A night of poetry, conversations, and the promise of beginnings

The lyrical rhythm of words that can only be captured through poetry took the spotlight at the launch of Poetry Café on Monday, October 12, 2026 at the La Maison Rose–The Pink Restaurant, along Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City.

Seasoned and aspiring poets, members of Cebu’s foremost literary groups Bathalan-ong Halad sa Dagang (Bathalad) Sugbo and the Women in Literary Arts-Cebu, Inc. (WILA), representatives from the French Embassy and other guests gathered to listen to a discussion on poetry and participate in an open mic spoken word poetry session after.

The featured writer for the Poetry Café debut, which carried the theme Beginnings, was Cebuano poet and former diplomat Vicente “Butch” Bandillo who engaged the audience in a lively and enlightening conversation about the magic of words beautifully strung together with moderator, Marlinda Angbetic-Tan, herself a distinguished writer and editor and Vice President of the Alliance Française de Cebu.

Bandillo read two of his Cebuano poems, a WILA member read their English translations, and then Nicolas Lviv, Executive Director of the Alliance Française de Cebu, read the French translations.

Lviv shared that he was surprised at the huge turnout of attendees because he didn’t realize that poetry is popular in Cebu.

He also invited the audience to next month’s gathering which will have the theme, Second Chances.

Happening on Nov. 24, it will feature French novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director David Foenkinos.

Poetry Café is presented by Alliance Française de Cebu, in partnership with Lost Books Cebu, WILA, and Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Inc. (Niza G. Mariñas)