASKETS

It's final: The French salon and English pub-themed writing and writers' tete-a-tete runs May 1-5. Venue: Prima City, Dumangas, Iloilo.

Prima City is a three-story commercial building with a pool that's owned by transgressive Ilonggo writer, Peter Solis Nery. Nery is now based in Los Angeles, California.

This is not your run-of-the-mill workshop where participants' works are discussed by a dogmatic panel. We reverse the process: When you come to the workshop you come ready with your own writing method. You talk about how this method applies to your own writing experience. For proof, you site your pieces (poetry, essay, play, blog, art work, etc) as examples. We react to your pieces using our own writing process so we learn from one another. We don't believe nor subscribe to any school of writing.

We have invited two English language specialists to take up issues on usage: Randolph Graydon, from Baltimore, USA, and Brian Daily, a British- Canadian. Their job is to react to how you work with the English language and offer points for improvement. If you write in Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Filipino, we have other invited writers to help you with that: Mel F. Turao, Roger Rueda, among others.

Prospect attendees are college students, fresh graduates, young professionals, bloggers, musicians, artists, book worms, nerds, mad scientists, couch potatoes, movie junkies, journalists and English/literature teachers, who want to have a hands-on experience with how writing is produced by writers themselves. The discussions aren't strictly academic as there are readings and performances in between the sessions. Wine, beer and cocktails will be served.

How to join

Send your softcopy originals as MS Word attachment (poetry, essay/blog entry, short story, play and a combination of these) in Arial 14, double space to archprankster@yahoo.com. Please include a 4-paragraph bio.

We accept applications and manuscripts until 12 midnight of 27 April.

Works will be pre-screened. Discounts will be given to applicants whose works show TALENT and ORIGINALITY OF VISION, if not STIR CONTROVERSY.

Admission fee is PhP 600 for students and PhP 1000 for fresh graduates and professionals. Your fee covers drinks, food and reading materials.

For more details, email Mel at archprankster@yahoo.com; or follow baconbriefs on Twitter.

2010 NATIONAL CHILDRENS BOOK AWARD NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS

1. Anybody, whether publisher, author or illustrator may nominate a children's/young people's book, fiction or nonfiction, for ages 0 to 19 published in the years 2008 and 2009. Not under consideration as yet are electronic books or textbooks.

2. The nominating party must be registered with the NBDB as publisher, author or illustrator.

3. The book must be authored by a Filipino citizen and may be written in English or Filipino. Books in other Filipino languages may be accepted, as specified in contest rules over the years.

4. The book must have been released to the public in the eligible years specified with proof of any of the following: delivery to a bookstore or a jobber; donation to a school or library; distributed to bookstores or entities that sell the book, including online distribution; produced or printed by an entity in quantities consistent with the act of publication.

5. Nomination forms have to be submitted for each title, along with seven copies of the book for the five-member board of judges.

Deadline for submission of all entries is April 15, 2010.

Nomination forms may be downloaded from the NBDB (www.nbdb.gov.ph) and the PBBY (www.pbby.org.ph) websites. All submissions must be accompanied by a letter of nomination addressed to:

The Executive Director

National Book Development Board

2/F National Printing Office Bldg.

Edsa cor. NIA Northside Road

Bgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City

Subject: The National Children's Book Awards

Each selected title will be awarded a trophy. A citation from the board of judges for each book will be read during the awards ceremony.

http://www.pbby.org.ph/index.html

2010 PBBY ALCALA PRIZE CALL FOR ENTRIES

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2010 PBBY-Alcala Prize. The contest is co-sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The winner shall be given a cash prize of P20,000.00, a gold medal, and an opportunity to be published. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children's Book Day on July 20, 2010.

CONTEST RULES

1. The contest is open to all Filipino citizens except those who are related to any PBBY members up to the third degree of consanguinity.

2. Entries must be based on the 2010 PBBY-Salanga Prize-winning poetry collection by Raymond Falgui. Copies of the said poetry collection may be requested from the PBBY Secretariat.

3. All entries must be original unpublished illustrations that have not won in any previous contest.

4. All entries must consist of three (3) illustrations that are of the same size and medium, based on any 3 poems in the winning collection.

