Volume by volume: collecting the works of Tony Perez -http://www.facebook.com/l/8ead9;INQUIRER.net, Philippine News forFilipinoshttp://www.facebook.com/l/8ead9;lifestyle.inquirer.net/artsandbooks/artsandbooks/view/20100412-263689/Volume-by-volume-collecting-the-works-of-Tony-Perez
POETRY, FICTION, PLAYS and essays are all utilized in the arsenal of Tony Perez when he crafts his works. Though he is a prolific playwright and has written a slew of books in English and Filipino that deal with various topics, Perez is more popularly known for his output on esoterica and the paranormal.He has a series of books, which includes “Mga Panibagong Kulam,” that teaches readers how to cast spells. Another series chronicles the experiences of the Spirit Questors, a group of psychics that communicate with paranormal entities, which he formed in 1996.He also has five books set in Cubao, where he has lived since 1955. Perez was born in Pampanga in 1951 but relocated as a young child.“My father was a colonel and set down roots in this area (near Camp Crame) that was allotted for military officers who served in Korea,” he says.Perez started writing in grade school, encouraged by his teachers. “They told me I should be a writer when I grow up. As a young child, it sort of stuck to my mind. I did end up as a writer,” he says.Many interestsPerez notes that his own interest in esoteric activities such as magic, shamanism, psychic powers and dreamwork stems from the fact that Filipinos have a natural affinity for the mystical. A rich heritage of folklore and mythology, and a deep connection with religion, he observes, provides breeding ground for Filipinos to connect with the paranormal.His passion for spiritual matters led him to pursue a master’s degree in Religious Studies. His thesis “Pagsubok sa Ilang: Ikaapat na Mukha ni Satanas,” an analysis of how Satan is portrayed by theologians, won the 2005 National Book Award for Theology and Religion.Aside from writing, Perez is also involved in the visual arts. He’s worked as a graphic designer, illustrator, art therapist and fabric artist (by way of knitting). He also paints and has worked with different media from watercolor to Cray-pas. He was named one of the Thirteen Artists of the Philippines by the Cultural Center of the Philippines back in 1972.All these years, he’d been doing all of his writing, esoteric work and painting while working at his day job at the Public Affairs section of the United States Embassy.“I have to pay the bills,” he says. In addition, he used to teach in several universities while pursuing a (yet to be completed) master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. The extremely heavy workload took its toll and he suffered a mild stroke in 2005.Collected worksPerez no longer teaches.“I had to give something up!” he says emphatically. He now spends his free time organizing his files towards the completion of a 40-volume set of his collected works.Volumes 1, 3, 4 and 5 have already been published. “The volumes won’t come out in chronological order because I’m not a good archivist,” he says.Lovers of theater and drama will be pleased to know that the volumes already out contain his plays. Volume 1, “Pagkamulat Sa Kastilyo: Tatlong Dulang Pambata,” includes “Tolda,” “Kwentong Baboy” and “Tagbituin”; while Volume 3, “Hibik Ni Amang-Hari: Mga Unang Dula,” includes “Hoy Boyet,” “Gabun” and “Anak ng Araw.”In 2008, he won the National Book Award for Drama for Volume 4, “Tatlong Paglalakbay: Tatlong Mahabang Dula,” which includes the trilogy “Bombita,” “Biyaheng Timog” and “Sa North Diversion Road.”Volume 5, “Limos na Tinapay,” contains psychological case studies and some early prose.AdviceOffering advice to aspiring playwrights, Perez says, “Many playwrights today start out writing plays with the ultimate objective of becoming a screenwriter. You just cannot do it that way. The theater is a very special medium and you can’t write for it when you want to write eventually for another medium.”He mourns the lack of material dealing with adult themes.“My adult plays are for audiences 30 years old and above. They understand my subject matter because they’ve gone through intense love, death, separation, giving compassion, poverty, hunger, getting married, giving birth, burying someone,” he says. “Most playwrights now write for elementary or high-school audiences because that’s where the market is.”“Don’t be limited by the notion that to be nationalistic, you have to write only in Filipino,” he says. “The Filipino now is a global person with a global audience. Young writers should write in English for their voices to be heard.”Perez also encourages young playwrights to widen their scope. “They only think of single plays. They don’t develop plays in the magnitude of trilogies or even writing in series,” he says. “We Filipinos should think big.”Volume 2, “Pagbabaguntao Sa Berbanya: Limang Usap-usapan,” which includes “Alex Antiporda,” “Sierra Lakes,” “Biyernes, 4:00 N.H.,” “Sacraments of The Dead” and “The Wayside Café”; and Volume 9, “Huling Tanawin Sa Bundok Ng Tabor: Three Journey Plays,” which anthologizes “Bombita,” “Trip to The South” and “On The North Diversion Road,” was recently launched at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex, University of Santo Tomas. Call 7313101 local 8252 or 8278.
Copyright 2010 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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.
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.
