Si LQS...(Part 1)

yesterday I was afforded a rare opportunity to meet one of the brilliant minds of Philippine Literature. this encounter is an example of how serendipity and persistence combine to make a worthwhile experience.

First, the serendipity part: On assignment in our Contemporary Philippine History subject to conduct an interview exploring a certain period of Contemporary Philippines, our group decided to concentrate our efforts on researching on the Martial Law Period - with a "special focus" on literature.

A few days ago, we were still unsure how to proceed with the topic that we had chosen. As I have stated in my previous blog, we still have to figure out whom we should interview. We were told that UP is literally crowding with writers who were active during the Martial Law Period but the problem is none of us knew any who might be willing.

Here's where SERENDIPITY struck: Monday of the previous week, one of our groupmates, Krisdel brought with her a student research paper detailing the works of three women writers during Martial Law. And from the three, one name stood out: Lilia Quindoza Santiago...

The reason why we chose her is that based on the interview conducted by the student researchers in their work, she had actual experience of participating in the so called "underground movement", and have had to live in the mountains for several months before being captured and "man-handled" by the military; she has gone through a lot as a member of the underground and we felt that her unique perspective is what our research needed.

And so we did the research on our "target". Only when I have seen the books that she has written and read some of her works did I begin to appreciate that the person that we are about to meet is one "makatang de-kalibre". Dr. Santiago (a.k.a. LQS) is a feminist writer and many of her works touched on poetry with a "feminist touch"; her works on the discourse of feminist literature is a critical and revisionist look at how the role of women was viewed throughout history. I have read her two books of poetry and it an enlightening read - feminist poetry has a different perspective, a different "approach" when compared to the male, "macho" literature prevalent during the Martial Law Period. From her studies of radical literature I found several "gemstones" of protest poetry: from Pete Lacaba's "Prometheus Unbound" and "In Memoriam" to Jose Ma. Sison's "The Forest is still Enchanted", to Jose V. Vitug and Emmanuel Lacaba's works as well as the poetry of their other compatriots - writers both male and female, known and unknown, those who lost their lives in the struggle and those who survived to carry on.

Reading on LQS' works has already been enlightening, can't wait to meet her in person...and this is where PERSISTENCE comes in...

We were supposed to meet LQS during her book launching Thursday last week. That was the only time she was available in the University for she is currently on leave and will be going to the University of Hawaii next month -- our "target" might slip out of our sights if we don't get to her soon...challenge ni...we were supposed to be there as a group -- ang ending ako lang kag si Carlo, another groupmate, ang nag-attend sang book launching.

And so we had to sit there at C.M. Recto Hall for about 2 hours listening to LQS lecture on what she called "Daduma(sic) Pay" translated: "At Iba Pa" -- other perspectives in viewing Philippine Literature from Ancient until Present times. She spoke for about 40 minutes, and the impression I got was that LQS is a mild-mannered, soft spoken woman whose years of experience and her literary expertise did not make her an intimidating figure. This impression was confirmed when I approached her after the event and asked if we could interview her. Carlo was gone at this point for he had a class, and so here I was, the lone messenger of our group, facing LQS, Professor of Filipino and Philippine Literature, accomplished writer and literary critic, "makatang de-kalibre".....


to be continued....may class pa 'ko eh. hehehe


Stand Alone 1.09