I will be reading from my book Bloodred Dragonflies at Stellenbosch University.
Thursday 11 August 2022 at 12pm. There will be time for Q&A and discussions.
This event will be face to face in the Yellow Molteno, Arts & Social Sciences Building (English Department, 5th Floor).
The invitation that was sent out has this…
Jim Pascual Agustin was born in the Philippines and grew up under the shadow of the Marcos dictatorship. Since 1994, he has been living in Cape Town. He writes in Filipino and English, and has published ten books of poetry and a collection of stories. Bloodred Dragonflies is Agustin’s first book to be published in South Africa (Deep South, Makhanda, 2022). A selection from three decades of work, it includes new poems and some recently translated versions of poems from the Filipino. His poems, constructed from subtle images, close observations of nature and refracted memories, demonstrate how innocence can stay alive under the most difficult conditions.
Some blurbs from previous books…
Not easy to want to read, these poems nonetheless demand it. That demand is what I think I want most from a poem.
Agustin’s writing is sharp and measured, each line plump with thought and vivid remembrance, relentless in its delivery, but light enough in its form to keep you pressing on, keenly.
Agustin’s poetry is direct and lucid, lyrical and sharp, poised and polished. I cannot remember when last I read a collection in which every poem was so affecting.
Nakikita ko lang siya Lagi sa telebisyon. Nagsasalita na parang tatay. — “Uuwi na si Lolo” ni Genaro Ruiz Gojo Cruz
Sa hiram na tinig ng apo, pinadaloy mo ang mga salitang hindi naiiba sa daigdig ng karaniwang bata
karaniwang pagkauhaw sa kalinga karaniwang pagkasabik sa pag-uwi at muling pagkikita karaniwang pagnanais na huwag nang mawalay pa.
Halos malunod sa sabik ang iyong piniling tinig.
Ngunit saang lungga mo hinugot ang musmos na ito? Sa kanyang kunwaring daigdig na may telebisyon walang inilublob sa pighati walang minamahal na hindi na mayayakap walang batang hindi na muling maririnig ang tinig ng magulang.
Gojo, may sariling mga mata kahit ang musmos. Alam niya ang kulay ng dugo hindi man sa sariling sugat bumulwak.
Hindi karaniwang lolo ang pinakahihintay na umuwi sa iyong kunwa-tula-pambata. Ang lolong ito ay mamamatay-tao.
In the Philippines, there is an annual event that authors look forward to – the National Book Awards. It is conducted by the Manila Critics Circle and the National Book Development Board. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the nominated books in the previous two years have been merged in the 2022 ceremonies.
These annual awards are worthy of support and praise as they recognize the value of Philippine writing and the vital role of the book industry in furthering literacy.
Full disclosure: my books of poetry and short fiction have been shortlisted a number of times in the past. Another book, Crocodiles in Belfast & other poems, was included in this year’s list. I write this piece as an outsider in the whole selection process. I am limited by physical distance and countless other circumstances. I dare to share my thoughts alone and do not represent any group or institution. These musings are not meant to offend. I therefore wish to hear what you think – each and all feedback will be much appreciated.
There are a few things that bothered me when I read through the selection process, which led me to pose the following questions.
Why do the publishers have to supply books for nomination? Shouldn’t the Manila Critics Circle and the NBDB show that they support local publishing by buying those books instead?
How many members of the Manila Critics Circle actually write book reviews to let readers know which books would be worth their while? Shouldn’t critics be critics who make their opinions and views public – ideally in accessible formats like journals and magazines (in print or online) – and not keep them behind closed doors during the annual selection process?
How many previous National Book Awards winning titles have eventually been read by the general population? Shouldn’t part of the nomination be the chance for the title to be listed among the Department of Education’s recommended books? Won’t it make sense for the National Book Development Board to raise funds to buy copies of the nominated books for dissemination to libraries around the country?
