R.I.P. NAPOLEON ABUEVA

R.I.P. Napoleon Abueva, Philippine National Artist and "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture."

Seems timely to share Abueva's sculpture in my home ... which came to me as a "trophy" for receiving a National Book Award in Poetry for my first book, Beyond Life Sentences. That Pinay Barbie uses it as a seat is a sign of affection, not disrespect.

THE LITERATURE OF THE PHILIPPINES' MARTIAL LAW

The Philippines just held its elections, electing a President who's been described as possessing dictatorial tendencies, and the son of Ferdinand Marcos being a close second in the Vice Presidential race (in the Philippines the races for President and Vice President are conducted individually/separately).  This makes all the more timely the following list (the link is a Facebook link):

A Working List of Martial Law Literature


About my inclusion, I said on Facebook:

I AM VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS LIST. In poetry I have only one loyalty and it's not to a particular community, country, political bent or trends concocted within the so-called literary industrial complex. Having said that, it would have been ridiculous for a writer of my age and roots not to be on this list. I actually have an unpublished short story manuscript on this theme -- I say that only to stress that this poet of Beauty does not believe she lives in a vacuum. I am very proud to be on this list.

I represent through the following poems and short stories -- and am proud to represent:

POEMS:
“List(ing) Poem: Towards the New Filipino Society” by Eileen Tabios  (1)

“My City of Baguio” by Eileen Tabios  (2 and 3)

“The Rebel’s Son” by Eileen Tabios  (4)

“What Can A Daughter Say?” by Eileen Tabios (2 and 3)

SHORT STORIES:
“Negros” by Eileen R. Tabios

“Force Majeure” by Eileen Tabios

“The Man in a White Suit” by Eileen Tabios

“Redeeming Memory” by Eileen Tabios

*****

(1) Featured in I TAKE THEE, ENGLISH, FOR MY BELOVED
(2) Featured in THE THORN ROSARY
(3) Featured in The Light Sang As It Left Your Eyes: Our Autobiography
(4) Featured in Beyond Life Sentences

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD TROPHY

I'm crazed at the moment. I'm having painters and movers invade the house for the next four weeks and I have to pack so much stuff to move to storage. But what can be interesting is discovering what's been covered under dust in dim corners of the place. And I found this! My Philippine National Book Award trophy for my first poetry book, BEYOND LIFE SENTENCES! The sculpture was created by Philippine National Artist Napoleon Abueva:

As for Barbie in indigenous-ish clothing? That was for a post-colonial project I did years ago. I believe some part of the U.S. military bases in the Philippines, when turned into businesses and factories, included Mattel....well, never mind that for now...