China honors a Filipino as the Father of Visual Poetry

MANILA, Philippines — The multiple differences among us are mathematical truths that are either conspicuously existing on us or impeccably concealed inside us. We live in diverse colors, shapes, sizes, quantities, and values. But, each of us definitely possesses in oneself an incomparable chiseled individuality which can distinctly resonate in a crowd or simply melt away behind the spotlight. It is our own positivism or negativism which may raise us up to victory or put us down to fiasco. But, varied as we are, an honest advocacy one does for this living world, separates him from the fellows who merely live and breathe. Indeed, it matters how a person sees, performs, shares, and sustains that individual quality he has, not only in the circle he belongs, but in the vastness of the sphere he inspires. The polynomials of diverse things he owns do not make him a significant being, neither the question if he is just an exponent, nor a prime factor a plus point,  but rather, it is the fraction of concepts, images, or even solutions he creates and shares to his fellows which truly makes him different, perfectly different from a common crowd.

Just recently, what happened in China marked another proof that despite the diversity of humans in terms of so many angles, still, it is the sum total of their contributions to the nation, as well as to the world, in general, which can make them stand out among the rest. Yes! This time it is in the Land of the Red Dragon, China, where one of the most remarkable achievements of a Filipino artist has been acknowledged with full honors and felicitations. Our very own, Doc PenPen Bugtong Takipsilim (real name, Epitacio R. Tongohan, MD), the renowned founder of the international poetry group, the Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry, has been honored as the Father of Visual Poetry. It is undeniably inspiring that a Filipino-doctor-turned-visual-poet has earned for our nation another global recognition, which generously places the Philippines as one of the most reputable countries in the literary sphere. Currently, Doc Pen Pen’s name is listed among the world’s famed visual poets. (From Wikipedia/The Free Encyclopedia)

Now, let us take a closer view of what occurred during the 22nd to 25th of November 2019, and find out how that festive event paved another literary global award for a Filipino artist. The Pentasi B poets, headed by Doc PenPen, took their plane seats and joined the Chinese Poetry Festival, which he co-organized withMs.Sophy Chen, a multi-awarded Chinese poet, writer, translator and founder of Sophy Chen World Poetry Awards and Sophy Chen Paper Poetry Magazine, SOPHY POETRY and TRANSLATION C-E WORLD PAPER MAGAZINE. It was a four-day festivity of words, rhymes, and friendships graced fabulously by the presence of respected Chinese and international poets. The event was an assembly of zealous delegates who radiated in them the most essential influence poetry can ever have.

On the first day, Ms. Sophy Chen, the main host, surprised the Pentasi B and other international guests by her warm, convivial welcome on their arrival at the Xi'an Xianyang International Airport in China. Afterwards, the group was transferred to Xi’an-Xi’an Hotel where they were luxuriously accommodated. Then, the 2nd day commenced the program, which is probably one of the most radiant poetry festivals any delegates would ever dream to participate in. The Program highlighted the main events as follows: Poetry Reading, Poetry Discussion, Book Exhibition, Book Launch, and Gift Donation, the latter has been a part of every Pentasi B’s poetry celebration. Basically, the aim is not just to emphasize the generosity of the donor, but most importantly, to showcase the particular products and the creative artistry of either the donor or the country he or she represented. Among the most anticipated and superb part of the event was the Pentasi B’s and Sophy Chen’s awarding of plaques of recognition to the International and the Chinese Poets.

The Pentasi B, with Ms. Sophy Chen, became a cornucopia of award-giving. The collaboration between Doc PenPen and Ms. Chen symbolized the laurels and prestige  in poetry writing. This literary duo significantly considered the poets who are, otherwise, concerned about the present global issues that confront human beings. Hence, their poems should not only display an artistic beauty, but their themes should also be relevant to changing the world for the better with such perennial impact. Pondering around these majestic concepts would mean poetry in the modern world is not just flaunting the thoughts in pompous words, nor in its schematic beauty, but poetry is also a means to propel an act that can irresistibly change a nation. It should be like a ripple, small it may be, but can create a wider effect around it.

As Doc PenPen echoes it, the Pentasi B World Poetry Festival in China must bear a noble purpose, that is: “Building Bridges of Friendship for Global Harmony and Understanding Among People of All Nations”; and, as Ms. Chen reiterates it: “Poetry Connects the World. Poetry Makes Us Friends”.

There were sixteen (16) poets/awardees recognized during the second day of the event. They came from different races and cultures, and definitely, were selected through their indisputable bodies of work and their indubitable achievements.

The three (3) recipients of special citations were:

(Philippines) Doc PenPen B. Takipsilim, “FATHER OF WORLD VISUAL POETRY”, “2019 SOPHY CHEN WORLD POETRY AWARD”;

(China) Poet and Translator Sophy Chen, “2019 PENTASI B WORLD POET LAUREATE”, and “2019 PENTASIAN AWARD”;

(China) Poet Dazang Chen,“2019 PENTASI B WORLD INSPIRATIONAL AWARD”, and “2019 PENTASI B WORLD FEATURED POET AWARD”.

