I WAS IN Bacolod City on Aug. 15 for the awarding of the 2018 Peter’s Prize in Poetry to Serafin Plotria, Jr. at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos.
But Tanya Lopez of the Negros Museum invited me to Bacolod’s Aug. 21 celebration of World Poetry Movement which this year focuses on a one world poetry action called “Return to the Peoples: In defense of poetry and culture assaulted by an unjust and exclusive system.”
I did not get the whole memo but I gave my word to be there so I made efforts to go.
The roll on-roll off boat ride back and forth from Dumangas was only P300; and the cab ride from the Bacolod port terminal to the museum cost me P118.
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The taxi driver said P150; I said P100.
When he haggled for P120, I told him I’ll give whatever coins I have in my purse, which totaled P18.
Trust me, if I had P48 there, I’d give it all to him.
He was kinda cute; but not that cute to merit a P50 tip from me.
I mean, I thought charging me P150 was pure evil.
Did he overcharge?
I don’t know. I’m not familiar with the city.
Anyway, he got me to the Negros Museum on time.
And was really nice the whole way, but I was reviewing my poems so I didn’t think much of it.
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When I arrived at the venue for the World Poetry Movement event, I saw the Santermo group of fellow Palanca Hall of Famer, and one of Negros’s best literary writers, Elsie Coscolluela (retired Vice President of La Salle University – Bacolod).
They were all garbed in black.
I know it was Ninoy Aquino Day, but I didn’t really think about dressing up in black and wearing the yellow ribbon.
Instead, I was in my magenta velveret (velveteen?).
If it’s a poetry reading, I try to be casual.
Unless I am the main attraction.
In which case, I usually wear a costume.
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Okay, I’m trying so hard to make this not about me.
But I ended up speaking last among the featured readers.
In my mind, they saved the best for last.
And I pretty much delivered. And in glorious Hiligaynon!
(Many in the audience who know poetry, and the Palanca, said to me, “As can only be expected from a poet of your magnitude.”)
The Santermo poets/writers read poems in English and Filipino — both theirs, and by other writers (dead like Ninoy; or otherwise just not present there).
The Hubon Buglasanon read their own Hiligaynon poems.
Before I sailed for Negros, I have decided to impress the audience with my own Hiligaynon poem.
I wrote “Panas” (Gone) about extrajudicial killings in the morning of Aug. 21.
I think it’s a pretty good poem.
(Read my column last Friday if you missed it.)
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I’m notorious for sleeping in buses, trains, boats, and airplanes.
The boat entertainment was playing a noontime TV show with a transvestite and a singing contest.
It didn’t take long before I dozed off to sleep.
When I woke up, we were in the middle of the sea between Panay and Negros.
I couldn’t go back to sleep so I decided to try if I could write one more poem to read for the World Poetry Movement event.
I wanted it to be as far from my EJK poem “Panas” as possible, so I went with their other prompt — Martial Law.
When they invited me to the event, they said: Read your Hiligaynon poems related to EJKs and Martial Law.
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I am honest about it: I campaigned hard for President Duterte; and now, I’m disappointed with him.
It makes me sick thinking about the M.A.D.E. supremacy under his administration.
M.A.D.E. — Marcos, Arroyo, Duterte, Estrada.
I will not say anymore because it’s either you are an idiot or an ignoramus; or you are patriotic and sick of them like me.
Still, I believe that Hell is not created overnight.
I was so angry (Can one be ‘inspired’ when one is actually angry?) that I wrote this poem, “Ang Pagtuga sang Impierno” (The Creation of Hell) in less than an hour.
The poem just wrote itself.
I think it is really inspired.
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ANG PAGTUGA SANG IMPIERNO
By Peter Solis Nery
Nagahiliangut ini tanan—
Ang kasakun, ang kadaluk
Ang kahadluk nga mataktak
Sa palangakuan nga ginluiban
Agud makawatan ang mga kubus
Nga indi makapangapin bisan
Sang ila ahaw nga kaimulun.
With great power
Comes great…opportunity.
Kag nagakatabu nga ang iban
Ginabag-u sang gahum
Sang kahigayunan, sang pagsulay
Nagakamuhawmuhaw, nagakasilaw
Nagakalipat sang mga pinanaad
Sang sinumpaan, sang una nga mga handum
Sang mga maayong tinutuyo;
Kag agud mapangapinan ang trono
Sang gahum kag pagkagamhanan
Nagabangis, nagabaris, nagabuang
Ang nahubug sa gahum nga kawatan.
Ang mga kasuguan ginabag-u
Agud ang kasakun kag kadaluk
Makaluntad sa tagiti sang udtung adlaw
Kag ang pagpatay kag kapintas
Mangin kinaandan; tubtub magbaha ang pula—
Ang langit, pula; ang duta, pula
Ang mga kahoy sa unhan, pula
Ang ginaludhan, kag ginahamyangan
Sang aton mga abyan kag kauturan, pula;
Kag kita nga nagatan-aw, daw wala sang labut
Magabatun na lang sang mga kasaypanan
Kag kalapasan, kag mangin kabalan. (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
