Writers, Artists to Stage "Penitence" on Good Friday

Punta po tayo! Heto ang official PR namin:

Writers, Artists to 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.

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Para sa mga orgs na gusto pang humabol, pakitext lang po ang mga numero sa itaas o kaya'y mag-iwan ng mensahe sa blog post na 'to.

Mag-sign-up din sa Facebook page ng event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109513709065585

Naibalita rin sa Manila Bulletin din ang okasyon (kasama ng launch ng aming Salit Sining art exhibit) at PM (Pang-Masa) tabloid.

Directions to venue:

1) Commute: Bumaba sa UP-PGH. Tawirin ang Taft; malapit sa kanto ng Taft at Philippine Independent Church (Kalye Josefa Llanes Escoda po yata), may mga nakaabang na jeep na "Bayan-Beata." Sumakay at magpababa lang po kayo sa Plaza Balagtas, malapit sa Beata at mga oil depot. May katagalan ang biyahe, mga 20 minuto (pero traffic dati noong bumiyahe kami).

2) Kotse: Hindi namin kabisado ang daan kung may sasakyan, pero mas malapit po iyon sa Quirino Ave. at Nagtahan. (Pls. refer to the above map.)

Taon-taon, Biyernes Santo kami nagbi-Bisita Iglesia ng ama ko. Ngayong linggo, kelangan naming mapaaga ng Huwebes Santo dahil sa 'penitensiya' na 'to, hehe.

Takits!