Performing in German and Italian at The Chill Session!

Tieniti alla Speranza

Fa' Spazio

Tieniti alle Mani

Fa' Luce

Nel vuoto

Disperazione

Solitudine

Stasera

Tieniti alla Speranza

Fa' Spazio

Tieniti alle Mani

Fa' Luce

Affronta la Paura

Trova la Fede

Conosci la Pace

Stasera

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To show up in the world as an artist, you must face a lot of fears:

fear of rejection

fear of what other people might think about you

fear of creativity "drying up"

fear of lack of time

fear of not finishing

I often feel these fears when sharing or performing poetry, which can be intensely personal.

Until recently, I had not really shown up in the world as “a poet.” My poetry and prose were reserved for the margins of my sketchbooks and private morning meditations.

A couple of weeks ago, the Philippine National Book Development Board asked me to consider performing poetry for their live-streamed event, The Chill Session.

"The CHILL SESSION: Verse and Verve, will reflect on poetry and stories that have emanated

during the pandemic—the daily grind, love, struggles, and hope."

At first, I told myself it wouldn’t work: the time difference from CEST to Manila, the current travels I was doing, and the prep to get my two kids back to school.

The truth, however, was that I was simply making excuses for not living my art in this specific way. I was allowing all the fears mentioned above, the fear of failure (and especially fear of stage-fright) to take over.

Once again, I was doubting myself as a writer, artist, and poet.

Looking back nearly two weeks later, so glad I said yes.

The online Spoken Word event was an incredible experience. To be joined by former Senator Loren Legarda, Poet, and National Artist Rio Alma, and the amazing talents of many Filipino artists that day…what an honor!

And, to be transported from a little seaside village in Central Europe, all the way to my home country of the Philippines, connected across the continents...this was the magic of living art!

My poem "Pandora's Hope" was written during the lockdown in Italy, early 2020. It was translated into Italian by the incredible Paola Polito, and into German by my husband—just hours before the live event!

Special thanks to the National Book Development Board team for trusting me to share my poem, stories, and stage with the others that day. Here is a recording of the live broadcast, with my performance around the 2:00:00 mark. The other artists included:

Spoken Word Artist Maimai Cantillano

Poet Daniel Darwin

Former Senator Loren Legarda

National Artist, poet, literary historian and critic, Rio Alma

Lyrical Artists The Makatas

Flutist Oliver Kinuyog

Chieftain Datu Waway Saway

Electronic Dance Musician Kulintronica

ArTitser

Philippine Music group Padayon Rondalla

English Version:

Hold Hope,

Hold Space,

Hold Hands,

Hold Light.

In emptiness,

Despair,

Loneliness,

Tonight.

Hold Hope,

Hold Space,

Hold Hands,

Hold Light.

Face Fear,

Find Faith,

Know Peace,

Tonight.

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Italian Version:

Tieniti alla Speranza

Fa' Spazio

Tieniti alle Mani

Fa' Luce

Nel vuoto

Disperazione

Solitudine

Stasera

Tieniti alla Speranza

Fa' Spazio

Tieniti alle Mani

Fa' Luce

Affronta la Paura

Trova la Fede

Conosci la Pace

Stasera

+++

German Version:

Haltet an der Hoffnung fest,

Lasst Raum.

Reicht euch die Hände,

Ein lichter Traum.

In der Leere,

Verzweiflung,

Einsamkeit,

Heut‘ Abend

Haltet an der Hoffnung fest

Last Raum

Reicht euch die Hände

Ein lichter Traum.

Stellt euch der Angst,

Findet Glauben,

Erkent Frieden,

Heut‘ Abend.