Where Have They Gone?

Thursday last week, I had a rare privilege to listen to F. Sionil Jose, one of the most prolific literary writers of our age.

Just over 80, Mr. Jose spoke with ardent desire and sharpness of mind, discussing issues from nationalism to entertainment to economics to education. Strong in his convictions and blunt, the brilliant author shared the product of his years of witnessing life in the Philippines.
His world-view was astounding! It really spoke of age old wisdom. Some of his comments that I remembered:

In my life there is only one president who understood the importance of culture and art in the backbone of the nation--Ferdinand E. Marcos.

We are either Bicolanos, or Illongos, or Tagalogs. But we are seldom Filipinos. (On national identity.)

What is Greece without Homer? What is England without Shakespeare? What is America without Hemingway? What is the Philippines without Rizal?

We need to accept our colonial past, at the same time break free from its shackles.

We put criminals in the government because we completely forget their transgressions. We don't have a sense of history.

Young people, take heed. Twenty years from now you might find yourself waking in the morning realizing the country is no longer yours.

Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda are abberations in the media industry.

I may not agree with some of his ideas, I must admit that I admired him for his solid and unwavering convictions--something that most writers nowadays are found wanting. Mr. Jose's depth in understanding national as well as cultural issues are even prophetic. Consider his novel, Viajero, a book about Filipinos migrating to foreign lands and how they thrive in their existence. Viajero was written long before the exodus of OFWs. Somehow, F Sionil Jose's account of the migrant's motives ring true till today.

Gone are the days when writers used the language to empower the mind of the masses.
Gone are the days of del Pilar, Lopez Jaena, and Rizal.

The new breed of writers are on the loose, but who among them will emerge as leaders?