editor-at-large

I got a preview of the inspiring plans for Book Development Month of NBDB, led by executive director Andrea Pasion-Flores (seen in the picture with her lawyer-husband Javi). She is multi-talented, having both a law degree and a master's degree in creative writing, but what I see as her greatest trait is her integrity as a public servant. Like J. Mendoza and Sen. Salonga, she raises the standards followed by people around her- she did it as an editor in Collegian and she's doing it as Editor-of-the-Country in NBDB.

With other former Kule colleagues led by Bos Alecks, I got to visit her place again last Friday- it seemed the same as when I last visited it many months ago, with the exception of Javi's burgeoning contemporary art collection and exquisite bonsai forest that he himself tends. I thought of how Kule, despite being an "activist" paper involved in social issues, was like a greenhouse that protected us from a system that we could only understand theoretically.

The good thing about this is that the institution protected our ideals and allowed us to develop a layer in our respective identities that would always be radical, scholarly, and activist. The best model I can think of is Chief Justice Puno, a former Kule Editor who, after reaching the pinnacle of the legal profession, now allows this layer to shine through- the Supreme Court is now engaged in outreach activities that traditionally have been done by NGOs.

Anyway, back to Book Development Month, the proposed theme is "Galing Pinoy, basahin!" and has the following interesting line-up of activities:

• Lectures and book club sessions on poetry, fiction, and non-fiction by young writers
• National Book Awards at Ayala Museum, with brass-on-kamagong trophies to be created by sculptor Michael Cacnio
• Focus on Nick Joaquin: a film screening of "Tatarin" and multi-disciplinary lectures on this National Artist for Literature
• Global Filipino Literature panel discussion with the winner and finalists of the Man Asian Literary Prize and the Premio Feronia
• Performance reading of Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo
• Novel Writing Contest- possible genres are Pinoy romance, chick lit, and horror fiction
• Books, Food and Art Festival- the activity I most look forward to, this was inspired by Irish writer James Joyce's Araby and is a three-day literary, food, and art festival in the heart of Makati City
• Overnight adventure along the Viaje del Sol- touring local art galleries, native restaurants, and pottery centers in South Luzon and participating in a travel writing workshop.

Good luck NBDB!

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The poem "Tren (Train)" by Jose Corazon de Jesus from Tulaan sa Tren is posted here under the fair use principle- thanks to NBDB and voice actor Romnick Sarmenta.