REPENT! NEW VOICES ARE HERE!

We have been forewarned about the new voices for the new age. Now here they are. The Crowns and Oranges: Works by Young Philippine Poets published by Anvil. It’s now available even in National Bookstore-Naga. It’s edited by Cirilo Bautista and Ken Ishikawa.  And it includes three of my poems. Hear them or be late and sorry!

PAGSASATUBUANAN: POETIKANG BIKOLNON (NCCA, 2008) NOW AVAILABLE

I have launched my first book on Bikol poetics published through a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Committee on Literary Arts (NCCA-NCLA). I think this book is important because it is the first ouvre on Bikol poetic aesthetics written in the Bikol language. So that non-Bikols could understand its gist and purpose, I saw it fit to write the foreword in English.

As they say:

“Chancoco’s book enlightens us on important aspects of Bikol poetics. It is a great contribution to Philippine literary scholarship.”
–Dr. Cirilo F. Bautista, Philippine Panorama

“We could not fault Chancoco’s craftmanship”
–Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada, Homelife Magazine

“Jose Jason L. Chancoco’s pioneering and scholarly work, Pagsasatubuanan: Poetikang Bikolnon, is a koh-i-noor in the canon of Bikol poetics and literary criticism. A rare achievement!
–Santiago Villafania, Dalityapi Unpoemed

“An “Pagsasatubuanan” ni Chancoco sarong pagtukar kan Bikolnon na poetika sa paaging strukturalista-pormalista, sa paaging ini, an libro minakapot kan tropeo bilang enot na pagrurip sa pagrarawitdawit sa Bikol.”
–Victor Dennis Nierva, Vox Bikol

“Creating his own devices to articulate terminologies in Bicol translation, Chancoco uses Bicol in its formal form, proving that studies and researches can be articulated in the native language.”
–Juan Escandor, Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer

Copies of the book are available (PhP250 only) at Museo de Caceres (inside the Holy Rosary Minor seminary), Kulturang Bikolnon (first level of the CBD Hotel Building) and Basilica Souvenir Shop (Basilica Compound) in Naga City. Orders may also be placed by sending an E-mail to tarusan22(at)yahoo(dot)com or via SMS to 09199470406 and copies will be sent by courier.

“An Pagbungsod,” grand launch of Bikol literary titles slated August 15

Naga City—August 15, 2009 will be a date to remember in Bicol’s literary history as Bikol writers release five books and a literary magazine. Dubbed as “An Pagbungsod” it will be held 6PM at the alfresco area of the Avenue Square in Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City.

The grand launch will feature “Yudi Man: Mga Osipon para ki Nunuy asin ki Nini,” a collection of short-stories for children by Premio Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikolnon winners as edited by Carlos A. Arejola and Lorna A. Billanes, and illustrated by Boyet Abrenica; “Pagsasatubuanan: Poetikang Bikolnon,” a book of literary criticism on Bikol poetics by Jose Jason L. Chancoco; “Tigsik,” a compilation of tigsik(s), a Bikol ethnic poetic form by Aida B. Cirujales; “Sayod Kong Tataramon/Tuwiran Kong Sasabihin,” a collection of stage and screenplays by Carlos A. Arejola; “Bagyo sa Oktubre,” a collection poems in Filipino by Honesto M. Pesimo, Jr.; and “Bangraw kan Arte, Literatura asin Kultura,” a Bikol literary magazine edited by Estelito Jacob, Jun Pesimo and Marissa R. Casillan with Manny Salak as lay-out artist.  All of the titles are published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and printed by the Goldprint Publishing House.

Carlos A. Arejola has been called the poster boy of Bikol Lit. in lecture circuits. He convenes an annual Bikol writers’ workshop, chairs a region-wide literary competition, and has, along with other stout-hearted Bikol artists, initiated other projects to win wider adherence for Bikol writings. His drama and poetry have won the Palanca Awards and other national literary prizes. He works for the Camarines Sur Provincial Capitol.

Lorna A. Billanes edits, translates, and teaches language and literature at Miriam College in Quezon City. Her fiction has won prizes from the Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Literary Awards and the PBBY Salanga Wrters’ Prize. She holds an M.A. degree in Creative Writing from UP Diliman where she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in English Studies. She co-edits Yudi Man Mga Osipon para ki Nunuy asin ki Nini with Carlos Arejola.

Jose Jason L. Chancoco has won national awards and fellowships for his poetry, essay and fiction in English, Filipino, Bikol Naga and Iriganon. He won two gold medallions in a single year (2005,for stories for children and 1-act play for children categories) in the Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikolnon, a feat so far unduplicated. He is currently pursuing a law degree.

