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Showing posts from February, 2008

Multilingualism in Philippine Literature and Cyberspace

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In support to the 2008 International Year of Languages. Thematic framework: Multilingualism and Cyberspace Geographical outreach: International Types of project: Capacity-building Beneficiary countries: Philippines (and other countries) Main responsible: Santiago Villafania (sonny@eac.edu.ph) Emilio Aguinaldo College, 1113-1117 San Marcelino St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines Summary of the activities The primary aim of this project is to encourage the youth in the Philippines to write literary works in their Mother Tongue. The MAKATA , since 1999, serves as an online journal for Philippine and International contemporary poetry. 2008 project activities include: - publication of works in major Philippine languages: Tagalog, Cebuano, Iluko, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, etc. - organize/coordinate poetry readings in different provinces which will be a build-up to World Poetry day (21 March) The site will be available for writers, educators and researchers interested in

Poetry Reading at Ricco-Renzo Galleries and Café, Makati

Anggano baria labat la so karga na bulsa kalabian, linma ak nin siansia ed Bel Air 2, Makati ta inimbitaan ak na kaaron si Danny Sillada ya manganlong ed poetry reading tan exhibit to ed Ricco-Renzo Galleries and Café bilang pamagalang ed say andi la'd bilay a patron to. Tan anggano singa alabian ono bosis-dulakak et kinansion ko'y dilik a bersion na "Malinak la'y Labi" ed Inglis tan anganlong na sakey a sonito. Say tipak tan tapik ed takeb da'ra'y wadman et balbaleg lan tumang tan tagano. This is all because of poetry ya kuan :) Aya iman anganko so ibabaga ran "onakar ya anggapo'y sali tan ontekiab ya anggapo'y payak." A Night Piece from a Pangasinan serenade entitled "Malinak la'y Labi" your eyes excelled the morning sun your smile laden my breast with flame i’ll boast upon that lilting sun your beauty worthy of a name O what shall I give but a song a song to sing my love for you a song to time and space belong until the w

Languages do matter!

By Ricardo Ma. Duran Nolasco Philippine Daily Inquirer Posted date: February 16, 2008 A basic weakness in Philippine education is that many pupils do not understand what their teacher is saying. Why? Because the language in school is one they can hardly speak or understand. In a recent forum, I urged Congress to abandon moves to install English as the sole medium of instruction especially in the primary grades. Instead, a law should be passed mandating the primary use of the learner’s first language (L1, or mother tongue) from pre-school to Grade 6, or at least up to Grade 4. Filipino and English can be taught as separate subjects. This change should provide learners -- whose L1 is neither English nor Filipino -- enough time to develop their cognitive and linguistic skills in their mother tongue. In the process, a solid foundation can be built for learning subjects taught in English and Filipino. These two languages can then become primary media in the secondary level. What happens t

Pangasinan sanggunian seeks preservation of Pangasinan arts, culture

LINGAYEN – A resolution was passed by the provincial board requesting Governor Amado T. Espino to create a commission that will conduct a comprehensive study on the origin and history of Pangasinan. Resolution No. 442-2008 authored by 2nd District Board Member Nestor Reyes stated that the result of the study which could be a good material for scholars could help instill a sense of identity among Pangasinenses. Among others, the study will delve on finding out the exact day, month and year that Pangasinan was founded and consolidated. Lawyer Gonzalo T. Duque, president of Lyceum-Northwestern, earlier lamented that Pangasinan is among the few provinces in the Philippines that has not established the exact date of its founding by the Spaniards. Another resolution also proposed by Reyes, Provincial Resolution No. 443-2008 seeks to establish the Pangasinan Language and Heritage Center that will undertake studies and promote activities on the preservation, promotion and development of Pangas

