MANILA, Philippines — A member of INQUIRER.net’s technical support will have his works featured in the 41st edition of Ani, the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) official literary journal.
Jett Gomez’s works were chosen out of the thousands of submissions, and will soon be included in the upcoming journal to be published digitally.
Among Gomez’s works to be included is the poem “Biyaheng Pauwi.” Below is a stanza:
“Napakalaking pagsubok
ang panatalihing tulog
ang sarili sa biyahe
pauwi.”
In an interview with INQUIRER.net, Gomez said that he was inspired by his travels in Baguio, Quezon province at Zamboanga for his works.
“Kapag napupunta kasi ako sa isang lugar parang may pakiramdam sa akin palagi na may mga kwento sa bawat kalsadang nararaanan ko kaya kung paano ko tanggapin sa sarili ko ‘yung kwento na ‘yun, ayun ‘yung isinusulat ko,” he said.
(When I travel to a place, it’s as if I have a feeling that a road has a story behind it, it’s as if how I accept the story behind it, that’s what I write about.)
Gomez, who said that he has been writing for five years, added that it was only in recent years that he has been exposed to the craft.
He also looks up to Chuckberry Pascual, Charles Bukowski, Lualhati Bautista, RM Topacio-Aplaon and Ricky Lee as his literary heroes.
Asked what’s his dream as a writer, Gomez simply quoted Joey Ayala’s “Walang Hanggang Paalam”: “’Di ba tayo’y narito upang maging malaya at upang palayain ang iba (Aren’t we here to be free and to free others?)
And aside from writing literary works, Gomez also wishes to also dip his hands into making a short film.