5. A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.

6. Each entry must be signed by a pen name only, preferably on a small piece of paper pasted on the back of each artwork. Entries with a signature or any identifying marks are automatically disqualified.

7. Together with each entry, contestants must submit a separate envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant shall appear. The envelope must contain the contestant's full name, address, contact numbers, short description of background, and notarized certification vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication.

8. All entries must be sent to the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, 2nd Floor, FSS Building , 20 Scout Tuason Street , Quezon City by April 30, 2010.

9. Winners will be announced no later than May 28, 2010. Non-winning entries must be claimed no later than June 25, 2010, after which they will no longer be the responsibility of the organizers.

For more details, interested parties may contact PBBY by calling 372-3548 or emailing pbby [at] adarna.com.ph.

WIN A WRITING SCHOLARSHIP FROM WRITERS BLOCK

What about writing makes you get up early in the morning itching to write, or working through the night editing copy and getting that phrase done perfectly? What about writing turns your world around? Tell us in 300 to 500 words and win a scholarship to Writers' Block Philippines's first summer writing workshop on April 24 to 25, 2010! Send your entries to writersblock.ph@gmail.com with the following information:

* Subject: Writing contest entry

* Include your full name, email address, mobile number, location

* Only one (1) entry per participant will be considered

DEADLINE of entries is on Friday, April 2, 2010, at 12 noon. Late entries will not be accepted. What are you waiting for? Send us your entry now and get a chance to jumpstart your freelance writing career!

17TH ILIGAN NATIONAL WRITERS WORKSHOP SET



The 17th Iligan National Writers Workshop will be held on May 24-28, 2010 in Iligan City.

The Iligan workshop is one of three national writers workshops in the country institutionalized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Founded by Jaime An Lim, Christine Godinez-Ortega and Anthony L. Tan, the workshop opened in 1994 with Bienvenido Lumbera as its first keynote speaker.

The Iligan workshop accepts entries in English, Filipino and the regional languages: Sebuano (this is the correct spelling of Sebuano according to Philippine linguistics professors/researchers), Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Waray and Chabacano.

Each year, the Iligan workshop chooses a keynote speaker to deliver his address during its opening program that also features the MSU-IIT resident theater company, the Integrated Performing Arts Group, it gives a quota of five writing fellows per region and it is the only national workshop that publishes its proceedings. The proceedings contain the works submitted by writing fellows, their photos and bionotes and the commentaries of the panelists.

The panelists this year are: Ma. Rosario Cruz Lucero, Leoncio P. Deriada, Merlie M. Alunan, Victor N. Sugbo, Steven P.C. Fernandez, German V. Gervacio, Bro. Karl Gaspar, CSSR, the workshop director, Christine Godinez-Ortega and this year's keynote speaker, Lawrence Ypil of Ateneo de Manila University.

This is a unique year for the Iligan workshop however because there is no regular funding from the NCCA therefore, qualified writing fellows will have to either look for sponsors or fund themselves to enable them to attend the workshop.

The Iligan workshop would like the guidelines below to be posted in panitikan.com.ph so more will know about them.

Guidelines for Applicants

I. Application Form

Submit filled up application form. Download form at: www.msuiit.edu.ph

II. Sponsor

A qualified applicant has to have a sponsor this year to pay for his round trip transportation to and from Iligan City and for his board and lodging totaling P10,000.00 for the duration of the workshop.

III. Cash/check deposits

All payments should be deposited in the Mindanao Creative Writers Group, Inc. checking account no. 000-322-1107-07, Landbank, Iligan City . Please inform the MCWG Treasurer, Pat Cruz when the cash or check has been deposited. Tel. (063) 2232343 or cell no. 0917-716-2822.

IV. Qualification requirement

1. An applicant shall have attended a local or regional workshop before joining the INWW but this may be waived by the evaluators in meritorious cases.

2. Applicants should submit any one of the following [or one genre per applicant]:

· Poetry – 5 poems

· Short Story – one short story of not more than 30 pages, double spaced on regular bond paper

· Play – one, one act play

· Novel – one chapter of a novel or novel-in-progress. This must be accompanied by a background and a summary of the novel.

