Anvil winners at the 28th National Book Awards

Major wins at the 28th National Book Awards (for books published in
2008)!

Congrats to Anvil authors:

GRACE NONO (The Shared Voice)

AMANDO DORONILA (Afro-Asia in Upheaval)

ADELAIDA LIM et al (Cafe by the Ruins)

BINO REALUYO (The Gods We Worship Live Next Door)

NICK DEOCAMPO (Sine Gabay)

ANVIL also won Publisher of the Year (9 glorious times now!).

What a shower of blessings! Read full list of winners via Dr. Isagani R. Cruz's blog

JOB OPENING: Marketing Coordinator

Hi guys :)

Anvil Publishing is currently looking for a Marketing Coordinator who can handle events and promotion of new and backlist books.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

1. Prepares all publicity, promotions and merchandising requirements for all Anvil publications.
2. Requests the publishing department for materials needed for the preparation of the above.
3. Monitors all publicity materials released on TV, radio and print, and distributes these to the sales and the publishing departments.
4. Organizes all book launchings and coordinates requirements with the concerned departments.
5. Requests for promotional and merchandising materials of supplied trade books on an exclusive distributorship deal with Anvil from their respective publishers.
6. Conceptualizes and organizes lectures, readings, book signings, seminars and other special activities for backlist in cooperation with sales personnel.
7. Helps marketing and sales department with their internal/external correspondence.
8. Designs and implements backlist promotions plan/campaigns under the guidance of the Marketing Manager.
9. Supervise website maintenance and updates, and give new materials to the IT personnel for posting.
10. All other duties that may be assigned to carry out the job as marketing assistant.

Requirements:

• Candidate must possess at least a Bachelor's/College Degree in Mass Communication, Management or Literature or any equivalent course.
• At least 1 - 2 years of working experience in the related field is required for this position.
• Preferably at least 1/2 years Experienced Employees specializing in Marketing or equivalent job role as Marketing Officer.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Required Skills: Microsoft programs (Word, Powerpoint, Excel)
• Preferred Skills: Photoshop, Pagemaker, Dreamweaver
• Able to work on weekends and holidays as required.
• Full-Time positions available.
  

Interested parties must e-mail their updated resume at marketing@anvilpublishing.com.

Bye, Aling Bebang!

"borrowed" above image from a Likhaan link.

learned about the sad news early today. the wake is in Sanctuarium in Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. Interment will be this Wednesday, March 25, 2009. more details to be posted here as soon as we get them.

got the following bit from Ian Rosales Casocot's blog:

Genoveva Edroza Matute, or Aling Bebang, died in her sleep Saturday night. She was 94. Fondly read for her award-winning stories and essays, the great writer Genoveva Edroza Matute was born on 3 January 1915. A devoted educator, she spent many years as head of the Philippine Normal University’s Department of Filipino. In 1992, she was conferred the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining (Panitikan) by the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She has won the Palanca multiple times for stories written in what critics have called "very accessible" Tagalog. These stories include "Kuwento ni Mabuti," "Paglalayag sa Pusa ng Isang Bata," "Parusa," "Maganda Ang Ninang Ko," and "Pagbabalik." Her books include Mga Piling Maiikling Kuwento, Tinig ng Damdamin, Katipunan ng Kanyang mga Piling: Sanaysay, and Sa Anino ng EDSA. Ang Kanilang Mga Sugat is Matute’s first novel.

Slum Book Questions: Valentine's Edition

Four simple questions. That’s it. They should be easy to answer. Unfortunately only 8 gracious souls out of about 80 Anvil authors, artists and editors replied to our email asking for answers to four very simple questions in time for Valentine’s Day. But we guess the others who ignored the questions were 1) too shy to answer; 2) too tired rolling their eyes, ho-humming and poo-poohing us; or 3) didn’t want people to know their deep, dark secrets. So anyway, the 8 respondents who did give us their time have very interesting answers (some of them didn’t answer all questions, though, but who cares?). In the spirit of hearts day, enjoy!


SLUM BOOK QUESTIONS: Valentine’s edition


Who was your first crush?
Christine: si Steve ng Voltes V (abnormal)

Panch: I think it was Andre Gower from the Monster Squad

Patti: A Jesuit priest

Nemah: My catechism instructor (a seminarian), when I was in second grade.

Frank: My sister brought me to watch Paper Moon and since then, I fell in love with Tatum O'Neal.

Tony: Carmelita Canlas

Elbert: My first crush was watching Caselyn Francisco on That's Entertainment. One day I will meet her in person and it will bring my childhood to a completion. (In the meantime, my childhood's still in a holding pattern.)

