By Mortz C. Ortigoza
One of the three
famous writers and novelists mentioned below by Manong Max Soliven I sometimes
saw in some social functions, mostly related to journalism, in Pangasinan. At first blush, I did not appreciate the flair
and the power of the pen of Buddha’s doppelganger F. Sionel Jose of Rosales
town because the first time I read about him was in a rebuttal article in the
middle of 2000s by Graphic Magazine Columnist Tony Abaya, whose economics
insights like Liberalization influenced me, on his “opus” Why We Are Poor. Anyway, I will be posting later that column of
Mang Tony (CLICK IT TO READ HERE) who gave me an imprimatur in 2007 as my only syndicated columnist
when the colored fledgling weekly newspaper’s Northern Watch in the mammoth
Pangasinan province landed its maiden
issue in the newsstands. Why We Are Poor,
Abaya version was the first two Op-Eds, the other was from this wannabe writer,
editor, and publisher teh-he, the Watch
carried during that time.
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| Photo is internet grabbed. |
***
Greatest
contemporary Filipino writers and novelist, according to scintillating
columnist Maximo Soliven: “ A few days
ago, while we were at a dinner in the "Fairways & Bluewater"
Clubhouse in Boracay, I was asked by one of the Balikbayans who had come from Los Angeles with a group of fellow
golfers to enjoy that island paradise and its championship-class 6,600-yard
18-hole golf course, whom I considered the greatest contemporary Filipino
writers and novelists.
Startled by the query, I blurted out two names – that of the late Nick Joaquin
(alias Quijano de Manila) and Frankie Sionil Jose. Another fine writer who
could have written the "great Filipino novel" (like Frankie), came
third to my mind: Greg Brillantes. I hope the ones I didn’t mention will forgive
me, but these were the three whose names sprang to my lips, in answer to the
question.
I’m probably biased in favor of Frankie because the two of us go back a long
way – aside from being fellow Saluyots
– but F. Sionil and his novels have been the most persistent in telling, in
epic-style, the story of the Filipino, warts and all. Having fought his own way
up from poverty, it’s clear that Frankie is obsessed with the dilemma of
poverty. Even his latest opus which I received by messenger from him a few weeks
ago, is a collection of his typically pungent essays and speeches, entitled
(how else?) "WHY WE ARE POOR." Instead of a subtitle, he puts on the
cover a pre-title: Heroes in the
Attic, Termites in the Sala . . ."
I found the collection, on perusal, vintage Frankie. Full of compassion, of
humor and tenderness and of rage.
Frankie, who founded that wonderful bookshop La Solidaridad on Padre Faura street in dusty Manila, has seen
his novels translated into 28 languages, including our native
"Ilokano." Sionil Jose is a veteran journalist, who started out in
the ’40s – by gum, more than 64 years ago! We were buddies in the old Manila Times during that great
daily’s glory days on Florentino Torres street in the TVT building, up till he
quit the newspaper in 1960.
His essays on social issues and agrarian reform won him many awards. In 1980,
Frankie received the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Award for Literature and
Journalism. In 2001, he was named National Artist for Literature, and in 2004,
he received the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award. What an irony the latter award
was: for Frankie Sionil Jose, a lifetime anti-Communist! He won the prestigious
prize dedicated in honor of the great Chilean poet and leading Communist, the
late Nobel Prize laureate Pablo Neruda!
Frankie, now coasting alone to retirement (he’ll never quit, though) has begun
to look, with his shaved head like a benign Buddha. Don’t be fooled. Fires of
anger and wisdom continue to blaze within his soul, and erupt from his
fingertips onto his pen.
Yesterday, I received, posthaste, the following reaction from Frankie. I published
it without further comment”.
Maximo V. Soliven,
I hope you have perused my latest book, Why We Are Poor. That book is an
endorsement of your column today on nationalism.
I always have had great affection for you knowing you for years, your
opposition to a fellow Ilokano –Marcos – that took some doing! Also, I recall
only too well that rousing extemporaneous Lecture on Rizal in Baguio some years
back, and etc., etc.
Max – I am older than you but we have seen together our country sink deeper
into poverty and corruption. And now, you have pointed a finger at the real
cause of it all – the fact that we are not a nation although we are already a
state. And why not? Because the rich Filipinos – the mestizos, the Taipans, the
Indio oligarchs did not modernize this country. Being anti-Filipino, they send
their money to Europe, to the United States and Switzerland, and to China. And
for this reason, we are poor and our women go abroad to work as servants and
prostitutes.
Max, how do we build a nation? How do we redeem our people?
Lakayac unayen. Nabannogac nga agririawen (I’m already too old and too tired to
argue). Like Bertold Brecht said, "shouting about injustice hoarsens the
voice."
I hope your voice will never hoarsen.
Agbiag ka! – Frank
***
May bayag kayo (You
have balls) Frank, Max Soliven, and Tony Abaya by exposing the injustices
committed by our corrupt leaders in this sorry country. I will be posting later
in my blog F. Sionel Jose’s Why We Are Poor and Tony’s rebuttal why indeed
Filipinos are poor. To those who follow my blog you have already the iota of
ideas about that economic “craps” I blabber in my column and interviews with
those either hypocrite. transactional, or corrupt senators why until now they keep procrastinating in approving
the amendment of the Public Service Acts. To the unsophisticated, the proposed
law is 100 percent economic liberalization
in the Philippines to attract foreign
investors to come to our shore and compete with the oligopoly perpetrated by either
the Sys, Gokongweis, Pangilinans, Ayalas, Aboitizes, Angs, or others so that
we can solve the perennial poverty, like how to dislodge the over congestion of
our folks in Metro Manila, in this heathen country.
(Send comments to
totomortz@yahoo.com)
Malonso had been the announcer in the Voice of Freedom, a radio station
transmitting from Corregidor at the time. He identified himself over the radio
as "Juan de la Cruz." Broadcast(ed) three times daily, Juan de la
Cruz’ programs were closely monitored by the Underground. It usually opened
with the US and Philippine anthems, followed by encouraging news about the
war’s progress, including the Japanese losses incurred elsewhere in the
Pacific, followed by a short commentary on the need to resist the invaders, and
closing usually with an offer of 50 bottles of beer to anyone who would capture
the Japanese Commander-in-Chief, dead or alive. The last part was particularly
insulting to the Japanese who must have found the idea totally galling and
impertinent. 
