“The current scene of writing in the Philippines is lively and alert . . .
from which several young poets stand out for their talent,
among them Paolo Manalo, author of the experimental
freewheeling Jolography (2003) . . .”

RAJEEV S. PATKE AND PHILIP HOLDEN
THE ROUTLEDGE CONCISE HISTORY
OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN WRITING IN ENGLISH (2010)

Paolo Manalo’s debut collection Jolography received the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature and the UP Diliman Gawad Tsanselor para sa Natatanging Likha ng Sining. Described by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil José as “poetry that is transcendental, with music and nationality,” the book explored an extraordinary approach to Philippine poetry that used transliterations and code switching to reach its imaginative utterances. More than a decade later, Jolography is back in circulation —a book with more than half of its contents new in an improved sequence that demonstrates linguistic inventiveness tempered by formal skill.

“How fa Manalo can go with the language he has taken pains to develop is worth watching out for. His is a struggle with English by a poet proficient with the language but seeking to bend it as far as it would go to address Filipino realities.”

BIENVENIDO LUMBERA
SANGHAYA (2004)