I remembered that one of the Facebook status I posted on my wall last night was about the how some people are undermining artists, especially in the province of Bohol. Those who do not give proper and just compensation, because, according to them, we are just ‘artists’. 

Some of these perpetrators are people I know, respectable ones at that. You would not expect they short-changed local artists. Some are paid really late, some are not all paid, some harassed and threatened, some sweet-talked into ‘i-libe mo na lang’ talks, some paid half the price of what the middleman was given, and so much more. 

It is a scary world out there. Not just of artists. It is a scary world for professionals and non-professionals in our province, because some are employed of their services below the minimum wage. Something that is all right because, according to the community radio, the powers-that-be are rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. Some turn a blind eye over this injustice. 

When is enough, enough?

And oh, I forgot, my brother, Paul Joseph, his swab test result was negative! Praise God! Freedom feels nearer to home.

Due to unforeseen events, I had a problem with my internet signal again. Our family decided to impose self-quarantine while awaiting the swab result of my younger brother who had fever and hard cough. But, such would not be a hindrance to fully participate in Session 3 of Basic Playwriting 1 as I am determined to attend each session.

Teacher J-mee Katanyag reminded everyone at the start of the session of the writing house rules. It was a good start to all participants who were shy or somehow felt awkward sharing their outputs. We looked up on what should be the checklist when writing a script. Four main things to remember when writing were: character, setting, conflict and plot; aside from the other areas that we should also factor in. 

We also run through the different elements of drama; that here should be an opening, a middle, and an end. I enjoyed the discussion about the script, its parameters, writing for performance as well as the tone and tense. 

I realized that a good writer should be as imaginative as she can be and write something that can be felt in reality. A writer should be like a sponge, for ideas to come in and write something that touches the heart or create several emotions. 

We were given our assignment for the week, to write a 1-3 page version of the chosen form of performance piece in script format. I pray I can muster the courage to write this. 

All these writing exercises we are having will help us with our goal, to write something for performance. So, I will give my all even if I do not know what to write yet. 

The thought of not being able to write that one script, continues to be a fear. But, as all writers have such worries, I will focus on what I can do, on what I want to write about, on what story needs to be told thru performance.

kundi tumunganga

mapapatingin sa malayo

habang katabi ang mahal ko

Wala siyang ginawa 

para maramdaman ko ito

ang pag-uulila na parang 

ang lalim, ang dilim, ang bigat

Paano ko sasabihin

sa kanya, sa sarili ko 

na wala na, wala na

wala na ang pagmamahal

Na nabuo, nahubog

sa dalawang taon

na naging kami

pero susuko rin pala ako 

Tama na, ayoko 

huwag na nating pahabain 

ang mga taon

paalam, Mahal Ko. 

#AmorMariaVistalPoetry

* While doing overtime work today, I suddenly had the urge to write a poem, in Tagalog.