SPEND THESE COLD MONTHS OF NOVEMBER - DECEMBER WITH THE WRITERS GUILD!

September - December 2007

+ REFLECTIONS. Dylan Gozum reviews the Guild's teacher training programs.

+ IN FOCUS // Odie Gementera of the Camera Club of SPi talks about a craft we all love - photography.

+ A SERIES OF FORTUNATE EVENTS. The Writers Dream Academy calls it a wrap.

+ REVIEW. Resident cineaste Ed Saludes raves about filmmaker Raya Martin.

+ HARD COPY // The Guild's literary and news magazine finally makes a debut.

+ CULTURE EXPRESS.
{Meet and greet Direk Floy Quintos}
{One of SPi's own stars in New Voice Company's INTO THE WOODS as Rapunzel}

+ BOOK OF THE MONTH
{SOPAS MUNA} October 2007
{TWISTED FLICKS} November 2007
{TWISTED TRAVELS} December 2007

+ STANZAS OF STILLNESS. Rey Tamayo Jr.'s poetry hits where it hurts most.

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FROM THE CHIEF EDITOR

Teachers all. With Guest Speaker Rita Dela Cruz.


TEACHERS TRAINING: A REFLECTION

by Dylan Y. Gozum

This year marks the second year that the Writers Guild has opened the Writers Workshop Series to public school teachers who are under the supporting embrace of our very own SPi Foundation. The Toastmasters Club, in a fresh bid for a greater sense of purpose, also did a series of workshops with teachers, although in the field that they are known for: public speaking.

For the Guild's part, we focused mainly on starting the teachers on how to write because if there are two things that have started to die in the Philippine Educational System, it's reading and consequently its twin, writing. I have no hard data to back up this claim, but if the results of the annual profiency exams for students are of any indication, it is pretty obvious that something is sorely lacking. The results of the English proficency exams for teachers are also at an all-time low. I had a chat with former Writers Guild contributor, Mahros Abano, who has returned to teaching and she says that the education system is delayed by 20 years. In what terms she didn't specify, but one look at graduates of public schools then and those of today speaks a lot about this gap in the information school children today receive.

I do not blame the teachers. With almost non-existent public libraries, where will they get new information other than what's written in their textbooks? And oh, don't even get me started on the textbooks. It's a tragedy on a scale never before seen in this country. Also, at Php 9,000/month salary, we do not expect teachers to spend a centavo on internet research or at the very least subscribe to magazines.

In our last workshop, our participants were shocked to know that a Php 300-priced book is already "reasonable" considering that most books in the Philippines are usually Php 300 and above. The latest Harry Potter book which came a few months ago was priced at Php 1,400.00 - four times the daily mininum wage of a Metro Manila-based worker. Surely, at their current salaries, public school teachers won't be able to have access to anything new at all, unless they are sent to the annual summer training for teachers in Baguio. My late mother, who worked for Plan International, once described a meeting of English Grammar teachers as "pandemonium, bordering on insanity." It was a meeting of the old versus the new school of Grammar and it took a day to settle differences in the usual grammar practices. I can imagine a lot of egos got bruised that day.

So why writing? Because writing allows a person to use the power of language to express one's thoughts. Filipinos do not relish the idea of speaking formally in public. Unfortunately, neither are we writers or readers. If we can only sing more often (if and when singing becomes our usual mode of communication), maybe we'd get much farther than where we are today. The entry of the texting language doesn't help either. Some say it's not how it's written but how it is expressed. Maybe. Maybe we can do away with basic sentence construction as long as we make ourselves understood. In fact, an office secretary of ours who just left for Dubai emails me in - surprise - SMS language! It was both worrisome and amusing. SMS language has become second nature.

