UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan launched

Likhaan: the UP Institute of Creative Writing is formally launching the UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan, a literary contest, as part of the celebrations of the UP Centennial in 2008, with the approval of the UP Centennial Commission.

Six awards—each one worth P200,000—will be offered for original, book-length works in the following categories: a novel or short story collection in English in English; a novel or short story collection in Filipino; a poetry collection in English; a poetry collection in Filipino; a full-length work or collection of creative nonfiction in English; and a full-length work or collection of sanaysay in Filipino.

The competition is open to all Filipino citizens (including Filipinos holding dual citizenship), except for the members of the UP-ICW and its staff. There will be only one prize per category. Authors may submit only one (1) entry per category. Works which have already been awarded a prize in other contests are not eligible. Subject or theme is open. The complete rules are available at the UP-ICW office in UP Diliman. They will also be uploaded on the UP-ICW website and on www.panitikan.com.ph, the literary portal hosted by the UP-ICW.

The UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan is being held in commemoration of the important role that the University of the Philippines has played in the shaping and nurturing of the country’s literature. To date UP has produced six National Artists for Literature and numerous other writers who have achieved recognition both nationally and internationally. In keeping with its mandate of taking the lead in the development of a national literature, the UP-ICW serves, not just the faculty and students of the UP, but the larger community of writers and the country itself. Almost all writers, established and emerging, have been fellows of the annual national writers’ workshops conducted by the UP-ICW or students in its creative writing and malikhaing pagsulat programs.

All entries for the contest should be submitted to the Board of Judges, Likhaan: the UP Institute of Creative Writing, Faculty Center, UP Diliman. Deadline for submission is March 31, 2008 at 5 pm. The names of the winners and the members of the Board of Judges will be announced in June 2008.

National Artist Rio Alma launches two new collections

National Artist Virgilio Almario marks another milestone in his prolific career as he launches two new collections of poetry this March. Kung Bakit Kailangan Ang Himala, published by the University of the Philippines Press, and Tatlong Pasyon Para sa Ating Panahon, from the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, will be launched at the lobby of the Jorge Vargas Museum at the University of the Philippines, Diliman on March 9, Friday. Program begins at 6 pm.

Since the publication of his first collection of poetry more than four decades ago, Almario, better known by his pen name Rio Alma, has continuously sought to enrich literature in Filipino not only through his poetry, but also through his work in criticism, translation, and editing. His accomplishments as an educator and as a cultural manager have undoubtedly sealed his reputation as one of the moving forces behind the local literary scene, but it is perhaps through the sustained excellence of his creative work that Rio Alma remains a true inspiration. Kung Bakit Kailangan ng Himala and Tatlong Pasyon Para sa Ating Panahon, both written under a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, are but the latest additions to a long list of critically-acclaimed publications.

The works of three Filipino visual artists are also featured alongside Rio Alma's new collection. It may be recalled that in 2006, the University of the Philippines Press published the handsome volume Sonetos Postumos which brought together the creative visions of Rio Alma and National Artist for Visual Arts, Ang Kiukok. This time, in line with book launch, the Jorge Vargas Museum opens the exhibits of Mark Justiniani, Neil Doloricon, and Ferdinand Doctolero whose painting appear in Tatlong Pasyon Para sa Ating Panahon. The exhibit runs from March 9-25.

by Celeste Flores-Coscolluela
UP Press Special Projects Assistant