Rational Insanity
Gratitude in place
I am sitting alone in a cafe as I write this column. I just got back from Hotel Nikko in Makati after the awarding ceremonies of the 56th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards where I received my first Palanca for my Hiligaynon Short Story, "Sagal-i". This is my first time to join, and well, let me tell you, it IS, as we writers would put it, a rite of passage into the literary circle of the country. I would tell you what my story is all about, but I think that is not the most important thing to do at the moment. I thought for quite some time about I writing about my own Palanca and decided that it would be false humility if I kept mum about it even when it has already happened so I decided that I would write about it but not in the context of praise, but in the context of gratitude. (There was no gratitude speech, so bear with me.)
First, a revelation: The story is NOT my handiwork, I am simply an instrument of a Writer far greater than the most awarded Palanca awardee, a Writer who wrote and is part of 'the Greatest Story ever told.' In my heart and hopefully in the hearts of all other Palanca winners, past and present, is a plaque that reads "Itong Gawad ng Pagkilala ay Inilalaan sa Maykapal na siyang simula ng kataga ng buhay at ng kasaysayan ng pagkatao nating lahat." Thank you,Jeck!
Now, that gratitude is in place, I offer my first Palanca to the people who are truly a part of my first winning story. To my Lolo, who passed away with the hope of one day seeing me where I am now, I know he sees me and is perhaps my greatest fan. Thank you Lola Alice for believing in me and for keeping the spirit of literature alive in my soul. Thank you Lola Pies for convincing me to try and join this contest for the past three years. To Mom, Dad, Kenny, Ariane, Tita Alma, and Tita Li, for being more enthusiastic than I usually am in all my achievements. To the people at work - Tita Becky, Sheila, and the twins, to Nang Suzanne and Mayor Tony and the City Council of Roxas City.
Thank you so much, Dr. Leo Deriada, for the consistent and fatherly mentoring -- you can be confident that I will not be like those who have lost it in their hearts to see your most sincere intentions. To Mam French, Dear Monakiki, John Iremil Teodoro, and the people of the USA-UCRP and Fray Luis de Leon Writing desk, and also to Nang Sydna of the Sentro ng Wikang Pambansa. Thanks to Erly of TNT and to my TNT family!
Thank you ever so much to my dear friend Marcel Milliam who has been my most patient and tolerant critic and loving advisor.
Thank you to all those I have forgotten to mention. Rest assured that it's only the mentioning that is forgotten.
Jeck, thank you once more for keeping my heart in place, and my feet firmly planted on the ground.
I offer my first Palanca to all those who have tried but have not yet won the said award -- this is not mine, aton ini tanan. May this inspire all of us to become writers who write not for any other reason, but to bring out what is best in us, what is best in our culture, and what is best in our fellow Filipinos.
What now that I have this award? What next? Frankly, I don't know, but I hope and pray that the Great Writer of the Heavens would use me again, and enable me, in my best efforts, to pay the blessing forward. Thank you, thank you, thank you... words are definitely not enough...
Be rational; be insane...every once in a while!
Hello to my dearest readers, to Vanessa, to Lea, Jenny, Am-am, Dot, Verona, James, Sheen, Hellpen, Anne, Mary Dale, Chan,Michelle, Zarthus, Jonald, Mr. Bobot, Vic, Vincent, and Rex, Alex, Arvin, Corz, Jim, Kiara, Malikh, Audrae, Franz, Hendrick, Janice, Jay, Jim, Jonathan, Mark, Marz, Mel, Pres, Nhonoy,Niel, Piper, Rheavil, Joey, Alma, Rodolfo, Ecker, Ryan, Roni, Ian, Narle, Sunny and to Anuj of CMC, I love you all! Byers! Salamat gid sa mga walang-hintong text and reactions nyo! Catch Rational Insanity in TNT's online edition, check us out at www.thenewstoday.info, text me at (0920)9254269, or email me at prague@eudoramail.com. Byers! Mmmmmmmwah!