The Philippine Online Chronicles

BOOKS

National Book Awards

The National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics Circle handed out National Book awards on Nov. 12 at the National Museum.

The 30^th National Book Awards hailed this year’s best books under the categories of Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction Prose, Literary Criticism, Arts, Science, Social Science, Leisure and Design.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Publishing House won the “Publisher of the Year” award while Charlson Ong’s “Blue Angel, White Shadow: A Novel,” produced by the said publishing house won the National Book Award for Best Novel in a Foreign Language.

The Best Novel in a Philippine Language went to Genevieve L. Asenjo for her “Lumbay ng Dila” (C&E and DLSU Press).

Simeon Dumdum, Jr.’s “If I Write This Poem, Will You Make It Fly” (Ateneo University Press) won the Poetry awards while “Sagad sa Buto: Hospital Diary at Iba Pang Sanaysay” (UST Publishing House) written by Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr. bagged the National Book Award for Non-Fiction Prose.

It was Ma. Luisa Torres Reyes’ “Banaad at Sikat: Metakritisismo at Antolohiya” (NCCA) that won under the category of Literary Criticism/Literary History while Nicanor Tiongson’s “The Urian Anthology 1990-1999” from the University of the Philippines (UP) Press and Film Development Council of the Philippines was chosen for the Arts category.

A group of writers, namely Karla Prieto Delgado, Gianna Reyes Montinola, Cristina Roces-Garcia, Ginny Roces-de Guzman, Sylvia Roces-Montilla and Vicky Veloso-Barrera bagged the Leisure award with their book “Celebrations” (Anvil Publishing).

“Sanghiyang sa Mundo ng Internet” (Vibal Foundation, Inc.) by Rhoderick Nuncio and “Watersheds Sheltering Life” (Wide Angle Media, Inc.) by Grace Roxas won in the Social Science and Science categories, respectively.

Ateneo Press received a Design award for Rodolfo Ang, Nancy Pe Rodrigo and Maricor Baytion’s “To Give and Not Count the Cost: Ateneans Inspiring Ateneans 1859-2009.”

Bilingual “Noli Me Tangere”

The Instituto Cervantes will be launching the first ever bilingual edition of the Philippine classic “Noli me Tangere” on Nov. 22.

The launch will coincide with the birth anniversary of its author national here Jose Rizal.

The said English-Spanish version, produced by Instituto Cervantes de Manila and Vibal Foundation, will reproduce the edicion principe (first edition) in its entirety. The 912-page novel will also have 1,200 notes based on the Berlin edition and its original manuscript, explaining Rizal’s additions, deletions and other revisions.

Rizal scholar Ambeth Ocampo wrote the introduction while Isaac Donoso and National Archives director Ino Manalo provides essays on the life of Rizal and the novel’s roots in classical Philippine art.

Bonifacio’s “Mi Ultimo Adios” translation in Braille

Meanwhile, Katipunan founder Andres Bonifacio’s “Pahimakas,” the Tagalog translation of Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios,” has recently been transcribed into Braille.

The blind may now read it through a brass plaque displayed at the Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago.

Another plaque with Italian poet Rino Pavolini’s translation “L’ultimo Addio” was also installed.

The brass plates, together with an abstract painting of Rizal’s execution, were donated by the Italian Embassy.

“The gift of two brass plaques given by the Embassy of Italy in the Philippines to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines marks the celebration of two very important events in Italian and Philippine history this year. These two very important events are the 150th year of the Unification of Italy and the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal," said Italian Embassy Cultural Attaché Emanuela Adesini.

National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chair Maria Serena Diokno said Italy’s unification and Rizal’s birth may be “two seemingly disparate events” but “both were intimately related to the project of nation-building.”

“In the case of Italy, from independent states the kingdom of Italy became one, while in the case of Rizal, the idea of a Filipino nation began to take shape," she said.

“In both instances, the formation of a single national entity, with an identity all its own, was the clear driving force. Hence, we come together at the shrine of Rizal, Italians and Filipinos, with a rich tradition and history of national honor," she added.

VISUAL ARTS

Sagada’s traditional pottery

In line with their Sagada Kiln Project which resulted in the construction of a pottery training center, the Australian Embassy, together with Sagada indigenous potters, will exhibit around 90 stoneware artworks on Nov. 15 to 29 at the Cav Wine Shop-Café in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Entitled “Ub Ubbo 2011,” the exhibit will feature works by Sagada potters Lope Bosaing, Siegrid Bangyay, Teresita Baldo and Jesse Degay. The Putik Potters Association of the Philippines will also field works from Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn, Joey De Castro, Jo Geraldo and Pablo Capati III.

Already on its third year, Australian Ambassador Rod Smith said, “The project helped stimulate economic activity in the community by providing a venue where the local potters can produce and exhibit their work.”

The project also involved a cultural exchange program where Australian artist Sean Cassidy brought some of the local artists to Parkes, New South Wales, Canberra and Sydney to hold pottery demonstrations for students.

Raising funds through sculpting

Philippine sculptors will be holding an exhibit-sale on Nov. 28 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati to raise funds for the Rotary Club Makati West’s “Gift of Life” program which offers free heart operations for needy children.

“Art with a Heart” will feature 40 carvers from all over the country.

National Artist for Architecture and the rotary club’s Culture Committee chairman Chitong Santos said it is a way for artists to do something concrete for the “less fortunate members of our society.”

He said the club has already sponsored 122 open heart surgeries and 102 Patent Ductus Arterious surgery for children, all of which were successful.

For every artwork sold, 50% (instead of the usual 70%) of the proceeds will go to the beneficiaries.

“Not only will the sculptures they acquire add beauty, style and prestige to their homes and offices, but they will have given many children the chance to live longer, healthier and happier lives,” said club President Ramon Guerrero.