It’s a volcano found on the island of Negros, in the Philippines. Read more about it here.
Why did self choose that name for her blog?
Self wanted to give it a name that had some personal connection to herself.
(Self used to think the volcano was extinct but a careful reader of her blog told her it wasn’t, that it had in fact resulted in the deaths of two climbers, back in the late 90s.)
All right, but who, then, is the writer of this blog?
She’s a writer. Not well-known (for which, in a way, thank God. She has a life). She’s just your garden-variety writer, with the usual frustrations.
Why is this blog written in the third person?
The blog is an experiment in voice. Experimentation not possible when posts are written from the “I.”
Here are a few highlights of her life thus far:
Self had a short story included in the April 2009 (the “Blood, Sugar, Sex and Magic” Bacolod issue) of Rogue Magazine! (That on the cover is obviously NOT self – what were you thinking???)
The coolest magazine to ever have self's name on the cover. Next coolest: The Threepenny Review. They put, on the front: MARIANNE VILLANUEVA GOES BACK TO MANILA (when they published "Sutil")
- Her first collection of short fiction, Ginseng and Other Tales from Manila (Calyx Books 1991) was simultaneously published in Manila and was short-listed for the Philippines’ National Book Award.
- She was awarded a California Arts Council Artists Fellowship twice, in 1993 and 2002 (the last year the fellowships were offered). Her check bore the signature of Gray Davis, who shortly thereafter was removed by a recall. She was a Margaret Bridgman Scholar at the Breaf Loaf Writers Conference.
- Her story, “Silence,” first published in the Threepenny Review, was short-listed for the 2000 O. Henry Literature Prize. The judges that year were Sherman Alexie, Stephen King, and Lorrie Moore.
- She co-edited, with poet Virginia Cerenio, an anthology of Filipina women’s writings, Going Home to a Landscape (Calyx Books, 2003), which gathered together the writings of Filipina women from around the world.
- Her second book is Mayor of the Roses: Stories (Miami University Press, 2005). It was the inaugural publication of the Miami University Press Fiction Series. It could only have happened because of Brian Ascalon Roley. The photo they used for the cover shows nearly all her Bacolod relatives, gathered at the funeral of self’s grandfather, a former Mayor of Bacolod.
- In 2007, Frederick Barthelme picked self’s story “The Hand” as the winner of the Juked Fiction Contest.
KulArts gave her play-in-progress, “In Which Menchit Attempts To Improve Her Fortune” a staged reading in the Bayanihan Cultural Center in October 2008 (Looove Alleluia Panis. Just love her)
Very, very soon, she’ll have a book published in the Philippines again (She can hardly wait).
She is still writing, even after xxxxx number of rejections. And she still thinks writing is the scariest and also the most exciting activity in the universe.
Born and raised in Manila, she now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
writerchick said,
January 10, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Wow Marianne, you are hot stuff! I’m very impressed – maybe you could give me some publishing tips. I’d love it. I’m glad you stumbled on my blog – great to meet you.
WC
anthropologist said,
January 11, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I can certainly give you publishing tips, but I’m not hot stuff, since I don’t regularly get paid for my stories and haven’t signed on with a big publisher!
YOU, my dear, are hot stuff. I see all the comments you get on your blog!
– Marianne
kh said,
January 30, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Since you have some problems with insomnia… would you be at all interested in blogging about your experiences trying to improve your sleep habits by following the advice in a (free) book? I have a Dutton author who’s reaching out to people who don’t have diagnosed serious sleep conditions, but who could use some help regulating their sleep habits and getting a better night’s sleep (which is about 99% of us). If you’re interested, drop me an email… thanks! p.s. i studied anthropology as an undergrad and am constantly wondering what i’d be doing now had i gone for a phD…
kh said,
January 30, 2007 at 7:51 pm
p.s. not sure if you’ll be able to see my email on your back-end, so here it is:
kristen[at]563media[dot]com
thanks! have a great day.
mariacristina said,
March 3, 2007 at 11:07 pm
What an interesting and productive life you lead.
anthropologist said,
March 4, 2007 at 3:49 am
You find my life interesting? I always thought my life was rather boring — so much of it spent: reading/ studying/ teaching!
