My leather-bound "Ichabod Crane" journal and brass-ferrule dip pen with peacock feathers on top of my "Virginia Woolfe" writing tablet, replete with ink holder, vintage ink bottle--and rose cyclamen ink! The tablet was especially created for me by antique dealer and restorer Gerry Esposo, father of Lady, a former college student of mine.

2006 Book-Signing at Tiendesitas, Pasig City, sponsored by Anvil Publishing, Inc. Photo by fellow-writer and colleague Boy Martin. My writing "paraphernalia," as Boy calls them, from Left to Right: portable neo-classical mahogany campaign desk organizer with miniature drawers and shelves; paraffin oil lamp; silver seal ring; goose-feather quill pen; brass Italian monogram seal; tin box of sealing wax sticks, Sailor ink bottle with orange fountain pen ink; and portable campaign writing box; all on top of my green satin gypsy tablecloth embroidered with gold stars. I bring my own cloth because co-sponsors are alarmed whenever I spill sealing wax and fountain pen ink.

In this photo I am signing a book for Boy, wearing my signature antique "vampire" bat ring with a black star sapphire from Khabul. A fan is reading a volume from my Sitio Catacutan Series in the background. Yes, I do wear glasses when I read, write, and paint, but I can manage without distance glasses.

After signing this book Boy and I had a long conversation about our country's current political and economic situation, and how the efforts of our classmates Emman Lacaba, Bill Begg, and company, who were tortured and killed during the early martial law years, seem to have come to naught.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Cubao Midnight Express: Mga Pusong Nadiskaril Sa Mahabang Riles Ng Pag-ibig
by Tony Perez
Rated 4 stars
“I love Tony Perez's writing. This book is no exception. It's a collection of stories of the heart. And the stories are often tragic. Published in the late 80s to early 90s, Perez's book is "experimental" compared with other Filipino books of his time. He often plays with the format of his stories in this book. One of the stories is told through a memo correspondence by two employees. While another story includes a greeting card stuck on one of the pages. ”
rommelj wrote this review Saturday, October 13 2007. ( reply permalink )