tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258530512011-10-16T08:42:40.700-07:00kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.comBlogger1231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-7422101064012063192011-07-27T11:42:00.000-07:002011-07-27T12:20:19.959-07:00

A monumental event in Philippine literature that gathers the best contemporary poetry. My poem called "Vers." appears in this anthology so if you ever get the chance, get a copy when it's out. .MOV International Film, Music & Literature Festival presentsLaunch: 2 September 2011 Ayala Museum, Makati City 6 PM UNDER THE STORM: An Anthology Of Contemporary Philippine Poetry

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-4993429834576779482011-05-16T09:01:00.000-07:002011-05-16T09:03:08.351-07:00

My poem called "Untilted" appears in the 15th edition of the International Literary Quarterly. Enjoy!

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-37475169746694979752011-04-01T16:55:00.000-07:002011-04-01T17:04:14.340-07:00

My poem called "Kapre" appears in the latest issue of Philippines Free Press. Although I've been writing for a long time, this is the first time I get any of my work to appear in PFP. To read about the Kapre, click here and here. Click here to start reading.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-85209959952777790482011-03-24T13:30:00.000-07:002011-03-24T13:51:40.167-07:00

The literary issue of Ateneo de Manila University's Kritika Kultura is out. My short short stories "Unpolished Things," Rotonda," and "Wakasan" appear in this issue. About the Issue:The Philippine literary community has a relatively longstanding tradition of releasing anthologies focusing on young writers. However, it can be gleaned that the notion of the “new” remains unarticulated, as recent

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-60343545008966384572011-03-21T02:43:00.001-07:002011-03-21T14:36:40.226-07:00

Batid ko nang tumawa siya na masasangkot akoSa kanyang galak at magiging bahagi nito, hanggangMaging mga di-sinasadyang bituin ang kanyang mga ngipin na singhusayNg mga pulutong na nagsasanay. Naakit ako ng mga kagyat ng singhap,Na nalalanghap sa bawat panandaliang pagkabawi, nawawaglit sa wakasSa madidilim na yungib ng kanyang lalamunan, nabubugbog ng mgaSaluysoy ng mga di-nakikitang kalamnan.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-28276136061578814312011-03-19T14:59:00.000-07:002011-03-19T15:00:00.694-07:00

Nakaupo ako kasama ang munting Doberman na buto't balatsa ibabaw ng mabahong umbok sa likod ng OklahomaCity Animal Shelter. Siniguro kong ilakad ang mga kaawa-awa aso. Paos na kumaholang iba nang gumewang siyang palabas sa hawlaat sumuot sa silo ng tali ko, na nakalaylayhabang dinaraanan namin ang mga halimaw sa ibang kulungan -yong iba, sabi ng katiwala, talagang ipinanganak nang

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-70730247947792090172011-03-12T02:59:00.000-08:002011-03-12T03:01:24.580-08:00

“dahil mula pa noong sandaling ako’y umiral, buhat-buhat ko na ang bigat ng mundo at ni walang bagay o sinumang makakatulong sa akin upang mapagaan ito.” - Jean Paul SartreMagkatalikod tayo saKomportableng kama atTila may humihinga saPuwang sa gitnaNgayong pagod ka naAt umiyak na akoBumibilis na ang pagtalukbongNg malamig nang dilimBabalik ka sa pagbabasaNang di ko malamangTumalab din sa ‘yo Ang

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-17687020987055901032011-03-10T21:22:00.000-08:002011-03-10T21:27:16.425-08:00

Reposted from Adam David: All our hundred years of art and lit are merely degrees of elaborations on declarations of Love. What more is there to say? This is a call for Love. This is a call for a hundred more, of a hundred strokes and a hundred words, from a hundred people for a hundred more. This is a call – send works of a hundred words or whole-page strips or one-panel gags on that perpetually

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-16110005727257160072011-03-08T10:48:00.000-08:002011-03-08T11:19:17.240-08:00

If you're in Manila, grab a copy of the March-April issue of Monday Magazine where my poems "The Box," "All Your Saturdays Over," and "To See California" appear.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-9925810782584830592011-03-05T09:54:00.000-08:002011-03-05T10:05:54.217-08:00

Read three poems from my new work collectively called -30- (thirty-word poems) In Praise of Electronica, Kindergarten and Troubled Sleep Pours In in Asia Writes here.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-9906233027726173282011-02-14T21:42:00.000-08:002011-02-14T21:45:06.859-08:00

From Edgar Samar: Inaanyayahan namin kayo sa paglulunsad (sa wakas!) ng unang isyu ng Tapat Journal sa ika-22 ng Pebrero 2011, 4:30 n.h. sa Escaler Hall, sa Ateneo de Manila. Tampok ang nobelang "Sambahin ang Katawan" ni Alvin Yapan, sanaysay ni Adam David, panayam kay Iwa Wilwayco, at mga ilustrasyon ni Rommel Joson. Si Mikael Gallego ang nagdisenyo ng aklat. Kitakits!

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-52839824951295989992011-02-05T20:31:00.000-08:002011-02-05T20:55:36.889-08:00

 I have three short short stories appearing in the literary issue of Kritika Kultura, Ateneo de Manila University's international online journal of language. Here's the announcement for the soft launch:Kritika Kultura and the National Committee on Literary Arts – National Commission for Culture and the Arts cordially invite you to the soft launch of the Kritika Kultura Anthology of New Philippine

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-10253624656858990102011-02-05T20:28:00.000-08:002011-02-05T20:31:00.769-08:00

New work to be published in interlitq.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-21059846839039162162011-02-02T20:06:00.000-08:002011-02-02T20:07:21.164-08:00

Writer and publisher Antonio Hidalgo (husband of Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo) is undergoing emergency surgery at the Heart Center. He needs at least 20 blood donations. His blood type is A+. If you can donate blood, please go to the Heart Center ASAP. Please pray for his quick and successful recovery. Prospective donors may contact Jing Hidalgo at 0926-6612780

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-69560706774445509362011-01-28T16:59:00.000-08:002011-01-28T17:04:00.384-08:00