3. Entries should be encoded in Word Document, Times New Roman, font 12, double spaced on regular sized bond paper.

4. Entries accepted are: English, Filipino and in the regional languages – Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Sebuano, Waray, Chabacano. Translations in English should also be submitted with the manuscripts in their original languages.

5. One hard copy and a soft copy in CD [Word Document] of each entry are submitted with the application form and cover letter.

6. Address cover letter to:

Christine Godinez-Ortega
Director, 17th Iligan National Writers Workshop
c/o Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Extension
MSU-IIT, Iligan City

Tel. (063) 2232343

Contact Pat Cruz or Alice Bartolome

7. Deadline for all submissions: April 15, 2010

8. Qualified applicants will be notified by the INWW Director.

V. For other queries or details

Please call Pat Cruz or Alice Bartolome, MSU-IIT, OVCRE, tel (063) 2232343

PAPET PASYON CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

One more reason to celebrate with the Grand Dame of Philippine Puppetry

When Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio penned her Papet Pasyon , she wanted to bring together a Filipino cultural tradition and an art that was not homegrown. The result was a play that opened the eyes of children, not only to the art of Asian puppetry but also to the beauty of their own cultural heritage.

An hour and ten minutes long, the full-length puppet play has been entrancing countless children and their parents every year since 1985. Now on its 25 th year, Papet Pasyon still continues to bring the story of Christ's Passion to life with its cast of brown-skinned, flat-nosed and round-faced puppets.

Lapeña-Bonifacio, recently awarded the title ‘Mother of Puppetry in the Philippines' by the U.P. Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts, believes that, by borrowing and adopting puppetry techniques from neighboring Asian countries (such as the bunraku of Japan and the wayang golek of Indonesia), one can bring to Filipino children a knowledge and awareness of their cultural roots—not only as Filipino children , but as Asians .

“I was apprehensive to stage ‘Papet Pasyon' because the play challenges orthodoxy, starting from the Filipino face, quite far from the tall noses and fair skin. Also, National Artist Lucrecia Kasilag, then president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines , suggested the Little Theater (now the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino) as the venue for its premiere,” shares Lapeña-Bonifacio, who is fondly called “Lola Amel” by all the kids (and the adults) who have watched the puppet plays. “What I did not know then was how enthusiastic the reception would be to the changes. A German director commented, ‘I don't know why you want to see the Passion Play at Oberammergau , when you have puppets like these. Just look at that face (referring to the Virgin Mary puppet)!'”

The Papet Pasyon of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas will have its 25 th annual run this Palm Sunday, the 28 th of March 2010, 3pm and 5:30pm, at the Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo, 64 Mapagkawanggawa St. , Teachers Village West, Quezon City . ADMISSION IS FREE. For more information, call the Teatrong Mulat office at 929.0895, call/text 0918.9032040, or email mulatpuppets77@yahoo.com.

WRITERS AND ARTISTS STAGE PENITENCE ON GOOD FRIDAY

Arts and culture groups led by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) and the LIRA poetry organization will gather at the Plaza Balagtas, Pandacan, Manila on April 2, 2010. The day falls on both Good Friday and the birthday of Francisco Baltazar, popularly known as the revered Filipino poet Balagtas.

Dubbed “Mag-alis ng Dungis ng Bayan: Penitensiya para sa Dangal ng Bayan,” the demonstration will feature writers and artists symbolically cleaning Balagtas's monument, trading in their pens for brooms and rags. The short program will start at 8:00 A.M. and will end before noon.

National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, a.k.a. the poet Rio Alma will read a proposed cultural agenda for those who are running for office in the May 10 national elections, especially the presidentiables.

The venue, Plaza Balagtas was erected in honor of the greatest Tagalog poet. Born on April 2, 1788, Balagtas penned Florante at Laura, one of the masterpieces of Philippine literature, and lent his name to the art form balagtasan, a debate in extemporaneous verse.

Individual writers, artists, organizations, and members of the media are encouraged to join and cover the demonstration. They should register their participation by contacting the event coordinators, namely Mariane A.R.T. Abuan (0917-9017090), Carla Payongayong (0927-7145539), and Rommel Boquiren (0917-6985037), on or before March 26, 2010.

