Priests, poetry readings & a poetry CD

There are good priests, and there are bad priests. Just as there are good and bad poets. When it comes to men of the cloth, we start looking askance when they tend to go overboard as media hounds. And we say reprovingly, tsk-tsk, it’s the singer not the song.

Some weeks back I had been prescient enough to have expressed to a publisher my longtime ambition to put together a book to be titled "Men of the Cloth in Philippine History." A controversial chapter would have to be included, perhaps under the extended title "The Middling, er, Meddling Priest: High-Profile and Busybody Men of God in Philippine Society."

Now this could start with an account of the supposed conversion of King Humabon’s wife in Cebu, how in a fit of delirious inspiration, Magellan and a crucifix-wielding fellow voyager had christened her Juana, after Juana Loca or the Mad Queen of Spain.

Down the decades and centuries colonial, it might investigate the acquisition of friar lands and vast powers – political, economic and social – including that of illicit consorting with the natives. Of course we should include, to reflect local sentiment as humorous take, that hoary joke about "pa-kape-kape, pa-rosa-Rosario," as uttered by a contented prelate slouched on a butaca.

Hell, if no sexual abuse had been practiced by Spanish priests for over three centuries, would the word "anak-pari" have been included in our vocabulary? And would not our mestizoisie have been reduced to an insignificant minority?

Of course that chapter would feature Padre Damaso, per excerpts from our National Hero’s novel. We certainly have access to a slew of illustrations and cartoons starring that classic contravida. Perhaps we’ll even have a video grab of that scene in Marilou Diaz Abaya’s epic Rizal movie, short of the pumping action performed on a four-poster.

Getting into contemporary times, the busybody, high-profile priests compose quite a roster, from Fr. Conrado Balweg, the so-called "Rebel Priest," who had a wife and a movie on his life to boot; to Fr. Robert Reyes the "Running Priest," who takes on all causes, such is his Renaissance know-how; Fr. Sonny Ramirez the once obstreperous socio-political adviser to a carousing president; Mons. Nico Bautista who was reported to have been thrown out of his previous Magallanes turf on a petition spearheaded by a former MTRCB chief, and whose current seat on the same Board he nearly lost recently when his fellow board members came up short of a resolution asking for his ouster… And now we have Bishops Yalung and Bacani.

But for every Damaso, there is a Padre Florentino. And we have countless men of the cloth who have specialized in a field of study and thus gained the K or karapatan to be other than bent ears in a confessional. In the tradition of the Augustinian and Recollect architects and builders who have bequeathed our archipelago with wondrous places of worship turned tourism destinations, distinguished men of arts and letters, and science, continue to strengthen our fabric as a civilized nation.

We had Fr. Horacio de la Costa, SJ, a genius of a writer, thinker and nationalist. We have had other sterling educators, cum shakers and movers, such as Fr. James Reuter, SJ and Bro. Andrew Gonzalez. At the risk of betraying my Loyolan loyalties, I must cite Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, as a brilliant legal mind-force, and Fr. Miguel Bernad, SJ, a literary doyen who continues to do his blessed thing down South. They have the K to be columnists for national broadsheets. Most of the rest who have gained prominence in print seem only fit to serve as freebie guides for pilgrimages to Medjugorje and the like.

Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, Ateneo president, excels in mathematics and corporate governance, let alone moral authority. UST rector Fr. Tamerlane Lana, OP, a bio-ethics specialist, has proven to be a fine administrator, one who exercised ethical governance by severing corporate relations with lawyers dubiously allied with the former dispensation. Also among our Dominican notables is former rector Fr. Roland de la Rosa, a historian who authored a National Book Award winner.

In a recent visit to Iloilo, I had the pleasure to meet notable writer-scholars of the Augustinian order. Surely there are more of such men of the cloth and letters all over, in our small towns and lesser cities, who are doing their part in strengthening our intellectual graces. Former San Beda College rector Fr. Bernardo Perez, OSB is yet another towering intellect and man of letters.

The point is that we have been blessed with the expertise of such specialists who contribute substantially, nay, excellently, to cerebral ferment, and it is just a pity that it is the middling ones who gain prominence in media simply by advancing themselves as know-it-alls and politically oriented busybodies.

The wonder of the current controversy, quickly dubbed "Bacanigate" by an e-group, is how so much stonewalling and support can easily be generated in favor of one man who may or may not have done what he’s accused of, but who has certainly gained the antipathy of some observers owing to his high-profile, profligately political ways. And the checkered company he keeps. By checkered of course I mean those lavishly outré coats worn by a weekend populist.

