By Jenny Ortuoste
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) and National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), along with the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and other partner institutions, formally launched National Literature Month (Buwan ng Panitikan) via an online ceremony on Facebook today (April 2).
With the theme “500 Taon ng Pagsulat sa Kalibutang Filipino” (500 Years of Writing the Filipino World), the month-long celebration of literature was kicked off by messages delivered by the heads of the KWF, NCCA, and NBDB – Dr. Arthur P. Casanova, Arsenio ‘Nick’ Lizaso, and Dante Ang III respectively.
Casanova spoke about the significance of literature as a reflection of self and identity, and as an undying means to travel back to the past and its lessons.
“Ang panitikan ay salamin ng ating pagka-Filipino, salamin ng ating pagkatao, salamin ng ating identidad. Walang kamatayan po ang panitikan, at mapalad ang mga mambabasa sa kasaluyan, sapagkat sa pamamagitan ng panitikan ay nababalikan po natin ang nakaraan,” he said.
[Literature is a mirror of our Filipino-ness, a mirror of our personhood, a mirror of our identity. Literature is undying, and our readers in the present are fortunate, because through literature we can return to the past.]
Casanova also said Filipinos can be proud of our rich literature because we have many writers creating work in the different literary forms.
“Maipagmamalaki natin sa buong mundo na tayo ay mayaman sa panitikan dahil maraming tayong manunulat sa iba’t-ibang anyo ng panitikan katulad ng nobela, maikling kuwento, drama, tula, at sanaysay,” he said.
[We can boast to the whole world that we are rich in literature because we have many writers in the different forms of literature such as the novel, short story, drama, poetry, and essay.]
Other government officials and personalities also spoke at the event, among them NCCA Arts Ambassador and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.
Gray spoke of her childhood love of stories that has expanded in her adulthood to an enjoyment of reading.
“Literature is so much more than just stories,” she said. “It has transcended time and is still with us, forming critical parts of today’s society…This celebration of National Literature Month reminds us of the power of literature, the power to spark meaning and relive the experiences of the past through words and creative expression.”
Why April as Literature Month?
April was designated National Literature Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 968, series of 2015, which points out that “April marks the commemoration of Francisco ‘Balagtas’ Baltazar Day, and the birth and death anniversaries of literary pillars like Emilio Jacinto, Paciano Rizal, Nick Joaquin, Edith Tiempo, and Bienvenido Lumbera.”
It is also the month when “international literary celebrations like the International Children’s Book Day, International Day of the Book or World Book Day, and World Intellectual Property Rights Day are held…”
According to the KWF, this is the only month that gives recognition to the importance of literature published in different Filipino languages that are considered cultural legacies for succeeding generations.
Buwan ng Panitikan events: NBDB’s PILF, KWF webinar series
The government’s various cultural agencies have lined up events and activities for this month.
Among them are the NBDB’s 12th annual Philippine International Literary Festival, which for the first time will run for an extended period – from April to December this year.
Read more: http://152.42.253.13/filipino-storytelling-goes-global-as-nbdb-launches-12th-pilf/
Meanwhile, the KWF will hold a free four-episode webinar series in cooperation with professors from various Philippine universities.
Read more: http://152.42.253.13/kwf-holds-free-webinar-series-to-mark-national-literature-month/
Watch here