The organizers

LIRA, or the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo is the premier institute of poets in Filipino. Founded in 1985, the group is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The Araw ni Balagtas demonstration is part of LIRA's year-long celebrations. The current president is Phillip Kimpo Jr.

UMPIL is the largest organization of Filipino writers in the country. Founded in 1974, the organization was known for a time as the Writers Union of the Philippines. The current chairperson is Prof. Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr.

THE DRUE HEINZ LITERATURE PRIZE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS 2011

The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. The award is open to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals.

Manuscripts are judged anonymously by nationally known writers; past judges have included Robert Penn Waren, Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carver, Margaret Atwood, Russell Banks, Rick Moody and Joan Didion. The prize carries a cash award of $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press under its standard contract.

The winner will be announced by the University Press in January. No information about the winner will be released before the official announcement. The volume of manuscripts prevents the Press from offering critiques or entering into communication or correspondence about manuscripts. Please do not call or e-mail the Press.

Eligibility

1. The award is open to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals of national distribution. On-line publication does not count toward this requirement.

2. The award is open to writers in English, whether or not they are citizens of the United States.

3. University of Pittsburgh employees, former employees, current students, and those who have been students within the last three years are not eligible for the award.

4. Translations are not eligible if the translation was not done by the author.

5. Eligible submissions include a manuscript of short stories; one or more novellas (a novella may comprise a maximum of 130 double-spaced typed pages); or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. Novellas are only accepted as part of a larger collection. Manuscripts may be no fewer than 150 and no more than 300 typed pages.

6. Stories or novellas previously published in book form as part of an anthology are eligible.

Format for Submissions

1. Manuscripts must be typed double-spaced on quality white paper, unbound, and pages must be numbered consecutively. Clean, legible photocopies on high quality white paper are acceptable.

2. Each submission must include a list of the writer's published short fiction work, with full citations.

3. Manuscripts will be judged anonymously. Each manuscript should have two cover pages: one listing the title of the manuscript and the author's name, address, e-mail address (if available), and telephone number; and a second listing only the manuscript title. The author's name, other identifying information, and publication information must not appear after the first cover page.

4. Manuscripts will not be returned.

Multiple Submissions

1. Manuscripts may also be under consideration by other publishers, but if a manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere, please notify the Press.

2. Authors may submit more than one manuscript to the competition as long as one manuscript or a portion thereof does not duplicate material submitted in another manuscript.

Dates for Submission

Manuscripts must be received during May and June 2010. That is, they must be postmarked on or after May 1 and on or before June 30.

Send submissions to:

Drue Heinz Literature Prize
University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Avenue
Eureka Building, Fifth Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

If you have any questions about these guidelines, please e-mail press@pitt.edu or visit the website.

NATIONAL ARTIST VIRGILIO ALMARIO LAUNCHES BOOK ON CULTURE AND NATIONALISM

Virgilio Almario, arguably the most influential and prolific poet the Philippines has produced in the last hundred years, recently launched his latest book at the UP Diliman. Muling-Pagkatha sa Ating Bansa O Bakit Pinakamahabang Tulay sa Buong Mundo and Tulay Calumpit is a collection of essays brimming with the wisdom of the National Artist for Literature. The ten essays offer his views on culture, nationalism, and the education of Filipinos. On the heels of his very successful Si Rizal: Nobelista (Pagbasa sa Noli at Fili Bilang Nobela), another UP Press title, Muling-Pagkatha is another addition to the growing Almario canon in criticism.

The launch was held at the Bulwagang Rizal and attended by UP Press Director Luisa Camagay, deans Elena Mirano and Zosimo Lee, writers Vim Nadera, Eugene Evasco, and more. Lee gave the first Panayam Bulawan while Asian Center director Mario Miclat provided an engaging Confucian reaction to Lee's theses. Poet Joey Baquiran also gave his personal insights.

The blurb of the book goes: Bakit pinakamahabàng tulay sa buong mundo ang Tulay Calumpit?

Ang sagot: “Dahil pagtawid mo mula sa Calumpit, Bulacan, at may dalá kang itlog, pagdatíng mo sa kabilâ sa Apalit, Pampanga, ang itlog mo ay ‘ebon' na.”

