Hello everybody,

Today I have the opportunity of making my debut as a journalist . I am going to write about Merlinda Bobis.

First of all, thank you Merlinda for choosing our hotel for your stay in Zaragoza.

Our guest and protagonist came all across the Ocean to Jaca (Zaragoza), to a congress organized by the English Philology Department of the University of Zaragoza to present her new work “River , river”

Merlinda was born in Albay (Philippines). For ten years she taught Literature and English at Philippine universities before moving to Australia in 1991 on a study grant. She completed a Doctorate of Creative Arts at the University of Wollongong where she now teaches creative writing.

I had the chance to chat with her and I must say that she is a extraordinary person. Merlinda is an active,  open minded and friendly woman.

Her warm and welcoming spirit and attitude makes you feel very comfortable. She  talked with me about feelings and about Literature (she loves Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Federico Garcia Lorca) . You can tell she is a passionate woman:

” it might be a different landscape but it is very familiar” “there is a strong connection of sensibility “ (between the Spanish culture and her books).

In her opinion the Philippines culture and the Spanish culture and people are “open, in touch with emotions. We are not afraid of the heart, of talking about the heart”

Merlinda has been to Granada, Malaga, Toledo, Madrid: “coming to Spain is like coming home”. Our “body language” is  also very similar and very important to her.

What she likes about Zaragoza and its people is our “hospitality, warmness”. For example she says about Pili (Our Secretary for Agriculture and Food)… always smiling ” she lights up my morning”.

Also the first night she came to Zaragoza, she was walking along Calle Alfonso and the Basilica was illuminated ” I was moved to tears! It is something you can´t explain! Moving!” Then she sat and listened to a choir…“I like to go to The Pilar everyday”.

Her book “White Turtle” is read and discussed at the English Philology lectures at the University of Zaragoza. The teacher Lola Herrero and her students have written papers about this book and sent them to Australia to Merlinda. She is very pleased and grateful for this.

I can’t wait anymore to read one of her books!

You can click on www.merlindabobis.com for further information about this amazing and versatile woman. In her website you will find her biography and works.

Ah! y para nuestros amigos y embajadores de Saucépolis.. os prometemos una traducción al español en los próximos días