Pagpupugay kay Jacinto

Sa 16 Abril 2011, gaganapin ang "Pagpupugay kay Jacinto," isang pilgrimage sa mga natatanging lugar sa buhay ni Emilio Jacinto. Kasabay nito ang book launching ng pinakabagong akla, ang JACINTINA ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining para sa Panitikan na si Rio Alma.

5:30 ng umaga ang assembly sa Philcoa. Maghanda lamang ng P500 bilang transportation fee kung walang sasakyan at pipiliin ninyong sumabay aarkilahing van.

Para sa iba pang detalye, makipag-ugnayan kay Joseph Franco sa 0915-4886617.

World Book and Copyright Day on April 15 @ UP Technohub

Summer showers with books this April as the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Philippines celebrate World Book and Copyright Day on April 15 at the Techportal of the UP-Ayala Land Technohub in Quezon City.

A whole-day event filled with fun activities awaits book lovers of all ages. Find out whatmakes a bestseller click as Visprint’s Nida Ramirez (publisher of Bob Ong books), National Book Store’ Abdon M. Balde, and Simon and Schuster’s JenniferJavier talk about “The Making of a Bestseller: What Sells and What Does Not”.

A fan of romance, chick lit, or erotic fiction? Meet and listen to your favorite genre writers Tara Sering (bestselling author of Almost Married and Amazing Grace), Pinoy romance queen Martha Cecilia (author of Precious Hearts’ Kristine), and Beverly Siy as they talk about what tickles the Filipinos’ romantic fancies and the perks of writing for the genre.


Aspiring writers who want to make it big online can also get tips from their favorite bloggers and authors: Kristine Fonacier (Lonely Planet Philippines), travel and food bloggers JJ Yulo (Pinoy Eats World) and Ivan Henares (Ivan About Town); Tweet Sering (author of blog-turned-book Astigirl, and Iwa Wilwayco (Hay Men: Ang Blog ng Tunay na Lalake) will be talking about all sorts of writing one can do online, and how to make blogging, from food and travel writing to humor and journal blogs, a profitable pastime.

Adarna House, the country’s biggest children’s book publisher, will be conducting a Book Illustration Workshop for Kids, from the step-by-step stages of illustrating for storybooks, building storyboards to incorporating different trends and styles.

Concerned about your copyright when publishing online or print? Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Philippines’ Deputy Director General Andrew Ong, Atty. Louie Calvario, and Atty. Mark Dy will be discussing the negotiating points in Author-Publisher Agreements, arbitration in copyright disputes, copyright issues when publishing on the web, and plagiarism issues.

Finally, catch the exclusive screening of Khavn dela Cruz’s Mondomanila, a film based on Norman Wilwayco’s Palanca-winning novel of the same title. The film, a post-modern version of Edgardo Reyes’ Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag, delves into and explores “Manila and its humanity, it also delves into the whole rationale behind the irrational lives these people experience every day.”

Aside from the workshops, lectures, and film showing, there will also be a mini book fair participated in by National Book Store, Anvil Publishing, New Day Publishers, and the Filipinas Heritage Library.

Admission to the event is free, while the admission to the screening of Mondomanila is P100. For details, call 926-8238.

Children's Lit Booktalk & Work-in-Progress Critique

Special Feature: Meet the Author-Illustrator May Tobias-Papa,
author of the National Children's Book Award (NCBA)
winning book ARAW SA PALENGKE

WHEN : 6-8 pm Monday 2011 April 11
WHERE : Figaro 3rd Level Greenbelt 3, Makati
HOST : Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

Open to members and non-members (18 and above) who are:
* Published/unpublished children's book writers/illustrators
* Keenly interested in children's and young adult literature

BRING: Any children's or young adult book that you want
to share, discuss, ask questions about, or use as a spring-
board for discussion.

Or, bring a work in progress -- your art or manuscript for a
children's or young adult book -- and get a group critique
plus tips on how to get published.

Attendance Fee: P20 (for SCBWI members, no fee) plus
a receipt to show that you ordered something -- a cup of
coffee, a cold drink, anything! It's a courtesy to the
establishment that we’re using as a venue.

