Will picked up Edward P. Jones at the Ambassador's residence and brought him to the Manila International Airport at 5:00 AM. "Any quotable quotes?" I asked Will later. "No," Will replied. "That's what happens at 5:00 AM."
Oh, well, this is not the end. Like the heart in Titanic this blog site will go on and on.
Goodbye for now, EPJ! Thank you for embracing the Philippines and for your stories of poverty and oppression. We embrace you back!
We know that we shall meet again soon.
E-mail message from Will sent at 12:24 PM:
"This morning, I saw Mr. Jones safely off at the airport. It was a long visit, and we worked him to the brink of exhaustion, but on the whole it went very well.
"Thank you to everyone who helped make the visit a success.
"Cheers,
"Will Cocks
Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer
U.S. Embassy Manila"
Friday, November 18, 2011
The Edward P. Jones Roadshow Schedule - Day 10
Friday, November 18
Day 3 of "The Great Philippine Book Cafe" at Ayala Museum.
Edward had a TV interview for ANC on the festival site. Lexi Schulze conducted the interview for Cityscape, a weekly lifestyle magazine that airs on ANC every Friday at 9:30 PM (tonight) with replays every Saturday at 1:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 8:00 PM, and 10:30 PM (tomorrow). This interview was arranged by our Information Section, with special thanks to our Information Officer Tina Malone and Information Specialist Adrian Ayalin and Information Assistant Angie Cabahug.
11:00 AM - 12:30 NN: "A Conversation with Edward P. Jones," moderated by Ruel S. De Vera, associate editor of The Sunday Inquirer Magazine. Fifty festival participants were in attendance (we'd requested a maximum of 15). After the interview, people lined up for autographs and photographs. We met Vietnamese writer Que Mai again; she had more of EPJ's books for her friends "for Christmas," and had more photos taken of EPJ and herself.
Lunch was at Myron's, Glorietta 5. EPJ, Will, Ruey De Vera, and I sat down at a scrumptious lunch hosted by National Book Development Board officers Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz and Andrea Pasion-Flores. EPJ had breaded shrimp (again) and onion rings. I had "Deconstructed Tuna"--you MUST try this.
2:30 - 4:00 PM: Tea with the Board Members of the American Studies Association of the Philippines at Mary Grace Restaurant, Serendra, Global City. Robin Diallo joined us for this event; ASAP is holding its Annual Assembly on December 8, focusing on the works of EPJ; our Cultural Affairs Officer, Alan Holst, will be giving opening remarks and Robin, the closing. We are considering the possibility of holding a teleconference or Skype conference with EPJ that day (that night, his time).
Laden with gifts from his new friends, we brought EPJ back to the Ambassador's residence in the afternoon. We couldn't believe, his program had ended!
I hugged EPJ and told him how much I love him.
Lucky Will--he gets to see EPJ again tomorrow, when he takes him to the airport.
Day 3 of "The Great Philippine Book Cafe" at Ayala Museum.
Edward had a TV interview for ANC on the festival site. Lexi Schulze conducted the interview for Cityscape, a weekly lifestyle magazine that airs on ANC every Friday at 9:30 PM (tonight) with replays every Saturday at 1:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 8:00 PM, and 10:30 PM (tomorrow). This interview was arranged by our Information Section, with special thanks to our Information Officer Tina Malone and Information Specialist Adrian Ayalin and Information Assistant Angie Cabahug.
11:00 AM - 12:30 NN: "A Conversation with Edward P. Jones," moderated by Ruel S. De Vera, associate editor of The Sunday Inquirer Magazine. Fifty festival participants were in attendance (we'd requested a maximum of 15). After the interview, people lined up for autographs and photographs. We met Vietnamese writer Que Mai again; she had more of EPJ's books for her friends "for Christmas," and had more photos taken of EPJ and herself.
Lunch was at Myron's, Glorietta 5. EPJ, Will, Ruey De Vera, and I sat down at a scrumptious lunch hosted by National Book Development Board officers Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz and Andrea Pasion-Flores. EPJ had breaded shrimp (again) and onion rings. I had "Deconstructed Tuna"--you MUST try this.
2:30 - 4:00 PM: Tea with the Board Members of the American Studies Association of the Philippines at Mary Grace Restaurant, Serendra, Global City. Robin Diallo joined us for this event; ASAP is holding its Annual Assembly on December 8, focusing on the works of EPJ; our Cultural Affairs Officer, Alan Holst, will be giving opening remarks and Robin, the closing. We are considering the possibility of holding a teleconference or Skype conference with EPJ that day (that night, his time).
Laden with gifts from his new friends, we brought EPJ back to the Ambassador's residence in the afternoon. We couldn't believe, his program had ended!
