Hagbayon

Wala nang mas malungkot pa
Sa pagtula sa tumana
Ng pag-ibig at pag-asa
At uuwi nang mag-isa.

It is quite sad that in my search for the greatest Bikolnon poet and critic, I missed to look among my highschool batchmates. Last Tuesday, we had a reunion in Molino Grill here in Naga City and there, I witnessed his literary genius.

Let’s call him FC. He worships the University of the Philippines and believes only UP people can think. And in his drunken stupor, he went on to criticize the ‘Salugsog sa Sulog’ and told me, ‘Sala an ginigibo mo!’. He did not like the idea of using a foreign language as in Fer Basbas’ English introduction of the folio. I was about to say a thing or two about cultural hybridity when the literary genius said, “Dai ka magpaliwanag sakuya, magpaliwanag ka sa libro!”

I told him,”An libro sarong bagay–na mayong utak. An tawo, may utak. Dapat magpaliwanag ka sa may utak, ta kun mapaliwanag ka sa mayong utak, ika naman an mayong utak!” And of course, I said that in jest.

But the great genius, who got his PhD in Beer and Gin Bulag drinking in UP-Pacol (maybe, I’m not really sure where) got pissed and wanted to hit me with a bottle.

His greatness!

He sure wanted to take another PhD in jail and wanted his friends to join him there. And to think that we were in Molino Grill where the lower life forms like myself (who don’t drink too much) come to relax and enjoy.

His genius! Indeed I have found the greatest Bikol writer. And I heard he has attended the UP-Pacol National Writers Workshop, has come up with various international publications with his Kaha Sigarilyo printing press, and also he is a Palanggana Hall of Famer and a Premio Sarsa Tomas awardee.

FC, we await your Nobel Prize! Just don’t let me catch you saying: “I did not write the Nobel!”

Perhaps virtual reality ala Matrix is possible. Soon the human body will become a modem and we will exist in a different plane. Everybody nowadays seem to own a PC. SOS is full to the rafters everyday with costumers shopping for their computer gears. Even artists and writers have began using technology for the betterment of artistic expression.

Technology even democratized musical performance. The videoke phenomenon is something to reckon with. And the rising death toll caused by Matt Monro’s ‘My Way’ is something that articulates the nuances of the Filipino psyche, if there is any.

There is indeed something eccentric about visual artists and writers, but with theater people–they simply can make things come together faster.

The Salakab Theater group had a party last night in La Medalla, Baao, Camarines Sur. In attendance were some of the members plus writers Carlo Arejola, Luther, Mitch Bayos and Jason Chancoco.

Poetry and musical performaces added spice to the great food and wine that the Bisuña family prepared for us. They are indeed one talented lot–specially UP Medical student Ira.

CCP has created a new portal for the Filipino writer in Cyberspace. There we will find the latest information on various literary preoccupations including events listings, workshops, publications, awards and more importantly, some of the latest works by our living writers. Yup, you read it right, those who are alive. They noticed that there seems to be an ideological anomaly among our people, believing that all great works of literary art are from dead people.

Here’s the link: http://1community.tripod.com/

The Salakab Theater group will meet tomorrow, December 23 at 3PM in Jo Bisuña’s residence in La Medalla, Baao, Camarines Sur for a party and artists’ gathering.

The group is controversial for their recent staging of the Vagina Monologues in Pili and Naga City. They also interpreted the winning entries in the 2nd Premio Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikolnon.

Highlights of the event will be poetry and musical performances. Those intending to attend must bring poems or anything they can share.

Naga City - It was a night of revelry, music and poetry for the Netizens of premier Bicol Website OragonRepublic.Com last Sunday, December 18.

The Spanish era house in 28 Jordana compound, Peñafrancia Avenue resonated with the poetic voices of 2nd Premio Tomas Arejola Grandprize co-winner Sonny Sendon, consistent HomeLife prize-winning poet Kristian Cordero, Gawad Collantes awardee and Juliana Arejola-Fajardo Workshop convenor Carlo Arejola, ‘Tudlikan’ versifier Noel Dorente and Salakab Theater Group ringleader Jo Bisuña. Certified ‘Palancable’ fictionist Maryanne Moll also graced the event with her intelligent and deceptively simple narrative that left everyone craving for more. Rey Villavera was also there to tickle the minds of the audience with his discourse on the power of the epic in the cultural front. Also in attendance were Salakab co-director Luther, Nathan Sergio, Bikol dictionary architect Ringer and not to mention the 4K Barrel together with manager Noel Amador. Hagbayon poet Jose Jason L. Chancoco hosted the ceremonies.

The event started at 7PM with an energizing dinner prepared by Sheila Basbas, Mima, Tia Miling and Kaye. It was followed shortly by poetry and musical performances. Webmaster Fer Basbas also shared some of his thoughts and thanked those who have been supporting the Web site since its birth. Discussions on issues regarding language, culture, literature, politics, history, and music ensued. The house was silent at 3AM the next day.

