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BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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WELL, this story should really bear the title “Why I love Grace and Les Blair”. Because while Grace is my angel, and if you think angels have wings, Les is the wind beneath her wings.
As you would have known by now, I do not, or at least, only very seldom, write about people. Because I am afraid of libel. Not because I cannot win my case, but only because a lawsuit would be a waste of my precious writing time.
Not only that, I also do not want to hurt other people, whose reactions I do not want to worry about when I am writing. Thus, the very self-indulgent nature of my column writing.
It is also the reason why people hate me. Because a lot of people want to be in the papers. They want to be written about. Why do you think there’s a society page in every newspaper?
Well, I am not a society page writer. I do not attend, or gate crash, social events so I can write about people.
I do not ask to be invited to Iloilo Charter balls that serve cold food, and that other media people ultimately snubbed.
When I attend a social event, it is to honor the event, and give it respectability. When I attend a society event, it is to make the event “the event” to be in.
The Blairs – Master Les and Lady Grace, do not need this piece. I do. So, I am writing this because this is good for my soul. And for those who will read it.
I mean, read it for my change of tone, for heaven’s sake!
You say I am self-indulgent. Well, for the one time I’m writing about my gratitude and respect for someone (the couple, really), you better read it.
I was introduced to the Blairs last year. First, I was invited to the Poetika Night at Esplanade Uno Cafe, which I attended as a rockstar, and came out of as a bigger rockstar. The Blairs owned the place.
Then, my Foundation needed a place to help sell the literature of Western Visayas. I came up with three literary racks stocked with existing West Visayan books.
Esplanade Uno Cafe was identified as a good outlet. An appointment was arranged for me to meet with Mrs. Blair.
Esplanade Uno served (past tense, they closed!) Vietnamese food, which I like, and I think is very healthy. I was having my special pho and iced Vietnamese coffee when Grace Blair came earlier than our appointment, and joined me.
Unlike certain society page writers I know, I do not go to my appointments hungry! Although I also enjoy being invited to food tests.
For example, on my third day back in Iloilo on this visit, Lars Buko Batchoy on de Leon Street in Mandurriao, sent word that they really wanted me to come try their award-winning modern fusion dishes.
I told them, I already did last year.
So, they changed their tactic. Owners Larry and Primrose Lao said they are really big fans of my column here in Panay News, and would be honored to meet me.
And you know me and my fans. I do not disappoint my fans. People love me, and that love begets love in return. You hate me, you die.
Whether I pay for my meal or not, the great tasting buko pancit and the enormous egg-in-the-hole buko burger are something you should try before you die.
Now, back to Grace Blair. I learned she was also a nurse who worked and lived in many countries for sometime, and is married to this gorgeous Scot.
Les Blair is a little too formal to my taste in the beginning. But he is joking around me more now, so my opinion is changing. Although to be fair, our paths seldom crossed, and when they did, it was always a busy event or something.
The rapport with Grace though was instantaneous. Before I actually met her, I was told she is very nice and supportive of the growing arts scene in Iloilo City.
I thought, well, that is good. But I don’t know if she will support me. I’m rather avant-garde not only in my art, but more so in my big personality.
I’m so avant-garde I cannot even be honored by the city or province of Iloilo for my art and talent. Like they are scared of me and what I represent.
I’m saying this in response to the question why Iloilo City did not give me an award for literature and the arts during its 80th Charter Day celebrations. Something I do not care about, but apparently my supporters do.
That’s why I love the Palanca Awards. They know, and recognize, real talent. The award is not political. Or at least, not politically motivated.
Long story short, Grace accommodated my Foundation’s Manggad racks (the literary racks, are you still with me?) at Esplanade Uno Cafe.
And when I gave my despedida party before returning to the US, the successful “Functus” event at the Casa Real Gallery in February, where I invited the whole Ilonggo arts community, the Blairs offered the booze and libations.
If you do not call that fast friendship, you are stupid, and have no faith in people, and in goodness, in general.
I like talking to Grace Blair. She reminds me so much of my very good friend and ally in San Jose, Antique, the lovely and also business-savvy Marlene Liao, who originated the word “dapetersolisnery”.
Both these smart women understand my quirks, and get my humor. I can be intelligent with them, and I can be in my shorts. I can even be gay! They also like my literary friends.
By the way, Marlene was also trained as a nurse, but didn’t practice it for long. She got married and became a mother, became very lucky and successful in both roles, and has even reinvented herself as an enterpreneur after 50.
Because Grace is a very giving person (just like my mega Marlene of The Pinnacle Suites in San Jose, among other businesses), I don’t like asking favors from her.
