who doesn't love a winner?

Congratulations to Filipino journalist Criselda Yabes for winning a coveted slot in the longlist of the Man Asian Literary Prize for 2010. Her book, Below the Crying Mountain, is one of the 10 in the list which includes Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe. Too bad Cris's novel doesn't carry the Anvil imprint. Oh, well. But here's to Filipino writing talent!

The shortlist and the wining work will be announced in Hong Kong March next year. Our fingers are crossed, Cris!

Cris is currently working with Anvil on a book about her travels in Mindanao which we're hoping to release during the Taboan festival in February 2011. Watch out for it.

Calling all Lit Lovers!

Manila International Literary Festival LIT OUT LOUD
Nov. 18-20, 2010 Hotel Intercontinental, Makati City

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

DAY 1 November 18
AM
8:00 Registration 9:00-10:00 (Bahia Room)

Keynote Speech The Novel by Jose Y. Dalisay

10:00-10:30 Coffee Break

10:30-11:30 (Bahia Room) A panel on the novel Panelists: Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, Patricia May Jurilla, Rose Torres-Yu Moderator: Jose Y. Dalisay

12:00-1:30 Lunch Break

PM Breakout Sessions
1:30-3:00
Translating from the Regional Languages (Dasmariñas Room) When translating from the regional languages, do we accept that English is the translation we need, or should we translate to Filipino? Panelists: Marne Kilates, Marjorie Evasco. Moderator: Ricardo de Ungria

Intertextuality and Plagiarism (Bel-Air) Is the novel dead? Is the practice of intertextuality technique a violation of the other artist’s copyright? Panelists: Angelo Suarez, Carljoe Javier, Angelo Lacuesta. Moderator: Isagani Cruz

Literary Journalism (North Forbes) Panelists: Mita Kapur, Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, Kriselda Yabes. Moderator: Susan Lara

3:00-3:30 Coffee Break

3:30-5:00
Writing the Asian Experience in English (Dasmariñas) How writing in English can reflect the Asian experience. Panelists: Vikas Swarup, Alfred Yuson. Moderator: J. Neil Garcia

Roots and Imagination: What do we write about? (Bel-Air) Bringing our own experiences to the world to reach markets, does one need a big theme? Should one write about nation? Panelists: Christopher Cheng, Andy Mulligan, Charlson Ong. Moderator: Gemino Abad

The Importance of Literary Agents and How to Get One (North Forbes) How Philippine writers can break into the international market through a literary agent and how to find one. Panelists: Mita Kapur, Jayapriya Vasudevan. Moderator: Jose Y. Dalisay

6:00-7:00 Cocktails at the Filipinas Heritage Library (by invitation only)

DAY 2 November 19
8:00 Registration

AM Breakout Sessions
9:00-10:30
How to Market Literary Titles (Dasmariñas) Marketing literary titles for different markets. Panelists: Rino Balatbat, Mita Kapur, Jayapriya Vasudevan. Moderator: Karina Bolasco

Genre Fiction (Bel-Air) Panelists: Dean Alfar, Karl de Mesa, Yvette Tan. Moderator: Tara FT Sering

The Children’s Market: What has Changed in 20 Years and What Sells Now (North Forbes) Panelists: Christopher Cheng, Andy Mulligan. Moderator:

10:30-11:00 Coffee break

11:30-12:30

Emerging Forms of Literature (Dasmariñas) The prevalence of new forms/experimental literary works. Panelists: Vim Nadera. Angelo Suarez. Moderator: Erwin Romulo

The Young Adult Novel (Bel-Air) The forms, the topics, the age, and being culturally specific. Panelists: Andy Mulligan, Christopher Cheng. Moderator: Ramon Sunico

Writing Online (North Forbes) The forms, what to write about, and how writers promote themselves online. Panelists: Carljoe Javier, Luis Katigbak, Marne Kilates. Moderator: Tarie Sabido

12:30-1:30 Lunch Break

PM Breakout Sessions
1:30-3:00
From Manuscript to Film (Dasmariñas) Screenwriters and filmmakers on the challenges of writing for film. Panelists: Jerry Gracio, Eric Ramos, Vikas Swarup. Moderator: Jose F. Lacaba

Graphic Literature (Bel-Air) The country’s top graphic lit artists on how to break into the graphic lit scene and the future of the genre in the country. Panelists: Gerry Alanguilan, Elbert Or. Moderator: Carlo Vergara

How to Teach Literature to Young Adults (North Forbes) A lecture for teachers on how to read and teach different genres of literature to young adults . Panelists: Anna Rodriguez. Moderator: Mailin Paterno-Locsin

3:00-3:30 Coffee break

3:30-5:00
Filipino Poetry over the Years (Dasmariñas). Panelists: Rio Alma, Bienvenido Lumbera, Roberto Añonuevo. Moderator: Michael Coroza

How to Make Book Trailers (Bel-Air). Christopher Cheng

Travel Writing (North Forbes) How to turn one’s personal journal into publishable essays. Panelists: Cristina Hidalgo, Tara FT Sering. Moderator: Ralph Galan


