An excerpt from Poet Laureate Danny Gallardo’s article
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The Visions of Three ‘Great’ Men on Doc PenPen and the Emergence of the Philippines as the ‘Poetry Heart of the World’
William Shakespeare’s vision
The discovery of the Philippines by Ferdinand Magellan more than 500 years ago marked a pivotal moment in history. Seventy-seven years later, William Shakespeare, England’s great poet, prophesied about a land in the ‘East’ in Sonnet 7, according to Danny Gallardo. Some believe that Shakespeare’s words refer to the Philippines.
While Magellan’s journey ended in the Philippines, it symbolized the beginning of a new kind of journey: the global spread of poetry. At the head of this poetic circumnavigation is the “beautiful youth” referred to by Shakespeare, identified by Gallardo as Dr. Epitacio Tongohan MD, also known as Doc PenPen Bugtong Takipsilim.
Since 2010, Doc PenPen has traveled the world – from Manila to Antarctica (via Dr. Lanka Siva Prasad) – with a vision of unity and love with the mantra “no colors, no races, all colors, all races, all loves, embraces.” ” His mission, “to heal, inspire and awaken,” underlies the Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry movement he founded.
The vision of Dr. Jose Rizal
In his time, when there seemed little hope for Philippine freedom and progress, Jose Rizal (1861-1896) saw that a new Philippines was inevitable. But to hasten that day, he prescribed a positive break with the past.
He called on his countrymen to rid themselves of a reputation for sloth, acquire a new spirit for work and foster a new Filipino consciousness. There was no doubt in his mind about the requirements of progress: “In order for (the Filipino) to make progress, it is necessary that a revolutionary spirit, so to speak, boil in his veins, as progress necessarily requires change; it implies the overthrow of the hallowed past by the present, the victory of new ideas over the old accepted ones.”
This vision is worth aligning with the pioneering spirit of Doc PenPen’s democratization of poetry and creation of avant-garde poetry, known as the 5Ms concept of Pentasi B Poetry: multilingual, multimodal, multiangular, multisensory and multidimensional.
In the 1890s, Rizal saw the rise of “new men” and a “new social order” within a century. In 1968, the New Philippines and New Filipinism emerged.
The vision of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 1969, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father of incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., foresaw a metamorphosis and a new Filipinoism. Here is an excerpt from his 4th SONA:
“In the next part of this report I will describe our performance last year in more detail. Taken together, they signify both an ending and a beginning. In 1968, frustration, resignation, cynicism and inertia, complacency and indifference – the main obstacles to Philippine progress – came to an end. On the other hand, the past year marked the beginning of purposeful, coordinated action for national progress – the beginning of our national metamorphosis. Because in 1968 we began to throw off the habits of the past and install in their place a new attitude, a new frame of reference and new values. The result is a broadening of our vision, an expansion of our horizons and a growing national strength. This transformation is essentially spiritual. It is a prophecy come true.”
In the 1890s, Rizal saw the rise of “new men” and a “new social order” within a century. In 1968, the New Philippines and New Filipinism emerged.
The heart of the metamorphosis
In a roaring statement, the “yesssSSS!” from Doc PenPen. boils and ripples through the literary landscape. Pentasi B’s unique, ‘liberamorphic’ and ‘therapeutic’ poetry symbolizes humanity’s enduring legacy in the rapidly advancing world of AI, which is increasingly felt and observed as it spreads across all boundaries of life.
His works characterize ‘legahuman’, reinforced by numerous prestigious national and international awards, and illustrate a life dedicated to the transformation of humanity through poetry. The accolades of honor and respect from his peers as the “Father and King of Visual Poetry” have sealed his name worldwide and mark the Philippines’ crucial role in literature and the arts.
Doc PenPen’s achievements are a testament to his poetic leadership, fulfilling the prophecies and ambitions of William Shakespeare, Dr. Jose Rizal and Ferdinand Marcos Sr. brings to life, in line with the vision of these three great men who make the Philippines the ‘Poetry Heart’. of the world.”
Major awards and recognitions for Doc PenPen
– Joe Lad Santos
About the Contributor: Jose Laderas Santos, also known as Joe Lad Santos, has painstakingly researched the work of Doc PenPen.
Prof. Jose Laderas Santos is a former chairman of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. He is also a former chairman of FAMAS and a former board member of the National Museum, as well as a former director of the MTRCB.
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