Culture and Arts Notebook

Language/Culture     Guwahati: As the World Sanskrit Day (Vishvasamskritadinam), an annual event to focus on India’s most ancient language and its promotion, is being celebrated on 22 August (full moon day), a Northeast Bharat-based nationalist citizens’ forum greets everyone…

Visual Arts/Photography     Photographs by Boldy Tapales/Text by Karina L. Santillan Looking outward, seeing what is before oneself, the eye captures that which resonates within oneself. We perceive and, at the same time, we sieve what we see according…

POEM     Where is the walkway to where I am bound Where is the path that leads to the source Where is the road, the highway, the bridge There, where hope resides, wide open and vast.   The open…

Endangered Species       We must safeguard the web of life and care about the other living species that we share this planet with. Pygmy tarsiers eat and host bugs that we’ve seen at home — insects, spiders, lizards,…

On humanism and spirituality     As a student in an all-girls Catholic school, we all went to Mass every Friday. After communion, the priest encouraged us to pray for our intentions before ending the mass with a “going away…

Fil-Hispanic Literature     Hola Karinita, I finished an article in Spanish for Revista Filipina—a digital journal on Hispanic Filipino literature, culture with an academic bent.  It’s on Adelina Gurrea’s book of short stories that are marvelous, Cuentos de Juana. …

A Poem and a Backstory       When the duende awakens, Sends a signal from deep within, From faraway.   When the duende arises, Sings a melody– crisp and clear, From high above.   When the duende alights, Swells…

POEM     It is midnight. Inside an Igorot hut.   Round and dark and empty Just a platform suspended above.   We climb up and lay down.   You and I, side by side, supine. Suspended in midair. Eyes…

MEDIA       Geneva/Guwahati: Expressing serious concerns over the latest crisis faced by the people of Myanmar (formerly Burma) due to the Covid-19 pandemic under a military regime in NayPieTaw, the Switzerland based global media rights body ‘Press Emblem…

POEM     The sun will rise and set this day The sap will flow unseen to clothe the coffee bark of stark and wintry trees anew a primorous virgin green And I shall flow with morning, afternoon and twilight…