I ESTABLISHED The Peter Solis Nery Foundation for Hiligaynon Literature and the Arts, Inc. in 2012. The following year, the Foundation proceeded to undertake the Peter’s Prize, a yearly competition and awards program that encourages production of literature and other creative output that are in synch with the Foundation’s ideals. Thus, we had The Peter’s Prize for Literature, Visual Arts, Theatre, Literary Studies, Translation, Cultural Dissemination, and this year, Film.
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But the conduct of the Peter’s Prize is not cheap. Although the cash prizes for most of the categories do not go over P10,000, the expenses behind the scenes can be depleting. And so, from time to time, I ask for assistance from friends who believe in my cause.
Most of these people do not want to be named. But I tell them, putting a name (and face) to our donors would perhaps encourage other people to chip in.
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For this year, I am giving out prizes in three categories: Poetry, Film, and Literary Studies. I also plan to host the Writers, Artists, Filmmakers, & Artisans Convention (WAFACon) in Dumangas. In addition, the running of the first The Peter Solis Nery Foundation International Film Festival (The PSNFIFF).
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I announced the winners of the Peter’s Prize online last month. And the gratitude of the people made me realize I was doing something good. The enthusiasm was very touching. The adulation was intoxicating. I couldn’t help but shrink at how people love and recognize the things I do for Hiligaynon literature and the arts.
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But I cannot just take all the credit. Especially that this year, a number of people actually contributed to the Peter’s Prize Fund. I don’t know if their contribution is enough to cover all that I have set out to do, but I want to keep my pride. So I insisted to receive only $100. No more, no less.
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Anything more, I feel, will rob me of dignity especially that it is my face up there in the Foundation’s logo. Anything less will not dignify my begging position. So, yeah. My Foundation only accepts a donation of $100, or P5,000. Unless the donor insists, and it’s really hard to resist.
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For Lolita “Lottie” Brar of Calgary, I swallowed my pride. Let’s not discuss how much she gave. (That is cheap talk. And the lady got class!) But let’s just say it’s a little more than the usual I accept. (The Canadian dollars had to be converted. Haha!)
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But more than just money, Lottie actually plans to join us at the WAFACon in Dumangas. And she may host a screening of the Peter’s Prize films in Calgary. I mean, she can host. Because as a successful businesswoman (she also started as a nurse!), she has been receiving Filipino athletes and performing artists visiting Alberta.
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Also in Calgary is Geraldine Caro Laru-an, a very unassuming woman whose family is from Barotac Nuevo. She’s Daniella Caro’s cousin. And since Daniella is a friend, Ghie and I became fast friends, too. Even if only over the Internet. I have yet to see Ghie. (Just like Lottie.) But when I asked Ghie if she could donate to the Peter’s Prize Fund, the only question she asked was, “When?”
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Marco Antonio Limson is another matter. He’s currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He won the 2016 Peter’s Prize for Flash Fiction for Children. And he donated back his cash prize to the Foundation on the condition that I give a writing workshop in his hometown of Murcia. This year, I asked if he’d be willing to donate again. He said yes.
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From Belfast in Northern Ireland, Jenny Molina has also donated to the Peter’s Prize Fund. Jenny is a nurse, and is my sister-in-law’s sister. I don’t really like asking monetary contributions from family, or from almost-family, or feels-like-family. But somehow, approaching Jen was easy. She has always believed in my own works; and now, my advocacies.
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Another donor is Roselle Buyco-Nardell, a former classmate at UPV. We both studied Biology in college, but I think she just went to America and reinvented herself before marrying a lawyer and settling down in San Francisco, where she set up a Montessori-type school. I’m not sure if Roselle donated in the fund for my 2012 movie Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did. Roselle is a classmate who has faith in my work, and actually gives something to show it.
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Another former classmate is Maria Elena de Asis-Ner, who hails from Lublub, Dumangas. We were classmates for a year at St. Paul’s School in Barotac Nuevo. She’s been a nurse in New York for over two decades now, and she’s been very appreciative of my efforts to advance the Hiligaynon language. She’s always a call away, but I don’t want to abuse her generosity. Fact: To support our local artists, Elena bought a painting from among the entries of the 2017 Peter Prize for Visual Arts (Painting).
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Also in New York is the successful accountant Ritchie Pagunsan. Ritchie is from Antique, but I knew him from UPV. Maybe I was a teacher when he was a student, or something like that. Although Ritchie runs the Dungug Kinaray-a Prize, a literary competition in Kinaray-a, he is often approachable as a judge for the Peter’s Prize Hiligaynon competition. This year, I manned up, and asked if he could also spare something for the Peter’s Prize Fund. I mean, I know I’m irresistible, but…
Ritchie actually said yes!
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Michelle Solis Francisco is a cousin. Note the Solis middle name, which is similar to mine. As a single girl-woman, who lives a lifestyle of the wanderlust like me, Michelle is my run-to for donations. But again, I’m not the type who abuses. So it’s still $100 even if we are cousins. And I think I’ve only asked her twice before: once for my Bakunawa film, and once more for the Peter’s Prize Fund.
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The P40,000-something I’ve collected is not a lot of money to burn for the conduct of the Peter’s Prize, the WAFAcon, and the first The PSNFIFF.
But I do not just rely on donations.
I match donations peso for peso, dollar for dollar.
And that’s how I keep my dignity.
That’s why my face and name are still in the logo of The Peter Solis Nery Foundation!
But thank you so much, donors! (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