Tigsik Queen Aida B. Cirujales teaches at the Gainza Central School and was a finalist in the rawitdawit (poetry) category of the Premio Arejola in 2007.

Honesto M. Pesimo, Jr. has won national awards for his poetry and was cited in the rawitdawit category of the Premio Arejola in 2004 and 2007. He teaches at the Concepcion Pequeña High School and Mariners’ Polytechnic College.

Estelito Jacob, Jun Pesimo and Marissa Reorizo-Casillan co-edits Bangraw kan Arte, Literatura asin Kultura. Issa Casillan was the gold medallion winner of the osipon (fiction) category of the Premio Arejola in 2007. Esting Jacob is an award-winning poet and fictionist and is an avid painter.  Apart from his poetry prizes, Jun Pesimo is an award-winning photographer.

Boyet Abrenica is one of the region’s most notable young visual artists today. He has designed literary titles and books of history and is the art director of Biggs Food Corporation.

Manny Salak is a senior graphic designer of Goldprint Publishing House. He was a finalist in the 25^th National Shell Painting Competition.

The grand launch is in coordination with the Development Institute of Bicolano Artists Foundation, Inc., Premio Tomas para sa Literaturang Bikolnon, Kabulig-Bikol and the Avenue Plaza Hotel. The Naga College Foundation Cultural Arts Center will render performances during the launch. Noted Bikol writer and scholar H. Francisco V. Penones will be the keynote speaker.

ANI 34 LAUNCH

ANI 34 Launch at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Ramp, 7pm, December 17, 2008. Four of my poems are in the anthology and I will also be one of the readers. See you there!

BIKOL THESIS

I just sent my thesis to a nearby photocopy shop for book binding. It will be ready for distribution soon. I think to myself, there goes the paper that made me decide to pursue studies here in the Bicol region. Why study in Manila when here you can save on boarding expenses, and at the same time work for Bikol literature. I think most of the materials for a decent work on Bikol literary criticism lurk somewhere in the region, and one only needs to look.

And so there I was, quite surprised that I defended it well (and was even given a grade of A or Excellent). Another surprise was that writing in Bikol was never an issue. You see, I hear that the institution I am in is pro-globalization (whatever that means) and will not dare accept a thesis written in the regional language. Good thing that they did accept my 248-page paper, making for history and glory (ala-Gerard Butler, haha).

I called it ‘Pagsasatubuanan: Modernistang Poetikang Bikolnon.’ It is more of a book really, than a thesis. Honestly, the thesis format bores me. A writer ought to avoid writing too much in it. But then somebody has to do it. And I did reconcile the writerly and the academic.

I think I can attribute the success of my defense to the fact that what I have written there is right in my head. I even practice it or do lectures out of it. It is a praxis on the rawitdawit as Bikol aesthetics. As I always say, creative writing is my day job while literary criticism is my hobby. I guess that is why I enjoy writing workshops. I have attended most of them except, of course the UP and Dumaguete workshops. Aside form the food and the booze, I love to observe the eccentricities of our elder writers during critiquing. We writing fellows always get a good laugh out of it. Like Doc Bien and Doc Deriada who would seem to be asleep but would suddenly ‘wake up’ and blurt out something cool or nasty.

As I said, I already made lectures out of ‘Pagsasatubuanan’ like the one I did at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary attended by, well of course, seminarians. As part of my paper’s recommendations, I intend to have more critiquing sessions on creative writing and apply the theory. Others ought to write theses and studies in their respective local languages also.  

ON TV

Sure I have been on TV before, but this time, it’s a different thing. An ABS-CBN Bicol crew actually came to my house for an interview—for a poetry prize. Yeah, it’s cool to be on TV, but it’s cooler to be on TV for poetry.

Now I saw this as a chance to put Bikol literary arts where it should be—mainstream. It’s a curious thing that for a country so rich with culture and language, we are not a poetic lot. My teacher Cirilo Bautista would always tell me, the poetry page of Philippine magazines is avoided by the country. No wonder we don’t send food, pens or flowers to our poets. We don’t give them discount in our coffee shops of booze joints. We don’t buy their books. We even mistake them for the dead.

I totally object to this. The poet deserves attention when he deserves it. The same as when actors get featured when they win a Famas, poets ought to be in boob tubes when they win prizes. This way our countrymen will see that poets are given importance, making them read more and possibly aspire to become poets themselves.

So there I was trying to be coherent in front of the camera, explaining dimensions of poetics and literary culture to a young female reporter who is not so much acquainted with it (she had to ask me what a Palanca is). I was also asked about my poem, the one that won, and I had to explain the difference between Balagtasismo and Modernismo. From being maligoy to being compact, logical and direct.

