Hagbayon

Call it literary ESP. I knew I would surely have a poem published in the November issue of HomeLife Magazine, so there I was buying two copies from St.   Paul’s Bookshop. And indeed a work of  mine
was there, conveniently printed in the poetry page. As usual, I had a
short chat with the Sisters and they were egging me to contribute for
the Paulines Magazine. ‘Why not Sistah,’ I replied. 

I have written about
this before, my mild clairvoyance of anything literary. Like seeing
Hotel Veneracion in a dream before I actually got to attend the UST
National Writers Workshop; or having a sort of an ‘advance
proofreader’s copy’ of my work, seeing the page in a dream before it
reaches the stands. This time, I saw this plaque. Nothing else more,
just a plaque.

So when I texted Dulce Deriada saying ‘hi and ‘thanks’ to his father for using ‘Elehiya’ this month, HomeLife’s poetry editor, Dr. Leoncio Deriada
could only blurt out: ‘May ESP ka ano? You had an inkling that you
won?’ It turned out that my poem in Tagalog/Filipino ‘Isang Gabing
Ganito’, yes, that one with a typo when it got printed, won first place
in this year’s contest. I thought I was dreaming, like the clairvoyance
thing again, but this time I did not have to wake up.

Maybe five months of
isolation and concentrated literary thought when I was in Imus, Cavite
back in 2000 (just finishing off my ROTC) developed this ‘clairvoyance
thing’ in me. It was the time when I could sit the whole day just
thinking of my literary plans. I loved those moments as flavored by my
endless readings and writers’ dates. It was just me and God signing a
contract.

Now Home Life
Magazine’s poetry contest just like when it started in 1992, considers
as entries only those poems that got printed in its poetry page for the
year. Dr. Leoncio Deriada serves as its editor and at the same time
ex-officio judge during deliberations in November. Judges would come
from different parts of the country, and thankfully, I am in no way
connected to this year’s judges (except Dr. Deriada who was a panelist
during the Iyas and 12^th Iligan National Writers Workshop). This makes a clear-cut win, methinks, considering that my co-winners are good company (Kristian Cordero of Iriga City-2^nd and Estelito Jacob of Camaligan-3^rd prize). Also, New York-based poet Luis Cabalquinto of Magarao won first place for the English Division.

But not without heavy
competition. According to Dr. Deriada, it was the Filipino Division
that gave the judges a hard time. Poets from the NCR, Central and
Northern Luzon also contended for the top spot against their Bikolnon
opponents. But not much luck this time, for even the fourth place was
occupied by another Bikol poet, Carlo Arejola, almost displacing Esting Jacob by an inch. A Bicol sweep indeed.

  Being a lone voice does not make one weak, but rather, it makes one destined to be echoed. This is what fuels Santiago B. Villafania
as Pangasinan’s poet of the first water. And Book after book, he
pummels on the chests of the Pangasinense poet-warriors of
old—resurrecting them. It is not enough for him that he edits the
country’s premiere literary E-zine at present, the Dalityapi.Com,
he would also turn it into a portal of sorts for anything literary;
news from around the world about workshops, publications, awards,
conferences, festivals, about writers in general. He would also come up
with a monthly poetry Webpage, the Makata, where voices by poets from various places would reverberate in its URL.

Though he never attended any of the national writers’ workshops
(which could make one enmeshed in the country’s UAAP literary
politics), he is well-respected by a new generation of poetry
practitioners ensconced in the E-group system and the blogosphere.
Needless to say it is his tireless zeal and abilities and not his
connections that propel him up in the literary ladder. Silently
publishing the Makata every month and targeting the literary pages of
national magazines; he soon began to come up with his own books, one of
which was sponsored by the NCCA, and his latest the ‘Malagilion’, published by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino through Central Books.

The book was launched during the recent literary conference
in Pangasinan and is due for re-launch next month (December 3) in
UP-Diliman. Lovers of regional literature ought to attend this event.

I took this picture
as my family hit the campaign trail during the recent Baranggay
Elections in San Francisco, Iriga City. I saw something in that little
girl’s shy temperament. Poverty might just take-over it, and how would
the baranggay be of help to her?

