AILAP Spearheads The Frankfurter Flotilla: Latag-Aklat, Talakayan, and Gabi ng Tula para sa Palestina

The Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP), in partnership with the UP Center for International Studies, Kritika Kultura, Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing, and the Network in Defense of Historical Truth and Academic Freedom, organized "The Frankfurter Flotilla: Latag Aklat and Talakayan para sa Palestina.” The two days of activities brought together writers, artists, and advocates who believe that words, art, and scholarship can stand as acts of resistance and care. The series of events showed how literature can move beyond the page to become a voice for justice and solidarity.

Latag Aklat: Laying Down Books, Lifting Voices

The “Latag Aklat,” held from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon on 16 and 17 October at the SEC-A foyer in Ateneo de Manila University, turned the campus into a lively space of creativity and awareness. Tables were filled with books, zines, and artworks that carried stories of struggle, identity, and liberation.

Among those who joined were Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing, Surian ng Sining, Tilde Acuña, Pao Ching-Ming, Gregorio Bituin Jr., Karize Michella Uy, Josel Nicolas, Maria Nilad, Maria Gabriela Baron, and Ched de Gala. The proceeds from book sales were donated to projects that support Palestinian communities affected by conflict.

More than a simple book fair, the event became a space for conversation and connection. Visitors stopped to talk about literature, politics, and freedom. The atmosphere was filled with energy and compassion, showing that art can still inspire people to act for what is right.

Talakayan para sa Palestina: Speaking Truth to Power

In the evening of 16 October, participants gathered for the “Talakayan para sa Palestina” at the NGF Conference Room in De la Costa Hall. The discussion, which ran from 5:00 to 7:00 in the evening, focused on the cultural and political meaning of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction (BDS) movement against Israel and its allied institutions. The panel included Dr. Sol Iglesias, Dr. Vladimeir Gonzalez, Dr. Rolando Tolentino, and Dr. Mark Benedict Lim, all respected scholars and writers who brought depth and passion to the conversation.

Dr. Iglesias, a political science professor from the University of the Philippines Diliman, opened the discussion by examining the situation in Gaza through the lens of political violence and academic freedom. She spoke of “scholasticide,” or the destruction of schools and universities, and how this represents not just the loss of buildings but also the silencing of a people’s right to knowledge. She described it as a form of “epistemicide,” or the killing of ways of knowing, which mirrors the colonial silencing of many societies throughout history.

Dr. Gonzalez, writer and Director of the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing, reflected on the Philippines’ role as Guest of Honor in the Frankfurt Book Fair and the moral questions it raised. He recalled how the UPICW organized a forum in support of the Palestinian-led call for boycott, and he spoke about the tension between institutional neutrality and personal conscience. Gonzalez also read from his play “Puting Gunaw,” which compared the horrors of nuclear and chemical warfare to the suffering in Gaza, reminding listeners that silence is never neutral.

Cultural critic Dr. Tolentino broadened the discussion by analyzing how international events like the Frankfurt Book Fair serve as instruments of Western power. He urged Filipino writers and artists to see how global literary spaces can reinforce inequality, and he called for a stronger and more active solidarity among writers from the Global South.

Finally, Dr. Lim, director of AILAP, reflected on what it meant to organize an “alternative book fair” in Ateneo while the Frankfurt Book Fair was happening abroad. He shared the story of a student who said the event changed how they saw the issue of Israel and Palestine. Lim explained that while literature cannot stop wars, it can encourage empathy, reflection, and the courage to speak out.

Building on this call for empathy and action, Dr. Ramon Guillermo, director of the UP Center for International Studies, closed the event with a powerful reflection that linked the global struggle for Palestine to personal and local experiences. He recalled how, while in Zurich, he was invited to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair but chose not to, realizing that amid the bombings in Gaza, participation in such an event felt impossible. For him, that moment marked the discovery of Palestine within himself, an awakening shared by many around the world. Dr. Guillermo reflected on how the issue has stirred emotions and even divisions among writers and cultural workers, describing it as a sign that people have begun to care deeply. He called on Filipino artists, educators, and cultural workers to “palakihin at palawakin ang ating panig,” to broaden and strengthen the side of those who stand for Palestine. Ending with a hopeful reminder that the struggle is far from over, he urged everyone to continue transforming art, literature, and discourse into acts of solidarity.

