The celebrated Filipino poetry group Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) launched the first of its four poetry chapbooks for 2010 in twin events held on June 15 at Conspiracy Garden Café, and on June 28 at Mag:net Café Katipunan.
Titled “Lámang” and edited by award-winning poet Edgar Calabia Samar, the first LIRA chapbook for the year features twenty-five poems from Giancarlo Lauro C. Abrahan V, Mariane A.R.T. Abuan, Noel Fortun, Berlin Gablan, Mikael Gallego, Ezzard Gilbang, Phillip Kimpo Jr., Erwin C. Lareza, Vivian N. Limpin, Kiko Monteseña, Deborah Rosalind D. Nieto, Louie Jon A. Sanchez, Lee G. Sepe, Beverly Siy, Betty Uy-Regala, and Enrique Villasis.
The chapbook was published by Vibal Foundation, the socio-cultural development arm of Vibal Publishing House, Inc., and Aklat LIRA, the publishing imprint of one of the country’s major literary organizations.
The poetry chapbook series is one of the fifteen projects for LIRA’s year-long 25th anniversary celebrations. The next three chapbooks, edited by Jerry Gracio, John Enrico Torralba, and Ronaldo Carcamo, respectively, will be launched in the next three months.
The four chapbooks serve as appetizers for the launch of a new book featuring the works of LIRA poets, especially those by its new generation, to be launched in November/December and also published by Vibal Foundation. The anthology is edited by the founder of LIRA, National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario (a.k.a. Rio Alma). Assisting him are Rebecca T. Añonuevo, Roberto T. Añonuevo, Romulo Baquiran Jr., Michael M. Coroza, and Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr.
Copies of the first chapbook, “Lámang,” are available for free to public libraries and educational institutions while supplies last. Interested parties may make arrangements for pick-up by emailing the LIRA Chapbook Coordinators at folios@liraonline.org.
More information here.
