Who the hell is #PSN?

I DO amazing things.

And because I do amazing things, I have become a living legend.

And because on the whole I am pretty much a good person, good things happen to me.

And these good things are often pretty amazing.

And because they are amazing, they almost always add to my lore and legend.

*

I can ask naughty questions like, Who comes home to visit the Philippines from the United States, and gets an invitation for dinner from the Indian ambassador to the Philippines?

On Facebook, that’s a Wow! story.

But there is a bigger story to tell.

*

In May, I got a Facebook Messenger message from one Bina Sarkar Ellias.

Bina said she’s the editor and publisher of International Gallerie magazine, and would I be interested to share a poem or two in her next issue featuring the arts and culture of the Philippines.

I had to Google search Bina and International Gallerie.

And I decided to send two poems.

I am generous and nice that way.

*

Bina and I chatted for sometime, and I was introduced to her own work as a poet.

We became Facebook friends.

She had a book launching in New York in July.

I was only five hours away by car in Maryland, so I planned to go.

But I didn’t make it.

I got family visiting me on the week of her book launch.

Then, this month, Facebook told me Bina was going to be in the Philippines on the day of my arrival in the country.

*

Bina also said the Indian ambassador is hosting a dinner to launch her magazine in the Philippines.

Would I be available?

I told Bina I’m an hour away by plane from Manila, and could not possibly make it because I got things to do in Iloilo.

Still, she arranged for an invitation for if I decide to come.

*

It’s not easy to be me.

Just because Iloilo is only an hour away from Manila doesn’t mean I can fly right away.

But an invitation is an invitation.

And when dignitaries like ambassadors invite you, you better make adjustments.

And then, there’s the copy of the magazine where my poems are published.

And then, there’s Bina, who, in her career as a curator, chose to feature me and my works in her magazine on the mere basis of my online presence, and our correspondence.

*

Imagine if I was an arrogant person and ignored her first message and invitation to share my poems.

Imagine if I didn’t express interest in attending her book launch in New York.

(And didn’t follow up with regrets because I didn’t make it to the Big Apple.)

Imagine if I didn’t buy a rush ticket to Manila.

Then, I would have missed the opportunity to party at the Indian ambassador’s residence in Forbes Park.

*

Then, I wouldn’t have met the Indian ambassador, His Excellency Jaideep Mazumdar, and his beautiful wife Parvati.

(I have several photos with Ambassador and Mrs. Mazumdar, but she said no to posting on social media so I’m not publishing any, even if I feel that to be photographed with me is permission to be exposed in all forms of media.)

Then, I wouldn’t have met Bina, the woman whose passion mission for art and culture as a healing movement has already spanned at least two decades.

*

Then, I wouldn’t have gotten a copy of Bina’s book “Fuse”, and the Philippine issue of International Gallerie.

The Philippine issue I’m talking about boasted several national artists including Kidlat Tahimik, Ben Cabrera, and Virgilio Almario.

In the poetry section of the magazine, I am in the good company of poets Almario, Luisa Igloria, Marjorie Evasco, Simeon Dumdum Jr, et cetera. 

So, that’s that.

*

I am not oblivious to the pronounced snub of me by the so-called Ilonggo literary writers.

I just don’t have the energy to pick a quarrel with them.

There is this clique in Iloilo, for example, who say I do not have peer respect.

As if they are the authority to give peer respect.

I mean, how can they be genuine authority if they just approve the people in their clique?

*

I’ve said this before in relation to my exclusion in the literature volume of the CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art and culture:

I do not have their “peer respect” because I am above them.

(And in a sense, I am peerless.)

But 19 wins in the two decades of Palanca Awards is peer respect!

Everybody who claims to be literary knows that!

*

So, who the hell is #ThePSN?

He’s the writer and artist who invites envy among the competitive lot.

But to those who need inspiration, he’s the beautiful soul who wants to work with others to heal the world through art and culture.

To ordinary readers who do not play literary politics, he is the reliable writer who delivers humor and fun, human drama and compassion.

And to sensitive readers, he is the Filipino writer who believes that people are beautiful and worthy to be loved. (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)