THIS IS the fourth and concluding part of ThePSN interview that started as “21 Palancas”, then continued as “Mr. Universe and I”, and followed up as “Next Projects”.
In this latest in-depth interview of the premier agent provocateur and avant garde artist Peter Solis Nery, blogger Ronelo Ladiao probed your iconic writer about his feelings and ideas about glam, tradition, relevance and currency in a social media age.
As expected of “the” Peter Solis Nery, my answers are in turns funny, thoughtful, wise, thought-provoking, self-aware, and inspiring, to say the least.
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In this concluding section, ThePSN reveals the “secret of his success”.
And how it is not a seasonal gift of wisdom, but as a recapitulation of my ideas that were beautifully expressed in Part 2– a life coach’s free advice that people may take or leave.
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RSL: As a Christmas and New Year’s gift to those who read and follow you, can you give us some tips on how to succeed in life? It seems like you always win every race and contest thrown your way. What is your secret?
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ThePSN: The secret to winning in Life, as in everything else, is getting up every morning, and just going for it.
Whatever you were born to do, get up and do it. It could be writing for a magazine, it could be designing couture dresses, it could be wowing the judges and audiences of a beauty pageant.
It could be nursing a sick patient, teaching young minds, inspiring people to exercise and take life easy.
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Competency is high on my list. Some of us come with inborn talent, but those who practice and hone their potentials earn much of my respect.
I think that we should work on our talents everyday, every minute. And I do not only mean work and genius here, I also mean that we should practice our loving and sharing, and giving and inspiring.
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We sing of giving love on Christmas Day, but I love humanity everyday like it were Christmas everyday. So this advice, this is not just a Christmas gift; it’s a gift for all season, for all times.
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Consistency is also something that I value.
Sure, Jose Rizal only wrote two novels, none of them Palanca-winning; but I feel very much validated as a writer because I am consistently winning at the Palanca Awards where my works are evaluated by my peers, and people who gatekeep Philippine literature.
With 21 career Palanca Awards including the Hall of Fame, I feel worthy to be called a Filipino writer.
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As a nice person, I am also consistently nice everyday. I may sound bitchy online, but that’s only my genius in publicity and strategy. No one in their right mind would call me “not nice”.
I maybe naughty, but I am naughty and nice!
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But really, the biggest secret of my success is my idea of service, and my commitment to it; of having a mission, of being there for others.
In everything I do, I consider people who will benefit from my actions and words. I consider the idea that some people may look up to me as a model and inspiration. So, how can I go wrong with that?
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If I only do things for myself, I would have stopped doing things a long time ago because I am pretty much fulfilled and satisfied with my life.
But then, I see others needing me, needing my words, my inspiration, my wisdom, my talents and experience. Thus, I continue to get up and just do it.
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And to be honest, a sense of mission has made my life more meaningful, and more satisfying at the end of everyday. It has also provided me with some measure of achievement.
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When you are 53, and when you look back at your life, you would want to be sure that you have made a difference in some people’s life. Be it in inspiring others with your literature, or reenergizing an awards night with glamour and spectacle, or even taking Mr. Universe to a parallel universe that is outside of his comfort zone and imagination.
Now, that for me, sums up relevance, inspiration, success, happiness, achievement, and a fulfilling life in the 21st century.
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This ends the four-part interview series.
I thank Ronelo Ladiao for posing the thoughtful and well-considered questions.
And I thank you all for your indulgence.
Oh, but it’s much easier to read me than to be me!/PN
