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Rebyu: Mondomanila ni Norman Wilwayco

Ano ang halaga ng isang Palanca award? Para sa isang manunulat, marahil isa itong senyas na may sinasabi na siya bilang manunulat, o higit pa roon, bilang manlilikha. Ang paglikha ang pinakamahirap na trabaho ng isang manunulat. Hindi lang dugo at pawis ang ginugugol ng isang manunulat sa isang obra- ngunit oras. Ang oras, sa buhay ng isang ordinaryong manunulat na hindi naman nabiyayaan ng pamilyang singyaman ni Tony Boy Cojuangco man lamang, ay kailangang magsakripisyo ng oras, katas ng utak at walang hanggang pagsakit ng ulo. Kaya ang mga manunulat, madalas may mga tinatawag na “bisyo”. Si Pepe Smith, bata pa lang, kahit may interbyu hindi mabitawan ang sigarilyo. Si Nick Joaquin naman, beer ang kanyang “poison of choice”. more >>

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The Revolutionary Road of Norman Wilwayco in "Gerilya"

The infectious conviviality of the literati over Miguel Syjuco's win in last year's Man Asian Literary Prize for "Ilustrado" has stirred some new hopes and old inspiration among aspiring writers, finding optimism in foreign prizes and subsequent funding for publication. Not to offend our weak publishing industry, the Philippines is not really a very encouraging place for someone to be a writer - - no one becomes a writer here solely by profession - - because more than the necessity of artful expression, one must not forget the need to survive, to eat three meals a day, to live. While Syjuco is rest assured of getting himself a publisher - - a known publisher at the least - - fellow writer Norman Wilwayco, who won the Palanca for "Gerilya," is not even getting a muck of his success. A few months ago, he had put his novel online, available for everyone to download, for free. The ignorant may call that act "brave" and "revolutionary" but more than anything else, it is a sign of desperation initiated by a writer, who, despite his notoriety and prize-winning works, still has to wrestle with demons bigger than his own. In this terrible state of justice there can only be a profound pain to endure. more>>

Moymoy Palaboy In The House!

Gerilya Update

I was out skating the other night with the Bookay boys. My left foot still hurts from a previous injury. While resting I asked my agent how's the pre-ordering stuff going. He took his time, before he said, 'around 20 or so peeps have pre-ordered and paid for a copy'.

That gets me to think about this book really getting to be a major pain in our collective asses. For a moment, I put myself in his shoes. How hard it must be for him to sell something that doesn't even have a physical form, yet. All they have really is the name of the author and the palanca award as proofs that Gerilya is a great novel and deserves to be printed. These boys invade the facebook, multiply, friendster, etc. They post everywhere. From time to time, i receive barrages of texts/emails from these boys promoting the novel. They come up with several creative and outrageous promotional shit, all in the name of sellling something which they believe would be a great book.

For all their efforts, we got 20 or so orders. Way behind the targeted 200.

With my foot still injured, i have less time skating and more time to drink, smoke and just think/reflect. And I think/reflect about those 20 or so people who have pre-ordered and paid for a copy of my book and it makes me wonder how hard it must be for them to partake of their money trusting their instincts that this shit's gonna be a great book.

A critic said, referring to me, "how hard it must be for a writer (me) to write for someone who ignore him." I can see now that that's not the case. These 20 or so people took the effort to fill-up a form and actually pay for the book. Whatever their reasons, it's them. I don't feel ignored. To you 20 or so peeps, be patient. Hey, more than anything, I want the book printed too, the soonest possible. Fuck the launching. This shit's straight to the shelves.

But at the rate we're going, I am considering (although I hate this shit) to talk to some peeps who can help about the financing. I have a friend who's into several business ventures.

I am actually waiting for his call while writing this.

Gary Granada vs. GMA Kapuso

Gary Granada vs GMA Kapuso by dosomethingworthwhile

Mel Tiangco by the way buys designer bags.