Jim Pascual Agustin's Blog, page 49
September 29, 2011
Philippine Daily Inquirer reviews Baha-bahagdang Karupukan
My book Baha-bahagdang Karupukan was reviewed in the Lifestyle/Arts & Books section of The Philippine Daily Inquirer on 26 September 2011. I was only told about it the other day. 
Just wanted to share the news.
Will post the text when available. Meanwhile here's a scanned image of the clipping, thanks to Wendell Capili.
Filed under: Africa, Asia, Creatures, environment, Fragments and Moments, Imperialism, Influences, Literary News & Articles, Mga Tula / Poetry, poetry, Uncategorized Tagged: Alien to Any Skin, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan, bilingual, Filipino poetry, Jim Pascual Agustin, Philippine books, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine poetry, UST Publishing House, Wendell Capili
September 8, 2011
The shells from the other side of the world
These shells were sent by post from Cape Town, South Africa to Manila in the Philippines in the early 90s. I hope to share the story behind this box of shells some day, not today.
Filed under: Africa, Asia, Creatures, environment, Fragments and Moments, Life in a different world, Mga Tula / Poetry, Silly Babble, Uncategorized Tagged: Jim Pascual Agustin, love, making connections, on snail mail, on writing, travel
August 31, 2011
"People Like You" as read by Someone Like Me hahahaha
Rhino 2011 which published my poem "People Like You" earlier this year has put up an excellent blog. I was requested to submit an audio recording of my silly voice so they can post it on the blog with a… gasp… photo of me!
So for those who miss the voice of Kermit the Frog, please visit the Rhino blog. Duh… that rhyme was totally unintended. 
"People Like You" forms part of the first section of my poetry book Alien to Any Skin.
Thank you, Valerie of Rhino.
Filed under: Creatures, Fragments and Moments, Influences, Literary News & Articles, Mga Tula / Poetry, poetry, Silly Babble, Uncategorized Tagged: Alien to Any Skin, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan, Jim Pascual Agustin, Philippine poetry in English, Philippines, poetry, Rhino 2011, Rhino Poetry Magazine, UST Publishing House
August 23, 2011
PAPER MONSTER PRESS DREAM-POP ISSUE publishes my poetry
A unique and brave endeavor in these online and digital days is the publication of another issue of PAPER MONSTER PRESS. My poetry (don't know yet which ones) has been included in this one. Wish I could fix my teleporter so I can attend the launch on Saturday 27 August 2011.
Here is the page for PAPER MONSTER PRESS on Facebook.
The poems I submitted are in Baha-bahagdang Karupukan and Alien to Any Skin.
Filed under: Africa, Asia, Creatures, Literary News & Articles, Mga Tula / Poetry, poetry, Uncategorized Tagged: Alien to Any Skin, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan, Jim Pascual Agustin, South Africa, UST Publishing House
August 20, 2011
Bavarian Bovine Prisonbreak
I've been skipping watching the news on TV for the recent while. It gets depressing to see the same players playing the same games. Showing off new improved versions of toys of destruction – drone planes expo in Washington anyone? – or the barely modified economic/policing ploys to break the legs of street unrest (duh, mixed metaphors?). Sorry, coffee hasn't kicked in.
Then last night, tuned in to Aljazeera, I literally fell off my chair with a news item straight out of THE FAR SIDE.
Here's a snippet from an online source:
-o-
A "cow whisperer," helicopters and infrared cameras: no effort is being spared to find Austrian runaway cow Yvonne, who escaped slaughter in May to seek refuge in a Bavarian forest.
The cow has become a media star in Germany and Austria, having evaded capture for almost three months, with Germany's leading newspaper, Bild, putting up a 10,000 euro ($13,892) reward for her capture earlier this week.
But an Austrian animal sanctuary, which has offered to buy Yvonne to spare her another traumatic trip to the slaughterhouse, is resorting to more unusual means to find the timid animal.
A "cow whisperer" has been communicating with Yvonne every day by telepathy, Britta Freitag from the Aiderbichl sanctuary near Salzburg told the Austria Press Agency overnight.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/weird-true-freaky/no-effort-spared-in-hunt-for-runaway-cow-yvonne/story-e6frflri-1226118555459#ixzz1VYjbJesJ
-o-
Some folks need to see the continent where I currently live. We have signs on the highway: BEWARE – COWS CROSSING. Europe is so behind. (hysterical laughter unleashed once again)
I started a poem cycle about this, can't share any until I wipe my tears dry.
