Anthology book ‘Layag’ launches conversation between PHL, Europe

Día del libro 2017 was particularly historic in the Philippines as the European Union National Institutes of Culture (EUNIC) and Instituto Cervantes de Manila, together with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, launched "Layag: European Classics in Filipino."

The book compiles 14 stories from 11 different European nations (Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland) and is the first of its kind in Philippine literary history.

The works of masters like Luigi Pirandello, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Stefan Zweig, Guy de Maupassant, Karel Capek, Erich Kästner, and other renowned writers were adapted through the efforts of Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Jaroslav Olša, Jr.

(L-R) Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša jr., General Manager of Anvil Publishing Andrea Pasion-Flores and Danish Ambassador Jan Top Christensen

Olša is himself a former translator, editor and publisher. During the launch, he credited literature as a way for people to explore the diversity of different cultures and generate interest in ways "trade and investment can't possible do." 

He added, "There are many tools for public diplomacy, such as films, music and the arts. But I believe literature is something that has a really long-lasting impact."

The project in its use of literary Filipino also enriches the language and Olša shared more good news as he announced the plans are already being made for publishing books in Cebuano, Bikolano, and other Philippine languages,

"We already have some partners who might be interested to cooperate with us to bring European stories to other languages, such as Pangasinan and Waray-Waray. There is a lot which could be done," he said.

"Layag" is part of a continuing dialogue between the two nations.

Read more: Across the sea: Philippine speculative fiction reaches Czech Republic

The Commission on the Filipino Language (Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino) is already preparing to publish an anthology of Czech writing and Filipino stories in turn will sail to European shores. An anthology of 39 contemporary short stories will be translated and published in the Czech Republic by mid-2017.

— TJD, GMA News