Thanks for the comment, though . . .
I’ll check out your blog.
Connie Veneracion said,
May 17, 2007 at 3:25 pm
You mean it’s true about “starving writers”?
anthropologist said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Yes, it’s true. In fact, would you like to initiate a “Feed Your Local Writer” day? I am sure you would get many many starving writers sign up. I wouldn’t mind giving a (free) reading, open to the public, in exchange for food. Hey, I think that would be fun! You’d feed both the mind AND the body.
Love your blog.
ANTONIO K. JOAQUIN said,
June 18, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I congratulate you Marianne for a nicely laid out blogsite, and I uoin all the voices there in in continually cheering you to greater heights.
Speaking of great heights, Nick Joaquin, my late uncle wil soon be the subject of an extended biographpy. Who will write it? I was officially designated by my family to do the honors and I am indeed honored.
In this connection therefore, you may have something to share vis a vis Nick and your writings. If so, do send them to me for possible inclusion in the coming book.
Krp Yuson, Butch Dalisay, Pete Lacaba to mention some of Nick’s close friends and fellow writers are poised to see my draft for they too will be part of the “writing team” that will make sure the book is of the quality deserving of Nick and his life works.
my best to your Mom, Nena, and hope that she continues to fashion the kind of classical piano playing that I have known to admire over the years.
Much love and prayers,
Tony
anthropologist said,
June 19, 2007 at 2:31 am
Tony,
I’m honored that you checked out my blog, that you even consider me for contributing to your book about Nick Joaquin, who as you know was a real inspiration to me and to many many other Filipinos.
I don’t have any personal stories; aren’t those the kind you want? I would feel presumptuous to write something about him when I only knew him “from afar.” But I look forward to reading your book about him.
Steve Zolno said,
August 29, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Hello -
I am trying to enter a nominee for the category of 100 Most Influential Filipino Women but do not have an email address to send this to.
Thank you.
anthropologist said,
August 29, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Hi, Steve,
Here’s the contact info I have for the group that issued the call for “The 100 Most Influential Filipino Women”:
Contact Us
> email: filipina@ffwn.org
> phone: 415.278.9410
> web: http://www.ffwn.org
I know they had a deadline, but not sure if they extended it . . .
Adriano San Diego said,
December 16, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Hi,
Kanlaon Volcano is not extinct!! It erupted on 12 August 1996 and that eruption claimed the live sof 3 mountaineers.
Regards
anthropologist said,
December 17, 2007 at 4:21 am
Oh, wow! That’s interesting! Got to do more research on that incident.
Kai said,
February 22, 2008 at 6:17 am
Hello, may I invite you to join the February edition of Lasang Pinoy, which is a monthly food blogging event celebrating Filipino food. The theme for this month is coconuts. Details here, http://bucaio.blogspot.com/2008/02/lp-24-loco-over-coco.html. Thanks.
anthropologist said,
February 22, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Ooooh, yes, I would love to join this monthly food blogging event!
OK, think coconuts, think coconuts . . .
Phyl said,
March 14, 2008 at 2:45 am
Hey, I’m working on a short (hopefully humorous) article—nonfiction—to be entitled “Why I Sleep Late.” Using this “Post-a-Comment” means that I’m not usurping your private blog, right? I’m of an (ancient) generation that does not “understand” blogs. My granddaughter, on the other hand. . . .
I’m looking forward to meeting you.
anthropologist said,
March 14, 2008 at 3:19 am
Phyl,
Post away! It is fun . . .
In no way are you “usurping” anything. This blog is for sharing.
Karen said,
March 14, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Hi, Kanlaon/Ms. Marianne, sorry for this very late reply, simultaneous to my hosting Lasang Pinoy 24 I gave birth to my 3rd child, so I’m not full-time on the internet yet as much as I should.
