Pag Mabilis Na Umalis Baka Di Naman Talaga Dumating

by Rolando B. Tolentino

Sa ikatlong koleksyon ng maikling kwento ni Rolando B. Tolentino, ang mga iglap ay hitik sa kwento ng paglisan, pagdating, di pagbalik, pag-aantay, paglagi—pero parating puno ng pagtatagpo. Ang eksena ng tagpuan ay enkapsuladong sandali at sityo ng mga realidad, fantasya, angas, labis at kulang sa historikal, panlipunan, sarili, kapwa, kabalintunaan, paradox, pagnanasa, at pagdanas.

Pag-ibig ang puno’t dulo gayong malawak at malalim ang pagdanas sa aspirasyonal na spero ng buhay na ito. Umiibig tayo kanino, ng ano, saan, kailan, bakit, paano, at para kanino—na bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang pagmumundo at minumundo ng pag-ibig. Umiibig nga ba tayo talaga, o umiibig lang tayo sa idea na umiibig tayo, umiibig pa tayo, iibig at iibigin tayo?

Ang Pag Mabilis na Umalis Baka Di Naman Talaga Dumating, at Iba Pang Kwento ay isang musa ng pagdanas at mundo ng mga iglap na hitik at said sa pag-ibig, pagkatao, at pakikipagkapwa-tao. Lipad-sadsad para sa posibilidad at pagkakataong makaalagwa at pag-asang magtagumpay.

155 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Rolando B. Tolentino is an associate for fiction of the UP Institute for Creative Writing. He is a faculty member of the UP Film Institute. He is the founding chair of Katha, the fictionists group in Filipino, and is a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and the Congress of Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND-UP). His works include: Sakit ng Kalingkingan: 100 Dagli sa Edad ng Krisis (2005), Kuwentong Syudad (co-editor, 2002), Sapinsaping Pag-ibig at Pagtangis: Tatlong Novella ng Pagsinta’t Paghinagpis (1999); Fastfood, Megamall at iba pang kwento sa pagsasara ng ikalawang milenyum (1999); Relasyon: Mga Kwuwento ng Paglusong at Pag-ahon (co-editor, 1999); Ali*bang+Bang atpb. Kwento (1994); Habilin: Antolohiya ng Katha Para sa Pambansang Kasarinlan (co-editor, 1991); Engkwentro: Kalipunan ng mga Akda ng Kabataang Manunulat (co-editor, 1990).

He has received many awards here and abroad, namely: Distinguished Visitor, UC-Berkeley and UCLA Southeast Asian Studies Consortium (2006), Visiting Fellow, Sociology Department, National University of Singapore (Jul 2005-Dec 2006), Obermann Summer Research Fellowship (2004), Best Arts Book, Gintong Aklat, (2002), Writer’s Prize, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (2001), Manila Critics Circle Award for Best Film Criticism Book (2001); Gawad Chancellor for Best Literary Work (2001); Lily Monteverde Professorial Chair (2000-2001); UP International Publication Award (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003); Henry Sy Professorial Chair (1998-1999); Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, 1998, 1994, 1991; Research Grant, U.P. Office of Research Coordination, 1998-1999, 1999-2000; Research Grant, U.P. Center for Integrative Development Studies, 1997-1998; Angara Fellowship, U.P. Women’s Studies Center, 1997-1998; Belmonte Creative Writing Grant, U.P. College of Arts and Letters, 1997-1998; Research Grant, Sumitomo Foundation, 1997-1998; CCP Gawad para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, 1996; All University Predoctoral Merit Fellowship, USC, 1993-1996; Fulbright Grant to pursue Ph.D. in area of Critical Theory and Cultural Studies, 1992-1996; Writing Grant, Cultural Center of the Philippines; Thesis Grant, Philippine Social Science Council, 1991.

Reviews

[Maria Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I am not familiar with sir RT except for that one post about call for submissions to Daang Bakal way back 2022. Let me digress (and I have mentioned this in our most recent #BookTalakayan), I was too intimidated to submit my personal entries even though I have had drafted (and subsequently trashed) my entry about my younger years in the PNR, and how it has made me aware of the little social reality outside the catwalk and beyond the words of the PUP Hymn. He was one of the editors of that project — that has been now a shelf-item, all because of the lack of material, or maybe because of carcentricities of our cities.

Maybe it was titled as At Iba Pang Kwento because it contained not only some straight-forward short story-telling, but it also included some writing exercises ("Ang Magnanakaw"), or a splash of reflective essay ("Ang Presidente sa Palasyo"). I even imagined a TedxTalk content ("Kwento ng Kapital"), assignments and other guide questions included. When I first read the introduction, it kind of justifies his attempt for this collection. This has more of his personal touch, glimpses of his little realities, and some snippets of his reflections to the social standing and current climate of the middle class. He also went back-to-the-basics; used very structured way of writing a short story in some of the pages. It's vibing very differently from his second collection "Fastfood, Megamall at Iba Pang Kuwento sa Pagsasara ng Ikalawang Milenyum" where he employed an experimental form and used a different language dynamic (I searched and read just now an english version of Fastfood, archived from his personal blog). I confessed to RT that this is my first encounter of him and his work. I asked, "Yung pagbabalik po ba sa tradisyunal na porma ng maikling kwento ay isang regression, o maturity na rin ba yun in a way?" He wasn't taken aback; he didn't even answered condescendingly. Maybe it helped that I introduced myself as a banker and a Corporate slave, with no background of Filipinolohiya / Philippine Studies course. He simply answered, "Lahat ng pagbabalik ay patunay rin ng pag-usbong, ng maturity". It also made me realize that maybe, just maybe, I can go back to the old days of my high school, simply writing whatever I see outside my own circle and young world.

