‘Camsun, Camsand, Camlitarts’

A SERIES of literary events have been lined up in Pili, Camarines Sur in February 16 and 17, this year in celebration of the Philippine Arts Month.

The two- day literary advocacy project, dubbed as Pintakasi kan Literaturang Bikolnon, is the Southern Luzon satellite event of the 4th Taboan Philippine Writers Festival, the annual flagship project of the Literary Arts Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Lined up on February 16 are the Pili Book Fair and the Pintakasi Literary Forum at the Research Hall of the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture at 8 and 9: 30 AM respectively. Ten new titles will be featured at the Bikol book expo, including the trilingual children’s storybook by Carlos Arejola, the 2012 edition of the Burak Rawitdawit series published and edited by the Ottawa- based Gode Calleja, and the groundbreaking releases of the Ateneo de Naga University Press, namely Minatubod Ako sa Diklom, Kristian Cordero’s Bikol translation of selected poems by Rainer Maria Rilke, and Doros asin mga Anghel, vernacular translation of John Donne’s early 17th century poetry by Victor Dennis Nierva.

Joining Arejola and Cordero in the Pintakasi Literary Forum are Prof. Paz Verdades Santos, Ph. D., H. Francisco Peñones Jr. and Eilyn Nidea- Parocha. Theme for this year’s forum is “Disastra: Bikol Writing and the Writing of Tragedy.” The Disastra forum, engendered by the English word disaster and the Latin astralis, is a means to situate the world concerns of global warming and climate change in Bikol literary discourses and narratives.

Day 2 promises to be equally auspicious, with a line- up that includes “Yudi Man Mga Osipon para ki Nunuy asin ki Nini,” a story- telling session at the Binanuanan Norte Elementary School in Barangay Binanuanan in Pili, Camarines Sur. Binanuanan, a farming community at the foot of Mount Isarog, is believed to be the site of Pili’s old poblacion and seat of government in the 19th century. The poblacion has since been moved to flatlands to avoid further conflicts with the remontados, the native dissenters roaming the area in the Spanish times.

Capping the two- day event is “Tingog Cimarron: Harampang sa Plaza Cimarrones,” a poetry reading and literary performance session at the Plaza de Cimarrones on February 17 at 5 p. m. Emerging literary voices of the Ateneo de Naga University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, St. Louise de Marillac School of Pili, Ragay National Agricultural and Fisheries School, and other schools will be featured in the poetry reading. Seasoned literary practitioners Honesto Pesimo Jr., Judith Balares Salamat and others, one may recall, were featured in the inaugural staging of the poetry reading last year.

Also featured in the Year 2 staging of the Pintaksi are the performances of the LRAY Dance Co. choreographed by artistic director Erick del Rosario, and the unveiling and exhibit of literature- themed works by the visual arts husband- and- wife tandem of Harold and Cris Gomez– giving way to the cooperation of practitioners of different art forms.

Admission to all events is free of charge. The public is invited.