I WANT a Writers Artists Filmmakers & Artisans Convention in Dumangas when I visit the country in October.
If you were observant, you would have seen “WAFACon Dumangas” in that first sentence.
It is my way of celebrating the gains and triumphs of The Peter Solis Nery Foundation on our 7thyear.
But October is also the Haw-as Festival month of my hometown.
This year, the festivities start on October 26, Saturday and ends on November 1, Friday.
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Thanks to Mayor Ronaldo Golez, the Dumangas LGU, through its Tourism Office, has accommodated my request for a day of activities sponsored by The Peter Solis Nery Foundation.
Officially, can use as venue for our activities the covered gym from the afternoon all through the night of October 27, Sunday.
(There’s a Farmers and Fisherfolks Forum in the same venue in the morning, and I don’t want to f*ck up any three F-words event ever.)
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On day one, my idea was just WAFA Con.
But bouncing off my idea to people online led to the thought of including teachers.
I am a great believer of including educators in the most effective promotion of arts and culture.
Some fashion designers and architects (building designers, if you please) also wanted to be included.
Thus, the idea of WATDFAC—Writers Artists Teachers Designers Filmmakers & Artisans Convention.
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But WATDFAC can be read as—What the f*ck?
I thought it was an overkill.
Over the top, said my friends online.
I can be subversive, but I don’t have to be that subversive.
WAT D FAC sounds good, and is in keeping with my always and ever bold approach, but when you have certificates of attendance to issue, it’s kind of crazy to notice that the recipients attended a WAT D FAC.
So, I’m staying with WAFACon.
(You can call it WAFAC, if you insist!)
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Here’s the vision:
On Saturday, October 26, Haw-as Festival opens with a Motorcade in the morning, and Street Dancing competition in the afternoon, with announcement of results in the evening, followed by the nightly band shows that accompany the Foodfest (which is also an Oktoberfest).
On Sunday morning, October 27, I intend to have the inauguration and blessing of my Casa Dom Pedro property.
Only three rooms will be furnished by that time, but I may have mats and mattresses for those who need a roof over their head in the event that they decide to stay the night in town.
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Of course, Dumangas as several lodging places and mini-hotels.
I’ll also try to arrange for transportation to the city should I have many guests who need to go outside the regular schedules of shuttle SUVs and jeepneys.
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I plan a Filmmaking Workshop in the morning from 8am to 12noon either in a school venue, or my family-owned PRIMA City Building.
Also a Poetry Workshop in the afternoon from 1pm to 5pm at the covered gym.
Just because people are coming from other places, the seminar fees are dropped down to a low P50 per seminar, plus P50 if you want a certificate, plus P50 if you want snacks.
Locals and students will be charged a discounted price of only P20 upon ID presentation.
But the add-on P50 for certificates, and P50 for snacks still apply.
Senior citizen, PWD, and military discounts will also be honored.
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Book sale, and visual arts and crafts exhibits and sale will also be at the gym from 1pm to 7pm.
Book launch of my three 2019 books (At My Father’s Wake, After: Prose Poems, and Funny, Sad, and Dangerous) will follow the workshop at 5pm to 6pm.
My books sell for P500 a copy on the average.
That’s like P1,500 if you are greedy.
I’m inviting my writer-friends to bring their books for sale, too.
No, I won’t demand a percentage from their sales.
So, no. No discounts on the books.
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At 6pm, we might have a PechaKucha of four or five presenters. (Currently under negotiations.)
We take a dinner break between 6:30 and 7pm.
(Some of us can have a working dinner.)
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At 7pm, we start the literary program with poetry readings and performances, maybe some excerpts of my plays.
Entry to the event is P20. This includes the literary and cultural presentations, and the film screenings.
We will accept eggs, chicken, goat, and rice in exchange for admission.
Pay as you can policy. But please pay!
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At 8pm, we will have the 7thAwards Ceremony of The Peter’s Prize.
This year, three will be awarded the Peter’s Prize medallions for Literature (Poetry), Film (3-minute Silent), and Literary Studies (for scholar Alex delos Santos).
At 8:30, we will have the world premiere of the 19 films in The Peter Solis Nery Foundation International Film Festival (The PSNFIFF).
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If the crowd is still with us at 9:30, we will screen again my seven-year old film, Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa.
Or, maybe I should just play it to make it worth the people’s P20.
Alternatively, we can enjoy the booze, bands, and small talk at the beerfest just outside the gymnasium/auditorium.
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Or, we can take our art talks and literary and cultural networking at the Casa Dom Pedro.
Hopefully, we will still have something left of the goat and pig slaughtered that day for the inauguration.
I won’t charge anything for the Casa stay, but I won’t move heaven and earth to house you either.
I just promise a safe place for you to stay until the morning.
So bring your malongs and patadyongs.
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The pamorningan event is largely unstructured.
But I imagine it as a night that we talk under the stars.
Meet new friends, and rekindle connections.
Celebrate Life, art, and artistic camaraderie.
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P.S. — Dumangas has great beaches and springs resorts (read: swimming pools). (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
