#luis katigbak

[myfriendismovingon]

Dear Distance by Luis Katigbak

[nobodys-saviour]

Passengers / Luis Joaquin M. Katigbak

Because Filipino literature can come up with something this eloquent, this verbose, this feels of an essay. Marvelous. Passengers Luis Joaqu

Forcing people to read Passengers because it quite literally sparked my obsession for the universe-related romance things it is. so. simple in execution but every time i read it i fall in love with it over and over again.

[subterraniabot]

Author’s Background

Luis Joaquin M. Katigbak, born on July 26 1974, is a Filipino writer and music critic from Quezon City. He graduated from the University of the Philippines, also known as UP. Initially, he aspired to be a mathematician, but, in the middle of college, he realized his calling was to be a writer. As a result, he shifted into a creative writing course, BA English, from BS Mathematics. In fact, he has been writing since his childhood and had even some of his works published in his early teen years. These works have been published in Philippine Graphic, The Philippines Free Press, The Likhaan Book of Poetry and Fiction 1995/1997, and East Magazine. Since then, Katigbak has also written three book: Happy Endings, a collection of short stories; The King of Nothing to Do, a collection of essays; and Dear Distance, another collection of stories. The first two of which have been nominated in the National Book Awards. On the 20th of April in 2016, Katigbak passed away at age 41 as a result of diabetes. His most recent vocation, though, was as Senior Editor and Reviews Editor for BURN Magazine. Prior to that, he worked as a PULP Magazine/MTV Ink resident writer, a Philippine Star columnist, an Esquire Philipppines associate editor, a UP Diliman Creative Writing Lecturer, and an Office of Justice Carpio Director II. Katigbak has received a Philippine Graphic prize, a Young Artists' Grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, or NCCA, and four short story Palanca awards. These four short fictions are Dear Distance, Mico and Friends, Nico’s Flight, and the topic for today— Subterrania.

[post-wars]

“Somebody once said that ninety percent of life is just showing up. That makes me wonder what happens when you decide to stop showing up. Of course imposing one’s expectations is unfair as well as idiotic, but then perhaps we are always unfair and idiotic when it comes to those we choose to cast as heroes of a kind, personal or public. Whose business is it to save or condemn anyone? Nostalgia and a vague sense that things could have or should have turned out differently are not the best things to steer one’s life or thoughts by.”

Luis Katigbak

[post-wars]

Bale pastime ko rin ang paglalagay ng karagdagang pabalat na plastic sa lahat ng paperback books ko. 

[post-wars]

In the end, distances and surfaces are all we can ever be sure of, and this is no sad thing. In a world that has accelerated almost beyond recognition, it may be the only comforting thought of which I am still capable.

Luis Katigbak, Dear Distance (Anvil, 2016)

[readandbleed-blog]

During the first few days when I arrived, I made it a mission to visit the UP Press to get a copy of Luis Katigbak's Happy Endings. I first read the book of short stories when I was in highschool. My sister was studying in UP at the time and she would bring home books by contemporary filipino authors. 

There is something different about the way Filipinos write. I can't quite pinpoint it but for the most books I've read I think it's nostalgia. 

When I visited Vancouver's public library I was glad to find a "Tagalog" section. There are many good books but I still found it lacking.

I felt that I wanted to contribute to the Filipino community by sharing the books I've read before. I thought Happy Endings would be a great introductory because of its light content. I couldn't get a copy abroad, that's when I realized that not many of my peers back home read Philippine literature, so I thought I'd start the project in my homeland.

I'm a little short on cash but I hope even one book can make the rounds. Hoping to get more books during the UP Press sale this week.

[warespejo]

Long Live Local Music!