PEN Writer's Corner

The Other View | Elmer A. Ordoñez
Literature (art) and propaganda

Passage | Ed Maranan
Marjorie Evasco joins world's elite at Poetry Parnassus 2012

Impeached | Charlson Ong
Is it art? | Read more...

HINDSIGHT | F. Sionil José
The CCP Jesus Christ exhibit: It ain't art

Refreshing spontaneity marks Singapore Writers Festival by Lito B. Zulueta

Bartering for gold and tales in Davao by Shirley O. Lua

National artist Roces passes away by Rosalinda Orosa

Poetry: Hugging the Shore by Jose Wendell Capili

 

Poetry

Professor of Forestry
by Dennis Andrew S. Aguinaldo

Lambunaw
by Voltaire Q. Oyzon

Today in Literature

Related News

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

PEN to launch new book by Uli Schmetzer on Chinese conquest of Southeast Asia

THE PHILIPPINE Center of the International PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) will launch "The Chinese Juggernaut," the newest book of the Australian journalist Uli Schmetzer, on Feb. 23, 5 p.m., at the Solidaridad Bookshop, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila.

Subtitled "How the Chinese Conquered Southeast Asia," the book tells the stories of the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Despite persecutions, legal restrictions, expropriations and periodic pogroms the Chinese migrants persevered in Asia with the same determination that has made them the most active, successful but also feared new settlers and investors around the world today.

The history of how each Southeast Asian country became economically and sometimes politically dominated by a small Chinese minority provides a fascinating insight into the Chinese mindset.

In each country the book pegs the diaspora's history to a personality: Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Thailand, communist guerrilla leader Chin Peng in Malaysia, the kidnap ordeal of the Dichaves family in the Philippines, retail tycoon Taam Sze-Pui who came to Australia as gold miner and Anne, an anonymous rape victim during Indonesia's last anti-Chinese riots.

The launch is open to the public

 

Poet Ericson Acosta released, charges dropped.

The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International is delighted to learn that on 31 January 2013 the case against poet, song-writer, journalist and activist Ericson Acosta was dismissed for lack of evidence. Acosta had been held without trial since February 2011. The Phillipines PEN Centre, joined by PEN International and its national Centres world wide were part of a sustained local and international campaign that is believed to have contributed to his release.

Poet, songwriter and activist Ericson Acosta has been freed after being detained for almost two years on what are now acknowledged to be trumped up charges of illegal possession of explosives. On 31 January 2013 the Department of Justice (DoJ) released a favorable resolution to Acosta’s Petition to have his criminal case reviewed. His Petition for Review was filed at the DoJ in September 2011. Orders for his release are expected imminently. Read more...

 

News & Events

Dear PEN Writers and Members,

This is to gently remind you to pay your membership fee of P600.00 (six hundred pesos). Here are the following options for you, to facilitate your payment.

1. You may drop by Solidaridad Bookstore and give your dues to Cesar.

2. You may send a check to: Philippine PEN, Solidaridad Bookstore, 531 Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila. Please enclose your name and email/mailing address so we can send the OR to you.

3. Or you may make a deposit in PEN's bank account.

Philippine Center of International P.E.N., Inc.
BDO Account Number: 4498004893

To let us know of your deposit,

a) Please mail us a duplicate of your deposit slip;

b) Fax a copy to Solidaridad Bookstore - fax # (632) 2541068;

c) You may text your name and the date/time of your deposit to Cesar (mobile: +639274478899); or

d) Email or call Cesar at Solidaridad. Email: philippinepen@yahoo.com; Tel. (632) 2541086.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this. We will send our dues to London in mid-March. For those who have already given their dues—thank you very much.

PAID MEMBERS:

