Month: February 2008

Input no 7
NOLIT ABANILLA, An Autobiography
Note: Taken from Literary Visions Journal – An assignment for my literary class in college at PWU-IFAD (GEEN 216) under my professor and friend Ms Janet Tauro.

The Birth

I first saw tha world on th third early morning of october. The year was 1969. As the candles of life starts to born, soft glitters fill the eyes of Lito and Let, both medical doctors and my proud parents. Their youngest son has finally witnessed the beauty of Tacloban city, the capital of the province of Leyte and a city sorrounded by all the glories which nature could offer.

I grew up in this boutiful neighboorhood, a perfect blend of greens and urban development. I was able to climb mountains during both rainy and dry seasons, explore the shells and colourful stones on beaches and discover the occasional waterfalls on mountainsides. I have also played with kids doing street games, go biking, hanging around construction sites, waddle on muds where a subdivision is being developed. I also went to one shcoo where I spent playing with the same kids for 11 years (kindergarten to high school).

The Philosophical Formation

After graduating from high school, I took a year in college majoring in philosophy. Although I was determined to be an artist and eager to study Fine Arts, I thought an artist has to have a firm principle in life before being able to talk about life itself. And besides, fine arts courses are not offered in Tacloban city and the political climate was intense in manila at that time (A year before Edsa Uprising).

After a year in AB Philosphy, I came to manila and immediately enrolled at PWU. At this point, I began participating in cause oriented activities. I formed student and your artists organizations. On my second uear in college, my participation to these activities were so intense that I decided to stop schooling nad dedicated my full effort in the progressive movement. I became a national secretariat of an AB-CBN – NCCP sponsored relief and rehabilitaion operations for various calamity victims such as earthquakes, floods , volcanic eruptions, etc.

I was also able to go to far flung areas and mingle with various people. I was able to stay with strikebound workers, living on the picketlines, farmers who picket the DAR offices, urban poor in makeshift shanties, etc. I was also able to talk to people involved with the underground movement, especially revolutionaries who stayed on the mountains as well as urban partisans.

But in 1994, there was a shake-up in the underground movement which eventually split into two: the reaffirmist (those who continue to believe in the rural to urban revolution – marxist-leninist-maoist line) and the rejectionist (military adventurists who believe in violent urban insurrection). This demoralized my enthusiasm with the organization which led to my quiting the movement. I have friends on both sides and it was difficult being in the middle.

The Artist

Even at a very early age, I knew I was going to be an artist. It was probably my mother’s frustration of not finding time to develop her artistic talents which pushed me into this interest. Before going to school, my mother introduced me to all the mediums used in art. At school, I usually fill the pages of my notebooks with drawings.

I did my first exhibit fresh out of high school. This was with a group of artists in Tacloban City. Then I formed an art group which now had members nationally. This is called Lupon ng Nagkakaisang Artista or LUNA. I was able to organize numerous exhibits with this group. But I later quit the luna in 1994.

I worked as a freelance visual artist doing illustrations for campaign posters, (10 have graced the walls of metro manila), books, magazines, etc. I am currently illustrating for textbooks for grade school. I am also currently finishing my Fine Arts degree in college.

The Writer

There was a period in my life that I felt visual art as a very limiting medium. Since 1986, I was the artist of school paper (3 schools spanning 4 years). Being around with writers made me udnerstand the business and so I followed suit. I wrote short stories and articles which were occasionally published in these school paper nad in national magazines.

Then I worked for Virgilio Almario’s Filipino Magazin as a features writer. My beat was on art and culture, frequently reviewing art exhibits. I stayed with the Filmag for 2 years before deciding to become a contributor instead.

The Musician

Finding visual arts and literature still limiting in expressing myself, I got into music. I was raised in a musical world with stereos blasting my ears, I learned how to strum a guitar at an early age. I later formed a band called LVNA, to serve as an outletfor my compositions. I was also able to play with popular bands such as Lolita Carbonm Agaw Agimat, etc.

In a pocket, this probably summarizes a chapter of my life story. At this point all I could say is that we are indeed heading to the right direction. I just hope its an easy way.

– 30 –

Nice to know you, nolit. You are such a talented guy. Keep going. Okey! – Ms Tauro

Nolit, it was such a nice experience reading your entries. Good luck to all your undertakings. You have the talents. – Ms Tauro

Post note: There were more entries on the journal but I ended it here. I got a 100% grade from Professor Janet Tauro. Janet was our editor in chief int the school paper when I was 1st year in college in PWU. Since I stopped school and came back she became my professor. But she is really a good friend of mine together with her equally beautiful and talented sister who also became my co-staffer.