Filed under: Africa, Creatures, environment, Europe, Fragments and Moments, Imperialism, Life in a different world, Sanaysay / Essays, Silly Babble, Uncategorized
August 17, 2011
not quite fiction, not quite poem, not quite anything more than a ramble?
7marso1998
933
404rusdonpark
seagulls glide between buildings and the mountain. rushing wind and the sea on the other side. around here it is always the mountain, a fallen mountain, that decides where things are. the clouds must move over it, around it, smash itself into the finest shreds of rain, turn almost into frozen air, and then desperately try to recollect itself like seafoam on sand. roads are sloped. one can never walk totally upright. cars must take sharper bends, closer to the edge of accidents. there is something humorous about this whole thing, something bitter and funny, not far from laughing at the unresponding dead about to be robbed by family and friends.
there's a set of crooked teethmarks on the back of my train seat, where my right shoulder touches the leather as the cars jolt back to a start. although the train is packed, no one decides to sit next to me. perhaps they're scared of the marks.
i look down on the bag beside me. its blackness has been mine for the past three months. someone else's before that. someone long gone. as if crawling towards it in a sharp S is a vicious knifecut on the leather that's been stitched up. caterpillars come to mind. poisonous centipedes. i am sitting next to death and no one wants to sit next to me.
someone two rows ahead has opened a packet of steak pie. the fine crackle of pastry and the stench of cheap meat. it is hard to think of anything else but that person's hunger. i feel like walking towards whoever it is and throwing up to refill his packet.
the train pulls up to my station before i could force a burp.
i shouldn't be writing to you in this state. something is about to burst and i wish it were somewhere else. somewhere far away with a name so foreign i couldn't even pronounce it. but no. it is right here.
feet, i have grown to believe, have their own mind. they take over when your body goes restless. they take you through the motions of the day, right to the very end, without you noticing the scenes around you change. the pavement becomes a pale river. and you drift seeing grey. only grey.
my apartment door is open. three locks forced open. three locks. five if i had been inside when it had happened. i know this sequence now, too well. no need to worry. just routine. like flushing the toilet.
make as much noise as possible before you step in. give them enough time to run away in case they're still rummaging inside. wait a few seconds. listen. if nothing stirs, proceed to your unfriendly neighbour's door. they haven't had a break in for five years, ever since they installed an armed response alarm service. and they're used to you. try to be calm, at least for their sake. they could be having early supper. ask if you could use their phone. they should know this procedure by now once they step outside and see your door.
the cops rush in, like in the movies. kicking doors with their guns cocked. but it is too late, as always.
my things have gone – the ones the burglars thought were worth their trouble. clothes, shoes, pieces of handed down jewellery, some music. anything of some value has gone out my own door without me. for weeks i won't really know which item has left me forever. only when i think of wearing an old shirt, or a funny hat, or a pair of socks with a floral pattern, at a time when i had almost forgotten about this incident, will it strike me. like someone behind a door in a dark room. that is the painful side of being broken in.
i know this now. and yet it is not this incident repeated more than a dozen times over the years that is bothering me.
-o-
not quite fiction, not quite poem, not quite anything more than a ramble? one of those surviving bits of writing i have been tempted to SELECT AND DELETE but never could.
Filed under: Fragments and Moments, Life in a different world, Mga Tula / Poetry, poetry, Sanaysay / Essays, Silly Babble Tagged: Alien to Any Skin, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan, Jim Pascual Agustin
August 3, 2011
"Train Ride" post from ALIEN TO ANY SKIN blog
Murmur – not a review
Murmur by Lorenzo Mattotti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is not really a review but a ramble.
Murmur was the first graphic novel I ever bought. Got it from a library, kept borrowing it until I decided it was indeed worth having. Ordered it secondhand from Amazon – my first Amazon purchase!
I go back to it every now and again to feel awe, horror, and sheer joy. A mesmerizing book. I ended up ordering Fires.