Cyan: Robin the Boy Wonder



Who was your first kiss?
Panch: Not applicable. Hahahaha.

Patti: A pimply 16-year-old boy

Nemah: Someone who was 6"4; he had to bend way down to reach my lips.

Frank: It was a classmate in Grade III. It was a dare orchestrated by my best friend, Bernardo, while playing in recess one August morning. But try as I can, I forgot her name.

Tony: Becky Misa

Cyan: my first boyfriend at 21


Who is your fantasy romantic partner?
Christine: singer Josh Groban (first choice); American actor Jensen Ackles

Panch: Johnny Depp

Patti: Someone who will remain nameless

Nemah: Depends on the time of day: Hugh Jackman in the morning; George Clooney at night. Lately, David Beckham is fading out and Barack Obama is getting into the picture.

Frank: Fermina Daza (Love in the Time of Cholera)

Tony: Secret

Elbert: My fantasy romantic partner is Natalie Portman, although I'm not sure the girlfriend will appreciate that. (I love you!)

Cyan: Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice


How will you celebrate Valentine’s Day this year?
Christine: usap lang kami sa phone. long distance. mahal magmahal.

Panch: Go swimming probably or working.

Patti: Will most likely forget unless reminded of it.

Nemah: Hmmm, probably curled up in bed, with a book of poems on erotica.

Frank: After the Taboan Writers Congress in QC, I will attend the "Presences and Absences" Poetry Reading at the Café by the Ruins and then drink the night away with my ruined poet friends

Tony: Meeting with Santeros Filipinos and practicing Santeria

Elbert: My better half and I are planning to go to Chinatown on a food trip with some friends during the day, then maybe cook dinner for each other, just the two of us, after that. Staying in and avoiding the Valentine crowds.

Cyan: spend time with my husband and hobbits



Cyan Abad-Jugo is the author of Leaf and Shadow: Stories About Some Friendly Creatures and has a story in the forthcoming anthology A Time for Dragons.

Frances (Panch) Alcaraz illustrated Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin, Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon, Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, Cyan Abad-Jugo’s Leaf and Shadow and the recently released Heaven’s Butterfly.

Christine S. Bellen retells the stories of Lola Basyang in Anvil’s first children’s book series, Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang ni Severino Reyes (15 titles as of this writing).


Frank Cimatu is co-editor of the forthcoming Mondo Marcos: Martial Law Babies Write About Marcos and His Martial Law.

Nemah Hermosa is the co-author of the best-selling series Our World of Reading that’s been used in schools since the 1990s.

Patricia (Patti) Laurel is the author of the young adult novel Only If You Can Find Me.


Elbert Or illustrated Ang Parusa ng Duwende, Ang Binibining Tumalo sa Hari and the forthcoming San Miguel Pure Foods’ Kid’s Kitchen Camp Cookbook.

Tony Perez is the author of The Calling, Mga Panibagong Kulam, and the Sitio Katakutan series.



Photos of Christine, Nemah, Elbert and Tony by Wendy Basilio, copyright by Anvil Publishing.

BENJAMIN PIMENTEL, Anvil Author for January 2009

BENJAMIN PIMENTEL grew up in Quezon City and was educated at the Ateneo de Manila, the University of the Philippines-Diliman and the University of California at Berkeley. He moved to the United States in 1990 and earned a master's degree from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 1993. He was a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle for 14 years and now covers technology for MarketWatch. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and kids.

A Q & A with Benjamin

Pimentel on Pareng Barack: Filipinos in Obama's America

What will readers find interesting about the book?

Pareng Barack is an account of how Filipinos responded to the historic election campaign. The book also examines the Filipino American story filtered through my own experiences and insights as a journalist based in Cailfornia.

What makes Pareng Barack different from other books about Barack Obama?

The book offers a look at the historic campaign and racial issues in the United States through Filipino American eyes.

Are there little known facts about Obama in the book?

I was struck when I read Obama's memoir Dreams from My Father that he had tried dog meat when he was growing up in Indonesia. He also played some games that would be familiar to Filipino children such as kite duels. More importantly, Obama got a close look at poverty in a Third World country during his time in Indonesia.

How will the presidency of Barack Obama impact on the lives of Filipino Americans?

Because race has played such a critical role in American politics for a long time, I think Obama's election as the first person of color to serve as US president has had a tremendous impact on communities of color in general, including Filipino Americans.

How did you gather materials for this book? Did you encounter any problems in information-gathering and writing?

I had followed the media accounts of the campaign and how Filipinos reacted. I also talked to some Filipinos who were involved in the campaign or were affected by the election battle. The book also was based on past issues and stories I covered as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle.

What do you like most about Barack Obama?

