ON NOVEMBER 23, I spoke before nearly 700 librarians at the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) Conference held at the Iloilo Convention Center.
The following is the continuation of my speech.
***
My Foundation is also a story of adaptability.
While originally envisioned as just a literary foundation, I expanded its mission as we were drafting its by-laws and constitution and preparing the documents for our SEC registration.
Thus, instead of the initial specificity to Hiligaynon literature, we expanded the reach and mission of the foundation to include the more umbrella concept of āthe artsā.
***
I love mnemonics, so I used the 3Ps for our foundationās aims or goals: promotion, preservation, and propagation of literature and the arts.
To me, it means the same: to inspire people to create, and preserve what they recreate so they will be encouraged to create some more.
***
From my vision, the process by which we carry out this mission is simply by:
1. supporting, facilitating, and funding research,
2. publishing, and producing performances (film, theatre, performance and recorded art), marketing and selling them, and
3. public education via touring lectures and workshops, which has since expanded to online literature and writing workshops especially on Facebook, and visiting the grassroots communities for cultural dissemination.
***
There is nothing magical in the work of my Foundation.
In the same manner, I can say that there is nothing mystical about your conference theme this year.
That in fact, it is practical and very sensical.
***
The key to survival is adaptability.
The Peterās Prize, originally conceived as a little Palanca for Hiligaynon literature in 2012, has evolved to include special awards and other competitive categories for literary scholarship (beginning 2014), literary translation (beginning 2015), visual arts (beginning 2017), performing arts (beginning 2017), and cultural dissemination (beginning 2017), and film (beginning 2019).
***
While I said that I noticed a lack of can-do attitude among Filipinos, may I modify my opinion at this point to say that this is only most noticeable in the level of the individuals.
As a group, Filipinos still mostly can.
Especially when they feel that they are not alone.
***
And so, I remain hopeful that when we work together, we can indeed promote sustainability.
I am here now making that connection with you.
And I ask that you help me in my work of promoting, preserving, and propagating not only of Hiligaynon literature now, but of Philippine literature, and all those we call regional literatures.
***
My name is Peter Solis Nery.
[Thank you. You remembered. Haha.]
My Foundation is the Peter Solis Nery Foundation.
[Haha. You really are smart people.]
My website isā¦ petersolisnery.com
[Haha. Very smart. Librarians! Haha.]
***
I am just a click away.
Yes, I got Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
But no TikTok, and other pornographic accounts.
***
My foundation is still small, and poor.
But that doesnāt stop me from hoping.
Every year, we award the Peterās Prize.
And I donāt know how we can do this, but my Foundation is not so poor so as not to be able to award one Special Peterās Prize for an Outstanding Librarian who works in the promotion of literature and the arts.
***
We can only hope for a better normal post-pandemic. And if we work together, we can SOAR.
Your SOAR: sustainability, opportunity, adaptability, and resiliency.
***
I thank the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. for giving me the opportunity to share with you all the humble story of my Foundation, its dreams and aspirations, its struggles and little successes.
May we all work together to soar higher than ever, soar to heights yet untold in a post-pandemic world.
***
Maraming salamat sa inyong pakikinig at pagpalain nawa tayo ng Diyos sa araw-araw.
Mabuhay tayong lahat.
Wala po sanang susuko, laban lang.
I love you, all.
***
My name is Peter Solis Nery, and now is another good time to clap your hands.
[Thank you, thank you, thank you!]/PN