“Itinatanghal ng palaisipang-bayang ito,” ayon sa may-akda, “ang mga espasyong nakapagitan at naghihiwalay sa mga bayan, mga lalawigan, mga rehiyon, at mga pulo sa buong Filipinas.”

Sa kalipunang ito ng mga sanaysay hinggil sa nasyonalismo, kasaysayan, edukasyon, wika, at panitikan, nagmumungkahi ang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining kung paano lilikha ng mga bagong tulay sa pagbuo ng pambansang kultura na higit na magbibigkis sa bayan at magpapaigting ng ating pagkabansa.

Muling-Pagkatha is now available at the UP Press Bookstore in Balay Kalinaw, the UP Press Display Room, and major bookstores nationwide. For orders, please contact the UP Press at press@up.edu.ph, call 926-6642, or visit uppress.com.ph.

Arvin Abejo Mangohig

WRITING WORKSHOPS WITH CARLOMAR DAOANA AND WENDELL CAPILI SET

The Writing Section, a private writing workshop for adults and teens, will be holding a series of lectures on poetry and essay writing. The classes, which will run through most of April, will be held on the HQ (Unit J, 154 Maginhawa St. , Sikatuna Village in Quezon City ).

Jose Wendell Capili, who has written six books including A Madness of Birds (UP Press, 1998) and Bloom and Memory (UST Publishing House, 2002), will hold a five-day lecture on essay writing on April 12, 14, 19, 21 and 26. Capili currently works as the Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs of the University of Philippines System and also as the Director of the UP System Information Office. He is also an associate professor at the UP College of Arts and Letters.

Carlomar Arcangel Daoana, who has written two collections of poetry: Marginal Bliss (UP Press, 2002) and The Fashionista's Book of Enlightenment (Designed By Words, 2009), will hold a five-day lecture on poetry on April 17, 24, May 1, 8 and 15. Daona, who worked as an associate for poetry at the UST Center for Creative Writing and Studies, currently writes a weekly arts and design column for Manila Bulletin called “Art Object.”

Weekday classes are scheduled for 7-10pm. Weekend classes, on the other hand, are scheduled for 1-3pm. The workshop fee is at Php 4,500. For inquiries about the classes and payment details, visit www.thewritingsection.multiply.com or contact 666-5774/ 09193188031.

UP DULAANG LABORATORYO PRESENTS RISIRIS



UP Dulaang Laboratoryo under the Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts, proudly presents Risiris, directed by Ms. Donna Rhyse Dacuno.

Risiris is a production composed of two plays Risiris and The Exception and the Rule. It comes from the Ilocano word for contradiction. Contradictions, some say, move the world. It is one of the few things that tie the two together: an intention to run counter to the usual plays and to offer insights into different ideas and even worlds. And in so doing, the play attempts to move the world.

The Exception and The Rule by Bertolt Brecht is “the story of a journey”. A merchant, a guide and a coolie trek through the wilderness. The merchant searches for black gold, riches beyond imagining, and everlasting glory! The others just want to live through it all and get paid. But in the quest for the ultimate prize in the city of Urga, sacrifices and crimes are made. Finally in a court of law - and more importantly - in the court of the audiences' opinion, a decision must be formed to determine what should be the rule and what should be the exception.

In Risiris, an original play, a decision must also be made, about a betrayal. We glimpse a guerilla squad in the midst of a conflict, not just between guns but between dreams. Gerry dreams to be with his love, Melinda, and wishes to leave. But leaving is not a simple matter. Paeng wants him to stay for the dream of a better world that they shared. Sierra also shares that dream and will use any means necessary to bring it about as she is suspicious of Gerry's motivation for leaving. But some dreams are not meant to be.

Risiris will run from March 23-24 / 7pm and March 25-26 / 3pm and 7pm at Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan (THY), 1st floor of the Faculty Center, UP Diliman. Admission is free.

SECOND J. ELIZALDE NAVARRO WORKSHOP NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

JEN is endowed and organized by the Varsitarian, the 82-year-old official student organ of UST. It is held in honor of the late National Artist for the Visual Arts and art critic J. Elizalde Navarro, who was art editor and poet-critic of the Varsitarian during his student days. JEN is also part of the academic celebrations leading to the 400th anniversary of UST in 2011.

