To the young writers of three cities

By the time the “ber” months come rolling around, countdown begins for the annual Cesar Tiangco Memorial Literary awards for the young, student writers of the cities of Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Taguig. Before yearend a packet arrives at the homes of the designated judges for the schoolyear, bearing the shortlisted manuscripts for poetry, essay, short story, in English and Filipino categories, high school and college divisions.

Earlier this year one of the prime movers of the Tiangco awards, named after the former principal of the Muntinlupa High School, sent a handsome softbound anthology of the winners from the first four years, 2007-2010. Romeo Navarro, editor of the anthology published under the auspices of the Muntinlupa High School Class 1960 which includes Monetary Board member Ignacio Bunye, who by the way wrote the foreword, begins the book with a poem as preamble, “Cue,” dedicated to “the fledgling writers and poets” of the awards. Navarro of Class 1957 of the same public high school in Muntinlupa, has taken the awards quite like a personal mission: “Storyteller/ lead us across your world of make believe… O Poet, make your unfettered words last forever!’

The manuscripts, for which I had served as reader judge for two or three years, are a motley, rough assortment of youthful concerns, including but not necessarily limited to young love, dysfunctional families with OFW parents, religious trials of the faithful, folklore and inspirational passages exhorting a steadfastness of vision surprising for writers and poets so young.

Indeed the entrants are easily in their teens, from schools such as San Beda Alabang, Paref Woodrose, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, Muntinlupa Science High School, St Francis Assisi College. In the initial years, two writers were dominant, as pointed out by Navarro in his introduction: Avril Merida of Beda and Herosy Aplaha of PLMun, winning multiple awards in different categories. Aplaha took first in SY 2006-07 in college essay and poetry and second in fiction; Merida won first in the same schoolyear in fiction, second in poetry. Aplaha came back strong the following schoolyear taking second in fiction and poetry.

But after Merida and Aplaha graduated from college, Navarro said a new batch of young writers took their place, notably Paolo Jerome Cristobal who took second in poetry for successive schoolyears, 2008-09 and 2009-10, Patricia Angelina Perez also of Beda who won third for fiction and poetry in SY 2009-10, Kathlene Mhyrr Eubra of Muntinlupa Science High who won first in tula and third in maikling kuwento in SY 2009-10, John Vincent Cilot of Pedro Diaz High School who took first in tula and honorable mention in maikling kuwento in successive schoolyears 2008-09 and 2009-10, and Jacob Joven Clavano of Beda who won first in essay in SY 2009-10 and also has the makings of a poet.

Clearly there was no dearth of talent or wildness in the fledgling awards, and what often separated the contestants to determine winners was not so much mastery of language, though that already should be a given, but a cleverly placed punctuation mark or an unusual, original subject.

Of course the judges have to wade through and steer clear of the usual pitfalls and verbiage of beginning writers, some of whom may never have thought of trying creative work had they not come across notices about the Tiangco competition. 

A good number of them seem to be in a hurry, a sign of the impetuousness of youth, as if the chance at gaining recognition can’t wait. Some manuscripts read like barely out of the first draft, though there is an inborn gift and wisdom in retaining the rawness of a composition, lest it recede to decomposition.

Young writers of today have all the tools of technology, which should work to their advantage. Patience itself can be learned through the years, after countless stumbles and false starts there comes a grace and wherewithal at picking oneself up again and staying the course.

Cable TV, iPods and iPhones, Blackberries and Cherries, they can all keep our attention for a while, but nothing beats having an actual book to read before you, of being able to turn the pages (not virtual) and breathe in the scent of book paper, one of the forgotten joys in the fast-paced, impatient world.

Let’s paraphrase the National Artist F. Sionil Jose quoting his fellow NA the late Edith Tiempo: “We can’t do anything about the past, but we sure as hell can do something about the future.”

Well, the future is in the hands of young writers, and not just in three cities, but Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Taguig are a good start.

A parting anecdote: months before Kerima Polotan died, she of Focus magazine that also encouraged young writers, Navarro had asked about her address, he wanted to pay her a visit. I rummaged through an old writers directory that listed her residence in Sun Valley Paranaque.

A day before Polotan’s death in August, Navarro finally found the place and texted: Good AM to you both. Personally went to the Ms Kerima addr at Sun Valley. Nice, quiet place. Didn’t meet her. Was told she is in wheelchair & is in hosp for checkup. Read her stories in HS and caught up with her in Focus. Nice, quiet place. Ty.

Writers of the Tiangco literary awards should strive to find that “nice, quiet place,” metaphorical or otherwise, in the center of their writing.