But then you don’t have to take the less than sacred word of this born-again heathen.

That was one successful grand reading of poetry held at the Marikina City Hall on June 5, in commemoration of the demise of the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in a river in protest against corruption in government.

Billed as "Marikit na Taludtod sa Lungsod ng Sapatos," the brainchild of UMPIL or Writers Union of the Philippines board directors Mario Miclat and Wilson Lee Flores gained support from Mayor Maridel Fernando, San Miguel Corporation, and the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Marikina City.

Over 200 people formed the audience that stayed on for over two hours to listen to the readings and, we suspect, to watch the celebrity performers. The good mayor came a little late but stayed on, while food and soft drinks were provided by the Chamber to complement the beer generously provided by SMC through its media relations manager Jane Francisco.

UMPIL secretary general and the new director of Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing Vim Carmelo Nadera co-emceed the proceedings with the gorgeous workhorse Beverly Sia. The reading was conducted in four waves, given the number of participants.

The first wave, emceed by Dr. Miclat who explained the history behind the poetic commemoration, featured Chinoy readers Shirley Lua and Charlson Ong and non-Pinoy readers Lise Weidner of ADB and Paul Koh of the Singaporean Embassy.

The second wave was emceed by Ateneo Prof. Mike Coroza, featuring nationally renowned poets such as Gawad Balagtas awardee Teo Antonio, UMPIL vice chair Bobby Añonuevo, Ateneo Filipino department chair and AILAP director Benilda Santos, Blind Tiger Sports Grill and Bar proprietor Fidel Rillo, UMPIL board members Becky Añonuevo and Marne Kilates, Jovy Zarate, and this writer.

The celebrities came next, with popular broadcaster Rey Langit regaling everyone with a heartfelt, quietly dramatic rendition of a poem he himself penned, titled "Pikit," which referred to both the state of eyes wide shut and the plight of the town in North Cotabato. This he read from what looked like a Nokia 9210i, with radio-soap music playing in the background.

Broadcaster David Nye, theater stalwarts Bart Guingona and Pinky Amador, and movie stars Ronnie Lazaro, Ricky Davao and Albert Martinez thrilled the crowd. We were particularly appreciative of Mr. Davao’s attendance, as we just happened to bump into him a few days earlier at this year’s Palanca judges’ luncheon, and had issued a baka-sakali invite. Emcee for this third wave, and also bringing up the rear as a reader, was Marikina resident, UP student and Miss Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism Liza Diño.

The fourth and last wave featured student readers and performance poets from De La Salle, UST, Ateneo and UP. Musical numbers were provided in between the segments, with Peach Abubakar, Banaue Miclat and Kantula performing.

And a good evening of poetry rendered public was had by all.

Today is another significant day for Philippine poetry, as a group of young poets lay claim to a historic occasion with the launch of "Uniberso: New Pinoy Poets Calling," a compilation CD album of poetry and spoken word pieces, at 8 p.m. at Millennium Café on Kamuning St., Quezon City.

Per the release given us by writer-producer Mayo Uno Martin, "‘Uniberso’ brings together today’s most exciting and innovative poets writing in Filipino and English. These include Lourd de Veyra, Khavn dela Cruz, Lilledeshan Bose, Allan Popa, Marc Escalona Gaba, Mesandel Virtusio Arguelles, Jerry Gracio, Conchitina Cruz, L. Lacambra Ypil, Jose Beduya, Ed Geronia, Mayo Uno Martin, Ronaldo Santos, Bomen Guillermo, Easy Fagela, Neva Kares Talladen, Roberto Ofanda Umil, Kerima Lorena Tariman, Ericson Acosta, Mabi David-Balangue and Richard Gappi.

"Eschewing traditional notions of poetry, ‘Uniberso’ offers 21 lyrical tracks ranging from the sublime to the downright absurd, all set to a wide variety of music, from classical and hip-hop to industrial and reggae. Music is not relegated to the background but is part of the whole listening experience as it alternates between clashing with and complementing the spoken word pieces."

Executive producers are Avant-Pop Music, littlebrownindie, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). For inquiries, contact 0918-9354489 or labordei@hotmail.com or littlebrownindie@hotmail.com, One may also log on to www.sanghaya.com.

Guest performers at the launch tonight are the bands Radioactive Sago Project, Ciudad, Twisted Halo, Matilda and The Purplechickens. The "Uniberso" poets will also render performances leading to an open-mic reading. Tonight should be another fun night for poetry.