Fellowships will be given to 10 promising young critics who would like to enhance their analytical, research and writing skills.

To be considered for the fellowship, applicants should submit a scholarly, properly documented critical essay (7-12 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font) on any of the art forms (literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, dance, drama, music, etc.) on or before March 22.

Manuscripts should be submitted in hard copy and on CD, preferably in MS Word, together with a resumé, a recommendation letter from an academic mentor or a literary/art critic, a certification that the works are original, and two 2x2 ID pictures.

Address all applications to the conference conveners: Assoc. Prof. Ferdinand M. Lopez and/or Asst. Prof. Ralph Semino Galán, Faculty of Arts and Letters, University of Santo Tomas, España Street, Sampaloc, Manila. E-mail ralphseminogalan@gmail.com for further inquiries.

THE 2010 PANAY NEWS ESSAY WRITING CONTEST

Now on its 29th year, Panay News, the biggest daily in the Visayas is holding an essay writing contest in line with the anniversary of the founding of the newspaper this April. The writing contest is open to anyone who is 15 years old or older. Columnists and book authors are ineligible to join this competition.

Original articles should be written in English using not less that 500 words. Entries should be sent as an MS Word attachment to pnewc2010@gmail.com not later than 3:00 p.m on the 15th of April 2010. Submitted articles will be judged according to Voice (slant and presentation of angle and opinions), 30%; Mechanics (grammar, correct spelling and punctuation) , 30%; and Style/Composition (construction and flow of ideas), 40%.

Participants should choose from among these topics:

1.) Panay News: 29 Years of Upholding Press Freedom,

2.) The eagle's constant pursuit for truth, and

3.) Panay News: Adhering to decency and moderation.

Titles should be written on the upper left hand corner of the Word attachment together with the number of the chosen topic, full name of the author, age, address, and telephone number (cell phone numbers are not accepted).

In joining this contest, the contestant should warrant that the work is original and has not been previously published. Panay News has the right to edit the works to go with the publication's standard and publish the participant's entry without payment, other than the prizes awarded.

Winning entries will be selected by Panay News appointed judges. Their decision is final. Winners of Panay News Essay Writing Contest will be notified through e-mail or telephone not later than June 2010. For inquiries, please call (033) 321-27-49 or (033) 329-03-48 and look for Prince.

http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/

CALL FOR ENTRIES TO THE 3RD ROGELIO SICAT WORKSHOP

The UP Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas (DFPP) now accepts application to the Third Rogelio Sicat Workshop: DFPP 2010 National Creative Writing Workshop to be held in Baler, Aurora from April 28 to May 2, 2010. It is open to beginning writers in Filipino, especially college students, who write poems, fiction, and children's stories.

Applicants must submit the following: manuscripts (12 points, double-spaced, 8x11 inches) of any of the following: five (5) poems, two (2) short stories (10 pages), and two (2) children's stories (5-7 pages); short bio-note; photo (2x2, colored); and Application Form (find attachment or can be requested via email).

All expenses from UP Diliman to the workshop site are free for the chosen writing fellows. A modest stipend will also be provided.

Send manuscripts to palihangrogeliosicat@yahoo.com.ph not later than April 9, 2010.

For further details, please send inquiries to said email address, or contact Mr. Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr. at 09276331659 or jbaquiran@gmail.com.

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.

Candidates should have at least one published volume of work or works that have appeared in significant publications over a period of at least two years. All nominees must be fluent in English, comfortable with cross-cultural dynamics, and interested in close interaction with other artists from a multiplicity of diverse cultures.

Deadline of application is on April 30, 2010.

For more information on this and other scholarships and grant opportunities abroad, kindly contact the Office of International Programs at 426-6001 local 4037/ 4038.

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 and entry forms may be downloaded below. The deadline for the submission of entries is on 31 March 2010. For inquiries, please call (+632) 561-8160 or 561-8321 ext. 600 to 604.

To download the contest rules and form, click here.

PASIDUNGOG EDUARDO A. MAKABENTA SR. PARA HAN SIDAY POETRY CONTEST LAUNCHED

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.

