Palanca on my mind

I HESITATE to write about the awarding ceremonies of the 56th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, held last night at the Dusit Hotel Nikko. Words probably won’t do justice to everything that went on. But I’ll attempt to write something anyway, just to make sure certain things won’t be lost in fleeting memory.

I arrived 30 minutes late because of Makati traffic. That means I was on time within our cultural perspective. Last night was the first time I was ever thankful for the concept of “Philippine time.” I knew I was in the right place when I saw Marco Lopez, a former professor of mine, accompanying friends on a cigarette break outside the lobby area.

Mom and I were being led in by a hostess when DM Reyes greeted me and told me, “Don’t listen to them. Sit anywhere you want. You’re a winner.” We eventually settled for a table with winners from the regional languages categories. Neighboring tables featured Larry Ypil (First Prize, Poetry) and Ryan Chua (Second Prize, English Essay in Kabataan Division at kapwang third year Atenista).

I found out that the Board of Judges of my division (English Essay) composed of Bienvenido Lumbera, Conrado De Quiros, and Lito Zulueta. Damn. My piece impressed some big names. There’s something humbling and satisfying about getting approval from your heroes.

Sightings I have aplenty (sorry sa dami ng namedrops): aside from my former professors, DM Reyes and Marco Lopez, Lumbera, De Quiros, Krip Yuson, Behn Cervantes, Danton Remoto (i-boto mo sa konggreso), Jessica Zafra, Lourd De Veyra ("para sa tunay na lalaki"), Khavn Dela Cruz (The Brockas!), Pinky Amador, and Ricky Davao were all in attendance last night.

Highlights of the formal program included a speech by the legendary Edith Tiempo, poetry reading by Lourd (sana nagperform ang Radioactive kagabi..."gin pomelo! gin pomelo!") , and the performance of Job Pagsibigan’s “The Palanca in My Mind” (First Prize, Dulang May Isang Yugto).

When I was called up to receive my award, I was greeted by Pinky Amador (Judge, One-Act Play), Bienvenido Lumbera (Chairman of Board of Judges, Essay), and Behn Cervantes (Chairman of Board of Judges, Full-Length Play).

Then something I’ll never forget: Lumbera took a firm grip of my hand, looked at me in the eye and said with conviction, “That was a very good essay.”

Humility aside, only writers who’ve been complimented personally by a National Artist for Literature will ever know how that feels.

Damn.

So many thank-you’s are in order (inuman next week mga Atenistang kapatid ko sa sining, kapwang manunulat, anak ng teatro, alagad ng disenyo, at taga-walis ng museo!). And there’s no way I’m skipping mass tomorrow.

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Going to the 27th Manila International Book Fair today sa World Trade Center pero wala akong pera!