Writing and I…or how I persist as a non-conformist to literary norms and rules

Writing and I
…or how I persist as non-conformist
to literary norms and rules
by Apolinario Villalobos

This share will, I hope, help others to realize that they, too, have the gift of writing. Style, though, in writing varies according to the temperament of the person. Once others realize this, I hope that they will begin to express themselves using this age-old mental instrument.

Good thing that the age of blogging has at last arrived…as with it, different kinds of literary statements have also been boldly manifested. For the sake of grades, however, the traditional teachings are being endured by students. But, once they have graduated, they go on a rampage of expressing themselves literarily with a vengeance. I am doing it myself, although, it took some time before I finally stamped my own statement in the different literary expressions that I have made, be they in poetry or prose.

When I was in high school, I always had to argue with my English teacher about my habit of beginning some sentences in my essays with “And” and “Although”. For her it was a big NO, NO, which was of course very right based on traditional English grammar. Due to my persistence, she gave me low ratings, although my materials were better than those of my classmates. Many years later, she transferred to Manila and earned respect as an educator in a certain district. That time, she also came across my contributions in broadsheets and magazines, and learned about my job in a reputable company. She invited me as one of the judges when she chaired the Committee of the district that organized an essay and poetry writing contest. I was elated, as it was an indication of her acceptance at last, of my literary “style”.

I am most indebted to a former boss, Vic Bernardino, in Philippine Airlines who tolerated my style when he trusted me with the job of editing the travel magazine of our department, the TOPIC Magazine. He was, himself a writer in his own right. The publication promoted the touristic areas, activities and facilities all over the country, as the company’s contribution to the government’s effort in jacking up inbound tourist movement. As the magazine was in black and white, I had to be colorfully descriptive in what I featured. I realized later that in my sincere attempt to deliver what were expected of me, I had overstressed some of my presentations. Fortunately, I found out that such style is what feature magazine writers are using today. Had my boss called my attention to what I was doing, part of my innate skill would have been suppressed.

Writing is an art and liberal expression of one’s feelings, as well as, instrument in releasing what are in the mind. My views regarding this matter may not conform to what are found in the books. In poetry for instance, I maintain that expression should not only be in written form but also through facial expressions. Of course, fingers and hands can help. Movement of the eyes could mean something poetically, even the contortion of the lips, or the raising of eyebrows. It is then, up to the one who perceives to fully utilize his poetic imagination to understand the message.

My being a non-conformist to traditional and bookish grammar is such that I do not observe the basics – rhyme and meter. But, sometimes I give rhyme the chance to seep in subtly by using words that “seem” to sound alike. As for meter, I totally disregard it, for I even start my poem sometimes, with just a single word, and employ dots to indicate suspense. I came across so many non-conformist styles in blog sites and current poetry books that the traditional writers may view as trash. For me, however, the essence of writing is freedom of expression, so nobody has the right to say that one is wrong in his style, especially, in poetry, as it is tantamount to curtailing his freedom.

Today, not only are poems recited, but also rapped in the accompaniment of tapping or clicking fingers. That again is an indication of the richness of poetry as a literary form of expression which can be transposed comfortably into music, and maybe not yet in English grammar books. An artist can also easily transform a simple and monotonous poem into a musical rendition. This is the full manifestation of what was meant by the traditionalists as “poem with sing-song cadence”.

Finally, on how to start, my suggestion is with conviction…with boldness, and generous imagination.

Huwag Ikahiya ang Kaalaman sa mga Salitang Pilipino, lalo na ang Pambansang Wika

Huwag Ikahiya ang Kaalaman
Sa mga Salitang Pilipino, lalo na sa Pambansang Wika
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit may mga magulang na pilit pinagsasalita ng English lang ang maliliit anak sa loob ng kanilang bahay. Okey lang sana na kahit na pinagsasalita sa English, ay pagsalitain pa rin sila ng sariling wika o salita ng kanilang probinsiya. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga magulang na itong marinig na nagsasalita lang sa English ang mga anak, ganoong ang punto o accent ay Pilipino naman dahil silang mga magulang mismo ay limitado lang din ang kaalaman sa nasabing banyagang wika. Ang maling akala nila ay mas madaling makahanap ng trabaho ang taong Inglesira o Inglesiro. Ang hindi nila alam ay mas gusto ng mga kumpanya sa panahon ngayon ang mga aplikante na maraming alam na salita.

May isa akong kumpare na nagsisisi kung bakit pinilit niya ang English sa kanyang anak na humantong sa pagiging bulol nito sa mismong sarili nating wika na Pilipino. Nang dalhin niya sa Amerika ang kanyang anak upang doon pag-aralin, pinagtawanan daw ito ng mga kaklase nang malaman na bulol sa sariling wika, at kinutya pa, samantalang ang ibang mga kaklase ay natutuwang makipag-usap sa isa’t isa gamit ang Mandarin, Thai, o Tagalog na natutunan nila sa kanilang mga yaya.

May mga galing naman sa probinsiya na ikinahihiya ang sariling salita o dialect, pero kung mag-Tagalog naman ay lutang na lutang ang punto ng sarili nilang salita. May isang babaeng broadcaster na tungkol sa trapik ang nirereport, ang kahit nagta-Tagalog na ay nagpupuntong English pa rin, lalo na kung magsambit ng mga salitang may letrang “R”, na “pinapalambot” upang may kayabangang ipahiwatig na dahil sa kagalingan niya sa English ay lumalabas na natural ang “parang” nai-English na Tagalog kung gamitin na niya…ibig sabihin, gusto niyang palabasin na nananaig o nasasapawan ng English ang Tagalog niya! Nang minsang may kumausap sa kanya on air, nadulas siya sa kanyang pagsalita kaya nabistong siya pala ay Ilongga! Ikinahihiya yata niya ito, ganoong kilala ang Hiligaynon o Ilonggo bilang malambing na dialect kaya marami ang nakakagusto.

Nakakabilib malamang maraming banyaga ang gustong matuto ng Tagalog o iba pang provincial dialect ng Pilipinas. Ang mga ito ay mga exchange students o nagtatrabaho sa mga multi-national companies. Dahil itinuturing na pangalawang wika ang English sa bansa, kahit hindi na sana sila mag-aral ng Tagalog ay maaari, subalit pinipilit pa rin nilang matuto. Sa mga ganitong tao dapat mag-ingat ang mga kababayan nating mahilig manlibak ng kapwa na hindi nila type ang kulay ng balat o hitsura.

Sa isang jeepney na nasakyan ko noon, may dalawang babae na nangutya sa isang pasaherong maitim ang balat. Sa porma ng nililibak, ay mukhang estudyante ito. Dahil marunong ako ng Cebuano, naintindihan ko ang ang usapan ng dalawang babae na mga Bisayang Cebuano pala. Ang isa ay nagsabi na mukhang unggoy daw ang maitim na pasaherong kaharap nila. Nang iabot ng maitim na pasahero ang pamasahe niya sa drayber, sabi niya: “kuya…ito po ang bayad ng unggoy”. Sa hiya, biglang nagpapara ang dalawang babae at bumaba!