Ikapito Nga Adlaw: Peter Nery's Passionate Revolutionary Ilonggo Short Film

I said film will revolutionize Ilonggo filmmaking not only visually (sort of) but by concept and controversy. Ilonggos love to shy away from controversy as if they had enough of it or at least it shows they’re a bit hesitant to break away from social norms. Indie filmmaking in the region tends to be playing safe for a while now. And knowing this talented writer-filmmaker, he’s a sucker for controversy, and yes, some amount of fame.

Palanca Hall of Famer and multi-awarded Ilonggo writer Peter Solis Nery cemented a name in the region’s filmmaking industry with his first full-length movie “Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa” where he appointed me as Managing Producer in 2012. The film was one of the official entries of Sineng Pambansa 2012, the first instalment of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) pet project that boosted regional cinema. “Bakunawa” was Nery’s greatest work so far. If he were a music artist, it’s his “greatest hit.” The project drained us creatively since it was shot for merely 6 days but allowed us to rediscover our strength, our passion and shaped our vision as artists. His film crew were Hollywood-based indie filmmaking group Hopeboat Productions and opened a lot of opportunities for us in the field of multimedia arts. The film reached the shores of Athens, Greece as part of the Thessaloniki Film Festival 2012 where our film was screened by European movie buffs and enthusiasts.

This year, his guts and creative instinct was reawakened, massively big time! Though shorter than his last ambitious film, “Ikapito Nga Adlaw” (7^th Day) is far more monstrous in both creative and concept since it sums up what most Ilonggo filmmakers are hesitant to tackle – Sex and more! As a friend, I know how brave and bold Nery when it comes to envelope-pushing vision, especially in the concept where he is more passionate, fluid and (over) confident, haha. He gained notoriety back in his newspaper columnist days in Iloilo (The News Today, Guardian and Panay News). This time, he sinks his fangs beyond his writings and print persona into a more visual bravura.

"Ikapito nga Adlaw" is a short film entry submitted for the fourth edition of Cinekasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival from December 10 – 21, 2016. The film is not more than 15 minutes but created a noise for tackling sex, blood and poetry. The script itself is as short as you can imagine but he is able to transcend a message deeper and sincerely through the different facets of love. It touches the concept of God resting in the seventh day and allowed humanity to express love in various erotic forms. An 18-year-old guy falling in love to a woman in her 50s. Imagine a guy-to-guy sexual hook-up and end-up dying for each other ... Romeo and Juliet theme? An innocent girl gang raped that pushed her childhood lover in committing suicide. Then, there’s breaking the norm: nudity done in poetic passion, I guess so (hehe). It’s wonderful how the film delivered different voices, messages and dilemmas with a short repeated script but long enough to define forever,  a glimpse of infinity and dramatic bravura.

When Nery allowed me to see his film during our meeting prior the film festival submission (we exchanged favour by allowing him to watch my non-competing film where he has a cameo role), one thing that struck a thought in my mind: it’s a moving, fluid poetry expressed by an artist who saw love as a bare-naked definition of being human.

My impression never changed even after he shared, re-shared and made my mini-film review of his film in the social media – it is thematically and visually revolutionary, brave and bold, passionate and artistic. Even though his actors are first-time performers and hand-picked from his hometown in Dumangas, Iloilo, Nery is adamant to push his style, push the envelope further even in its raw form to make his cinematic vision work. I have to be honest that it’s beyond perfect since I’m a “little bit” of a filmmaker myself, but I think his poetic “mida’s touch” transcended and manifested in this film. Shorter in terms of cinematic time but cleverly-biting and creative in many ways. So, after watching his film, I actually told him this: Your film is not perfect but it’s perfectly moving and poetically expressive. It’s the literary monster “you” transforming into a cinematic experience.  Can I call this: IKAWpito ka Adlaw? I think this is so “Peter-Solis-Nery style” talking and rampaging in the form of a film, just kidding.

“Ikapito Nga Adlaw” is one of the competing films in this year’s Cinekasimanwa 4: The Western Visayas Film Festival screening tomorrow, December 8, 3:30PM and 5:30PM at Cinemateque - Iloilo together with ABS-CBN restored Filipino film icons “Karnal” and “Virgin People.” Another screening will be set on December 14 at SM Cinema 1, 8PM.  Ticket price is Php 120. If you’re a lover of films in the most daring ways, never miss this one. Hopefully, it’s the first of its kind Ilonggo film, making waves in Westrn Visayas regional film community. Go watch the film!

