The Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) will hold its 56th annual conference on Dec. 2 and 3 at the The Verdure, Multi-purpose Hall, 5th floor, Henry Sy Hall, De La Salle University, Taft Avenue, Manila.
Theme is “Never stray from the path of righteousness and justice…” (Mabini’s The True Decalogue): Writing, Writers, Moral Regeneration and National Renewal.”
The 2014 conference is being held in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini.
To deliver the keynote speech on Dec. 2 is novelist Anna Maria “Bambi” L. Harper, former columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and chief of Intramuros Administration.
To deliver the traditional Jose Rizal Lecture on Dec. 3 is former Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, now of the International Commission of Jurists.
National Artists for Literature F. Sionil Jose and Bienvenido Lumbera will lead the writers, journalists, editors and publishers who will take part in the various literary sessions.
Featured writer-discussants on Dec. 2 include Raissa Robles, Victor Peñaranda Rene Azurin, Joel Pablo Salud, Nicolas Pichay, Floy Quintos, Dennis Marasigan, Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., Kristian Cordero, Fr. Wilmer Tria, Junley Lazaga, Alex R. Castro, Zola Macarambon, Francis Allan Angelo and Charlson Ong.
On Dec. 3, discussants include Ricardo Soler, Gemma Cruz Araneta, Saul Hofileña Jr., Ambassador Alejandrino Vicente, Bernardita Churchill, Karina Bolasco, Nida Ramirez, Jun Matias, Carlo Vergara, Edgar Samar and Marjorie Evasco.
To be launched on Dec. 2 are the following books: Marne Kilates’ “Time’s Enchantments and Other Reflections: New Poems”; Frank Penones Jr.’s “P.I. and Cancion nin mgaTawong Lipod/Songs of the Unseen” ; Rebecca Añonuevo’s “Talab: Mga Sanaysay sa Panitikan, Wika, at Pagtuturo” Maryanne Moll’s “Married Women: Stories” (all books published by Ateneo de Naga University Press); Jose Victor Peñaranda’s “Lucid Lightning: Poems and Prose” (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House); Maria Fres Felix’s “Boy in the Platinum Palace and Other Stories” (University of the Philippines Press); and Philippine PEN Journal, edited by Herminio Beltran, Jr.
The 2014 Philippine PEN Conference has the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Other sponsors: DLSU Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center; Saul Hofileña Jr.; Galerie Joaquin; PEN International; Solidaridad Bookstore; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; UP president Alfredo Pascual; and UST Varsitarian.
The conference is open to the public. Call Solidaridad, 2541068; visit http://philippinepen.ph.
