Three young voices recently proved that their words went well beyond the meaning and conceit of their poetry.
Adrian “Deathwish” de Pedro, Phillip Yerro Kimpo Jr., and Chen Xiao Yan won first place for poetry in English, Filipino, and Chinese, respectively, in the biennial poetry derby of the Maningning Miclat Awards on Sept. 25.
De Pedro’s collection, “Poems for Pilar (or was it Leticia),” shows a disciplined hand in the craftsmanship and innovation of the form, said poet Marjorie Evasco.
“Each of the 10 poems has a configuration of lush images that evoke the complexity and depth of emotion, and arrive at an insightful truth,” Evasco said in her citation.
Meanwhile, Kimpo’s “Hanggitna” was praised by poet Rogelio Mangahas for being able to infuse modern classic with a conversational tone.
“Sa pamamaraan ding dinamiko at mahimig, napag-ugnay-ugnay at nahabi niya ang mga mito ng disyerto, bundok, dagat, at lungsod—ang mga ironiya at trahedya sa pagkayurak ng kapaligiran at epekto sa kultura sa panahong ito ng modernisasyon at globalisasyon,” Mangahas said.
For the Chinese language category, Chen Xiao Yan (who was earlier declared the winner before the awards night) from Guangdong, China, was awarded first place for her collection “Hometown: You’re my Family.”
The grand prize winners of the Maningning Poetry Award in Filipino, English and Chinese will receive P28,000 cash prize each, a Julie Lluch trophy, and special hard-bound editions of Miclat books published by Anvil.
The judges were Evasco, Gemino H. Abad, and Marne Kilates for poetry in English; Mangahas, Vim Nadera, and Roberto Añonuevo for Filipino; and Grace Hsieh Hsing Lee and Alice Chang Chi for Chinese.
The other finalists shortlisted in the contest were: Jason G. Tabinas and Paul Alcoseba Castillo for the Filipino category; and Gian Paolo Lao and Miro Capili for English.
Backgrounder
Maningning Miclat was only 28 when she passed away. She was a celebrated artist who excelled in both literature and visual art.
In honor of the late poet and painter, Maningning Foundation was founded in 2001 to encourage creativity among the youth and recognize and nurture outstanding and talented young poets and artists not older than 28 years old.
Alma Miclat, mother of Maningning, recalled that when her daughter died on Sept. 29, 2000, the literary and art communities were shocked. Every night, poets and artists gathered at her wake to sing and read original poems.
“It was at the wake when not a few people suggested perpetuating Maningning’s legacy of excellence in poetry and painting, and forming a foundation to do so,” Alma said.
In 2003, the Maningning Miclat Awards was started, two years after the inauguration of the foundation.
“We started with the seed money from the savings Maningning left behind which was matched by other board directors,” Alma said.
The 2013 Maningning poetry winners will be the special guests of Lira at their Maningning Night to be held tomorrow, 7 p.m. at Conspiracy Café on Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.
The next Maningning Miclat Poetry Awards will be held in 2015.