ABAD, GEMINO
ABELLERA, JOHN PAUL
ABREU, LUALHATI
AN LIM, JAIME
BATNAG, AURORA
BAUTISTA, CIRILO
BAYTAN, RONALD
BELTRAN, HERMINIO
BOLASCO, KARINA
CABOTE, DIANA
CAPILI, WENDELL
CORDERO, KRISTIAN
CORDIVILLA, EDWIN
CUA, ALICE SUN
DE LEON, LUZ
DELA TORRES, VISITACION
DIAZ, RONY
EVASCO, MARJORIE
FELIX, MARIA FRES
FONS, JOSE MARIA
GUERRERO, AMADIS MA.
HOFILENA, SAUL
HOLMES, MARGARITA
JACOB, MALOU
JOSE, F. SIONIL
LANDICHO, DOMINGO
LANDICHO, EDNA MAE
LAUREL, MILAGROS
LOLARGA, ELIZABETH
LUA, SHIRLEY
LUMBERA, BIENVENIDO
MAAYO, GERALDINE
MACANSANTOS, FRANCES
MACANSANTOS, PRESCILLA
MANGAHAS, ROGELIO
MARAAN, CONNIE
MARAMBA, ASUNCION
MARANAN, EDGAR
MAS, GLEN
MICLAT, ALMA
MICLAT, MARIO
ONG, CHARLSON
PANLILIO, ERLINDA
PENARANDA, VICTOR
REYES, ELIZABETH
REYES, JUN CRUZ
SARMIENTO, IRENE
SARMIENTO, MARIA CARMEN
SOLER, RICKY
STA MARIA, FELICE
TAN, SUSIE
TAN, YVETTE
VERA, RODY
VICENTE, ALEJANDRINO
VILLAFANIA, SANTIAGO
WIGLEY, JOHN JACK
YLAGAN, AMELIA
YUMOL, AURORA
ZULUETA, LITO

PEN Holds Literature Teaching Workshop in Bohol

The Philippine PEN will hold "For Love of the Word: Workshops on Teaching Philippine Literature in High School and College" on February 27 (Monday), from 8:30 to 4:30 pm, at the Holy Name University, Janssen Campus, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Specific venue is Skills Lab, College of Nursing Building.

PEN writers and professors of literature Merlie Alunan and Steven Patrick Fernandez will serve as resource speakers/facilitators.

This event is part of the series of literature teaching workshops organized by PEN in selected regions of the country, it seeks to enhance the skills of literature teachers in both secondary and tertiary levels, especially on teaching regional writing by Filipino authors. Previous workshops were held at Far Eastern University-Manila, University of San Agustin-Iloilo, University of Cebu, University of the Philippines-Baguio, and Naga College Foundation.

This workshop is co-hosted by Holy Name University, and supported by PEN International in UK, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

For inquiries and pre-registration, please contact Philippine PEN. Email: philippinepen@yahoo.com; or mobile: +639175287491.

PEN vows combat vs climate change
Writers commit to use power of the pen to save the environment

By: Dexter R. Matilla

What do you get when you gather poets, playwrights, essayists and novelists in one room to tackle the issue of climate change?

You get words, lots of eloquent words.

Most of the words that overflowed during the 54th National Congress of the Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets and Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) were expectedly foreboding, of course.

But the sense of portent was balanced by words of optimism, such as "survival." In fact, the conference tried to balance pessimism with optimism. It was not for nothing that the theme of the congress was "Archipelagic Feasts, Tropical Disasters: The Literature of Survival." Read more...

The election of the new roster of PEN directors took place on December 2, 2011, 4:00-5:00pm, at CCP Silangan Hall. Our appreciation to those present for the voting and those who submitted their proxy voting forms prior to the election.

Philippine PEN Board 2012-2014

Lito B. Zulueta (National Secretary), Herminio Beltran, Jr., Karina Bolasco, Jose Wendell Capili, Kristian Sendon Cordero, Amadis Ma. Guerrero, Malou Jacob, Bienvenido Lumbera, Edgardo Maranan, Glenn Sevilla Mas, Charlson Ong, Victor Peñaranda, Nicolas Pichay, Jun Cruz Reyes, and Santiago Villafania

Congratulations! Mabuhay ang Philippine PEN!

Rony Diaz, Ambeth Ocampo, Tony Enriquez lead 2011 PEN writers congress

THE PHILIPPINE Center of the International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) will hold the 2011 PEN National Conference on Dec. 1-2 at the Silangan Hall of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Theme is "Archipelagic Feasts, Tropical Disasters: The Literature of Survival."

Keynote address will be delivered by top fictionist Rony V. Diaz.

The José Rizal Lecture on Dec. 2 will be delivered by historian Ambeth Ocampo.

During the PEN Solidarity Dinner on Dec. 1, aside from the usual literary readings, Antonio Enriquez's new novel The Survivors published by UST Publishing House will be launched.

Former Senator Aquilino Pimentel, a former mayor of Cagayan de Oro City and Enriquez's provincemate, will attend the book launch.

Dinner will be hosted by the Varsitarian, the official student paper of UST, as a tribute to the PEN and in connection with the 400th anniversary of the university. Read more »

Program (download PDF copy)