I hugged EPJ and told him how much I love him.
Lucky Will--he gets to see EPJ again tomorrow, when he takes him to the airport.
The Edward P. Jones Roadshow Schedule - Day 9
Thursday, November 17
Morning session at University of Asia & the Pacific with 15 Literature faculty members and majors. Edward P. Jones read the first few pages of one of his stories in All Aunt Hagar's Children. I happened to have my autographed copy with me and followed the text while he was reading. When EPJ reads from his own work, he skips paragraphs and phrases, and changes words on the spot, depending on the audience he's with!
A long discussion on creative writing and EPJ's works followed, and then lunch with the faculty and students, Filipino playwright and historian Dr. Paul A. Dumol, and two officials of UA&P. The university gave EPJ a saddle leather wallet as a token.
We proceeded to the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, where we met docent Billy and board member Cora Alvina (who was touring guests from the Embassy of Finland). Billy gave us a tour of the current Picasso exhibit on the ground floor, the ancient gold and pottery collections in the basement, the works of old masters on the ground floor, the new exhibit Conscripcion on the upper floor (co-curated by Ino Manalo), and the photo exhibit sponsored by the Embassy of Spain in the tall gallery. I so wanted to purchase two pairs of ancient-gold-reproduction earrings in the Museum Shop (yes, for myself; in the basement Billy informed EPJ and Will that "in ancient times, Filipino men wore earrings," to which I replied, "But they know that already"). I simply have to furtively return to the Museum Shop at some point in the future.
The evening found us in the activity center at the National Book Store branch in Glorietta 5. We were met by branch manager Vangie and events coordinator James. I love the way Marketing Director Miguel Ramos and James arranged the activity center: EPJ's poster and books were on display at the entrance, and two tall tarpaulins flanked the stage. Xandra Ramos-Padilla welcomed the guests (seats for 30 were available; a total of 60 were in the audience). Will conducted an interview with EPJ. Everyone then lined up for autographs (most of them not only with one book but stacks of books) and photographs. EPJ always looks his fans in the eye, converses with them, and ensures that he knows something about them before actually signing his books for them. One of his fans even brought out photos and press clippings of her grandfather (who graduated at Silliman University) and showed them to EPJ.
A TV interview, arranged by NBS, ensued on the stage.
The surprise of the evening: Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr., himself came to pick up EPJ for a dinner appointment. HKT actually bought some of EPJ's books to give away as gifts during the dinner. Xandra gave EPJ copies of the latest editions of the Noli and the Fili, plus other Filipiniana (in English, naturally).
More photographs, this time with the Ambassador.
Since the Ambassador took EPJ away to The Outback Steak House in Alabang (I am not allowed to tell anyone where he was taken LAST NIGHT), Will and I went home together.
Yes, your suspicion is right: I couldn't help buying three pairs of earrings from the antiques kiosks on the ground floor. I felt, it was the best way to end my day.
Morning session at University of Asia & the Pacific with 15 Literature faculty members and majors. Edward P. Jones read the first few pages of one of his stories in All Aunt Hagar's Children. I happened to have my autographed copy with me and followed the text while he was reading. When EPJ reads from his own work, he skips paragraphs and phrases, and changes words on the spot, depending on the audience he's with!
A long discussion on creative writing and EPJ's works followed, and then lunch with the faculty and students, Filipino playwright and historian Dr. Paul A. Dumol, and two officials of UA&P. The university gave EPJ a saddle leather wallet as a token.
We proceeded to the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, where we met docent Billy and board member Cora Alvina (who was touring guests from the Embassy of Finland). Billy gave us a tour of the current Picasso exhibit on the ground floor, the ancient gold and pottery collections in the basement, the works of old masters on the ground floor, the new exhibit Conscripcion on the upper floor (co-curated by Ino Manalo), and the photo exhibit sponsored by the Embassy of Spain in the tall gallery. I so wanted to purchase two pairs of ancient-gold-reproduction earrings in the Museum Shop (yes, for myself; in the basement Billy informed EPJ and Will that "in ancient times, Filipino men wore earrings," to which I replied, "But they know that already"). I simply have to furtively return to the Museum Shop at some point in the future.
The evening found us in the activity center at the National Book Store branch in Glorietta 5. We were met by branch manager Vangie and events coordinator James. I love the way Marketing Director Miguel Ramos and James arranged the activity center: EPJ's poster and books were on display at the entrance, and two tall tarpaulins flanked the stage. Xandra Ramos-Padilla welcomed the guests (seats for 30 were available; a total of 60 were in the audience). Will conducted an interview with EPJ. Everyone then lined up for autographs (most of them not only with one book but stacks of books) and photographs. EPJ always looks his fans in the eye, converses with them, and ensures that he knows something about them before actually signing his books for them. One of his fans even brought out photos and press clippings of her grandfather (who graduated at Silliman University) and showed them to EPJ.
