Jim Pascual Agustin's Blog, page 44

Two Poems from the forthcoming collection appear in Our Own Voice

Two of my new poems that are included in the forthcoming collection, Sound Before Water, have been published in Our Own Voice, an online journal.  May this serve as a teaser.

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Creatures, environment, Fragments and Moments, Life in a different world, Literary News & Articles, Mga Tula / Poetry, poetry, politics, Uncategorized Tagged: Jim Pascual Agustin, poetry, Sound Before Water, South Africa, UST Publishing House

bLiar gets Tutu’d

You nodded and whispered and commanded. People died. On the streets. In mosques. In schools. In rooms turned dark by smoke from burning skin. Your lips never stopped widening with glee. You stepped outside of your office, smiling. It seemed so long ago.

Now you go from hall to hall, crossing oceans and continents to be paid for your words.

We need to tell you this: the darkness that moves as you move, that thing that pools at your feet when the sun strikes, it will never leave you. It is the shadow of all the dead.

Turn yourself in. Or we will never stop haunting you.

-o-

NEWS ITEM: Archbishop Desmond Tutu has withdrawn from participating in a leadership summit in Johannesburg to protest the presence of Tony Blair.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Discovery, South Africa, Tony Blair

I Could Complain of Soggy Nuked Flat Ham Croissants from the Hospital Coffee Shop

But I shouldn’t. I could say we’ve had a tough time, but I know there are many who do not have the privilege we have. I have seen what happens in public clinics and hospitals in this country and my country of birth, and I bet they are nearly the same in most places where it doesn’t matter how sick you are or your loved one — money first, or some proof of it, before you see medical personnel.

Still, it has been a full week of sleepless nights. Both kids had terribly high fevers since Monday night (yes, over a week ago!). Took them to a new GP because our very kind paediatrician was fully booked, even his overtime hours (and you do not want to know how much that costs!). Antibiotics were prescribed but by Saturday they were still burning and coughing horribly, looking not much better. So we tried our paediatrician’s emergency number and he agreed to meet us in a rush. That same afternoon both kids were admitted to hospital and dosed with Tamiflu, among other stuff. They had regular visits from various physiotherapists who tried to loosen the yucky stuff clinging inside such small bodies. Fever medication, nasal sprays, nebulizers, etc… The hospital staff were kind and helpful.

I remember the one time I ended up in a semi-public hospital back home as a kid. The ward was not only for children. There were at least 20 or more other patients, all of varying ages and suffering from different ailments. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Night time was worse. In the half-dark you hear the moanings. Outside the one balcony, the night lights give a yellow glow, and below, unceasing traffic noises. No personal attention from the nurses. I don’t remember seeing the doctor. One day I will attempt to write more about that time. Perhaps a series of essays on my childhood. Not that anyone would be interested, let alone think it would be a good seller of a book. hahahaha. Dream on.

Back to the real world… Tuesday morning we finally have our kids back home. They still cough a bit, but are looking way better. Now, just the sleep to catch up on.

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Influences, Life in a different world, Uncategorized Tagged: having twins, hospital food, hospitals, inequality, Jim Pascual Agustin, medical cover, memories of childhood, parenting

31st Philippine National Book Awards Finalists Announced

The original post in Filipino was supposed to appear in the blog for Baha-bahagdang Karupukan. So here is the news in English…

My Filipino poetry book, Baha-bahadang Karupukan, is a finalist at the 31st National Book Awards in the Philippines. It’s a great joy, but I would have been even happier if her twin sister Alien to Any Skin (I call them Karu and Skin, by the way) had also been selected.

-o-

At sa kabutihang palad napasama ang Baha-bahagdang Karupukan sa mga finalists! Sayang at hindi napili ang kakambal na aklat nitong Alien to Any Skin.

Eto ang bahaging ikinatuwa ko:

VIRGILIO S. ALMARIO PRIZE FOR POETRY IN FILIPINO

1. Ang Pantas (The Prophet), translated by Ruth Elynia S. Mabanglo, C&E Publishing for De La Salle University

2. Baha-Bahagdang Karupukan: mga tula mula sa kalahating-daigdig, by Jim Pascual Agustin, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House

3. Dalawang Pulgada at Tubig: Mga Tula ng Tahimik na Ligalig, by Emmanuel Quintos Velasco, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House

4. Distrungka, by Teo T. Antonio,University of Santo Tomas Publishing House

5. Ilaw sa Mata, by Joaquin Sy, Marne L. Kilates, and Benito Tan, Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran

-o-

Salamat po.

Filed under: Uncategorized

When You Can’t Let the Truth Out

You need to silence those who seek to expose all those dark deeds. You trust nothing but your fist, the barrel of a gun, the whisperers of deceit. You surround yourself with others who either share your fear or who fear you enough to stay in line. Those who show they have a mind of their own are easy targets for your venom. You sit on your throne of bones. You tell yourself you are just because you are mighty. You need not explain your actions. They speak for themselves.

-o-

Ecuador grants asylum to Wikileaks founder.

THANK YOU, ECUADOR!

