(Editors' Note: The logo seen here is the old Pinoypoets logo. We have created a new one to celebrate the milestone of our fifth year. The new logo is seen at the homepage and at the About Us section.)
I am contemplating a new word today: Percolation. The slow passage of a liquid through a filtering medium; the filtration of a liquid for extraction or purification.
Bonni Goldberg, on her book Beyond Words: The Three Untapped Sources of Creative Fulfillment for Writers defined it as: The process that takes place before the first draft takes place; the process writers go through before actually writing.
The year 2009 started with diarrhea. Mine, that is. While seventy-five percent of my body is liquid, less than 75 hours onto the New Year, almost half of the water has already been flushed out of my body. Sabi ng aming company nurse, dehydrated na raw ako. Ilang anti-motility capsules na ang nilaklak at ilang pakete ng oral rehydration salts ang aking naitumba. I might miss the first General Assembly of Pinoypoets for 2009…
Excited kami (The Pinoypoets council) na magsimula ang taon. Marami na kaming nabuong plano noong last quarter pa lang ng 2008. Maglilimang taon na ang Pinoypoets, at kahit paano ay nakaka-survive pa rin at patuloy na sumusulong. Nabanggit ko nga kay Rhodge, I wish to see Jun Dela Rosa this year. Si Jun ang talagang nagsimula ng Pinoypoets. Early 2004 ay isang poetry lovers group lang sa Friendster ang PP hanggang gawin niya itong Yahoo! Group noong June 30, 2004. Iilan lamang kaming members noon at wala namang nangyayaring activity, hanggang sa i-post ko ang noo’y inaakala kong tula entitled Aromatheraphy.
Masayang makatanggap ng mga komento sa tula, lalo’t may halong praises and comments. Pero nang dumating ang mga members na talagang may alam sa pagsusulat at criticism ay nagsimula nang gumulo ang PP. May mga members na hindi kinaya ang mga maaanghang na criticism ng ibang members kaya’t nagsialisan. Nagsimula ang awayan. May mga nagpatuloy, at nagpatuloy rin ang mga online activities.
Buwan-buwan ay may top favorite poems na pinipili mula sa boto ng mga members. Gumawa rin ng blog para sa mapipiling Pinoypoet of the month na may maikling interview. Nagkaroon din ng monthly favorite poems at criticism mula sa isang kilalang manunulat na nakabase sa ibang bansa, si Mr. Zaldy Dandan.
Unti-unting nahubog ang grupo at nag-improve ang pagtula. Nagkaroon na rin ng regular na General Assemblies every second Friday of the month sa Figaro sa Shangri-La Mall. Mayroon ding kuwentuhan at poetry readings na kadalasa’y nauuwi sa inuman sa Whistlestop. The first ever Poetry Workshop was held on November 14-15, 2004 at The Pinto Art Gallery. Naging panelists noon sina Paolo Manalo, Joel Toledo, Romulo Baquiran Jr, at Kris Lacaba. Isang pagbibinyag iyon para sa mga members na first time makaranas ng legitimate workshop, although ang iba ay hindi na rin bago. May mga tulang nakatay, may napuri, pero higit sa lahat mas lalong naging intense ang kagustuhan ng mga members na gumaling sa pagsusulat. Sumusulong ang grupo at gumagaling sa pagsusulat, sang-ayon sa aming mga sariling paniniwala. Ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, may nabubuong pagkakaibigan – isang community.
Pero hindi naging sapat iyon para tumigil ang mga di-pagkakasundo. Sa labas ng grupo, may mga detractors. May mga blog entries na tinawag ang PP na isang mababang uri ng Batibot at Sesame Street or Pinoy Big Brother, meaning isang dumb show. Malabo ang tunay na dahilan ng mga ganoong pag-atake — maaring personal na galit sa noo’y moderator ng grupo o maaring mga dating members na umalis na may sama ng loob. Sa loob, may mga members na nag-iiringan, nagkakaasaran sa politics of writing, at may mga hindi talaga nagugustuhan ang mga criticism. We called it then as growing pains dahil lumalaki ang grupo at nagkakaroon ng buhay, kaya dapat asahan ang ganoon. Hanggang sa ang tatlo sa kinikilala naming founder ang isa-isa na ring umalis at binalak na i-delete ang Pinoypoets Yahoo Group. Temporarily nawala ang grupo, at pinalitan ng Pinoypoet (without the S). Luckily, hindi naging permanente ang deletion, at dahil na rin sa concerned members ay nagpatuloy with three moderators/founders gone.
December 2004, Pinoypoets was almost out of activity. But then, Pinoypoets was already an entity that did not require a leader in order to live, as writing is a solitary act, what it needs is a community to thrive in. Nagpatuloy ang online activities, as usual. Nagpatuloy din ang gulo pati ang intriga. Other organizations called PP a chumminess group — too shallow for the art it is trying to embody.