Of all these story collections, what I liked the most is "Tapat sa Uri" as it details the collective realities of a middle class: from being a college student, its subsequent years of being detached from the old barkadahan and forging life separately as a young professional. May inom dito, inom doon, sometimes bardagulan and sometimes hanash of a collective rants of how society works. That story kind of stings to me. It's not hard to veer away from being a Corporate Slave, but it is so damn hard trying to have a hipster vibe and a self-sustaining lifestyle. I stick to the system of the old, the system that works for me. In short, I really cannot get out of this system, I only game around it.

In the #BookTalakayan group chat, I disclosed to the rest of the friends & members that I might feel intimidated or have to do a rain-check of sorts, because I never met him, or haven't seen his personal hanash in facebook since I don't use ground zero much. But when I saw him, I saw myself plotting a personal plan: I have to start grinding this retirement career and focus less on the current. In the next couple of months, I must re-sbumit this essay collection I have kept for years (and passed multiple workshops but only attended one). He displays a demeanor of a middle class professional who created a personal repository of inspiration via the academe. As a previous dean for College of Communication and have had experiences with the UP Film Institute, his personal wealth of material to write never ends; a coming-in-and-out of experiences as stable as monthly rent and GSIS pension. Now he sits as a VP for Public Affairs, a well-deserved and very okay side-gig while grinding the writing. He also reminded me of a new-found-friend I met in Singapura, the same demeanor of a Nueva Ecijanon, with the same inflections of kuan and some manerisms of undressing professionalism while talking to us as a simple writer of life. Having these book discussions made me realize that sometimes we can game around the daily grind. Simply engage, listen, and have fun.

[Samantha Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paborito kong istorya sa libro ay Sayaw ni Marinela, Ina ng Aktibista, ar Pag Mabilis na Umalis Baka Di Naman Talaga Dumating. May mga kwentong malalalim na mahirap intindihin, pero bawat kwento ay may dulot na saya, kirot, lungkot, at pag-asa. Best part yung huling kwento, parang icing on the cake, star ng pasko - pinakamagandang paraan para tapusin ang libro.

[dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was about to give this a 3.5 but that last chapter really got me. This was quite an experience to read; Sir Tolentino writes in a wide variety of flavor and creativity that sometimes I think he's high while writing. That said, the book's absolute bomb, highly recommended.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maigsi ang kasiyahan ng pagdating dahil nagtatapos. Mahaba ang kalungkutan ng pag-alis dahil hindi nagtatapos.

Mga paboritong kwento:
• Pag Mabilis na Umalis Baka Di Naman Talaga Dumating
• Sayaw ni Marinela
• Kapag Tinotortyur

[Nico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paboritong kwento ko ang Sayaw ni Marinela at bukod pa rito, nakakamangha ang panulat ni Rolando Tolentino. Hindi lang dahil may sensibilidad ito sa kanyang ginagalawang mundo kundi dahil nabibigyan ng diin ang bawat kwento.

[juyeon x2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

krazy

[Packing Sheets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maraming libro ang may makatawag-pansing pamagat, ngunit hindi lahat ay kayang panindigan ang pangakong dala ng unang impresyon. Sa kaso ng Pag Mabilis Na Umalis Baka Di Naman Talaga Dumating ni Rolando B. Tolentino, hindi lang ito isang mapang-akit na pamagat—ito ay isang koleksyong nagtataglay ng lalim, eksperimento sa anyo, at matalas na pagninilay sa buhay at lipunan.

Isa sa mga kahanga-hangang katangian ng librong ito ay ang pagkakaiba-iba ng porma ng mga kuwento. Sa halip na sundin ang karaniwang balangkas ng maikling kuwento, lumalabas ito sa conventions, nag-eeksperimento sa istruktura at paraan ng pagsasalaysay. Dahil dito, bawat pahina ay nagdadala ng panibagong karanasan—hindi nakakaumay, bagkus ay mas nagpapalalim ng interes ng mambabasa.

Ipinapakita rin dito ang husay ni Tolentino bilang isang bihasang manunulat. Ang kanyang paraan ng pagkukuwento ay parang isang maingat na hinabing tirintas—iba’t ibang hibla ng naratibo ang sabay-sabay nagaganap, ngunit nananatili ang harmony ng bawat elemento. Ang sinop ng pagkakasulat ay patunay ng kanyang malawak na karanasan sa panitikan.

Bagamat pag-ibig ang tila nagsisilbing pinakapunong tema ng karamihan sa mga kuwento, hindi ito humihinto sa personal na antas. Madalas, naiuugnay ni Tolentino ang masalimuot na damdaming ito sa mas malalawak na usapin sa lipunan. Nagiging salamin ang kanyang mga kuwento ng mas malalim pang realidad—mga bagay na lagpas sa ating sarili, ngunit may matinding epekto sa ating pag-iral.

Sa kabuuan, ang Pag Mabilis Na Umalis Baka Di Naman Talaga Dumating at Iba Pang Kwento ay isa sa mga katangi-tanging koleksyon na nabasa ko na sa tingin ko’y hindi mo basta-basta matatagpuan saanman.

[Bomalabs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this but I can't recall how I felt about it. In any case, probably substantial since I gave it a four. And I attended a Book Talakayan with this book.