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This is the blog of Ian Rosales Casocot. Filipino writer. Sometime academic. Former backpacker. Twink bait. Hamster lover.

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Friday, October 26, 2007

entry arrow4:21 PM | Dalisay Shortlisted for Man Asian Prize

[Emailed by Susan Lara]

Butch Dalisay's novel Soledad's Sister has been shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize, this side of the world's equivalent to the Booker Prize (which Man also sponsors). The candidates were whittled from a long list of 23 hopefuls, with a record of 11 Indian writers in the mix. I hope this becomes the proverbial foot in the door for Philippine writers to finally receive the international attention they deserve (but can't seem to get). Here is an excerpt from the report:

The Man Asian literary prize focuses on new works as yet unpublished in English and aims to encourage the publication of more works by Asian writers. The shortlist emerged from a longlist of 23 chosen from 243 submissions received from across Asia and included submissions from well-established as well as first-time authors, and entries included translated works as well as works originally in English....

A Filipino author, Jose Dalisay Jr., makes up the shortlist with Soledad's Sister, a tale that begins when a casket arrives at Manila airport bearing the body of someone called Aurora V Cabahug -- who is very much alive. Dalisay teaches English and creative writing at the University of the Philippines.

Yey to Sir Butch!

[Read the press release here.]

Of course, The Guardian article, by Michelle Pauli, ties in the newly released short list with the political upheaval in Myanmar, headlining the inclusion of Burmese writer Nu Nu Yi Inwa for Smile As They Bow. The other authors in the list include Reeti Gadekar for Families at Home from India, Jiang Rong for Wolf Totem from Ciina, and Xu Xi for Habit of a Foreign Sky from Hong Kong.

Let's cross our fingers, and hope global politics don't get into play in the final consideration.

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