Zambales '08 4: Subic Bay Diving (Again!)

Dec. 22, 2008: My second time to go scuba diving. A splendid end to our trip, after our unplanned mountain & cave hiking, education outreach program, and tour of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

As with my first diving experience, our adventure was sponsored by the Boardwalk Dive Center (owned by sir George Ang Dy Pay). Maraming, maraming salamat po, sir Jojie!

Hapon na kami sumisid, at inabot kami ng takipsilim. Pinuntahan na nga kami ng coastal police, buti na lang at malakas ata si sir Jojie sa kanila.

From the standpoint of personal ease, mas nadalian at mas kumportable ako sa dive kong ito kesa noong 1st time, kung kelan barado ang ilong ko sa sipon (at kaya madaling sumakit ang ulo ko sa baba ng tubig). The opposite held true for Ynna, who was battling fever. Pero siyempre, di niya mapalagpas ang oportunidad, kaya ayun, dive pa rin! Mataas nga lang ang lagnat niya pag-ahon.

Dahil nga may sakit si Ynna, naiwan kami sa dive center while the other LIRA poets went on a night tour of the beachfront. Oks lang sa amin magpaiwan dahil nakapag-night beachwalk na rin kami sa Subic.

Bago maghatinggabi ay lumarga na kami pa-Maynila, at doon nagtapos ang napakasayang paglalakbay namin. Saktong-sakto para sa Pasko.

Halo-halo na dito ang mga kuha mula sa cam ko, kay Ynna, at kay ms. Beng. Ang mga underwater shots ay galing kay ms. Bebang. Pagpasensyahan niyo ang mga pangit kong kuha -- medyo bago-bago pa ang DSLR ko nito at wala pa akong muwang sa tamang composition, among others.

Full album list of our 12/08 Zambales trip:

• Part 1: Impromptu Mountain & Cave Trekking


• Part 2: Teaching Poetry, Mayor's Party


• Part 3: Subic Tour (Spanish Gate to Shipwreck)


• Part 4: Subic Bay Diving (Again!)

Trip background: Two years ago, the poets of LIRA traveled north to teach poetry to teachers & students in Sta. Cruz, Zambales under the "Sining ng Tugma at Sukat" program of LIRA & the NCCA, under the leadership of sir Michael M. Coroza & then-LIRA President Beverly W. Siy. (STS Overall Project Coordinator pa lang ako nito, and 2 months away from being elected LIRA President. Kaya mukha pa akong totoy!)

2nd time ko palang pumunta sa Zambales for 2008 (the first time for STS Subic, and yes, my first diving experience).

This album is a bittersweet reminiscing, too: this was the first and last time that we were on an out-of-town trip with poet-mountaineer Mark Schwab, who joined his creator in 2009. Pre, pakitagay mo na lang kami sa mga anghel ha.

Zambales '08 3: Subic Tour (Spanish Gate, Shipwreck)

Dec. 22, 2008: SBMA tour before our diving and the day after our unplanned mountain & cave hiking and education outreach program.

We went to three places that I had failed to visit during my first Subic tour a few weeks earlier: the San Roque church, the gate to the old Spanish naval yard, and a museum for a Manila-Acapulco galleon shipwreck, along with a ship replica by the sea.

Pagkatapos magliwaliw ng buong umaga, bumalik kami sa Boardwalk Dive Center (owned by sir George Ang Dy Pay, at kung saan kami natulog) para mananghalian at maghanda sa diving adventure...at nasa susunod na album na 'yun.

Halo-halo na dito ang mga kuha mula sa cam ko, kay Ynna, at kay ms. Beng. Pagpasensyahan niyo ang mga pangit kong kuha -- medyo bago-bago pa ang DSLR ko nito at wala pa akong muwang sa tamang composition, among others.

Full album list of our 12/08 Zambales trip:

• Part 1: Impromptu Mountain & Cave Trekking


• Part 2: Teaching Poetry, Mayor's Party


• Part 3: Subic Tour (Spanish Gate to Shipwreck)


• Part 4: Subic Bay Diving (Again!)

Trip background: Two years ago, the poets of LIRA traveled north to teach poetry to teachers & students in Sta. Cruz, Zambales under the "Sining ng Tugma at Sukat" program of LIRA & the NCCA, under the leadership of sir Michael M. Coroza & then-LIRA President Beverly W. Siy. (STS Overall Project Coordinator pa lang ako nito, and 2 months away from being elected LIRA President. Kaya mukha pa akong totoy!)

