Year of the 100 Erotic Sonnets

Excitement and eroticism never end for Peter Solis Nery’s “100 Erotic Sonnets from the Hiligaynon” in 2010.

First, it finally saw print in the U.S.A. via CreateSpace, a member of the Amazon group of companies, and started to enjoy distribution through Amazon.com, among other channels on August 8, 2010. Two weeks later, it was made available in Kindle Edition, the digital text platform of Amazon.com, making it Nery’s first digital book.

Second, as the subject of Nery’s one-act play, “The Wide Ionian Sea,” the “100 Erotic Sonnets from the Hiligaynon” just landed Nery his sixth Palanca win.

Originally written in Hiligaynon in 2005 as a personal conceit and self-imposed challenge to write 100 sonnets in 100 days, Nery’s “100 Erotic Sonnets in the Hiligaynon” became a Philippine literary sensation when it was launched with a poetry concert during the 2006 National Arts Month, and was scandalously published in an Ilonggo newspaper as a series of “one erotic sonnet a day” starting February 2006. In 2008, Nery translated the Hiligaynon originals into English, revised, and rearranged the sonnet sequence into its present form, “100 Erotic Sonnets from the Hiligaynon.”

Also in 2008, Nery wrote “The Wide Ionian Sea,” a play of homoerotic seduction between thirty-something Ilonggo writer stage named Mentor, and confused college student disguised in the name Telemakhos. They metin an internet café, the writer brings the student home, and educates him on literature and art.

In the play, the writer Mentor, inspired by the youth beside him, embarks on a bold project of writing the scandalous 100 erotic sonnets in the Hiligaynon. On the other hand, Telemakhos, who had hoped that some poetic inspiration would rub off on him while he lives with the writer, feels that he is “shrinking” as Mentor makes advances on his monumental project. Feeling more lost than ever, the student betrays the writer. Six months later, Mentor becomes a literary success. Telemakhos visits Mentor who begs him to stay. The student explains why he cannot, and why he left in the first place. He also confronts the writer’s reductionist philosophies, and confesses his sins.

A major conceit in the play is the generous sprinkling of the erotic sonnets, and the addition of several erotic scenes for the stage.

“The Wide Ionian Sea” won 3rd Prize in the category One-Act Play in English at the 2010 Palanca Awards. Nery denies that the play is autobiographical.

Following popular suggestion, Nery is also set to film celebrity readings, interpretations, and film adaptations of his “100 Erotic Sonnets” before the year ends.

 

© Randy Graydon: August 2010

Dramatists Guild of America welcomes Peter Solis Nery

The Dramatists Guild, America’s professional association of playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists dedicated to protecting, informing, and promoting the interests of dramatists, has officially accepted Filipino playwright Peter Solis Nery as a member of The Dramatist Guild of America.

Nery was among the new members welcomed and listed in the May/June 2010 issue of The Dramatist, the guild’s bi-monthly magazine. Nery was accepted in January 2010 following the submission of his published play The Passion of Jovita Fuentes.

With the mission to ensure that the voice of the playwright will continue to be heard loudly, clearly, and without compromise, the Dramatists Guild provides its members – free of charge – with contracts and legal advice, cultural and educational exchanges, resources to counter censorship and artistic encroachment of any kind, and information about representation, production opportunities, theatrical resources, grants, prizes, awards, and members’ publications through its website, and the magazine, The Dramatist, among many other services.

The Dramatists Guild is governed by America’s leading dramatists such as Edward Albee, Stephen Sondheim, John Patrick Shanley, Tony Kushner, Marsha Norman, Lynn Nottage, Emily Mann, and Christopher Durang.

 

© Randy Graydon: June 2010

Literature and Lies: Writing, Writers and Wastebaskets

It’s final: The French salon and English pub-themed writing and writers’ tete-a-tete runs May 1-5. Venue: Prima City, Dumangas, Iloilo.

Prima City is a three-story commercial building with a pool that’s owned by transgressive Ilonggo writer, Peter Solis Nery. Nery is now based in Los Angeles, California.

