Bloghopping (Updated)
Here's a blog, "Into The Wardrobe", authored by Tarie from Quezon City. This particular blog entry I'm linking to is "Kaza Kingsley Blog Tour", which features a fantasy series, Erec Rex, by Kaza Kingsley. According to the blog entry, the Philippines is one of the countries where the book was first released. An excerpt:
Tarie: Fantasy isn't a very strong genre in the Philippines. (Unlike countries like the UK and the US where fantasy is such an established genre.) But there are great Filipino writers and so many great Filipino folk tales. And Filipinos love fantasy! Do you have any suggestions for how Filipino writers can solidify Philippine fantasy as a genre? Kaza: I think that writers that have a special cultural history in them have a fantastic advantage. Folk tales are such a rich source to draw from. And I'm sure the folk tales of the Philippines have their own, unique messages and characters. I think it would be great if a Filipino writer took a few of those stories and let their imagination go wild. Not only would the stories be popular in the Philippines, but everywhere! Beyond that, even just the amazing setting you have there might be inspiration for some wonderful stories. Fantasy is just imagination gone wild, in a sense, then putting all kinds of rules on it. Writers interested in that genre should just jump in and give it a try! Reading a lot of fantasy helps give a groundwork for what is out there, that can help, too.
Update: There have been several "Anonymous" comments about this post, in particular with regard to Tarie's first statement in her question. I'd like to point out that Tarie has responded over on her blog, and she clarifies what she means quite well. Thanks very much, Tarie. I'm glad to meet another avid reader via the internet. I'll be visiting your blog regularly to see your recommendations for young-adult books (my daughter's looking for more titles to read).
Tarie: Fantasy isn't a very strong genre in the Philippines. (Unlike countries like the UK and the US where fantasy is such an established genre.) But there are great Filipino writers and so many great Filipino folk tales. And Filipinos love fantasy! Do you have any suggestions for how Filipino writers can solidify Philippine fantasy as a genre? Kaza: I think that writers that have a special cultural history in them have a fantastic advantage. Folk tales are such a rich source to draw from. And I'm sure the folk tales of the Philippines have their own, unique messages and characters. I think it would be great if a Filipino writer took a few of those stories and let their imagination go wild. Not only would the stories be popular in the Philippines, but everywhere! Beyond that, even just the amazing setting you have there might be inspiration for some wonderful stories. Fantasy is just imagination gone wild, in a sense, then putting all kinds of rules on it. Writers interested in that genre should just jump in and give it a try! Reading a lot of fantasy helps give a groundwork for what is out there, that can help, too.
Update: There have been several "Anonymous" comments about this post, in particular with regard to Tarie's first statement in her question. I'd like to point out that Tarie has responded over on her blog, and she clarifies what she means quite well. Thanks very much, Tarie. I'm glad to meet another avid reader via the internet. I'll be visiting your blog regularly to see your recommendations for young-adult books (my daughter's looking for more titles to read).
posted by pgenrestories at 12:49 PM
9 Comments:
Take a look at my reply in that web entry.
There are weak genres in the Philippines, but I don't think fantasy is one of them. I don't agree with the statement "Fantasy isn't a very strong genre in the Philippines."
Tarie starts with "Fantasy isn't a very strong genre in the Philippines" then later says "Filipinos love fantasy!" Then she asks how to "solidify" the genre. So...ano ba? What's she trying to ask?
I agree with the previous comment that fantasy is not a weak genre in the Philippines. Tarie should read more Pinoy authors who write fantasy. Buti nalang maganda ang sagot ni Kaza.
Well, I think Tarie is just confused about what is fantasy to begin with. She thinks that fantasy is in terms of established US and UK writings. But fantasy is more than that, and this also includes a lot of our myths and fables.
But I don't think Tarie is being controversial in making that statement, more like that she doesn't really know what's out there presently. Including the new stuff coming out.
Anonymous sounds like Anton.
@Anonymous(es): Thanks very much for your comments, whether you are the same person or several.
@banzai cat: Thanks very much for your comment and giving Tarie the benefit of the doubt.
I admit that the statements that bothered Anonymous(es) also raised my eyebrows, but I put up the quote because I liked Kaza's answer, especially the part where she says, "Reading a lot of fantasy helps give a groundwork for what is out there, that can help, too." Anything that encourages reading pretty much gets my eye!
I think, like banzai cat, we should give Tarie the benefit of the doubt for framing the question the way she did. Perhaps she runs in circles where those statements are true, and fantasy is not the prevalent genre, even if for the rest of us it's the opposite that holds (if there's any weak genre, looking at the submissions, it's crime/mystery/suspense).
@Charles - Do you think "Anonymous(es)" sounds like Anton? I went to the blog, antonalfredo.blogspot.com, but I got a 404 error. The last I heard from him was during that discussion about what makes a piece "Pinoy".
and anon's comments doesn't sound like anton's. anton always had a certain point to it and never like anon's.
Fantasy is a popular and strong genre all over. I can't understand why she said fantasy is weak.
@Anonymous(es): well, you're in luck. I've just visited Tarie's blog again, and she's explained herself. It's on the comments section in her blogpost.
If you don't mind, please leave your name(s) next time. There's no need to make anonymous comments on the PGS blog.
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