ON NOVEMBER 11, 2016, “Sa Mata ng Sigwa”, a reading of written works from the Ateneo during Martial Law, was held in the Faura AVR. The event was held three days after the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to allow the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
According to Fine Arts Department Chair Martin Villanueva, the event was planned prior to the SC’s decision, but that it was a timely coincidence. “If the response is to never forget, then so be it,” he said.
The event was organized by the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP) as a culmination of Taboan 2016, a celebration of Filipino literature, in partnership with Heights, Kritika Kultura, the Ateneo Fine Arts Department, and Ateneo ENTABLADO.
Readings and Performances
The series of readings began with a chain letter from the time of the declaration of Martial Law, read by Robbin Dagle and Andy Tubig, Beyond Loyola Editor and Externals Manager of the GUIDON.
It was followed by a rendition of “Tatsulok” and “Liwanag sa Dilim,” originally sung by Bamboo and Rivermaya respectively, performed by members of the Ateneo Musicians’ Pool.
Jam Pascual (BFA CW, ’11) read “Prometheus Unbound” by Jose “Pete” Lacaba and “An Open Letter to Filipino Artists” by Emmanuel Lacaba.
Members of the Ateneo ENTABLADO performed an abridged version of Paul Dumol’s play entitled “Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio.”
Assistant Filipino Professor Edgar Samar, read an excerpt from Alvin Yapan’s novel entitled “Ang Sandali ng mga Mata.”
The readings continued with Fr. Albert Alejo, member of the National Literary Arts Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, with his own poem and an excerpt from his book.
Dr. Benilda Santos, dean of the School of Humanities, read poems from her book, “Pali-palitong Posporo: Mga Tula.” She ended with her poem entitled “Sa Pakpak ng Balse ni Strauss.”
National Artist of the Philippines Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera ended the series of readings with his own poems, entitled “Alay Kay Kumander Tangkad” and “Elehiya para kay Renato Constantino,” which were both about activist influences.
Taboan in Ateneo
Taboan, an annual forum for writers and readers, was held in different regions in the Philippines. The theme for this year is “Pagbinayloay” which means “pagtitipon para magpalitan (gathering for discourse).”
Assistant Filipino professor Allan Popa stated in his opening remarks for Taboan that the one in Ateneo focused on “Panulat at Adbokasya (Writing and Advocacy).”
“Kung babalikan ang kasaysayan ng Panitikan ng Pilipinas, hindi iilan ang halimbawa na makikita kung saan hindi lamang nagsilbing salamin ang panitikan ng mga nagaganap sa lipunan kundi naging kritika rin nito (If we were to look at the history of Philippine Literature, there are many instances where literature was not only a reflection of society, but a critique of it),” he said.
He added that they organized this edition of Taboan to start thinking about how writers and cultural workers can respond to the challenges of this time.
“Sa dulo ng araw na ito…umaasa ako na makakapag-isip tayo ng mga sariling proyektong pampanitikan na pakikinabangan ng ating mga komunidad na kinabibilangan (At the end of the day…I expect that we will think of our own literary projects that will be of use to the community we live in),” he said.
