Is it the end of the road for Biyaheng Panulat?

“We have come full circle.”

That was how Merdeka C. Morales, head of Polytechnic University of the Philippines' Center for Creative Writing (PUP-CCW), conveyed Biyaheng Panulat GARAHE to the overflowing crowd at the Bulwagang Balagtas in PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila last July 24.

After launching Biyaheng Panulat on the same date last year, the “caravan para sa panulat na naghahanap sa bayan” had travelled to Philippine Normal University, National Teachers College, and University of the Philippines (UP) Manila. The troupe exited Metro Manila and drove to UP Baguio, Tarlac State University, UP Los Baños, Holy Angel University in Pampanga, and De La Salle University – Dasmariñas in Cavite; to as far as Palawan State University and Mindanao State University - Marawi City in Mindanao.

Biyaheng Panulat was the brainchild of PUP-CCW senior adviser Jun Cruz Reyes, along with Eros Atalia and Manix Abrera. It was designed as an "education campaign" that would take the authors to different campuses for talks, in the hope that students would be inspired to write as well.

The initial panelists also included Ricky Lee and Lualhati Bautista. Along the way, they were joined by Bonifacio Ilagan, Bonifacio Ilagan, Norman Wilwayco, German Gervacio, Jerry Gracio, and Mayette Bayuga. Enigmatic author Bob Ong also made a special appearance through a series of videos.

National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera gave a message on their first road trip. Meanwhile, Dong Abay read his two poems, “Oligarkiya” and “Porky.”

Jumping into the mainstream

Poet and broadcast personality Lourd de Veyra reprised his part as the host of event. Last year, he introduced the well-respected and prize-winning authors collectively as the “Avengers ng Panitikan ng Pilipinas.”

After a run down of all the campuses that Biyaheng Panulat had visited, the squad answered audience’s queries with candor.



A blogger asked them if it is better to stay indie or jump into the mainstream media, given the notion that depth dies when one walks into the latter’s path.

Ricky Lee dismissed the options as mere labels. “In the 80s,” he said, “I wrote the scripts for Himala, Karnal, and Oro, Plata, Mata, but as you can see they were made under mainstream studios. Hindi dahil mainstream nambubulag agad ng kamalayan. Hindi dahil iskuwater ang eksena, indie. Wala ‘yun ganoong konsepto sa atin.”

Meanwhile, Atalia underscored that he is not a product of any workshop or any school of thought. “Ang payo ko ay wag intindihin ang anumang pigeonhole o kung aangkop ba sa kritiko o label ang isinusulat. I-impose ang sariling kapangyarihan. Unahin ang gusto sabihin bago problemahin kung paano sasabihin,” he said.

“Kaya nagsusulat, may gusto sabihin,” said Reyes. “Ang problema ng panahon, ang boses ng panahon, walang makakapigil sa mga iyan dahil urgent. Sa umpisa lang ang canon kaya wag intindihin. Ang mahalaga ay kung nasabi ba ang gustong sabihin at nasiyahan ka. Bonus na lang kung nasiyahan ang iba.”

Abrera berated those who mock artists for going mainstream. “Nakakatawa kung pagmamasdan na negative ang tingin kapag mainstream. Kapag nakilala ka na at bigla kang sumikat, naba-badtrip ang mga tao. Hindi ba dapat matuwa ka pa?” he said.

The son of cartoonist Jess Abrera, who made his own mark in the same field, Manix was asked if he has his own share of bashers.

“Yes, pero never ako nang-away,” he quipped. “Sorry na lang kung ayaw nila sa iyo. Basta ginagawa mo pa rin naman ang mga dati mong ginagawa. Kailangan ding salain ang mga kaaway kesa tahimik. Pakinggan din sana ang hindi naiintindihan.”

Bayuga, who writes online, said, “Minsan may pagtingin ako kung nagsusulat lang ba ako para sa pera. Pangit ba, ibinebenta ba ang panulat at damdamin kung nagsusulat ng erotika?”

“Naisip ko, kailangan kong kumita, kumain, mabuhay sa araw-araw. Hindi pa buo sa kamalayan ko kung anong maiuugnay kong pinakamalapit sa isyu na magsulat ng erotika. Ang mahalaga may ibinibigay ang pagsusulat na galing sa kaluluwa, kahit isang tuldok lang,” she added.

Fulfillment

When asked how he finds fulfillment in his writing, Lee said, “Sa pagsusulat, ibinubuhos ko nang todo. Masaya ako kapag may naibigay agad na hindi inaasahan bago makarating sa mambabasa. Minsan naka-four drafts na ako, wala pa rin akong ibinibigay. Walang slice ng flesh na nakuha mula sa akin. Sa pagsusulat pa lang, alam ko agad na may na-fulfill ako mula Himala hanggang Hustisya hanggang sa mga libro na isinulat ko.”  

“Kahit gaano kaganda may pupulà at pupulà sa disenyo, et cetera. Hindi ako mag-aambisyon na gagawa ng magugustuhan ng iba. Mahalaga ang respeto,” he said.

“Kadalasan kapag pinipintasan ang isinusulat mo, matatakot ka,” Reyes said. “Huwag magsulat para lang sa pera. Hindi porke me pera ka masaya ka. Huwag kang magsulat para sa awards. Ang mahalaga napalaya mo ang dibdib mo.”

A budding writer asked their advice on how to battle procrastination.

“Minsan ayaw kong maupo at tapusin ang isinusulat ko. Gusto ko lang magplano, magbalak, magsulat. It takes discipline sa pagsusulat. Nasa mood man o wala, may deadline man o wala, uupo ako sa harap ng computer. May fulfillment na agad basta nakapagsulat,” Lee said.

‘Garahe’

Gracio was not able to attend the forum. In his text message read by Morales, he said:

“Sa panahong mapanlinlang ang lahat, binubulag tayo ng eskaspismo, komersyalismong dulot ng neoliberal na kaayusan. Kaya lahat ay mababaw, pati nosyon natin ng kalayaan at pag-ibig. Ngayon natin higit na kailangan ang panulat na may lalim, para i-expose ang kababawan ng mga bagay. Ngayon din natin higit na kailangan magmulat. Ito ang silbi ng Biyaheng Panulat, para maengganyo ang mga kabataan na magsulat, magbasa, mag-isip at umigpaw sa mga kababawan tungo sa tunay na paglaya ng bayan at sarili.

“Gagarahe tayo para mag-recharge. Tuloy ang pagsulat, pagbasa at pagkilos.”

With that, Morales made his announcement. “Gagarahe muna pansamantala ang Biyaheng Panulat this year,” he said, but added that they will resume next year.

The “Avengers” will focus on their own writing projects, such as Reyes' Jose Rizal biography, Abrera’s one-man exhibit “14 Silent Comics” which runs at the UP Vargas Museum until August 19, and Lee’s “Kabesang Tales: Isang Rap en Rol Musical.” — BM, GMA News