Page 16 - 2017 JAN-JUN - KAAKBAY

16 January to June
2017

Nick Joaquin Centennial Marked by Book Launch in New York City

The Philippine Consulate General in New York in cooperation with world renowned publishing
house Penguin Classics marked the centennial of Philippine National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin with
the launch of Joaquin’s The Woman Who Had Two Navels and Tales of the Tropical Gothic. This is the
first time Joaquin’s works are being published in the United States.

The book launch took place on 27 April 2017 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New
York with over 100 guests from the Filipino-American Community, media, the publishing world, the
academe, as well as arts and culture circles.

Speaking at the launch, Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega relayed the enormous honor felt
by the Consulate General of the Philippines in co-hosting the event as it provides an immeasurable
opportunity for a global audience and a new generation of readers to discover the literary magic of Nick
Joaquin.

Filipino-American Elda Rotor, Vice President and Publisher of Penguin Classics informed the audience that through
the Penguin Classics series, Joaquin’s works are now easily accessible in book format to schools, universities, critics, and
general readers not only in the US but throughout the world.

The launch also featured a message and reading from
the Foreword to the book by PEN/Open Book awardee Filipino-
American author Gina Apostol who spoke of the distinct literary
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voice and contributions of Nick Joaquin to 20 century literature.

Other participants in the event included the Ma-Yi
Theater Company’s Arianne Recto, Eileen Rivera, and Jose
Gamo who did a dramatic reading from Joaquin’s A Portrait of the
Artist as Filipino. The dramatic reading was directed by renowned
actress and director Ching Valdes-Aran. Classical singer Kay
Habana likewise performed a rendition of Bituing Marikit.
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Front Row (L-R) Ms. Melissa chia (2 from left), Ms. Gina Apostol, Penguin
Miss Melissa Chia, grandniece of Nick Joaquin delivered Classics Publisher Elda Roto with a copy of the book, Consul General
a message of appreciation on the publication of the book and the Theresa De Vega, Ms.Kay Habana, Ms. Ching Valdez-Aran of Ma-Yi
various events honoring the national artist during his centenary Theater join other Ma-Yi members, Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz, and
year. members of the Joaquin clan.

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75 Anniversary of Bataan Death March Commemorated in
Historic New York Area

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The 75 Anniversary of the Bataan Death March was
commemorated in an afternoon long program in Orangeburg, New York
on 8 April 2017.

A joint effort of local historian Jerome Kleinman in collaboration
with Filipino-American Associations in Rockland County, New York, - the
Philippine-American Cultural Foundation, PASAR, and FAR - the Fil-Am
Triathlon Team and with the support of the Philippine Consulate General
in New York, the program started off with a mile-long symbolic march
down Bataan Road, Organgeburg named in honor of the Battle of
Bataan.

Over 200 persons participated in the march with the Filipino-
American contingent comprised of organizations based in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

The program featured messages on the significance of the Death March from Philippine Consul General Theresa
Dizon-De Vega, New York State Senator David Carlucci, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, and Orangeburg Town
Supervisor Andrew Stewart. Several veterans of foreign wars were likewise present and were recognized at the program.

In her message, Consul General De Vega spoke of the importance of honoring and remembering the twin legacies of
the Battle of Bataan and the Death March. She also shared how the event was particularly meaningful for her as her late
paternal grandfather, longtime resident of Capas, Tarlac, donated a plot of land to the Philippine Government for the
establishment of a Capas Death March memorial. (Continue to page 17)