19 US-Based Academics from 16 Top Universities Endorse Dean Roland Tolentino19 January 2011President Alfredo E. PascualUniversity of the Philippines Dear President Pascual:We are writing to express our support for Dean Roland Tolentino's nomination as Chancellor of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. We believe that he is an outstanding academic and has a firm commitment towards public

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-88423319987441052252011-01-15T20:09:00.000-08:002011-01-15T20:13:13.595-08:00

Dalawampung taon na ang lumipas nang namanaagang kalansay ng baboy ramo kasama ng mga lilana nabubulok ang mga dahonsa pag-init ng tagsibol. Binali ko ang bagang nito mula sa pagkakabungisngis na parang nilangisang susi at umuwi ako, iniwan ang baboy ramo para hayaang buuin nito muli ang sarili, kung magkataon man,sa bungal na pagkakabuhay-muli. Inangat ko itopara ipakita sa mga anak kong babae.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-8927977925532588522011-01-08T08:53:00.000-08:002011-01-08T09:05:26.145-08:00

Nabanggit ni Edgar Calabia Samar sa kanyang panayam sa PEN National Conference (Disyembre 2009) ang "Pagluwas" na kabilang sa ilang mga bago-bagong aklat na nailathala na napakadaling mapagkamalang hindi nobela. Ang buong panayam na pinamagatang "Ang Pagsusulat Bilang Pagkadismaya" (Disappointments in Writing) ay mababasa dito. Maraming salamat, Egay!Maliban kay Wilwayco, nakapaglathala rin ng

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-53428440607044574672011-01-01T11:08:00.000-08:002011-01-01T11:12:09.341-08:00

My poem called "Self-serve" appears in the latest issue of Kweli Journal. Read it here:

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-71823852318371725032010-12-27T22:54:00.000-08:002010-12-27T23:31:05.280-08:00

If you haven't read my book yet, you can read some of the stories (as part of "5+5=Voltes V", a suite of Martial Law themed short stories) in the Mondo Marcos Anthology (Anvil Publishing, 2010) edited by Roland Tolentino and Frank Cimatu. Read some reviews here and here.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-24436666605033954052010-12-21T04:20:00.000-08:002010-12-21T04:33:30.673-08:00

My good friend, South Africa-based poet Jim Agustin's latest books of poems in English called "Alien to Any Skin" and in Filipino called "Baha-Bahagdang Karupukan" will be released soon by the University of Santo Tomas Press. I still remember getting blown away by his poems that were published in the literary section of the legendary Jingle Music Magazine when I was in high school. I was actually

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-19045140873026411992010-12-04T10:19:00.000-08:002010-12-04T10:25:25.685-08:00

An advice to young Filipino writers of sorts. Thanks Ma'am Jing!What I Look For When I Read a New Workby Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo (At the UP National Writers’ Workshop, held in Baguio every summer by the UP Institute of Creative Writing, each member of the teaching panel is asked to briefly explain what he or she expects from a literary work, in effect, presenting a capsule version of their own “

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-36829307695759798672010-11-24T02:36:00.000-08:002010-11-24T02:49:14.946-08:00

Congrats kay Axel na siyang tumanggap ng award para sa akin dalawang taon na ang nakakaraan. Heto ang bahagi ng press release from Likhaan:2010 MADRIGAL-GONZALEZ BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCEDby Arvin Abejo MangohigOf the ten submissions for this year’s Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award, five were considered worthy of the shortlist. They are:Batbat Ni Udan (The Story of Udan) by

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-91348501017383649872010-10-17T09:59:00.000-07:002010-10-17T19:24:30.929-07:00

Munting kaluluwa, munting nilalang na laging nahuhubaranDinggin ang pagsusumamo ko, pumanhikSa malapitak na sanga ng spruce.Maghintay sa tuktok, listo, mistulangTanod o bantay. Uuwi rin siya mayamaya;At kinakailangan mong magpakitaNg kagandahang loob. Hindi ka rin nagingLubusang ganap; sa nakayayamot mong katawanMay mga nagawa kang hindi mo dapatTinalakay sa tula. Samakatuwid,Himukin mo siya sa

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-88812208087430233362010-09-29T01:59:00.000-07:002010-10-17T09:59:05.101-07:00

Kapag nagyelo ang ilog tanungin mo akotungkol sa ‘king mga pagkakamali. Tanungin mo ‘ko kungkagagawan ko ang buhay kong ito. Marami nangsumagi nang marahang-marahansa ‘king isipan, may ibang sumubok tumulongo manakit: tanungin mo ako sa pagkakaibang idinulot ng marubdob na pag-ibig o ngitngit.Diringgin ko anumang sabihin mo.Puwede tayong lumingon at tumingin sa tahimik na ilog at maghintay. Alam

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-50958521842432631972010-06-03T03:42:00.000-07:002010-06-03T10:29:18.965-07:00

Bago pa man matapos ito, pangungunahan na kitang rurupok ako at bibigay at itatanggi kong sumagi sa isipan ko ang mga bagay-bagay na malamangitanggi mo rin. Na gusto kong tapikin ka sa balikato sundutin sa tagiliran. Gusto kong biglain ka ng isang mapang-unawang pagsampal sa pisngi. Oo, gusto kong pisilin ang munti mong mga kamayng magagaspang kong palad. Patuloy na pagpawisan at malulong sa

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-27111845254860318652010-05-03T08:43:00.000-07:002011-03-09T12:30:39.010-08:00

Di mo kailangang maging mabait.Di mo kailangang lumakad nang paluhodng isang daang milya sa disyerto, nagsisisi.Hayaan mo lang ang maselang hayop ng iyong katawan na ibigin ang iniibig nito.Ikuwento mo ang kawalan mo ng pag-asa, at ilalahad ko naman ang sa ‘kin.Samantala, umiikot ang mundo.Samantala, ang araw at dalisay na bato ng ulanay gumagalaw sa balintataw,sa ibabaw ng parang at sa kalaliman

