Clark to host Taboan Writer Festival

Thursday, February 2, 2012

CLARK FREEPORT -- The “Taboan: Philippine Writers Festival” will be held inside the Freeport on February 9-11.

National Artists for Literature Virgilio Almario, Bienvenido Lumbera and Sionil Jose will join writers Butch Dalisay, Aida Rivera Ford, Charlson Ong and other poets, playwrights, fictionists and novelists from different parts of the country.

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The writers will converge in Fontana Leisure Park for a conference, book bazaar and for the first time in the history of Taboan, a food-and-culture tour.

Other events include a zarzuela performance and the Taboan Awards & Cultural Night, both of which will be hosted by Systems Plus College Foundation (SPCF) in Balibago, Angeles City.

Led by Kapampangan literature specialist Dr. Juliet Mallari and NCLA head Chancellor Priscilla Macansantos, the Taboan in Pampanga has partnered with Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and SPCF to welcome the literary luminaries to the festival.

Also among the festival's supporters are the Pampanga Capitol, the City Government of Angeles, LIKHAAN: The UP Institute of Creative Writing, UP College of Arts and Letters, TIPCO, San Miguel Corporation, SM Clark, Pampanga's Best, GVAM 792 Naglilingkod sa Bayan, and Gintung Pakpak Eco Park.

Taboan is one of the seven flagship projects of the NCCA for the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF), which is held every February in celebration of the National Arts Month in pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 683 signed in 1991.

NCCA is led by its chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. and OIC-executive director Adelina Suemith.

For more details on the activities and schedules, contact PAF Media Director and NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) head Rene Sanchez Napenas at (632) 527-2192 or 0928-5081057, or PAF Festival Manager, Vanessa Nicolas at 0918-6380412.

Log on to www.ncca.gov.ph or email us at ncca.paio@gmail.com or visit the official website at taboanfestival2012.blogspot.com to find out more.