THE UNYON ng Mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (Umpil) will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Literary Symposium on Aug. 26-28; and the Writers’ Congress on Aug. 29, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Venue is the Escaler Hall, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

The symposium gathers scholars and writers from Asean to respond to the needs and challenges of regional integration, and locate the place of literature and literary education in Southeast Asia.

Speakers include Melani Budianta (Indonesia); Trisilpa Boonkachorn (Thailand); Athithouthay Chatouphonexay (Laos); Nor Faridah Binti Abdul Manaf (Malaysia); and Rebecca T. Añonuevo (Philippines).

A panel discussion on the importance of translation will end the symposium, with poet-translators Marne Kilates and Danilo Francisco

M. Reyes serving as panelists. This year’s Adrian Cristobal Lecturer is Solita Monsod, notable economist and media personality. This will be followed by the Writers’ Forum on “E-Karapatan: The Writers’ Rights On-line.”

Significant contribution

Congress highlight is the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, given to Filipino writers who have contributed significantly to the de- velopment of Philippine literature in any language.

This year’s awardees are Crisostomo B. Balairos (Hiligaynon fiction); Nemesio S. Baldesco Sr. (Waray poetry); Rafael A. Banzuela Jr. (Bikol poetry); Marcelo A. Geocallo (Cebuano fiction); Susan S. Lara (fiction in English); Linda T. Lingbaoan (Ilocano fic- tion); Yen Makabenta (essay in English); Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr. (poetry in Filipino); Danton R. Remoto (poetry in English); and Rody Vera (drama in Filipino).

Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez for Outstanding Literature Teacher will be conferred on Erlinda Kintanar Alburo, former director of the Cebuano Studies Center of the University of San Carlos in Cebu.

Gawad Pedro Bucaneg for Outstanding Literary Organization will be given to the Integrated Perform- ing Arts Guild (Ipag), resident theater company of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

This four-day event is organized with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and Ateneo de Manila University’s Department of Filipino

The event is open to the public, but admission does not cover meals and kits. Contact Eva Cadiz at 0917- 8453721; or e-mail Michael Coroza, [email protected].