Input no 6
The Blanket
Note: Taken from Literary Visions Journal – An assignment for my literary class in college at PWU-IFAD (GEEN 216) under my professor and friend Ms Janet Tauro.

A blanket is a witness of a lot of events which takes place in the bedroom. In a small house, a newly wed couple has just settled. One day, the wife discovers a blanket hidden in one of the closets in the bedroom. Recognizing it elegant design the wife decides to use it.

As the days pass, the wife began to experience strange things. She keeps on seeing a ghost of a woman whose face is scarred, seemingly crushed when she was murdered. She consulted this strange experiences to her husband, but he brushes it aside insisting that is is just a product of her imagination.

Until one day, a diary was found. This belongs to the ghost who kept appearing to the wife’s vision. The diary reveals the horrific experiences of a woman who was raped by a frustrated suitor and was killed of strangulation using the elegant blanket the wife found. As the wife ended reading the story, the ghost appears and walks out of the house. This time the couple saw this and followed the ghost. The trail led to a shallow grave of a woman who was raped and murdered.

The husband and wife decided to report the corpse to the authorities for investigation. They later buried the remains of the murdered woman decently and with simple spiritual rites. The investigation led to the arrest of a man who was indeed a suitor of the murdered woman. And so justice was met.

– 30 –

Good Story – Ms Tauro

Input no. 5
Short Story Analysis
Note: Taken from Literary Visions Journal – An assignment for my literary class in college at PWU-IFAD (GEEN 216) under my professor and friend Ms Janet Tauro.

I wasnt actually able to read all of the short stories assigned to us. But I was able to browse on a few lines (the beginning and end paragraphs – typical of a short cut reader).

The Enemies was about a feeling which a man could experience during times of difficulties. There are indeed people like these . Its so easy to udnerstand these behaviour, but it is so hard to accept especially in a society when every hand is a great help.

The Secret Life was too long for me. But I think it was exciting. I thought it was action packed, Just like watching a show on TV. The scenes were described almost common to any tv show. Bit I couldn’t have the time to actually catch the plot for I was in a hurry when I got hold of the copy of the story. Well, I might have undestood it better.

The Rose for Emily was a soft inspiring drama. It made me feel uneasy and somewhat apathetic, sympathizing Emily. But I understood the story much more by the way the group presented it. It made me feel unwanted like I am being the talk of the town.

The Capital of the World is hard to understand if you would read it straightfoward. It uses a style of alternating scenes. And it describes different settings, although under one roof. It was probably because the intention of the author to include various reasons for people to troop to the city and thier frustrations which made Hemingway use such style.

I still did not understand the Tunnel. Except perhaps of a vague idea, that it is so hard for a boy to grow up and face the challenges of life. Just like passing through the tunnel.

I would have understood the stories better if the group presented them well. Maybe the reason behind this was that I am tired and bored of reading classic literature.

– 30 –

Input no 4
Group Evaluation
Note: Taken from Literary Visions Journal – An assignment for my literary class in college at PWU-IFAD (GEEN 216) under my professor and friend Ms Janet Tauro.

It was really very hard to be affected by the way the goup portrayed their interpretations of the short stories which were assigned to them.

The first group to perform tackeld “the Enemies” by Anton Chekov. Presenting it with a mime complicated the message the group would like to partake. The audience was instead bewildered by what action the performer was doing. The explanation at the end of the presentation helped. It revealed the theme of the story which is: Man can be selfish, especially during times of crisis. At least, this is to my understanding based on what the group has presented.

The second group presented the story by using egg puppets. The idea of the egg puppets was indeed interesting. But the group presentation was really boring. I think it is beacuse the play was too long and one couldn’t understand who from among the eggheads was actually talking. I didnt actually get a chance to udnerstand what each characted was. They seem to look alike (all eggheads).

The third group was far more better. It was presented by a play which is more attractive. I really felt the gloomy setting which covered the story by the way the group ortrayed. Especially the start where a funeral procession has passed by, and the last part which was the gloomy room of emily. It made the audience fell what emily’s world was really.

The fourth group was our group. What can I say? It was the best “sock”ing experience.

The last group was a drag. This was so since there was a technical problem. I could hardly udnerstand the dialogues. It was more difficult to comprehend since the explanation cmae before the presentation. Passing through the tunnel was really an agony.