So again, why do we teach writing? Because to be a writer, one also has to be a reader. In fact, one has to be a voracious reader - to quote guest speaker Rita dela Cruz - if one wishes to make a career out of writing. You can say that we are trying to hit two birds with one stone. We may not be able to convert the teachers to a writing career in a workshop or two, at least we can start them on reading. I cross my fingers and hope that their school libraries have books for adults. The classics would be my first requirement. Harry Potter is a no no. Bob Ong, no. Paolo Coelho, only on one's spare time. But for serious readers, one must never miss out on the rich language that classics offer.

Again, why writing? Because knowledge breeds knowledge. It's important - nay, a requirement - for teachers who teach English and Filipino subjects to be writers, too, because what's the use of teaching grammar if one can't use it? Let us teach our teachers teach their students how to harness the power of the written word and use it to advance themselves. The future will be waiting for their well-written job application forms, essays in contests, speeches during family gatherings, or even something as mundane as a Friendster or Facebook testimonial. Use knowledge to fight ignorance which promotes proverty. Use the power of the written word to secure and protect human rights. Use the ability to write to seek redress or earn a promotion at work or to articulate needs, wants, and aspirations. Over and above, use writing as a form of self-expression because through this one can find amusement, fulfillment, or life direction. Writing can be a voice for those who cannot speak out loud.

20 years of backlog can be a daunting thought. I hope that we are doing our own contribution in slowly closing this gap. We owe it to our children.

WRITERS DREAM ACADEMY CALLS IT A WRAP!

The Second Season of the Writers Guild's Series of Fortunate Events finally ended last November 10, 2007. This wraps up all seven topics for this year's Series.


Guest speaker Bebang Siy (in white dress) with some members of the Guild.

The Series opened with a bang - quite literally - with Popular Literature (Ghost Story & Mini-Mystery) given by Beverly Siy. She is the current president of LIRA, the national group of poets who write in Filipino. Despite the typhoon that was raging during that time, Bebang's fun character gave the workshop its much needed warmth.

Next came Rita dela Cruz's Introduction to Essay Writing (Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Sanaysay) on August 25. This is was the first in the series which was attended by public school teachers from Carmona and Tagaytay, both in the province of Cavite. Their attendance was arranged by our office partner, the SPi Foundation headed by Ms. Lucy Aguila.

Guest speaker Sir Alfredo (in green shirt) and some members of the class.

We were very lucky that our September 1-speaker, Alfredo B. Diaz, was in Manila for his Masteral at the University of the Philippines Diliman and he lost no time in infecting us with his humorous stories during the Humorous Creative Non-Fiction workshop. Mr. Diaz is a professor at the University of the Philippines Visayas which is based in Miag-ao, Iloilo. He also is a member of the Theatre Arts Guild of the University of the Philippines (TAGUPCI). He is one of several authors who have come together to form the anthology entitled My Fair Maladies. A copy of this book can be borrowed from our Readvolution Bookcase B.

Following Mr. Diaz's workshop is the Introduction to Writing Short Stories (Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Maikling Kuwento) last September 22 by Haidee C. Pineda, also of the University of the Philippines Diliman. This is the second topic under the Starter Kit banner and thus was also attended by public school teachers.

Guest speaker Jay Fernando (in dark glasses) and some members of the scriptwriting class.

Last October 26, we were likewise honored to have been given the chance to learn from Ricardo P. Fernando III. At 17, he won First Prize at the 53rd Palanca Literary Awards for his entry on Futuristic Fiction in Filipino entitled "Bagong Developments sa Pagbuo ng Mito ng Lungsod". Mow 23, he currently is a head writer at ABS-CBN. The workshop topic was Scriptwriting for Drama on Television.




Guest Speaker Winnie (last row, 2nd from left) and members of the class.

Rounding up the Starter Kit Series was Wennielyn F. Fajilan's Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Maikling Kuwentong Pambata (Introduction to the Art of Writing Stories for Children) last October 20, 2007. The participants were taught the basics and were given tips on how to engage the children's imagination with exciting stories. Mss. Siy, Fajilan, and dela Cruz are all contributing writers to the anthology entitled SOPAS MUNA (Isang higop sa Mainit na Sabaw ng Buhay). A copy of this book can be borrowed from the Readvolution Bookcase B.

