If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?

For me, Ernest Hemingway is the most obvious choice. He didn’t pen a dozen books, go to wars, and travel the world, if he wasn’t a gifted wordsmith. However, I’ve already detailed his existence in my review of his doco. So let’s opt for another prolific writer.

Story Writer

For the past few years, I’ve allotted some time for crafting short stories. Most of these tales are similar to my first story collection. They depict the Pinoy spirit, at home and abroad. Most are loosely based on my own experiences living in two contrasting countries. They cover a variety of themes. Love and hoops. Friendships and teen angst. Schoolmates and college. Sydney and Pinas. See also: Merlinda Bobis.

The latter is from the Philippines. She has published many works, and we share our expat themes. I tried reading her story collection, but it was very much literary fiction. Thus, I had to put it on my DNF (Did Not Finish) section.

No offence, but this is too niche. Since you’re talking about an exotic, faraway locale, you’ll risk losing your readers. Bobis is the rare compatriot who got an audience writing about the migrant experience in Oz. They say ‘Write about what you know.’

If I may, the rejoinder is: ‘Best to be inclusive with your market.’

Poetry Phase

At the moment, I’m going through my poetry phase. Given my current thirst for stanzas, Jose Garcia Villa (code name Doveglion) is that historical figure. For the uninitiated, the appellation combines dove, eagle, and lion. When thinking about great Filo poets, he is in a league of his own. His works are required college reading. He was known as the comma poet for his inordinate utilisation of commas in his body of work. As early as year 8, our English teacher mentioned him. She told us about his two famous works. The first was ‘The Bashful One’, an ingenious creation that had no further text. She informed us that Bashful means shy.

She also pointed out ‘The Emperor’s New Sonnet’. This one references the children’s story, where the titular character was fleeced and was caught starkers. As with Bashful, this one was so minimalist. Though containing ZERO verses, critics, teachers, and students have been talking about these for decades. As Sean Connery once exclaimed, ‘They just haven’t been saying anything.’

Masterclass

Drawing from Jose’s brilliance, I’ve already plotted out two poems in the vein of his masterclass. The first is a pastiche of three artists: a playwright, Doveglion, and a lost boy. I wish I could submit it to a poetry contest, as I think it’s brilliant. However, I don’t believe a verse less entry would even be a dark horse for the title. Definitely something to mull over for later.

At the University of the Philippines, Jose was a contemporary of Angela Manalang-Gloria’s. They vied for the literary editorship at The Philippine Collegian, the university paper. The latter ended up in the role for two years. Gloria’s poems are likewise studied across the archipelago. Her writing career was cut short due to personal tragedies. Gloria’s late daughter was my aunt.

Stateside

Meanwhile, the comma poet brought his talents to the States. He did his postgraduate studies in New York’s Columbia University. Carved out an illustrious career. Got published in major literary mags. By his mid-twenties he made the switch from writing stories to poetry. A Guggenheim Fellow. Released collections of stories and poems. He also worked as a teacher. For his oeuvre, he was recognised in 1973 as a National Artist, among many other accolades. Earlier, he read Law, before shifting his major to painting. Yet, by the 60s, he had ghosted the literary world. Maybe he should’ve hung out with J.D. Salinger as both were disillusioned elder statesmen in the Big Apple.

Having provided a bit of background, what would I ask the ‘Pope of Greenwhich Village’? For starters, why was he only a fiction writer? Had he tried long-form nonfiction? Was he an early riser or a night owl? Did he liked bringing his fam to the movies? What did he love most about writing poetry? Who proofread his output?

Stream of Consciousness

Did he follow any sports? What was his favourite team? Did he ever catch a game at Madison Square Garden or Yankee Stadium? How much were the tickets? Did he eat a lot of fruit? Which fruit did he prefer? What’s his favourite dish? Having emigrated to America, did he go for Pinoy or Western cuisine? I have a hint here. He married an Anglo-American and they had two sons, so I’m guessing he went for Western gastronomy.

Was he carnivore or vegetarian? His diet wasn’t too bad, as he was in the land of the living til almost ninety. Had he met Robert Frost in person? Did he liked listening to jazz? What was his favourite fast food outlet? Did he see much of the US? The Old World? South America? Did he travel often? Did he prefer planes over the subway? What was his secret to a long, eventful life? Did he like summers or winters? Heat waves or the snow? Having moved to upstate New York instead of the tropics, he clearly went for alpine weather.

What hobbies was he into? Did he like fishing? Playing cards, chess or scrabble? In his youth, how many books did he average? Who were his favourite authors? Did he prefer the beach? I would like to see his paintings. What did he illustrate? What made him pursue fiction, then poetry? Who inspired his works? Advice on women. He studied high school at UP. Was he a high achiever? How was he as a parent? In today’s literary microcosm, would he take home some coveted prizes? A century on, would his early work be normalised, or still be too controversial? For sure, today, he’d garner an honorary doctorate or two.

What’s his take on climate change, solar panels, and carbon neutrality? What does he think of the current Knicks and Yankees iterations? How would he budget in today’s cost of living crisis? Like me, will he still maintain private health insurance? What does he think of the state of Filo poetry? In his opinion, nowadays, who is the Pinoy poet to beat?

Trailblazers

I know enough of Doveglion to understand that he MATTERS. His views struck a chord with me. His life in NY intrigued me. He is no Hemingway. Brought home neither the Pulitzer nor the Nobel Prize. However, together with Nick Joaquin, they set the tone for Pinoy literary pioneers writing in English. Reading about him, you’re sure to absorb his conceit like a sponge. Vale, mi idolo.