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-19808239966606539082010-03-20T04:22:00.000-07:002010-03-20T04:30:36.874-07:00

ni Zosimo Quibilan, Jr. Ako ang sarili kong bersoat ang lahat ng berso ay ako. Isang berso -- uni berso para sa lahat ng mga nabigkas at bibigkasin pa. Pipiliting tuparin ang lahat ng mga ipinangako dahil kailangang kong maging totoo sa salitang sa bibig ko nagmula. Ako ay isang bumbero o kaya’y tsuper ng dyipo duktor o

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-13805521762553176442010-02-08T10:00:00.000-08:002010-02-15T07:32:44.573-08:00

If you're in Manila these days, check out the Santiago Bose exhibit where my story "Para sa Mansanas na Masarap" is also featured. The opening reception will be on February 11, 2010, Thursday, at the Yuchengco Museum at 6:30 p.m. The museum is at RCBC Plaza, corner Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenues, Makati City.Here's the invite:

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-52335744201556815082010-02-03T07:49:00.000-08:002010-02-03T08:51:32.354-08:00

Contemporary Visual Artists Create New Work from Bose’s Unfinished Canvas More Than 30 Writers Present Their Take on Bose’s Rendering of Anting-AntingThe Yuchengco Museum and the Santiago Bose estate proudly present Remix: Santiago Bose, a postmodern retrospective of the late, internationally acclaimed Baguio visual artist and cultural provocateur Santiago Bose.The opening reception will be on

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-12915301929107349462009-12-26T18:31:00.000-08:002010-01-18T10:52:39.215-08:00

Hindi na lang sana magisingo makagat ng lamok,o manginig sa ginaw.Basta, huwag maantala ang pagkakahimbingnang hindi ko mapagpag nang hindi sinasadyaang iniwan mong init sa bahagi mo ng kamang mas alam pa kaysa sa akinang bigat mo sa bawat alon at pagkagusot, sa bawat paghinga ng kumot.Bumulong ka na lang sa iyong pagbalik. Ipaghele ako sa halip na humalik.- a nine-year-old poem to celebrate as

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-48615792745885286712009-12-03T13:29:00.000-08:002009-12-03T13:31:44.403-08:00

Congrats kay Adam!Here's the press release from panitikan.com.ph: The Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing is pleased to announce the winner of the 9 th Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award. Adam David's The El Bimbo Variations , a collection of 99 retellings of the first line from the lyrics of the song “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by the Eraserheads, bested three other finalists to win the

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-54497990389572722482009-11-18T11:13:00.000-08:002009-11-18T12:05:15.149-08:00

It's that time of the year. The Best First Book Award is something new authors look forward to not only because of the prestige but also because of the hefty purse the winner gets. Having won last year, I feel for this year's nominees. The anticipation must be killing them. Hahaha. I personally root for Adam David's El Bimbo's Variations which is not only brilliant book of poetry, but more

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-36712020612627769612009-09-04T12:53:00.000-07:002009-09-04T12:59:14.102-07:00

Got mentioned by respected lit critic Isagani R. Cruz in his Philstar.com column. Here's an excerpt:"Philippine literature is alive and well and living on the Web.Excellent books of fiction, poetry, criticism, and creative nonfiction continue to be published. Through PowerPoint slides, I showed the covers of some National Book Award finalists of the last few years, such as Rebecca T. Añonuevo’s

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-36109124234158258022009-08-20T13:38:00.000-07:002010-10-17T10:04:01.320-07:00

Stephen Dunn (salin ng "Don't Do That" mula dito)Dehin na ‘Tolni Stephen DunnKung gusto mo ng matapang-tapang na alak,Kanya-kanyang dala, kaya bitbit ko si Johnny RedAt ilang sama ng loob na kinipkip ko nang Ilang linggo na, na lalo pang nagatungan nang makita ko Ang pinagtutusok na kung anu-ano sa mesa o ng mga usapang Tatagal ng ilang dekada. Pero pumayag akong pumunta at alam Ko naman kung

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-60480510569665204632009-08-18T01:41:00.001-07:002009-08-18T01:44:26.495-07:00

"No one was quite sure where it had come from, but it had travelled with the K..."Q: Sharon Olds (The New Yorker)Shared via AddThis

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-86016848657859581512009-08-14T13:50:00.003-07:002009-08-14T14:01:15.374-07:00

Thomas Pynchon is still camera shy. For his new novel (Inherent Vice, Penguin 2008) though, he's become marketing savvy if we're to believe that he lent his voice to this online advertisement. He even included an online soundtrack list for the novel.This is already on my reading list. Now, if I could only finish Gravity's Rainbow...

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-52846515448663507472009-05-21T10:15:00.003-07:002010-01-18T10:53:26.507-08:00

Etong bulag, dati nang kaibigan ng asawa ko, dadalaw siya at magpapalipas ng gabi. Kamamatay lang ng asawa niya. Kaya dinadalaw niya ang mga kamag-anak ng asawa niya sa Connecticut. Tinawagan niya ang asawa ko doon sa mga biyenan niya. Nagkaayusan. Sasakay daw siya ng tren, limang oras na biyahe, at susunduin siya ng asawa ko sa istasyon. Hindi pa ulit sila nagkikita mula nang nagtrabaho ang

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-78414518443248640552009-05-04T13:11:00.003-07:002009-05-04T13:54:57.498-07:00

Keep the people in the dark. I'm outraged after reading Robin Hemley's The Great Book Blockade of 2009. He is the Director of the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa and currently in the Philippines on a Guggenheim Fellowship.Corruption has to be addressed. Now!Here's an excerpt:Over coffee one afternoon, a book-industry professional (whom I can't identify) told me that for the

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-55554886170941838272009-04-07T16:39:00.004-07:002009-04-07T17:12:04.809-07:00

So we're almost half way through April and I've forgotten it's poetry month. I had planned to translate a poem everyday and post them here. I just thought against it because I realized what would that have accomplished. Really?Instead of the poems, here's an interesting link about this cruellest month.NPR.org:Poems in Song: Turning Words into JazzWDUQ, April 6, 2009 - April is Jazz Appreciation

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-31469787010138153092009-03-31T16:06:00.002-07:002009-03-31T16:11:10.448-07:00

