National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario celebrated his 70th birthday with the launching of three new books and a lecture at the Tanghalan Teresita Quirino (Benavides Building) at the University of Santo Tomas.
The launch was hosted by the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS).
Launched were “Ang Tungkulin ng Kritisismong Filipino” (Ateneo Press); “Si Balagtas at ang Panitikan ng Kalayaan” (Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino); and “Lungting Lungsod ng Lunggati” (Filipinas Institute of Translation).
Rica Bolipata-Santos, writer and director of the Ateneo University Press, introduced the book published by Admu Press.
In his lecture “Ang Panitikan Para sa Kalayaan: 1838-1903,” Almario focused on neglected Tagalog works written between 1838 and 1882. He said these works are a bridge between Balagtas’ “Florante at Laura” and the works of Rizal and other writers of the Katipunan.
He stressed the difference between the “awit-korido-komedya produced before “Florante at Laura” and the awit-korido-komedya written after. The latter, he said, served to win hearts and minds to the Katipunan.
Two examples are “Buhay na Pinagdaanan ni Juan Tamad na Anac ni Fabio at ni Sofia sa Caharian nang Portugal na Hinango sa Novela” and “Caawa-Awang Buhay nang Magsusugal at Nacamumuhing Asal ng Lasing” by Padre Juan Dilag.
Writers, teachers, students and historians need to become more aware of this forgotten part our literature, and to honor the writers of this important chapter in the use of our own language “upang ipahayag ang mga damdamin at kaisipang katutubo,” Almario said.
Later, six of the country’s leading poets, who are also Almario’s personal friends, read from his poetry. Roberto Añonuevo, Michael Coroza, Romulo Baquiren Jr. and Joselito de los Reyes read poems written originally in Filipino. Then Alfred Yuson, Gemino H. Abad, Marne Kilates read translations into English (by Marne Kilates) of three more poems.
Lumbera, Cabrera
After the opening prayer led by Ailil Alvarez, deputy director of the UST Publishing House, guests were welcomed by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, director of UST CCWLS. Members of the audience included, not just UST faculty members and students, but luminaries of the arts and literary communities, led by National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and Bencab.
The guest of honor, who is also known as Rio Alma, was introduced by Rebecca Añonuevo-Cuñada, CCWLS associate.
Almario’s lecture was followed by a short open forum moderated by Ralph S. Galan. The closing remarks were delivered by John Jack Wigley, director of the UST Publishing House. The lecture-launch was organized by Ferdinand Lopez and Chuckberry Pascual and hosted by Joselito de los Reyes. Galan, Wigley, Lopez, Pascual and De los Reyes are CCWLS resident fellows.
Among Almario special guests were NCCA chair Felipe de Leon Jr.; Book Development Association of the Philippines president Lirio Sandoval; National Book Development Board (NBDB) deputy director Camille de la Rosa; former NBDB executive director Andrea Pasion-Flores; artist Ramon Orlina; literary icon Gilda Cordero Fernando; Graphic Magazine editor in chief Joel Pablo Salud; Philippine High School for the Arts director and former UP Institute of Creative Writing director Vim Nadera; Lira (writers’ organization founded by Almario) president Philip Kimpo; Palanca Hall of Fame awardees Nick Pichay and Ed Maranan; poet and book designer Fidel Rillo; poet Edgar Samar; De La Salle University Bienvenido Santos Creative Writing Center director Shirley Lua; and writer-scholars Fe Mangahas and Rogelio Mangahas.
