[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’MY LIFE AS ART ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PETER SOLIS NERY
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
The King of West Visayan Literature
THERE was a time in the first decade of the new millennium when West Visayan writers were liberally self-appropriating and sometimes generously awarding each other, royal literary titles.
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. That seemed to be the name of the game in many cases.
You’ve heard about such epithets as the “father of West Visayan literature”, the “father of Kinaray-a literature”, the “father of modern Akeanon literature”, the “new Magdalena Jalandoni of Hiligaynon literature”, the “foremost Kinaray-a gay poet”, and so on, and so forth.
There was a time when I felt that those titles went fast, and cheaply.
Well, if you must know!
Before the third millennium came upon us, in 1998 to be exact, I was already called the Prince of Ngoyngoy (Sob Poetry) by the Ilonggo writing community. Because I write, and usually perform, these poems that tug at the heartstrings.
But I didn’t really appropriate the title for myself until about 2001, when I published a lyric poetry collection called, well, “The Prince of Ngoyngoy”.
I think the volume was solid proof that I was, indeed, the Prince of Sob or Lyric Poetry. With a strong sob poetry collection, I could confidently claim, and live up to, my title.
Five years before that, in 1993, I already earned the title as Hari sang Binalaybay (King of Hiligaynon Poetry).
Carefully note the word “earned” because I got the title from a competition.
I became the king of poetry because I bested all the other poet-contestants; and not because somebody, like a writer-friend, gave it to me so I can call them something back.
You know where this is going?
I don’t believe in royal titles. But I’m happy to wear the crown if I knew I earned it.
I don’t believe in titles. But I also envy those others less deserving than I who get all the titles and attention. Just because they have a friend who gets to call the shots.
And I mean, friends and people in the academe who get to be very influential in literary politics. Especially in Western Visayas.
This is what I believe: I believe in writing for writing’s sake. I believe in the little people’s votes. I believe in popularity. I believe in the newspaper, and its readers.
There was a time when writing for the newspaper was looked down by the academic literati. I think some of them still do.
Well, I am not embarrassed that I wrote, and continue to write, for the newspapers. I’m not embarrassed that my unschooled poetry and literary attempts are printed in the newspapers.
I’m not at all embarrassed that my works are read by people like you. As far as I am concerned, my readers are as intelligent as those academic literati.
My readers may not be PhD holders in literature or language, but they do read me, and they get my vision, my humor, and my style. They like my work!
And they’re having fun with me on the page. Unlike the ivory tower people, who can only find faults in my work.
Anyway, I’m not serious about titles. I’m not insecure that other writers are appropriating titles for themselves.
I got my own titles, too; if I just want to be “titled”. I know I’ve earned both my “King of Hiligaynon Poetry”, and “Prince of Sob Poetry” titles.
Starting 2009, I have been called “The Living Ilonggo Icon”, and “Sagisag Kultura ng mga Ilonggo (Cultural Icon of Ilonggos)” by students, teachers, and the press. So yes, I’ve appropriated those titles, too.
Lately though, with an almost continuous winning streak at the Palanca Awards since 2006 (expect for a no-win in 2009), which brings attention to West Visayan writers because I am an Ilonggo, and I’m becoming a fixture at the Palanca Awards ceremonies, more and more people are calling me The King (like Elvis is the king) of West Visayan Literature.
I’m still a little uncomfortable about that royal title. But I’m not about to turn down my own coronation.
If at all, year in and year out, I’m proving that I am consistently pushing the boundaries, and expanse, of West Visayan literature, not only in the Hiligaynon language, but also in English and Filipino.
What does a king do? What do fitting and worthy kings do?
I believe that being king is about leadership, and stewardship. I believe that the honor is for service, not merely leisure and personal enjoyment.
So yes, I feel that I can be king. That I deserve to be called The King of West Visayan Literature.
My 18 Palancas so far (plus one next month) is a formidable qualification. And the fact that I am a perennial winner at this biggest, longest-running, and most prestigious, of Filipino literary awards for over a decade now, is a true mark of a leader working to promote the dignity, and pride, and undeniable talents of West Visayan writers.
I feel I am also deserving to be called The King of West Visayan Literature because with The Peter Solis Nery Foundation for Hiligaynon Literature and the Arts, I am there, on the forefront, in the frontline, of preserving, promoting, and propagating Hiligaynon, and West Visayan, literature.
As a king, I inspire. I encourage writers. I make them dream big. I help them achieve their dreams. And sometimes, I settle for them the challenges they can’t win.
Every year, on my vacation from the US, I go all around the Western Visayas region, all over Panay, and even across the sea to Negros Island to teach creative writing, and advocate for literatures in the mother-tongue.
Starting 2014, I even go to as far down as South Cotabato, where a sizeable population is Hiligaynon speaking.
Since 2013, I have administered, through my Foundation, the Peter’s Prize, which is now the longest-running literature contest in Hiligaynon in our modern times.
From Peter’s Prize winners, grew new Palanca winners. And although I cannot claim a direct connection (I always feel people win because they have real talent), who knows how Peter’s Prize have inspired these new Palanca winners?
Didn’t I say in the beginning that I wanted Peter’s Prize to be the training pool, the breeding ground, for future Palanca champions?
Well, I have seen writers start from Peter’s Prize, and go on to win the Palanca!
My Foundation has also published new authors. I have edited at least six anthologies from the Peter’s Prize materials, and from the products of my online and touring lectures and workshops on creative writing.
In addition, I have promoted literary scholarship with the special awards of Peter’s Prize for literary studies, criticism, and translation. Plus, of course, the thesis grants that were given to undergrad, and graduate, students.
So, yes, there is pride when I see my name written with the epithet and title of “The King of West Visayan Literature”. I think I deserve it.
I think I truly deserve it! (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
