Our LIRA 25th Anniv Celebration & Book Launch

Dec. 4, 2010: The most fulfilling night of my life, to date. More than a year's worth of preparations, literary events, legwork, and fundraisings climaxed in the Silver Jubilee Culminating Night of the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA), the oldest organization of poets in Filipino. Venue: Crossroad 77, Quezon City.

The sense of accomplishment encapsulated in that one night is best told by my Facebook status the next day:

"TAPOS NA. 1 year. 9 towns & provinces, ~500 beneficiaries, 2 gatherings, 1 rally, 1 nat'l conference, 4 chapbooks, 1 book, 11 poetry readings, 5 months of poetry workshops & lectures, ~40 clinic enrollees, 18 clinic graduates, 1 organizational award, 2 contests, ~700 contest entries, ~30 sponsors/partners. 11 steering committee members. 25 years of Filipino poetry and volunteerism. Mabuhay ang LIRA!"

The following is not an exaggeration: for that whole year, I felt that I had given most of my waking hours to LIRA's events, and in the bigger scheme of things, to the service of Philippine literature. This was the night when everyone was vindicated, and everything ended for other, greater things to begin. Maraming, maraming salamat sa lahat ng tumulong sa steering committee, at sa mga Kasapi at Fellow ng LIRA na dumalo sa gabing ito.

And here was our official post-event PR:

LIRA’s Silver Jubilee Culminates in Book Launch, Awards Night

The year-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the renowned Filipino literary group Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) climaxed in the “Lirang Pilak” Culminating Night last December 4, 2010 in Crossroad 77, Quezon City.

Aside from serving as a reunion for some of country’s notable poets, writers, and educators who had been borne of LIRA’s yearly and intensive “poetry clinic,” the night witnessed the launching of a commemorative poetry anthology, the awarding ceremony for a poetry contest, a tribute to organizations who have helped foster the growth of Filipino literature, and a homage to the spirit of volunteerism that marks the poets of LIRA, among others.

National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario (also known as Rio Alma), LIRA founder and adviser graced the event. LIRA President Phillip Kimpo Jr. opened the night with a short welcome message before dinner was served.

An audio-visual presentation reviewing the LIRA-organized events and projects for 2010 was shown next. These include the “Writers and Artists’ Penitence for the Nation,” a rally and symbolic “clean-up” for Philippine arts and culture held on April 2 (Good Friday and Balagtas Day) at Pandacan, Manila;

The “Sining ng Tugma at Sukat” (Art of Rhyme and Meter), the second edition of LIRA and the NCCA’s literary education outreach program that visited and taught to almost 500 teachers and students from nine towns across Luzon, from March to December;

The LIRA Poetry Clinic 2010, a five-month-long series of lectures and poetry workshops held by some of the country’s eminent writers and attended by more or less forty beginning poets;

And the National Conference for Poetry in Filipino, a two-day seminar on November 25-26 in UP Diliman and highlighted by lectures by two National Artists.

The presentation was followed by the oath-taking of four newly minted “full members” the organization, which screens and chooses its members from the ranks of its clinic graduates. Acceptance is based on the poet’s skill in the art and his or her willingness to pursue projects in service to the nation, often without remuneration—the embodiment of the “poet-volunteer” that LIRA espouses, especially by its current president.

The twin launch of the “Lirang Pilak” book and “Aninaw” chapbook was the feature of the night. Edited by National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario with Romulo P. Baquiran Jr. and Phillip Kimpo Jr. as associate editors, “Lirang Pilak” features works from forty LIRA members, award-winning veterans and emerging talents alike.

The chapbook, on the other hand, was the final installment in a series of four mini-anthologies each featuring twenty five poems. “Aninaw” was edited by Ronaldo Carcamo and was preceded by “Lámang” (Edgar Calabia Samar), “Iláng” (Jerry Gracio), and “Rurok” (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 organization’s publishing imprint.

The night was by no means an all-LIRA celebration, as the winners of the “Timpalak Tulaan sa Facebook” were awarded in a simple ceremony. The contest, which attracted over 700 entries and offered a total prize of Php 10,000 was won by Allan Lenard Ocampo, Lidie Zubiri, and Francisco Monteseña.

