During the closing day of the Philippine Book Festival 2026, a celebration of memory, emotion, and courage unfolded, as contemporary writer Ron Canimo unveiled ‘Museo ng mga Paano’, a collection that invites readers to remember not only personal moments, but the shared stories that shape the nation.
The book marks Canimo’s sixth published contemporary poetry collection, a milestone that the poet describes as both personal and political.
During the launch, he shared that the collection looks beyond individual pain and explores how personal memories intertwine with the broader history of the nation.
“Hindi lang siya Museo ng Paano tungkol sa atin kundi pag-alala sa kasaysayan ng bansa,” Canimo said, emphasizing that the work invites readers to reflect on how the past continues to shape present realities.
The writer also revealed a piece of trivia about the book’s development. The original working title was “Lila ang Kulay ng Pangungulila,” a reference to the lilac color motif that eventually became associated with the book’s final design and theme.
While the title changed, the emotional tone remained — one rooted in longing, reflection, and collective memory.
Book launch poetry reading by Ms. Regina
For Canimo, the poems are not solely about wounds or grief. Instead, they attempt to capture the full range of human experiences.
“Hindi lang siya about pain, sakit, sugat,” he explained.
“Hindi lang siya about pain, sakit, sugat, kundi to also remember yung mga masasayang alala na ngayon ay bahagi na ng mga tao at maibahagi sa iba sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulat.”
Book launch poetry reading by Mr. Kevin
The new collection also signals a shift in Canimo’s voice as a writer. He acknowledged that he has grown more comfortable expressing his social and political perspectives through poetry, embracing a more outspoken stance compared to his earlier works.
In honor of Women’s Month, Canimo also took the opportunity to celebrate the women graphic artists he has collaborated with—Denice Cruz, Jeraldine Hayagan, and Sadaurea Myles Aurea—praising their creativity and contributions to his work.
Outside literary circles, Canimo previously gained attention after a photo of him circulated online during an anti-corruption rally in Manila.
Photo from Mga Tala at Tula
In the image, he held a placard bearing the words: “Alam ng kasaysayan kung anong saysay ng nagkakaisang ingay.” The phrase resonated widely with netizens and highlighted the intersection between activism and creative expression in his work.
With Museo ng mga Paano, Canimo continues to explore how poetry can function as both a personal archive and a public memory space — a “museum” not of objects, but of questions, emotions, and histories that Filipinos continue to confront and remember.
