Pinoyjammers holds Tagalog Poetry Reading in NY

A special event of Tagalog poetry reading (with English translations) was recently held in New York City last November 20, 2003. Called "Tulang Tagalog Jam (But not for Tagalogs only)", the performers from Pinoyjammers@aol.com included Bing Magtoto, Pee Jay Bodoy, Joseph Pe and Liza Bulos with special guest, renowned Philippine-based writer, university professor and Fullbright scholar, Dr. Isagani R. Cruz. The show was directed by Andrew Eisenman and was held at the Philippine Center, a place slowly gaining reputation as the cultural center of Filipino and Filipino-American art shows and exhibits based at the Philippine Consulate General of the Philippines in New York City.

Meanwhile, pinoyjammers@aol.com was organized by playwright Linda Faigao-Hall and theater director/actor Andrew Eisenman. It seeks to fill the often-neglected Filipino immigrant's need to hear poetry in their native tongues. This is its second event. The first one was a Cebuano poetry reading in May 2003, TagaCebu Balak Hudyaka! at the Asian-American Writer's Workshop in New York City. The group is still looking for performance readers fluent in Cebuano, Waray, Hiligaynon, and Kapangpangan. It is also available for bookings for private family gatherings.