So we did not just
vote, we had a candidate, my father. We thought his credentials and
experience would qualify him for grassroots legislation. He is a
college professor and finished the undergrad and master’s for business
administration, and being an LLB, he also served for the Baranggay San
Francisco Lupon. My father does not drink or smoke and has no vice
except UFC and
boxing. Like me, he likes war films but it is me who is into different
kinds of swords and firearms. So peace-loving, he’s never been in a
fistfight. 

We figured that the
baranggay is of utmost importance to the country. For one, it is the
government’s frontline, acting as executive, legislative and judicial
body. Nothing beats proximity in effecting significant projects and
laws. If governance is honest, credible and efficient at the baranggay
level, we have a fighting chance for national progress.

However, I observed
that ability and credibility are not enough for a candidate to win a
seat as a baranggay councilor. He must have a campaign strategy for the
following kinds of voters:

1. Apathetic Voters. They
   don’t vote. They think the baranggay is so insignificant to national
   progress. The candidate needs to visit the residence of this voter and
   convince him/her to vote. It would be better if the candidate would do
   some homework and provide him/her the precinct number. Some candidates
   would leave a letter with platform of government, sample ballot (and
   cash).
2. Just for      Kicks Voters.
   They go to the precinct unprepared. They don’t know the candidates and
   rely on the pamphlets given by supporters near the precinct. It would
   be better if the candidate would be at the roadside to flash ‘pogi’
   smiles for these voters.
3. Partisan Voters. They
   will give solid votes for their neighbor, family member,
   classmate/batchmate, drinking buddy or barkada regardless of ability
   and qualifications. They smirk at other candidates and would ignore
   their campaigns. But most of them would still accept cash.
4. Voters for Sale. They      always expect dole-outs from a candidate in cash or in kind. And they      would really vote for the candidate.
5. Transcendental      Voters.
   They look forward to the electoral process as if it’s going to the
   Sunday Mass. They do research on the candidates and keep a list ready
   come election day. They look into the candidate’s track record and
   ability. There is a chance that they would accept cash but only to
   punish the candidate because they certainly will not vote for him/her.
   They may even keep the cash as evidence (among others) if ever they
   decide to file a complaint. A good candidate does not even have to
   spend much on a campaign if there is a high number of ‘transcendental
   voters’ in the population.

Also, a candidate must have the following in order to win a slot:

1. Balwarte. The
   candidate’s zone must give him/her a solid vote. Meaning, they have to
   leave the six more slots blank. This is for the partisan vote.
2. Funds. The Baranggay
   Elections ought to be non-partisan but some political parties would
   meddle anyway. It would usually come from the mayor, perhaps ensuring
   that he/she has control over the baranggays. This would be a great help
   if the mayor would like to seek reelection for the same or higher
   office. A rich candidate would appeal to the ‘for sale’ and ‘apathetic
   voters’.
3.  Lots of      Relatives. With this, a candidate can expect solid votes from      partisan voters.
4.  Credentials      and Excellent Track Record.
   You will never know how many transcendental voters there are. Besides,
   it is hard to be a councilor if you can’t read.
5.  Doable and      Significant Platform of Government. Again, for the transcendental      voters, for the baranggay—and the country. Without this, please don’t run.

So far, this is what
I have observed with regard our baranggay politics. And it is not so
unlike Philippine politics in general. This is because even though we
have different cultures, the baranggay is a miniature of the
Philippines.

What do I recommend?
I should say lots of literature. If more of us would read and read, we
would easily become transcendental voters. Reading enhances mental
discipline, critical thinking and helps develop the conscience.

And so please read my
poem printed in Home Life’s October 2007 issue (albeit with the usual
typographical errors). Let me reprint the correct version here:

ISANG GABING GANITO

Kagagapas na parang
ang maitim na langit.

Patid na gintong kuwintas
ang mga bituin.

Nakatarak na yatab
ang buwan sa punit

na ulap na may bumalong
na dagta ng pulang tala

at gumuhit na bahid
ng pulang bulalakaw.

Hindi ko pa antipara
ang rehas.