http://www.admu.edu.ph/index.php?p=120&type=2&sec=40&aid=6257

Ateneo graders stage a new version of Ibong Adarna

by Dr. Fernando Hofileña
2009-01-15

“Adarna at and Alaala ng Kristal,” the 77th production of the Ateneo Children’s Theatre (ACT), is scheduled to open on January 30, 2008 at the Irwin Theatre, Ateneo Loyola Heights campus.

Jonny Salvador, Executive Producer of ACT and Assistant Headmaster for Student Affairs of the Ateneo Grade School explains, “Choosing a Filipino play for 2009 was a deliberate move by the directors in conjunction with the celebration of Ateneo’s 150th year, its Sesquicentennial, in the Philippines. After more than six years of staging Broadway musicals, it is high time for ACT to take a different route, one that will celebrate the beauty of the Filipino language all over again. This, of course, is fueled by the theme of Ateneo’s sesquicentennial year which is nation building.”

Ace Elgar, one of the directors, shares that Khavn dela Cruz, an Ateneo alumnus, volunteered to write the script after he got wind of the fact that ACT was looking for a writer who will give the popular Filipino korido, “Ibong Adarna,” a twist. She also mentions dela Cruz’ enviable credentials: recipient of Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Poetry and Fiction and the Dean’s Award for Literature from his alma mater; an acclaimed composer, songwriter, singer, pianist and writer of several rock operas; and recipient of citations from the Metro Pop Song Festival and the Ateneo Songwriting Fest as well as The John Lennon Songwriting Contest (New Jersey). To top it all off, he is also considered Father of Philippine Digital filmmaking.

Khavn surprised the directors because he did not write about the legendary quest of Don Juan for the Ibong Adarna in order to help his dying father, King Fernando (the first part of the 1,722 stanzas of “Ibong Adarna” which many Filipinos know and love). What he wrote was the last story in this romantic narrative poem – Don Juan’s search for the Reyno de los Kristales (the fourth and fifth part of the entire korido if divided into five parts), because he was driven by the desire to educate the theatre-goers, especially the younger patrons. Unfortunately this part is hitherto unheard of and unseen in this country. Faithful to the korido, Khavn embraced the same lyrical language for the script. Read More »

Ulan

May lumuluha.

Nasa ilalim ka ng ulap,
malayo sa anino niya,
naliligo
sa malamig na tubig
na walang kulay
kundi salamin ng mata mo.

Magdaraan ang ulan
sa bibig,
maalala mo ang kanyang matang
kahawig ng titig mo,
lalasahan mong muli
habang nakatikom ang mata at labi,
hindi mo mabura ang alaala ng mata niya,
unti-unti kang naglalaho
kapiling ng pagtila ng ulan.

May lumuluha.

Ars Romantica

minsan, naitatanong
sa sarili kung para
saan ang umibig
ng pag-ibig na kasing-
ilap ng bulag na bituin?
para makasulat ng tula?

Unang Pag-uusap Sa Telepono

Pumapalahaw ang pamangkin mong
apat na buwan pa lang,
at kailangan mo siyang patahanin,
ngunit hindi mo ito magagawa nang kausap ako,
kaya kailangan mo nang ibaba ang telepono,
kahit gusto pa kitang makausap,
kaya nagpaalam ka na,
at binati ako ng magandang gabi.

Title: “LINES ON THE SOLE / GUHIT NG TALAMPAKAN”

Author: Khavn De La Cruz
84 Poems / Tula
Bilingual Edition (Tagalog & English)
Published by University of Santo Tomas Publishing, 2008
Price: P350

“Lines On The Sole” is not a book of poems by Khavn De La Cruz. Like Khavn’s music and cinema, these objets d’art and anti-poems are beyond categories, cutting-edge, and like nothing we’ve read before.
– JOSE F. LACABA

”Lines On The Sole” is the director of the outcome of Khavn as an eminent poet. Here, he feels the power to juxtapose unrelated objects. Here, he delights in his being metaphysical. Here he relishes his being a metapoet. There is a vastness in the destiny of Khavn.

– V. E. CARMELO D. NADERA, JR.

Translated to English from the original Tagalog by JIM PASCUAL AGUSTIN, CONCHITINA CRUZ, RICKY DE UNGRIA, RUEL S. DE VERA, ISRAFEL FAGELA, MARNE L. KILATES, HOMER NOVICIO, ALLAN PASTRANA, & L. LACAMBRA YPIL

BIO
Khavn De La Cruz has won for his poetry and fiction in the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, where he has also served in the jury. He has been selected twice in the UP National Writers Workshop as a Writing Fellow. Khavn has received the Dean’s Award for Literature from the Ateneo De Manila University, his alma mater, where he also has lectured.

www.khavndelacruz.com

www.kamiasroad.com

The 29th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), the biggest and longest-running book fair in the Philippines, will be held from September 12 to 16, 2008 at the SMX Convention Center, the country’s newest and largest exhibition and convention center, located at Seashell Drive, MALL OF ASIA Complex, Pasay City.

For details, call 890-0661 or 896-0682, or e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com.

www.manilabookfair.com
www.panitikan.com.ph
Read More »