Check out the film's official social media page: https://www.facebook.com/PeterSolisNery/?fref=ts

MY LIFE AS ART: The honesty contract

DEAR Reader,

With this column, I am entering into a new contract with you. I don’t have to, but I like the idea of setting things in black and white, in ink and paper.

I promise: If you read me with love and reverence, I will reward you with some of the most beautiful writings you will ever read in your life. Some of them will be brilliant, some just so-so, some may even suck and shock sometimes. But they will all be beautiful together because they are Life-like. That is, they will reflect the ups and downs, and the unevenness of our life experiences.

If you disrespect me and ridicule my writing, well, let’s see where that will lead you. You are not the one writing this column.

True, I am a pompous writer, but I know that I am also delightfully brilliant if you want to be entertained. I mean, if you really want to enjoy a good comedy, go to the movies with an intent to laugh and be entertained. I really feel sad for people who go to the movies with a sour disposition. Their angry-at-the-world attitude really spoils the movie for them. I mean, what’s the point? No movie can make you laugh, if you are decided you are way above slapstick comedies.

This is my column. Sometimes, I choose to be silly and provocative because, well, I am a great prankster. The world is not only my oyster, it is also my backyard! And there is nothing more we can do about that. I have been writing this type of column for close to two decades now. I mean, I tried a different way, but my success has always been in my strange and wicked sense of humor. And admit it, you all like me as a mad diva. Otherwise, I would not have been offered this job for the fifth time. And yes, I accepted all those offers all the time because I was assured that I can write however I like. So there!

Terrible and terrifying as I may be as a spoiled avant-garde writer, this much is true: I love my readers and I am committed to them. And while I often go literary and creative with my language and metaphors, in true journalistic fashion, I always honor my non-fiction contract with my readers. I may speculate and imagine, but I never tell lies. I may obscure some facts not relevant to my point, but I never, ever tell what is untrue.

So, if I say that I had a great night with such and such Hollywood actor, you better believe it. I may not tell you that I paid such an actor such amount of money to spend the night with me, but you better believe that I had a great night with such and such Hollywood actor. I mean, just suck it up!

So, yes, often I can be blunt, I can be angry, and ranting mad, I can be washing my laundry in public, but one thing you can’t say about me is that I am a liar.

In my early years of writing for the Ilonggo newspapers, I have been criticized for writing mostly about myself. Sixteen years later, that’s still what I do even if my reasoning has changed. In the beginning, I simply believed that libel is a pain in the ass, and I cannot obviously libel myself, so why not just write about myself, and avoid all the hassle of a hemorrhoid? In later years, after I immigrated to the US, I realized I could no longer really write about Iloilo gossip and Western Visayas experience with up to date veracity, so I just continued to write about my charming life in the land of milk and honey, which actually was a desert called Los Angeles, California for me.

As it turned out, my life has become a legend and an inspiration to many people. Here was a country mouse who came to good fortune as a nurse in the US, a newspaper columnist who seemingly couldn’t write anything other than himself, but has, year after year, amazed his readers with Palanca Award-winning works. I mean, who else can boast of such feat? As far as I know, none of the Ilonggo newspaper writers/journalists has won a Pulitzer, and well, the Palanca is the closest to the Pulitzer that we have. In fact, the Palanca has been dubbed as the Pulitzer of the Philippines. Boom, boom!

Anyway, because I have great literary success, I could not really be ignored as a newspaper writer.  Furthermore, I also turned out to have a great wicked sense of humor that pleases and satisfies the new ADHD generation. I may not win the Pulitzer for Journalism, but by God, I am here, I am writing, and I am so much fun!

The thing about me is that whatever outrageous and pompous tale I tell, I tell it true – okay, perhaps truth with a slant, but I never lie to deceive. If I tell you there are orgy parties going on in Iloilo City, you can be sure I know it firsthand. Either I’ve been there myself, or I’ve been there myself. You want to know where, when, and how you can participate? Call me, maybe!

Almost two decades since I started writing for the Ilonggo newspaper in 2000, I am still here. Why? Because I have developed a great relationship with my readers – love-hate relationship in the early years perhaps, but love me or hate me, I always please and satisfy. And that’s all you want, that’s all you desire. There is just no one like me out there in the Ilonggo media: respectable and brilliant one minute, crazy and scandalous next hour.

