10 April 2008

FILIPINO EVENTS AT THE SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL
May 24-25, 2008

The Philippine Consulate General announces that the 2008 Sydney Writers’ Festival will be held from May 19 to 25, 2008 in various locations in Sydney.

This is the 9th year of the Sydney Writers’ Festival which will bring 70 international guests from all parts of the world.  The great writers and thinkers participating in the Festival will cover “wealth of riches covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, journalism, scriptwriting, film, new media and much more.”

One of the important highlights of this year’s event is the participation of Filipino literati consisting of Dr. Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Dr. Jose “Wendell” Capili, Merlinda Bobis, Robert Nery, Cesar Leyco and Pascal Daanton Benny.

The Consulate supported the participation of Dr. Jose “Butch” Dalisay as one of the invited international writers.  Dr. Dalisay has won awards and prizes for his fiction, poetry, drama, nonfiction and screenplays, including 16 Palanca Awards.  He teaches English and Creative Writing as a full-time professor at the University of the Philippines.  His novel Soledad’s Sister was shortlisted for the inaugural Man Asian Literary Prize in 2007.

Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro said that the “participation of Dr. Dalisay, Dr. Capili and the other distinguished Filipino-Australian writers is Australia’s   recognition of the rich literary and cultural heritage of the Philippines”.

The Consulate invites the Filipino-Australian community to attend any of the following Filipino events of the Sydney Writers’ Festival

1. Spotlight on Asia
25 May 2008,  9:30-10:30 am
Sydney Theatre, Richard Wherrett Studio, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay

Dr. Dalisay offers a compassionate portrayal of contemporary society from the Philippines

2. Cultures Intertwined:  Junot Diaz and Jose Dalisay

25 May 2008,  3:30-4:30 pm
Pier 2/3, Downstairs, Pier 2/3, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay

Junot Diaz and Jose Dalisay discuss their award winning novels that cross time and space and deal with the weight of history and migration

3. Salu-Salo: In Conversation with Filipino-Australian Writers

25 May 2008, 3:00-5:00 pm
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, 1 Casula Road, Casula

Salu-salo is the first anthology of Filipino-Australian writing revealing the positive contributions of Philippine communities in Australia.  Merlinda Bobis, Cesar Leyco Aguila and Robert Nery speak with editor, Jose Wendell Capili

Booking essential : 98241121 or reception@casulapowerhouse.com

4. Writing for Performance with Daantos Berry

24 May 2008,  3:30-4:30 pm
Blacktown Arts Centre, 78 Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown

Pascal Daantos Berry explores writing for contemporary performance.  This session marks the Blacktown launch of Salu-Salo – an anthology of Philippine-Australian writing.

Booking essential: 98396558