Women's Health Athena All Women's Run

My goodness, and I was so scared (and cranky) about never finding out what my results were. The organizers went through some database problems so I wasn't able to get the results from my Time Chip after the race. But they seem to have fixed it. Overall, I finished 11th. (aww, didn't make it in the top 10) but I'm happy with my time at 27 mins and 6 secs.

Those seconds per kilometer really do matter. In the end they add up, so I need to do more interval work. Love the finisher's bracelet by the way, plus the free manicure and Myra E products. :D

Buffet, wine, ratatouille and poetry

Cooped up in my cubicle, I have to say I've kind of lost touch with a part of me that just wants to sit back and enjoy everything that's beautiful. Yes, I still write. But it's not the same as before, when I was around people to whom I could easily discuss literary works with. In school, I had my professors, plus friends who love to read. I could just show them what I'd made and didn't have to fear the word "criticism." Sometimes they'd nod, more often they'd scratch their heads as though saying "What the hell is this?" But all that was fine with me. I'd still write, and like a child to her mom, tell them to have a look.

And then, well, I joined these writing workshops, which were the start of my fear. I became worried about every single thing: technique, voice, point of view, etc. etc. It was especially true with poetry. I stopped showing them around since I feared some people might read and, well, laugh at them. I know criticism is a large part of a writer's life, but recently I've begun to wonder where the line between criticism and ridicule lies. I believe one is supposed to look at a piece of work separately from it's author. That's the only way to be really objective. However, I've seen too many instances of criticism becoming an avenue for personal attack to believe in its legitimacy. At those moments, I felt like I was watching a real-life version of Mean Girls, only it wasn't just the girls who were nasty.

On March 17, 2011, the 13th Printemps des Poetes was held at the Alliance française de Manille. I was fortunate enough to attend and have the chance to read, thanks to Sir Krip Yuson, Ms. Deanna Ongpin-Recto (President) and Mickaël Balcon (Deputy Director). I was scared, because I was going to read my own poem. MY OWN. I've never done that before! Poems, for me, are just too personal. I think about all the emotions I put into them and just can't bear the thought of strangers looking into them, dissecting every word like a rotting cadaver. You could say it's as though I've just posted a piece of my journal for all the world to see.


But that's not how I felt that evening. Everyone was just doing their thing. It didn't matter if they were Palanca Hall of Famers, or civil engineers, or fitness buffs, or computer science students, or teachers, or copywriters (like me). Everyone had something to show. And everyone wanted to listen, or at least that was how I felt.

I was in the company of friends. I could show them what I made, and leave the stage without feeling like fleeing.

And this was everyone:

Part 1

1. Abdon Balde - Dream of Skycrapers
   
2. Yanna Verbo Acosta - Dreamscaping
   
3. Francisco Llaguno - Ang kalikasan at ang mga tao
   
4. Mikael de Lara Co - Permanence
   
5. Joel Salud - Faith
   
6. Christine Joy O. Castillo - Les paysages en moi
   
7. Beatrix Syjuco - Domino Nation (Bravo to her performance!)
   
8. Asha Macam - Clouds
   
9. Jacques Chessex by Markus Ruckstuhl - Je regarde la chaîne des Alpes
   
10. Ed Maranan - Sailing on the Fourth of July
    
11. Vim Nadera - Epiko ko (another astounding performance, accompanied by Tapati (vocalist of Davao's Bagong Lumad)
    
12. Alfred A. Yuson - The beach, plus Pablo
    
13. Maxine Syjuco - Weeds and Rags
    
14. Ariana Pozzuoli - The joke is on you!
    

Buffet Break! That's the first time I had ratatouille. Also had those ham things I can't name. The wine was great, by the way. :b

Part 2

1. Jacques Brel by Tata Poblador accompanied by Pr. Lester Demetillo- Ne me quitte pas
   
2. Mookie Katigbak - As far as Cho-Fu-Sa
   
3. Cesare A.X. Syjuco - The world turns
   
4. Noel del Prado - Hardin sa Ibawaw ng Davao
   
5. Gémino H. Abad - Casaroro Falls (This is the piece that touched me the most that night, not only because I can relate to Sir Jimmy's sublime imagery, but also because of the spiritual topic it grazes upon through an encounter with nature's precarious beauty)
   
6. Marne L. Kilates - Bangaan
   
7. Victor Peñaranda - At the Buddhist Garden
   
8. Alma anonas Carpio - Mountain song
   
9. Virgilio S. Almario by Marivic Rufino & Marne L. Kilates - Halimuyak ng Pulo
   
10. Johanna Fernandez - Currents
    
11. Ramon C. Sunico - Mindoro
    
12. Andrea Levinge - The deepening sea
    
13. Anne Abad - Fern
    
14. Gian Paolo Lao - In my country

Got permission from Sir Krip to repost his shots from that evening. Photos below in the order my computer decided to put them:

Andrea Levinge

Asha Macam

Beatrix Syjuco

Sir Jimmy Abad

Joel Salud

Maxine Syjuco

>.< Me and my math notebook blouse haha

Mookie Katigbak Lacuesta

Victor Penaranda

Vim Nadera

Yanna Verbo Acosta

eBook Released!

Hey, there, if you happen to drop by this humble blog, I'd like you to know that my book, which I seem to have been talking about for some time now, has finally been released. This is an all-new experience for me. I didn't know releasing one would be so rigorous in terms of editing and of course, cover art. Having it in e-format isn't any simpler I think.