For more information contact:
* Beaulah Pedregosa Taguiwalo
0917-787-4956, taguiwalo8888@yahoo.com
* Dominique Garde Torres (Nikki)
0905-347-1668, nikkigtorres@yahoo.com
* Visit http://scbwiphilippines.wordpress.com/


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Buhay na Titik: Copyright at ang Malikhaing Unggoy

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura ng FILCOLS

Copyright at ang Malikhaing Unggoy

Alam mo bang may mga malikhaing unggoy?

Ang chimpanzee na isang uri ng unggoy ay gumagamit ng maninipis na tangkay ng halaman para ma-scoop ang mga langgam mula sa isang lungga. Isinusuksok ng unggoy ang tangkay sa lungga para doon kumapit ang mga langgam. Madali na niyang makakain ang mga langgam sa ganitong paraan. Para lang itong lumalantak ng kebab. Ang mga langgam ang paboritong merienda ng chimpanzee.

Hindi naging balakid ang pagtatago ng mga langgam sa lungga. Sa halip, ito pa ang nagtulak sa unggoy para maging malikhain sa pag-isip ng paraan para makuha ang kanyang pinaglalawayang merienda.

Ano ang kinalaman ng unggoy sa column na ito na tungkol sa copyright? Teka, ano nga ulit ang copyright?

Ang copyright ay isang bundle of rights na ibinigay ng batas bilang proteksiyon sa mga awtor. Ang bungkos ng karapatan ay binubuo ng reproduction, translation, adaptation, performance, at broadcasting. Ang mga karapatang ito ay eksklusibo lamang sa awtor.

Papaano kung gusto mong magsulat batay sa isang akda na isinulat ng ibang awtor? Halimbawa: si Steven Vander Ark ay isang fan na gustong mag-publish ng Harry Potter Lexicon, isang uri ng dictionary na nakabatay sa Harry Potter book series. Kinuha niya mula sa Harry Potter book series ang mga pangalan ng sarisaring tauhan, lugar, magic spells, magic creatures at iniayos niya ang mga ito alphabetically. Ang mga depinisyon at paliwanag ng bawat termino ay kinuha rin niya sa Harry Potter book series at sa iba pang mga aklat na isinulat ni JK Rowling, ang awtor ng Harry Potter book series.

Ano ang balak ni Steven Vander Ark sa dictionary niya? E, di ibenta ito para kumita nang malaki. Ayos? Hindi. Kasi hindi pumayag si Rowling. Umabot sa korte ang di nila pagkakasundo. Si Rowling ang pinaburan ng korte. Talo si Vander Ark.

Bakit? Ang tawag kasi dito sa ginawa ni Steven Vander Ark ay derivative work. Ibig sabihin, hinango lang niya ang impormasyon sa orihinal na mga gawa ni Rowling at iniayos ang mga ito para magmukhang dictionary. E, ang awtor lamang ang may kapangyarihang magbigay-pahintulot o pumigil sa nais gumawa ng isang derivative work.

At hindi naman nagpaalam itong si Vander Ark kay Rowling.

Bakit hindi ito pinapayagan ng batas? Dahil violation ito ng karapatan ng awtor. Parang ganito. Me extra space pa sa apartment ng biyenan mo kaya pinaupahan mo naman sa pinsan ng kapatid ng kaibigan mo. Tama ba ito? Siyempre hindi. Dahil iniisahan mo na naman ang biyenan mo.

Maging malikhain ka na lang tulad ng unggoy para kumita sa marangal na paraan.

Maraming tao ang nagrereklamo na hindi raw sila makagawa ng akda at napipigilan ang kanilang pagiging malikhain dahil sa mga balakid na dulot ng copyright. Ayon sa kanila dapat nang isantabi ang copyright at hayaan na lamang na gamitin nang walang pahintulot ang mga akda ng sinumang awtor.

