Axel Timo Purr meets the writer, filmmaker and cultural activist Kristian Sendon Cordero in Naga City. Together they talk about his story Santiago's Cult, which is set during the time of martial law under Marcos and tells of power, violence and subjugation. Cordero describes the state as a parental figure - cruel and tender at the same time - and searches in his texts for that "gray area of violence" in which abuse creates identity. His new project is dedicated to the introduction of confession in Bikol, written in one of the most difficult regional languages. His Kafka translation is also a language laboratory: Gregor's bug babble is translated into a second Bikol language. "Kafka helps us to expand the boundaries of our language," says Cordero - and laughs as he explains how he brings all these layers of work together: "What helps is sleep and good chewing."

Language: English

Location/Date: Naga City, August 26, 2025

This podcast is part of the report Literary Travel in the Philippines.

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