Too bad it came too all of a sudden. I got an SMS and the next thing I knew, they were right at my doorstep. I was not able to have with me my Homelife Prize co-winners. But then, I made sure they were mentioned and got their due, specially the Kabulig-Bikol and our advocacy.

The news feature was aired on Friday, December 7 at around quarter to six in the evening. The reporter was Ms. Rizza Mostar, an AB MassCom student of Unibersidad de Santa Isabel-Naga.

BICOL SWEEP

Call it literary ESP. I knew I would surely have a poem published in the November issue of HomeLife Magazine, so there I was buying two copies from St. Paul’s Bookshop. And indeed a work of mine was there, conveniently printed in the poetry page. As usual, I had a short chat with the Sisters and they were egging me to contribute for the Paulines Magazine. ‘Why not Sistah,’ I replied.

I have written about this before, my mild clairvoyance of anything literary. Like seeing Hotel Veneracion in a dream before I actually got to attend the UST National Writers Workshop; or having a sort of an ‘advance proofreader’s copy’ of my work, seeing the page in a dream before it reaches the stands. This time, I saw this plaque. Nothing else more, just a plaque.

So when I texted Dulce Deriada saying ‘hi and ‘thanks’ to his father for using ‘Elehiya’ this month, HomeLife’s poetry editor, Dr. Leoncio Deriada could only blurt out: ‘May ESP ka ano? You had an inkling that you won?’ It turned out that my poem in Tagalog/Filipino ‘Isang Gabing Ganito’, yes, that one with a typo when it got printed, won first place in this year’s contest. I thought I was dreaming, like the clairvoyance thing again, but this time I did not have to wake up.

Maybe five months of isolation and concentrated literary thought when I was in Imus, Cavite back in 2000 (just finishing off my ROTC) developed this ‘clairvoyance thing’ in me. It was the time when I could sit the whole day just thinking of my literary plans. I loved those moments as flavored by my endless readings and writers’ dates. It was just me and God signing a contract.

Now Home Life Magazine’s poetry contest just like when it started in 1992, considers as entries only those poems that got printed in its poetry page for the year. Dr. Leoncio Deriada serves as its editor and at the same time ex-officio judge during deliberations in November. Judges would come from different parts of the country, and thankfully, I am in no way connected to this year’s judges (except Dr. Deriada who was a panelist during the Iyas and 12^th Iligan National Writers Workshop). This makes a clear-cut win, methinks, considering that my co-winners are good company (Kristian Cordero of Iriga City-2^nd and Estelito Jacob of Camaligan-3^rd prize). Also, New York-based poet Luis Cabalquinto of Magarao won first place for the English Division.

But not without heavy competition. According to Dr. Deriada, it was the Filipino Division that gave the judges a hard time. Poets from the NCR, Central and Northern Luzon also contended for the top spot against their Bikolnon opponents. But not much luck this time, for even the fourth place was occupied by another Bikol poet, Carlo Arejola, almost displacing Esting Jacob by an inch. A Bicol sweep indeed.

Here’s the complete list of winners and judges as sent via SMS by Dulce Deriada on November 20, 2007:

Filipino Category—1^st Prize: “Isang Gabing Ganito” by Jose Jason L. Chancoco of Iriga City; 2^nd Prize: “Sa Paglubog ng Araw” by Kristian S. Cordero of Iriga City; and 3^rd Prize: “Sa Muling Pagputok ng Mayon” by Estelito B. Jacob of Camaligan, Camarines Sur.

English Category—1^st Prize: “Quotidian” by Luis Cabalquinto of Magarao, Camarines
Sur (now based in New York); 2^nd Prize: “Confrontation at the Café” by Michael U. Obenieta of Cebu City; and 3^rd Prize: “A House Full of a Keeper’s Absence” by Tem M. Adlawan of Naga, Cebu.

Members of the Board of Judges are: Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada (ex-officio chairperson and poetry editor of Home Life), Prof. Jonathan P. Jurilla and Prof. John E. Barrios.

MALAGILION

Being a lone voice does not make one weak, but rather, it makes one destined to be echoed. This is what fuels Santiago B. Villafania as Pangasinan’s poet of the first water. And Book after book, he pummels on the chests of the Pangasinense poet-warriors of old—resurrecting them. It is not enough for him that he edits the country’s premiere literary E-zine at present, the Dalityapi.Com, he would also turn it into a portal of sorts for anything literary; news from around the world about workshops, publications, awards, conferences, festivals, about writers in general. He would also come up with a monthly poetry Webpage, the Makata, where voices by poets from various places would reverberate in its URL through every tcp/ip.

