Join the HAIKU 08 Writing Contest...

The Embassy of Japan and the UST Haiku Group invites you to HAIKU 08 Writing Contest... Verses from Mother Earth, "Mga Taludtod Mula kay Inang Daigdig"

Contest Rules:
1. The message of the haiku must deal with appreciation of environment, or respect towards nature, or any observation about the natural world.

2. Contestants should be Filipino citizens living in the Philippines or abroad.

3. Entries may be in Filipino or English. a. In Filipino, haiku must be in 7-5-7 syllables. The lines may use any of the following rhyme schemes: a-a-a, a-b-a, a-a-b, a-b-b, or a-b-c. b. The Filipino haiku entry must be accompanied by a free or direct English translation below the page. c. In English, the 5-7-5 syllables should be observed with or without a rhyme scheme. d. A maximum of two (2) haiku entries are allowed per contestant.

4. Submissions may be done by mail, e-mail, or fax. Please use the free downloadable Entry Form at this website: www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp for submission through the Embassy of Japan. a. If submitted by mail, entries should be printed by computer (12-point font size) or typewritten on the Entry Forms. b. If submitted via e-mail, entries must be in a Word Document file and sent as an attachment.

A scanned signature is required in the entry form. If this is not possible, send one (1) accomplished Entry Form with your signature by mail or fax. c. If submitted by fax, entries should be printed by computer or typewritten (12-point font size) on the Entry Forms. d. Two (2) haiku per Entry Form should be observed. Do not put any distinguishing mark on your entries.

5. Please avoid fancy, hard-to-read typefaces.

6. Please send your entries to: Japan Information and Cultural Center Embassy of Japan 2627 Roxas Boulevard Pasay City 1300, Philippines Fax to: (632) 551-5784 E-mail to: jicc-mnl@japanembassy.ph or jiccmanila@yahoo.com

7. Plagiarized haiku, previously-published haiku or haiku closely similar to previously published haiku will automatically be disqualified. Entries should not be submitted to other contests or publications.

8. Entries will be considered the property of the Embassy of Japan and the organizers and therefore will not be returned. Copyright of the works remain with the author but the latter grants, assigns and transfers into the Embassy of Japan and the organizers the right to publish any of the entries as it may deem at its discretion, without necessity of any payment other than the prize which may have been awarded to the winning entries.

9. The works must show literary merit and social significance. Only haiku entries that passed the criteria for evaluation of the judges will be published in the List of Winning Entries. The decision of the Judges is final. 10. Winning entries will appear in "The Japan Bulletin" (The official publication of the Embassy of Japan) and on the Embassy of Japan website.

Deadline of submission: Not later than Wednesday, June 12, 2008. Your entry must be postmarked or submitted on-line by this date. Awards: Top three poems and ten honorable mentions on each category (English and Filipino).

Prizes: Top three and others will be awarded. Prizes will be announced later. Announcement of Winning Works: Winners will be notified on July 2008.

The awarding ceremony will be held during the Philippine-Japan Friendship Month on the same month and the venue will be at the Japan Information and Cultural Center Multipurpose Hall, Roxas Boulevard, Manila For further inquiries, please contact:

Japan Information and Cultural Center Embassy of Japan 2627 Roxas Boulevard , Pasay City 1300, Philippines telephone: (632) 551-5710 fax: (632) 551-5784
e-mails: jicc-mnl@japanembassy.ph or jiccmanila@yahoo.com website: www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp