Two events and a book of remembrance

October 28 marked Doreen Gamboa Fernandez’s birthday. Now, Doreen’s been a dearly regarded colleague, and mentor. I hope she doesn’t mind that reference, as I’ve never really studied formally under her. But her writings, not only on food and culture, but inclusive of her criticism – which sometimes takes the form of handwritten notes so considerately passed on – have always contributed to our continuing enlightenment.

That Sunday we just had to join the legion of friends, fans and associates at the spanking, newly opened Moro Lorenzo Sports Center at the Ateneo High School grounds, to mark Doreen’s natal day, which also coincided with the start of a fund drive for the Doreen G. Fernandez Chair.

Publisher Eggie Apostol it was who got the ball rolling by pledging an amount in seven figures, even as she coyly refused to announce whether a period would be joining the commas among those digits.

Tony Lambino, formerly of the Smokey Mountain singing group, dreamily crooned As Time Goes By to a Power Point video presentation that showed Doreen through the years, all the way from Negros Occidental to the Loyola Heights campus. Ateneo president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres delivered brief remarks, as did various other personalities who all extolled Doreen’s substantial contribution to the university.

Among the well-wishers we spotted were Magsaysay awardee and UP Professor Bien Lumbera, DBP chair Vitaliano Nañagas, Cyber Diario publisher-editor Paulynn Sicam, Bookmark author-publisher Lory Tan, poet Danton Remoto who just got back from Rutgers University, former Asiaweek editor Ricardo "Batch" Saludo, Today columnist Maribel Ongpin, prizewinning biographer-editor Erlinda Panlilio, Ateneo English Department chair Isabel Martin Pefianco, theater man Ricky Abad, and Ateneo Communications Department lecturer Ruey de Vera.

A cake was brought in, its candles lit and blown, and as it was sliced up, a merry time continued to be had by all. Happy Birthday, dear Doreen.

The following Saturday in turn marked the 40th day after the demise of Goodfriend Mike Bigornia, premier poet in Filipino and Chairman Emeritus of UMPIL or the Writers Union of the Philippines.

The newly elected UMPIL board members and several young writers beholden to Brother Mike assembled at the Blind Tiger Sports Grille on Visayas Ave., the same haunt that had been so favored by Mike and his closest buddies. The popular writers’ and horserace aficionados’ hangout is run by poet Fidel Rillo and his wife Mo, together with Jan Mata and other associates.

Perhap it wasn’ t really a joke that the special videoke parlor that served as an inner sanctum would be renamed Bulwagang Bigornia. When the widow Tek arrived with her children, we all trooped from the lengthening main table to the former den of, no, not iniquity, but raucous camaraderie born of would-be singer’s frustrations. That meant everyone, of course, except for Mike himself who could give Harry Connick a run for his Ol’ Blue Eyes covers, or Marne Kilates, Pete Lacaba and Butch Dalisay, who had all shown that they could carry a tune even when cross-eyed from all that guzzling.

The trio was present that evening for the program of poems and songs offered to the memory of Brother Mike. Susan Fernandez sang exquisitely, accompanying herself in her guitar. The instrument soon landed in the hands of tenor Mike "Caruso" Coroza, whose spontaneous number with performance poet Vim Nadera – Anak Dalita sung solo by Mike, then done as an instrumental refrain as background for Vim’s haunting oration – was fiercely applauded.

All the poets on hand rendered their own offerings, either reading their poems or Mike Bigornia’s – Mario Miclat, Becky Añonuevo, Ariel Dim. Borlongan, Bobby Añonuevo, Karina Bolasco, Jan Arcilla, Rhandee Garlitos, Marne and this writer, among others. Then the barfly baritone Butch Dalisay sang a number atop a barstool, looking wolverinish in a Michigan tee. A superb duet by Pete and Susan had the crowd swooning.

No-shows were Teo Antonio who was with family in Boracay, Rio Almario who was in sickbed and hoping to recover in time to join a Euro lecture tour, and Celina Cristobal who might have customarily come late.

Tek Bigornia thanked the literary family, the clan, the good vibes all around. When the videoke screen was turned on, and Pete, Butch and Marne took over the mic, it was our turn to say an early goodnight, gladhanding Vet Vitug, Jess Santiago, Arnold Azurin and Googoo de Jesus on the way out. Mabuhay si Mike!

During that precious family ritual, Mario Miclat, seated beside his soulmate Alma, read a poem from the recently released Beauty for Ashes: Remembering Maninging (Anvil Publishing, Inc.). This book of remembrance deserves commendation. Compiled and edited by Mario Ignacio Miclat and Romulo P. Baquiran Jr., it gathers the special works of 34 poets and writers who chose to join Mario and Alma in memorializing their late lamented daughter, the multi-lingual poet and artist Maningning Miclat who had passed away at such a tender age last year.

One Bright Shining Life by Ruel de Vera leads off the collection, while Elegy for Maningning Miclat by Marjorie Evasco, another recollection in prose, precedes her poem "Benediction."("I am trying to sing you this lullabye to bless your death,/ Broken at the hip, bruised on the left temple, your closed/ eyes.")

Other poems in English include works by Aida F. Santos, Ajit Singh Rye, Delfin Tolentino Jr., J. Neil C. Garcia, Danton Remoto, Babeth Lolarga, Nerissa del Carmen Guevara, Jose Wendell P. Capili, Carlomar Arcangel Daoana, Dan McConville and Shirley Lua.

The greater majority of the tributes are in Filipino, led off by Mario Miclat, followed by Teo S. Antonio, Kris Lacaba, Vim Nadera, Marra PL. Lanot, Benilda S. Santos, Delia C. Cruz, Luna Sicat, Vivian N. Limpin, Romulo Baquiran, Mesandel Virtusio Arguelles, Michael M. Coroza, Roli Talampas, Gerardo Banzon, Raymund Magno Garlitos, John Iremil E. Teodoro, Genaro R. Gojo Cruz, Teddy G. Espela, Rebecca T. Añonuevo, Domingo G. Landicho and Rogelio G. Mangahas.

Here’s an excerpt from Coroza’s Maningning: "Alam naming hindi ikaw ang lumagpak/ Nang sabihin nilang ikaw ay lumundag.// Magandang katawang sa iyo’y nagkulang/ Ang dinampot nila at ikinabaong.// Nilipad mo lamang ang iyong mithiin:/ Magbalik sa piling ng mga bituin."

The anthology closes with three wonderfully intimate letters and a prose piece in Filipino by the honoree herself, titled "Pampinid na Salita."

It’s an excellent volume of remembrance, and an exemplary homage to Maningning’s luminescent memory. In acquiring a copy, readers not only serve themselves a gratifying buffet of deeply felt poems and prose pieces in Filipino and English, but also contribute to the continuity of the foundation established in honor of Maninging Miclat, inspirational poet and artist.