Website Manic Pixie Bakunawa promises to exhibit works of local young writers, artists

If you're a local young writer or artist and feeling like there aren't enough venues for you to showcase your stuff, fear not—online art and literary channel Manic Pixie Bakunawa has got you covered.

Started by Ateneo de Manila University student and The Guidon features writer Rafael Nakpil, the website is a literary initiative aiming to give young creatives and their more exposure.

“MPBK is an online literary/art channel. We're all about telling cool stories through writing and art, and we really want to showcase all the young talent that can be unfairly overlooked,” said Nakpil, who is also the site's editor-in-chief.

When asked about the "why" behind the concept, Nakpil said, “I wanted to share my stories and the stories that I like with everyone gets a chance to. I'm a writer, and I wanted to be able to share my work. And I figured, I'd love to be able to share my work alongside the work of other talented writers.

“I got everything going after I met someone who really showed me how wonderful the post-college life can be if you really actively pursue your dreams. After meeting her, I figured that I should really try to follow my dreams,” he added.

Nakpil answered GMA News Online's questions in an email interview.

Q: What kind of content can be expected from MPBK?

A: All kinds of stuff! Literature is so broad and people tend to miss out on getting to appreciate some of the other stuff it has to offer. So we want to really share with our audience, and everyone else too, all the cool and wonderful stuff literature, especially local literature, has to offer. We've got a big focus on fiction for the upcoming season, but hopefully we are looking to branch out into other stuff for the following seasons.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with MPBK?

A: MPBK is about providing a voice for literature and art, so we'd really like to get more and more people interested in literature and art. There's so much wonderful, amazing stuff to be learned from literature and art, and we've all been personally affected by it. We'd like to offer everyone the chance to experience that.

Q: Are you a paying venue?

A: Not yet. But we really really want to be! MPBK recognizes the value of writers, artists, and creatives, and being in the business of creativity, we'd like to be able to pay everyone for their work. And it is our goal to get there!

Q: How does it work? Can just anyone submit and where can they send their stuff?

A: We're always open to new ideas! We've got a crack editorial team and we're always willing to take new stuff into development. But we like to think that we're writers and artists of discerning taste, so we won't take just anything. That being said, we have a pretty good eye for talent and we're willing to take risks on stories and ideas that others might not be willing to.

AJ Elicaño is the associate editor and as such he is in charge of all the words on the site. Then Camille Basa is our art director. So the two of them are responsible for evaluating and going through all that stuff. And as EIC, I help out too.

Q: What else can we expect? Will you do events like talks and workshops and the like?

A: Yes! It wouldn't be enough to just write or do art that people can appreciate. We'd also love to try to help people get into writing or doing art for themselves. It'd be great if they could also create stuff that we could appreciate too. (And maybe they can get onto MPBK hehe).

Q: How often will you be publishing/posting?

A: Well right now, we've got four novels in development. We're going to serialize them and publish a chapter a week—each serial will be updated weekly. Then we've also got a blog that we're working on and that will be updated much more regularly. Right now, we're preparing for three to four updates a week, but if it can be more than that, that'd be great. It's a blog, so we'll see what happens.

And of course, there will be art. There are a whole bunch of amazing artists who have volunteered to contribute their wonderful work, and we'll be publishing them as much as possible, as well. Right now, we're still working out the format for publishing art, but rest assured, there will be art!

Q: Is there anything you'd like the public to know that hasn't been asked yet?

A: I suppose we'd just like to let everyone know that we are really, really excited to get to share our work with everyone. We're all working really hard to make sure that everything is of the highest quality. We are doing our best for all of you! Also, we exist! See you all on the site! — BM, GMA News

The Manic Pixie Bakunawa site was launched on Sept. 22. The MPBK launch party will get going at 42nd Events Place, Xavierville Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City on Sept. 27, 8 p.m.

Submit your artwork or writing to mpbk.art@gmail.com or mpbk.lit@gmail.com.