A TV interview, arranged by NBS, ensued on the stage.
The surprise of the evening: Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr., himself came to pick up EPJ for a dinner appointment. HKT actually bought some of EPJ's books to give away as gifts during the dinner. Xandra gave EPJ copies of the latest editions of the Noli and the Fili, plus other Filipiniana (in English, naturally).
More photographs, this time with the Ambassador.
Since the Ambassador took EPJ away to The Outback Steak House in Alabang (I am not allowed to tell anyone where he was taken LAST NIGHT), Will and I went home together.
Yes, your suspicion is right: I couldn't help buying three pairs of earrings from the antiques kiosks on the ground floor. I felt, it was the best way to end my day.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tina Cuyugan's Article for "The Philippine Star"
Pulitzer-winning fictionist Edward P. Jones visits the Philippines
by Tina Cuyugan
In 2003, the American literary world was astounded by the appearance of The Known World, a novel about 19th-century slavery, in particular about African-Americans who themselves owned slaves.
Its middle-aged author, Edward P. Jones, had drawn the attention of a handful of reviewers ten years earlier with a collection of short stories, after which almost nothing had been heard of him.
It turns out that for most of that decade, Jones had been fashioning—in his head, hardly putting a word on paper—one of the most poetic and richly realized American historical novels of recent times.
The Known World explores, movingly and relentlessly, the terrible implications of a human being owned by another.
Accolades and prizes quickly followed its publication, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. The novelist Peter Matthiessen described it as “a strong, intricate, daring book by a writer of deep compassion and uncommon gifts.”
Jones, who is in the Philippines for the 2nd Manila International Literary Festival, turns out to be a courtly, self-contained man who lights up when speaking of his imaginative world and the craft of writing.
He was brought up in Washington , D.C. , by a working single mother whose hard life ended before her son’s literary success came to pass.
“We moved house 18 times in 18 years,” he recalls of his early life. The Known World is dedicated to his brother and to his mother Jeanette “who could have done much more in a better world.”
Although he insists that all his characters are fiction, his two extraordinary collections of short stories of the modern era, Lost In the City (1992) and All Aunt Hagar’s Children (2006), are set in readily identifiable streets in Washington , D.C.
This is not the federal Washington of gleaming public buildings, but of largely African-American districts that grew from the successive waves of migrants from the rural south.
Like many Filipino probinsiyanos, or their parents, who have made their way to Manila nursing hopes of a better life, but instead have found themselves barely able to survive, the characters in these stories lead lives “of quiet desperation,” as Jones says, taking a line from Thoreau.
Within this world, a minute wrong decision or seemingly inconsequential twist of fate can unravel lives and loves beyond repair, setting off a chain reaction that cuts through generations.
In “A Rich Man,” a pensioned widower’s flirtation with a younger woman leads to a downward spiral of drugs and degradation. In “The Store,” a shop owner who provides refuge and a rare and unsentimental love to an angry young man she hires as a clerk is ostracized by the community after accidentally running over a little girl.
“I don’t do happy well,” says Jones, dryly, when asked about the bleak fate that befalls many of his characters and their loves.
In the hands of a lesser writer, it would be all too grim, but Jones’ mastery of his imagined world, his delicacy of perception and language, and his fierce empathy imbue these small, messy and fleeting lives with resonance and poignancy.
As a teenager, Jones had a vague idea he wanted “to work in the Post Office, something like that.” But like almost all good writers, he was a first a reader, and was drawn to American southern fictionists whose books spoke directly to his experience. This was followed by the notion of becoming a writer himself.
A college course on the Bible as literature was also a revelation; it taught him, among other things, the impact of using pared-down, sonorous language to describe horrific events.
Despite being an author with prizes to his name and an international following, Jones leads a hermetic existence, apparently not very different from the two decades he spent earning a living as the editor of an obscure newsletter—now defunct—for accountants.
“I sit on the floor, I sleep on the floor,” Jones says. He does watch movies and news (and recalls following accounts of our late president, Corazon Aquino). He doesn’t do Facebook.
He has grown accustomed to interviews and making public appearances when necessary, and has taught creative writing, but one has a strong sense that the only world that truly engages him is the one that continues to evolve in his amazing imagination.
Jones, who is visiting the Philippines under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy, has been meeting with local writers at universities in Manila and Dumaguete City .