Let’s look at my resume briefly: the first Filipino author-guest at the Sharjah International Book Fair (2015), Palanca Awards Hall of Fame awardee (2012) with his 18th career Palanca win this year, the only Ilonggo winner at the Philippine Centennial Literary Prize (1998) and UPV Most Outstanding Student and Most Outstanding Graduate (1990). Actor, filmmaker, nurse, teacher, HIV testing poster boy. Oh, did I also mention that I am gay, was married to another gay man, was widowed, and now not embarrassed to say that I’m putting myself out there to find a new lover?

Of course, I am crazy. Of course, I am outrageous. But I never lie. And truth-telling is all that I promised you in all my column-writing contracts since I started in 2000.

MY LIFE AS ART: 18 Palancas and me

HUMILITY is not my virtue. Sure, I can be humble at times, but humility is not my favorite virtue especially where my literary career is concerned. I mean, I just can’t afford it. I got serious social acceptance and image insecurity issues.

I mean, let others more hypocritical, or less successful, than I sell their humility. I’m not buying it!

Perhaps because I am not connected with the academe, and I don’t have very strong ties with teachers of literature who can push for the study of my literary works in high schools, colleges and universities, I look to the Palanca Awards for validation as a creative writer. Thankfully, the Palanca contest gives me what I want (need!) year in and out.

By a general consensus, the Palanca Awards is the biggest literary contest in the country. It is even dubbed as the Pulitzer Prize of the Philippines. Started in 1950 (thus 66 years old this year), it is still the gold standard by which Filipino writers are measured. So, you see, it is not easy for me to be humble about my 18 Palanca wins in 18 years.

Who knew I had 18 Palanca Awards including the Hall of Fame (HOF) that was awarded to me in 2012? If you didn’t know, well, that’s exactly the point, and the reason, for this article. There is just not much information about my literary career out there. And I am what you may call a seasoned literary writer at 47, with well over two decades spent sacrificing, languishing, in the thankless job of promoting, developing, and advancing Philippine literature.

True, most Filipino people, because of their economic situation, cannot afford to be literary, or cannot afford literature, period; but that’s exactly the reason why they should celebrate occasional brilliant writers like me. I mean, like brilliant genius me who wasn’t schooled in literature and creative writing. It’s like I’m a real literary genius!

If you still haven’t noticed, most of our so-called living big names in Philippine literature today are in the academe either as teachers of literature and writing, or students of languages (AB English, AB Filipino), literature, and creative writing (usually MFA). They, and of course, me, Peter Solis Nery — erstwhile nurse, bum, religious missionary, Philosophy instructor, social worker; now, newspaper columnist and social media whore.

I bet you don’t know that I am not the only Palanca Awards Hall of Famer who writes for a newspaper. But I wouldn’t call you illiterate because of that. FYI, there are at least five other HOFs who write for Manila-based newspapers and magazines. 

But yes, I am the only newspaper columnist in the whole Western Visayas who can claim the Palanca HOF trademark. If you didn’t know that, well, you must be a real illiterate now. Haha! But seriously, how can I feign humility about that? 

I won my first Palanca award, a gold medal, in 1998. This year, 2016, I won my ninth gold medal, and my sixth consecutive gold since 2011. My literary career is very tied up to my triumphs at the Palanca Awards. Sure, my books are important, too, but it’s the awards that really gave me the confidence to continue and persevere in writing, and even venture into publication. 

In a very unusual way, too, my Palanca successes gave me this cocky accent, this haughty voice, this wicked writing stance for my newspaper columns. Because I am pretty literary — pretty and literary — I am always given much free rein (free reign, too!) in my column writing. And I milk it like absolute power corrupts.

But to be very honest, in the core of my core, in my heart of hearts, I am really just a most charming guy; shy even. But with only a sliver of humility. Because it is as I said, Humility is not my virtue. And sorry, it’s one of those things I just can’t afford! 

So, love me or hate me, but love me more.

MY LIFE AS ART: 18 Palancas and me

HUMILITY is not my virtue. Sure, I can be humble at times, but humility is not my favorite virtue especially where my literary career is concerned. I mean, I just can’t afford it. I got serious social acceptance and image insecurity issues.

I mean, let others more hypocritical, or less successful, than I sell their humility. I’m not buying it!

Perhaps because I am not connected with the academe, and I don’t have very strong ties with teachers of literature who can push for the study of my literary works in high schools, colleges and universities, I look to the Palanca Awards for validation as a creative writer. Thankfully, the Palanca contest gives me what I want (need!) year in and out.

By a general consensus, the Palanca Awards is the biggest literary contest in the country. It is even dubbed as the Pulitzer Prize of the Philippines. Started in 1950 (thus 66 years old this year), it is still the gold standard by which Filipino writers are measured. So, you see, it is not easy for me to be humble about my 18 Palanca wins in 18 years.

