NCCA sends top Filipino writers to lecture in London

At the NCCA lectures: (l-r) Bobi Rodero, moderator; Prof. Virgilio Almario, Alfred ‘Krip’ Yuson,

Dr. Benilda Santos, Ambassador Cesar B. Bautista, Mrs. Ma. Paz Bautista, and Loline Reed

For three weeks in November, Filipinos in Rome, Brussels and London were reacquainted with the richness of the Filipino cultural heritage and the elegance of Filipino literature, through a series of lectures given by three of the Philippines’ foremost literary writers and scholars sent abroad by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as "ambassadors of culture".

The three writers were poet-critic and University of the Philippines professor Virgilio Almario, recognized as the foremost contemporary poet in the Filipino language in the country today, translator of Rizal’s novels and other classics, a children’s book publisher, and until recently Executive Director of the NCCA; Dr. Benilda Santos, chair of the Ateneo de Manila University’s Department of Filipino, an award-winning poet, literary critic and feminist writer; and Alfred Yuson, this year’s Carlos Palanca Hall of Fame awardee, an internationally published poet and critic, a novelist, and a regular columnist on the literary arts in the Philippine Star.

Their NCCA-sponsored trip was coordinated by the Philippine Embassies in the three cities, in cooperation with the Filipino community. London was the final leg in the this aptly named Culture and Diplomacy Lecture Series, which had been initially discussed between former NCCA chairman Jaime Laya and Philippine Ambassador to the UK Cesar Bautista during the Centennial year. The NCCA is the policy-making agency in the Philippines responsible for all cultural concerns related to the promotion and preservation of the country’s literary, visual, musical, performance, graphic and ethnic arts.

The visitors’ first engagement was a testimonial lunch hosted by the Filipino Women’s Association chaired by Clarita Richardson, at Josephine’s Restaurant, followed by the first lectures which were given at the Tudor Room of the Imperial Hotel on Russell Square. Later, they made their presentations before a group of faculty and students of DeMontfort University in Bedfordshire. Among the topics covered in both lectures were: historical highlights and aspects of Philippine culture; contemporary Filipino literature, including writings on the Filipino expatriate experience; feminism and poetry, writing for children, and Filipino poetry in Filipino and English.

The visiting lecturers also read some of their prize-winning works in a literary interaction with London-based Filipino writers comprising the group called UMPUK (Ugnayan ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipino sa United Kingdom) headed by Irineo Catilo. They also made a "writer’s pilgrimage" to the world famous Stonehenge, a prehistoric formation of megaliths rich in mythology and folklore.

The NCCA writers at the English-Speaking Union office: (l-r) Loline Reed, Virgilio Almario, Ambassador Cesar Bautista, ESU director-general Valerie Mitchell, Alfredo Yuson, Benilda Santos, and Gene Alcantara

Accompanied by Ambassador Bautista, the group called on Valerie Mitchell OBE, director general of the English Speaking Union. During the meeting, it was agreed that a chapter of the ESU would be set up in the Philippines, with scholarships in the UK to be made available to outstanding Filipino students in the field of public speaking and debate.

The NCCA lecturers were hosted by BodyShots producer and noted hairstylist Mimi Vasquez of London in her elegant flat in Chiswick, while their lectures at the Imperial Hotel were arranged by Loline Reed of the Overseas Women’s Council. Jun Terra, Eleanor Sy Templeman, and Cora Castle introduced the speakers. Bobi Rodero tendered dinner and a musical soiree for the group, while Gene Alcantara of the British Council hosted the evening of poetry reading. •

The writers from NCCA with the writers of UMPUK: (l-r front) Ed Maranan, Irineo Catilo, Jun Terra; (back) Bert Cabual, Virgilio Almario, Gene Alcantara, Benilda Santos, and Alfredo Yuson