The international delegates/awardees who received recognitions of “2019 PENTASI B CHINA WORLD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD”, “2019 SOPHY CHEN WORLD POETRY AWARD”, and “WORLD POET LAUREATE” were five (5) very eminent and reputable poets:

(India) Poet Dr. Lanka Siva Rama Prasad;

(Italy) Poet Maria Miraglia;

(Canada) Poet Ashok Kumar Bhargava;

(Pakistan) Poet Ayub Khawar; and

(Turkey) Poet Leyla Isik.

The Pentasi B has long been inspired and valued by these remarkable talents. Other awardees during the same event were eight (8) Chinese poets who reached exemplary levels in writing verses:

(China) Xie Mian, 2019 Pentasi B World Lifetime Achievement Award, and 2019 Sophy Chen World Poetry Award, World Poetry Review;

(China) Xiao Xiao, 2019 Pentasi B China World Poet Laureate Award, and 2019 Sophy Chen World Poetry Award, World Poet Laureate;

(Hunan, China) Ouyang Bai

2019 Pentasi B World Featured Award

2019 Sophy Chen World Poetry Award, World Elite Poet

(Hunan, China) Chen Hui, 2019 Pentasi B China World Poet Laureate Award, and 2019 Sophy Chen World Poetry Award, World Poetry Collection;

(Guangdong, China) Liang Nianzhao, 2019 Pentasi B China World Poet Laureate Award, and 2019 Sophy Chen World Poetry Award, World Influential Poet;

(Hubei, China) Luo Qiuhong, 2019 Pentasi B China World Poet Laureate Award, and 2019 Sophy Chen World Poetry Award, World Influential Poet;

(Jiangxi, China) Luo Qichao, 2019 Pentasi B China World Poet Laureate Award, and 2019 Sophy Chen World Poetry Award, World Network Poet; and

(Zhejiang, China) Sheng Xin, 2019 Pentasi B China World Poet Laureate Award, and 2019 Sophy Chen World Poetry Award, World Network Poet.

Aside from this award-giving activity, another component part of this red-letter day was Doc PenPen’sdonation of Pentasi B’s big book (W. 12” x H. 18.5”) to the National Library of China. The book, which features his most noteworthy visual poems, owned its precious and safe stature in the country’s state library and is open for the readers’ art and literary appreciation. A colossal worth, conceived. A historic contribution, achieved.

Successfully, Doc PenPen’s literary legacies had been sealed. Across the globe, his Pentasi B Poetry books had been displayed in the museum, universities, and National Libraries in the following eight (8) countries:

Irving K. Barber Library, University of British Columbia, Canada in 2012;

OTUSA TV Building, Los Angeles, the USA in 2012;

The National Library of the Philippines in 2013;

The University of Sabanci, Turkey in 2014;

The University of Bari, Italy in 2016;

The National Library of India in 2017;

The University of Ghana, Africa in 2018; and

The National Library of China (Beijing) in 2019.

If we take serious notice on the real implication behind the success of this 2019 PENTASI B CHINA WORLD POETRY FESTIVAL, our profound realization would tell us that its triumph correlates to an investment of a lifetime. An investment of friendship, respect, and kindness which, in the near future, would be of most effective use to the people in their respective nations working entirely to attain harmony and understanding. This investment may seem to be at an average pace today and still need sustenance, but by all odds, in God’s chosen time, that which that has been sincerely invested shall absolutely have its natural fruition. The Pentasi B’s active and unfeigned participation to the said poetry occasion showed the world a wondrousfulfillment of a noble mission. The Pentasi B commits itself in connecting people from varied races, regardless of their skin tones and ideologies. In China, Doc PenPen, with his ceaseless artistic passion, perseverance, and determination, found Ms. Chen’s gentle, loving yet powerful hands to help him express human thoughts and emotions for a common purpose: to build bridges of friendship for Global Harmony and Understanding among people of all nations. 

Today, on its 11th year, Pentasi B has continuously shown “what is out there” and “what more to be achieved” in order to sustain the attainment of world friendship and global peace. Doc PenPen, as its founder, becomes an epitome of words in action, word of honor, and words of inspiration. It is not the verses, nor the visual arts alone, that make him indeed impressive, but it is how he works with such intense zeal, positive affirmation, and brilliant effort. He is unquestionably worth-emulating. If this new generation lacks the sense to reach out to others and cannot discern the value of the prodigious quantity and the assiduous qualityof its existence, that it just simply exists and later fades away without even leaving behind a spark of its cosmos, then, it should look upon the worth of poets in this life, particularly upon the optimistic impact they create -- to heal, to inspire, to awaken!

Doc PenPen, Ms. Sophy Chen, the Pentasi B Delegates, and the Chinese Poets ignite the fire of poetry by consistently sharing their talents, ingenuity, and innovations to the world of Arts and Literature. The China Poetry Event manifested how they have worked hand-in-hand to be able to inspire others and become voices that awaken the heartsand minds of Humanity for global prosperity, peace, and harmony.

To these eminent poets, for their endearing goal of helping Humanity survive at this crucial time, Kudos! God speed!