Filed under: Fragments and Moments, Influences, Silly Babble Tagged: Fires, graphic novel, Lorenzo Mattotti, Murmur
July 27, 2011
UNDER THE STORM: an anthology of Contemporary Philippine Poetry
cover for UNDER THE STORM - red marks are places where journalists have been killed
Just found out that my poem, "Sea Fireflies of Mindoro," has been included in this anthology of contemporary Philippine poetry. Yippeeeeee!!!!
Here is the list of authors and other details:
UNDER THE STORM: An Anthology of Contemporary Philippine Poetry
by Joel M. Toledo on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 3:49pm
1 Anne Carly Abad: December 18, 2008
2 Diego José Abad: The Unfaithful Men
3 Gémino H. Abad: THAT SPACE OF WRITING
4 Anina G. Abola: In Place Of Emotion
5 Jose Marte Abueg: I, Pontius
6 Ericson Acosta: Ika-anim na Sundang: GABUD [Sixth Knife: WHETSTONE]
7 Arbeen Acuña: eraserase002
8 Jim Pascual Agustin: Sea Fireflies Of Mindoro
9 Arnold O. Aldaba: Fruit Of Knowledge
10 Kislap Alitaptap: Wala Na Sa Quiapo Ang Nazareno [The Nazarene is not in
Quiapo]
11 Rio Alma: Seaman
12 Jovsky Almero: Train Dodge
13 Tofi Alonte: SHOES
14 Donato Mejia Alvarez: Apat Na Larawan Mula Sa Tagaytay Ridge [A Short Quartet
From Tagaytay Ridge]
15 Panch Alvarez: Pointing According To Heraldina
16 Angelo B. Ancheta: BIR-IT, JAN-NY!
17 Mark Angeles: F/LIGHT
18 Rebecca T. Añonuevo: Anumang Leksiyon [Whatever Abides]
19 Roberto T. Añonuevo: Dalawampung Minuto [Twenty Minutes]
20 Teo T. Antonio: Sa Dulo Ng Malay [At the Edge of Waking]
21 Lystra Aranal: Hands Down
22 Mesándel Virtusio Arguelles: EROS
23 Cesar Ruiz Aquino: THREE VARIATIONS
24 A.M. Azada: The Lion
25 Mads Bajarias: Entropy & The Shrike
26 Desiree L. Balota: manoy
27 Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr.: LABERINTO [LABYRINTHE]
28 Joi Barrios: Mga Tala Sa Isang Pagpatay [Notes On A Political Execution]
29 Melissa Villa-Real Basmayor: Futura
30 Ariel Dim. Borlongan: EKSENA SA SUSUNOD NA SIGLO [SCENARIO FOR
THE NEXT CENTURY]
31 Dave Buenviaje: Because Pandesal is never the same in another country
32 Regine Cabato: Touch Me Not
33 Jose Wendell P. Capili: Carnivalesque
34 Ronan B. Capinding: Pagdidilig
35 Ronaldo Carcamo: Ha-ha-ha
36 F. Jordan Carnice: Stones
37 Lito Casaje: Tsunami Blues
38 Ian Rosales Casocot: The Smallness Of The Everyday
39 Marella Castro: Hinatak Sa Kahulugan [A Catch Of The Infinite Pull]
40 Jose Jason L. Chancoco: Barber Shop Brainstorming
41 Ayrie Ching: Learning Curve
42 Frank Cimatu: THE YOYO ROUTINE
43 Mikael de Lara Co: Kundiman
44 Kristian Sendon Cordero: Stabat Mater
45 Michael M. Coroza: MAGNANAKAW [THIEF]
46 Keith Cortez: The Current
47 Lope Cui, Jr.: Multiple Choice
48 Dakila Cutab: P'wera Contra
49 Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr.: Bound For Saudi
50 Ramon Damasing: On the Feminine
51 Carlomar Daoana: Brutalism
