AT THE RATE things are going, I’m probably the most documented Ilonggo writer of my generation.
Aside from writing my life in books and newspapers, I am also very active in social media.
Since January 2022 alone, I have been posting daily on Instagram, which is also linked to my Twitter and Facebook accounts.
And it’s not just once daily; it’s multiple times a day.
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First, there’s my sunrise and sunset photography.
Since New Year’s, I haven’t missed a single sunrise or sunset.
And knowing me, this could be a whole 365 days a year project.
Just like I did with sunsets in 2017.
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Sunsets can be tricky because I often go to the movies or attend theatre in the afternoon.
So I thought of doing sunrises.
I have reasons to get up early everyday.
But New Year’s sunset was beautiful, so I just kept shooting sunrises and sunsets until either one gives in.
Still, I’m hopeful I could do both in 2022.
That could be a new record for a completist like me.
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The other record I’m targeting in 2022 is my food intake tracking.
On New Year’s, I bought an app called Ate.
I think the address of the app is youate.com, but I’m happy to call it just Ate.
I’ve decided to try intermittent fasting because I’m 53, and I figured I don’t need to eat too much.
It’s not like I’m gonna carry sacks of rice for work like a stevedore.
If I don’t carry rice, I don’t have to eat rice!
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The Ate app helps me control my diet because I believe in social media accountability.
And so far, I’ve been very honest.
Except for coffee, tea, and water, everything I eat are photographed.
If it’s not in the photo, I didn’t eat it.
It’s a little crazy in restaurants where soups and salads, and desserts, are served earlier or later than the main course, but so far I’ve managed.
At home, when there’s ice cream, I photograph the ice cream with everything, and put it back in the freezer while I eat the big meal.
That’s how honest and committed I am to doing this right.
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Honesty is very important to me.
I expect it of myself, and of other people.
I am less of a person when I lie.
I can call everybody’s bullshit because I am no bullshitter.
If I have to pick a start date for my all truth and nothing but the truth principle, it has to be my 40th birthday—January 6, 2009.
I would remember because I prayed hard for something I could change in my life to mark my 40th year on the planet.
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I’m pretty sure my dedicated efforts and commitment for truth telling started way before that.
But just as a marker, I never lied since January 6, 2009.
Even if it meant for me losing so many things.
I never lied to save my skin.
It’s a big thing for me.
And in retrospect, it gave me my strongest confidence.
Because I have truth in everything, I just walk through life like a genuine sparkling diamond.
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I’ve always written personal stuff in the newspapers.
That’s my trademark in Ilonggo journalism since 2000.
While other writers write opinions (mostly political) in the Op-Ed pages, I’m the only writer allowed to write about my literary, romantic, social, and sexual escapades.
I write first person singular stuff.
I’m pretty sure my style has been copied throughout the years (think bloggers making transition to print here), but being the pioneer and trailblazer, I’m simply the original, and the best.
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In literature, you must remember that before I was 30, I have published not one, not two, but three, memoirs: “The Essential Thoughts of a Purple Cat”, “Moon River, Butterflies, and Me”, and “My Life as a Hermit”.
That’s why I’m so comfortable talking about my life in public spaces, and in print.
That’s why I ended up as the most public, most documented Ilonggo (if not Filipino) writer of the 21st century.
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With the Internet explosion in 2000, and the rise of social media, I became even more exposed.
Facebook used to be my platform of choice.
It’s not anymore, but I’m still on it, and I’m still active on it if it does not go crazy restricting my account.
These days, I like Instagram and Twitter because I can now live with hashtags only.
Besides, I have Panay News for my words.
And I still have my books to write my poems, stories, and philosophies.
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I am Sharjah International Book Fair’s first Filipino author guest (in 2015).
The second was Judy Ann Santos with her cookbooks in 2019.
How did Sharjah choose me?
Because of my strong online presence!
I take pride in that.
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Filipino students and teachers of literature also call me “the most accessible Filipino writer”.
I’m pretty sure it’s not because they can understand my literary works more easily than other writers, although that is also true.
I’m pretty convinced it’s because I’m easily available online to help them out with interviews, workshops, and even permissions to use my work for their theses, class projects, and what-nots.
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People, influencers, and other writers, can choose to be paid hacks, to be campaign managers, and they can believe their own lies, and the lies of their politician-clients.
I’m not in that business.
I am “the” Peter Solis Nery. #ThePSN.
I only promote my own brand, my story, my truth, my life.
If I can, I want my words to be eternal.
That’s why for me, it’s truth in everything!/PN
