The creative writing process is indeed quite a lonely preoccupation. I once read elsewhere that if there were no fellowhips grants, where would the writer get the chance to get laid?
Kidding aside, writers do need to interact with other writers from time to time. And one venue is the so-called creative writing workshops. These ‘workshops’ are actually more of a writer’s retreat where one is given the time, space and financial ability to just sit and focus on his/her literary direction. Oftentimes, these workshops become more of sessions in literary criticism. That is why a writer awarded with a fellowship must maintain strength of artistic identity.
These workshops, along with book launchings, literary awards nights, public readings and lectures are venues where writers and readers alike get to meet and interact. But these events are just one aspect of the writing life. A writer must also ‘give his soul to his people’ as Miguel Bratt Pinero used to say. A writer must also be acquainted with his community. And not to mention the eternal quest for art and craft.
This calls to mind the poet Cirilo F. Bautista. As everybody knows, he was born poor in Balik-Balik where he was pet-named as Toti. He was also not spared from the ruggedness of his community. Once, a friend asked him to beat up a man tied with a rope. Not having a violent temperament, he had to oblige and do it with his eyes closed. He was so poor that he had his first taste of mantikilya when he was already in his later stage of formal education. For some ‘nebulous’ turn of events, he finished college. His writing sustained him. He joined literary contests for the money. And being a genius, he was no stranger to gold medals and trophies.
He taught at De La Salle University and there he molded young writers. He also sat as panelist in various national writers workshops. And in one of them, I met him. I should say that Rio Alma is my mentor, but Bautista is my father and ‘Jedi master’. Almario taught me the techniques, Bautista taught me how to live.
Bautista’s literary column and poetry section in the Philippine Panorama also served as mentoring device for other young writers. His artices are conveniently one of the closer ways for one to get to his thoughts. If there’s a chance, he would usually bring me along with him for some literary functions. But oftentimes he is too focused on his writings that he would never stay long to socialize with other writers.
I read in Krip Yuson’s column that one remark given him by a member of the committee selecting the Order of the National Artist was ‘Reclusivity is a sign of selfishness’.
Sure, I will object to such impression. Cirilo Bautista for one, is quite apolitical. And he would rather have more authentic workshop, lecture and writing sessions than stick around with other writers and well, ‘waste his time’ as master poet Krip Yuson put it.
The notion that ‘reclusivity is a sign of selfishness’ only articulates how infantile our literary culture still is. We are stil so much into the co-called ‘barkadahan’ system. Yes, writers, just like lawyers or doctors have to interact with their peers, but mostly for professional reasons. Some lawyers go to bars to forget about the law. Heck, some priests go to bars to forget about God! I mean, writers ought to drink and be merry and try not to badmouth other writers borrowing balls from Red Horse, but not actually having the guts to put their attacks into writing. And that is why a poet of Cirilo Bautista’s caliber ought not ‘waste’ his time socializing with other ‘writers’. That is why he would rather attend to more legitimate functions only.
Better be reclusive and authentic.
