"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.