PRESS RELEASE: A memorial edition of three books – a poetry collection, ‘Kailan Diwata at 70+ na Tula’; a book of essays, ‘Hundred Flowers, Hundred Philosophies’; and a novel, ’21 West 4th Street’ – will be launched on Sunday, September 12, at 6 pm via Zoom
This is a press release from the Maningning Miclat Art Foundation, Inc.
A memorial edition of three books by writer and educator Mario Ignacio Miclat will be posthumously launched on Sunday, September 12, in celebration of his 72nd birthday.
Completed before he succumbed to COVID-19 exacerbated by cardiovascular morbidities, the set consists of a book of poetry, Kailan Diwata at 70+ na Tula; a book of essays, Hundred Flowers, Hundred Philosophies; and a novel, 21 West 4th Street.
Miclat’s books were published by the Maningning Miclat Art Foundation, Inc. with the support of the Filipinas Institute of Translation, the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Chancellor’s Office, and the UP Institute of Creative Writing (ICW).
The September 12 program will feature writer Elizabeth Lolarga and UP ICW director Joey Baquiran, who will discuss Miclat’s novel and essays, respectively. Performance poet Vim Nadera will read National Artist Virgilio S. Almario’s introduction to the book of poetry.
Winners of the 2021 Maningning Miclat Poetry Award will also be announced during the event. The top three poets in Filipino and English divisions will each receive the following:
- Miclat’s set of three books
- Voice from the Underworld, a book of verses by Maningning Miclat
- Fairground: A Literary Feast, an anthology of poems, essays, stories edited by Gémino H. Abad and Alma Cruz Miclat
- Soul Searchers and Dreamers, Volumes I and II by Alma Cruz Miclat
- #Rajisms, a book by nine-year-old Maharadya Miclat-Janssen
Grand prize winners will each receive a cash prize of P28,000 and an exquisite Julie Lluch trophy.
Meanwhile, judges of the Maningning Poetry Awards – Marjorie Evasco, Dinah Roma, and Marne Kilates – will read the citations for the top three winners in English poetry: Alfonso Manalastas, Eunice Andrada, and Ralph Lorenz Fonte. A poem by the grand winner will be read by Roma.
Judges Elynia Ruth Mabanglo, Rebecca T. Añonuevo, and Michael Coroza will read the citations for the top three winners in Filipino poetry: Genesis Roy D. Historillo, John Brixter M. Tino, and Rowell delos Santos Ulang. A poem from the grand winner will be read by Coroza.
The event will be hosted by awarded playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas, and will have special music numbers by actor and singer Banaue Miclat-Janssen, musician Jay Gomez, and the music tandem of Micah James Sanchez and Pamela Joy Herrera-Sanchez.
The event will be held via Zoom at 6 pm on Sunday, and will be livestreamed on the Maningning Miclat Facebook page. The Zoom details are as follows:
Meeting ID: 953 064 5524
Passcode: MMAFI
Miclat’s body of works have given him many awards, including the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, Kampeon ng Wika by Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan from the City of Manila, National Book Award, Palanca Award, UP Centennial Professorial Chair Award, and UP Centennial Publications Award.