Dapitdilim Writers' Picnic at UP Diliman

March 12, 2009: Get-together, workshop, and picnic of our small group of friends-before-artists, the Dapitdilim Fellowship of Writers.

Background on our group: DD's core is composed of the Fellows from the 9th UST National Writers Workshop in 2008, and all of its members went through the LIRA Poetry Clinic (2007, 2008, 2009). The group was founded on September 20, 2008 in Burnham Park, Baguio City.

Para sa araw na 'to, 5 DD writers lang ang nakapunta: ako, Ynna, Debbie, AC, at Melvin.

Sinundo ko muna si Ynna sa Sta. Mesa before proceeding to UPD's Vinzons Hall. Tapos e tsumibog kami ng tokneneng, chickenball, cheesestick, at shake malapit sa Shopping Center. Nag-palihan kami ng mga gawa namin. Nang inabutan ng takipsilim, naghapunan kami sa Philcoa.

SARMING: Ynna's 1st Art Exhibit

March 27, 2009: Ynna's debut art exhibit! Who would've thought that she'd go on to have five more exhibits (as of Jan. 2011)?

Binuksan ang "SARMÍNG: A Twoman Exhibit (The Art of Ynna Abuan & Vivian Limpin)" sa TAuMBAYAN Restaurant sa Quezon City at tumagal hanggang April 30, 2009. The exhibit opening stands as one of the happiest days of my art life -- this was the first time that Ynna revealed herself as a visual artist to people other than close friends & family.

Nakatutuwa ang todo-suporta ng mga kabarkada niya at mga kasama naming manunulat sa LIRA at Dapitdilim Fellowship of Writers na dumating sa gabing 'to. What's more, we enjoyed a free jam session led by *the* Bituin Escalante, a regular of the resto owned by people from theater, TV, and film. So we can actually claim that Bituin sang at Ynna's exhibit launch, wehehe.

Maraming salamat siempre kay Vivian N. Limpin para sa pagkakataong ito. (At humiram din ako ng ilang retrato mula sa kanya para sa album na 'to.)

The exhibit overview that I wrote:

Sarmíng is the Ilocano word for salamin, or "mirror." But it could also very well be a portmanteau for "sarisaring tingin" (albeit with an absent "m").

Various views, varied visions. These two women without formal training and any pretensions in the visual arts paint their stories in contrasting styles. Ynna Abuan’s canvas (or scrap plywood from time to time) is often a playground of playful colors that find restraint in the fantastic figures of women and intricate patterns. On the other hand, gazing into Vivian Limpin’s serene hues is like looking into the horizon – one gets the feeling of witnessing infinity, only that the physical medium hides the rest from your eyes.

Sarmíng is the first time that Abuan’s works are going to be displayed – not that she dreamt or expected it to happen in her lifetime. This exhibit is the latest of Limpin’s many group and solo shows.

The works at Sarmíng might be art for some and fart for others. Outsider art, untrained craft, mere daubs and splashes, or whatever you call it – drop by anyway. Paintings will be the main course and poetry readings the hors d'oeuvre. And while you’re there, sample the menu and have a round of drinks at this new art resto this side of the metro.

Read the full overview & artists' profiles here.

The Dapitdilim writers (Ynna & I included) met up early evening in Philcoa before proceeding by cab to Kamuning. 7-8 PM nagsimula ang programa. Around 3 AM na ata kami umalis ng TAuMBAYAN; nag-wind down muna kami sa Tomas Morato bago umuwi ng 5 AM.

P.S. Pagpasensyahan ang kapangitan ng composition ng photos ko rito. Pramis, ilang buwan pagkatapos nitong gabing 'to e mas gumaling naman ako. Hahahaha.

Our National Conference on Poetry 2010

Kuha ni ms. Beng using my cam.

Nov. 25-26, 2010: First-ever conference that I directed, LIRA's "Pambansang Kumperensiya sa Panulaang Filipino" at the C.M. Recto Hall, Faculty Center, UP Diliman. One of the biggest projects I've handled as LIRA President.

Bahagi ang kumperensiya ng LIRA Silver Jubilee year-long celebrations. Paying participants came from as far as Baguio, Cagayan and even Davao City.

From our final souvprog for the year:

During the course of two days, literature and Filipino language educators, as well as writers and other lovers of Filipino literature convened and discussed the present state, the changes to, and the future of how poetry in Filipino is read, taught, and written. The conference answered the question “Mahalaga ba ang Tula?” (“Does Poetry Matter?”) with lectures from two National Artists and notable writers and teachers.

Director: Phillip Kimpo Jr.
Assistant Directors: Giancarlo Lauro C. Abrahan V, Louie Jon A. Sanchez
Event Coordinator: Eva Garcia Cadiz

In this album are pics from both days of the summit. May mga hiniram din akong mga retrato mula kay Elmer Grampon. May ilang kuha din dito sina Vivian Limpin at Ynna Abuan using my Nikon D80.

At siempre, ang pasasalamat sa mga naging sponsor namin: Vibal Foundation,
Book Development Association of the Philippines, UP College of Arts and Letters, LIKHAAN: UP Institute of Creative Writing, Shoppersville Bakeshoppe, Purple Angel Shirt Store, Anvil Publishing Inc., panitikan.com.ph, Balikbayan Magazine, Philippines Graphic Magazine.

LIRA Poetry Clinic 2010: September

Kuha ni Elmer.

September 2010: Workshops, lectures, and other activities for the 4th month of the LIRA Poetry Clinic 2010. (View the pics of the 1st three months.)

Halo-halo na ang mga pics ng:
- 3 poetry workshops where I sat as a panelist (siempre hindi ko nakuhanan ng pics ang mga palihang wala ako)
- mid-Clinic advisory session (where we gave the Fellows tips & feedback)
- sir D.M. Reyes's lecture in Ateneo
- sir Fidel Rillo's lecture in UP
- Fellows' meeting for their folio & grad night
- "Information for Foreigners" play at UP CAL (pics courtesy of ms. Beng)
- mga inuman!

May sinama na rin akong ilang November pics na hiniram from Vins, ayoko na kasi ilagay pa sa separate album :) Humiram din ako ng ilang kuha mula kay pareng Elmer.