The Philippine PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) will hold its 59th national conference on Nov. 21-21 at the Verdure, 5/F, Henry Sy Sr. Hall, De La Salle University, Taft Avenue, Manila.
Theme is “Change: Perils and Possibilities.”
Keynote will be delivered by veteran journalist Nelson Navarro on Nov. 21. He will be introduced by Philippine Graphic editor Joel Pablo Salud.
The traditional Jose Rizal Lecture will be delivered by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Nov. 22. He will be introduced by lawyer and multi-awarded dramatist Nic Pichay.
Raymond Girard Tan, DLSU vice chancellor for research and innovation, will welcome the delegates.
National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera will deliver an inspirational message during the opening ceremonies while PEN founder and National Artist F. Sionil Jose is expected to grace the congress.
The literary sessions and their panel-discussants:
- “Literature, Linguistic Diversity and Federal Frontiers”: H. Francisco Peñones, Jr. (chair), Chancellor Sukarno Tanggol of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Jonathan Malaya of the PDP-Laban Institute of Federalism, Christine Godinez Ortega, Santiago Villafania
- “Whatever Happened to Protest?”: Charlson Ong (chair), Lourd de Veyra, Mixkaela Villalon, Alvin Yapan
- “The Way We Write: Panel on New Writing”: Karina Bolasco (chair), Nikki Alfar, Angelo “Sarge” Lacuesta, Zeno Denolo, Patrick Campos
- “Spin, Trolls, and Comms”: Sarge Lacuesta (chair), Yol Jamendang, Lisandro Claudio, Inday Espina Varona
Other writers who will participate in the conference include Maria Leonida Fres Felix, Glenn Sevilla Mas, Amadis Ma. Guerrero, Herminio Beltran Jr, Lito Casaje, Ricardo Soler, Menchu Sarmiento, Amie Ilagan, Saul Hofilena.
For the traditional general launching of titles by PEN authors on Nov. 22, 1 p.m., featured authors and their new books will be:
- Ma. Ailil Alvarez’s “Slivers of the Sky: Catholic Literary Readings and Other Essays “(University of Santo Tomas Publishing House [USTPH]);
- Genaro Gojo Cruz’s “Yehey, May Pamilya na ring Mag-aaruga sa Akin!” (Bookmark);
- José Ma. Fons Guardiola’s “Los variados avatares de Chejov” (XXXIV Premio Felipe Trigo de Narración Corta, Diputación de Badajoz);
- Marne Kilates’ “Heartland,” translation of Rio Alma’s “Muli Sa Kandugan ng Lupa” (Ateneo de Naga University Press [ANUP])
- Clarissa V. Militante’s “We Who Cannot Be Daughters” (USTPH);
- John Iremil Teodoro: “Hasang, mga kuwento ng Pag-ibig” (UP Press);
- Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, Carlomar Arcangel Daoana, and Allan Justo Pastrana’s “Be Ye Steadfast. Poems” (Vagabond Press); and
- Kristian Sendon Cordero, Tito Valiente and Atty. Celestina M. Tam, editors: Gualberto Cea Manlagñit: Mga Piling Obra (ANUP).
Book exhibitors and sellers will be Anvil Publishing, Ateneo de Manila University Press, Bookmark, Inc., DLSU Publishing House, New Day Publishing, UP Press, and USTPH.
Patrons and partners of the Philippine PEN include the Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Clifford Chance Foundation, DLSU Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center, Galerie Joaquin, Doris Magsaysay-Ho, PEN International, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp, SM Inc., Solidaridad Bookshop, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, UP, and UST Varsitarian.