Springtime for translation

Editor's note: This is the revised version of a speech delivered at the Philippine Book Festival, held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City from June 2 to 4, 2023. An earlier version was published in the June 14, 2023 print edition of The Manila Times as "Opening Hungary."

THIS book launching would not be possible without the unwavering support of our book authority, the National Book Development Board (NBDB), and the Embassy of Hungary in the Philippines, which is celebrating two important occasions this year. The first is the bicentennial anniversary of one of the country's poets, Sandor Petofi, whose five poems reflect the importance of identity and memory, of freedom and love, coupled with his unique brand of humor and his deep sense of connection to Hungary that we can now all enjoy to read in six Philippine languages. These are our national language, Filipino, and five others in the Bicol region: Bikol Sentral, Rinconada, Buhinon, Minasbate and Tigaonon. And the second is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Hungary, and it is only fitting that we are marking this with the publication of "Hindi Pasisiil ang Pagsibol" by the Ateneo de Naga University Press, in cooperation with the Petofi Commission and the Savage Mind Bookshop.