Sadyah

Found myself, with my backpack, in Gateway on Saturday eve - August 18. Had seafood pizza with Atty.Astrid.

Checked out Cinemanila. Found there’s a certain movie on Antique and its healing tradition by Christopher Gozum. Was it entitled "
The Calling"? Won Best Short Film. Texted Glenn. Said the guy also used to teach in Makiling and a Palanca Awardee in play.

"Perfume Factory" is from Thailand. A look into its prostitution industry. Nothing shocking in terms of plot and dialogue. Not even visually appealing. Ok lang. Our indie films are more sophisticated.

Mas magaling talaga tayo. Kaya kainis na mas malinis ang Bangkok kaysa Manila at mas mataas ang baht kaysa peso at whhhhhat about that latest survey saying Thais are learning English from the best of Filipino teachers!!

Almost one year na pala when I first went to Bangkok.

I dreamed of Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. Inside the theater, this scene came: me wandering the streets of Jakarta then all of a sudden, thought of its greatest 20th-century writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer. I asked for his grave. Visited it and there were flowers abloom that I cried. Found myself in my hotel room, in coffee shops, in the airport lobby, writing madly as if a Divine Madness descended unto me and got to finish my novel and surreal as a fantasy can be, was in a soulful conversation with Toer, was dragged by policemen, floated on air like the protagonist in "Kamikaze Girls" texting H. that I can’t see him that weekend because I’m traveling Southeast Asia with UN volunteers and human rights lawyers. Grrr.

Kasi naman seems like we are in "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get" drama.

I drunked my Starbucks coffee from my tumbler at The Coffee Bean. Let the night passed me by on this other side of the city. Scanned a May 07 issue of Newsweek and read something on the economics and politics of happiness. But it was an article on Bjork that caught me. Teka, why so familiar? A, Lawrence’s poem last IYAS. Ok. Icelander pala siya. Hmm, the latest brilliant novel I read was by an Icelander too. Magagaling ata sila. Sige nga, I’ll do more research. Seemed like the start of an affair with Icelander artists.

Sunday afternoon from Bataan, I decided to drop by for another indie film treat. "We Shall Overcome" is not really an interesting title but it’s from Denmark and there’s Jan. So I went in and it proved to be brilliant and moving. Simple story set in rural Denmark in 1969. A family’s battle against the cruel headmaster of the school when the son’s ear was almost cut off. What he did (a victim of school’s bullies) was not the issue; it was the unjust disciplinary action that should be stopped, once and for all.

Ewan, naiyak ako. Palagi naman. Very class-oriented pa rin imagination at sensibility ko. Saka na-miss ko si Yan. Sana dito na siya…

Want to see Raya Martin’s film but already tired and sleepy and Vito Cruz always seem far away from Cubao. Consoled myself that there will be another venue where I can watch it.

Bought 2 bottles of wine. One will be for H. My ‘peace offering.’ Took the MRT-LRT route. Finished the white wine left in my ref and thanked God for the comfort of my bed in my "Tomorrow is another day" mood.

Wednesday morning and strong wind woke me up. No way that I’ll take my chance of having my laundry blown away straight from the rack at the terrace. I transferred it inside and they found their spots among the doorknobs.

The rain had stopped, the strong wind gone by the time I received a text message of another class suspension. I walked to HP for grocery.

After lunch of brown rice and pork sinigang, I finished Anne Carson’s poetry collection, The Beauty of the Husband. Glad I found it; been looking for this for a long time. A book on Ludwig Wittgenstein entitled The Duty of Genius awaits on the couch. It will have its time this weekend, rain or shine.

Then I settled for a DVD marathon. Submitted my KWF entries yesterday and dropped by Quiapo. Found a copy of "Les Miserables" and "Gone With the Wind" and other titles that caught my fancy.

Played "Les Miserables" while washing dishes and preparing green salad. Remembered a friend in one of the songs. The first time he sung it, I was put to shame for being clueless it’s from this great musical, from this great literary piece. Till now, can’t even name the title. Hehehehe.

First watched "Gone With the Wind" in college, in one of my literature classes. Read the novel twice, the latest guess 2 years ago. Watched it again and was surprised that it’s Rhett Butler, all along, who said that famous line: "Frankly dear, I don’t give a damn." Thought, and used to quote it, to be of Scarlett! Kaya pala. Buti na lang.

I slept from 4 and woke up around 8. Called home and ate my salad. Received another message on class suspension. Did not like the thought of a make-up class next week.No more rain actually that I decided to return my laundry at the terrace. Then checked my email via my phone for students’ consultation.

In the meantime, more DVDs need to be watched: "Copying Beethoven" and "Immortal Beloved." The later also on Beethoven, dubbed as an untold story on his love life.