He will hold a book signing at National Bookstore and speak at the 2nd Manila International Literary Festival at the Ayala Museum , Makati , November 16-18, along with Junot Diaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Details at www.manilaliteraryfestival.com. ###
by Tina Cuyugan
In 2003, the American literary world was astounded by the appearance of The Known World, a novel about 19th-century slavery, in particular about African-Americans who themselves owned slaves.
Its middle-aged author, Edward P. Jones, had drawn the attention of a handful of reviewers ten years earlier with a collection of short stories, after which almost nothing had been heard of him.
It turns out that for most of that decade, Jones had been fashioning—in his head, hardly putting a word on paper—one of the most poetic and richly realized American historical novels of recent times.
The Known World explores, movingly and relentlessly, the terrible implications of a human being owned by another.
Accolades and prizes quickly followed its publication, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. The novelist Peter Matthiessen described it as “a strong, intricate, daring book by a writer of deep compassion and uncommon gifts.”
Jones, who is in the Philippines for the 2nd Manila International Literary Festival, turns out to be a courtly, self-contained man who lights up when speaking of his imaginative world and the craft of writing.
He was brought up in Washington , D.C. , by a working single mother whose hard life ended before her son’s literary success came to pass.
“We moved house 18 times in 18 years,” he recalls of his early life. The Known World is dedicated to his brother and to his mother Jeanette “who could have done much more in a better world.”
Although he insists that all his characters are fiction, his two extraordinary collections of short stories of the modern era, Lost In the City (1992) and All Aunt Hagar’s Children (2006), are set in readily identifiable streets in Washington , D.C.
This is not the federal Washington of gleaming public buildings, but of largely African-American districts that grew from the successive waves of migrants from the rural south.
Like many Filipino probinsiyanos, or their parents, who have made their way to Manila nursing hopes of a better life, but instead have found themselves barely able to survive, the characters in these stories lead lives “of quiet desperation,” as Jones says, taking a line from Thoreau.
Within this world, a minute wrong decision or seemingly inconsequential twist of fate can unravel lives and loves beyond repair, setting off a chain reaction that cuts through generations.
In “A Rich Man,” a pensioned widower’s flirtation with a younger woman leads to a downward spiral of drugs and degradation. In “The Store,” a shop owner who provides refuge and a rare and unsentimental love to an angry young man she hires as a clerk is ostracized by the community after accidentally running over a little girl.
“I don’t do happy well,” says Jones, dryly, when asked about the bleak fate that befalls many of his characters and their loves.
In the hands of a lesser writer, it would be all too grim, but Jones’ mastery of his imagined world, his delicacy of perception and language, and his fierce empathy imbue these small, messy and fleeting lives with resonance and poignancy.
As a teenager, Jones had a vague idea he wanted “to work in the Post Office, something like that.” But like almost all good writers, he was a first a reader, and was drawn to American southern fictionists whose books spoke directly to his experience. This was followed by the notion of becoming a writer himself.
A college course on the Bible as literature was also a revelation; it taught him, among other things, the impact of using pared-down, sonorous language to describe horrific events.
Despite being an author with prizes to his name and an international following, Jones leads a hermetic existence, apparently not very different from the two decades he spent earning a living as the editor of an obscure newsletter—now defunct—for accountants.
“I sit on the floor, I sleep on the floor,” Jones says. He does watch movies and news (and recalls following accounts of our late president, Corazon Aquino). He doesn’t do Facebook.
He has grown accustomed to interviews and making public appearances when necessary, and has taught creative writing, but one has a strong sense that the only world that truly engages him is the one that continues to evolve in his amazing imagination.
Jones, who is visiting the Philippines under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy, has been meeting with local writers at universities in Manila and Dumaguete City .
He will hold a book signing at National Bookstore and speak at the 2nd Manila International Literary Festival at the Ayala Museum , Makati , November 16-18, along with Junot Diaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Details at www.manilaliteraryfestival.com. ###
The Edward P. Jones Roadshow Schedule - Day 8
Wednesday, November 16
Opening Day of Manila International Literary Festival's "The Great Philippine Book Cafe" at Ayala Museum, organized by the National Book Development Board! Program partners for this three-day event are the NBDB, the Embassy of the U.S.A. in Manila, Philippine Airlines, Filipinas Heritage Library, The Book Development Association of the Philippines, Inc., Penguin Books, Vibal Foundation, The Manila Bulletin, Central Books, and Ayala Museum.
An international crowd of approximately three hundred attended the opening. To be honored this day were Pulitzer Prize winners Edward P. Jones (The Known World) and Junot Diaz (The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao). Other writers to be featured over the entire festival are Holly Thompson (U.S.A.), Rachel Kahan (U.S.A.), Jayapriya Vasudevan (India), Ravi Mirchandani (UK), and Priya Doraswamy (U.S.A.).
