Butch Dalisay leads STAR-NBS forum on writing

MANILA, Philippines - Ernest Hemingway wrote about it in “A Moveable Feast.” George Orwell gave his story on it in “Down and Out in Paris and London.”

We’re talking about the starving writer, that sometimes romanticized but real plight of men of letters who meet deadlines – but can’t even make both ends meet.

Today, literary icon Butch Dalisay will talk about the writing profession – and how writers can improve their craft and earn a living from writing - at the National Book Store (NBS) in EDSA Shangri-La Plaza Mall at 3 p.m. in the culminating event of Literary Month this January presented by The Philippine STAR Lifestyle Section and NBS in celebration of The STAR’s 25th anniversary this year.

Panelists will be broadcast journalist Rico Hizon, filmmaker Pepe Diokno and lawyer-book publisher Miguel Ramos.

Better known as Dr. Jose Dalisay Jr. in the University of the Philippines where he is a full professor of English, STAR columnist Dalisay has published over 20 books of fiction and nonfiction. What he has amassed in the course of his illustrious writing career are countless Palanca Awards, a TOYM Award, and scholarships as a Fulbright, Hawthornden, British Council, David Wong and Rockefeller Bellagio fellow. In 1997, his second novel “Soledad’s Sister” was shortlisted for the inaugural Man Asian Literary Prize. He will leave in May for another fellowship in Italy to work on his third novel. Dalisay has just completed the biography of Rosa Rosal, and is working on books about the late Sen. Sotero Laurel, the La Salle Brothers, Herminio Disini and Manoling Yap.

Flying in from Singapore for the event is award-winning broadcast journalist Rico Hizon, the anchor of BBC World News’ “Asia Business Report” and “Asia Today” programs. In his 20 years as the only Filipino to anchor for two most prestigious news organizations, Hizon has interviewed movers and shakers such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Bill Clinton, Sir Richard Branson, Kobe Bryant, Grant Hill and Michelle Wie. In 2008 and 2009, Hizon was personally invited by Clinton to moderate in the Clinton Global Initiative in Hong Kong and New York.

Pepe Diokno, only 23, won every award his film “Engkwentro” was eligible for at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. Last year, UK’s Phaidon Press named Diokno one of the world’s most exceptional emerging filmmakers. That same year, Engkwentro also won Best Asian Film in South Korea. Pepe is currently head of RockEd Philippines, a nationwide volunteer group that finds innovative ways to make Filipinos interested in nation building. Diokno writes a column for The STAR Lifestyle’s Saturday pop culture section, Supreme, where he is editor at large.

Lawyer Miguel Ramos is marketing head of National Book Store and president of NBS Book Express. After graduating from Claremont McKenna College and Ateneo Law School, Ramos joined the bookstore chain founded by his grandmother Socorro Ramos in 1942, adhering to her vision of nurturing Filipino writers through the NBS’ Anvil Publishing. NBS was reprinting books in the 1960s and started publishing books in the 1970s. Ramos writes about travel, art and culture for The STAR Lifestyle Section.

The STAR-NBS Literary Month is also supported by Starbucks and Krispy Kreme. Books by Butch Dalisay will be on sale today, and there will be autograph signing by the four speakers.

The event is free and open to the public.