Intellectual Braggadocio

This would serve as a sequel to my blog with regard to Nick Joaquin's speech in his acceptance of the Ramon Magsaysay award. A matter-of-factly, I found solace in his words, that of concluding the rivalry between literature and journalism, instead linking one to the other. If only that most writers would adhere to the idea, then we wouldn't be seeing people with the right faculty and creativity to write but are so into themselves that they lose that force to connect with their readers.

I have seen and suffered from these people for so many times already, and I can say there are still more coming. I don't know if I reached the last point of protecting myself through emotional immunity. I'd say I'm probably too intoxicated with reality weaved into fictional style, that I forgot how it is to deal with people who have that self-flattering perception of their craft.

Just this afternoon, I got myself caught in its cobwebs. From out of the blue, while we were killing time near the workplace's lobby, I resorted to editing a tarp displayed in front aloud, knowing that the people who designed it were probably a stone's throw away. I felt quite so full of myself, so arrogant, after I finished talking though in the end I did something as a futile attempt to save face. More than anything else, I don't want to have that reputation of being high up on air. I've always loved the ground, and I always check myself if I'm still on it or if I'm somewhere else.

I don't want to name names or put some of my friends in bad light. But there is one thing I have to say. Most of the people I emulate are those who tend to shy away from compliments and stick to their ideas, without the need to shove it down anyone's throat. Why is that? Because they are the ones who are more successful and profound in thinking, not to say with a humanity that feeds life instead of curtail it.

A writer-designer friend of mine once told me that writers are waxing egoists. It's probably true, but for somebody who grew up in the company of media personalities and writers, it's easy to tell when humility is fake and pride genuine and in-depth. Somehow along the way while reading Joaquin's speech, I gained the respect for my chosen degree which is journalism, it being at par with the respect I have for the works of art, especially those pertaining to language.

I can finally say to those snobbish literateurs that fiction will only mean the death of reality when one is cut off from experience. So for writers and wanna-bes, be with people, be the people, and understand people; it's the only way for truth and fiction to lose each other in themselves.