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BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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I JUST got official word that I won another Palanca Award, again, this year.
It is my 19th career Palanca Award including the Hall of Fame in 2012.
It is my 8th consecutive year to win the Palanca. I did not win in 2009, but I also had a short winning streak from 2006-2008.
Before 2006, there was my historic first win in 1998; and a win in 2000; and the long five years of drought that followed, but that nobody remembers.
So yes, the Palanca Awards is a career for me. I take it seriously.
I understand the “enough-of-him-already” sentiment for me that goes around in the literary community. And I tell you it’s a lot.
People are not happy that I win year in and year out.
They feel that I hog the literary spotlight.
They are tired of me winning. They are tired of hearing me win every year.
Really? Those idiots complain of getting tired of knowing that I won?
Did they ever think how tiring and exhausting it is to write an award-winning masterpiece?
Maybe they should try it!
Not once, not twice, I’ve been told by fellow Ilonggo writers: You should stop entering in the Palanca contest already, and give chance to others.
Seriously? You want others to win because I stepped out of the competition?
What do you mean? That others cannot win if I’m competing?
Doesn’t that make the winners look lame without me in the race?
Can other writers only win if they’re not pitted against me?
Stop! You are making me so important.
I’m not important. I’m just another writer trying to do my thing.
A friend just told me, “OMG! The Palanca Awards is like second home to you.”
In a way, it is. And I wish somebody would make that official.
Because I want to be associated with the Palanca Awards. I want my name to be connected with the Palanca Awards.
Somebody has said last year, “With your consistent winnings, your name has become synonymous to the Palanca Awards.”
I like that idea. I really think that’s a bull’s eye articulation of what I’m trying to do.
In polite society, I like to be introduced as Peter Solis Nery, the Palanca Hall of Famer.
Or, Peter Solis Nery, the 19 times Palanca winner, and counting.
I like people to clap their hands when they hear my name.
But more than just winning at the Palanca Awards, or making a name for myself, I have a goal that most people do not see.
And it is quite noble. It is this: I want Manila writers, and the whole Philippines, to look at Iloilo and the Western Visayas. I want to draw their attention to the home of Peter Solis Nery, the toast of the Palanca Awards in the last ten years.
I want them to look at what I have written. But more importantly, at what other writers from the region have written.
I want them to be curious about me, and my works. But more importantly, I want them to be curious, and discover the works of my contemporaries. I want them to discover the literature of Iloilo and Western Visayas.
I want my fans and new admirers to admire the literature of my region.
And that’s why, I am doubly proud of my win in Hiligaynon short story this year for “Ang Milagro sa Ermita”.
My last win in the same category was in 2013. For my first prize-winning story “Si Padre Olan kag ang Dios”.
“Ang Milagro sa Ermita” is my 7th Palanca-winning short story in Hiligaynon after “Lirio” (1st prize, 1998); “Ang Pangayaw” (3rd prize, 2000); “Ang Kapid” (2nd prize, 2006); “Candido” (1st prize, 2007); “Donato Bugtot” (1st prize, 2011); and “Si Padre Olan kag ang Dios” (1st prize, 2013).
I will not deny that I feel literary politics is involved in the judging of the contest. Especially if I do not win. Remember the enough-of-him-already sentiments?
If I win, how can there be politics involved? I am not the judges’ favorite. Remember the enough-of-him-already sentiments?
To be honest, in the last decade, the Hiligaynon short story category has become one of the hardest categories for me to win.
And yet, I still feel that my Hiligaynon, and my stories in Hiligaynon, have never been better. I even think they are groundbreaking, earthshaking, outstanding.
Just look at my last 13 Palanca wins: One-act Play (1st prize, 2016); Poetry for Children (1st prize, 2015); Dulang May Isang Yugto (1st prize, 2014); Dulang Ganap ang Haba (3rd prize, 2014); Poetry for Children (3rd prize, 2014); Hiligaynon Short Story (1st prize, 2013); Poetry for Children (1st prize, 2012); Tulang Pambata (2nd prize, 2012); Hiligaynon Short Story (1st prize, 2011); Full-length Play (2nd prize, 2011); Poetry for Children (2nd prize, 2011); One-act Play (3rd prize, 2010); Full-length Play (1st prize, 2008).
That’s only two Hiligaynon wins out of 13.
It makes me think that the competition has become truly crowded, and stiff, in the Hiligaynon category.
And for me, that’s a good thing. It means that a lot of writers are trying their hand at Hiligaynon story writing. I celebrate that.
Sometimes, I kid myself that I may even have influenced that. That because of my much publicized Palanca wins, other writers are encouraged to try, and join the contest themselves.
In the years that I do not win in the Hiligaynon story, I celebrate the winners. I mean, I can be happy for other winners, too, you know.
But sometimes, when I read their winning works, I just cannot see how these works can win over my story in competition. I mean, what were the judges thinking?
Then, I think of literary politics involved. Remember the enough-of-him-already sentiments? I sometimes totally believe that.
But I am a sport competitor. I respect the judges’ tastes, even if I do not agree with them.
I’m just happy that right now, my stories are enjoying classic status. They’re popular, and people enjoy them.
I mean, the Hiligaynon short story competition of the Palanca Awards started in 1997. It’s 20 years old this year.
If they award three prizes (1st, 2nd, 3rd) every year, that’s a total of sixty brilliant Hiligaynon stories that we can be proud of.
And that’s why I love the Carlos Palanca Foundation for their vision and generosity in the conduct of this yearly literature competition.
So, of the sixty (likely less than that, because there was a year when the judges didn’t award a third prize; and after reading the winning works, I thought my entry should have won first prize; or, at least, third!), I’m pretty sure my “Lirio” (1998) and “Si Padre Olan kag ang Dios” (2013) are among the most popular. At least, these stories are taught in Philippine high schools!
Humor me, and go to the Facebook page called Unofficial: Creative Writer’s League.
In it, you will find a virtual filmfest of 19 student films based on the story “Lirio” by the Ilonggo Peter Solis Nery.
No, the films were not done by Ilonggos. They were made by students of Clarin National High School in Misamis Occidental.
And about a year ago, similar videos were made by students of Bohol Wisdom School in Tagbilaran, Bohol.
And if you can, pick up the DIWA textbook, English for the 21st Century Learners for Grade 7 (2016). Pages 109-115 carry the story “Padre Olan, Rain, and God” in brilliant English translation by UP professor Celia F. Parcon.
Now, pick up DIWA Filipino textbook, Pinagyamang Wika at Panitikan for Grade 7 (2016). “Si Padre Olan at ang Dios” is the featured story from Western Visayas in a survey of Philippine literature. It’s on pages 130-140.
So, yeah. I may write in Hiligaynon, but I am conquering the whole nation, and making them see how awesome and amazing Ilonggo, and West Visayan, writers are!/PN
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