It's U.S. Veterans Day, an Embassy holiday, but we don't mind coming in to work because Edward P. Jones is in town!
We are now at Albert Avellana's art gallery/compound. It's close to lunch time and I'm on artist Jun-Jun Sta. Ana's laptop; Jun-Jun has an amazing exhibit that you mustn't miss. Everyone is in the drawing room of Tower 3, conversing about slavery in the Philippines over sago at gulaman and chicharon.
A fun time for EPJ with young, Filipino visual artists: Albert Avellana, Jun-Jun Sta. Ana, Pidge Reyes, Ambie Abania, Bubut Caluya, Mon Diokno, Adjie Lizares, Carlomar Daoana, and Jojie Lloren.
Our lunch menu:
Okoy chips from the Swan
Pork Adobo
Monggo soup with ampalaya leaves and chicharon
Steamed vegetables with bagoong sauce
Chicken afritada
Creamdory ihaw with kamatis, sibuyas inside banana leaves
Steamed rice
Sago at gulaman in wine glasses
Banana turon with vanilla ice cream and choclate syrup
Iced tea/mineral water
All of this was cooked by the in-house gallery staff!
Pidge brought some evil, evil torta de los reyes from Aristocrat Restaurant!
Yum!
We just learned that EPJ managed to escape a Filipino massage last night. He was able to sleep from 11:30 PM - 6:00 AM.
I'm now on my laptop at home. Early this afternoon--the day still bright and sunny and the climate humid--we were at the Andrew Gonzales Building, De La Salle University, for EPJ's dialogue on The Known World with the Literature majors under Department Chair Gen Asenjo and IWP Exchange Alumnus Vince Groyon. On the way there I pointed out the lush bandera Espanola growing on the fringe of Roxas Boulevard. EPJ asked, "When was the last time it rained?"
Gen had an interesting anecdote to share. She applied for her U.S. visa last week. The consul at the window asked her to prove her status as Literature professor and asked her to name one American writer. She said, "Edward P. Jones." She was issued a ten-year visa. (Sorry, guys, this won't work a second time!)
Dinner was with Board Members of the Philippine P.E.N. International on the third floor of National Artist for Literature Frankie Sionil Jose's La Solidaridad. In attendance were current P.E.N. President Bien Lumbera, former P.E.N. President Elmer Ordonez, and Ricky Soler, Susan Lara, Shane Lumbera, Susie Tan, Shirley Lua, Charlson Ong, and Wendell Capili (who had awesome news for Charlson Ong about this year's National Book Awards). Ricky brought a whole trayful of his die-to-for paella, and Will had his favorite dragon fruit! Ever the compleat raconteur, FSJ regaled us with stories about Ermita, and facetiously encouraged me to give EPJ "a taste of night life in Manila." I demurred, saying that the Ambassador would surely have me assassinated the following morning.
The conversation verged on anti-Americanism and revolutions in the making. Some people had hard drinks from FSJ's well-stocked bar, but I chose to have my all-time favorite, soda water.
FSJ and Charlson gave EPJ copies of their own novels. EPJ must have autographed 50 books the entire day, all the way from the art gallery to La Solidaridad!
EPJ got his wish tonight. There was a heavy downpour--with lightning and thunder, to boot!
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