We are not ginseng, patatas or kamoteng kahoy, are we?"We know the force of gravity, but not its origins; and to explain why we become attached to our birthplaces we pretend that we are trees and speak of roots. Look under you feet. You will not find gnarled growths sprouting through the soles. Roots, I sometimes think, are a conservative myth, designed to keep us in places."- Salman Rushdie (

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-29386648994439700732009-03-29T22:52:00.002-07:002009-03-29T22:54:29.637-07:00

Here's a repost from Adam:ito ay isang call for submits para sa New Genre Review, isang prospective online downloadable PDF antho quarterly journal na magshoshowcase sana ng kung ano mang makabagong pamamaraan ng pagsusulat sa Pilipinas, mga akdang wala pang audience na nakakapag-appreciate, o kung ano man ang tingin natin na mga dapat gawing babasahin para sa paparating na postGMA/Nicole-Smith

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-14304550363140897232009-03-27T10:22:00.003-07:002009-03-27T11:24:30.589-07:00

In college, I wrote a poem with the same title. I wasn't sure if there was such a word (it should mean wilderness) but I submitted the poem to Heights and was promptly rejected. I vaguely recall the poem but some lines still ring, like:malagraba ang kanyang mga mata makinis ang mga paladat inakay ako sa kabangisan.I conveniently lost my copy of that poem so I wasn't able to revise. Therefore, I

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-34938720125735464772009-03-24T10:39:00.001-07:002009-03-24T10:41:02.856-07:00

Of course, you will get it if you know K. Prague's Franz Kafka International Named World's Most Alienating Airport

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-76332631342936191542009-01-07T23:17:00.003-08:002009-01-07T23:27:23.187-08:00

I’m starting the year working on my literary backlog by reading short stories by David Foster Wallace’s “Little Expressionless Animals,” “Luckily the Account Representative Knew CPR,” “Girl With Curious Hair,” “Lyndon”; T. C. Boyle’s “If the River was Whiskey,”; and Roberto Bolaño’s “Clara,” “Meeting With Enrique Lihn,” both from New Yorker website. (I have Bolaño’s “2666” and have been gathering

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-30915880346570296022008-12-09T21:46:00.002-08:002008-12-09T22:12:10.315-08:00

I still can't believe it. This one is sweeter because it comes at a time when I'm already rethinking my art. Here's the an excerpt of the press release posted on www.panitikan.com.ph.Four books vied for the 8th Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award. Three of the nominees- Irma Dimaranan, Jerry Gracio and Alvin Yapan- were there but this year's winner, Zosimo Quibilan Jr. for Pagluwas, published

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-18225744339316485002008-12-02T14:21:00.003-08:002008-12-03T07:23:15.516-08:00

I got this from www.panitikan.com.phTHE FOUR NOMINEES FOR THE 8TH MADRIGAL-G0NZALEZ BEST FIRST BOOK AWARDSThe four nominees for this year's Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award are Irma Dimaranan for Naglalayag, Alvin Yapan for Ang Sandali ng mga Mata, Jerry Gracio for Apokripos and Zosimo Quibilan, Jr. for Pagluwas.Yapan's book is published by the Ateneo University Press while the other three

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-21689948859208379442008-10-06T08:50:00.000-07:002008-10-06T08:51:55.147-07:00

My story called "Rembo" appears in this week's edition of www.bewilderingstories.com. It's another short short that I wrote in Filipino a few years ago for an anthology. It got accepted but the anthology didn't push through. Enjoy, or rather, Beware!

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-30741680151107658942008-08-19T11:37:00.000-07:002008-08-19T11:42:21.820-07:00

I came across a review of my book from blogger CMC of bagongpook54.blogspot.com. Here's the beginning of the post.Natapos ko na ring basahin ang "Pagluwas" ni Zosimo Quibilan. Bumabaybay ang "Pagluwas" sa pagitan ng pagiging nobela at kalipunan ng maiikilng kuwento. May mga piling mga bahagi na nag-uugnay at nagtatagni sa akda upang bigyan ito ng kabuuang naratibo, tulad ng simula at ng katapusan

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-89641603043508436392008-08-19T11:31:00.003-07:002008-08-28T08:49:26.300-07:00

A few weeks ago, Illinois-based lit/music/art blog What to Wear During an Orange Alert did a feature/Q&A on me talking about Pinoy Literature and translations. Thanks Jason for the exposure to a wider audience.Here's the beginning of the Q&A:Orange Alert (OA): Your debut novel, Pagluwas, was published in 2006 on UP Press, and won a national book award. What was that experience like? Do you still

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-47126975818242544692008-08-04T21:55:00.001-07:002008-12-10T17:30:56.395-08:00

Having read Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karomazov, Crime and Punishment and Notes from the Underground in an effort to study a Russian lit after college, I picked up a copy of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. It was welcome read primarily because it was a thin book. The emotions and the anger that it stirred in me, however, was overwhelming. Until now.The suffering that Ivan Denisovich

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-51665181660950246632008-07-29T23:51:00.005-07:002008-12-10T17:30:56.615-08:00

Penguin Classics recently released Jose Garcia Villa's Doveglion: Collected Poems. He's the second Filipino writer in Penguin Classics' roster following the publication of Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere. I'm happy about this, really. However, it makes me wonder if this form of affirmation for the Filipino talent will also be accorded to a Filipino writer who writes (or

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-16892367035474949972008-07-19T03:27:00.004-07:002008-07-25T12:36:43.212-07:00

I was in the middle of my question when it hit me that I was actually there in front of Ninotchka Rosca, one of the few Filipino American writers who truly I admired. It didn't help that while I was faltering, I was blaming myself for not formulating my question concisely before I had raised my hand. In so many words, I asked her if she sees a trend in Filipino writers around the world writing

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-3016511646840387612008-07-17T13:19:00.004-07:002010-06-04T02:19:19.493-07:00

I've been meaning to write a review of Cormac McCarthy's The Road but I couldn't primarily because so many things have been said about it already. Ironically, I first heard about it on Oprah. She chose the novel for her Book Club (a red flag for me and my wife, telling us to get away from it immediately). Oprah also was able to convince the reclusive McCarthy to indulge her for an interview.The