5. Winners shall receive a certificate and cash prize of P8, 000.00 for First Prize; P5, 000.00 for Second prize; and P 3,000.00 for Third prize.

6. Entries must be addressed to

PASIDUNGOG EDUARDO A. MAKABENTA SR. PARA HAN SIDAY

Sinirangan Culture and Arts Development Center

HRDC, Leyte Normal University

P. Paterno St., Tacloban City 6500

7. Deadline for submission of entries is August 15, 2010. Entries may be sent by mail or courier postmarked or invoiced not later than August 15, 2010.

8. Entries submitted via e-mail must be in Word Document file and sent as an attachment . It must include the contestant's bio-data containing his/her literary
background and a notarized certification or authenticity of authorship of the entry. Entries submitted via e-mail must be submitted not later than August 15, 2010 to primeoeduardomakabentasr@gmail.com .

The original copy of the notarized certification and one ID picture must be sent to above address thru mail or courier.

9. Failure to comply with any of the requirements shall result in disqualification from the contest.

10. Copies of winning entries shall become property of the Sinirangan Culture and Arts Development Center (SCADC). Copyright of the works remain with the author but the latter grants, assigns and transfers into SCADC the right to
publish the winning entry or portion thereof t without additional payment other
than the prize which had been awarded to it.

11. The PASIDUNGOG MAKABENTA/ SCADC has the right of action against the
author if it is discovered that the participant is not the creator or writer of the
winning work. The PASIDUNGOG MAKABENTA/ SCADC shall not be liable to
any court action if a third party files a case against the winner and/or contestant
for alleged plagiarism.

12. Names of the winners and members of the Board of Judges will be announced
in local weeklies and radio stations on September 15, 2010. The PASIDUNGOG
MAKABENTA will officially notify the winners by mail.

13. The awarding ceremonies will be held at the LNU House, Leyte Normal University in Tacloban City .

14. The decision of the Board of Judges is final and irrevocable.

For further inquiries, please call Mr. Voltaire Q. Oyzon at 0906-395-3763, or email him at v.oyzon@gmail.com .

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.

2010 Summer Klasrum Adarna for Adults

Our yearly workshops for adults are now open for registration. The Storytelling Workshop, facilitated by Jay Menes, will be held on April 24, while the Teaching Beginning Reading Workshop, facilitated by Celeste Laurel and Pamela Razon, will be held on May 22. Both workshops will be held at the Institute of Social Order Complex in the Ateneo de Manila University campus.

The details and registration form are available here . For inquiries and slot reservation, please call 372-3548 local 122 or e-mail ergoe[at]adarna.com.ph.

30 for 30 book blowout

To show our appreciation for 30 wonderful years, we are inviting you to purchase 30 storybooks for only 30 pesos each from our showroom. This blowout will happen for only an hour, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on March 20, 2010 (Saturday) at our office: 2/F FSS Building, 20 Scout Tuason corner Scout Castor Streets, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City . Please see the complete details and mechanics of the sale here .

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.

This year's first beneficiary is San Fabian, Pangasinan, with the local government unit and the San Fabian National High School serving as hosts. Prof. Michael M. Coroza of LIRA and Ateneo de Manila University will be the lecturer.

The other, tentative, beneficiaries of STS 2010 are Baguio City, Benguet; Sagada, Mountain Province; Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; Lucban, Quezon; Bataan province; the Bicol region; San Antonio, Zambales; and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Once confirmed, STS local partners will contact the public high school teachers in Filipino from these areas.

The STS 2010 is one of the fifteen projects for LIRA's year-long 25th anniversary celebrations. Founded in 1985 by the National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario (alias Rio Alma), LIRA is the premier institute of poets in Filipino. In pursuance of its mission of enriching and promoting Filipino poetry, the organization holds a yearly five-month-long poetry clinic held for the most part in UP Diliman. The STS 2010 is an effort to bring part of this clinic outside of Metro Manila.

The project directors are Phillip Kimpo Jr., president of LIRA, and Beverly W. Siy, immediate former president and creator of the STS. The overall project coordinators are Mariane A.R.T. Abuan and Deborah Rosalind D. Nieto. To contact the STS team, email them at pamunuan@liraonline.org

ROMEO FORBES CHILDREN'S STORYWRITING COMPETITION NOW OPEN

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 the above untitled contest piece. Click here for a higher resolution file.

