IN THE study of 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World under DepEd, representative writers and their literatures (preferably regional) are identified.
Then, to check off their minimum standard competencies, learners are also expected to know and understand the writer’s political and cultural milieu in relation to the piece of his/her literature in the hope of enriching the learner’s understanding and enjoyment of the story.
I am not sure that it really happens.
Or, if that is even important in the 21stCentury reality where almost everybody is a writer (even if they are very bad), and everybody has a right to consume (or not to consume) whatever literature they like.
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Still, certain questions have to be asked.
And as a writer of significance in the 21stCentury literature of the Philippines, I often find myself answering countless, if repetitive, interviews.
Well, I said, Why not answer these questions once and for all, and let the learners, students and teachers both, read Panay News so they can have a legitimate publication that they can cite as a source in their reports?
And with the modular mode of education triggered by the COVID pandemic, it is about time that I use my column space as a learning hub.
Consider it a Panay News public service. — You are welcome!
In this particular series, I will deal with five of my more popular stories, and more popular because they are all Palanca winners.
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But first, the biggest question of them all:
What is your message to the Filipinos especially the young readers of Philippine literature now that Panitikan was already been removed from the college curriculum?
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My biggest message is that you don’t need Panitikan in college to enjoy Philippine literature.
My stories are written very simply and in beautiful languages.
I mean, most of my award-winning stories are in Hiligaynon, my award-winning poems and plays are usually in English and Filipino.
I have to emphasize “award-winning” because that means that my works have been peer-reviewed and adjudged best my writers and literature professors who are usually the teachers of Philippine literature in college.
Which means, my stories are vetted, certified great, and come highly recommended for people wanting to read Philippine literature even without teachers and professors teaching them.
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Second message: Philippine literature, and I can speak with authority about what I write, is really a beautiful way to open your heart and mind to what it means to be human, to be a Filipino, and to be a person of our time.
Not all my works are award-winning (you can blame the judges for that, haha!), but I can assure you that I created all of them with great care and intention.
There is a purpose why I write certain stories and poems in certain styles, and you will only discover that, and my brilliance, if you start reading my works.
I’m not saying that you should read only my work in the study of 21stCentury literature, but it’s a good point to start.
I’m not artsy-fartsy like other authors, and I actually have the masaor common tao in mind as my readers, not professors and college students.
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Honestly, I’m not affected by the removal or phasing out of Panitikan from the college curriculum.
My award-winning stories featured in this study are being studied in high school! Haha.
Of course, anybody can read my stories.
You don’t have to be in school or out of school.
You don’t have to be of a certain age.
I’m that kind of writer.
If you can read Hiligaynon, you should be okay.
And for added bonus, my works have also been translated into English and Filipino for a greater readership.
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So there’s really no excuse for you not to read my contributions to Philippine literature.
And if you are really interested, do not say that you cannot access my work, because I have them on my website — petersolisnery.com — since 2008.
If the people of the Sharjah International Book Fair can find me online, so should you! Haha.
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We will continue with the question of political milieu concerning five stories in the growing corpus of PSN literature in my next column. (To be continued/PN)
