Nadera's Lecture and Lyrics About Rice

Prof. Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr., fellow and former Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing director, will open its Panayam series on July 9, 2:30 p.m., at the Faculty Center's Pulungang Claro M. Recto at the UP Diliman campus.

His paper, Kung Paano Itinanim ang Palay, Binayo ang Bigas, at Isinaing ang Kanin, will not only discuss the role of world's most important staple food in Philippine arts and culture but also deal with the creative process of paying tribute to rice. He came with a collection of poetry set into music by singer/songwriter Joey Ayala who, as the chair of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Committee on Music chair, sowed the lyrical seeds with folk singers, jazz singers, spoken word artists, rappers, rock stars, and other musicians.

Both The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee -- Ayala (Music,1988) and Nadera (Literature, 2003) -- collaborated with Dong Abay, Cynthia Alexander, Onie Badiang, Noel Cabangon, Mary Katherine Trangco-Cabral, Lourd de Veyra and the Radioactive Sago Project, Frank Englis, Junn Esteban, Maricris Joaquin, Popong Landero, Jun Latonio, Sheilbert O Manuel, Errol Marabiles, Mlou Matute, Pio Pataganao, Ira Penalosa, Traicy Christi Tarongoy, Irma Tengasantos and Rene Tengasantos.

There will also be a soft launch of Palay Bigas Kanin compact disc with 20 songs such as Sagot Na o Sirit Na?; Hindi Lang Ang Ifugao; Halina At Hain Na; Dalit Kay Dalacdac; Aking Paaralan Ang Aking Palayan; Pasyong Mahal; Ambahang Sambahan; Dasal na Ghazal; Ako Ay May Lupa; Palay, Bigas, Kanin;Oryza Sativa! Oryza Sativa!; Ang Bansa Ng Pambansa; Kakanin; Magtanim Ay Di Biro Rap; Noon Po Sa Amin; Eat-All-You Kan-on; Kahit Palay, Bigas, Kanin Ay Kaunti; Gluten; May Mito, May Totoo; and Bankakawan.

A performance artist, poet, fictionist, playwright, essayist, and columnist, Nadera has four poetry collections, an epic, a novel, and a research on poetry therapy entitled Poetreat. In 2006, he won the Juan C. Laya Award for Best Novel in Filipino, Outstanding Citizen of Tayabas, and the South East Asia Write Award from the Kingdom of Thailand. He was chosen as The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni for Literature in 2007 when he became the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) chair. Three of his books got the U.P.Centennial Publications award in 2008. Last year he was named Artist 1. This year's Araw ng Maynila recognized him with Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan.

Invited reactors to the lecture are National Artists Virgilio Almario and Bienvenido Lumbera, with theater director, Dr. Alexander Cortez, and ethnomusicologist, Dr. Ramon Santos.

An NCCA project, Palay Bigas Kanin's conduits are Foundation AWIT for the first and third phases and the Bagong Lumad Artists Foundation Inc. for the second.

For details, please look for Eva or Erin at # 9221830 or logon to panitikan.com.ph.