DAY 3 November 20
8:00 Registration

AM Breakout Sessions
9:00-10:30

The Man Asian Literary Prize: What Makes an International Prizewinning Book? (Dasmariñas) The latest changes in the Man Asian rules and the importance of winning international awards. Panelists: David Parker, Charlson Ong, Alfred Yuson. Moderator: Jose Y. Dalisay

Literary Appreciation for High School Students (Bel-Air) Reading appreciation for literary pieces. Panelists: Carla Pacis, Cyan Abad-Jugo. Moderator: Carla Pacis A Library that Reaches Out (North Forbes)

How librarians can make libraries more interactive to attract readers. Panelists: Troy Lacsamana (Quezon City Public Library), Maritoni Ortigas (Filipinas Heritage Library)

10:30-11:00 Coffee break

11:00-12:30

Storytelling Workshop for Teachers (Dasmariñas) Facilitator: Tony Yanza

Writing the Diaspora (Bel-Air). Panelists: Oscar Campomanes, Jose Wendell Capili. Moderator: J. Neil Garcia

Making Your Own Center Away from the Center (North Forbes) Non-Manila based writers on how they make literature come alive in their respective regions. Panelists: Merlie Alunan, Resil Mojares, Ambdon M. Balde. Moderator: Ricardo de Ungria

12:30-1:30 Lunch Break

PM Breakout Sessions
1:30-3:00
Launch of The F-Word (Dasmariñas) A cooking demo and book signing with Mita Kapur.

Gender Issues in Writing (Bel-Air). Panelists: J. Neil Garcia, Danton Remoto, Jhoanna Lyn Cruz. Moderator: Jose Wendell Capili

100 Years of Philippine Poetry from English (North Forbes). Panelists: Ricardo de Ungria, Alfred Yuson Moderator: Gemino Abad

3:30-5:00
Reading and boom discussion with Andy Mulligan.

Slumdog Millionaire Screening with Annotations by Vikas Swarup (Filipinas Heritage Library).

**To register for the festival and/or select sessions, call 892-1801. For further details, call the National Book Development Board (NBDB) at 920-9853 or visit their website (http://nbdb.gov.ph/) or FB page.

once more, with (a little) feeling.

i've been remiss, i know. ensconced in a cubicle in a publishing house is a totally unique way of life. (read: tons of work). anyhoo, i've lots to tell, lots to write. about books, literature, writers, artists, relationships, drama, whatnot. i just need to do much flexing of the writing muscles to do just that. wish me luck.

words

"borrowed" this from poet marne kilates's facebook status update or whatever you call those things:

"The Quran tells us, 'even if all the trees in the world were made into pens and all the oceans in it made into ink, with seven more oceans to multiply it, still the words of God would not come to end.' It's what poets dream about—that the entire universe is neverending revelation and everyone with their ear to the ground—literally—might luck into prophecy." —Kazim Ali, "Faith & Silence"

am back. well, sort of.

hhmmm.... quiet.... it's like half the planet who used to blog have migrated to facebook, twitter and google buzz...

anyhoo, i'm (quite) back. will try to update this corner in cyberspace somehow. but right now i'm buried under a mountain of submissions. so much to read! and honestly, i wish they were all worth reading. oh, c'mon. literary gems are quite difficult to find. and like those little old ladies in a Wendy's commercial looking for the beef, i ask: where's the story?!

right now, i'm bombarded with outrageous pitches and over-the-top cover letters every day during evaluations period. i'm being asked to meet with "authors" so they can (plead) their "case". just a bit of good advice, people: that really is a major turn-off, it's best to wait out the results.

like a mantra, i always put in mind a great piece of advice from an american book editor dealing with submissions: when a "writer" says to you that his/her work is the best piece of modern literature on this planet, chances are, it's crap. because when someone has to pitch you his/her work to high heavens, then his/her submission must need all that air (actually useless here) to make it look good.

Anvil wins!

Major wins at the 28th National Book Awards (for books published in
2008)!

Congrats to Anvil authors:

GRACE NONO (The Shared Voice)

AMANDO DORONILA (Afro-Asia in Upheaval)

ADELAIDA LIM et al (Cafe by the Ruins)

BINO REALUYO (The Gods We Worship Live Next Door)

NICK DEOCAMPO (Sine Gabay)

ANVIL also won Publisher of the Year (9 glorious times now!).

What a shower of blessings! Read full list of winners via Dr. Isagani R. Cruz's blog.

Gwenn's mom

Anvil's Marketing Manager, Gwenn Jessica Galvez mother, Glora Antonio Bundalian, passed away Sept. 8, 2009. She was 76 years old.

Her remains lie in state at 93 Kanlaon St., Central Park Subd., Bangkal, Davao City.

Interment is on Mon., Sept. 14, 2009, 2:00 p.m. at Davao Memorial Park.

You can send your mass cards to the Anvil office. Thanks!