First time ko sa PETA sa E.Rodriguez last Saturday. I was with Kate. Late kami, mga 10 mins., buti na lang di pa-nagstart. First time ko ring manood ng children’s play ni Christine Belen.

Maganda, magaling, nakaka-inspire. Naiyak pa nga ako e. Sa tuwa. Wish ko lang I was with my sisters.

Si Pepito ang pinaka-bida. Underdog sa Rizal Elem.School na na-commission ng titser na gumawa ng bantayog ni Rizal. Kaso, nasira. Malaking problema kasi donation ‘yun actually ni Mayor, 200 thou. Sa pamamagitan ng libro, nag-travel back in time si Pepito, sa panahon ni Pepe (ang batang si Rizal), sa Calamba. Pumunta rin si Pepe sa kasalukuyang panahon. Nagkaayos din, syempre. Basta ang point: (dapat) lahat ng batang Pinoy, bayani!

Maganda ang produksyon dahil maliban sa kuwento, na contemporary pati ang lingo kaya kwela, magaling ang cast: sa acting, singing, at dancing. Magaling din ang shadow play, ang production design, ang ilaw, at higit sa lahat, ang music – kasama ang pag-rap. Paglabas, marami silang binebenta. Cute items. Kaso wala pang CD. Magandang material sa klase. Ito-tour daw ito.

Paglabas, nagkita uli kami ni Doc Luis Gatmaitan. Balita niya this time, may ginagawang animation sa isa niyang kuwentong pambata ang St.Benilde. Ang galing naman! Nakaka-inspire – the need to collaborate, synergize this time. Nagkita rin kami ni Alvin Yapan. I congratulated him sa pagkapanalo ng kanyang “Rolyo” bilang Best Short Film sa Cinemalaya, at sa pagiging finalist ng kanyang Ang Sandali ng mga Mata sa National Book Award.

This afternoon turned more special coz got to meet new friends. Si Lei na friend ni Kate at ang friend niyang si Kristie. Mga taga-Miriam. Cool sila. Si Lei, na-aaral ng painting sa UP. Bale 2nd course na niya. Boss naman sa call center si Kristie pero nag-a-apprentice sa lights sa SINAG. Kasali siya ata sa production na ‘to kaya libre tiket namin.Basta, sumama lang ako kay Kate. Hehe. Okey ang vibes; masaya ang kuwentuhan nang nasa Pancake na kami. Nag-invite sila sa upcoming play ni Chris Martines, sequel raw ng “Last order sa Penguin,” sa Miriam.

Pag-uwi, I watched “hors de prix” ni Pierre Salvador starring Audrey Tautou at Gad Elmaleh. French, walang subtitle. Tinuloy ko pa rin. Basta alam kong romantic comedy. Then di pa ‘ko inantok, sinalang ko ang “Fracture” starring Anthony Hopkins. Brilliant. Suspense.

Then promised to myself to wake up early to work on my essay. Natupad naman. 5 gising na ako. I cooked my version of beef shabu-shabu and had my first taste of Starbuck’s Kape Vinta from my presser, did some cleaning, and went to Starbucks para magsulat nang magsulat hanggang 2, kasi by 3, I’ll be at CCP for “Pilipinas Circa 1907.”

Naingayan ako. Nagbasa lang ako ng Inquirer at Philstar at kumuha ng ilang sachet ng brown sugar (naisip ko na di ko na pala kelangan bumili ng honey; aside from my supply of tissue paper na ginagawa ko ring scratch papers at listahan ng grocery, kuha na lang din ako ng sugar. Para lalong sulit J).

I decided na lang to work sa terrace. Mahangin so di na kelangan ng aircon. Di maingay kahit di rin naman tahimik. Anytime I can eat pa.

By 230, nasa CCP na ako. Happy ending ‘tong sarswela. Sana ito ang pinanood ko sa klase. Kasi naman late na. Okey lang. Lalong gumagaling si Arnold Reyes. Noong una ko siyang mapansin, sa Fili, di ko siya gusto. Di ganuon kalakas ang dating ng boses niya, maging stage presence. Ngayon, cute na siya J

Pauwi, inspired na naman akong sumulat. Deadma na talaga si H. Lalo pa ngayong puro pro-Filipino ang mga napapanood ko’t binabasa.

Ang
Pag-ugwad Bilang Pagpangita sang Kamote sa Cheesecake

Ginmingaw ang aga sang humot sang kape

 Kag naghumlad ang adlaw sa tinanuk nga kamote.

 Ginpapati mo ang kaugalingon nga ini subong mga hilamon

 Nga nagalinya sa kalsada pa-eskwelahan man ukon pa-banwa

 Indi nila sa imo matago ang dugos sang buyog, ang pugad
sang maya.