I'm not posting the festival's kilometric schedule here, only the 10:30 AM - 12:00 NN session "Writing from the Margins: Writers from Minority Background on Writing for a Mainstream Audience within the Mainstream of American Publishing" showcasing EPJ and Junot Diaz. Sarge Lacuesta (one of Post's IWP at Iowa University exchange alumni) introduced Junot, Vince Groyon (also one of Post's IWP at Iowa University exchange alumni, as I'd mentioned in a previous posting) introduced EPJ and moderated his dialogue with the audience. After their individual presentations, both EPJ and Junot led an open forum.
Fans of EPJ and Junot lined up for autographs (and the inevitable photo-ops). A woman named Que Mai had flown in all the way from Vietnam just to have her book signed by EPJ; I took photos of them together on her cell phone camera.
National Book Store and Filipinas Heritage Library had book sales displays. PEOPLE WERE BUYING BOOKS!
I observed something totally new to me: EPJ and Junot can autograph books WHILE STANDING. In the Philippines, when authors are approached for autographs, they usually look for a chair to sit in (if not a table as well to write on).
Lunch for EPJ and Junot, hosted by the National Book Development Board, was held on the upper floor of Via Mare's Oyster Bar in Greenbelt 3. Our hosts included lechon kawali among the dishes in case the Ambassador would arrive, which was highly unlikely because today was Secretary of State Hilary Clinton's major activity day elsewhere in Metro Manila.
It was wonderful having two Pulitzer Prize winners dining in one room together. Yes, before we sat down at table, I shamelessly had my photo taken BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
After lunch we proceeded (without Junot, who had an independent but similarly hectic schedule constructed for him) to the Cultural Center of the Philippines. We were met at the entrance by Bernie Abella, Head of International Linkages, and Ed Cabagnot, Division Chief of Media Arts. We called on President Raul Sunico and Artistic Director Chris Millado. Ed gave EPJ and Will a tour of the CCP.
At the CCP's Dream Theater, EPJ and Will screened the independent film Nino. An interaction followed over tea with producer/director Loy Arcenas, producer/writer Raymond Lee, producer/writer Gay Domingo, writer Rody Vera, and producer/director and columnist for The Philippine Daily Inquirer Rica Arevalo. Hermie Beltran, Division Chief for Literary Arts, and Vicky Belarmino and Minda Casagan, Media Arts cultural officers, joined the dialogue-discussion, which was held in the Little Theater Lobby.
Will, a Literature major, made many new friends for the Embassy today.
As for myself, I can't believe that, after all the program preparations we made, which seemed like forever, we are having EPJ for ONLY TWO DAYS more. After dinner last night, as a matter of fact, Will turned to me and said, "Do your realize, that was our last dinner with Edward?"
I know that we shall miss EPJ after he leaves the Philippines.
Opening Day of Manila International Literary Festival's "The Great Philippine Book Cafe" at Ayala Museum, organized by the National Book Development Board! Program partners for this three-day event are the NBDB, the Embassy of the U.S.A. in Manila, Philippine Airlines, Filipinas Heritage Library, The Book Development Association of the Philippines, Inc., Penguin Books, Vibal Foundation, The Manila Bulletin, Central Books, and Ayala Museum.
An international crowd of approximately three hundred attended the opening. To be honored this day were Pulitzer Prize winners Edward P. Jones (The Known World) and Junot Diaz (The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao). Other writers to be featured over the entire festival are Holly Thompson (U.S.A.), Rachel Kahan (U.S.A.), Jayapriya Vasudevan (India), Ravi Mirchandani (UK), and Priya Doraswamy (U.S.A.).
I'm not posting the festival's kilometric schedule here, only the 10:30 AM - 12:00 NN session "Writing from the Margins: Writers from Minority Background on Writing for a Mainstream Audience within the Mainstream of American Publishing" showcasing EPJ and Junot Diaz. Sarge Lacuesta (one of Post's IWP at Iowa University exchange alumni) introduced Junot, Vince Groyon (also one of Post's IWP at Iowa University exchange alumni, as I'd mentioned in a previous posting) introduced EPJ and moderated his dialogue with the audience. After their individual presentations, both EPJ and Junot led an open forum.
Fans of EPJ and Junot lined up for autographs (and the inevitable photo-ops). A woman named Que Mai had flown in all the way from Vietnam just to have her book signed by EPJ; I took photos of them together on her cell phone camera.
National Book Store and Filipinas Heritage Library had book sales displays. PEOPLE WERE BUYING BOOKS!
I observed something totally new to me: EPJ and Junot can autograph books WHILE STANDING. In the Philippines, when authors are approached for autographs, they usually look for a chair to sit in (if not a table as well to write on).
