Portrait of a young Chinese as a Filipino storyteller


by ELLALYN B. DE VERA


To say that winning a Palanca Award is an honor for any aspiring writer is an understatement. In its 54 years of existence, a Palanca — aside from having a book — signifies that one has ‘’arrived” as a writer as bestowed by his peers, and that his or her work is among the best.


For 24-year-old Johannes Chua, bringing home his second Palanca — this time as third prize winner in the Short Story Filipino category — came at a right time.

"The category where I won is a tightly contested one. So many writers wait decades to win a Palanca and I’m happy at the way things turned out in my life as a short story writer," says Chua whose work entitled "Dinuguan" bested more than 90 entries.

Add to that, Chua says his win is somewhat "historic" since no writer of Chinese descent in recent memory has won in the Short Story Filipino category.

Years ago, Chua has another historic feat in the Palancas when he bagged first prize in the then new category (2000) Future Fiction Filipino. His story was entitled "Kalinangan" (Enlightenment).

"Most Filipino Chinese writers write in English and when I was in high school, writing in Filipino was also not encouraged. I have no relatives who are interested in the arts because everyone is so busy finishing their medical degrees and putting up their businesses. So everyone around me is wondering how I learned to write in Filipino," he reveals.

Coming from a conservative Chinese family, writing or anything related to the arts was not part of his family’s conversation over dinner. "And I was supposed to become an accountant," he recalls.


ONE WISH: A PALANCA

Although armed with a "letter of acceptance" from the University of the Philippines’ Maikling Kuwento program, Chua instead followed the wishes of his parents to pursue a business degree. "I now realize that if you follow your parents, the universe will conspire to grant your wishes," Chua says. One of his wishes? What else but a Palanca!

Chua graduated with a degree in Applied Economics from the De La Salle University (DLSU). Even back then, he already had the makings of a writer. He edited around six campus publications and became Filipino prose editor of the Malate Literary Folio, DLSU’s literary organ. It was during the 13th and 14th DLSU Literary Awards that he made his first mark, winning in the Short Story, Essay, Children’s Short Story categories all in Filipino. His undergraduate thesis on child labor was also written in Filipino, to the amazement of UK- or US-trained professors in Economics. For this, Chua was given the highest honor for a student who advances the use of Filipino, the "Gawad Lasalyano sa Wikang Filipino."

After graduation, he pursued higher studies and was, by now, given the blessings by his parents to pursue and study creative writing. Chua is currently finishing his MFA in Creative Writing also at DLSU.

What sets Chua apart from other campus literary writers is that he continued to write. This earned him a third place in the Gawad Ka Amado V. Hernandez short story contest for his story "Kuwentong Butsero" and a place in the First UST National Writer’s Workshop. He also co-authored several textbooks in Filipino for high school students and is a mover of literary awareness in the media.

"I have many friends who are talented writers but because they have obligations and they need to bury themselves in work, they have no time to write. That is a sad thing because talent is not enough, you must have discipline and of course, the finances to support your craft," Chua says.

He has nothing of that problem. His day job, as a reporter for the Manila Bulletin writing for the Real Estate, Motoring, and Health and Science sections under editor Pinky Colmenares, supports him. He is also the design manager and writer for Cruising, MB’s monthly motor travel magazine.

Chua says he is very thankful that his editor shares his love for books. "Somehow, my work became complementary to my creative growth because my editor and I would have conversations about history, the arts, culture, music, etc."


ONE AMBITION: FILIPINO NOVEL ABOUT THE CHINESE

Because of this "creative growth," Chua is undertaking an ambitious project as his thesis for his masteral degree: to write the first Filipino novel about the Chinese in the Philippines.

"Even when I was still young, I will always listen to the stories of my grandfather about the struggles of the Chinese in the Philippines. Since I belong to a large clan, there is an abundant material for me to use. I don’t want these stories to fade away with time," Chua says noting that the novel, with a working title "Alipato sa Altar," would be a story that will start when the first Chinese settlers stepped foot on Manila until how things have changed for the third generation Chinese.