 Daw talamnan nga ginligis mo sa katandus ang inadlaw.

Wala
sang kamingaw sa kape ang imo aga subong.

Kag
nagahumlad ang adlaw sa nanari-sari nga cheesecake.

Ginapapati
mo ang kaugalingon nga ini subong high-way

 Nga magadala sa imo sa lugar sang nagakalain-lain nga
dila

 Apang ano nga apa sila tuhoy sa ginakahidlawan mo nga
kamote?

Ang Kamingaw sang Dila

Nangin wayang ang supermarket sang ginsugata ako sang isa ka putos sang
samlague. Sweet
& Spicy Thai, 69.75. Liwat ko nakilala ang kaaslum kag katam-is.

Kinahanglan ko sang eroplano pauli sa wayang. Ehersisyo ang pakadto-pakari sa supermarket. Paano bala
matakus ang distansya sang kaaslum kag katam-is?

Anom ka pulgada ang aton
kalayuon sadtong hapon nga sa sanga kita nagpatuyong-tuyong. Apang sa lupa mo
luyag tilawan ang katam-is, mga kalong nga magataktak nga dili ko mahulat.

Ang imo pagpanaog may
kapintas sang paupas-damang nga imo ginhimo sa unahan. Baklon ko ining isa ka
putos nga samlague, pangayaw subong sining wayang nga sa akon dila nagamingaw.

Ini ang adlaw nga tuman na kalayo
sadtong hapon. Isa na ka butig ang wayang, kita sa atong wayang, sa atong puno
sang samlague, nga luyag ko ining dila magdulugo sa katam-is kag kaaslum.

-Genevieve L. Asenjo

Sa Kahawaan sang Panay

Una nga lupad pauli kanimo

Kag ang mga tun-og nagaidlak

Sa mga pakpak sang eroplano

Subong sang akon mga mata

Nga nagahapulas sa panganod

Sang imo ka-gwapa

Kag sang mga bukid sa dalom

Nga nabuldos sa ngalan sang mina

Kag sang mga kahoy nga natapas

Sa ginatawag nga pagpalapad-kalsada.

Una nga lupad pauli kanimo

Kag dyang dughan, daw mga pakpak

Sining eroplano, nagakuba-kuba -

Indi makapati sa ila madasig nga pagkadula

Bangod ining gugma wala
mapanas sa tinuig,

Wala mapalus-aw sang
distansya. 

Kon kasubo man ining
pagdumdom

Kaangay sang mga gab-i nga
ang imo mga bibig

Dapya sang balud nga akon
ginahalukan

Sa pag-arado sa kadagatan
sang kalibutan,

Luyag ko sang kaugot -
nagaungot – daw talaba

Sang Villa nga akon ukabon,
isawsaw sa sinamak kag itig-ab 

Samtang ang mga isda sa dagat sang Guimaras

Ginaprito sa krudo, ang
hunasan naga-inggat sa itom nga lao;

Ang kaputi, kapino sang baras sa Boracay, diyamante

Nga padayon nagapauripon sa mga tumanduk kag Ati. 

Luyag ko sang dugang nga kusog:

Binalaybay sang mga babaylan, epiko sang mga binukot

Gahum sang mga aswang, anting-anting sang mga gerilya

Nga magadukot sa akon dapa-dapa hasta tutonlan -

Kalayo sang Kanlaon

Nga magapatangis sa akon

Sa liwat nga pagsaksi sang imo mga yuhom -

Bulawan - daw mga mais nga alanihon

Samtang ang luyloy-lupad sang imo buhok  

Handumanan sang tubi-busay nga akon ginadakup.

Tabang, palangga! Sagupa ako

Sa hungod nga paglimot kag pagbiya

Bag-o pa ining eroplano makahugpa

Kag igakalipay ko ang dili pagdugay sa imo luyo.

-Genevieve L. Asenjo

Olaf was born in Iceland (I’m reminded by Haruki Murakami’s "The Ice Man"). This is my first encounter with him. A beautiful, engaging encounter. This is my idea of how a novel should be written: rich, vivid description with careful attention to details and lines that have silences in it.

Take this, for example - the ending:
    "He shouldered his satchel and canvas bag, and set off in the direction of the village. The horse stopped grazingand looked up. As it sauntered away from the tree, still munching, the sun’s rays spilled of its mane, over its back, and down its flanks. The leafy shadows vanished from its back, but Kristjan noticed that the shadow of the bird remained. He looked up at the sky but couldn’t see it anywhere.
  When the horse had disappeared into a hollow, the bird began to sing."