13th Spring of Poets-Le Printemps des Poètes

There are only two seasons in the Philippines, wet and dry. Instinctively, when we draw landscapes, we usually use green or brown, or maybe black or gray. Fiery red or orange autumn shades are unfamiliar to us. A blanket of white snow is something we do not see unless we visit other countries. However, in our minds we can visit places we might never find ourselves in. In our thoughts, there are no limits. At the 13th Spring of Poets-Le Printemps des Poètes on Thursday last week, 28 poets shared landscapes both strange and familiar. It was celebration not only of poetry but of cultural diversity and infinite landscapes, which was this year's theme. The event was hosted by the Embassy of France to the Philippines and the Alliance Française de Manille with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Even though the audience was made up of different nationalities, the theme was easily appreciated by everyone. After all, as the organizers said in their invitation to the festival, "expressing the deep links that unite man and nature, celebrating or questioning them, is one of the most constant features of universal poetry." "Seas and mountains, islands and shores, forests and rivers, skies, winds, suns, deserts and hills, like a hinterland, most poems carry the memory of landscapes crossed and lived in. Recognizing oneself as dependent on the infinite faces of the world, this is undoubtedly how Holderlin wanted a poet to live on earth," the organizers said. The festival began with a poem read by Abdon Balde, chairman of the Writers Union of the Philippines. An engineer who writes in English, Filipino and Bikolano, Balde read his poem "Dream of Skyscrapers." Beatrix Syjuco performed "Domino Nation," a multi-sensory piece which left the audience awestruck for some time.

Asha Macam read "Clouds," her ode to Magritte's "The False Mirror." Markus Ruckstuhl read "I look at the chain of the Alps" by the Swiss writer Jacques Chessex, the first non-French citizen to win France's most prestigious literary prize, the Prix Goncourt. Even the poems read in other languages were music to the ears, the audience listening first and understanding later, with the help of the translations printed along with the original poems in the programme booklet. One of the night's highlights was Vim Nadera's performance of "My epic," accompanied by Bagong Lumad's Tapati who gave the poem a truly epic sound with her powerful voice. The small bunches of palay that the barefoot Nadera distributed while reading the poem gave the audience a feel of what the "epic" was about. "Epiko ko" Lupa ang tayngang Nabibingi pa Kahit lampas na Ang nagkarerang Apat na mola. Hangin ang pakpak: Ipinansulat, Ipinangkas Upang ilabas Loob na huungkag. Tubig ang buntot Ng paging takot Sa espada, krus, At kris ng poot Kaya nabulot. Apoy ang aring Nagsilang muli sa bagong lahing Kahit di puti Ay naghahari. Langit ang kuko Nitong epikong Ikinuwento Ng Yelo't Bato At naging ako! After Nadera, Palanca Hall of Famer Krip Yuson read his poem "The Beach, Plus Pablo." Pablo walked the beach. Small waves rippled As large words Round his sandals. His sonnets slipped On the wet stoned Until the passion Of winds and love Of sun dried the page Of the poet's longing. The beach walked Pablo. On this island Their mutual desire Found a homeland. Distant was this exile From the first hearts The poet touched. But now as an alien Calmly reaching out To the postman Pablo became the beach. Became all waves, all winds, All sonnets, all stones, All hearts, all islands. ANd the beach became All poems, all passion, All longing, all desire. Together Pablo and the beach Reached out to sun and sheets, To poets and seas and postmen. Together they walked homelands. Then another Syjuco, Maxine, mesmerized the audience as her sister did, with her poem "Weeds and Rags." Apart from his own performance, Nadera brought Toronto Slam Team's Ariana Pozzuoli, who read a charming piece about the most beautiful tree. Even the buffet served during the intermission was a landscape of flavors, from tasty triangle sandwiches to a cheese selection, to ratatouille and lechon, and of course, plenty of wine. Tata Poblador and Professor Lester Demetillo eased the crowd back into their chairs for the second part of the festival with Jacques Brel's "Ne me quitte pas." Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta began the second half with her poem "As far as Cho-Fu-Sa." What I am, ever, is this: composure Of stone. Spare weather visiting The garden, small as the hours I keep watch by. Beyond this wall Must be better weathers. This claw Of stars must constellate somewhere Into a bear, else names would lie. Since winter's thaws, no script From you save this: "I travel the river and follow the white gulls --" Husband. See me walking The dusty pass where loom Our prior lives? Here the years Pass that I enshrine within These walls, sparing nothing From the ardors of my stare. Blue plums, paired butterflies Repeat you in a walled world. I tell myself to clear the moss, Mend the gate, so long Unswayed and caked with dirt But nothing moves. Somewhere You are actual. Happen to me there. Then the third Syjuco, "the Golden Boy of Philippine Art" Cesare A.X. Syjuco read his seemingly simple yet profound "The world turns." Lawyer Noel del Prado read his poem "Garden on Top of Davao." Professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines Gemino Abad recited his poem "Casaroro Falls," from memory, with no paper or pause to distract the audience from his words. Marne Kilates followed with his poem "Bangaan," transporting the audience to rice terraces. He was followed by Victor Penaranda, who brought the audiences to Adyar, India, with his poem "At the Buddhist Garden." National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario's poem "Halimuyak ng Pulo" was read by Marne Kilates. Its English version "Scent of Island" was read by Marivic Rufino. Johanna Fernandez read her lovely piece "Currents," followed by Ramon Sunico who showed the audience the sun setting in "Mindoro." Andrea Levinge read her poem "The Deepening Sea," followed by Anne Abad's "Fern." Gian Paolo Lao ended the festival with his poem "In My Country." Le Printemps des Poètes will be on its 14th year next year, and will most likely be attended by the same people. But as Alliance Francaise de Manille President Deanna Ongpin-Recto and Deputy Director Mickaël Balcon observed, each year brings in some fresh faces. Surely the next Spring of Poets will usher in more new blooms. Printempes des Poetes 2011 Part 1 Abdon Balde Yanna Verbo Acosta Francisco Llaguno Mikael de Lara Co Joel Salud Christine Joy O. Castillo Beatrix Syjuco Asha Macam Jacques Chessex by Markus Ruckstuhl Ed Maranan Vim Nadera Alfred A. Yuson Maxine Syjuco Ariana Pozzuoli Part 2 Jacques Brel by Tata Poblador accompanied by Pr. Lester Demetillo Mookie Katigbak Cesare A.X. Syjuco Noel del Prado Gémino H. Abad Marne L. Kilates Victor Peñaranda Alma anonas Carpio Virgilio S. Almario by Marivic Rufino & Marne L. Kilates Johanna Fernandez Ramon C. Sunico Andrea Levinge Anne Abad Gian Paolo Lao Le Printemps des Poetes is held at the Alliance française de Manille, 209 Nicanor Garcia St., Bel Air II, Makati. For more information, call the Alliance Française de Manille at tel. no. 895-7585 or 895-7441. – VVP, GMA News