As for Lasang Pinoy, you can post here on your blog about your entry, then let me know about it by sending me an email at sweet_bucaio@yahoo.com. I’ll also be checking your website. Thanks!
Lance said,
May 3, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I am from Canlaon City, a little city in the heart of the Negros Island, but I am working at Cebu City right now. I so much miss Canlaon, and of course our very own Kanlaon Volcano, so I did a little of tickling on google and then got stumbled on your blog. Your posts are fascinating to read, although I can’t seemingly relate to some, but the title of your blog amazed me the most.
I really miss waking up at home and then take a peek at my window. And I would then sit beside the window and blantly stare at the majestic volcano with some cold misty winds trying freezing me up. Then few minutes later, my Mom would already be screaming my name, looking for me (I am the last person to wake up every morning at the house). I love my childhood days. I just don’t know why I can’t remember all those crazy stuff I did when I was still young. I hate it when my elder sister would recall to me those happenings and then it would just irrated me more because I wouldn’t be able to recall a thing.
Anyways, I am already blabbering here. Nice Blog! I hope you could gimme a holler back! hehehehe
Lance
http://www.punkies07.blogspot.com
anthropologist said,
May 3, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Hi, Lance, and Welcome!
My father is from Bacolod. We five children spent every summer there until I was 18.
I love my relatives there and visit them as often as I can.
Thanks for leaving your comment on my blog!
TheA_rtist said,
July 26, 2008 at 7:22 am
Hi Marianne,
I’d been looking for FilAm artists to feature & I would love to feature you on “Profile of An Artist” at my website:
http://www.filamartists.com
Please check it out & let me know what you think.
I also added you as added your website under the “Artists Directory”
You can add me on your blogroll if you like.
I look forward to your response.
TheA_rtist
http://www.filamartists.com
“Let’s connect, participate, collaborate, and create an audience for Filipino American artists & strengthen the diversity in the field of arts.”
by TheA_rtist
andrea said,
January 12, 2009 at 10:59 pm
what a great wealth of information.
Mayor of the Roses: Stories by Marianne Villanueva « BookDragon said,
August 14, 2009 at 12:42 pm
[...] Marianne Villanueva was one of our delightful Smithsonian APA Program guests for “Filipino American Literary [...]
hazel said,
August 19, 2009 at 6:58 am
Hi, congratulations on your beautifully laid out blog…
So I was wondering if you knew any folk lore stories about mt. kanlaon? I visited over the summer and found the volcano and the whole of negros really, quite inspiring… I would like to read some more about it.
Thanks, and best of luck with your writing,
Hazel
anthropologist said,
August 19, 2009 at 9:02 am
Hi, Hazel,
It’s wonderful that you love Negros, I hope you get a chance to return.
The only folk tales I know about Kanlaon are from HISTORY OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, a book which was given to me by my relatives (and I don’t know if it’s still in print). You can also look for blogs by/ about people living in Bacolod, of which I’m sure there are many . . .
Amanda Parker said,
November 25, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Hi, I just really wanted to stop by and say hi. I am in Liza’s 110 class, at which you visted recently. I just wanted to say thank you so much for coming in. I really appreciated that such a wonderful writer would do something so great for the students. I rally loved your book Mayor of the Roses and most definitely am going to be reading more of ou collections. I also want to thank you for giving me something that I can get into. I thought my love for reading was gone, but now, at least for your books, I’ve found a passion!!
Thank you deeply,
Amanda Parker
anthropologist said,
November 26, 2009 at 3:49 am
Dear Amanda,
I LOVED visiting your class. Everyone was so engaged! I tell Liza, anytime she wants me to visit a class, I will. Because, you know, she is truly an exceptional teacher.
Thank you, thank you for stopping by the blog and letting me know how you felt about MAYOR OF THE ROSES. It means a lot to me.
AND I want to know what happens to you, so keep in touch and leave me messages from time to time. The blog is a good place to keep in touch!
All the best,
Marianne