Leah Ruth Racelis of Healthcare smiles as she receives her certificate from Jessica.

Going twisted with Jessica!

And finally, to close the entire Second Season was Jessica Zafra of the TWISTED Series fame. Her topic was The Personal Essay. Ms. Zafra is a three-time Palanca winner for her short stories (Portents, 1991; Bad Boy Robin, Baad, Baad Boy, 1993; and Black, 1994) . Her visit to SPi happened last November 10, 2007. The participants were made to watch the critically-acclaimed Cinemalaya film, ENDO. Take-home messages from the workshop were: read, stop watching television, keep a journal, be open-minded because everything is material, and develop an interest in other art forms, i.e. art, film, etc. Copies of her books are available in the Readvolution Bookcase B.

All in all, the Series saw the attendance of ____ particpants, both from within SPi and from other companies and schools. The Series of Fortunate Events (Writers Workshop Series) is held every year by the Writers Guild of SPi. This year, it opened under the auspices of the Writers Dream Academy and is supervised by Jose Perseus Canivel, the Workshop Manager.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

On behalf of SPi's Writers Guild, we thank you for your generous donation of books.

We have received the following new titles:

Janet Evanovich – Three to Get Deadly
Janet Evanovich – Four to Score
Janet Evanovich – High Five
Janet Evanovich –Hot Six
Janet Evanovich – Seven Up
Janet Evanovich – Hard Eight
Janet Evanovich –Ten Big Ones
Janet Evanovich – Eleven on Top
Patricia Cornwell – Trace
Sophie Kinsella – Shopaholic / Ties the knot
Sophie Kinsella - Shopaholic and Sister
Carl Hiaasen – Basket Case
Kathleen Woodiwiss – A Season Beyond A Kiss

Your kindness will surely enrich a lot of people.

Thank you!
Maria Pilar R. Manzano
Writers Guild
SPi

THE WRITERS GUILD COMMEMORATES HUMAN RIGHTS WEEK

Photo source: Clickthecity.com

Muling ipapalabas ang pelikulang TRIBU sa UP Cine Adarna (Film Center) sa ika-8 ng Disyembre 2007, ganap na alas-7 ng gabi.

BACKGROUND: Nagwagi bilang Best Full-length Film ng Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2007, isinisiwalat ng TRIBU ang dahas, rubdob, at salimuot ng Tondo sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanghal ng buhay-gang. Sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng mga artista mula mismo sa mga residente ng Tondo at sa mga kasapi ng gang mula rito, higit na napaigting ang pagpaparanas ng pelikula — mula sa madilim ngunit sa isang banda ay makulay na gulo ng lugar, hanggang sa musika ng rap.

WRITER: Ang TRIBU ay isinulat ni Jim Libiran, na siya ring direktor ng pelikula. Nagwagi rin ito sa kategoryang Full-length Screenplay ng Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature 2006. Para sa tiket at sa karagdagang impormasyon, maaaring itext si Pam Maranca sa 09197971213 o mag-email sa liraworkshop@gmail.com.

P100 ang isang tiket.

POST-SCREENING: Magkakaroon din ng mini-concert ng mga gangster-rapper na mapapanood sa pelikula at isang symposium ukol sa buhay-gang.

Ang pagpapalabas ng Tribu ay bahagi ng Human Rights week celebration sa UP Diliman. Ang film showing na ito ay handog ng UP Cine Adarna at LIRA, isang organisasyon ng mga makatang nagsusulat sa wikang Filipino. Bahagi ng kita ay mapupunta sa pagpapagamot kay Tata Raul Funilas, isang manggagawa mula sa UP at kasapi rin ng LIRA na may karamdaman sa bituka at tiyan.