52 Mes De Guzman: Ang Katiwala [The Caretaker]
53 Ainne Frances dela Cruz: Speed
54 Christa I. De La Cruz: After Impeng Negro
55 Khavn De La Cruz: ang dalawa ang puso [the twice-hearted]
56 Noelle Leslie dela Cruz: Absence Muse
57 Nikki De Los Santos: aporia
58 Karl R. De Mesa: Preparations For History
59 Iñigo de Paula: Paramdam
60 Ricardo M. de Ungria: The Ambivalence Of Staying A Tree
61 Lourd Ernest H. De Veyra: SUPREMACY OF THE TEXT
62 Noel del Prado: Rebolusyon [Revolution]
63 A Despi: Social Blowtorching Transcends Scab Worship
64 Glenn Diaz: Definition Of respite
65 Lav Diaz: IN MEMORIAM
66 Alain Russ Dimzon: Tinkling
67 Jan Brandon Dollente: The What
68 Jacob Walse-Dominguez: folding boxes
69 Simeon Dumdum Jr.: The Last Rain of Summer
70 Marjorie Evasco: In Baclayon, Reading Levertov's For those whom the Gods love less
71 Israfel Fagela: Siberia
72 Bendix M. Fernandez: english lyrics to a japanese seduction
73 Boni Fojas-Almirante: Erotica
74 Luis H. Francia: SMOOCH KING
75 Marc Escalona Gaba: Blinds
76 Eric Gamalinda: Hydrazine
77 J. Neil Garcia: Coda
78 German Villanueva Gervacio: Procorpio's Night
79 Lolito Go: What Else
80 Eva B. Gubat: Blind Date
81 Ramil Digal Gulle: bullet.X.press
82 Asterio Enrico Gutierrez: Death Poem Exercise 64
83 Luisa A. Igloria: What I Don't Tell My Children about My Hometown
84 Neal Imperial: Tandang Sora
85 Marne L. Kilates: Morion
86 Phillip Yerro Kimpo: How The Americans Liberated Northern Luzon, 1945
87 Jeanilyn Kwan: The Revolution Will Be Printed, Not Televised
88 Jose F. Lacaba: Tagubilin At Habilin [Will and Testament]
89 Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta: Tampuhan
90 Marra PL. Lanot: Ina [Mother]
91 Christine V. Lao: What Ol' Injun told the carnies
92 Gian Lao: Here, at your grave
93 Elaine Lazaro: O
94 John Francis C. Losaria: NPA mula sa Tatlong Daang Salita at Dalawang
Pulgadang Pagitan [from Three Hundred Words and Two Inches in Between]
95 Bienvenido Lumbera: Kartolinang Ibon [Craft-Paper Bird]
96 Soleil Erika Manzano: Ganoon dumating ang balita— [How the news broke—]
97 Carlo Angelo V. Marcelo: A Better Good Morning
98 Edgar B. Maranan: The life and times of a seditious poet
99 Luchie Maranan: Estranged
100 Pia Montalban: Saleslady
101 V.E. Carmelo D. Nadera Jr.: BALIMBING
102 Joanna Nicolas-Na: On The Way To Market
103 Homer B. Novicio: Dark Birds In Winged Chapel
104 Emil Os: hyperlink
105 Voltaire Q. Oyzon: Mag-aabroad inin akon mga buhok [My hairs will travel
abroad]
106 Doms Pagliawan: Philippine Eagle
107 Don Pagusara: Alibangbang Sa Ulan [Butterflies In The Rain]
108 R. Torres Pandan: Ars Poetica, As Actually Practiced
109 Ned Parfan: Disturbances
110 Allan Justo Pastrana: The Soul Of The Town
111 Carlos M. Piocos III: Prehistoria
112 Axel Pinpin: Nang Salakayin Mo Ang Aking Pananahimik [The Night You
Assaulted My Deep Silence]
