Who is your favorite author?
May 4, 2003 | 12:00am
Since I was a child my Dad, Alberto Romulo, impressed on me both the importance of and the pleasure that comes with reading. Since Dad grew up in the province he wasn’t able to travel as much as his cousins did. So he did the next best thing: he went to the local library to read. And what a wealth of experiences he got!
I am always filled with pride when I hear my Dad talk to foreign visitors because more often than not he knows more about their countries than they do.
The best authors, my dad tells me, are able to take us on many journeys – far and wide. From the gates of hell to the cockpits of Pearl Harbor-bound Japanese fighter pilots, even up to places where God is present and hears us – there is no place or time books cannot take us to.
For today, I interviewed several book lovers and asked them to share with us their favorite authors. Hope you enjoy what they have to say.
First daughter Luli Arroyo: One of my favorite authors is Dr. Rofel G. Brion, a poet and professor at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is also a good friend and mentor. At one point in his life he spent time at Hawthornden Castle in this prestigious international program for writers. His first book of poetry, Baka Sakali, won the National Book Award. His English and Pilipino poems speak straight to my consciousness not only about being Filipino but also about living life. His second book of poetry, Story, is also a revealing collection about his life which allowed me to appreciate him more, both as a person and as a poet.
Another favorite of mine is Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I like reading books in the magical realism genre in general, and Garcia’s novels in particular. I’ve read a number of his books and I loved them all. I see a lot of similarities between the Latino culture and our own. My favorite is One Hundred Years of Solitude. But there is one particular phrase, I think it is from The General in His Labyrinth, which I love to quote. Garcia describes a young woman in the General’s bed "with soft, fine down," and to someone as balbon as I am this is inspirational and made me appreciate my own soft, fine down.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye: I like Tom Clancy because his books are very fast paced and very practical. My favorite among all his books is Executive Decisions.
Lizzie Zobel, vice president, Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation: I would say my kababayan Gabriel Garcia Marquez because I like magic realism.
Architect Ed Calma: Paul Virilio. He examines and criticizes the crazy dominance of tech-science and information technology in our lives to the extent that it’s both ridiculously funny and frightening.
Philip Cu-Unjieng, executive editor, People Asia: Depends on my mood swings. Right now, it’s people like Geoff Nicholson (UK), Max Barry (Australia), Bill Fitzhugh and Christopher Buckley (USA). Because at heart, their fiction is social satire, poking fun at how ridiculous contemporary society can be in skewering the sacred cows. Whether it’s politics, our consumer society or the world of glossy magazines, they hold the mirror and encourage the cracks to show.
Cito Beltran, TV host, Straight Talk and Isyu: Tolkien. I like reading stories within a story. Reality within fantasy. Sophisticated writing yet very easy reading because they mirror human condition as both brutal and beautiful.
Senate President Franklin Drilon: My favorite author is John Grisham because as a lawyer, I can give life to the main characters of his stories and re-live the days when I was still a practicing lawyer. His books are also for light reading, so they give me a good diversion from my work.
Leah Puyat, columnist: I love to read and naming a fave is tough. It’s like saying Manolos are my top fave, when I’m equally in love with Jimmy Choo, Rudolphe Menudier and Christian Loubotin! But after much thought I have to say it’s Jane Austen. I love the combination of social commentary and biting wit. And she’s still so relevant today. Even such contemporary movies such as Bridget Jones’ Diary and Clueless take their plots from her. It is a truth universally acknowledged that she defined the novel form of the comedy of manners.
Vivian Yuchengco, president, First Resources: I used to like Danielle Steele when I was young because she relaxes me. But as I got older and with my busy schedule, I just read books that people recommend to me. And maybe now that I’m not chairwoman of the Philippine Stock Exchange anymore I’ll get to read more books.
Erwin T. Romulo, columnist, filmmaker, musician: Having been taught how to read by my father at a very early age, I can say my tastes as far as literature is concerned are varied. I have a couple of favorite authors, from Hemingway to Poe, Philip K. Dick to Butch Dalisay, Yukio Mishima to Lain M. Banks. But if push comes to shove, I’d say my favorite author is Gregorio C. Brillantes, especially his book On a Clear Day in November Shortly Before the Millennium which has "The Cries of Children on an April Afternoon in the Year 1957," probably one of the best short stories in the canon of world literature. I’m also reading Carlos P. Romulo’s Last Man Off Bataan, a very well-written account of the Second World War. Also, I’m a great fan of this up-and-coming Filipino writer Baryon Tensor Posadas; I’ve read a couple of his short stories and his novel-in-progress Michiko – he is clearly pointing the way of Philippine literature in the 21st century. For poetry, I’d go with either of Lourd de Veyra’s two books while for essays, I really admire Scott Garceau and Will Self.
