Poet organization Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) is now accepting applications for its annual poetry workshop. Dubbed the Palihang LIRA, the workshop is open to all Filipino writers from anywhere in the Philippines and from all over the globe and will be conducted in a hybrid format.
Considered the lengthiest writing workshop conducted in the Philippines, the workshop will start in June 2024 and will be held for 6 months, every Saturday until December this year. Interested applicants may submit a folio of 5 poems which has to be in Filipino, no other languages are accepted. They also need to fill out an online application form, whose link may be found at the following LIRA Facebook post, along with other Palihang LIRA information.
The application deadline is on the 30th of April, 2024.
LIRA expands membership
Over the past years, LIRA has expanded its membership through successful fellows of the Palihang LIRA. Recently, 7 former Palihang LIRA fellows have joined their ranks as poet-volunteer members of the organization. They are Mikka Ann Cabangon, Jopie Sanchez, Istanli Gullab, Al Jeffrey Gonzales, JE Inojosa, Kirk Homer Ramos and Kaye O’yek.
Ramos, a person with disability (PWD), was able to join the workshop last year through online sessions. “I have learned through LIRA to trust in myself even with my disability.” He said that he persevered through the difficult tasks and the honest critique of their work because they were all for their improvement.
For this year’s workshop, LIRA Treasurer Abner Dormiendo will remain as the workshop Director, while Genesis Historillo will be the Deputy Director.
QC Support strengthens Palihang LIRA
“This year’s workshop delivers the same quality of rigor and discipline that made Palihang LIRA one of the most reputable and longest-running workshops in the country,” Dormiendo said. “Last year, we slowly incorporated hybrid sessions that allowed us to maximize the benefits of both the face-to-face workshop we had been doing pre-pandemic and the online set-up we had done during the pandemic.”
The support of the Quezon City local government promises to be a key factor in the success of this year’s workshop. “This year, we intend to maintain the hybrid set-up, but with more face-to-face encounters, especially now that we have the solid support of Quezon City in their mission to establish the city as Poetry Capital of the country. We are very thankful to the Quezon City Hall, through the leadership of Hon. Mayor Joy Belmonte, and the Quezon City Public Library, who have become our partners since last year toward the strengthening of LIRA’s vision as articulated by our founder, National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario: ‘Ibalik ang tula sa puso ng madla’ (Bring poetry back to people’s hearts),” Dormiendo added.
Renowned former participants
This year’s Deputy Director, Historillo said that he’s excited and honored to be given the chance to serve this year. “The committee this year envisions the workshop to be more dynamic and progressive in its topics,” he added.
Among the renowned writers who have participated in the LIRA workshops in the past are Victor Emmanuel Carmelo Nadera, Romulo Baquiran Jr., Michael M. Coroza, Jerry Gracio, Enrique Villasis, Roberto Añonuevo, Rebecca Añonuevo, and Edgar Calabia Samar.
In 2011, LIRA was recognized as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) due to the development work done by its poet-volunteers. LIRA was founded by National Artist Almario, who also serves as the Palihang LIRA’s head teacher.
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