By Ishia Eleanor F. Marquez

Far Eastern University (FEU) Department of Language and Literature (DLL) faculty member Austere Rex Gamao won the Philippine Literary Arts Council Prize for Best Book of Poetry in English at the 43rd National Book Awards announced by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) - Philippines last February 13. 

Since 1982, the NBDB and the Filipino Critics Circle have held the National Book Awards annually to recognize works written by Filipinos across different genres and categories. 

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, Gamao shared that 139 finalists were selected among the 385 titles submitted in various genres written in Filipino, English, Hiligaynon, and Kinaray-a, with 30 chosen as winners. 

Inspired by epic poetry, Gamao’s award winning book ‘With Decade’ is a novel in verse written in a hybrid form centered around the main character, Decade.

Queer representation in media, books

Gamao shared that he wanted to reconfigure the traditionally adventurous and masculine-centered narratives of epic poetry by portraying Decade, a queer and genderfluid entity in the book whose story is grounded in the normalcy of day-to-day life.

“Parang subversion siya ng epic poetry… Gusto ko ‘yung aking epic hero ay [bakla], or queer, [or] genderfluid. Gusto ko wala siya masyadong adventure. Gusto ko quotidian [‘yung buhay niya] (It is like a subversion of epic poetry. I want my epic hero to be gay, or queer, or genderfluid. I do not want them to have too much adventure, I just want them to have a quotidian life),” he said.

Moreover, the faculty member noted the various myths read in epic poetries, yet he departed from these norms by creating his own called the ‘Myth of Rejection,’ where he placed the protagonist in different challenges, only for Decade to eventually reject authorial control by the end.

Recalling his past experiences as a closeted queer person in college, Gamao shared how works such as ‘Crush’ by Richard Siken played a significant role on his journey as a writer and his self-discovery, emphasizing that individuals and writers may likewise find themselves in the media they consume.

“Representational media is important because it teaches us how to live and how to look at the world in our own perspective. So that's important to me. It changed how I saw literature, how I saw the world itself, and how I saw my own capabilities… It lets budding writers [and] budding artists understand that there is a bigger world out there and you can do what these books did,” the author highlighted.

The faculty member also highlighted the importance of books and media as a ‘manual’ for individuals to get through with their lives, especially the queer community where the path is a bit more different.

On honoring sacrifices, inspiring people

Coming from a small town in the Negros Island Region, Gamao dedicates his achievement to his family and his hometown that raised him, recalling his family’s sacrifices so he could pursue the creative field in Manila, where opportunities were vaster.

“I hope with this win, lahat ng sacrifices ng parents ko (all of my parents’ sacrifices), ng sister ko, ng family ko, have been all worth it,” he expressed. 

The author also wishes that his win would encourage kids from his hometown to pursue their dreams regardless of their social status and where they came from.

Moreover, he hopes that people would draw inspiration from his work and realize that poetry has no limitations, that all can write their own without strictly adhering to the conventional rules and norms of poetry.

“I hope with my book, because the book is a little bit experimental, that they can see na parang I can do something [and write] like that pala… Hindi lang pala [palagi] ‘yung sukat at tugma [sinusunod]… Hindi lang pala ganoon ‘yung [pagsusulat ng] poetry (It is not always the meter and rhyme scheme you have to follow. Writing poetry is not just like that),” Gamao shared. 

For the green-and-gold community

Gamao reminds Tamaraws to lessen their consumption of 'brain rot' content and to instead read books, stressing that it prevents the mind from being jailed and can further exercise their brain activity.  

Brain rot refers to short-term and nonsensical forms of media individuals consume often for entertainment, which, in excessive consumption, can shorten attention span. 

“When you brain rot, when you just grow old, that is a passive activity. You just accept what is being shown to you by TikTok or Twitter... But when you read, you get to exercise your brain, you get to exercise your imagination, [and] your creativity… So reading is a revolution. If you just read one book a year, you're better than most people,” the writer said.

The faculty member also encouraged Tamaraws to visit the ‘Nick Joaquin Corner’ located at the University’s library, where they can read the works of the National Artist Nick Joaquin. 

In line with this, Gamao also cited ‘TamaWRITE,’ an annual workshop held by DLL to hone students' creative writing skills, as part of their initiative to promote and bring back FEU’s rich history on literature. 

The awarding ceremony of the 43rd National Book Awards will be held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on March 14.

(Photos courtesy of Austere Rex Gamao)