* 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.

4. There is no particular theme, other than the use of Don Salubayba's contest piece, shown above, as the inspiration or basis for the entry.

5. Judging Process. A CANVAS review panel shall read and award points for all stories received based on the following criteria:

* Originality and Storyline (40%)

* Imagery (30%)

* Quality of Writing (20%)

* X-Factor/Judges' discretion (10%)

Based on the points received, CANVAS shall forward a shortlist of at least five stories with the highest scores to the Artist. The Artist shall then provide comments on any or all the stories, for consideration by the panel of judges.

The panel of judges - taking the contest criteria and Artist comments into non-binding consideration - shall collectively choose the winner from the shortlist of stories.

If the judges cannot come to a consensus on the winner, they shall take a vote and the entry that gains the most number of votes shall be declared the winner.

None of CANVAS' review panel, the judges or the Artist shall see the entrant's name until the winner is chosen.

6. Entries must be submitted by email, as a Microsoft Word attachment, to storycontest@canvas.ph with the subject heading 2010 ROMEO FORBES CHILDREN'S STORYWRITING COMPETITION. In the body of the email, entrants must provide their name, the title of their entry, mailing and email address, and telephone/cellphone number. Only the story title should appear on all pages of the attached entry.

7. The deadline for submission of entries is 5:00 p.m. (Manila time), Tuesday, 30 March 2010. Entries received after the deadline, even if sent earlier, will no longer be considered for the competition.

Kindly note that CANVAS acknowledges each and every entry that we receive. If you submitted a story, and do not receive an acknowledgement from us within 24 hours, please assume that your story was not received and kindly resend it to us.

Entries received after the deadline, even if sent earlier, will no longer be considered for the competition. CANVAS shall not be responsible for entries which are not received, or which are received after the deadline, due to technical failure or for any other reason whatsoever.

8. All entrants hereby agree to authorize CANVAS to post such entries on its website, as CANVAS deems fit, and free from any payments, royalties or fees whatsoever.

9. There shall be only one winner, who shall receive a cash prize of PhP 35,000.00 (less applicable withholding tax) for his/her entry.

The winning writer shall also be entitled to five (5) free copies upon publication of the book.

The winner shall grant and transfer to CANVAS all intellectual property and publication rights to the story, including any translations, adaptations or modifications thereto.

It is hereby understood that the cash prize to be awarded to the winner shall include consideration of such intellectual property and publication rights to the story, and the writer shall not be entitled to any other royalties or fees from earnings, if any, that may result from future publication of, licensing of, or other transactions on the same.

(Please see our note below on why we have this rule.)

10. Except for the right to publish any received entry on its website, CANVAS shall not retain any other rights to entries that are not selected as the winner, except where separate agreements are reached with the writers.

11. CANVAS shall exercise full and exclusive editorial and artistic control over the publication of the winning entry and resulting book.

While, it is the full intention of CANVAS to publish the winning entry as a full-color children's book, CANVAS reserves the right not to publish the same for any reason whatsoever.

12. The winner of the CANVAS storywriting competition will be announced on or around the first half of June 2010 on the CANVAS website. The winner will also be notified via email on the same announcement date.

13. CANVAS reserves the right not to award the top competition prize in the event that the judges decide that no entry was received that is deserving of the top prize. In such event, however, CANVAS shall have no right whatsoever over all entries that were received; and shall not publish any entry, in its website or in any other venue, without the prior written consent or agreement of the author.

14. The decision of the competition judges shall be final, and no correspondence or inquiries into the same - including requests for comments/feedback on received entries - shall be entertained.

15. Employees of CANVAS, and members of their immediate family, as well as the CANVAS Fellow's immediate family, are disqualified from participating in the competition.

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. A reading for this work-in-progress is set on March 15 (3:00 p.m.) at the MSU-IIT Mini-Theatre. All are invited for the critiquing.

Catch one of our performances and join the thousands who have enjoyed our theatre or visit IPAG's website: http://www.msuiit.edu.ph/ipag/

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