Ang Lumbay Ng Dila

Tapos na ang panandaliang pamamahinga. Sabbatical is over and I'm happily back to the embraces of the web. Nagbalik ako para makipag ambit sa liwat kag sa gihapon sa inyo nga mga bumalasa sang ini nga blog.

Don't I get a sweet warm hug fro you guys? Kam'on! You know you wanna! Show me some lovin!

Now now! While I was gone, a lot of things have happened. Im bursting with stories, and some may be told, some kept, some forgotten, and some forever etched in my heart.

Meanwhile, for a starter post, let me share beautiful writings with you, dear readers. Continuing on with my attempt to post about local writers in the region, I proudly introduce to you, my first lady featured writer. She is no other than Miss, no make that Doctor Genevieve Asenjo.

I can remember taking this photo at the Balay Negrense in Silay City, Negros Occ.

Miss Gen is a good friend, mentor and coffee compatriot. She is a proud Ilongga, to be specific, Karay-a Barrio Lin-ay. For her 'academic' bio click THIS!

She writes in Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Filipino and English. She is a poetess, fictionist, essayist and recently, novelist, but that's getting ahead of the post.

She has authored wonderful books as follows.

A book of poetry from the Fray Luis De Leon Writing Grant
of the University of San Agustin Iloilo





An anthology of her Palanca winning short stories






Featuring her translation job in Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a

She is a multi-awarded writer, and is currently in Korea for a writing fellowship. She has been a regular panelist of countless reputable writing workshops all over the country, and is also a translator/linguist.

Recently, for her PhD in Lit, she completed her first novel, "Ang Lumbay ng Dila" (The Loneliness of the Tongue) which will be made available, hot off the press shortly.

Meanwhile, here is a sampling of her wonderful poetry:

TRAHEDYA NG ISANG BIRHEN
by Genevieve Asenjo

walang dugong
umagos sa aking
mga hita sa unang gabi
ng kanyang paglusob.

umalingawngaw sabay
sa kanyang paglusong-
ahon ang mga hiyaw
ko't daing: sakit, hapdi,
pamamaga
ngunit nilunod ng kanyang
pagdududa ang kabanalan
ng aking kawalang-malay,
ala-Othello siyang naging taga-
hukom ng aking pagkababae:
birhen o puta?

walang dugong
umagos mula
sa aking hita.
lumabas ito sa bunganga
ko't sumalo sa nanunuyong
mga pawis at luha.

 ©2000 by Genevieve Asenjo

First appeared in the October 16, 2000 issue of Mirror Weekly Magazine

And now for the main course - Click THIS for an excerpt from her latest delectable novel "Ang Lumbay ng Dila."

Para kay miga Gen, Panginbulahan kag dugang nga kusog pa sa pagpatikasog sang aton kinaugalingon nga lengwahe! Mabuhay ka!

OH yes, and by the way, dear batchoyan denizens.... Sweet and true, from me to all of you...


I missed you!

Photos from Dr. Asenjo's friendster account.