We are not stupid! We are not!

Okay, so I read an open letter of sorts that addresses everyone who called the Philippines stupid for putting into power the ones we did during the recently-closed elections.

Just to get this out there, no, I didn't vote. Why? Because I don't believe in the power of my vote. End of story.

Ok, so here are Benjamin Pimentel, the author's, reasons why Filipinos aren't stupid.

• The number of women in the senate has doubled
• (murder-accused) Jack Enrile didn't win
• (cheater-accused) Migz Zubiri didn't win
• Leni Robredo won against the powerful Villafuerte clan.

I'm not sure if he's making a case for us winning a lesser evil in his article.

More women? Does that make things better? Sure, I'd love to see a society ruled by an equal number of men and women, but I think that's beside the point. For instance, Poe and Binay won by virtue of popularity and name recall. Is that supposed to count as female emancipation when both depended on their fathers' names?

Secondly, are we going to list down everyone else who didn't win and celebrate their non-winning as a show of intelligent voting? I didn't win (oh, wait, I didn't run either), but I don't think that adds any meaning to this event.

As for Leni Robredo's victory, can this event speak for all of us? How many Robredo-types do we have in the Senate? *tick-tock you're out of time*

Mr. Pimentel would have to be more convincing than that, I think.

MACONDO: Poetry & Peace from QC to Colombia (posting a bit late)

MOV Fest, in cooperation with World Poetry Movement, presents MACONDO: Poetry & Peace from QC to Colombia on May 14, 2013, 6:30-10 pm at Primero Casa Filipino, 26 Scout Torillo cor. Scout Fernandez Streets, Timog, Quezon City.

The event's done. I'm posting a bit late. Been up to all sorts of things, like baking, eating and baking... Oh man, gotta get this under control!

From Kalatas, the official publication of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL):

The night will feature some of the country’s poets and musicians like Aldrin Pentero, Andrea Duerme, Anne Carly Abad, Butch Bandillo, Che Sarigumba, Dakila Cutab, Dave Buenviaje, Diwa De Leon, Gemino Abad, Jam Perez, Jeff Pagaduan, Joey Baquiran, Joel Pablo Salud, Joel Toledo, Karl Orit, Khavn De La Cruz, Loaf Fonte, Lourd De Veyra, Marne Kilates, Marra Lanot, Mikael Co, Neal Imperial, Pete Lacaba, RR Cagalingan, Siege Malvar, Totel De Jesus, Rafael San Diego, and Yvette Perez.

MACONDO is an expression of solidarity with the peace talks between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) being carried out in Havana, Cuba. Through the joint effort of the World Poetry Movement and Word in the World, at least 200 poetry readings and art activities have been organized in 117 cities from 63 countries.
Over 850 poets, artists, intellectuals and scientists from 139 nations signed a statement supporting this global campaign, which began last February, created from the efforts of world poetry to help solve some of the deepest humanitarian crises of our time, war, the deterioration of the lives of people and nature, and the material and cultural poverty of millions of human beings.
The World Poetry Movement seeks to sensitize humanity regarding the dangers that threaten all forms of life on Earth, the need to build a process of spiritual unity in the world, and the urgency of global peace with social justice, in dignity, beauty and the splendor of existence.

More Information from the World Poetry Movement Website.

Here are some photos from the event c/o Sir Joel Pablo Salud, who has a new book out by the way. It's entitled "The Distance of Rhymes and Other Tragedies"

New Book! Gotta get my hands on this...

and onto the actual photos...

The Poster

Poets Pete Lacaba and Marra Lanot.

 

Joel Toledo

Gemino Abad

Yvette Perez

Rafael San Diego

Dakila Cutab

Pete Lacaba

Che Sarigumba

Dakila and Ralph Lorenz Fonte

Joel Pablo Salud

Anne Carly Abad aka "Lil 'ol Me"

Jam Perez

Khavn De La Cruz

Diwa de Leon & JP Hernande

Up Next, Two Poems to Appear in the International Poetry Review (IPR)

Whew! This has been a busy week for me. Battling sore throat. Another round of antibiotics. Several active accounts to write copy for. Cakes I baked and want to bake.

I haven't been training Muay Thai for a while now. I miss it. But I need to get well first.

This busy week brought me some good news, too. I got two poems accepted in the International Poetry Review (IPR). "Soup Bowls" and "A Site to Behold" are set to appear in the journal's spring issue this June 2013. IPR is published by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

From their website:

Founded in 1975 by Evalyn Pierpoint Gill and dedicated to her belief that the world will be a better place if we cross language barriers to hear the voice of the poet in different countries, International Poetry Review publishes poems from contemporary writers in all languages, with facing English translations. A portion of every issue is dedicated also to work originally in English.

"Caskets to sleep in" to Appear in Dreams & Nightmares 96 (Sept. 2013)

I was sick again. Waddya know. Maybe I need a triple dose of vitamins. I've been on antibiotics twice already this year, this time for tonsillitis.

Over the weekend, I got cheered up by an acceptance letter for a speculative poem of mine, "Caskets to Sleep In." I am beginning to test the waters of Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Slipstream poetry, and this is my third acceptance for poetry of this kind. I had a lot of fun writing those pieces. I believe I will write some more. I think specpoetry is interesting and beautiful, as I've always been enamored by the work of Poe but have been wondering why there aren't many who write poetry of this kind. Rio Alma happens to be one in the local scene, though he writes in Filipino.

The editor of Dreams & Nightmares magazine sent me his response to my submission promptly (within 3 days! Record breaker I must say). The editor, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, writes:

Anne

I would like to buy "Caskets to sleep in" for DN 96 (Sept. 2013). It is a wonderful poem. Can you accept payment by paypal (and to what address)?

Thank you,

David

Thanks, David and the DN team :)