2nd time ko palang pumunta sa Zambales for 2008 (the first time for STS Subic, and yes, my first diving experience).

This album is a bittersweet reminiscing, too: this was the first and last time that we were on an out-of-town trip with poet-mountaineer Mark Schwab, who joined his creator in 2009. Pre, pakitagay mo na lang kami sa mga anghel ha.

Zambales '08 2: Teaching Poetry, Mayor's Party

Kuha ni ms. Beng.

Dec. 21, 2008: After our unplanned mountain & cave hiking, dumeretso kami sa bahay ni Mayor Luisito Marty para sa tanghalian, tapos ay sa Sta. Cruz North Central Elementary School para magturo ng tula sa pamumuno ni sir Michael M. Coroza & then-LIRA President Beverly W. Siy. (STS Overall Project Coordinator pa lang ako nito, and 2 months away from being elected LIRA President. Kaya mukha pa akong totoy!)

After the STS seminar-workshop, bumalik kami sa Marty residence para sa hapunan slash Xmas parteh. (Wala naman talagang party, pero masaya ang gabi.)

Pagkatapos, bumiyahe kami papunta ng Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Doon na kami natulog at nagpahinga para sa Subic tour & diving kinabukasan...at nasa susunod na album na 'yun.

Halo-halo na dito ang mga kuha mula sa cam ko, kay Ynna, at kay ms. Beng. Pagpasensyahan niyo ang mga pangit kong kuha -- medyo bago-bago pa ang DSLR ko nito at wala pa akong muwang sa tamang composition, among others.

Full album list of our 12/08 Zambales trip:

• Part 1: Impromptu Mountain & Cave Trekking


• Part 2: Teaching Poetry, Mayor's Party


• Part 3: Subic Tour (Spanish Gate to Shipwreck)


• Part 4: Subic Bay Diving (Again!)

Trip background: Two years ago, the poets of LIRA traveled north to teach poetry to teachers & students in Sta. Cruz, Zambales under the "Sining ng Tugma at Sukat" program of LIRA & the NCCA.

2nd time ko palang pumunta sa Zambales for 2008 (the first time for STS Subic, and yes, my first diving experience).

This album is a bittersweet reminiscing, too: this was the first and last time that we were on an out-of-town trip with poet-mountaineer Mark Schwab, who joined his creator in 2009. Pre, pakitagay mo na lang kami sa mga anghel ha.

Zambales '08 1: Impromptu Mountain & Cave Trekking

Ms. Beng, ako, Ynna, Levi, Rye, Mark (RIP), the Basco sisters (Marly & Tina).

From ms. Tina's cam.

Dec. 21, 2008: Two years ago, the poets of LIRA traveled north to teach poetry to teachers & students in Sta. Cruz, Zambales. May diving sa susunod na araw, pero ang di namin alam, may sidetrip pa pala kami sa mismong Dis. 21.

Ang sidetrip: hiking up and down a mountain to reach the Sagrada Familia Caves. It was my first time to go spelunking -- although we were terribly overdressed (naka-smart casual kami ni Ynna) because we had been prepared to teach, not to trek! Hehe.

2nd time ko palang pumunta sa Zambales for 2008 (the first time for STS Subic, and yes, my first diving experience).

This album is a bittersweet reminiscing, too: this was the first and last time that we were on an out-of-town trip with poet-mountaineer Mark Schwab, who joined his creator in 2009. Pre, pakitagay mo na lang kami sa mga anghel ha.

Madaling-araw nagkita-kita ang mga tao sa Philcoa. Before 9 AM, nasa Zambales na kami, where we were treated to breakfast at Mayor Luisito Marty's house. Dumeretso na kami sa Sta. Cruz North Central Elementary School para magturo ng tula sa pamumuno ni sir Michael M. Coroza & then-LIRA President Beverly W. Siy. (STS Overall Project Coordinator pa lang ako nito, and 2 months away from being elected LIRA President. Kaya mukha pa akong totoy!)

Dahil hindi pa kakailanganin ang mga LIRA workshop facilitators sa morning lecture, ms. Bebang sent us on an excursion to the caves, escorted by local folk. (Bale iniwan namin si sir Mike. Sorry po!)

Excited kami, siempre. Ang kaso, di namin alam na aakyat pa pala ng bundok! Buti na lang at may baon kaming tsinelas. The hilarity of how our pa-pormal clothes are backdropped by the rugged environment is demonstrated by the photos below.

