I AM, foremost, a writer.
But I’m also a speaker, and a very good one.
The writer in me has the imagination, reflection, introspection, and restrain—at least, what little restrain I’ve gotten.
But the speaker in me has the verve, the action, the emphasis, the convincing performance.
When I speak, people listen.
Because I have the gift of the most colorful language.
***
At the Haw-as Festival of Dumangas, albeit stunted by Typhoon Paeng, I had several talks.
Even at the Haw-as Filmfest and The Peter Solis Nery Foundation International Film Festival (The PSNFIFF) 2022, I talked.
If only to reintroduce the festival after the pandemic, and this year’s participating films.
***
Then, Mel Turao and I had the Cultural and Literature Workshops.
Mel talked about his writing process; I talked about how visionary writers reflect culture in their literature, and how literature can be used as starting point in cultural, anthropological, and social education of young Filipinos especially in Araling Panlipunan, and courses like Society and Contemporary Issues.
In particular, I was talking about Filipino literature that tackles 21st century realities that involve mental health, gender equality, climate justice, and even Internet misinformation.
***
My original schedule for the Youth Forum, an event sponsored by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Municipal Federation, was October 30, Sunday.
It was postponed, along with the other activities of the Haw-as Festival, in deference to the aftermath of Typhoon Paeng.
The postponement was unfortunate because I lost a good lineup of guests in the process.
***
“RealTalk in a TikTok World: Navigating the Post-Pandemic Gen Z Realities in Dumangas.”
Imagine that!
It was a high concept forum for young people with at least seven guests to discuss and tackle 2020s-specific issues like mental health, LGBTQIA and gender relations, post-pandemic adjustments, soc med addiction, sexual health and safer sex, financial literacy, and bringing generational gaps to promote community values.
***
The postponement caused the loss of an HIV awareness advocate and financial adviser, who flew to Manila for another previous (more occupational) engagement.
The same speaker was supposed to bring HIV kits to test at least 20 clients.
***
I also lost a transgender, who, on the day of the rescheduled forum, had a scheduled job interview in the city.
Of course, I encouraged him/her/them to prioritize getting a job.
The will be more #ThePSN Talks, and fora later.
***
Lost also is a newly married Nursing graduate turned enterpreneur, who owns a pretty successful coffeeshop.
Obviously, I frequent his coffeeshop, and we talked some, so I thought that he could inspire others how to start a business that isn’t so ambitious, and just work at it with determination.
As an expectant father, he visited his teacher-wife based in Negros for now.
***
And lost again was an architect who coaches basketball for fun, and for the love of sports.
I wanted him to talk about passion, and sports, and—with a rags to riches story, how hard work and strong values can improve people’s lives.
Or, things like the importance or non-importance of brand shoes in basketball.
*
The only one who made it to the reschedule was Joseph Ian Gempeso, a teacher, sometime indie actor, and filmmaker.
Ian was a wonderful guest in the TV-magazine or TV talk show format forum that I envisioned (and pushed hard to achieve!).
He was the perfect partner in balancing my brutal, no holds barred language with his teacherly gentleness and finesse.
***
I am not about to say that I lack finesse.
But I do employ a lot of shock values to get the attention of the ADD generation.
For example, I do not use “bird” “entering” the “flower” to talk about sexual acts.
I do not resort to English or some jargon for the terms for ‘masturbation’ or ‘fellatio’.
I want people to talk behind my back about my vulgarity and sex positivity.
I want them to remember what I said, and continue to say, about consent, statutory rape, gonorrhea, condoms, and self-pleasure as a remedy, not a sin.
***
But what really got me in my not-very-structured forum was the mental health issue that came up.
Someone in the audience brought up his anxiety disorder to the point of suicidal ideation.
S/he was poor, with little access to professional help.
Someone else shared the experience of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, complete with prescribed medication, and other therapies.
Everything became real; and, in many ways, sacred and moving.
***
Now, if the SK, or even the Local Youth Development Office, does not pick up on the gains of my Youth Forum, it will be such a shame.
At the end of the day, I realized that Ian and I are a good duo, a perfect team to take the forum platform like this to various schools in the region, and maybe the whole country.
Just saying!/PN
