Instituto Cervantes and Spanish Embassy to present new edition of Fil-Spanish publication

MANILA, Philippines - Instituto Cervantes, in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, presents the third issue of the cultural magazine Perro Berde on Febr. 16, 7 p.m., at Instituto Cervantes’ Miguel Hernandez library.

Sponsored primarily by the Spanish Embassy and AECID, Perro Berde presents a venue for interaction among Filipino, Spanish and Latin American writers and aims to enlighten Filipinos about the lingual and cultural heritage that they share with the Spanish-speaking nations.

The only publication of Philippine culture in Spanish, Perro Berde‘s tertiary issue features Filipino and Spanish writers like Ambeth Ocampo, Ino Manalo, Wystan de la Peña, Juan Antonio Pascual Gay, and up-and-coming Spanish novelist Rubén Abella. Poet and novelist Javier Sicilia, considered as one of the best authors of contemporary Mexican literature and well known in political and media circles through his literature and regular columns, is also featured in this edition with an interview by Maria Cuchillo.

The magazine, which launched its maiden issue in 2009, was initiated by a group of Filipino and Spanish writers residing in Manila.  The name of the magazine is composed of a Spanish word (perro) and a vernacular present in various dialects of the Archipelago (berde, with Tagalog orthography). With that title, aside from alluding to the rarity of current Filipino writings in Spanish, the publication intends provide a space for cultural dialogue.

The third issue of the cultural magazine also features the illustration of artists Jesús Vicente, Joseph Albacite and Arlene Barbaza. Filipino poet and Palanca Award winner Mookie Katigbak and Spanish poet Miguel Ángel Feria Vázquez contribute a selection of their poetry in Spanish and Filipino translations while award winning Filipino indie filmmaker Raya Martin shares his insight on his Spanish movie, “Buenas noches, España.”

Other contributors include Joseph Bohigas, Frank Callaghan, Isaac Donoso, Eduard Escoffet, Marcela Gutiérrez, Teddy Iborra Wickstead, Carlos Juan, Bianca Klakegg, Salvador Malig, Mico Manalo, Teófila Martínez, Jorge Mojarro, José Manuel Navia, Marlon Sales, Isabel Sánchez, Toni Segarra, David Sentado, and Tanya Tynjälä.

The launching of Perro Berde is done in the context of positive change in favor of the Spanish language in the Philippines after decades of its fading out in the public and cultural life of the country.

Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq, Instituto Cervantes director Eduardo Calvo, and other members of the diplomatic corps as well as noted Filipino and Spanish writers will attend the launch on Thursday.

Perro Berde is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID), and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain.

Entrance to this launch is free. Copies of the magazine will also be given during the presentation. For information, call 526-1482 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es.

Instituto Cervantes is at 855 TM Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila.