THOMASIAN authors urged readers to find the “unique experience” in reading Filipino translations during their book launching at the Solidaridad bookshop last Feb. 23.
Chuckberry Pascual, creative writing program coordinator of UST, said Filipino consumers often look down on Filipino-translated books.
“Halimbawa may translation ng isang libro, tapos pareho naging market na nasa English and Filipino, bibilhin pa rin ni consumer ay ‘yong feel niya: ‘Marunong naman ako mag-English e, bakit ko bibilhin yung nasa Filipino?’” fictionist Pascual said.
Translator and poet Ralph Galan, assistant director of UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, said the translation of regional writings into English contributes to the weak market for Filipino translations.
“I think with regards to Cebuano and Hiligaynon, they prefer to be translated into English rather than into Filipino,” Galan said. “People from the regions are much better at speaking in English just as they insist on speaking and writing in their regional language.”
The event, organized by the Philippine PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists), saw the launch of Pascual’s “Ang Tagalabas sa Panitikan,” Galan’s “Sa Mga Pagitan ng Buhay,” and literature department chairman Joselito de los Reyes’s “Finding Teo.” K. B. L. Arlegui with reports from Therese Ungson