The Filipino Renaissance Man's Tribute to Lady Offy Garcia

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Launching his suite of ethnic song compositions based on Mandaya "bayok" and "dawot", which are part of his forthcoming ethnic album "Sang Kanami Daya" (In Our Land of Promise), a Mindanaoan poet-painter-musician-philosopher Danny Sillada will give a tribute to his art patron Lady Offy Garcia on her first death anniversary at Ricco-Renzo Galleries and Café in Makati City, Philippines. He will also launch his Hip Hop single, a political satire titled "Bulag" (I Am Blind). The event is a unique blend of exotic ethnic songs, heart-warming love poems, and an exhibit of colorful and exuberant paintings from the multi-talented artist Danny Sillada, also known as the "Filipino Renaissance Man", slated on February 19, 2006, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m., Ricco-Renzo Galleries and Café, LRI Design Plaza, 210 N. Garcia St. (formerly Reposo), Makati City, Philippines. To accompany Sillada's musical performances are Noli Aurillo , one of the leading acous

Photos: EAC Book Launch at the Pearl Manila Hotel, 5 Feb. 2008

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KWF Chair, Dr. Ricky Nolasco giving his commentary on the Malagilion: Sonnets tan Villanelles. Dr. Marot Nelmida-Flores introducing the book. EAC President, Dr. Jose Paulo E. Campos introduced by the author to the KWF Chair, Dr. Ricardo Nolasco. Max Gomez (of C & E Publishing), Aurora Yumul, Vim Nadera, Leopoldo Delacruz, Beverly Siy, Hermie Beltran, Jr., the author, Danny Sillada, Marot Nelmida-Flores & Carlos Pizarro.

Cordero launches new book of poetry

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In a simple ceremony held in Ateneo de Naga University last January 31, 2008, Bikol poet Kristian Sendon Cordero launched his third collection of poems entitled Pusuanon: Mga Bersong Bikol published by Goldprint Publishing House, a local publishing house in Naga City. In attendance where students, faculty members, booklovers and writer-friends of Cordero who at the young age of 24 has garnered local and national awards including the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Homelife Poetry Contest, Premio Tomas Arejola Para Sa Literaturang Bikolnon, Sawikaan: Salita ng Taon and the Madrigal Gonzales Best First Book Award in 2006 for his debut collection, Mga Tulang Tulalang: Piling Tula sa Filipino, Bikol at Rinconada published in 2004. He was also the recipient of Melchor Villanueva Centennial Awards for Bikol Literature. Luis Cabalquinto, a Bikol writer now based in New York described Cordero as one of the bright lights of the recent Bikolnon writing renaissance. He described C

Poetry and the Mystery of Language by Danny Sillada

FOREWORD I would like to share my essay, a review on a Filipino poet, which will be published at the local literary journal (magazine). The poet is my friend, one of my most admired Filipino poets writing in his native tongue. I am passionate about this essay because I have my own struggle as a writer with a great desire to write in my native language. But unlike my friend, I had written only few pieces in my lingua franca and 98% of my writings are in English. I must humbly admit that I studied several languages and spoke three native Filipino languages, yet I am writing in English. I feel guilty about it, but I have no choice because I could reach a wider audience writing in English. The following essay is about Poetry as a revelation of truth in the context of native language. This is a critical review based on a Filipino poet, Sonny Villafania, who is writing in his native Pangasinan language with his second book "MALAGILION: Sonnets tan Villanelles". This is also my tri

Makata is fresh!

Makata Issue No.2 , February 2008 is now available online featuring the works of our home-grown and international poets: Aurora Antonovic, Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal, Dawn Bruce, Hazel Calventas, Mary Ann Cariquez, Cyril Dabydeen, Rodrigo V. Dela Peña Jr., Erwin S. Fernandez, C.W. Hawes, Arti Honrao, Arthur Leung, Florentino B. Lorenzana, Anthony Pabon and Maria Carmina A. Reynaldo. Send all submissions / contributions for Volume 9, March 2008 issue to svillafania at yahoo [dot] com and to Jason Chancoco at tarusan22 at yahoo [dot] com (for Tagalog/Filipino & Bikol poetry). Also accepting poems written in other Philippine languages: Cebuano, Iluko, Hiligaynon, Waray, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, etc.