Ganito ang pananaw ng fan at aspiring author na si Vander Ark. At sa palagay ko ay nagdadahilan lamang siya at ang mga tulad niya sa kanilang katamarang maging malikhain at paganahin ang imahinasyon. Mabuti pa ang unggoy, hindi iniinda ang balakid, sa halip ay nilampasan niya ito sa malikhaing paraan.

Ang tunay na malikhain ay hindi mapipigilan ng mga balakid sa paglikha ng mga akda. Mas nagiging malikot ang kanyang isip, lumalalim ang pagtingin, at tumatalas ang mata sa paglikha kaya’t ang kanyang mga akda ay kadalasang mas maganda sa nauna. Alam naman nating lahat na mas magaling ka sa unggoy, kaya ‘wag na ‘wag magpapatalo sa anumang balakid.

Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

FILCOLS Huntahan for Women Writers: A Winner!

An informal discussion on writing, publishing, intellectual property, and copyright specially designed for women writers and researchers, FILCOLS Huntahan was held last 28 March 2011 at the Seminar Room, College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD), Magsaysay St., University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Individuals from FILCOLS’ partner UP Center for Women’s Studies (CWS), media partners Herword.com and Businessworld, Ili Bathaluman, Women’s Feature Service, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Adamson University, Blog Watch Mulat Pinoy, Punla (Pulso ng Madla) a local newspaper in Bulacan, Advance, a new company offering tutorial services, philippinehistory.ph, Kabarangay.com, Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, US Embassy Manila’s Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz, Trade and Investment Officer, and US Embassy Bangkok’s Jennie Ness, Regional Intellectual Property Attaché, attended the event.

NBDB Executive Director Andrea Pasion-Flores was also present. Tweet Sering, an established chic lit writer and a newbie in the industry as publisher, graced the FILCOLS Huntahan as well.

The session started with a warm welcome from the Director of Center for Women’s Studies Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio. She also invited everyone to join CWS as it celebrates Women’s Month with numerous activities especially prepared for women.

Then IPOPHL’s Attorney Sara Jane Suguitan made the participants stretch some muscles and dance for a few minutes.

After everyone was energized by the exercise, Atty. Suguitan started discussing intellectual property. She explained the basics of IP then later on zoomed in on copyright.

Next speaker was Alvin Buenaventura, FILCOLS Executive Director. He introduced FILCOLS and then proceeded to discuss the benefits of exercising the economic rights of writers. To prove his point further, he mentioned an Australian children’s literature writer who is living a comfortable life despite being a single mom.

The writer is a member of Copyright Agency Limited (CAL), the collective management organization of Australia. She receives remuneration from CAL for her works that are being photocopied in schools.

Before he ended his presentation, he encouraged everyone to join FILCOLS.

Dr. Mihaly Ficsor, president of the Hungarian Copyright Experts Council and a WIPO permanent observer, followed with a short talk on copyright in the international scene. He mentioned the WIPO Internet treaties and emphasized that the licensing scheme model in the Philippines should be voluntary. Buenaventura later on confirmed this by stating that it is the only scheme allowed under the IP Code of the Philippines.

Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) Chair Abdon Balde Jr. presented the benefits of joining a writers’ organization. He also explained the business side of publishing. “Publishing is not just about printing what one has written. It also means being sensitive to one’s market so there will be more sales for the publisher. It also means writing about serious topics in a more interesting and fun way,” he said. He enumerated the types of books that became bestsellers in other countries.

During merienda break, participants were encouraged to raise questions about the topics that were discussed.

Grace Nicolas shared her experience about finding her work which was originally posted as a blog entry and a note on Facebook. Her work was used and discussed in a classroom. Her permission was never sought.

Atty. Suguitan advised her, if possible, to set up a meeting with the persons initiating the use of her work in a classroom. She said that it’s a good practice to put a reminder at the end of every article one posts in the internet as well. The reminder should contain steps in seeking permission from the copyright holder if anyone wishes to use or repost it.

Nicolas also expressed her concern over her works with characters that seem to be very realistic to the point that some people are asking her if she refers to them. Nicolas asked if a libel case can be filed against her for writing that kind of fiction.