I am always filled with pride when I hear my Dad talk to foreign visitors because more often than not he knows more about their countries than they do.
The best authors, my dad tells me, are able to take us on many journeys – far and wide. From the gates of hell to the cockpits of Pearl Harbor-bound Japanese fighter pilots, even up to places where God is present and hears us – there is no place or time books cannot take us to.
For today, I interviewed several book lovers and asked them to share with us their favorite authors. Hope you enjoy what they have to say.
First daughter Luli Arroyo: One of my favorite authors is Dr. Rofel G. Brion, a poet and professor at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is also a good friend and mentor. At one point in his life he spent time at Hawthornden Castle in this prestigious international program for writers. His first book of poetry, Baka Sakali, won the National Book Award. His English and Pilipino poems speak straight to my consciousness not only about being Filipino but also about living life. His second book of poetry, Story, is also a revealing collection about his life which allowed me to appreciate him more, both as a person and as a poet.
Another favorite of mine is Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I like reading books in the magical realism genre in general, and Garcia’s novels in particular. I’ve read a number of his books and I loved them all. I see a lot of similarities between the Latino culture and our own. My favorite is One Hundred Years of Solitude. But there is one particular phrase, I think it is from The General in His Labyrinth, which I love to quote. Garcia describes a young woman in the General’s bed "with soft, fine down," and to someone as balbon as I am this is inspirational and made me appreciate my own soft, fine down.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye: I like Tom Clancy because his books are very fast paced and very practical. My favorite among all his books is Executive Decisions.
Lizzie Zobel, vice president, Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation: I would say my kababayan Gabriel Garcia Marquez because I like magic realism.
Architect Ed Calma: Paul Virilio. He examines and criticizes the crazy dominance of tech-science and information technology in our lives to the extent that it’s both ridiculously funny and frightening.
Philip Cu-Unjieng, executive editor, People Asia: Depends on my mood swings. Right now, it’s people like Geoff Nicholson (UK), Max Barry (Australia), Bill Fitzhugh and Christopher Buckley (USA). Because at heart, their fiction is social satire, poking fun at how ridiculous contemporary society can be in skewering the sacred cows. Whether it’s politics, our consumer society or the world of glossy magazines, they hold the mirror and encourage the cracks to show.
Cito Beltran, TV host, Straight Talk and Isyu: Tolkien. I like reading stories within a story. Reality within fantasy. Sophisticated writing yet very easy reading because they mirror human condition as both brutal and beautiful.
Senate President Franklin Drilon: My favorite author is John Grisham because as a lawyer, I can give life to the main characters of his stories and re-live the days when I was still a practicing lawyer. His books are also for light reading, so they give me a good diversion from my work.
Leah Puyat, columnist: I love to read and naming a fave is tough. It’s like saying Manolos are my top fave, when I’m equally in love with Jimmy Choo, Rudolphe Menudier and Christian Loubotin! But after much thought I have to say it’s Jane Austen. I love the combination of social commentary and biting wit. And she’s still so relevant today. Even such contemporary movies such as Bridget Jones’ Diary and Clueless take their plots from her. It is a truth universally acknowledged that she defined the novel form of the comedy of manners.
Vivian Yuchengco, president, First Resources: I used to like Danielle Steele when I was young because she relaxes me. But as I got older and with my busy schedule, I just read books that people recommend to me. And maybe now that I’m not chairwoman of the Philippine Stock Exchange anymore I’ll get to read more books.
Erwin T. Romulo, columnist, filmmaker, musician: Having been taught how to read by my father at a very early age, I can say my tastes as far as literature is concerned are varied. I have a couple of favorite authors, from Hemingway to Poe, Philip K. Dick to Butch Dalisay, Yukio Mishima to Lain M. Banks. But if push comes to shove, I’d say my favorite author is Gregorio C. Brillantes, especially his book On a Clear Day in November Shortly Before the Millennium which has "The Cries of Children on an April Afternoon in the Year 1957," probably one of the best short stories in the canon of world literature. I’m also reading Carlos P. Romulo’s Last Man Off Bataan, a very well-written account of the Second World War. Also, I’m a great fan of this up-and-coming Filipino writer Baryon Tensor Posadas; I’ve read a couple of his short stories and his novel-in-progress Michiko – he is clearly pointing the way of Philippine literature in the 21st century. For poetry, I’d go with either of Lourd de Veyra’s two books while for essays, I really admire Scott Garceau and Will Self.
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