Can literary writers have a strong impact on the conscience of Philippine society? William Shakespeare cites the importance of poetry: "Not marble, nor the gilded monuments of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme." US President John F. Kennedy said at Amherst College on Oct. 26, 1963 in a speech honoring poet Robert Frost: "Where power corrupts, poetry cleanses." William Carlos Williams said: "It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there."
In February, right after this writer suggested the Philippine gala movie premiere of the Jet Li epic Hero for the Anvil Executive Club, this writer suggested at the UMPIL directors meeting that we start an annual major poetry reading night in honor of the ancient poet and idealistic statesman Qu Yuan (pronounced Chu Yuan), whose dramatic death protesting corruption 2,300 years ago epitomized righteousness and moral courage.
Apart from top national award-winning poets, such as Virgilio Almario, UP Prof. Gemino Abad, Teo Antonio, Cirilo Bautista, Dr. Ophelia Dimalanta of UST, Marjorie Evasco, Benilda Santos and others, the UMPIL Youth Desk has invited the brightest young college poets from Ateneo, UP, UST, La Salle and other schools to participate. Members of the UMPIL Youth Desk include Angelo Suarez of UST Thomasian Writers Guild, Christopher Calilao and Jewel Castro of De La Salle Universitys Malate Literary Folio, Mikael Co, Jaclyn Qua Hiansen and Karlo Noche of the Ateneos Heights literary journal, and Donamor Cruz, Vlad Gonzales and Beverly Siy of the UP Writers Club.
Yuson said the organization plans to invite other nationally renowned poets from the regions to participate in the event, such as Judge Simeon Dumdum, Jr. of Cebu, Cesar Ruiz Aquino of Dumaguete City, Anthony Tan of Iligan City and Dr. Leoncio Deriada of Iloilo City. Helping UMPIL from the Marikina Mayors Office are Milette Lorenzo, Maria Lourdes Navarro, Ma. Evelyn Nabus and Sally Balagot.
From the crowd-drawing showbiz sector, the stars who shall read poetry and scintillate in the night with their presence include recent Time magazine cover girl Chin Chin Gutierrez, award-winning actresses Gina Alajar, Lara Fabregas and Pinky Amador, still alluring sexy actress Rosanna Roces, nubile sexy star Diana Zubiri, as well as two of the countrys outstanding actors, Ricky Davao and Joel Torre. Diverse musical numbers will spice up the event in between poetry readings. UPs Capili invited the countrys top beauty queens to join this poetry reading event.
UMPIL extended an invitation for Marikina Mayor Maridel Carlos Fernando and her husband Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando to possibly participate, too. Local Chinese-language literary writers shall also participate in the poetry reading, including young ethnic Chinese writers in the English language, such as Charlson Ong and Shirley Lua.
This year, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorating his death falls on the first week of June. His life epitomized the Confucian virtue of placing the national and community welfares above those of the family and self. Due to Qu Yuan being a famed poet, his death anniversary is also marked as Poets Day in much of Asia.
The death anniversary of Qu Yuan is commemorated yearly as a major international festival, with colorful dragon boat races and the eating of tsung tzu or glutinous rice with fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. In the local Hokkien dialect spoken in the Philippines, tsung tzu is called ma-chang, a popular and delicious dish in many local Chinese restaurants. Ma-chang is so diverse in flavor and taste, with some becoming elaborate preparations with the addition of pork, peanuts, salted eggs and other delectable fillings.
How did eating ma-chang come about? When the idealistic poet ended his life by drowning, people started throwing balls of sweet rice in bamboo leaves into the river to keep fishes from eating the heros body.
The people also furiously raced in boats looking for his body, thus starting the annual Dragon Boat Race tradition. Today, major cities worldwide seek to outshine each others Dragon Boat races in size and prestige, from Vancouver, Sydney, San Francisco, Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing to Europe.
The group is now working to ensure the success of what may become the countrys biggest and most memorable poetry reading night under the dynamic UMPIL 2001-2004 executive board, led by chairman poet-novelist Yuson. Other members of the UMPIL executive board are vice chairman Roberto Añonuevo, secretary general Vim Nadera, auditor Ariel Borlongan, with directors Karina Bolasco, Romulo Baquiran, Jr., Jose Bragado, Herminio Beltran, Jr., Jose Wendell Capili, Luna Sicat-Cleto, Michael Coroza, Jose "Butch" Dalisay, Jr., Marne Kilates, Mario Miclat, Charlson Ong and this writer. Elected chairman emeritus are Adrian Cristobal, Virgilio Almario (the top Filipino poet writing under the pen name Rio Alma) and the late poet Mike Bigornia.
For inquiries regarding the UMPIL poetry reading night on June 5, call the UMPIL Secretariat at 372-3548, 372-3549 or 410-3116.