An interpretation of Cirilo Bautisra's "Telex Moon"
“A man immersed in the greatness of the creative word” - Ruel De Vera, PDI, May 2018
The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde through the Center for Campus presents “The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus,” an exhibit on the life and work of National Artist for Literature Cirilo Francisco Bautista.
Bautista is a poet, writer, essayist, critic, and educator and was one of the literary icons of his generation. His best-known work is the epic poem “The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus,” made up of “The Archipelago (1970,) “Telex Moon” (1981,) and “Sunlight on Broken Stones” (1999.)
Born on July 9, 1941, Bautista received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of Santo Tomas and Master of Arts in Literature at St. Louis University Baguio, graduating on both occasions Magna Cum Laude. He was also a Doctor of Arts in Language and Literature from De La Salle University (DLSU) and remains the only Filipino to be given an honorary degree from the prestigious International Program at the University of Iowa, USA. He died on May 6, 2018, at the age of 76.
Bautista paved the way for the foundation of writing organizations in the country: the Baguio Writers Club, Philippine Literary Arts Council, and the Iligan National Writers Workshop. Much published locally and abroad, Bautista was named to the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards Hall of Fame in 1995, given to winners of five first prizes. Bautista won nine - for essay, fiction, and poetry in both English and Filipino. He was a recipient of the 2012 Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Gawad CCP Para sa Sining and in 2013, an Achievement Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. His retelling of Philippine history in the Saint Lazarus Trilogy won him the 1993 Makata ng Taon (Poet of the Year) from the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (Commission on Filipino Language.)
In between writing, Bautista entered the teaching profession, becoming a professor at Waseda University, Japan, and Ohio University, USA. He also taught poetry and creative writing at De La Salle University (DLSU), where he was Professor Emeritus and was instrumental in establishing the DLSU Bienvenido Santos Creative Writing Center. Bautista also taught at St. Louis University Baguio and at San Beda College where he was Professor Emeritus for Literature. He sat on the board of advisors of the DLSU Bienvenido Santos Creative Writing Center and was a Senior Associate at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Center for Creative Writing and Studies.
In 2014, Bautista was elevated to the Order of the
National Artist of the Philippines by President Benigno Aquino. Presidential
Proclamation No. 809 read: “Whereas, the works and achievements of Cirilo F.
Bautista as a poet, fictionist and essayist have greatly contributed to the
development of the country’s literary arts and has strengthened the Filipino’s
sense of nationalism.”
Bautista is survived by his wife Rose Marie, the first Dean of Benilde’s School of Design and Arts, his three children, Maria Bautista, Laura Anna Jensen, and Nikos Bautista, and three grandchildren Jeremiah Timothy Jensen, Mira Kathryn Bautista, and Miguel Nykos Bautista.
“The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus,” the Benilde exhibit will expound on the life and work of Bautista and allow his genius to be seen and known to a younger audience. Exploring the concept of Text as Image, Benilde architecture students Jackie Cruz, Tracie Bejar, Bea Carague, Kevin Nuñez, Aaron Yu, Janelle Gan, and Emilio Tenorio and Multimedia students Gelo Fabian, Marco Ajero and Enrique Masias creates an installation called ‘The House of Words’ using stanzas from Bautista’s magnum opus, the Saint Lazarus Trilogy.
Twenty contemporary artists respond and intervene in Bautista's work by creating zines inspired by the Trilogy. Assigned chapters from the books are Rasel Trinidad aka Dok Karayom, Mark Salvatus, Gringo Benedicto, Thea Torres, Adam David, Tropikalye’s Nice Buenaventura, and Cos Zicarelli, Blic, Con Cabrera, Ginoe, Gab Brioso, Gabby Rosario, Walther Ocampo, Levyn Purcil, AK Ocol, Jed Gregorio, Nel Banaag, Ev Christine Yu, Wipo, Christian Tablazon, and Isola Tong.
Their works will be installed at the 12F Gallery of the School of Design and Arts and in the other galleries of the College of Saint Benilde. A series of online exhibits on the works of the students and artists will be launched prior to the opening in September 2020. The exhibit is produced by Benilde’s Center for Campus Art and curated by its Director, Ar Gerry Torres and co-curated by Ar Harvey Vasquez.
Process
1. How was your experience with Cirilo Bautista?
Acknowledging the achievement of our national artist for literature is a celebration of the highest potential of our fellow. I admire how he realized his potential, produced a body of work, and his capacity to raise himself for things creative and productive.
2. How did your visual elements relate to his text?
I extracted elements from the positive act of understanding a zine, its text, its meaning, and Cirilo Bautista. It constitutes symbols that best represent the narrative, the act of withdrawal, and its emotional tone.
3. How do you want the viewers to see your work?
I want the viewer to see my work more as information than an image to convey the puzzling yet intriguing act of reading Cirilo Bautista's Telex Moon.
4. What were the challenges you encountered while doing your work?
I am challenged to understand the metaphors implied in Bautista's work; that I must research beyond what is written to take a grasp on its robust narrative.
The schooling ended and I find it intimidating to continue defining my personal voice. I aspire to advocate values in arts and design, and I admit that there is also frustration about pursuing a career. I must thank sir Gerry, and Sir Harvey for determining my inclinations; and, with the exhibit’s helping hands. I used to be an “extra” helping hand too. Again, I appreciate it.
6. How has the pandemic and the lockdown affected your process/art while doing this work?
The Pandemic and the lockdown gave me time to research and ponder on the writings assigned. Telex Moon provided me context related to our history and affected me to embrace setbacks as means of building up skills and sharpening a sense of purpose.
7. What tools did you use?
I use a pen, Adobe Illustrator, and Sketchup.
Gabby Rosario. The Trilogy Of Saint Lazarus. (n.d.). Retrieved June 9, 2022, from http://thetrilogyofsaintlazarus.com/gabby-rosario/