The playwright and writer C.E. Gatchalian, one of the editors of Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing (Coromorant Books, 2023), discusses the collection with Joseph Planta.

Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing edited by Teodoro Alcuitas, C.E. Gatchalian, and Patria Rivera (Cormorant Books, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Magdaragat

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

There’s a new collection out now, Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing. It gathers in one place a wide variety of pieces, essays, short stories, poetry, plays, speeches, and more, whose writers reflect the diversity, of not just Canada, but Filipino Canadians themselves. Herein you have writers from throughout the country, some from first, and second generation heritage, as well as some who are newly arrived to Canada, or who have been here decades. You have a wide variety of backgrounds. The collection reflects the contributions the Filipino community has made to the fabric of Canadian society, and often invisibly. A reader bears witness to the joys and struggles of people who’ve sacrificed much to seek community and family elsewhere. The collection is edited by Teodoro Alcuitas, C.E. Gatchalian, and Patria Rivera. Mr. Gatchalian joins me now, and I’ll get him to talk about what it was like working on this important, worthwhile project, and getting to read the richness in the submissions. I’ll also ask Chris to reflect on his own piece in the book, and what he says in it as somebody born in Canada, reflecting on the identities he contends with then and now. Chris Gatchalian is the author of six books, and co-editor of two anthologies. He is a three-time Lambda Award finalist and a recipient of the Dayne Ogilvie Prize in 2013. He is originally from Vancouver, but joined me from Toronto one week ago. There will be an event this Tuesday evening, November 14, 2023 at the Massy Arts Gallery, 23 East Pender Street. You can register in advance at www.massyarts.com. This collection is published by Cormorant Books. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Chris Gatchalian; Mr. Gatchalian, good morning.

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