XU English Professor Roger Garcia reads his creative nonfiction work, "Waiting for Rain" at "Art for Rice," a performance forum to benefit Mindanao farmers affected by the dry spell. With him is fellow English Department faculty member and forum host Christine Gumalal.
Xavier University, through the Xavier Center for Culture and Arts (XCCA) and Department of English Language and Literature, and Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro (NAGMAC), held the first of a series of performance forums on April 18 at the XU Little Theater to raise funds for Kidapawan farmers in North Cotabato and El Niño victims in South Cotabato, Maguindanao and Saranggani provinces.
Students who came to "Art for Rice" to give donations in cash or in kind were entertained not only by song performances but also by poetry recitations. Many members of NAGMAC recited their original poems, written in either English or Binisaya, while others opted to recite works by other poets.
XU English Professor Roger Garcia shared his creative nonfiction work, “Waiting for Rain,” prepared especially for the forum. His sharing about his family genealogy and their intricate ties to farming left the students tongue-tied and pensive.
Garcia narrated how the lives of three generations before him – his great grandfather, grandfather and father – found their fate tied to the land and the back-breaking work of farming.
He, however, pursued a different path, choosing to sow not grains but words, and finding his purpose not in agriculture but in literature.
“Life taught me to write,” Garcia responded when asked how he got into writing.
He admitted to having a difficult childhood and finding his salvation in writing. “There was no other way to survive,” he said.
Garcia’s works have appeared in the Philippine Star, Youngblood 4 and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
He is just one of several distinguished writers and poets, including Palanca awardees Dr Ma Elena Paulma and Dr Anthony Tan, who are expected to grace the stage of "Art for Rice." The succeeding shows are on April 19 at 7 pm and April 23 at 3 pm at the XU Little Theater. A grand show will be held at the Capitol University gymnasium on May 6 at 7 pm, which will also include performances from Liceo de Cagayan University and Capitol University artists.
Audiences need only bring two kilos of rice or three pieces of canned goods, or P100 for professionals and P75 for students as registration. All funds raised and goods collected will go to the beneficiaries.
“Beyond the performances is the call for us to help our communities,” expressed Hobart Savior, XCCA director. XU hopes to raise a significant amount of money and goods to give to the farmers.
Those who wish to give cash donations may make a deposit to Xavier University through any branch of the Bank of Philippine Islands Account No 9331-0133-36 or Land Bank of the Philippines Account No 0152-0473-39.
Donations in kind may be dropped off at the Magis Walkway at Xavier University.