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-78205695225714247782008-07-01T08:25:00.002-07:002008-07-01T08:31:43.568-07:00

I came across What to Wear During an Orange Alert, a lit/music/art blog based in Chicago and found that my story Gel made it to its Reading Watch List. Salamat, kung sino man ang nagpapatakbo ng blog na ito.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-48332697683374502972008-06-26T15:28:00.000-07:002008-06-26T15:29:57.267-07:00

Jackie plucks her eyebrows with the mastery of a sculptor. She squints to minimize the sun’s glare. Traffic hasn’t moved since she finished the left; before reminding herself to use the razor on the short stray ones the tweezer missed.She then notices graying brows on the right. She avoids them. From experience, she knows the greying always multiplied when plucked. Unmindful of the chaotic

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-16405271237411196822008-06-20T13:19:00.000-07:002008-06-20T13:23:12.121-07:00

I. Nabuhay ang bahay sa gabing hindi matutulogang mga hindi patay. Nagbaka-sakaling manalo sa tong-its.Ngayon na ang huling gabi para makabawi.Hindi ko kilala ang mga nakiramay.Kahit na ‘yong naunahan kaming mamahingasa loob ng kahon. Hindi naman aalis pero binabantayan.Mahirap huminga sa sikip ng bahay. Hindi Ilokanoang hininga ko. Walang makakaunawa.Tinitigan ko na lang ang pakurap-kurap na

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-62201246842219220712008-06-06T01:56:00.000-07:002008-06-06T02:03:37.811-07:00

"dahil mula pa noong sandaling ako'y umiral, buhat-buhat ko na ang bigat ng mundo at walang bagay o sinumang makakatulong sa akin upang mapagaan ito." - Jean-Paul Sartremagkatalikod tayo sakomportableng kama attila may humihinga sapuwang sa gitnangayong pagod ka naat umiyak na akobumibilis na ang pagtalukbongng malamig nang dilimbabalik ka sa pagbabasanang di ko malamangtumalab din sa 'yoang

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-9061120678589314702008-06-03T17:59:00.000-07:002008-06-03T18:00:21.101-07:00

My story called "Gel," (from Pagluwas, UP Press 2006 and translated by Sunshine and myself) appears in the 08 Summer issue of VerbSap.com, a US-based online literary journal. Click here to start reading.Enjoy!

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-85986681854716481472008-05-08T01:40:00.000-07:002008-05-08T01:42:26.866-07:00

Mabilis akong nakauwi ngayong gabi.Hindi ko na pinanood ang daan tulad ng dati. Tatlong sakay ng jeep. Wala nang pila-pila. Nakalimutan ko pa nga yatangmagbayad doon sa isa. Kinukulit na ako ng likod kopara mailapat na sa kama. Sa kuwarto kong malamig. Sa bahay na mas malapit pa sa buwan kaysa kalsada. Nang maghilamos ako bago matulog,nabura lahat ng tuwa ko. Pinahid ko sa puting

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-77544918184535597062008-04-06T13:43:00.002-07:002008-04-06T19:12:15.490-07:00

salin mula sa Bandits ng MidlakeSumagi na ba sa isip mong mapangibabawan ng mga tulisanipaubaya lahat ng pag-aari at magpanibagong-buhay?habang naghahagilap kami ng pagkainpinagnanakawan ang bahay naminNakasapo ako ng mansanas, nakahuli siya ng lobokaya nanilo ako ng kuneho pero humuli naman siya ng toro.Kaya sa aming pagbalik, nasumpungan naming wala na'ng lahatna di naman namin maituturing na

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-88659313038454937662008-04-03T21:32:00.001-07:002008-04-03T21:35:37.609-07:00

ni Ranier Maria Rilkesalin mula sa A Book for the Hours of Prayer, isinalin ni Robert Bly sa Ingles 1Sa lumalagong orbit ako nabubuhaysumasaklaw sa mga bagay ng mundo.Marahil di ko na mararating ang sukdulanIto na ang pagtangka koPinalilibutan ko ang Diyos, palibot sa antigong toreIsang libong taong umiikotat di pa rin matukoy kung ako'y palkon, o bagyoo dakilang awit.2Marami akong kapatid doon

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-9668903089034253942008-01-29T06:53:00.000-08:002008-01-29T14:15:13.741-08:00

I was invited last week by UCLA Prof. Nenita Pambid Domingo, PhD. to talk to her Advanced Filipino class about the Contemporary Filipino Short Story...Okay, she wanted me to talk to her students about my poetics -- discuss how I write and share the production process behind my book, Pagluwas. While I was at it, I was able to discuss what made my writing different from the Filipino literary canon

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-54184902084375624262008-01-10T14:31:00.000-08:002008-12-10T17:30:57.460-08:00

may tulang napublish sa panitikan.com.phmabibili na raw sa bookstores ang Mga Kuwentong Paspasan kung saan mababasa ang maikling kuwentong Makinilya.Naimbitahan din pala ako ni Prof. Nenita Domingo ng UCLA para magsalita sa klase niya tungkol sa kontemporaryong maikling kuwento. Kontra-diction sa LA? Baka.Masaganang bagong taon!

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-5267704545960103332007-12-25T17:07:00.000-08:002007-12-25T17:21:23.325-08:00

Some see it as a demystification of a legendary storyteller. A few find it as an interesting study of the poetics one of the greatest masters of the short story. Read for yourself and be the judge: Rough Crossings : The cutting of Raymond Carver. Check out the related links sidebar for a more comprehensive coverage.In any case, Carver will forever occupy that place in my literary altar.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-88946188214572485402007-12-05T06:58:00.000-08:002007-12-05T11:58:04.668-08:00

Kung lumaki ka sa Batibot o nahilig sa mga kuwentong pambata o isang masugid na tagasubaybay ng dulaang Pilipino, huwag kang malungkot sa pagpanaw ni Rene. Sa halip, manghinayang sa isang dambuhalang kawalan di lamang para sa panitikan kundi para sa kamalayang Pilipino.***When people ask me who's the first Filipino to deserve a Nobel Prize, I always say it should be Edgardo M. Reyes (Sa Mga Kuko

