Poet Camilo M. Villanueva Jr. publishes new poetry collection

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Poet and writer Camilo M. Villanueva Jr. finally comes out with his new poetry collection entitled Tamang Hinala (2010). Camilo's avalanche of literary writings in poetry, fiction, essay, play and everything in between (both in Filipino & English) scream for printing and deserve a wide readership.

I have known Camilo since 1994 when I was a freshman at De La Salle University and I was a witness to his being prolific as a writer and a bookworm. Of course, he's much older than I am.  Even in college, Camilo was a multi-awarded writer sweeping awards in the annual DLSU Literary Awards in various categories. If you ask him why he stayed that long in college, it's because of his passion for writing and his love for our alma mater. During this time of waiting, he was writing his undergraduate thesis for BA-Communication Arts that became a published book entitled, Greenstreams: A Lasallian Student Poetry Reader, 1925-1996 (Manila: DLSU/Camilo M Villanueva Jr, 1996).

In January 1998, Camilo & I were classmates in Creative Non-Fiction class (MFA-Creative Writing) under Dr. Ma. Luisa Cariño. Camilo loved to experiment writing in a genre. We were just stunned reading his works that sometimes go beyond a genre we all know. 

A perfectionist and a creative master of the literary arts, Camilo Villanueva's poetry beams with fresh metaphors, shaped by a beautiful introspection of philosophy and experience. I am really excited to read this collection and his future books.

Congratulations, Camilo! Mabuhay Ka!

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TAMANG HINALA ang munting kalipunan ng mga piling akda ni Camilo M. Villanueva Jr. na ibinunga ng kaniyang pagkakapili bilang isa sa dalawang writing fellows para sa tula ng Bienvenido N Santos Creative Writing Center ng De La Salle University noong 2000-2001. Ang writing grant na ito ay tinanggap nila ng makatang John  Iremil Teodoro nang kapwa pa sila naglilingkod bilang mga editor ng De La Salle University Press, kumukuha ng MFA in Creative Writing, at nagsisipagturo nang part-time sa Literature Department ng DLSU.

Ang unang bahagi ng kalipunan ay mga salitan ng tula sa seryeng Paano Susuyuin ang Nawawala na isang paraan ng pagsusumamo ng persona para muling dalawin ng Musa na ipinagpalit nito para sa mas payak ngunit mas masalimuot palang buhay; samantalang ang dalawang huli ay iniaalay sa alaala ng dalawang trahedyang naganap sa Paco, Maynila, na naging ephemeron na lamang--ang una ay ang pagguho sa Major Theater kunsaan may isang miyural ni Bonifacio at ng Katipuan at ang pagkalitson ng mga inosenteng bata sa ampunan ng Fundacion de damas de Filipinas isang madaling-araw--at binura na sa alaala; at, nagtatapos sa isang Pangwakas, na siyang manipesto ukol sa paghihinala bilang malikhaing gawain ng paglikha.

Pagpupugay ang koleksyon sa presensiya ng binhi ng tula sa lahat ng uri ng panitikan at anyo ng pagpapahayag.

"Camilo" (acrylic on paper, 8.5x11, Enero 2010), ang imahen sa pabalat, ay obra ni Alexander de Moscoso (na Alexander Percival M Espanola sa tunay na buhay), isang kapwa Lasalyano na piniling tahakin ang landas ng sining at ngayon ay nakabase na sa Davao kasama ang kaniyang pamilya. Ang portrait na ito na bahagi ng seryeng Portraits of Friends. Nagkasama sa Malate Literary Journal sina Espanola at Villanueva.