Filipino author speaks in Toronto

Filipino author speaks in Toronto

Dr. Jose ‘Butch’ Dalisay, Jr. read excerpts from his work and answered questions about Philippine literature, book writing and publishing, politics and Filipino diaspora.
(PHOTO: RENE SEVILLA)

Jose “Butch” Dalisay

By Mila Astorga-Garcia

TORONTO–Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr., PhD, acclaimed Filipino writer, editor, and University of the Philippines professor of English and Comparative Literature, was in Toronto recently as one of the featured authors in the Toronto Festival of Literature and the Arts 2015.

Along with international authors from Canada, India, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, Tanzania and the USA, Dalisay was speaker during the three-day (May 15-17) festival in Toronto to celebrate world literature and the arts.

Filipino and Canadian literary writers, journalists and artists had the chance to meet the multi-awarded author in a small private gathering, where Dalisay talked about varied topics but mainly on his works and his reflections on writing and the state of book publishing in the Philippines today.

Those who stayed till the end of the session. First row: Voltaire de Leon, Hermie Garcia, Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr., Len Cervantes, Rina Espiritu, Socky Pitargue. Second row: PJ Icasas, Patty Rivera, Caroline Mangosing. Third row: Eddie Sudeikis, Elaine Dalisay-Sudeikis, Joe Rivera, Nicole Lim, Arlene Aquino, Don W. ManDy, Mila Garcia, Lee Chapman, Nerissa Flores, and Vita Lim.

To be a known writer in the Philippines, said Dalisay, one has to achieve recognition internationally first, and be a Pacquiao in your own field. The author of over 30 books since 1984, six of them garnering National Book Awards, candidly confided that people in the Philippines do not know him, except those in literary circles. To be really known, he says, one has to achieve international acclaim for one’s works.

He recalled that a fellow writer once told him: “We are legends only in our own mind,” to the laughter of his audience.

Dalisay was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of 1993 for creative writing. A winner of 16 Palanca Awards for Literature in five genres — fiction, poetry, drama, nonfiction and screenplay — he has garnered at least six First Prize awards. In 2000, he was elevated to the Palanca Hall of Fame. In 1998, he was added to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Centennial Honors List as one of the 100 most accomplished Filipino artists of the past century. In 2005, he received the Premio Cervara di Roma in Italy for extensively promoting Philippine literature overseas. In 2007, his second novel, Soledad’s Sister, was shortlisted for the inaugural Man Asian Literary Prize.

BOOK SIGNING. Dr. Jose ‘Butch’ Dalisay was busy signing his sold-out books.

Dalisay pointed out that one of the problems authors have to contend with is the sad state of publishing in the Philippines today. Some publishers produce only a thousand copies of a book, which would take time to sell. The most number most publishers are willling to produce is 10,000 copies of a really good book. Authors don’t make that much money. Relatives and friends do not purchase their books, as they expect to be given free copies, he said.

The international market for literature is so picky and has preference for novels more than any other form of literature, Dalisay said. Also one has to tap and reach the proper networks abroad, and in his case, he has sought the services of a New York-based agent to promote his works.

Patty Rivera, Nerissa Flores, Nicole Lim andVita Lim.

Dalisay also advised writers to know and target their market. In his case, he said his market are people of his level of intelligence. But it is important that authors write about experiences familiar to the masses and in simple language. Shakespeare wrote about the human condition and emotions most people could relate to until now, he said.

Sadly, he lamented, Filipinos are not a book-reading people in the millions but are more into other forms of literature like the visual or illustrated novel, the romance novels.

Yet he was not totally pessimistic as more and more talented writers and authors are emerging with remarkable works.

Dalisay, with Ricky Caluen (left) and Mon Exmundo (right).

At some point during that Sunday (May 17) evening gathering, Dalisay read two of his old columns about Filipinos in the US diaspora, and another about his only daughter who now lives in the United States, after having married an American she met via the Internet.

After a brief question and answer exchange between Dalisay and his audience of boomers and GenXers, a book signing followed on two of Dalisay’s novels, Killing Time in a Warm Place, and Soledad’s Sister.

The gathering was organized by Joe and Patty Rivera and hosted by Lee Chapman and Socky Pitargue.

PHOTOS: RENE SEVILLA

Hermie and Mila Garcia, Butch Dalisay, Voltaire de Leon, Patty Rivera and Joe Rivera.