Exis

It's now available from eTreasures Publishing!

But you know, having this released is just the beginning. I know the long haul is yet to come, promoting it and stuff. 

You might be interested in having a read of this eBook. I can give copies away, but there's a catch ;) I just need you to mention me and Exis in your blog, better yet, Tweet it around and share it in Facebook. That would be much much, mucho appreciated! 

I've another post coming up about the 13th Printemps des Poetes I attended last night. Stay tuned. :)

61st Palanca Awards currently accepts entries

Reposting from Writer's Block: Early submission of entries to The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards), the country’s most prestigious and longest-running literary contest, has been noted.  With the deadline for submission of entries on midnight of April 30, 2011 in sight, early bird contestants are avoiding the last minute queue and making sure that their entries are already submitted before the deadline.

This year, the Palanca Awards is accepting entries for the Novel category. The Novel category is open every three years, in both English and Filipino divisions.

The following are the regular categories: English Division – Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play; Filipino Division – Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata,Sanaysay, Tula, Tulang Pambata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula;Regional Languages Division – Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon and Short Story-Iluko. Each contestant may submit only one entry per category.
To encourage the youth to hone their literary genius, the Palanca Awards also welcomes essays under the Kabataan Division – its special division for young writers below 18 years old. This year’s Kabataan Essay theme for the English category is “What is the most valuable lesson I learned from the Internet?” and “Ano ang pinakamahalagang aral ang aking natutunan mula sa Internet?” for the Filipino category.
The literary contest is open to all Filipino (or former Filipino) citizens, except current officers and employees of its organizing body, the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc.  Contest rules and official entry forms are available at Palanca Awards’ official website, www.palancaawards.com.ph.
Entries with complete requirements may be submitted to the Foundation’s office at the 6^th Floor, One World Square Bldg., 10 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Hill Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City or may also be entered online through the Palanca Awards website or sent through email at cpawards@palancaawards.com.ph.

Contestants are reminded to submit their entries ahead of the deadline for submission, which is midnight of April 30, 2011.Winners will be announced on September 1, 2011.

Established in 1950 in honor of Don Carlos Palanca Sr., the Awards aims to help develop Philippine literature by providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works that reflect the Filipino culture and values, and to serve as a treasury of Philippine literary gems.

To date, the Palanca Awards has awarded a total of 1,994 works to 1,963 writers, which include 514 short stories, 360 poetry collections, 202 essays, 340 one-act plays, 176 full-length plays, 60 teleplays, 51 screenplays, 142 stories for children, 34 futuristic fiction stories, 71 Kabataan essays, 34 novels, and 10 collections of poetry for children.

For further information, you may email cpawards@palancaawards.com.ph or call telephone number 856-0808.

Get writing, people! :)

The coolest thing I've discovered today

I was just browsing through the net, and I found this cool site that lets you measure the distance you ran wherever you are. Oh, the wonders of Google Maps. I always run around my village, and one round of my usual route amounts to 4.35 KM:

Pretty neat, huh?

Used www.mapmyrun.com for this. ^^

Yippee! With this I won't have to rely on my watch all the time, cuz now I've got an idea of the distances of each street. Hahahaha I feel like I'm advertising. Oh well Hahaha

Long Runs: Love and Hate

I am always excited about my Sunday long runs. I love the thought of going outdoors, looking at the ancient acacia's at UP, running with other runners, watching the skaters and bikers practicing at the University Oval, the sun on my face, the rays filtering through the leaves....I can just go on and on about my little infatuation.

But I can also go on and on about why I hate it. The smog. The blisters. Throbbing feet and aching legs after the work out. Runner's high wears off just like any drug.

The onset of the soreness from last Sunday's run crept up on me Monday afternoon. Suddenly my feet felt stiff. Having to wear heels in the office only made it worse. Why has climbing stairs become such a chore? Given that this is the second time I'm going through a cycle of training that's meant to build up endurance for a half or full marathon, I don't understand why I'm still this badly affected by long runs. O_o

Maybe I'm not doing something right. Or I'm just too maarte. This morning during my recovery "easy" run, I was telling myself that: to just run through the fatigue. I'll get my runner's high, yeah, just run a bit farther...I waited, but ended up more tired.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to do a tempo run, but I'm still tired now. Maybe later I'll feel better.

*sigh...*

Printemps des Poetes 2011

Now and then, I write poems. This happens when I have an idea I can't write down in prose or short (or LONG) story form. That's when I resort to poetry. I wonder if it's intuition that drives this sort of move?

In any case, I was recently invited by Sir Krip Yuson to submit to a poetry anthology he's preparing/editing. I don't have much info about it, but luckily, it looks like two of my poems passed. He didn't tell me yet which ones, though.

Sir Krip was kind enough to invite me to a poetry reading that's happening this March 17, at the Alliance française de Manille (AfM). It's been a while since I've been in an event like this (makes me wonder if I still know how to orate). Hopefully, I won't stutter. O_o

This year's theme, I'm gonna paste over here:

D'INFINIS PAYSAGES – INFINITE LANDSCAPES

"Expressing the deep links that unite man and nature, celebrating or questioning them, is one of the most constant features of universal poetry.
Seas and mountains, islands and shores, forests and rivers, skies, winds, suns, deserts and hills, like a hinterland, most poems carry the memory of landscapes crossed and lived in.

Recognizing oneself as dependent on the infinite faces of the world, this is undoubtedly how Holderlin wanted a poet to live on earth.”


That's it for now. >.<