Lit fest turns folk, pop at Ayala Museum

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino writers will discuss folk and popular literature as shown in komiks, TV and film as the National Book Development Board (NBDB), Filipinas Heritage Library (FHL), and Ayala Museum hold “Poptastik Pinoy!” this November.

The event is part of the 4th Philippine International Literary Festival. Titled “Text and the City,” the lit fest will take place in major universities in Metro Manila from Nov. 11 to 14 and will culminate at the Ayala Museum on Nov. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Promotional activities will also be held at the Makati Ayala Malls from Nov. 17 to 24.

The Nov. 15 event is a whole day series of talks, which will cover the following topics: “Folklore in Pop Literature (komiks, graphic novels, novels, short stories and TV);” “Kuwentuhan on Komiks;” and “Writing in Different Genres.” Among the panel discussants and moderators are comic artists Manix Abrera, Noel Pascual, AJ Bernardo, Karen Francisco, and Budjette Tan; novelists Eros Atalia, Luna Sicat Cleto, and Edgar Samar; scriptwriter Suzette Doctolero; fictionists Sarge Lacuesta and Yvette Tan; journalists Ruel de Vera and Kristine Fonacier; and professor Patrick Campos.

Writers Tony Perez and Rolando Tolentino will open “Poptastik Pinoy!” with talks on writing and the city. Korean-American writer Krys Lee will discuss her short story compilation Drifting House. Lee will be joined by Sarge Lacuesta, Andrea Pasion-Flores and Kristine Fonacier for a flash fiction writing masterclass, “City Fiction 100,” while other pocket lectures are being held in the Ayala Museum function rooms.

Writer and educator Isagani R. Cruz will hold another seminar on “How to write a book” for professional and amateur writers. Garitony Nicolas will also share his experience of publishing his own books with the help of Central Books, the first publisher-on-demand in the Philippines.

The lit fest will stretch to the following week at the Ayala Malls. On Nov. 17, a marathon of GMA films will be held at the New Glorietta Activity Center, along with a mini fair for indie komiks creators and sellers and small or independent publishers. The public can also view GMA 7 telefantasya costumes on the ground floor of Greenbelt 3 from Nov. 18 to 24.

“Poptastik Pinoy!” is supported by Ayala Malls, GMA Network, Brother Philippines Inc., Intercontinental Hotel, the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), the Korea Copyright Commission (KCC), Fully Booked, and McDonald’s.

For inquiries, call Verne Ahyong at the Ayala Museum at 759-8288 local 46 or e-mail ahyong.vy@ayalafoundation.org.

To register, call Marj Villaflores at 759-8288 local 25, or e-mail litfest@filipinaslibrary.org.ph.