Lunch for EPJ and Junot, hosted by the National Book Development Board, was held on the upper floor of Via Mare's Oyster Bar in Greenbelt 3. Our hosts included lechon kawali among the dishes in case the Ambassador would arrive, which was highly unlikely because today was Secretary of State Hilary Clinton's major activity day elsewhere in Metro Manila.
It was wonderful having two Pulitzer Prize winners dining in one room together. Yes, before we sat down at table, I shamelessly had my photo taken BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
After lunch we proceeded (without Junot, who had an independent but similarly hectic schedule constructed for him) to the Cultural Center of the Philippines. We were met at the entrance by Bernie Abella, Head of International Linkages, and Ed Cabagnot, Division Chief of Media Arts. We called on President Raul Sunico and Artistic Director Chris Millado. Ed gave EPJ and Will a tour of the CCP.
At the CCP's Dream Theater, EPJ and Will screened the independent film Nino. An interaction followed over tea with producer/director Loy Arcenas, producer/writer Raymond Lee, producer/writer Gay Domingo, writer Rody Vera, and producer/director and columnist for The Philippine Daily Inquirer Rica Arevalo. Hermie Beltran, Division Chief for Literary Arts, and Vicky Belarmino and Minda Casagan, Media Arts cultural officers, joined the dialogue-discussion, which was held in the Little Theater Lobby.
Will, a Literature major, made many new friends for the Embassy today.
As for myself, I can't believe that, after all the program preparations we made, which seemed like forever, we are having EPJ for ONLY TWO DAYS more. After dinner last night, as a matter of fact, Will turned to me and said, "Do your realize, that was our last dinner with Edward?"
I know that we shall miss EPJ after he leaves the Philippines.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Edward P. Jones Roadshow Schedule - Day 7
Tuesday, November 15
We checked out of La Residencia Hotel at 12:25 noon. Dwight, our assigned driver, took us to the airport area. (Five minutes later Eve text-messaged me that she and her co-faculty members came to the hotel at 12:30 sharp to give Edward a surprise goodbye; fifteen minutes later Ian text-messaged me the same.) We had a bite to eat at The Oasis, in front of historic Saint Paul University. Edward had fried, breaded shrimp for lunch.
Our flight back to Manila was slightly delayed but we were in good spirits. It rained when we touched down at Terminal 3. Edward said, "I love the rain."
We proceeded to Barbara's Restaurant in Intramuros in our travel T-shirts and arrived on time for Public Affairs Officer Robin Diallo's reception in honor of both Edward and Junot Diaz (Junot sent word that he couldn't come because of his back problem but that he would be at The Great Philippine Book Cafe the next morning).
This reception was an excellent get-together for our program partners to meet and know one another. We were all honored to have, in alphabetical order: Walter Ang of The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gen Asenjo of De La Salle University, Albert Avellana of the Avellana Art Gallery, Karina Bolasco of Anvil Publishing Inc., Edward Cabagnot of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tina Cuyugan of Asian Development Bank, Isagani Cruz of Manila Critics Circle, Andrea Flores of the National Book Development Board, Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz of the National Book Development Board, National Artist Frankie and Tessie Sionil Jose, Sandra Ramos-Padilla of National Book Store, Racelle Weimann of The Holocaust Museum (Washington, D.C.), and Dee Anne Zobel of the Zobel Foundation.
Our most special guest of honor was the Ambassador himself--Harry K. Thomas, Jr.--who took time out from his hectic schedule. (Secretary Hilary Clinton is in town for a SecState Visit.)
Our buffet was Spanish-Filipino. The evening included a spectacular cultural presentation of ethnic Filipino dances. Robin and Will danced the tinikling!
I hit the sack at 12:00 midnight. I mustn't forget to thank my colleagues who were mostly in the background but were working double time both for the Edward P. Jones Roadshow and the SecState Visit: Teen Andrade, Bing Limlingan, Joy Pasandalan, Manny Domingo, and all of the Motor Pool drivers assigned to take us around.
If I've forgotten to mention anyone, forgive me; I shall remember to do so at another point in time during this program.
"Tomorrow is another day!"
We checked out of La Residencia Hotel at 12:25 noon. Dwight, our assigned driver, took us to the airport area. (Five minutes later Eve text-messaged me that she and her co-faculty members came to the hotel at 12:30 sharp to give Edward a surprise goodbye; fifteen minutes later Ian text-messaged me the same.) We had a bite to eat at The Oasis, in front of historic Saint Paul University. Edward had fried, breaded shrimp for lunch.
Our flight back to Manila was slightly delayed but we were in good spirits. It rained when we touched down at Terminal 3. Edward said, "I love the rain."