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-12629431121788864782007-11-29T12:45:00.000-08:002007-11-29T17:45:18.006-08:00

What will it take? Really?May araw ding ang luha mo’y masasaid, matutuyo, May araw ding di na luha sa mata mong namumugto Ang dadaloy, kundi apoy, at apoy na kulay dugo, Samantalang ang dugo mo ay aserong kumukulo; Sisigaw kang buong giting sa liyab ng libong sulo At ang lumang tanikala’y lalagutin mo ng punglo! - Kung Tuyo na ang Luha mo Aking Bayan

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-72237186023331104362007-11-08T10:46:00.000-08:002008-12-10T17:30:58.745-08:00

November at 42opusIn November, we're debuting new poetry from Paul Guest, Brandy Whitlock, Jane Ashley, Erica Miriam Fabri, and Daniel Hales, plus new fiction from Zosimo Quibilan, Jr., and Janice Soderling.Paul Guest began the month with "Bad Mood": Bad mood and bad dog and bad luck like my broken neck or heart or head playing out so much bad weather like kinked yarn unraveled by a

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-2689556167265890232007-10-30T21:15:00.000-07:002007-10-31T01:15:27.751-07:00

Mahal ang libro dito. Kung bibili ka sa Barnes and Noble, mahal na ang libro may tax pa. Natutunan namin, later on na mas mura kung sa Amazon, wala nang sales tax, meron pang mga kasamang specials. Marami kaming (si Sunshine) nabiling libro para sa mga bata. Sa kabilang banda, kahit naman mahal, nalunod ako sa dami ng libro dito. Amerika 'nga e. Land of excess. Lahat ng di available sa Pinas

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-50529616472645593322007-09-13T18:28:00.000-07:002007-09-13T18:29:28.478-07:00

Humahagikgik ang malilibog na kulay ng buwan sa kalendaryo dahil nakabilad na naman ang kasingit-singitang balat na mabuti pang gawing sapatos ng mga anak ng mga anak nang anak kahit na punung-puno na ng basura ang libis-mundong kinalalagyan ko. Madalas kong maisip na mabuti pang lumundag, magpagulong-gulong sa bangin ng plastik, lata, bangkay ng nasagasaang aso at ginahasang batang

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-59869147610842696462007-09-09T22:16:00.000-07:002008-12-10T17:30:59.458-08:00

Nakareply na ako sa email ng editor ng Mga Kuwentong Paspasan: Very Short Stories for Harried Readers (Milflores) para magbigay ng maiksing biographical note. Hinihintay ko kasi ang resulta ng sinundang post nito para may mabanggit naman akong tala tungkol sa sarili na patungkol sa kinalabasan ng ilang taon kong pagsusulat ng kuwento. Tulad ng About the Author sa libro ko, kung di man ako pinalad

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-18029994581693502422007-09-02T08:22:00.000-07:002008-12-10T17:30:59.701-08:00

humbled. ecstatic. vindicated.achievement dahil alam kong kakaiba ang isinulat ko. kahit na lumihis ako sa takdang haba, tema at lengguwahe ng maikling kuwento, nakalusot pa rin.masaya dahil kahit ito ang unang literary award ko, bandang huling bahagi ng proseso ng pagsusulat ang nabigyang-karangalan - yong akdang malapit na sa mambabasa (libro) at di yong malapit sa mga hurado ng mga patimpalak.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-10131108794376621442007-08-29T17:39:00.000-07:002008-12-10T17:31:00.390-08:00

Snowby Orhan Pamuk(Vintage International, 2004 trans., 426 pp.)Though widely regarded as 2006 Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk’s only political novel, Snow tackles a theme much more lofty but unmistakably universal – happiness. This theme is buried deep into the narrative, heaped upon by discourses in politics, religion and ideology. After all these immediate issues have been plowed aside, happiness

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-20072365845363038152007-08-28T11:58:00.000-07:002007-08-28T12:04:52.993-07:00

Di kayang supilin ng mga rehas ang mga salita. nakatanggap ako ng sunod-sunod na email mula kay Axel. patuloy pa rin siyang nakakulong. patuloy pa rin siyang nagsusulat.heto ang isang tula mula sa mga email niya:ISANG DAPIT-HAPON SA BILANGGUANRitwal ko na tuwing hapon ang mamintana'tPatawirin ang mga blangkong retinaSa pagitan ng galising rehas at katapatNa lamesa ng bantay.Hintayin ang taib;Ang

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-69097337020976740902007-08-21T21:16:00.000-07:002007-08-21T21:26:53.334-07:00

Nakatanggap na naman ako ng mabuting balita mula Pinas. Dalawang tula ko ay kabilang sa napipintong paglulunsad ng ANI 33, ang opisyal na literary journal ng Cultural Center of the Philippines.Narito ang official announcement:CCP’s ANI marks 20th Anniversary ANI, the Cultural Center of the Philippines ’ (CCP) literary yearbook, marks its 20th Anniversary with the launching of its Nature and

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-35908767979013613332007-08-15T21:25:00.001-07:002008-12-10T17:31:00.658-08:00

The Royal Ghosts : Storiesby Samrat Upadhyay(Houghton-Miffin, 2006; 207 pages) It helps a lot that eminent Nepali writer Samrat Upadhyay writes like Chekhov, or Raymond Carver for that matter. The minimalist prose and understatements in The Royal Ghosts propel the underlying dialectic that dwells in the blurring of that delicate boundary between self and society. Once stylistics issues are out of

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-75119038694207553272007-08-09T12:17:00.000-07:002007-08-22T11:36:08.791-07:00

Nakagagalak na balita mula sa Maynila. SHORT FICTIONMaligayang Pagdating sa Sitio Catacutan: Mga Kuwentong Kasisindakan, Aklat 1 / Malagim ang Gabi sa Sitio Catacutan: Mga Kuwentong Kasisindakan, Aklat 2, by Tony Perez. Anvil.Pagluwas, by Zosimo Quibilan Jr. University of the Philippines Press.Taguan-Pung, Koleksyon ng Dagling Kathang Di Pambata at Manwal ng mga Napapagal: Kopi Teybol Dedbol Buk,

