Make poem, save Guimaras
Calls have been made for indigenous materials that could contain the oil spill in Guimaras, everything and anything, from rice straws to bamboo to human hair. No less than President Arroyo has called for a nationwide donation of these materials.
To do its bit in solving the country's worst oil spill, a Catholic university here is calling poets to submit poems to help save the province from the disaster, and to aid in its rehabilitation.
The Fray Luis de Leon Creative Writing Institute at the Coordinating Center for Research and Publications of the University of San Agustin is calling all writers to submit poems to help save Guimaras from the oil spill.
The poems will be compiled into a book to be called 'Poems for Guimaras. The poets' royalties-usually about 15-20% for each copy bought-will be spent for the rehabilitation of the affected areas in Guimaras, said John Iremil Teodoro. The book is scheduled for launching on April 2007 in Naoway island in Guimaras.
One way of healing the earth is through poetry, Teodoro said.. "This is the power of poetry."
He pointed out that Babaylans, or native healers of ancient times, had rituals composed of poems resorted to in healing the earth.
"They used poetry to heal the world," he stressed.
"Poetry," Teodoro added, "is like a prayer. So when we're calling for poets to submit poems, we are, in effect, calling on them to pray for Guimaras."
Teodoro believes that poems are as effective as the indigenous oil booms in battling the disaster.
"This is more on the metaphysical side, the spiritual healing, which is more important," he stressed. "This is our own way of helping Guimaras.
Moreover, he added, poetry will immortalize the beauty of Guimaras, and the terror and the horror of the oil spill, which are worth recording in literature.
There are prizes for the contributors, Teodoro said. "Do it for the love of Guimaras instead."
And although Greenpeace International has called the oil spill a 'ticking time bomb,' poets need not strain themselves just to put out a decent poem in time for the deadline.
We gave poets ample time to craft a poem, Teodoro said.
Interested writers have until January 15 next year to submit their poems, which may be submitted through email at libroagustino@usa.edu.ph or iremil@usa.edu.ph.