January 2005, nabuo ang 7-member Council. Sila ang nag-take over sa grupo at naging governing body sa online at offline activities. Hiningan ng assistance ang ilang mga kilalang manunulat gaya nina Michael Coroza, Edgar Samar, at Sonny Villafania. They acted as the group’s consultants. Pinoypoets then drafted a mission and a vision. Sunod-sunod ang malalaking activities, at maraming mga kilalang manunulat ang nakasalamuha tulad nina Angelo Suarez, Noel Del Prado, Ramil Gulle, Mike Balili, at iba pa.
Feb 2005, ginanap ang kauna-unahang public poetry reading ng PP sa Juliano’s Bar. Naging guest noon si Sir Sid Gomez Hildawa (SLN). Maraming mga bagong sibol na members ang nagpakita ng interes at suporta sa grupo. Kada buwan ay may mga bagong activities ang PP. Nagkaroon ng crit session kasama si Alwin Aguirre at Noel Del Prado. April 23-24 ng taon ring iyon ginanap ang ikalawang poetry workshop. Bago ang takdang araw na iyon ay nagkaroon ng pre-workshop seminar kung saan naging speaker si Sonny Villafania. Ginanap ang unang araw ng workshop sa Ateneo de Manila University. Naging mga panelist sina Romulo Baquiran Jr, Edgar Samar, at Joi Barrios para sa mga Filipino poems. The workshop for English poems were discussed on the second day. Panelists sina Sid Sildawa, DM Reyes at Conchitina Cruz, at ginanap ito sa Art Informal School sa Greenhills.
Nagsisimula na rin noon ang mga plano para sa unang chapbook, poetry CD at First Anniversary Celebration. Ilang buwang tumagal ang selection process para sa mga tulang isasama sa unang chapbook. Kinailangang basahin at i-workshop ang mga tulang nai-post online at isinalang sa workshop. Ilang crit sessions ang ginanap ng grupo sa UP Diliman, Likha-Diwa, at Wildlife Park sa QC. Hanggang mapili ang limampung tula na bubuo sa chapbook. May 2005 ipinakilala ng Pinoypoets ang Obverse [the front of an object bearing the principle side or its face], isang maliit na compilation na magpapakilala sa Pinoypoets sa literary world, at ng achievements nito. Limited copies lamang ang issue sapagkat iyon ay pinaghirapan lamang i-photocopy at i-bind ng mga members. Sa kabila nito ay malayo ang narating ng Obverse. Ilang kopya ang naibigay sa mga kilalang manunulat, at maging si Cirilo Bautista ay nabanggit ito sa column niyang Breaking Signs sa Panorama. Nagkaroon din ng launch at poetry reading ang PP sa Gayuma Bar sa E Abada St malapit sa Katipunan. Naging guest noon si John Torralba. Ilang araw lamang pagkatapos ng launch ay muling nagtipon ang grupo upang piliin ang mga tulang isasama sa kauna-unahang poetry CD. Twenty-four poems were selected and recorded by the group. Isang overnight recording session ang ginanap sa studio ni Alay Magno sa Quezon City. The CD was named Ora Poetika.
June 28, 2005 is perhaps the biggest milestone for PP. It was the grandest celebration the group has ever had. The Conspiracy Bar was jam-packed with writers, poets, artists, musicians, press people and friends, all happily celebrating with Pinoypoets their First Anniversary tagged as PP To! Teddy Locsin Jr, Gary Granada, Teo Antonio, Rio Alma, Vim Nadera, Fidel Rillo, Edgar Samar, Conchitina Cruz, Angelo Suarez, Nerissa Guevarra, Joyce Burton Titular, Hanna Romawac, Session Road, Twisted Halo, Paramita, and other guests graced the event and read poems to the audience’s delight. After that, Pinoypoets found space on the pages of leading newspapers and magazines in town.
Before the year ended, Pinoypoets in some ways carved a name for itself in the literary scene and into the cyberworld as well. December 2005 marked another significant day for the group, its very own website: www.pinoypoets.com was launched at Penguin Bar in Malate. Noon din nagsimula ang taunang pre-Christmas at birthday celebration para sa akin.
After the full acceleration of 2005, the group then took the more serious side of the road: literary growth for 2006. They decided to focus on the enhancement of their poetics through in-depth workshops, critique sessions, and the incorporation of the group. Nagpatuloy pa rin ang regular na general assemblies at poetry readings sa iba’t ibang lugar tulad ng Rafa’s Bar sa QC at Likha Diwa Café sa UP. Ginanap rin ang ikatlong poetry workshop sa UP Diliman. Naging panelists sina Joey Baquiran, Fidel Rillo, Benilda Santos at Allan Popa para sa mga tulang Filipino. Sa English ay sina Ruey De Vera, Paolo Manalo, DM Reyes at Conchitina Cruz ang tumayong panelists.
