The other essay, “Muntikang Ma-Desap”, is by Roberto Ofanda “Abet” Umil. He is the same Umil in the celebrated case “Umil vs. Ramos”, and the Ramos here is the former president and general of the Marcos dictatorship. In his essay in this anthology, the multi-awarded poet, essayist and musician Umil writes the “official” version of his arrest in 1988, extreme torture, and his life after. He describes the torture he experienced in the most graphic but also seeming most offhand terms. The power of his description gives the impression that no, not for a moment has the writer forgotten what he suffered. He may have come to terms with it – the tone is, after all, matter of fact, almost impersonal in its detachment, but he will never forget.
[quote_center]The power of his description gives the impression that no, not for a moment has the writer forgotten what he suffered. He may have come to terms with it – the tone is, after all, matter of fact, almost impersonal in its detachment, but he will never forget.[/quote_center]
Umil then goes on to share what he did after he barely escaped being a victim of extrajudicial killing or enforced disappearance – he returned to writing. Without rancor, however, he proceeds to expose an incumbent national artist for being a “traitor” and colluding with the former dictatorship. Umil had enrolled in this recognized poet’s poetry workshop, but upon learning of the latter’s betrayal of the activist cause and of those who believed in and committed their very lives to it, Umil left.
In the end of his narrative, Umil makes a heartfelt admission that he was not as strong as he should have been under torture. That he was forced to speak partial lies which meant that what he was cried out during interrogation and torture were all half true. What this means for Umil remains with him, what weight he carries over this is unwritten.
Kataga 1 contains 31 works from different genres. It is a tour de force from writers to watch out for, many of whom have already won literary awards from different bodies. It is certain that the upcoming Kataga 2 (well, if there’s a “1”, logic dictates that there should be a “2”) will surpass its predecessor because the contributors of the first can only get better.
This article was originally published in Philippines Graphic Magazine.
