IN MEMORIAM (August 31, 2009)

Last Sunday, we were torn between Ninoy and Nanoy.

As a compromise, our family decided to watch Philippine Stages Foundation's critically acclaimed Ako Si Ninoy at the SM North's Cinema 9 – as Frank Rivera's birthday treat for our panganay Psalma who turned 12 last 24 August!
On the other hand, we heeded the Ergoe Tinio' call to discuss performance poetry before Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo fellows with our technical assistant in poet Nanoy Rafael.

Before we could say S-L-A-M, we got slammed by a sad news from Kris Lacaba who texted us about 30-year old Mae Astrid Tobias who succumbed to lupus last 23 August.

Unspoken word stayed the same.

We offered silent prayer as we reminisced the said former Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting president's short happy life immortalized by her books Bayong ng Kuting, Ang Aking mga Kaibigan sa Gubat, Pumbakhayon, Halikpon, or Bakawan which was launched only last 21 July during the celebration of National Children's Book Day.

Among us was two-time Makata ng Taon Louis Jon Sanchez, who instantly could not help but remember our common friend who was reportedly found inside his condo unit's toilet, with his hands and feet tied, and stabbed to death last 16 August!

We were talking about our 28-year old Winton Lou Ynion, a poet and a cum laude graduate from West Visayas State University, whom we first met 10 years ago during the University of the Philippines National Writers Workshop which we directed in Samal Island.

Like Winton, Atty. Ernesto Superal Yee was also found dead in his bed last 23 May in Tanjay, a town near Dumaguete City, after serving as one of the 48th Silliman National Writers Workshop's panelists last summer.

However, the culprit in the case of Atty. Yee, our former National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Committee on Literary Arts colleague, is believed to be ataque al corazon.

Cardiac arrest, too, claimed the life of 81 year-old fictionist Ponciano Pineda who was awyer, considered “the Father of the Commission on Filipino Language” the day before we could celebrate Buwan ng Wika.

If we would consider the poet in former Pres. Corazon Aquino (1 August) or master rapper Francis Magalona (6 March) -- we already lost almost 12 writers in six months!

From fictionist Genoveva Edroza Matute (21 March) to journalist Antonio Castillo (12 June) to columnist Susan Fernandez (2 July) to poet Godofredo Reyes (5 July) to essayist Reynaldo “Ronnie” Alejandro (7 August) to fictionist Leticia Agnes Salanga who belonged to 7th ,U.P. National Writers Workshop in 1978 with César Ruiz Aquino, Juaniyo Arcellana, Joey Ayala, Eric Caruncho, Marjorie Evasco, Eric Gamalinda, Lemuel Garcellano, Lilia Gómez (a.k.a. Augusta de Almedda), Edna Mae Obien-Landicho, and René Villanueva, among others.

Our Victim #13 would be the National Artist Awards!

What a pity, indeed, for NAAWA!

Like Lazarus, NAAWA rose from the grave by virtue of a temporary restraining order against this year's awarding ceremonies issued by the Supreme Court.

While Concerned Artists of the Philippines was celebrating a fresh lease in life by calling for photo-statements submitted last Friday at ‘70s Bistro – another fatal blow was dealt – an alleged insertion in the NAAWA document.
If our memory serves us right, before there's no E.O. 236 provision in the NCCA website!

TEXT SUPPORT:
Songs of married couple:
First night “Aray Naku!””
1-5 years “Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi”
6-15 years “Paminsan-minsan”
16-25 years “Sana Kahit Minsan”
26-49 years “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan?”
50 years up “Maalaala Mo Kaya?”

CONSIDER THIS:
If your father is poor, it’s your fate. But if your father-in-law is poor, it’s your stupidity!