Though he never attended any of the national writers’ workshops (which could make one enmeshed in the country’s UAAP literary politics), he is well-respected by a new generation of poetry practitioners ensconced in the E-group system and the blogosphere. Needless to say it is his tireless zeal and abilities and not his connections that propel him up in the literary ladder. Silently publishing the Makata every month and targeting the literary pages of national magazines; he soon began to come up with his own books, one of which was sponsored by the NCCA, and his latest the ‘Malagilion’, published by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino through Central Books.

The book was launched during the recent literary conference in Pangasinan and is due for re-launch next month (December 3) in UP-Diliman. Lovers of regional literature ought to attend this event.

AFTER THE CAMPAIGN

I took this picture as my family hit the campaign trail during the recent Baranggay Elections in San Francisco, Iriga City. I saw something in that little girl’s shy temperament. Poverty might just take-over it, and how would the baranggay be of help to her?

So we did not just vote, we had a candidate, my father. We thought his credentials and experience would qualify him for grassroots legislation. He is a college professor and finished the undergrad and master’s for business administration, and being an LLB, he also served for the Baranggay San Francisco Lupon. My father does not drink or smoke and has no vice except UFC and boxing. Like me, he likes war films but it is me who is into different kinds of swords and firearms. So peace-loving, he’s never been in a fistfight.

We figured that the baranggay is of utmost importance to the country. For one, it is the government’s frontline, acting as executive, legislative and judicial body. Nothing beats proximity in effecting significant projects and laws. If governance is honest, credible and efficient at the baranggay level, we have a fighting chance for national progress.

However, I observed that ability and credibility are not enough for a candidate to win a seat as a baranggay councilor. He must have a campaign strategy for the following kinds of voters:

 

1. Apathetic Voters. They don’t vote. They think the baranggay is so insignificant to national progress. The candidate needs to visit the residence of this voter and convince him/her to vote. It would be better if the candidate would do some homework and provide him/her the precinct number. Some candidates would leave a letter with platform of government, sample ballot (and cash).
2. Just for Kicks Voters. They go to the precinct unprepared. They don’t know the candidates and rely on the pamphlets given by supporters near the precinct. It would be better if the candidate would be at the roadside to flash ‘pogi’ smiles for these voters.
3. Partisan Voters. They will give solid votes for their neighbor, family member, classmate/batchmate, drinking buddy or barkada regardless of ability and qualifications. They smirk at other candidates and would ignore their campaigns. But most of them would still accept cash.
4. Voters for Sale. They always expect dole-outs from a candidate in cash or in kind. And they would really vote for the candidate.
5. Transcendental Voters. They look forward to the electoral process as if it’s going to the Sunday Mass. They do research on the candidates and keep a list ready come election day. They look into the candidate’s track record and ability. There is a chance that they would accept cash but only to punish the candidate because they certainly will not vote for him/her. They may even keep the cash as evidence (among others) if ever they decide to file a complaint. A good candidate does not even have to spend much on a campaign if there is a high number of ‘transcendental voters’ in the population.

Also, a candidate must have the following in order to win a slot:

1. Balwarte. The candidate’s zone must give him/her a solid vote. Meaning, they have to leave the six more slots blank. This is for the partisan vote.
2. Funds. The Baranggay Elections ought to be non-partisan but some political parties would meddle anyway. It would usually come from the mayor, perhaps ensuring that he/she has control over the baranggays. This would be a great help if the mayor would like to seek reelection for the same or higher office. A rich candidate would appeal to the ‘for sale’ and ‘apathetic voters’.
3. Lots of Relatives. With this, a candidate can expect solid votes from partisan voters.
4. Credentials and Excellent Track Record. You will never know how many transcendental voters there are. Besides, it is hard to be a councilor if you can’t read.
5. Doable and Significant Platform of Government. Again, for the transcendental voters, for the baranggay—and the country. Without this, please don’t run.

So far, this is what I have observed with regard our baranggay politics. And it is not so unlike Philippine politics in general. This is because even though we have different cultures, the baranggay is a miniature of the Philippines.

What do I recommend? I should say lots of literature. If more of us would read and read, we would easily become transcendental voters. Reading enhances mental discipline, critical thinking and helps develop the conscience.

And so please read my poem printed in Home Life’s October 2007 issue (albeit with the usual typographical errors). Let me reprint the correct version here:

 

ISANG GABING GANITO

Kagagapas na parang
ang maitim na langit.

Patid na gintong kuwintas
ang mga bituin.

Nakatarak na yatab
ang buwan sa punit

na ulap na may bumalong
na dagta ng pulang tala

at gumuhit na bahid
ng pulang bulalakaw.

Hindi ko pa antipara
ang rehas.

I also got info that three of my poems in English will be printed in the book ‘Crowns and Oranges: An Anthology of New Voices in Philippine Poetry’ edited by Cirilo F. Bautista and published by Anvil. This is definitely something to look forward to.