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-70598359383617265572007-08-06T16:46:00.000-07:002008-12-10T17:31:00.838-08:00

The Happiness of KatiJane Vejjajiva(113 pages, Piggy Bank Press, Bangkok 2006,Trans. Prudence Borthwick)There’s never a shortage of happiness in this 2006 S.E.A. Write Award winning young adult novel. Ngarmpun Vejjajiva, or simply Jane for the phonetically-challenged, masterfully weaves the coruscating hues and zesty flavors of Thailand as she unfolds a heartwarming tale of a child's search for

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-72073123664930178242007-07-26T02:11:00.000-07:002007-07-26T12:35:04.885-07:00

Chronicle of a Blood Merchantby Yu Hua, Pantheon (2003) Many reviews, including the inner sleeve notes of the book refer to this novel as an "unflinching portrait of China under Chairman Mao." It does, in fact, depict that rather unsettling era in Chinese history though it only becomes apparent halfway through the book. It will be an outright injustice if one would label this novel as such. If

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-71619663410454729452007-06-20T09:33:00.000-07:002007-06-21T10:44:26.271-07:00

sa gabi ng mga maligno at iba pang di-tiyak na damdaminHindi ko tinupad ang pangakong makipagtagpo sa ilalim ng punong saging para sulitin ang maiksing panahong magkakasama tayo. Hindi na tuloy natin nagawang maglakad sa ilalim ng tanglaw ng buwan. Magliwaliw gaya ng mga alitaptap. Maki-awit/makinig sa mga nagtatalik na kuliglig. Singhapin ang panatag na simoy na sa gabing tulad noon lang

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-81620038359899380222007-06-19T14:53:00.000-07:002007-06-19T09:33:47.199-07:00

Ilang sandali bago siya nawala, narinig ko siyang nakikipag-usap. Tumitililing pa sa tainga ko ang pakiusap niya.“Huwag mo nga akong sabunin. Nababasa ko naman ang ayaw mong sabihin-- nakapaloob sa mga bula.” sigaw niya. “At itabi mo na ang palu-palo! Babanlawan ko pa ang mga duguang labada.”Naging malambing ang sumunod niyang pakiusap. “Tama na ang pagpula, Sinta. Pati na’ng pagkula.” Nawala na

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-86031955310914895302007-06-16T12:44:00.000-07:002007-06-16T15:04:33.875-07:00

Pangalawang araw na naming nakakatulog at nagigising sa upuan ng antigong Toyota Crown. Nang sumilip ang magsasakang magsusuga ng kalabaw, muntik ko nang malulon ang nabulabog na bangaw na nagpipista sa serbesang napanis kahalo ng laway. Sabay na dumilat ang mga mata namin. Nakipagtitigan sa paglisik ng araw na nag-iisang mata sa mukha ng kalangitan.Kahapon, inabutan na kami ng sulyap nito.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-42958643838082944842007-05-11T11:53:00.000-07:002008-12-10T17:31:02.114-08:00

Let me not be too consumed with this world Sometimes I want to go home and stay out of sight for a long time - Midlake (Van Occupanther)

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1381181433858888672007-04-12T09:21:00.000-07:002008-12-10T17:31:02.766-08:00

One of my literary heroes died yesterday. This image is what you'll find in his website.Please tell us what's behind the leak aside from Kilgore Trout. And yes, God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut!

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1102211732762143172007-04-01T22:12:00.000-07:002007-04-02T14:07:23.743-07:00

From Sunday Inquirer Magazine, (April 1, 2007) from the section A Passion for Books:"Pagluwas"by Zosimo Quibilan, Jr.University of the Philippines PressLiberally peppered with contemporary pop culture references, the 52 fragmentary stories in "Pagluwas" succeed in blowing the inches-thick layers of powdered Liwayway dust from the corpus of Tagalog prose, helping the language limn a world that

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-35607568491937589042007-01-18T12:48:00.000-08:002008-12-10T17:31:03.716-08:00

Matapos ang book launch ng Pagluwas, may isa pang pagluwas na naganap. More on that later.For now, here's my book-author-signing-his-book pose.For more pics you can go here.Salamat kay Ed Geronia of T3 for the pics.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1168030766387748102007-01-05T12:52:00.000-08:002007-01-05T13:17:20.083-08:00

Book Launch:Pagluwas (UP Press, 2006)Mag:Net, KatipunanJanuary 11 (Thursday), 7pm.Tara, sakay na! Humaharurot na ang bus. Destinasyon: Kapahamakan.Binubuo ang Pagluwas ng 52 kuwentong pira-piraso tungkol sa mga pasaherong sumakay ng bus biyaheng Maynila galing Baguio, at nauwi sa isang kakaibang sakuna. Walang nakaligtas at nasugatan. Wala, kahit mga katawan.Inilalahad din ng Pagluwas ang mga

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1163485297058172532006-11-13T22:17:00.000-08:002006-11-14T02:21:37.686-08:00

Masaya ako tuwing darating ang pasukan. Magmula noong mag-Kinder ako, hindi na ako mapakali tuwing sasapit ang Hunyo. Sa akin, ang pagpasok sa eskuwela ay isang paraan ng pagiging malaya. Paghahanda sa pagharap sa mundo nang mag-isa. Tuwing Hunyo, pupunta kami sa National Bookstore. Makikipagsiksikan kaming mamili ng mga notebook na may iba’t ibang retrato ng artista ang pabalat, lapis na

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1162532785691535772006-11-02T21:38:00.000-08:002006-11-02T21:46:25.996-08:00

I. Nalipasan na naman ng gutomat kailangan ko pang magpahinga.Mamaya ay ibebenta na namansa mga parokyanong mapeperaKoro 1:Hindi ko na maalala ang hiwaga ng pagkagutomHindi ko na maalalaang hiwaga ng pagkagutomII. Tuyong-tuyo na ang lalamunan koat kailangan ko pang uminom ng gamotnang makatulog naman nang matagal.Pagud na pagud na pagud na ako sa kaaangal.Koro 2:Hindi ko na maalala ang ginhawa ng