Sa tulong ng mga miyembro na nasa ibang bansa ay nabuo ang ikalawang chapbook ng Pinoypoets. This time, it was a legitimately produced, printed and bound 80-page book. It was registered with the National Library with its own ISBN number. Ob·Verse Volume II. Ginanap ang launching sa Libreria Bookshop sa Quezon City with poetry readings and performance by the band Shruvaleh. The book was made available sa mga indie bookstores within Metro Manila. Some copies were sent abroad, and others were distributed to some schools. Nagsimula na ring mag-branch out at magkapangalan ang ilang mga members. May ilang napasama sa ibang national literary organizations, naging fellows sa mga national writing workshops, at nanalo ng awards tulad ng Maningning Miclat at Amelia Lapena Bonifacio Literary Awards. Ilan sa mga members ang nalathala sa mga kilalang magazine tulad ng Sunday Inquirer, Liwayway, Philippine Graphic, at ilang mga book anthologies tulad ng Ani Yearbook at iba pa. Above all, mas ipinagtibay ang samahan with a firm friendship, and the legalization of the group. Pinoypoets the yahoogroup is now Pinoypoets Incorporated, a non-stock non-profit organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The year was ended with a traditional Christmas and birthday toast for me and the group which unfortunately ay hindi ko nadaluhan.
The year 2007 became a critical year for the group, and for me on the side. Nagpatuloy pa rin ang mga iringan at di pagkakasundong nagbunsod sa pag-alis ng ilang mga aktibong members. Mas naging critical at malalim ang paraan at approach sa pagpuna ng mga tula na minsa’y naging dahilan ng hindi pagkakasundo. Sa taong ito ay mas binigyang focus ng council ang mga offline activities na monthly crit sessions. Naging issue ang membership ng online subscribers at ni-require na ang mga members na makibahagi sa monthly offline activities. Some made it, some didn’t. Nabawasan ang online activities at natigil ang pagpili ng Pinoypoet of the Month. Dalawang poetry readings lamang ang nagawa, sa Rafa’s Bar at Dateline Bookstore sa Cubao. Walang maingay na anniversary celebration na naganap, maliban sa isang videoke session sa Makati. Later on ay naging tradition na ang videoke session na ito. The year was ended with a full packed emergency General Assembly cum Christmas and Birthday Celebration to discuss the group’s future with some of the active offline members gone.
With the recent year considered less productive, 2008 proved to be a regaining year for the group. Further emphasis was given to the offline activities. Patuloy pa rin ang online activities bagamat hindi na ito ang naging main focus ng grupo. The Yahoo Group was then considered a mailing list. The active PP members were more established and more focused on literary growth and were ready to shed off the “chummy appeal.” Monthly crit sessions were being held, focusing more on poetics, literary techniques and criticism. Ang paraan ng pagpuna at pagbibigay komento sa mga tulang isinasalang ay mas naging intense. Naging bahagi ng mga crit sessions na ito si Noel Del Prado. The crit session progressed into a more in-depth discussion of the works of major poets like Ann Lauterbach, Jorie Graham, Carolyn Forche, Ann Carson, Barbara Guest, Susan Howe, Conchitina Cruz and other well-known writers local and abroad. The traditional videoke anniversary celebration was also held.
2008 also marked the return of the group’s most beloved writer: Paolo Manalo. Paolo was away in Scotland for a scholarship grant. Pero nitong August, umuwi siya sa Pilipinas at piniling magbigay ng lecture para sa Pinoypoets entitled “Our Love for Glove Doves.” It was held at the Filipinas Heritage Library in Ayala, Makati. Two months later, naging bahagi naman ang Pinoypoets ng isang Marathon Reading ng Noli Me Tangere sa FHL. Ito ang kauna-unahang public group performance ng grupo. More of the members further their writing skills, and again took part in some major national workshops. One published his children’s book and some found their names included in major anthologies, and others given major literary awards. More importantly, some significant members found their way back to the group, while others exited. The year ended as always with the traditional Birthday-Christmas celebration for me plus major plans for 2009.
A writer continues to develop as he immerses himself in activities that will bring about new inspirations, knowledge, thoughts, ideas and insights. They percolate all the time. The human body, after flushing away the toxins after a serious bout with bad bacteria rehydrates itself. Rehydration is necessary. Writers with diarrhea require rehydration. Percolation in both the physical and figurative ends: Liquids pass through our body to be purified into useful nutrients for it to function properly, like ideas passing through a writer’s mind to produce a a piece of writing, or poetry, in our case.
Quite literally, I started the year anew. Totally cleansed out ang lamang loob ko dahil isinuka at idinumi ang lahat ng laman nito to the point of dehydration. Magandang senyales sa pagsisimula ng taon? Magandang paraan para magsimula muli? Mag-stock ng major nutrients sa katawan at sa utak? Perhaps, but more importantly, it has given me a lesson na pahalagahan ang dalawang PP sa buhay ko. Ang PP at Pupu. Dalawang mahalagang bahagi ng buhay ko, two things I can’t live without. PP has gone though a series of bouts with bad bacteria but the friendship and the writings continue to percolate into purity. Perhaps, rehydration for 2009 is not a bad idea after all.
-- Xam
