Requiem for a (Pine) “Tree”

I think that I shall never see
A poem as concrete as a tree.
A tree whose mangled mouth is set
Against iron bars and cement;
A tree that can’t see God all day,
And too petrified to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of soot and smog in her plastic hair;
Upon whose bosom Christmas lights lay;
Who [...]

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A (Pine) Tree

This “International Day for Biological Diversity,” I’d like to pay tribute (:&gt to that concrete pine tree at the top of Session Road in Baguio City which was built in place of the real one over a decade ago (see Vincent Cabreza’s article on this @ Inquirer.net; for a couple of photos and some [...]

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“Public Forum: New Trends in Philippine Writing”

It is always an inspiration for an aspiring literary writer like me to listen in to discussions of established authors. This is especially so during the four-hour public forum on “New Trends in Philippine Writing” held at the UPB last Friday afternoon where some of the Filipino literary greats were. [...]

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Tiong San Harrison Burns

Two days after the “Fire Prevention Month” during which the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded no unfortunate incident in Baguio City, fire claimed another victim. This time, it’s the seven-storey Tiong San Department Store along Harrison Road. See photos in (Art Tibaldo’s site).
Flames that lasted for at least five hours licked the upper two [...]

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“Surfing” by Burnham Lake

Mimo Corporation, whatever it is and whoever owns it, deserves all Baguio denizens’ kudos as it etches its mark on Baguio City’s “pine tree of fame” for equipping Burnham Park with WiFi capability. This week’s issue of the Baguio Midland Courier notes the significance of this development thus:

Burnham Park is the first premier public [...]

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Special Summer Classes @ UPB

University of the Philippines Baguio is offering the following summer courses on Arts and Film, Performance Arts, and Language Teaching:
14-18 April
♦ For Kids & Teens: Drawing and Cartooning, Digital Photography and Imaging, Portraiture, Creative Writing for Children, Children’s Theater, Kiddie Broadcasting, Street Dance, Community Theater
♦ For Teachers: Language Research for Teachers, Teaching Creative [...]

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“Womb of Water,Breasts of Earth” Launched

Francis C. Macansantos launched his 4,000-line epic poem, “Womb of Water, Breasts of Earth” during the “Panagbenga 2008 Poetry Reading and Book Launch yesterday afternoon at the UP Baguio multi-purpose hall.
The epic poem of the three-time Palanca awardee won the 2003 Writers Prize for Poetry of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), [...]

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The UB Tragedy & Human Nature

[For a news report, click here]
Tragic events always reveal what stuff people are made of. All those directly or indirectly involved in and even those affected and unaffected by these occurrences — be they bystanders and kibitzers, looters and scoffers, rescue workers and other volunteers, victims and sympathizers — show by their verbal [...]

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Tragedy @ University of Baguio

Baguio City’s celebration of the Valentine season and gay preparation for the big day of its flower festival is now marred by another tragedy — the University of Baguio’s wooden high school building, which also houses the historic Dap-ayan Hall, was razed to the ground just after lunch today. The fire also gutted some [...]

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