Still ‘groggy’, Fer Basbas says of the party: “Maray si feedback hale sa ibang bisita - magayon palan talaga, sabi ninda, an lengguwaheng Bikol. Nakadangog sinda nin tula, prosa asin kanta na gibong Bikolnon. An iba primero sa buhay ninda na maka-atendir nin siring na tiripon…Saro sa medyo nagkusog na ideya na nagluwas iyo an pagmukna nin Bicol cultural festival. Maray ta iba-ibang grupo an representado duman.”

OragonRepublic.com is the driving force behind the Bikol literary anthology ‘Salugsog sa Sulog’.

-JJC

Naga City - Not even the heavy rains could stop the Irigueños from dominating the 2nd Premio Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikolnon here.

Jose Jason L. Chancoco (Ku Turiun Si Kulakog), H. Francisco V. Peñones (Kan Magutom si Buchok) and Sonny C. Sendon (Maputing Agta) all from Iriga City triple-tied for the grand prize in the Short-Story for Children category and double-finalist Chancoco (Agku Bampira sa Iriga!) grabbed the top spot as honorable mention for the One-Act play for Children category. Other finalists for the Short-Story category were Michelle Bayos (Magic Lapis) of Baao, Jaime Jesus Borlagdan (Duwang Pagsadiri) of Tabaco, Kristian S. Cordero (An Aking Dai Nangingiturogan) of Iriga City, and Maria Francia M. Sales (Si Atong Natong) of Pili, and for the One-Act play category, Rodrigo Boquiron (Perla Bakasyunista) of Pili.

Finalists were awarded Diplomas of Merit, and the three grandprize winners were likewise given Premio Tomas Arejola Medallions plus their share of the PhP 10,000.00 cash prize. The grandprize Honorable Mention also got a Premio Tomas Arejola Medallion.

Held last December 17, 2005 in the St. Vincent de Paul Auditorium of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, the Premio was spearheaded by the Arejola Foundation for Social Responsibility now holding office at 2/F Dabu Building, Elias Angeles Street, Naga City. In attendance were Naga City Vice-Mayor Gabby Bordado as guest of honor and speaker, Carlo A. Arejola as contest and managing director, Judge Ramon A. Arejola, Prof. Evelyn Caldera-Arejola and Atty. Alex A. Arejola as presentors of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Luis Cabalquinto and Gode Calleja. Also present was this year’s chair of the board of judges, Dr. Lilia F. Realubit, Ph.D. The other judges were Dir. Orfelina O. Tuy and Prof. Lorna Arejola-Billanes.

Mrs. Teresita Requejo-Bercasio, Mr. Jovy Alvarez and Mr. Boy Zaens handed the Diplomas of Merit for the Finalists in the Short-Story Category while Mrs. Eden Carmona-Nacario, Dr. Francis A. Dabu and Mr. Bobby Ursua conferred the Diplomas for the One-Act Play Category.

The Salakab, a threater group directed by Mrs. Jo A. Bisuña and Luther M. Jorquia graced the event with their rendition of some excerpts from the winning entries. The UNEP Chorale also added to the solemnity of the event with their wonderful songs. Dave Bercasio of the Naga City People’s Council was the master of ceremonies.

The first to bring home two Medallions in one night since the contest was launched last year, OragonRepublic.Com literary editor Jose Jason L. Chancoco could only exclaim: “Arriba Rinconada!”

Source: http://oragonrepublic.com/news+article.storyid+350.htm

Here’s the invitation from Bang:

Hello,

You are invited to our Krismas eyeball -

Date : December 18, 2005, Sunday, 6pm

Venue : Sheila’s mom’s house ( Ruth Magat )
#28 Jordana Compound, PeЯafrancia Avenue,
Naga City

To get there : sa kanto po paalog sa lucky 9 convenience store, at the back of VIP Barber shop ( it’s an old house located at the back of Emily Theater )

Secret password to get in : Bang

Lost? ( can’t find the venue) text me at 0926-6530403 or call me at 472-3540

Food : POTLUCK

Programme : Puwede ka pong magtula, magkanta, mabayli or magdalan sa mga matula saka makanta.

Please post your comments; food that you will bring, or confirm if you’re going to attend sa forum section kan oragonrepublic.com or you can also text me or call me at my residence (473-4310) my office (472-0146 & 811-1996 )

Maogmang Pasko!
From Sheila and Fer Basbas (mag-agom na webmasters kan oragonrepublic.com )

Brian was trying to help out this girl get over the high wall. And even if he’s a bit hard-up on things due to an infantile drug overdose, he did quite well. He held the rope high and she slid without hitting the wall. But the with the second girl, he lost balance and fell. We heard him give a shriek. We were all worried, my uncles, cousins and my mother. Brian would surely be hurt. I mean, with his condition and considering that the wall was quite high.

We rushed to the other side of the wall only to find out that it was actually a railway. His father could only say, “Ay si Ayan, naligis…”

When the train was gone, we saw his badly-mangled body with the blood and all.

We continued our journey and on the way, it appeared that my mother got sick and died. This was too much for me. Two dead loved-ones in a day. I cried like hell. I could not even send an SMS home. I thought how I should have told her that I love her when she was still alive. Now I know I love her so much.

And then, I woke up.