Filipino Literature in english

[asrai]

Though these are not my own works I'd like to share them with you. We've got a lot talented and award-winning writers here in the Philippines. Anyway I'll start with my favorite:

the nymph of MTV by Angelo V. Suarez

The nymph of MTV takes off her coat
and rides the neon boat of memory.

Subliminal the sea she journeys across,
sepulchral green the frothy expanse

of gashing swells against fish and foam.
History does not record this, this passing

of memory to momentary madness,
needless impermanence, the lassitude

of loving. Upon reaching the coast,
she puts on her coat, then walks

to the dense foliage of forgetting.


check this out:


somehow that image compliments the poem. hehe (>_<)
About the author: Angelo started publishing his books at age 19, he's now 20 or 21 I think. Anyway, we attend the same school, University of Santo Tomas PHIL.

asrai's translation: It's about a journey that everyone takes when trying to forget someone. (love *erk*) As you read through each verse you'll find that he somehow makes you feel that the journey may be long and no one remembers it. But when you get off the boat you can just put on your coat and move on. *hwah* LOVE it..

[kurosaki]

hmm... i would say deep.. open to analysis if i knew a bit more bout the filipino culture.

[caller23]

Wow! That's deep! I've been to the Philippines before and the students there are smart! No doubt the person who wrote that is very talented! I miss that place!

[kanjisasahara]

wow that is deep. so im pretty safe in assuming that your Filipino cause im part Filipino to. my mom's side.

[asrai]

Originally Posted by kurosaki

hmm... i would say deep.. open to analysis if i knew a bit more bout the filipino culture.

On one rare occasion that I was listening to my Lit professor, he said "That's what's good about literature. It's open to many translations. A good writer does not provide obvious meanings -- and when he does it doesn't seem to at all. It feels like you're reading so many different books and yet the words are so familiar." *yey* After that, I became interested in Filipino writers.

You don't have to know our culture to understand our poetry (well..some) many new writers write the way Angelo Suarez does. New translations come up depending on your mood.

trivia: His type of poetry are called *oh well* Filipino Literature in English. Literature that merges modern day Filipino and International thinking. International meaning the universal English..*ahh crap* hard to explain

Originally Posted by caller23

Wow! That's deep! I've been to the Philippines before and the students there are smart! No doubt the person who wrote that is very talented! I miss that place!

wehehe *ahem* (>_<)...anyway, come back here this summer (March onwards). The beach will be packed for sure. Can't wait (='__'=)

Originally Posted by kanjisasahara

wow that is deep. so im pretty safe in assuming that your Filipino cause im part Filipino to. my mom's side.

yeah I'm Filipino...I know for a fact that a lot of Filipinos like anime and yet I've never met one. SO you're the first I guess. (>__<)