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BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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Friday, September 8, 2017
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MY 24-day visit to the Philippines for this August-September season ends today for Iloilo, and tomorrow for the country. I fly to Manila tonight, and fly to Japan en route to the US tomorrow.
It has been a crazy visit, and if I don’t fly tonight, I’m afraid my little body would just break down.
Because knowing me, I probably will find something else to do while I stay another minute in my beloved country.
With prayerful reflection, I review all the things I have done. And with all humility before God, I am truly amazed with what I have accomplished.
Aug. 17: I visited and comforted an orphan, an elderly couple, and an old maid. So what if they all live in the same neighborhood?
I also took my friends to an inland resort, and we had lunch. So what if that’s just because they picked me up from the airport?
Aug. 18: I had my health check. Okay, it’s just bloodwork, but the results are normal, and I don’t feel any illness or symptoms. I also met my literary and artistic friends in the city, and we planned for world domination.
Aug. 19-20: I gave a lecture/workshop on Song Lyrics and Performance Poetry Writing for The Stage Communications Institute at Robinsons Place Jaro. So what if there were only seven or eight participants? They wrote and got inspired.
More importantly, the participants loved me, and would recommend me to their friends. They look forward to my next courses at The Stage Institute.
Late Aug. 19, I discussed with some Rotarians in Dumangas issues about the town’s possible oil depot hosting; and the people’s education, or vote, on the matter.
Early Aug. 20, I was interviewed by Bombo Radyo Iloilo about my Hiligaynon Revolution of 2014, and I found out that many people agree with my ideas to push for Hiligaynon that adapts to the demands of the new millennium.
Aug. 21: I gave a personality development workshop to the 212i teenage pop boyband of Santa Barbara, Iloilo. They think I’m a hero and model. They even said they’ve become more spiritual and self-expressive as a team.
I also led them to their first shirt-off photoshoot. Which, based on the number of their latest bookings, proved a successful marketing tool.
Aug. 22: On two different occasions, I met Filipino expats living in Dubai (for lunch) and New York (for early dinner). If they are fans who want to meet me in Pinas, shouldn’t I indulge them?
I also had another dinner with the young emerging visual artists of Iloilo in Leganes. We talked about art and economics.
Aug. 23: I visited Southland College in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental to attend the premiere of Ismael Java’s Kabulakan Oratorio based on my now modern Hiligaynon classic short story “Lirio”.
Aug. 24: I awarded the Negros leg of the 2017 Peter’s Prize in Bacolod. I gave two radio interviews: about my Foundationâs work in Hiligaynon literature and Ilonggo arts (for Tatak Negrense of Radyo Veritas Bacolod), and about my Hiligaynon Revolution of 2014 (for RMN Bacolod).
Aug. 25: I flew to Koronadal for my creative writing workshop, and gave a TV interview for Brigada TV in General Santos City right after I landed the airport in GenSan.
Aug. 26-27: I gave a workshop on Children’s Literature and Flash Fiction. I have 20 participants, plus or minus 2. Some came late, some had to go early (with much regret).
They all raved about my workshop style that focused on critiquing that verges on genius. Each participant produced at least one masterpiece that they were very happy about.
From this group could come a possible future Palanca winner, I’d say that much.
In the afternoon of Aug. 26, we launched the first South Cotabato anthology of new writings, which I edited and published in the US.
The program was attended by Vice Governor Vicente de Jesus, and was covered by the local print and broadcast media, but I only saw the segment ran by ABS-CBN Koronadal.
Vice Gov de Jesus challenged me to help write about South Cotabato: its history, people, and marvels. I told him, I need things to be a little more official.
The project can mean several months, maybe a year, of my life.
In the afternoon of Aug. 27, I awarded the South Cotabato leg of the 2017 Peter’s Prize.
Aug. 28: I finally reviewed the food at Lars Buko Batchoy in Mandurriao before going to Estancia in northern Iloilo. I’ve not reviewed restaurants for a while, but owners Larry and Primrose have always been nice to me, so what is saying something about the food that I liked anyway? I’ve been to Lars twice in the three weeks that I’m in Iloilo.
Aug. 29: I wowed the 200-plus crowd at Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (Northern Iloilo State University) in Estancia. The lecture was Literature in the Age of Blogs, Facebook and YouTube, but I also talked about sex and HIV, confidence and 21st century learning, and the moral responsibilities of future teachers and writers.
Aug. 30: I gave an interview to 12 Ateneo de Iloilo senior high students. They’re supposed to be four groups researching for their course on Contemporary Art.
Of course, I’m flattered they all chose me as their featured artist. Like there are no other artists in Iloilo!
I also checked out the Troi Oi gallery of sorts which exhibited the nine Lirio paintings which competed for the 2017 Peter’s Prize for Visual Arts from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6.
I also met friends who I first met in the US, but who wanted to get together with me in this our city.
Aug. 31: I flew to Manila to receive my Editor’s Choice award from the University Press of First Asia; and my 19th Palanca award. I also spent a day with my protĂ©gĂ©e who just finished his master’s degree in development journalism.
Sept. 1: In the morning, I answered the emailed interview questions from ISAT-University, wrote my columns for Panay News, and started my comedy sketches for my Sept. 6 stand up show âMy Life as Art: Peter Solis Nery… Live at Troi Oi.â
Yeah, I got big balls to do a show in Iloilo with only a week to prepare.
By 6:30 p.m., I was turning heads at The Peninsula Manila.
My sequined designer jacket, my gold shoes (by Guess), my pouty golden lips and teal nail polish, and my female escort, was all the buzz.
A fellow Hall of Famer whispered to me, âPeople still canât get over your gold shoes!â Amidst man-buns and short dresses, the pictures from the event show whoâs the real rockstar that night.
Sept. 2: I joined my Manila-based celebrity friends at Bosay Resort in Antipolo for an overnight swim party. I loved most the disco by the pool. I was in my Speedo, and was sexy as hell.
Full disclosure: I met someone who only lasted a night. But thatâs another story.
Sept. 3: I bought several thousands of pesos worth of books at National Bookstore and PowerBooks in Shangri-La Plaza. My way of supporting Filipino writers and Philippine literature.
I also watched âPandora’s Boxâ, a 131-minute German silent film by Georg Wilhelm Pabst starring Louise Brooks with live musical score by the Filipino band Sandwich, as part of the 11th International Silent Film Festival in Manila. Iâm artsy fartsy, what can I say?
Sept. 4: While preparing for my stand up show, I started my online reading about the HIV problem in the Philippines. I also brokered painting commissions for some of our young Ilonggo visual artists.
Sept. 5: The Iloilo (and final) leg of the 2017 Peter’s Prize at Troi Oi. It was a simple cocktail party for the winners, and their guests. Delicious food was served.
My Foundation is not rich, but we don’t let artists and writers go hungry in our events.
Sept. 6: Largely based on the materials I have previously written in this column, and some materials not appropriate for print, I staged âMy Life as Art: Peter Solis Nery… Live at Troi Oi.â This was my farewell concert before I leave for the US, and for my four-month vacation in the UK and Europe.
It was a fun evening attended by my Dumangas clique, former high school students, college batchmates, new friends from the Iloilo art scene, some foreigners and their wives, and several fans who just wanted to see me.
Before the day ended, I was able to broker the sale of two paintings from the Peterâs Prize entries. I also gave permission for my story “Lirio” to be featured in an English Textbook for high school.
Sept. 7: I wrapped up things regarding my real estate properties in the Philippines.
Sept. 8: I fly tonight. But I already told you that. (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
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