Who knew I had 18 Palanca Awards including the Hall of Fame (HOF) that was awarded to me in 2012? If you didn’t know, well, that’s exactly the point, and the reason, for this article. There is just not much information about my literary career out there. And I am what you may call a seasoned literary writer at 47, with well over two decades spent sacrificing, languishing, in the thankless job of promoting, developing, and advancing Philippine literature.

True, most Filipino people, because of their economic situation, cannot afford to be literary, or cannot afford literature, period; but that’s exactly the reason why they should celebrate occasional brilliant writers like me. I mean, like brilliant genius me who wasn’t schooled in literature and creative writing. It’s like I’m a real literary genius!

If you still haven’t noticed, most of our so-called living big names in Philippine literature today are in the academe either as teachers of literature and writing, or students of languages (AB English, AB Filipino), literature, and creative writing (usually MFA). They, and of course, me, Peter Solis Nery — erstwhile nurse, bum, religious missionary, Philosophy instructor, social worker; now, newspaper columnist and social media whore.

I bet you don’t know that I am not the only Palanca Awards Hall of Famer who writes for a newspaper. But I wouldn’t call you illiterate because of that. FYI, there are at least five other HOFs who write for Manila-based newspapers and magazines. 

But yes, I am the only newspaper columnist in the whole Western Visayas who can claim the Palanca HOF trademark. If you didn’t know that, well, you must be a real illiterate now. Haha! But seriously, how can I feign humility about that? 

I won my first Palanca award, a gold medal, in 1998. This year, 2016, I won my ninth gold medal, and my sixth consecutive gold since 2011. My literary career is very tied up to my triumphs at the Palanca Awards. Sure, my books are important, too, but it’s the awards that really gave me the confidence to continue and persevere in writing, and even venture into publication. 

In a very unusual way, too, my Palanca successes gave me this cocky accent, this haughty voice, this wicked writing stance for my newspaper columns. Because I am pretty literary — pretty and literary — I am always given much free rein (free reign, too!) in my column writing. And I milk it like absolute power corrupts.

But to be very honest, in the core of my core, in my heart of hearts, I am really just a most charming guy; shy even. But with only a sliver of humility. Because it is as I said, Humility is not my virtue. And sorry, it’s one of those things I just can’t afford! 

So, love me or hate me, but love me more.

Ilonggo writer sets record as first Filipino author in SIBF

Ilonggo writer and filmmaker Peter Solis Nery, dubbed as “multi-awarded Filipino author” by the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) in the United Arab Emirates, made history as the first Filipino author invited by the book fair in its 34 years of operation.

The SIBF, envisioned to strengthen Sharjah’s position as the literary and cultural capital of the Islamic and Arabic world, is the fourth largest in the world, and only until recently has started to invite foreign authors from Southeast Asia as cultural guests. In an international press release for Nery’s participation in the fair, it was noted that the decision to invite Filipino talents to the event was prompted by the big contingent of Filipino expats in the UAE.

Nery, a multi-awarded poet, playwright, fictionist, screenwriter, filmmaker, and Palanca Awards Hall of Fame honoree writing in English, Filipino and Hiligaynon, participated in four cultural events at the 2015 SIBF: poetry reading on Nov. 6, school visitation and lecture on Nov 8, panel discussion on Literature and Film on Nov. 9, followed by a book signing session.

Except for the visit in an all-Islamic girls school, all of Nery’s events at the Sharjah Expo Center were attended by Filipinos from the emirates of Dubai and Sharjah, mostly his kababayans from Dumangas and Iloilo City who came in flocks.

Aside from his “rockstar attitude,” which was described as “a breath of fresh air,” by the foreign press that has been covering the very conservative Arab book fair for years, Nery also wowed the crowd with his distinctively colorful and fashionable wardrobe.

Out of his participation in the book fair, Nery has received offers for his works to be translated into Arabic and Urdu, and to be included in World Literature courses. Activities of the Ilonggo author in the SIBF were also covered by the media from the Middle East, North Africa, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan, and several Filipino news agencies in the UAE.

Sharjah International Book Fair to feature award-winning Filipino writer, illustrator

DUBAI – Award-winning Filipino writer and poet Peter Solis Nery, and independent  Filipino artist and illustrator Kerby Rosanes, will be present at this year’s Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on November 4 to 14 at the emirate’s Expo Center.