Atty. Suguitan answered no. Balde backed it up by telling his version of Nicolas’ concern. One of his novels was about rampant corruption in the government. He named his characters after real people around him but he added or changed a syllable or two in the characters’ names. Some people who have similar names and characteristics to the novel’s characters read his book but did not file any case against him because his work falls under fiction. If they filed any case or got angry with Balde, it was like admitting guilt over their own sins and mistakes in the first place.

Ruth Floresca asked if infringement was committed when she saw her article posted in two big media network sites. She submitted the article to the online magazine she’s working for.

Atty. Suguitan advised her to re-examine the contract between her and the online magazine. She must check if there was an assignment of her copyright to the online magazine. If there was no contract, the copyright still belonged to the author meaning she may ask for remuneration for republication of her work in another site. She may also ask her works to be pulled out from the sites.

Aurora Yumul became the devil’s advocate for a day by saying piracy is democracy. She also expressed her dislike about people who post their works online and complain too much when their works are being copied and posted on other sites.

NBDB’s Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores reminded Yumul that copyright holders are just like ordinary people, they are also of different types. Since copyright is a private right, copyright holders may or may not exercise their rights over their works. It means that there are copyright holders who choose to let other people reproduce their works with or without their permission. It is perfectly okay. But there are copyright holders who choose otherwise. It is perfectly okay as well.

Alice Pingol asked if it’s possible to find another publisher for her book that was funded and previously published by a research center. The book was not for sale but she noticed that a lot of her friends especially from abroad are interested to buy but are having a hard time searching for a copy in their country. She decided to reproduce it on her own (in CD format) and sold copies of it. She was concerned if her action was illegal.

Before replying, Atty. Suguitan asked Tweet Sering to impart her experiences as an independent publisher of her own book “Astigirl.” Sering shared the details of her journey to becoming one of the newest and perhaps one of the youngest independent publishers in the industry today. Sering expressed with pride that her book was launched on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2011. She also encouraged women writers to give self-publishing a try by citing important lessons and habits she acquired while doing it.

Atty. Suguitan proceeded to answer Pingol’s query. She advised her to check any contract or grant form that she signed for the research process and publication of the book. If the document forbids her to reproduce her own work in the same or another format, it means that she is not allowed to reproduce it and sell even to her own friends. But if there is no contract or the contract does not state that the publisher or the funder has exclusive rights for the reproduction of the book for a period of time, Pingol is allowed to publish her work independently or with another publisher.

The event ended with closing remarks from Beverly Siy, FILCOLS Executive Officer. She thanked media partners Herword.com and Business World especially Mr. Omar Dela Paz Itay who distributed copies of the day’s newspaper as freebies to all the participants, partners UP CSWCD and UP CWS especially Dr. Estrada-Claudio, Dr. Odine de Guzman, and Ms. Ilene de Jesus, IPOPHL especially to Atty. Louie Calvario, Atty. Mark Robert Dy, and Atty. Suguitan, UMPIL and sponsors the Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE) and KOPINOR.

This event aimed to encourage working together to address writing and publishing challenges in and outside the academe and to promote women writers’ rights in the country.


FILCOLS Huntahan sessions were previously held in Mandaluyong, Cavite, Naga, Pangasinan, and Quezon City. FILCOLS receives support from NORCODE and KOPINOR. NORCODE is an international copyright development group organized and funded by five copyright societies namely KOPINOR, GRAMO, TONO, BONO and NORWACO. KOPINOR is the reproduction rights (RRO) of Norway while FILCOLS is the RRO of the Philippines.


Written by Beverly Siy.

This press release can be copied and posted anywhere as long as the author's byline is retained. Thank you.

Post-Event FILCOLS Huntahan for Women Writers PHOTOS

Writers Gig at Wharf Galley

Verses:
Writers Gig at Wharf Galley
Open-Mic
Poetry
Music
Short Films
Books
And What-Not?
Featured Poet: Victor Dennis T. Nierva
April 9, 2011
8-9:30PM
Elias Angeles St., Naga City.