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1162191273335049252006-10-29T22:28:00.000-08:002006-10-30T00:51:09.140-08:00

In Watermelon Sugarby Richard BrautiganThis book is so short and has a very sweet title you'd think it's a children's novel. But don't be deceived. It deals more with death than la dolce vita. Here's an excerpt.I discovered Richard Brautigan from a poet friend who used to translate/adapt his poems in Filipino. Part of the Beat Generation, Brautigan wrote short, succint and sometimes strange poems

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1159877295681248502006-10-03T04:49:00.000-07:002006-10-03T05:08:46.066-07:00

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. Inakay ako sa bukid na patay lahat ang mga damo. Para tuloy naging park ang dating taniman ng palay at sugaan ng kalabaw. Mayroong liga ng softball doon. Kahit na matalim ang sikat ng araw, magiliw pa ring nanonood ang mga taga-Dulong Bayan. Natalisod ako paminsan-minsan. Mahigpit ang kapit niya. Maya’t maya akong napapatanga sa masisigasig na miron. Daig pa ang mga

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1159241879554921562006-09-25T20:23:00.000-07:002006-09-25T21:03:20.076-07:00

Nausea by Jean-Paul SartreI photocopied this book in college. I was just beginning to appreciate literature then (and existentialist philosophy). I never got to finish reading the xeroxed sheets until i lost it completely. So I just read whatever Sartre I could get my hands on like No Exit and other Plays ("Hell is other people!"), The Wall (his superb short story collection) and part of The

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1158655732510119792006-09-19T00:48:00.000-07:002006-09-23T06:42:31.046-07:00

Steps by Jerzy Kosinski This book gave me the courage to publish mine. It's actually a collection of narratives that delves into the infinite strata of the human psyche. There are some stories about sex, murder, some about love, innocence, the not-so-happy-ever-after. Undeniably, Kosinski's voice is very distinct. It has a wry sense to it. Seemingly detached yet actually oozing with empathy.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1158118511671905342006-09-12T20:34:00.000-07:002006-09-12T20:35:11.980-07:00

Kinilabutan kami nang maging sinlamya ng umaga ang pagtipa niya sa makinilya doon sa bangketa. Limot na namin kung kailan pa siya nagsimula. Alam lang naming naghahabi siya ng mga salita. Ng kung anong tela ng kaguluhan ng mga tarantadong sasakyan at kung anumang mapadaan. Tao. Pusa. Basura. Usok. Mga tauhan sa mga kuwentong siya lang may karapatang maglahad.Ilang beses na siyang sinita ng pulis.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1157044708353426722006-08-31T09:56:00.000-07:002006-08-31T10:18:28.766-07:00

Maghain ng balumbon ng dayami at timba ng tubig sa entablado para pakainin at painumin ang piano. Maaaring pakainin ang piano o pabayaan lang ito. Kung ang una, tapos na ang piyesa sa sandaling mapakain ang piano. Kung ang huli, tapos ang piyesa pagkatapos kumain ng piano o magpasyang huwag na lang.La Monte Young (salin mula sa sipi ng Piano Piece for David Tudor #1)

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1156169415022215092006-08-21T07:01:00.000-07:002006-08-22T21:05:39.706-07:00

Hindi malasahan ni Chichi ang kare-kare. Kahit pa tuwing darating ang remittance nila, ito agad ang pinapaluto sa nanay niya. Wala rin siyang pakialam sa crispy pata, sinigang. Ni hindi naglaway sa ube-macapuno ice cream.Tumigil muna sila sa magarang restoran na ito bago ihatid ang tatay niya sa airport. Pinabayaan lang siya ng mga magulang niya. “Mahabang paalaman na naman ito,” bulong ng

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1155652824066536612006-08-15T07:06:00.000-07:002006-08-15T20:11:12.293-07:00

Bakit nga ba kailangan pang magsulat sa ibang wika o sa ibang genre? Simple lang ang sagot: WALANG NAGPA-PUBLISH NG MAIKLING KUWENTO. Olats talaga!Sa ngayon, magtiyaga na lang muna sa tulang ito.Kung hindi mo na naabutan sa SIM ang tula, may kopya rin dito.

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1155650710632626282006-08-15T07:00:00.000-07:002006-08-17T02:36:25.593-07:00

Malapit na! Habang nanghihingi ako ng opinion tungkol sa pabalat ng Pagluwas, natanggap ko ito. Akala, copy-edited lang ng manuscript ko ang ibibigay ng UP Press, yon pala...

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1154906413117876912006-08-06T16:08:00.000-07:002006-08-11T01:51:02.740-07:00

1.Before the year ends, the University of the Philippines Press will publish my first book called Pagluwas. It's a pseudo-novel composed of 52 short short stories. Individual stories stand alone but read from cover to cover, one discovers a larger narrative. Without giving too much away, Pagluwas tells the story of a passenger bus on its way back to Manila from Baguio. The bus gets into a fatal

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1153899491930145952006-07-26T00:37:00.000-07:002006-07-26T00:38:12.260-07:00

Nagsisisi si Dindo nang sumugod dito. Matagal bago siya pagbuksan ng gate. Sa simula, nakakakiliti sa anit ang patak ng ulan. Pero nang tumagal, hindi na nakakatuwa. Tumimbre siya nang paulit-ulit nang dumadaloy na ang ulan sa mukha niya. Mahapdi sa mata ang nabasang gel na masinop niyang ipinahid bago umalis. Pinagbuksan siya ng katulong ni Helen. Pinaghintay muna sa labas ng pinto. Baka daw

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25853051.post-1153375009822508832006-07-19T21:57:00.000-07:002006-09-12T19:40:51.100-07:00

Ang mga librong malaki ang impluwensya sa mga sinusulat ko.What We Talk About When We Talk About Love : Stories Raymond CarverI found this book hidden in the shelves in Booksale. I've already read All of Us, Raymond Carver's collected poems. I loved his poetry (napaka-Zen) and to think the reviews were all gushing about his being a master of the short story. So I grabbed this one (not because of

kontra-dictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14400397667783479485noreply@blogger.com2