Sakto ang balik namin para sa tanghalian at afternoon STS session...at nasa susunod na album na 'yun.

Halo-halo na dito ang mga kuha mula sa cam ko, kay Ynna, kay ms. Beng, at kay ms. Tina. Pagpasensyahan niyo ang mga pangit kong kuha -- medyo bago-bago pa ang DSLR ko nito at wala pa akong muwang sa tamang composition, among others.

Full album list of our 12/08 Zambales trip:

• Part 1: Impromptu Mountain & Cave Trekking


• Part 2: Teaching Poetry, Mayor's Party


• Part 3: Subic Tour (Spanish Gate to Shipwreck)


• Part 4: Subic Bay Diving (Again!)

"Lirang Pilak": LIRA & Vibal Foundation to Launch New Poetry Anthology

“Lirang Pilak”: LIRA & Vibal Foundation to Launch New Poetry Anthology
Along with “Aninaw” chapbook

The celebrated Filipino poetry group Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) will launch a new poetry book in celebration of its 25th anniversary during its Silver Jubilee Culminating Night on December 4, 2010.

Titled “Lirang Pilak” and edited by National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, the book features works from forty LIRA members, award-winning veterans and emerging talents alike, namely, Giancarlo Lauro C. Abrahan V, Mariane A.R.T. Abuan, Rebecca T. Añonuevo, Roberto T. Añonuevo, Lilia F. Antonio, Mesandel Virtusio Arguelles, Gerardo I. Banzon, Romulo P. Baquiran Jr., Grace Bengco, Salvador Biglaen, Ronaldo Carcamo, Teofilo Catanyag, Michael M. Coroza, Maureen Gaddi dela Cruz, Faye Cura, Fer Edilo, Rogerick Fontanilla Fernandez, Noel Fortun, Mikael Rabara Gallego, Reparado B. Galos III, Ezzard Gilbang, Jerry Gracio, Phillip Kimpo Jr., Claire Madarang, Francisco Arias Monteseña, Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr., Deborah Rosalind D. Nieto, Joselito Delos Reyes, Willester Robles, Edgar Calabia Samar, Romel Samson, Louie Jon A. Sanchez, Lee Sepe, Beverly W. Siy, Kathline Anne Sigua Tolosa, Enrico C. Torralba, Michael Jude C. Tumamac, Charles Bonoan Tuvilla, Enrique Villasis, and Fr. Arnel S. Vitor. Baquiran and Kimpo are also the book’s associate editors.

The anthology will be accompanied by the launch of the fourth and final LIRA chapbook of the year. Titled “Aninaw” and edited by Ronaldo Carcamo, the chapbook features twenty-five poems from Giancarlo Lauro C. Abrahan V, Mariane A.R.T. Abuan, Mel G. Boquiren, Noel Fortun, Mikael Rabara Gallego, Danilo Gonzales, Phillip Kimpo Jr., Erwin C. Lareza, Claire Madarang, Francisco Arias Monteseña, Carla Payongayong, Louie Jon A. Sanchez, Renato Santillan, Lee Sepe, Rem Tanauan, Michael Jude C. Tumamac, and Enrique Villasis.

The main book anthology and the fourth chapbook were preceded by the first chapbook, “Lámang” edited by Edgar Calabia Samar, the second chapbook “Iláng” edited by Jerry Gracio, and the third chapbook “Rurok” edited by Enrico C. Torralba.

The book and chapbooks were published by Vibal Foundation, the socio-cultural development arm of Vibal Publishing House, Inc., and Aklat LIRA, the publishing imprint of one of the country’s major literary organizations and oldest active group of poets in Filipino.

The LIRA Silver Jubilee Culminating Night on December 4 at Crossroad 77, Quezon City will also witness the awarding of the winners of the Timpalak Tulaan sa Facebook and Premyong Bulawan: Php 50,000 Timpalak sa Tula at Kritisismo; the recognition of nine institutions who have helped LIRA and Filipino poetry as a whole; and a recap of LIRA-organized events this year, including the April 2 Good Friday “penitence-rally” by artists and writers, the nine-town Sining ng Tugma at Sukat literary education outreach program, the recent National Conference on Poetry in Filipino, and the five-month-long LIRA Poetry Clinic. Attendance to the event is by invitation only.

The book “Lirang Pilak” is available for Php 300.00, while copies of the four chapbooks are available for free to public libraries and educational institutions while supplies last. Interested parties may contact the LIRA Chapbook Coordinators at folios@liraonline.org.