Lanot’s birth centennial

MANILA, Philippines - The birth centennial of Serafin Lanot, poet, essayist, journalist, literary editor, former director of the Bureau of Printing and pioneering Filipino astrologer, was celebrated on Aug. 15-17 at the Lopez Museum & Library in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Lanot’s 100th birthday actually fell on Aug. 21. The centennial tribute, co-sponsored by Astrology Friends Philippines and the Lopez Museum and Library, featured an exhibit of books, photographs and other Serafin Lanot memorabilia which included a letter from the late Pres. Corazon Aquino, written before the 1986 presidential elections.

The opening-day ceremonies included a reading of Lanot’s poetry from his 1960 collection Songs of the Brown Man. Selected poems were read by Jose F. Lacaba, Kris Lanot Lacaba, Francezca C. Kwe, Krip Yuson, Tony Veloso, Jackie Aquino and Bobby Andrews. The readings were capped by Marra PL. Lanot’s reading of her own poem for her father, Half My Life.

The event was graced by the whole family of Serafin Lanot, his only surviving sibling Felisa Lanot Dizon, Lacaba and Licad in-laws; and directors Peque Gallaga, Lore Reyes, Soc Jose and Tikoy Aguiluz as well as the niece of Nick Joaquin, Charo Joaquin Villegas and husband Bing Villegas, Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, niece of O.O. Sta Romana, who had worked with Lanot at the pre-martial law Manila Times, and Danny Dalena, cover illustrator of Lanot’s two books, and others.