Libidinous in grace and disgrace

Ang Landas, Lipad, at Libog ni Leon Kilat,” visual interpretations by Grace Marie Katigbak and Hugo “Boboy” Yonzon III of my first novel, Great Philippine Jungle Energy Café, was on exhibit from Nov. 16 to 30 at the Kalaw Ledesma Foundation Library & Gallery in the KL Building, Gamboa St. in Legaspi Village, Makati.

Yonzon created three stunning assemblages, with his centerpiece titled “Pintada” inspired by a female character in the novel. A naked, tattooed female figure of fiberglass is boxed inside strips of painted old wood fashioned into an irregular contraption, with assorted knives and bolos thrust into the wood panels as arresting highlights.

Another assemblage titled “Tahi ng Bulag” depicts another character, the blind seamstress Teresa, also of fiberglass, wood, and found pieces, including a vintage Singer Sewing machine.

The third piece, “Buhay at Kamatayan ni Kilat,” is a wall installation with an adult male torso hanging upside down as it emerges from layered cloth and foam that poetically simulates the female organ.

Mia Cabalfin dances before Yonzon’s assemblage titled “Pintada.”

For her part, Grace Marie Katigbak had a series of pen-and-ink illustrations, calligraphic sketches and colorful abstractions in oil and mixed media on canvas, bearing such titles as “Leon Kilat,” “Mountains in His Pants,” “Love is Flame,” “After the Rain” and “Flowers of the Jungle.”

All of her pieces were inspired by sections of the novel, which she only managed to read a year ago. It was her kooky idea to come up with the show, the concept of which was then discussed with her Tagaytay neighbor Boboy Yonzon.

At the opening, Grace’s niece, the award-winning poet and author Mookie Katigbak Lacuesta, read an excerpt from the novel, plus a poem of mine that had nothing to do with the book that first came out in 1987 (published by the BDAP or Book Development Association of the Philippines after it won a CCP novel-writing contest), was reprinted by UP Press in 1998, and enjoyed a third edition by Anvil Publishing, Inc. last year.

Mia Cabalfin offered a captivating solo dance number while Agnes Arellano performed a Nick Joaquin adaptation of Cole Porter’s You’re the Top with her ukulele.

Yonzon’s assemblage titled “Tahi ng Bulag” — of fiberglass, wood, and found pieces

Honestly, I wouldn’t have written this up anymore, had there not been another shout-out from my long-time buddy Boboy Yonzon, a graphic artist and designer, painter, publisher, and sometime head of a comic-book authors’ association. He has also authored The Old Man and the Sex, a humor book I reviewed in these pages a couple of years ago.

Early next year, Boboy will release three books, of varying genres. The first will be Progeny Phenom: The Story of the Development Academy of the Philippines, which he wrote and edited. Published by the DAP’s Office of the President, with Yonzon Associates as editorial consultant, it is designed by Lito Yonzon, with assistance from Barry Jose. Aural photos are by multiple-award winner Joel Yonzon.

The second is Wood Things: Installations of Junyee, written by Jose “Bogie” Tence Ruiz. Published by Yonzon Associates with the support of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, it is designed by Pika Yonzon, again with assistance from Barry Jose. The cover photo and preface are credited to Boboy Yonzon, while additional articles are written by the acclaimed installation artist Junyee himself.

The third book is Boboy Yonzon: BABAE, with his collected photographs of 30 women friends, with ages from 16 to 61. Published by Onyx Owl, an imprint of Yonzon Associates, it will also have poems by Boboy. This will be out by February 2017. 

But the shout-out has to do with the migration and reshowing of “Ang Landas, Lipad, at Libog ni Leon Kilat” starting on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Grace/Disgrace Gallery at Grace Katigbak’s new bed-and-breakfast place on 137 Talisay Road in Tagaytay, which will also have its soft opening on that day.

Guests are expected as early as mid-morning for a whole-day affair of wine and cheese, pasta and other food servings till sundown, when the host will lead meditation rites as the full moon rises above the view of hills and the lake. 

Grace’s birthday will also be celebrated. Among the guests expected are Tagaytay Mayor Agnes Tolentino, the Mother Superior of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, and healers from the Institute of Inner Studies.

The would-be celebrant writes:

“May you all have that ‘full-of-grace’ feeling this season, despite the undercurrents of pain and disaster, or maybe because of it; let’s be together in love. The party’s over at the PKL Center, but I leave behind the profile of Purita Kalaw-Ledesma that actually looks like my Inay (grandmother) Pura Villanueva Kalaw.

“The exhibit replants itself in Tagaytay with Boboy Yonzon’s libidinous work (he is also the son of amazing artist Hugo Yonzon, among other things) and mine. See you then! “Ang Landas, Lipad at Libog…” ni Krip Yuson, I mean Leon Kilat, is alive and well and the jungle thrives in Tagaytay and once I have enough mugs, you get coffee... that is if I’m not busy painting. Come!!!”