We proceeded to Barbara's Restaurant in Intramuros in our travel T-shirts and arrived on time for Public Affairs Officer Robin Diallo's reception in honor of both Edward and Junot Diaz (Junot sent word that he couldn't come because of his back problem but that he would be at The Great Philippine Book Cafe the next morning).
This reception was an excellent get-together for our program partners to meet and know one another. We were all honored to have, in alphabetical order: Walter Ang of The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gen Asenjo of De La Salle University, Albert Avellana of the Avellana Art Gallery, Karina Bolasco of Anvil Publishing Inc., Edward Cabagnot of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tina Cuyugan of Asian Development Bank, Isagani Cruz of Manila Critics Circle, Andrea Flores of the National Book Development Board, Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz of the National Book Development Board, National Artist Frankie and Tessie Sionil Jose, Sandra Ramos-Padilla of National Book Store, Racelle Weimann of The Holocaust Museum (Washington, D.C.), and Dee Anne Zobel of the Zobel Foundation.
Our most special guest of honor was the Ambassador himself--Harry K. Thomas, Jr.--who took time out from his hectic schedule. (Secretary Hilary Clinton is in town for a SecState Visit.)
Our buffet was Spanish-Filipino. The evening included a spectacular cultural presentation of ethnic Filipino dances. Robin and Will danced the tinikling!
I hit the sack at 12:00 midnight. I mustn't forget to thank my colleagues who were mostly in the background but were working double time both for the Edward P. Jones Roadshow and the SecState Visit: Teen Andrade, Bing Limlingan, Joy Pasandalan, Manny Domingo, and all of the Motor Pool drivers assigned to take us around.
If I've forgotten to mention anyone, forgive me; I shall remember to do so at another point in time during this program.
"Tomorrow is another day!"
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Edward P. Jones Roadshow Schedule - Day 6
Monday, November 14
Still in Dumaguete.
Friends from OTHER countries are PMing me on facebook as to how they may obtain autographed copies of EPJ's books.
We're letting EPJ sleep through 8:30 AM this morning before a 9:30 AM media conference at the American Corner and a long trip to Writers Village on Mount Talinis. Yes, long. So long that I may not be able to go on-line and post the highlights of the day tonight.
But, I'm now blogging at La Residencia Hotel on the boulevard. According to Ian Casocot, during the American Period this building was the governor's mansion.
We've just come back from a full program day:
This morning, EPJ had a press conference participated in by Reno Tallada of ABS-CBN, Iphraim Cabristante of DYSR-FM, Choy Gallarde of Sky Cable, Melissa Pal and Kirk Roncesvalles of The Weekly Sillimanian, and university journalists Alana Narciso, Philip van Peel, L.F. Partosa, Jennifer Solitana, and Myla June Patron. What a great session this was!
EPJ and the Embassy Team then rode with Ian and Alana to Writers Village on Mount Talinis. A scrumptious lunch with the Dumaguete writers community followed by readings on the porch: the Dumaguete writers from their own works, EPJ his first story in Lost in the City and the beginning of another from All Aunt Hagar's Children. A dynamic discussion ensued: the local writers bared the Filipino soul to EPJ, epj, the American soul to them.
It rained, fog descended, and we were freezing--all except EPJ, who loved the weather and kept an electric fan aimed at him!
If the morning session was great, this session was amazing! The Filipino writers presented brilliantly truthful works--I was PROUD TO BE A FILIPINO!
There was fabulous bonding between EPJ and the local writers. As usual, EPJ autographed his books and posed for facebook Pictures the entire day.
At the end of the day, Silliman University gave EPJ a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the university president.
Well, it's not exactly the end of the day. We have a few minutes of down time before Ian and Moses Atega--Dumaguete's and Siquijor's living encyclopedia--pick us up for a special dinner at Lab-as, renowned for its exquisite sea food.
I'm in the lobby of La Residencia Hotel again; it's now the following morning. Our dinner last night was a gastronomic highlight of our visit. We had garlic crabs courtesy of the owner of the restaurant and the chef, crab soup, oysters (three kinds: baked, steamed, and raw), fresh tuna, and Dumaguete Express.
After dinner Ian and Moe took us to Cafe San Antonio to check out the place. Moe informed us that the Ambassador wanted to visit Cafe San Antonio because he is interested in meeting young entrepreneurs. (The Ambassador had to postpone his visit last month to early next year).
Will and I had our favorite at Cafe San Antonio: evil espresso. Cafe San Antonio in itself, however, is the spectacular delight it is reputed to be. it was recently sold by the owners (an old riche family) that moved in to the paradoxically modernized condominium across the street, looking out unto their former property. The Cafe is an old villa converted to an activity center; it has a restaurant, a cafe, a ballroom, a patio, and a shop, among others. It also has resident blackbirds, and I don't mean caged pets; you have to see them to believe them.