113 Zosimo Quibilan, Jr.: Vers.
114 Jun Cruz Reyes: Bunso [Lastborn]
115 Fidel Rillo: Sa Ganang Akin Po Naman Ay Ito Lamang Ang
Ipinamamanhik [Thus Do I Humbly Express Myself]
116 Virgilio A. Rivas: Eternal Juju Recurrence
117 Deedle Rodriguez-Tomlinson: Euston Road on an Autumn Afternoon
118 Patrick Rosal: Despedida Ardiente
119 Darylle Rubino: Today After Time Immemorial
120 Roger B. Rueda: Carabaohood
121 Jose Leonardo A. Sabilano: SpaMusic
122 Joseph de Luna Saguid: CORRESPONDENT
123 Joel Pablo Salud: Meandering
124 Edgar Calabia Samar: Vocabulario
125 Rafael Antonio C. San Diego: Poem About Nothing
126 Benilda Santos: Púgot [Beheaded]
127 Oscar Tantoco Serquiña, Jr.: Massacre
128 Tanya Sevilla-Simon: Balikbayan Box
129 Danny Castillones Sillada: Yang Pagtagád Kang Alyana [Waiting For Alyana]
130 Bebang W. Siy: Ang Bisita [The Visitor]
131 Bert Sulat Jr.: I Love Poetry
132 Ramón C Sunico: HOW TO ENJOY A CONCERT: Mula sa Concert Notes ng
Francisco Santiago Hall ng PCI Bank [From the concert notes of Francisco
Santiago Hall of PCI Bank (now defunct)]
133 Christian Tablazon: BLUEPRINT
134 Alyza Taguilaso: Leviathan
135 J.I.E. Teodoro: Banal na Buntis [Pregnant, Holy]
136 Andrea B. Teran: Weight without gravity
137 Enrico C. Torralba: PARA SA FOUNTAIN SA HARAP NG POST-OFFICE BUILDING
[FOR THE FOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF THE POST OFFICE]
138 Ricky Torre: An Appointment, And Variation On Federico Alcuaz (or Monologue
as Portraiture)
139 Denver Ejem Torres: where my Barbie was safe, lest, if it came out in the open
140 Charles Bonoan Tuvilla: Sa Panahon [On Seasons]
141 Roberto Ofanda Umil: Ang Tiwalag [The Defected]
142 RM Urquico: The Blues
143 Czeriza Shennille Valencia: Every dawn you dig your own grave
144 Eric Tinsay Valles: Independence Day In Hong Lim Park
145 Joel Vega: NIMBUS
146 Eliza Victoria: Crime Scenes
147 Santiago Villafania: Rekindled
148 Michael Carlo C. Villas: Vestibular
149 Arlene J Yandug: I think therefore I Ant
150 Alfred A. Yuson: The Ten Most Memorable Moments with D. Thus Far, & Why I
Can't Let Her Go
Book Design: Piya Constantino
Cover Art: W Don Flores
"Reported Incidents, 9/27/09 to 9/29/09 2″
Acrylic on canvas
24 in. x 32 in.
2009
Translations by: Piya Constantino, Eduardo Dayao, Mikael de Lara Co, Paula Maria Diaz, U Z. Eliserio, Ryan Fuentes, Luisa A. Igloria, Cecilia B. Imperial, Marne L. Kilates, John B. Labella, Aila Lenard, Paolo Manalo, Mark Pangilinan, Chuckberry Pascual, Sue Prado, Nonilon V. Queano , D.M. Reyes, Sandra Nicole Roldan, Amoz Ezra Salazar, Ronald V. Verzo II, and Xenia-Chloe Villanueva
The Filipino is NOT a theory. We must weather these storms.
—————-
The 4th .MOV International Flim, Music, and Literature Festival
September 1-6, 2011
Book Launch: 2 September 2011
Ayala Museum, Makati City
6 PM
Filed under: Africa, Asia, environment, Fragments and Moments, Imperialism, Influences, Latin America, Life in a different world, Literary News & Articles, Mga Tula / Poetry, Middle East, North America, poetry, politics, Uncategorized Tagged: Alien to Any Skin, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan, Bienvenido Lumbera, Jim Pascual Agustin, Joel M. Toledo, Khavn de la Cruz, Philippines, poetry, Under the Storm: an anthology of Contemporary Philippine Poetry
July 13, 2011
Regarding "Sand Clings to My Toes, Daddy"
Please read the blog entry from ALIEN TO ANY SKIN
Filed under: Africa, Creatures, environment, Fragments and Moments, Literary News & Articles, Mga Tula / Poetry, poetry Tagged: Alien to Any Skin, childhood, GUD Magazine Issue 6, innocence, Jim Pascual Agustin, parenthood, poem about children, poem for children, Seamus Sweeney, SF Site Review, South Africa, UST Publishing House