Apart from the pageantry of the annual awards, shouldn’t the NBDB push for a more just and fair distribution of and access to locally published books? Should it not dismantle the monopolistic hold on book distribution which is blatantly unfair to publishers who are not part of the behemoth that is the National Book Store and its sister publishing entities?
I had a look at how they conduct the selection process for the National Book Awards in the US as a point of comparison, knowing fully well they have a much robust and thriving book industry as well as a huge network of public libraries. I do not propose that the Manila Critics Circle and the NBDB make a complete overhaul of their selection process. It wouldn’t hurt to involve other interested parties such as librarians, the reading public, and others.
The NBDB could make a difference in the Philippines by funding the writing of book reviews and criticism. They could put up financial and logistical support for independent publishers in local and international book fairs. They could support self-publishing efforts to produce new and challenging work that mainstream publishers may not be keen to release. These are random suggestions and I am certain many more could be gathered from keen players in the Philippine book scene.
On an unrelated note… The return of the Marcoses to the highest political leadership of the country is tragic. The national elections were marred by disinformation, vote buying, and fraud. Highly dubious numbers during the supposed electronic transmission of the results point to an orchestrated manipulation, thus a disenfranchisement of the true sentiment of voters. These issues were widely reported by media and expressed by voters themselves online, but were largely swept aside by the Commission on Elections. A group of international election observers declared the process a failure, and the supposed winner as illegitimate.
The first few days of the new regime saw extravagant partying reminiscent of the excesses of the family before they were overthrown in a popular revolt in 1986.
I’ve been fiddling with a free video app to try and share my work. The results may not be effective – and are definitely far from perfect. But hey, without a budget and much experience, whatever comes out of the exercise will have to suffice for now.
I’ve created a playlist that should have more as I go along. It’s on YouTube. Care to subscribe? I won’t get anything out of this. Hahaha. Not by a long shot.
The playlist should be updated automatically as I add more videos.
Dear Schooner Newsletter Readers, Exciting news! We are officially back on schedule. During these last few months, as we’ve reformulated the look of the newsletter and updated how we go about bringing it to life, one thing has remained constant… we’ve given you a sampling of intriguing new poetry book releases from every single calendar month. We’re excited to be bringing you, before May comes to an end, a list of fifteen excellent May releases that we think are worth checking out. Enjoy! And, as always, please feel free to send any questions or comments to schooner.litmag@gmail.com! Best,The Schooner Newsletter Team
You try to take a snapshot of the fog and the trees outside and the glass partly catches the reflection of what’s inside. What you thought might be a ghostly scene now feels like something else less expected.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdMMCHTsQR1/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
I wrote this poem many years ago. I thought I was finished with it. Then Robert Berold of Deep South Books worked on it again with me. So a new version was born and included in Bloodred Dragonflies. We’re launching the book on 3 May 2022 at 7pm at The Book Shoppe, 3 Arts Village, Plumstead, Cape Town.
I can take orders from South African readers or they can order the book through their local book shops. In the Philippines the book will be released by San Anselmo Publications – contact them on their Facebook page. International orders and the Ebook version are available through the African Books Collective Website.
I hope to have more readings in the coming weeks/months…
With the launch of BLOODRED DRAGONFLIES this coming Tuesday, 3 May 2022, I’ve been forced to get out of my cave a little. Bit by bit. That means trying to play with things I can send out to the world that may interest someone, anyone, who likes poetry – whatever their idea of poetry is.
I’ve made a short video. I did a few many years ago – crude and amateurish each of them, all done with free software and my ignorance of what can be done (or should not be done!) being the starting point.
I don’t know if I’ll make more after this one. So tell me what you think. Please.
Coming out of the shadows to introduce a new paper child to the world in the next few days (Cape Town for now!). Wondering who will be in the audience.
Jim Pascual Agustin‘s Bloodred Dragonflies, translated from the Filipino by the author, is out this month from Deep South. 
Matangmanok 