Jim Pascual Agustin


Jim Pascual Agustin writes and translates in Filipino and English. He grew up in Manila in the Philippines during the reign of the late dictator and plunderer, Ferdinand Marcos. Agustin moved to Cape Town, South Africa in 1994. His poetry has appeared in Rhino, World Literature Today and Modern Poetry in Translation among others. His poem ‘To be an Orc’ won the NoiseMedium Grand Prize while his translation of his own poem from the Filipino, ‘Danica Mae’, won the Gabo Prize in Literature in Translation and Multilingual Texts from Lunch Ticket (www.lunchticket.org). In South Africa, his poetry has won the DALRO Award for poetry second prize, as well as the Sol Plaatje EU Poetry Award 3rd Prize in 2014, 2015 and 2017. His first poetry collection was Beneath an Angry Star (Anvil Publishing, Manila 1992). It was followed by Salimbayan with co-authors Argee Guevarra and Neal Imperial (Publikasyong Sipat, Manila 1994). After a 17-year gap, he came out with new books of poetry which the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House in Manila released: in 2011, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan (shortlisted for the National Book Award) and Alien to Any Skin; in 2013, Kalmot ng Pusa sa Tagiliran and Sound Before Water; and in 2015, A Thousand Eyes. USTPH also released his first short story collection in Filipino, Sanga sa Basang Lupa at iba pang kuwento, in 2016. His eighth book of poetry, Wings of Smoke (The Onslaught Press, Oxford 2017), received warm reviews in South Africa. His latest collection, How to Make a Salagubang Helicopter & other poems (San Anselmo Publications, Manila 2018), is highly critical of the murderous policies of the current Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte. Before the end of 2019, the San Anselmo Publications aims to release his next book, Crocodiles in Belfast & other poems. His random blog can be found on www.matangmanok.wordpress.com.