– 30 –

Nice comments. Thanks! – Ms Tauro

Post note: This is an assignment when each group was assigned with a different short stories and they are asked to interpret it in whatever means they wish to. Our group used puppets made from socks and stocking which is why I commented it as such. My comments actually helped Ms. Tauro decide on what grades to give.

Input no. 3
Literature is Important or Relevant to Man
Note: Taken from Literary Visions Journal – An assignment for my literary class in college at PWU-IFAD (GEEN 216) under my professor and friend Ms Janet Tauro.

It is important to read and create literature, so that we could catch up with the fast pace of civilization. If man would disregard literature, he would easily forget his past, especially the experiences of his family or the history of his community. He may be committing the same mistakes which his ancestors undertook. This way, the development of the community would be slow.

In the development of a society, there must be the cycle of theory and practice. A theory cannot be implemented inta a plan of action if this is not based on the reality which took place before hand. And in this process a proper documentation is important in order to be accurate. This is literature.

For fictional literature, this form is important in reaching our areas which are blocked by the limitations of straight forward knowledge literature. This include abstract elements such as emotions. Literature is also important in uniting the people towards believing in one reality. J.S. Fichte once recalls, for a nation to beacome one, there must be common binding elements and one of these is literature.

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Input no. 2
How I Am As A Reader
Note: Taken from Literary Visions Journal – An assignment for my literary class in college at PWU-IFAD (GEEN 216) under my professor and friend Ms Janet Tauro.

The first book I ever read was Winnie The Pooh. This was a large picture book which I used to play like a toy tent before I could actually understand its purpose. Then there was the infamous “My Readers” which I think every kindergarten of that time got a hold. Since then I never stopped reading.

I usually read only the books that interest me. And this covers a very wide range of subject. The best book I read was Ideals and Ideologies of Modern Politics by Mark Hagopian. This is a collection of essays on various political lines. It helped me understand how certain groups of people picture the world. I also like the Origin Of The Family, Private Property and State by F. Engels. This helped me formulate my foundations of my philosophy in life which is basically dialectical materialist of some sort (a hybrid type as I inputed other factors). The best novel I read was J. Lacaba’s Days of Disquiet Nights of Rage and Luwalhati Bautista’s Dekada ’70.

By reading a book, I learn how to fix cassettes and radios. By reading a book I am able to understand our history and our spiritual behaviour. By reading a book I am able to understand the twisted mind of the author. By reading a book I am able to decide wisely whether the author is telling the truth or is ther to decieve you (eg Plain Truth magazines). Whenever I buy an appliance or any other devices, I read the manual first, so as I could fully exploit the gadget’s function.

But the book that I have never could put down are the Bible and the Dictionary. There was a time when I read the bible like a novel (page after page). But I haven’t actually finished it. I also did this to the dictionary (which I learned is not an effective way of enhancing your vocabulary). I even read a foreign language book just to hear how the people speak that language, even if I could not understand what the book was all about (Really? – Ms Tauro),

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Good reading habits – Ms Tauro.

Post notes: I later learned that the bible should not be read like a novel as these are actually notes from several authors spanning several periods of time. One may be contradicting the other depending on the culture and their own understanding of things. I was able to aquire a claretian guide on how to read the bible and am doing well with it now.

The foreign language book I recall was a book I picked up from goethe institute – a german cultural center. As a fine arts student, I frequent these places along with many galleries around town.

Input no 1
My Insights on Literature
Note: Taken from Literary Visions Journal – An assignment for my literary class in college at PWU-IFAD (GEEN 216) under my professor and friend Ms Janet Tauro.

When I wake up in the morning, I usually start my day by reading the newspaper. Through the newspaper, I realize what’s new, what are the views of other people, what’s going on in our community or in our country in general, what’s entertaining, etc. There are literature created by the authors in order to communicate and share to us whatever he or she knows or feel.

There are different kinds of literature. They may be truthful or fictional. Truthful are direct and accurate. They are specific and they feed our thirsty intelects. Fiction literature however are not accurate and true. They are products of our imagination. But still they are based on reality or our limited understanding of things. There is no such a thing as absolute fictious literature for it is impossible to describe or much more relate an experience or matter which we do not have any idea. How can a person describe a form which does not have any geometrical basis. Therefore, fictious literature are still reality twisted in a way that would intice our emotions or our way of thinking (especially science fiction) or entertain us.

Literature has been around since the birth of humanity. It is synoninous to communication. Literature also uses devices such as language and ulitizes mediums sich as direct speech, print, broadcast, etc.

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