Iligan City-based author Lourd Greggory Crisol has released his first book, Pagbuswak, a powerful collection of queer poetry written in Binisaya, through Aletheia Publishing. The book captures the smells, sounds, sights, and emotions of Iligan, celebrating its food, environment, and festivities, while offering an intimate glimpse into kabayotan life in the city.
The first-place winner of the inaugural Kinaiya Kolektib ng mga LGBTQIA na Manunulat Poetry Writing Contest and an associate professor of MSU-IIT, Crisol employs the metaphor of a flower (pagbuswak, meaning “to open up”) to explore the unfolding of a bayot’s life: its heartaches, longings, despair, and triumphs. The book cover features a striking anthurium, a flower associated with both femininity and sensuality. Its elongated spadix subtly evokes a phallic form, reflecting the poet’s exploration of gender fluidity, desire, and queer identity. This layered symbolism mirrors the delicate balance of vulnerability and strength in Crisol’s poems, drawing readers into a space of introspection and empathy.
Published by Aletheia, an independent press committed to amplifying regional voices and underrepresented perspectives, Pagbuswak celebrates the richness of queer experience and poetic expression in Binisaya.
The book is now available in Shopee. You may purchase it here.