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Ecuador, Freedom, indepen, Julian Assange, Justice, terrorist states, truth, UK, US imperialism, Wikileaks, world order

Be Stubborn

I am currently reading over a hundred pages of prose (in Filipino) – not sure I can say “short stories” yet – which I wrote between 1987 and 1994. I am deciding whether to submit the manuscript to my publisher or not. It is very difficult to be completely objective, and worse if it is regarding your own work. I had practically forgotten how each piece began and ended, but of the ones I have so far read I felt like I could be stuck on an island and it wouldn’t matter as long as the words kept flowing. Am I perhaps deluding myself?

So here’s the thing. I need another pair of eyes to read the stuff and either give me a push or lead me to the closest garbage bin. I’m still proofreading the second half of the manuscript, but hopefully in two days it will be cleaner. Any takers?

Filed under: Fragments and Moments, Life in a different world, Silly Babble Tagged: Jim Pascual Agustin

I didn’t bite my tongue, but someone remembered me

From where I come from it is believed that when you bite your tongue by accident it can only mean that someone suddenly remembered you (oh, I do hope that I am remembering that right, haha). The belief may have come from trying to make a small though uncomfortable experience a bit more welcome. Still, who doesn’t want to be remembered every now and again? If one writes – especially poetry that many seem to write but very few really read – being remembered for one’s work is part of the goal, consciously or not.

In that case, I would like to thank Alfred A. Yuson who mentioned me in his list of Filipino poets worth reading.

 My name doesn’t appear until quite far down his article which came out in the Philippine Star. So I have quoted the relevant paragraph here. Mr Yuson even mentioned my two books. I could’ve told him beforehand that two new books are also in the works. Perhaps that could have bumped me up the list a little. Hahahaha. Just trying my luck.

-o-

Then there are the non-Statesiders who may or may not still be based where they used to be, to include Jim Pascual Agustin in South Africa, Ivy A. Rosales in Wales, Ella Wagemakers in Holland, and Neal Imperial in Singapore. I know that Jim, a bilingual poet. has already authored several books, the latest being Baha-bahagdang Karupukan and Alien to Any Skin, issued by UST Publishing House last year.

-o-

For those who do not live in Manila and would like to get hold of Alien to Any Skin, I have a few copies which I brought with me to Cape Town from my last visit to the Philippines. There are also at least two online retailers that carry both my books – Mary Martin Booksellers and Kabayan Central.

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Mga Tula / Poetry, poetry Tagged: Alfred A. Yuson, Alien to Any Skin, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan, Jim Pascual Agustin, Philippines, poetry, South Africa, UST Publishing House

My Paper Children are Being Read!

Parents only want the best for their children. Well, most parents, I hope. Hmm before this becomes a post about parenting (good or bad) I better move on.

I sent the following in an email to friends, so I might as well make it an open letter to everyone who reads these pages.

-o-

Last year saw the birth of my twin paper children (poetry books, to be clear and not just cute haha), Kalmot ng Pusa sa Tagiliran and Alien to Any Skin, both published by University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. I have no idea how many people have read the books. But it seems there are keen readers and some of them nominated both titles to the first Filipino ReaderCon awards.

 The other nominees have a better chance of winning, for my books will have to compete with each other first to get a sympathetic reader/friend’s vote. So I am sending this email to all friends who might want to show their support for my writing. Here is the link to the site (and yes, anyone can vote): http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/readers-choice-awards/nominees/

 Thanks in advance. Please do spread the word so my poetry reaches more readers.

 Which then brings me to my other good news. UST Publishing House has once again shown appreciation for my work. They have accepted my two poetry manuscripts. Currently being copy edited are Kalmot ng Pusa sa Tagiliran and Sound Before Water.

 It is my hope that these books of poetry find new homes. Maraming salamat.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Trawling 3

Funny to see your own photo unexpectedly.

Here’s a link to “my page” on the Modern Poetry in Translation website: http://www.mptmagazine.com/author/jim-pascual-agustin-5470/

You could barely see the eye bags. Har har har

 

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Filipino poetry, Jim Pascual Agustin, Modern Poetry in Translation, Noel Romero del Prado, poetry in translation

Trawling 2

I was a little disappointed when I received my contributor’s copy of this anthology so I never mentioned it. But hey, if your work gets picked, be thankful. If it gets mentioned in a review, shout it out… hmmm I’m not really the shouting type unless some chemicals are running in my veins (or so I imagine). So here.

-o-

The poetry is the second reason I love this book. I’m a sucker for poetry, and good grandparent poems are hard to find. From the Porch Swing is chock-full of them–honest, unvarnished poems about grandparents who were the same way…

Jim Pascual Agustin portraying a grandfather:

Even when he was quiet

his long fingers still on the thick

wooden ledge, we felt

the weight of his eyes

slowing down our marbles.

http://grandparents.about.com/od/booksaboutgrandparenting/gr/Grandparent-Poems-And-Stories-Featured-In-From-The-Porch-Swing.htm

-o-

The poem is included in Alien to Any Skin (UST Publishing House, 2011).

 

 

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Alien to Any Skin, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan, From the Porch, Jim Pascual Agustin, poetry for grandparents, UST Publishing House