"This is my way of finding my roots and establishing my identity in the midst of cultural differences. This is a project very close to my heart and in one way, I’m writing in Filipino to show how we have integrated into this country’s culture," he said.

To stress this connection, Chua says he was first inspired by a Filipino short story printed in a high school textbook.

"Sometimes in life, it takes a book, a film, or a painting to change your outlook. For me, when I read a short story by Efren Abueg, it made want to write short stories in Filipino."

That story, "Mapanglaw ang Mukha ng Buwan," became an inspiration for Chua to read more works written by Filipino writers. Eventually, Dr. Abueg became a mentor and Chua learned a lot from him.

"From Dr. Abueg, I learned that you should put your heart in writing. That you should have characters that are well-fleshed out," Chua says.

Chua also takes inspiration from the works of Dr. Cirilo Bautista, his thesis adviser.

"Dr. Bautista, who should be the next National Artist, is a writer’s writer. I owe a lot to him because he has instilled in me that writing is a life-long passion and requires discipline. He is also very supportive of young writers." Chua is also currently reading Bautista’s new novel entitled "Galaw ng Asoge."

Aside from the two mentioned, Chua also takes inspiration from the works of a very diverse group of writers such as Yukio Mishima, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Ave Perez Jacob, Lu Xun, George Orwell, B. S. Medina, Liwayway Arceo, Genoveva Matute and Pedro Dandan.

As diverse as the writers who have inspired Chua to write, the stories that he has written also have very diverse subjects.

"I used to have stories of employees killing their abusive employers or a story peppered with scenes of rallies and riots. But now, aside from writing stories to entertain, I try in my own way to break stereotypes and enlighten the minds of readers," he emphasizes.


DINUGUAN

This is so true with his award-winning story "Dinuguan."

"Dinuguan’’ evolves around the imaginary world of the protagonist Manang Eta who sees her townsfolk being enticed by her flavorful dish, but mysteries surrounding her character led to a shocking conclusion.

"Like Manang Eta who was condemned by her community, writers should also be judged by their works and not by their personality or the company they are with," Chua shares, adding that there are many "writers" who get to work in newspapers, magazines, etc. who think writing is just a matter of putting "nice-sounding words together."

"Writing is not a hobby or a pastime, it is a lifestyle. Before you can be true to your readers, you have to be true to yourself. Don’t compromise and stay focused on your life project," Chua says as advice to those who are planning to write. "And read a lot!"

Here is an excerpt from Dinuguan, this year’s third prize in the Filipino Short Story category:

"Mataas ang sikat ng araw at malakas ang ihip ng hangin kaya parang ningas na aandapandap ang imahen ng babaeng nakaitim sa kalye ng San Sepulkro, iindak-indak sa aspaltong daan na tigmak sa tae ng kabayong pumapasada sa karitela. Ang imahen ng lagim ay patungong talipapa para bumili ng sangkap sa lulutuing dinuguan.

Nasa magkabilang dulo ng kalsada ang bagong tayong palengke at ang bukbuking talipapa, at sa pagitan nito matatagpuan ang isang 24-hour convenience store, computer shop, barberya, pabrika ng muwebles at ilang maliliit na mga bahay na karamiha’y may mga kuwartong pinapaupahan sa mga estudyante’t papaalis na seaman. Nagsisiksikan ang mga poste’t kawad ng kuryente sa bawat kanto, gaya ng pagsisiksikan ng mga pedicab, tricycle, dyip na biyaheng San Sepulkro-Quiapo, at kalesa papuntang Binondo at Divisoria sa makitid na kalye. Lumulutang sa itim na tubig ng mga kanal sa gilid ng lansangan ang gula-gulanit na plastik bag at plastic straw na may iba’t ibang kulay."