A Tale of Two Executions

A few hours ago, the BBC and CNN broke the news that Saddam Hussein has been executed, and I have to admit I feel rather indifferent about it. Sure, he had committed countless crimes against his people and deserved to be punished, but I couldn’t help but think that he and Rizal now share the same death date. Plus, both were executed under the watch of an occupying foreign power. Beyond that, these two executions—what a study of contrasting circumstances!

Saddam’s execution may have more currency, but the lasting impact of Rizal’s execution has more relevance, at least to me. Imagine, a physician punished for his prose! I believe there is no other national hero in the world who became one, not because he wielded a weapon, but because he held a quill. Imagine, a pair of political novels, written according to 19th-century literary conventions, inspiring a revolution, not to mention become required reading for high school students many years later. Imagine the royalties! If Francisco, Rizal’s stillborn son by Josephine Bracken, had lived and matured and had his own family, he and his descendants would have been very rich. Isn’t it any wonder why there are some local creative writers who, consciously or not, have Rizal as their model? His impact on art, culture, history and literature is staggering.

But there will never be another Rizal, and we all know it. He existed in a different time, lived under different conditions. There could never be another Rizal in our or any other time, contrary to what that misguided guy who wrote Noli Me Tangere 2 might think. Certain eras breed, demand certain kinds of writers. Be that as it may, I personally wouldn’t mind if people would give creative writers today, at the very least, the same level of respect that they accord toward Rizal.

(Funny Fact: Rizal posthumously won the Best Story prize from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) in the early 1960s for Gerardo de Leon’s film adaptations of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Panalo talaga. Literally.)

A Story for the Season

For lack of something better to post today, I thought this might be suitable reading for the season. Very suitable reading, in fact, especially since it won a first-prize Palanca several years ago.

ISANG MALIGAYANG PASKO SA INYONG LAHAT! Ü

December Days

It seems this month is turning out to be one of the more interesting Decembers in recent memory. There’s that natural disaster (Typhoon Reming and how it wreaked havoc in much of the Bicol region, not just in Albay—no holiday cheer for them this year, that’s for certain), and the man-made ones (the fiasco that was the Con-Ass and the rallies that followed—sheesh, these… creatures are dense!). And there are these political assassinations and assassination attempts happening with increasing regularity. I have a bad feeling we’ll see more of these next year.

Thankfully, there were some bright spots. My friend Kristian Cordero won this year’s Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award for his wonderful poetry collection Mga Tulang Tulala nearly two weeks ago. A few of my UP workshop co-fellows and I used his win as an excuse to get together and celebrate at Janet’s place. We may be few, but we still had fun. Here’s the proof:

Four Fictionists Having Fun: Riza, Janet, Kristian and Ely

Last Monday marked my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, and true to fashion my family didn’t celebrate it. We have never been interested in celebrating special occasions with parties and such, even by ourselves, opting for nice and quiet—in other words, ordinary—dinners instead. Some people may find that strange, but that’s just who we are. We’re that low-key, that simple. I may be biased in saying this, but my parents truly have a great marriage. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but they made it look so effortless, considering they raised three kids with wildly different and distinct personalities with very few things in common, who could hardly relate to—and are so averse to exchanging terms of endearment (blech!) with—one another. But in spite of that, my siblings and I know that we can rely on one another, in one way or another, when problems arise. We’re family, after all. If that’s not a positive result of a great marriage, then I don’t know what is. Here’s what my parents looked like then (they’re going to "kill" me if they see this: Eeeeeh, my disgusted mom would say):


On a more personal note, theater critic Gibbs Cadiz named First Snow of November in his Best Play (One-Act) Honorable-Mention list in his review of the 2006 local theater scene. Much as I’m delighted by it, I’m even more so with his citation of Abner Delina Jr.’s performance in my play. He really deserves it. I’m also glad he also cited the plays of some of my fellow Bloc members.

And speaking of theater reviews, the Tanghalang Pilipino website featured my review of Bakeretta, first published in the Philippine Chronicle late last month. Read it here if interested.

Ten Favorite Filipino Stories for Children

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a Top Ten list, and since I’ve nothing better to post now I’ve decided to list my current favorite Filipino short stories for children, all of them prizewinners:

Apo Mayor by Grace D. Chong: The importance of honesty may be highlighted in this story, but I can’t help but be delighted to know that I share the same surname with its young protagonist. Not surprising, since it’s also the author’s maiden name.

Chun, by Marivi Soliven Blanco: Early teeners will appreciate this story the most, which focuses on a subject very rarely explored in Philippine children’s literature: discrimination.

The Daughter of the Wind, by Angelo R. Lacuesta: Affecting and lyrical, this story, which deals with the idea of destiny, remains to be my favorite among Lacuesta’s earlier works.

The Greediest of Rajahs and the Whitest of Clouds, by Honoel Ibardolaza: It may lack Filipino-ness, but it does evoke the best qualities that the best Asian folktales have.

The Man Who Hated Birds, by Leoncio P. Deriada: I’m not exactly a big fan of Deriada’s fiction, but there’s something about this simple fable that I find quite charming.

Nemo, Ang Batang Papel, by Rene O. Villanueva: Villanueva has written many fine short stories for children, but as far as I’m concerned this poignant story is one of his best.

Pan de Sal Saves the Day, by Norma Olizon-Chikiamco: How can one not love a story with characters named Miss Floures and Mang Baking? Even better, it celebrates everything that’s Filipino. Cute!

The Rocking Horse, by Becky Bravo: Inspired by a painting showing a bald violinist on a rocking horse, I read this story recently and couldn’t help but be moved.

Salu-salo, by Susie B. Borero: Writing about history or a historical event from the point of view of a child—in this case, a young girl—is often tricky, but Borero somehow pulls it off.

Sandosenang Sapatos, by Dr. Luis P. Gatmaitan: Gatmaitan has made a brilliant career out of writing stories that are firmly rooted in medical concerns, but this one, about paternal love, is so good that it’s required reading in the school my nieces go to.