What if I needed to borrow millions from her in the future? I don’t want to max all my credits early!
But favor, I must ask. Because I run Peter’s Prize, and this year, we have a Painting category. I have nine entries that I want to exhibit, and I want the public to see.
I mean, I’ve posted photographs of them in social media, but paintings need to be seen in the original. You have not seen the Mona Lisa until you have been to the Louvre!
The Iloilo Cinematheque is moving. They are vacating their Solis Street location in two days, and I can no longer exhibit in their gallery space, and their new place is not ready.
The newly opened Gallery i is fully booked this September, too.
My great What If was this: What if I can arrange an exhibit for even just two days in a restaurant?
I’m sure Lars Buko Batchoy would like to have me. But what if it is something like the Blairs’ Troi Oi at the Riverside Boardwalk of Iloilo beside the Medicus Hospital?
I like buko batchoy, but I very much like pho (something I learned to love in Los Angeles, of all places), too!
In fact, pho is my No. 2 comfort food after green tea frappuccino.
I opened up the idea to Grace. Before I could finish my proposal, she quickly looked at her adoring husband Les, they winked at each other, she cut me off, and said yes. And just like that, I cried.
I looked at Les. And he said, the idea is very much welcome. We could even exhibit for 10 days!
Ten days!!! And all I asked was two.
I said thank you, and quickly left. I mean, I rushed out of that talk before they could change their mind. I am smart that way!
Seriously, I consider myself a pretty generous person. I’m funding an arts competition, for Pete’s sake!
10K for painting, 10K total for poetry, plus additional cash prizes to go along with several special prizes for fields like theatre arts, literary studies, and cultural dissemination. I’m rich! Haha!
But I am humbled by the generosity of the Blairs. They are a pretty good model of business people with an appreciation and support of the arts.
As does Marlene Liao in San Jose, Antique!
I think that’s the reason why they are beautiful people, more than just rich. I mean, people always tell me I’m a beautiful person because I have come to some money, and still I’m nice.
I think that if people don’t want to learn from me, they should learn from the Blairs, or the Liaos.
We should be great business people, yes, but we should also have some social responsibility. When we can, we should be supportive of the arts, and the other finer things in life.
Because we are not so consumed with the basic needs of the poor people like food and shelter, we should find time to nourish the cultivation of beauty and the arts around us.
I mean, why do you think I spend time to write beautifully even if writing does not pay?
I mean, in my case, “even if writing does not pay as much!” Because I tell you, I get paid as a writer! Just ask Amazon.com.
Troi Oi is located at the Riverside Boardwalk beside Medicus Hospital, and is open for business from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. They serve Vietnamese cuisine, arguably the best this Iloilo City can offer. Trust me, I know Vietnamese food, and I’ve been to Vietnam, if you must know!
Troi Oi will be home to the LIRIO Group Art Exhibit of the 2017 Peter’s Prize for Visual Arts from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6.
Nine participating artists, who interpreted the modern Hiligaynon classic, and the 1998 first prize Palanca award-winning story, “Lirio” by Peter Solis Nery, will be featured.
I told you that the Esplanade Uno Cafe closed. Well, the Blairs have concentrated their business at Troi Oi.
And guess what? Manggad Literature racks found a home at Troi Oi, too!
So, there’s something like a Peter’s Prize Gallery (the paintings are for sale) on the second floor of Troi Oi with a Visayan literature bookshop, Manggad, on the side.
And for my friends and supporters, I will also hold a one night only one-man performance in the same venue on Sept. 6, starting at 8 p.m. It.s called “My Life as Art… Live! at Troi Oi”.
So, yes, it will feature the humor you are familiar with here in my Panay News column, but delivered with more drama and showbiz pizzazz.
What is the Peter Solis Nery pizzazz?
Well, you saw videos of me in Igorot costume, whitest Filipino butt and all, performing in Montreal on Canada Day this year. And getting a medal for it!
You saw me with green lipstick in a recent Bombo Radyo radio interview that I had no idea will be video streamed live. But you all said I was slaying it!
You also heard about me wearing an 8.5 lbs Swarovki-encrusted suit at the Palanca Awards last year. Or you many have seen the photos in the newspapers and on TV, if you have a TV set.
If you were born when Jerry Treñas was mayor of Iloilo, you would have also heard of my much-hyped nude protest scandal in 2005 when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was giving the SONA at the height of “Hello, Garci” tapes controversy.
Do you think I will back down at this point?
Hah! Watch me! (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
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