PRINTEMPS DES POÈTES (March 23, 2009)

Alliance Française de Manille -- during the birthday of Francisco Balagtas, April 2, last year -- presented SPRING OF POETS 2008: IN PRAISE OF THE OTHER: CROSSROADS, CROSSINGS, CROSSBREEDINGS in their Makati City office.Aside from the Vice-President of their Board Deanna Ongpin-Recto, featured poets were Dr. Gemino Abad, Yanna Verbo Acosta, Kash Avena, Alma Anonas-Carpio, Darwin Chiong, Marne Kilates, Asha Macam, Ginny Mata, Miguel Ongpin, Ramon Sunico, Cesare A.X. Syjuco, Maxine Syjuco, Trix Syjuco, Kooky Tuason, and your truly who collaborated with sculptor Raul Funilas. This time, we will miss two performers who were originally in the lineup.

A jamais.

Last year, on March 30, artist/architect Sid Hildawa of the Cultural Center of the Philippines would succumb to “multiple organ failure because of severe complications arising from pneumonia.” On Friday, March 27, 4 p.m., at the CCP Promenade, there will be a mass, poetry reading, reminiscing, anything goes. Organized by Hermie Beltran, Ed Cabagnot, and the Visual, Literary, and Media Arts Department staff, Sid's first death anniversary celebration will offer wine, cheese, petit-fours, and everything that you will bring for the potluck. Kindly call their office at # 8321125 locals 1702 or 1705 and look for Ruth or Bing for coordination.

On the other God's hand, rock goddess Anabel Bosch would obey the pain, on January 11, after brain aneurysm had a Big Bang on her -- exactly on New Year's Day of 2009!

Once more, there will be another SPRING OF POETS 2009: EN RIRE(S)… ABOUT LAUGHTER on March 26 at 6 p.m.

It is based on the famous word of French writer and humorist Alphonse Allais: “Les gens qui ne rient jamais ne sont pas sérieux.”

Indeed, people who never laugh are not serious.

Ms. Ongpin-Recto, former CCP Artistic Director, informed us that National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario whose poem Pulis ng Laging Saklolo has been translated into English by Mr. Kilates and will be read by Marivic Rufino. The translator himself will read his own poem Shanty on a Lot Vacated by a Bank.

Our High Priestess, Virginia Moreno, has asked a little help from Myra Beltran to dance for her Mock Ballad on a Pearl.

This time, Dr. Abad, known for his lyricism will reveal his witticism with Arse Politika, Or Breaking Wind.

Always avant garde Alfred, or Krip Yuson – who came late last year when prioritized the Playboy Philippines launch, will circumnavigate with his World Poetry Circuit.

RayVi Sunico looks at the funny side of love, after his 299th version, with his Tula ng Pag-Ibig #300.

Frank Rivera, after conducting workshops from the poorest provinces to prison cells, will take time out to tell us about Legend Of Just About Everything... Including Laughter.
His tokayo, Frankie Llaguno, with no disrespect, will pay tribute to The Bard by reading his Sonnet on Laughter in the classic Shakespearean form.

Palanca's winningest Hall of Famer, Ed Maranan, won't manifest his stiff upper lip after working as information officer of the Philippine Embassy in London and editing its The Philippine Newsletter until 2006, however, will instead mock Bob Geldof's Boomtown Rats, with a shade of Joel Lamangan's sex drama, with his My Boom Town of Warat.

Anyway, any art or literary event will be incomplete without the von Trapp Family of Philippine culture – the Syjucos!

Always expect the Mom, performance artist par excellence Jean Marie taking photo and video but leave the unexpected to the Dad, Cesare, singing his Rain Song, after his Daughter, Maxine, explaining in verse What I Hadn't The Hands To Tell You.

Then, it's other Les Enfants Terrible's turn in Conchitina Cruz, Adam David, Marc Gaba, Mookie Katigbak, Angelo Suarez, and Lourd Ernest de Veyra.As usual, French won't take it sitting down.
Ambassador Thierry Borja de Mozota will also stand up and speak up via Jean La Fontaine's Les Animaux Malades De La Peste while Alliance Francaise Board member Markus Ruckstuhl agreed to Jacques Prevert's Pour Rire En Societe.

However, we are again torn between practising and preaching.

Especially, when the global comes in conflict with the regional.

Time-wise, at least.

Right after staging our history of nation's inebriation in Dito Po Sa Amin – translated into French by Prof. Rosalinde Fleur Zapata and interpreted by Danica Romero of the University of the Philippines' European Languages department -- we had to stay sober to catch the bus and the boat to The Marble Capital! Chairman Nicon Fameronag, as early as January, invited us to conduct a workshop but there was no time and place then.

Now, after three months, it is final.

The 6th RDL-CLEAR Writing Workshop on the Three Romblon Languages will be held at the Concepcion National High School (CNHS) in Sibale, Romblon, on March 26, 27 and 28.
RDL-CLEAR is no beauty product.

It stands for Romblon Discussion List-Cultural, Livelihood and Education Assistance for Romblon, an internet discussion group of expatriate Romblomanons.

The writing workshop is an annual literary activity which seeks to promote and preserve Asi, Unhan, and Ini—Romblon’s main languages—and to re-awaken the Romblomanons’ consciousness about their rich language heritage.

Kusog Sibalenhon, Inc. is an association of Romblomanons likewise engaged in cultural, economic, and welfare programs for the island of Sibale.

RDL-CLEAR has tapped Kusog to organize and host this year’s writing workshop. Kusog, in turn, has joined hands with CNHS to co-host.

He also assures us all is not work in the three-day activity since he repeatedly reminds us to bring our swimming and fishing gear.

Sibale, he reiterates, is better than Boracay.

C'est la vie!

TEXT SUPPORT:
Q: What is the best line in one of the most romantic movies of all time Jerry Maguire?
A: “Show me the money!”

CONSIDER THIS:
Last week, I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!" Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!" Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." “Really?" my son asked. “Cross my heart," the man replied. Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes." Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."