This is not your run-of-the-mill workshop where participants’ works are discussed by a dogmatic panel. We reverse the process: When you come to the workshop you come ready with your own writing method. You talk about how this method applies to your own writing experience. For proof, you site your pieces (poetry, essay, play, blog, art work, etc) as examples. We react to your pieces using our own writing process so we learn from one another. We don’t believe nor subscribe to any school of writing.

We have invited two English language specialists to take up issues on usage: Randolph Graydon, from Baltimore, USA, and Brian Daily, a British- Canadian. Their job is to react to how you work with the English language and offer points for improvement. If you write in Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Filipino, we have other invited writers to help you with that: Mel F. Turao, Roger Rueda, among others.

Prospect attendees are college students, fresh graduates, young professionals, bloggers, musicians, artists, book worms, nerds, mad scientists, couch potatoes, movie junkies, journalists and English/literature teachers, who want to have a hands-on experience with how writing is produced by writers themselves. The discussions aren’t strictly academic as there are readings and performances in between the sessions. Wine, beer and cocktails will be served.

How to join

Send your softcopy originals as MS Word attachment (poetry, essay/blog entry, short story, play and a combination of these) in Arial 14, double space to [email protected]. Please include a 4-paragraph bio.

We accept applications and manuscripts until 12 midnight of 27 April.

Works will be pre-screened. Discounts will be given to applicants whose works show TALENT and ORIGINALITY OF VISION, if not STIR CONTROVERSY.

Admission fee is PhP 600 for students and PhP 1000 for fresh graduates and professionals. Your fee covers drinks, food and reading materials.

For more details, email Mel at [email protected]; or follow baconbriefs on Twitter.

 

© Mel Turao: March 2010

Ilonggo icon to launch latest book

Ilonggo literary celebrity and California-based US-Registered Nurse, Peter Solis Nery, will be in the country from late August to mid-September to promote his latest book, The Passion of Jovita Fuentes.

Released by New Day Publishers, Nery’s 14th book offering is his 2008 1st Prize Palanca-winning play in English, The Passion of Jovita Fuentes which reimagines the life story of Capizeña National Artist for Music and international opera diva of the 1920’s, Maestra Jovita Fuentes; and her love affair with President Manuel Roxas.

Aside from the Manila launching and the book’s offical introduction at the Manila International Book Fair at the Mall of Asia from September 16-20, Nery will promote his book in the Visayas, specifically in Iloilo, Roxas City, Kalibo, Bacolod, Antique, and Cebu.

The Visayan book tour will kick off with a book launching and booksigning on Sunday, September 6 at 11 a.m. at the SM City Iloilo Activity Center. The event is sponsored by Panay News, SM City, Hotel del Rio, Afrique’s, and Esca’s Garden Restaurant.

 

© Panay News: August 28, 2009

October Daisy Award Winner

Congratulations to our newest Daisy Award winner, Peter Solis Nery, RN (4North – Ortho/Med-Surg).

Peter, who received the Daisy Award on October 8, is a graduate of White Memorial’s 2007 class of RN residents. Here are some of the comments that the patients and visitors who nominated Peter provided:

“He showed interest in his job by asking frequently about the patient and giving the care needed – and more. His work and attitude were outstanding, having qualities that all nurses should have. Thank you for your outstanding, impressive work.”

“Along with his exceptional nursing skills comes a compassionate positive attitude which will delight any patient. As most nurses just do their jobs, Peter puts in much more effort and personally sees that his patient has a smile on their face. Thank you, Peter.”

“I especially admire Peter’s consideration of helping to manage a patient’s pain. This is evidently a priority for him and he is very dedicated to patients’ needs. I also enjoyed his explanations regarding medical matters.

“Peter is very proactive with medications for comfort, answered promptly for assistance to the bathroom, took time to explain procedures for meds, and demonstrated patient advocacy, education, and sensitivity. Overall, a very professional, considerate, and wonderful nurse.

 

© Stat: November 18, 2008