Nery, hailing from Iloilo, has won numerous awards for his works, such as winning the Palanca Gold medal six times, an equivalent to the Pulitzer Prize in the Philippines. After his fifth win, in 2012, for “Punctuation,” a collection of Poetry for Children in English, he was recognized and became part of the Palanca Awards Hall of Fame. In 2013, he won another Palanca award for his short story on topics like his faith and the drought problem.

Rosanes, on the other hand, is a Philippines-based illustrator who turned into an Internet sensation with his Sketchy Stories Facebook page and over a million and a half subscribers. He is known for magically illustrating his “doodle” work with black fine liners into great art pieces.

Through his social media presence, the famous artist got the attention of big international brands like Ford and Nike.

Rosanes has been commissioned to do an adult coloring book called “Animorphia: An Extreme Coloring and Search Challenge” by UK publisher LOM Art. His first book, “Doodle Invasion” was produced by an independent publisher in Finland.

Nery will be taking part in the “Poetry Friday at SIBF” on November 6, at 6 p.m., while Rosanes will be joining a panel session called “Drawing a story: illustrators discuss their art and impact of the new coloring book phenomenon” on November 10, at 7:15 p.m.

“We are delighted to be able to bring these talented and revered artists to Sharjah. We have a strong Filipino contingent who visits the fair every year and we hope they will be excited to mix with their countrymen of such high reputation,” said Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, chairman of Sharjah Book Authority and director of the SIBF.

The SIBF was first launched in 1982 under the patronage of Sharjah Ruler Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi to manifest his vision to make the Emirate of Sharjah a beacon of culture and literature at both the Arab and global levels. The event aims to encourage everyone to read and fosters a love of books so that reading becomes a daily habit, by offering access to books in various disciplines of knowledge.

Famous Arab and International Screenwriters give tips at SIBF

Well-known writers of TV, film and novels took part in an interactive session at Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) yesterday (Monday) 2015 called "Colored Lights, Drama: From Text to Screen". Widad Al Kuwari, a renowned Qatari writer known as 'the engineer of Gulf drama' who has won numerous awards for her work; Khalid Al Bdoorn, an Emirati poet and screen writer; Anisul Hoque Bangladeshi screenwriter, novelist and playwright, and Peter Solis Nery, a popular Pilipino writer discussed the journey from text to screen.

Moderator, Mohammad Hamida opened the session saying, "All drama production is based fundamentally on a written text which can come in the form of a story, a novel or even a scenario that is exclusively prepared for visual production, and in order for the written text to move to the screen, they have to undergo a process." Hamida asked the panel, how does the director chose a particular novel and then present it as a cinematic vision in a way that goes beyond the text and show every aspect of the text?

Peter Solis Nery, who won the Palanca gold medal for his writing six times, said that it was impossible to get everything from text to screen in stories, "As a writer I would like my text to be adhered to but I know it's not always possible. You cannot cover everything that is in your story but you can be faithful to the story. Directors will spend time on a certain angle, think of an audience, make adjustments as he goes. So what you might envision as writer might not really come out as you expect."

Khalid Al Bdoorn agreed and said that the finished result is often very different from the written version. He said, "When you go from text to screen you move from the literary word to real people. The text will pass through many stages and many people to get to the end result. The material will be changed by actors, mixers, producers and directors and even camera men. Directors and producers look for good texts but the language of writing for screen is completely different then for literature, for cinema it must be written with the visual impact in mind."

Anisul Hoque, who has written hundreds of scripts for TV and film said, "When writing your script or novel you can do anything. You can send your character to the moon or have them complete incredible stunts, but in film you are dealing with reality and not fantasy, and so what can be done will be dependent on many other decisions like resources, money, and realism. You might set your story in winter but the filming takes place in summer, or have your character swim in an icy lake, but find the actor is unwilling to do this. So your material will go through changes that you as a writer have no control over."

Widad Al Kawwari said that there wasn't enough good material in the Arab world and that it was a big problem. She said, "A good actor cannot make bad material work and we have so few really creative directors in the Gulf region. Most directors do not add much to the text and also Arab TV channels encourage such low quality production because they consume so much material and this contributes to the deterioration of the medium in the Arab world. Al Bdoorn agreed and said that the failure of Arab TV drama was that director is separated from those who watch the content and therefore the content was of low quality.

The panelist said that the most important elements of writing for screen included good, well developed characters and an engaging story. "Good Arab TV drama is important as its influence can grow across continents and be good for tourism, industry, and politics", said Al Kuwari.