Incidentally we were shown a magnificent window looking out unto a back street. I reenacted the hotel-key-throwing scene from The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, which cracked up everyone. (If you don't know what that is, forget it. You don't want to know. What really surprised me, though, was that ALL of my companions knew Mrs. Stone. Including EPJ. EPJ and TW somehow spell out surrealism.)
I shan't repeat here (wow, "shan't"--when was the last time you heard that word?) all the stories, gilded and ungilded, of Moe about Dumaguete and Mindanao. Like Frankie Jose, Moe is an irresistible ranconteur. Just trust me when I say that all of us could have sat there the entire night, except that I had to remind everyone, we had a flight to catch the next day.
At Lab-as and at San Antonio EPJ could not escape being hounded by new fans who were either after his autograph or his photograph.
Still in Dumaguete.
Friends from OTHER countries are PMing me on facebook as to how they may obtain autographed copies of EPJ's books.
We're letting EPJ sleep through 8:30 AM this morning before a 9:30 AM media conference at the American Corner and a long trip to Writers Village on Mount Talinis. Yes, long. So long that I may not be able to go on-line and post the highlights of the day tonight.
But, I'm now blogging at La Residencia Hotel on the boulevard. According to Ian Casocot, during the American Period this building was the governor's mansion.
We've just come back from a full program day:
This morning, EPJ had a press conference participated in by Reno Tallada of ABS-CBN, Iphraim Cabristante of DYSR-FM, Choy Gallarde of Sky Cable, Melissa Pal and Kirk Roncesvalles of The Weekly Sillimanian, and university journalists Alana Narciso, Philip van Peel, L.F. Partosa, Jennifer Solitana, and Myla June Patron. What a great session this was!
EPJ and the Embassy Team then rode with Ian and Alana to Writers Village on Mount Talinis. A scrumptious lunch with the Dumaguete writers community followed by readings on the porch: the Dumaguete writers from their own works, EPJ his first story in Lost in the City and the beginning of another from All Aunt Hagar's Children. A dynamic discussion ensued: the local writers bared the Filipino soul to EPJ, epj, the American soul to them.
It rained, fog descended, and we were freezing--all except EPJ, who loved the weather and kept an electric fan aimed at him!
If the morning session was great, this session was amazing! The Filipino writers presented brilliantly truthful works--I was PROUD TO BE A FILIPINO!
There was fabulous bonding between EPJ and the local writers. As usual, EPJ autographed his books and posed for facebook Pictures the entire day.
At the end of the day, Silliman University gave EPJ a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the university president.
Well, it's not exactly the end of the day. We have a few minutes of down time before Ian and Moses Atega--Dumaguete's and Siquijor's living encyclopedia--pick us up for a special dinner at Lab-as, renowned for its exquisite sea food.
I'm in the lobby of La Residencia Hotel again; it's now the following morning. Our dinner last night was a gastronomic highlight of our visit. We had garlic crabs courtesy of the owner of the restaurant and the chef, crab soup, oysters (three kinds: baked, steamed, and raw), fresh tuna, and Dumaguete Express.
After dinner Ian and Moe took us to Cafe San Antonio to check out the place. Moe informed us that the Ambassador wanted to visit Cafe San Antonio because he is interested in meeting young entrepreneurs. (The Ambassador had to postpone his visit last month to early next year).
Will and I had our favorite at Cafe San Antonio: evil espresso. Cafe San Antonio in itself, however, is the spectacular delight it is reputed to be. it was recently sold by the owners (an old riche family) that moved in to the paradoxically modernized condominium across the street, looking out unto their former property. The Cafe is an old villa converted to an activity center; it has a restaurant, a cafe, a ballroom, a patio, and a shop, among others. It also has resident blackbirds, and I don't mean caged pets; you have to see them to believe them.
Incidentally we were shown a magnificent window looking out unto a back street. I reenacted the hotel-key-throwing scene from The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, which cracked up everyone. (If you don't know what that is, forget it. You don't want to know. What really surprised me, though, was that ALL of my companions knew Mrs. Stone. Including EPJ. EPJ and TW somehow spell out surrealism.)
I shan't repeat here (wow, "shan't"--when was the last time you heard that word?) all the stories, gilded and ungilded, of Moe about Dumaguete and Mindanao. Like Frankie Jose, Moe is an irresistible ranconteur. Just trust me when I say that all of us could have sat there the entire night, except that I had to remind everyone, we had a flight to catch the next day.
At Lab-as and at San Antonio EPJ could not escape being hounded by new fans who were either after his autograph or his photograph.
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