In the end, the “Talakayan” ended as more than a conversation. It became a collective act of awareness and resistance, proving that literature’s role is not only to represent the world but to challenge and transform it.

Mga Saranggolang Nagdadala ng Pag-ibig: A Night of Poetry for Palestine

The spirit of the Flotilla continued the following night, 17 October, in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, where poets, translators, and advocates gathered for “Mga Saranggolang Nagdadala ng Pag-ibig: Gabi ng Tula para sa Palestina.” The atmosphere was warm and intimate. Candles lit the space, and the audience listened closely as voices filled the room with poetry and hope.

The program opened with Dr. Guillermo’s remarks, where he spoke about the shared histories of struggle between the Filipino and Palestinian peoples. He reflected on the idea of two revolutions: the unfinished revolution of the Philippines and the ongoing revolution of Palestine, both rooted in the fight for freedom and justice. Drawing from his experience as a writer, he shared how learning about the Palestinian struggle changed the way he sees literature and art. For him, poetry should come from empathy and conviction, giving voice to those who continue to resist.

Following him was Prof. Sarah Raymundo from the University of the Philippines Center for International Studies, who gave a clear overview of the current situation in Gaza. She talked about the continuous violence faced by Palestinians and how some countries, including the Philippines, are complicit in systems that support the occupation. Quoting the late Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer’s “If I Must Die,” she reminded everyone that poetry can be both a form of comfort and resistance, a space where stories of pain, courage, and hope survive despite tragedy. Her words called on everyone to move beyond sympathy and turn solidarity into meaningful action.

After the opening talks, the event moved into a series of heartfelt readings and performances. Prof. Harvey Castillo opened this part by reading from a Palestinian autobiography that told stories of exile during the Nakba, a painful event that continues to shape Palestinian identity. Lance Dayrit, a poet and translator, shared his translations of poems by Rashid Hussain and Padma Tupan, as well as his own work, “Hindi Ako Nagluluksa Para sa mga Pinaslang sa Palestina,” which he wrote during the controversy at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Maria Gabriela Baron of Packing Sheets Press read poems by Andrew Blancana, Darrell Martinez, and Larry Valen, which drew connections between Filipino and Palestinian experiences of loss, endurance, and resistance.

The program also featured readings from Karen Mae T. La’O, Gregorio Bituin Jr., Paulo “Gabo” Gaborni, Edbert Darwin Casten of Bente-Bente Zine, Jared Castro of Baybayin, and Maria Nilad. Each poet brought a distinct voice that added depth to the collective call for justice and remembrance. Their verses spoke of love amid violence, courage amid despair, and hope that continues to fly, much like the kites of Gaza that still fly despite the darkness of war.

Later in the evening, Antares “Pog” Gomez Bartolome, owner of Chapterhouse, shared the story behind the Palestinian dishes served during the event. He explained the careful process of preparing each meal with respect for Palestinian traditions. He also pointed out that food carries its own history and struggle, deeply connected to the question of land and of how people plant, harvest, and share what sustains them. In this sense, serving Palestinian food that night was also a gesture of solidarity, honoring the link between nourishment, culture, and the fight for freedom.

To close the program, Dr. Mark Benedict Lim, Director of the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP), expressed his gratitude to all the collaborators, partners, and participants who made the event possible. He emphasized the importance of continuing AILAP’s initiatives that connect literature with social and political awareness. In his remarks, he reflected on how gatherings like this affirm the power of art and writing in the ongoing pursuit of liberation for Palestine.

Through poetry, song, and shared reflection, the event became more than a literary gathering. It was a moment of remembrance, solidarity, and protest. The audience was reminded that the call for Palestine’s freedom echoes the Filipino people’s own story of oppression and resistance.