On the other hand, no winners merited the prizes for LIRA’s other contest for the year, the “Premyong Bulawan: Php 50,000 Timpalak sa Tula at Kritisismo” as announced by the contest sponsor, National Artist Almario. Instead, the contest will be extended to 2011 and will be complemented by the Philippines Graphic’s “Gawad Rio Alma,” held in cooperation with LIRA.

LIRA also paid tribute to nine institutions that have helped the group’s activities and Filipino literature as a whole. These are the Vibal Foundation, UP College of Arts and Letters, LIKHAAN: UP Institute of Creative Writing, Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas, Adarna House, Ortigas Foundation, Anvil Publishing, Book Development Association of the Philippines, and the Philippines Graphic.

Prof. Vim Nadera, one of LIRA’s founding members led a reminiscing of the group’s early days. Teo T. Antonio, acclaimed as the country’s “Prince of Balagtasan” gave a toast to the organization’s past, present, and future.

Almario then delivered his founder’s message, thanking the people who have poured their energies into the year and for LIRA’s quarter-century existence, and enjoining every young poet in the hall to continue the zeal to become better in the craft and become a better servant to Philippine literature and society.

LIRA President Kimpo closed the program and the year-long celebration by honoring the young poet-volunteers who led and managed the parade of LIRA events and projects: Giancarlo Lauro C. Abrahan V, LIRA Public Relations Officer Mariane A.R.T. Abuan, Mel G. Boquiren, Mikael Gallego, LIRA Secretary Vivian N. Limpin, Deborah Rosalind D. Nieto, Carla Payongayong, Louie Jon A. Sanchez, Michael Jude C. Tumamac, and LIRA Treasurer Enrique Villasis.

The celebration continued into the wee hours of the morning in a party held in nearby Sizzlers’ Blends at Victoria Towers Condominium.

Seeing as the night served as the endpoint of our LIRA@25 activities, here's a compilation of the photo albums of the Silver Jubilee events & sidetrips (to be updated as the albums are uploaded):

• November 28, 2009: LIRA@25 Planning Session at Bulacan


• January 11, 2010: TV-5 Interviews the Poets of LIRA


• February 21: LIRA President's Report & Members Workshop


• March 13: New LIRA Members' Oathtaking at Bahay Bulawan


• March 20: Launch of LIRA's "Salit Sining I" Art Exhibit


• April 2: National Artists Lead Good Friday Rally-Penitence


• Sining ng Tugma at Sukat (nationwide education program, March-December)
  
  
  1. STS San Fabian, Pangasinan [Detour: PTA Beach Resort]
  
  
  2. STS Baguio, Benguet [Detour: Mines View & Ayuyang]
  
  
  3. STS San Antonio, Zambales [Detour 1: Casa San Miguel & Beach; Detour 2: Anawangin Beach Cove]
  
  
  4. STS Vigan, Ilocos Sur [Detour 1: Old Spanish City at Night; Detour 2: Pottery Making & Shopping]
  
  
  5. STS Lipa, Batangas [Detour: Lipa Cultural Tour]
  
  
  6. STS Angono, Rizal
  
  
  7. STS Malolos, Bulacan
  
  
  8. STS Dasmariñas, Cavite
  
  
  9. STS San Simon, Pampanga


• LIRA Poetry Clinic 2010 (June-November)
  
  
  
  • Opening Day
  
  
  • June to August Lectures & Workshops
  
  
  • September Lectures & Workshops
  
  
  • LIRA Fellows Night 2010: Kilapsaw Poets


• LIRA Poetry Chapbook Series
  
  
  
  • Launch of 1st Chapbook at Conspi
  
  
  • "Re-launch" of 1st Chapbook at Mag:net Katips
  
  
  • Launch of 1st & 2nd Chapbooks at Manila International Book Fair
  
  
  • Launch of 2nd Chapbook & "Salit Sining II" Art Exhibit at Conspi
  
  
  • Launch of 3rd Chapbook at Conspi


• LIRAhan Poetry Readings @ Conspiracy (January-November)


• August 28: UMPIL National Congress (LIRA receives an award)


• November 25-26: LIRA's National Conference for Poetry in Filipino

P.S. Most of the photos in this Culminating Night album were taken by Elmer Grampon, to whom I entrusted my camera.