He is an intellectual who also has worked at the grassroots level as a community organizer. So his intellectual depth is impressive, but he can also be pragmatic having worked at many levels of public service. And he has displayed a steady temperament that is very much needed right now. As others have noted he is perhaps the most even-keeled American president in a generation.

The least about him?

He is a politician and thus will likely have to make compromises once in power. That's the part about him that's untested. How will he be affected by power and the trappings of the presidency? I have no delusions about his presidency and the challenges he faces. As one Filipino American told me, Obama now has the worst job on the planet.

What attributes made him win the presidency?

I think Americans were tired of the old order and ready to embrace a major change. Obama's intellect, temperament and his impressive campaign were enough to win the support of even the most skeptical voters.

What does Obama need to turn around the US economy?

There are no easy answers. The key I think will be to consult with as many groups and experts as possible, unite and rally these sectors around a strategy and pursue that plan.

FAST FACTS about the Author:

Full Name: Benjamin Pimentel

Literary Byline: Benjamin Pimentel

Nickname: Boying

Spouse: Mara Torres

Children: Paolo, Anton

Current job: Business journalist

Works published by Anvil: UG

An Underground Tale and Pareng Barack: Filipinos in Obama's

America

Other works: Mga Gerilya sa Powell Street (Ateneo De Manila University Press)

Awards: National Book Award Juan C. Laya Prize for fiction for Mga Gerilya sa Powell Street (2007); Golden Gate Award, 1994 San Francisco International Film Festival for Toxic Sunset, a documentary about the environmental damage caused by the US bases in the Philippines; Filipinas Magazine Achievement Award for communications (2001)

Web page: bpimentel.blogspot.com

Benjamin Pimentel's Top Five Books:

• Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
• America is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan
• The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
• The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
• Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal

Favorite lines from books:

From The Grapes of Wrath

“I’ll be all aroun’ in the dark, I’ll be ever’where—wherever you look. Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a copy beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there….”

From The Wisdom of No Escape

“So whether it’s anger or craving or jealousy or fear or depression—whatever it might be —the notion is not to try to get rid of it, but to make friends with it. That means getting to know it completely, with some kind of softness, and learning how once you’ve experienced it fully, to let go.”

Now, for some random questions:

Do you read the story or book first before you watch the film?

I usually read the book first. I did watch The Motorcycle Diaries, by Che Guevarra, first, before reading the book.

But with other works, such as The House of the Spirits,A Civil Action and Snow Falling on Cedar, I read the books first before seeing the film. Reading and watching either a film or stage adaptation of a published work are two different experiences and I've found that each can be engaging. For example, I totally enjoyed the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Pilipino's adaptation of my novel, Mga Gerilya sa Powell Street, which playwright Rody Vera and director Chris Millado transformed into a fun and moving musical comedy. There are times when reading is simply a more enjoyable experience. For instance, I enjoyed reading The Da Vinci Code, but wasn't that impressed with the movie (although I'm a Tom Hanks fan.)

Do you write on your books?

Not usually. But I did underline passages—and I still do, actually this—in my copies of American Pema Chodron's inspiring books, such as the The Wisdom of No Escape and When Things Fall Apart.

Have you ever named someone or something after a literary character, a book title or a writer?

I once had two pet hamsters named Alex and Pearl, after Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Pearl S. Buck. Actually, I didn't know the gender of each hamster and was surprised when Alex ended up giving birth to hamster pups.

Have you ever stolen a book from a library?

Never, I'm proud to say. One of my biggest concerns, in fact, is forgetting to return a book and getting hit with a whopping penalty years later. I've read a news story or two about something like that happening.

Name at least 2 writers or literary characters you won't invite to your kid's wedding.

Dmitri and Ivan Karamazov, Padre Salvi, Padre Damaso. Just can't imagine having a fun, memorable wedding with these neurotic or devious characters at the party.

What literary character did/do you have a crush on?

Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice. I have this vague memory of wishing I were Darcy while reading the novel. And also Alba in The House of the Spirits.

What's your fantasy pen name?

Hmmm. Don't have one. And if I did, I'd probably want to keep it secret.

Which 3 writers or literary characters you want to have coffee with?

I'd love to have beer with John LeCarre and listen to him talk about his experiences as a spy and a spy novelist.

Coffee with Jose Rizal would be fantastic, of course. I'd ask him about the other novels he had planned to write.

I'd be also great to have beer with Tom Joad. I've always wondered if he ever came across Filipino migrant workers, like say Carlos Bulosan, during those tough times.

And I also would love to have a beer and sisig with my late mentor Roger Sicat, and then have other writer-friends join us, led by Pete Lacaba, Greg Brillantes and Juaniyo Arcellana. We won’t run out of things to talk about.