PH Consulate General in NY Honors Nat’l Artist for Literature

Admirers of the National Artist for Literature Jose Garcia Villa pose for a souvenir photo with Consul General Claro S. Cristobal, Luis H. Francia, and some of the relatives of Villa. (New York PCG photo)

NEW YORK 05 November 2018 – In celebration of the Filipino-American History Month, Consul General in New York Claro S. Cristobal recited one of the most beautiful lines of poetry by Philippine National Artist for Literature Jose Garcia Villa during a night of poetry held at the Philippine Center on 24 October 2018.

“And it is thanks to literary geniuses, such as Jose Garcia Villa - who has revolutionized poetry through his ‘comma poems’ and ‘reverse consonance’ rhyme scheme - that we continue to be invigorated in both mind and soul,” the Consul General said in his welcome remarks.

During this night of poetry, Hunter College and New York University professor Luis H. Francia, who learned poetry in workshops with the Filipino poet at Greenwich Village, gave a brief lecture about the “Pope of Greenwich Village.”

Mr. Francia narrated how Mr. Villa disliked the use of the word “so” at all costs. He also remembers Villa discouraging the reading of fiction, as it confuses the poet, and rather urging his students to be single-minded and faithful to their own views.

The professor further learned from Mr. Villa that in poetry, meaning was in a sense an enemy, and that it is not the purpose of poetry, stressing that in poetry, language shapes the meaning. He also stated that lyric poetry was what Mr. Villa favored, as his poems were written not with ideas but with words. Another important principle that he mentioned was Mr. Villa’s pleasure principle, citing that a good poem entices the reader to be receptive to the inner poem.

Vice President and Publisher at Penguin Classics Elda Rotor introduced Jose Garcia Villa’s book Doveglion: Collected Poems, which was published by Penguin Random House in 2008 for the Centennial of the Filipino poet’s birth. She recalled how a postcard, showing a photograph of a group of literary artists in the 1940’s, which included Mr. Villa, has fascinated her entire career.  

Ms. Rotor shared that until 2017, only 8 percent of the children’s books reviewed were authored by Asian-American author, and added that the children and young adult books are more progressive than adult book industry, making it very rare to have Asian American literary authors, much less poets, published.

She stressed that it is remarkable that there was a Filipino poet who thrived in various literary circles more than 75 years ago, as represented by Mr. Villa, who was also considered twice for the Pulitzer’s prize.

Ms. Rotor applauded the Filipino and Asian-American scholars and writers who have worked to keep Jose Garcia Villa’s works relevant. She urged the support of Filipino writers to preserve the rich artistic literary history of the Philippines.

Mr. Stefano Ortiz, a new graduate of New School where the Filipino poet taught from 1964 to 1973 and Mr. Jack Lynch, City of New York emeritus professor and was a student of Mr. Villa both read an excerpt from Doveglion: Collected Poems.

Mr. Lance Villa, son of the Filipino poet, was invited to the event. He sent his three cousins to represent the family to the event namely Mila Villanueva, Mary Villanueva and Maria Cohen.

The night ended with the audience being serenaded with kudiman songs by soprano, Joy Abalon Tamayo accompanied by guitarist Chaitanya Sangco Tamayo, both of whom are graduates of the UP College of Music. END

Consul General Claro S. Cristobal opens the event with his own reading of Villa’s poem. (New York PCG photo)

Stefano Ortiz (left) and Jack Lynch (right) read excerpts of Villa’s poems. (New York PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.