Celebrating Filipino Literature: Philippine Embassy in Rome Hosts Book Reading and Conversation with Filipino Authors

ROME 19 March 2025 — The Philippine Embassy in Rome organized, in collaboration with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), a special book and poetry reading with Filipino authors entitled, “Tabi Apo: Embracing Enchantment, Embodying Hope,” on 14 March 2025 at the Embassy’s Social Hall.

The event was participated in by forty young Filipinos and Filipino-Italians, faculty and staff members of Philippine schools overseas in Rome, and other select members of the Filipino community.

In his remarks at the event, Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial encouraged the audience to explore the diverse narratives that define Philippine literature. He also shared with the audience the different initiatives and upcoming projects of the Embassy that will promote Philippine culture and heritage in Italy.

Filipino author Kristian Cordero, who led the readings, discussed the event’s theme focusing on nature and enchantment, and remarked that Philippine epics, “born from our hinterlands, continue to animate our indigenous people’s imagination and…through these oral literatures we continue to experience the power of magic, wonder, imagination, freedom and our sense of community.” Cordero further said that a sense of hope, community and belongingness manifest in Filipinos’ creative and literary works which is present in the literary works of Filipinos from many backgrounds, be they poets and priests, doctors and diplomats.

One of the authors featured in the event was Dr. Mary Jane Guazon-Uy, who read excerpts from her book, The Book of Pedro Bautista, a Spanish friar assigned in the Bicol region and Tagalog regions during the early years of colonization, who also served as Spain’s ambassador to Japan.

Ms. Trixie A. Odiamar, the author of the children’s book Tabi Apo: Come into the World of Bene and Yno, which highlights Mount Isarog’s rich flora and fauna. Odiamar discussed the importance of connecting natural elements found in Mount Isarog with a child’s senses when writing books for kids.

Fr. Andrew Recepcion, read his Bikolano poem, “Montoro Inferiore,” and the Italian Translation of Gemino Abad’s “In Ordinary Times.”  Mr. Kristian Cordero showcased his two Filipino poems, “Stabat Mater” and “Pangungulila,” and their Italian versions. The Italian versions of the books of national artists Gemino Abad and Virgilio Almario’s “In Ordinary Times” and “Ang Alamat ng Ulan,” respectively were also performed at the event.

Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J., recited a suite of tanaga from his collection, Isang Kahig, Isang Tuka. A tanaga is a form of Philippine poetry, traditionally in the Filipino language, consisting of four lines with seven syllables each.

Ambassador Neal Imperial closed the reading by reciting his original poem “Ang Babaeng Pulis and Asawa” and presented a recorded musical rendition of his poem “The Moon Stares” from his poetry book, Silver Moon, Hook of Moon.

The event was organized as part of the Embassy’s initiative toward the promotion and preservation of Philippine culture in Italy through books. It  also served as a lead-up to the Frankfurter Buchmesse in October 2025, where the Philippines will be the Guest of Honor, marking a significant milestone for the Philippines’ literary and publishing industry.  END

For more information, visit https://www.romepe.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.facebook.com/PHinItaly/ or https://twitter.com/PHinItaly.