Sa ikatlong koleksyon ng maikling kwento ni Rolando B. Tolentino, ang mga iglap ay hitik sa kwento ng paglisan, pagdating, di pagbalik, pag-aantay, paglagi—pero parating puno ng pagtatagpo. Ang eksena ng tagpuan ay enkapsuladong sandali at sityo ng mga realidad, fantasya, angas, labis at kulang sa historikal, panlipunan, sarili, kapwa, kabalintunaan, paradox, pagnanasa, at pagdanas. Pag-ibig ang puno’t dulo gayong malawak at malalim ang pagdanas sa aspirasyonal na spero ng buhay na ito. Umiibig tayo kanino, ng ano, saan, kailan, bakit, paano, at para kanino—na bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang pagmumundo at minumundo ng pag-ibig. Umiibig nga ba tayo talaga, o umiibig lang tayo sa idea na umiibig tayo, umiibig pa tayo, iibig at iibigin tayo? Ang Pag Mabilis na Umalis Baka Di Naman Talaga Dumating, at Iba Pang Kwento ay isang musa ng pagdanas at mundo ng mga iglap na hitik at said sa pag-ibig, pagkatao, at pakikipagkapwa-tao. Lipad-sadsad para sa posibilidad at pagkakataong makaalagwa at pag-asang magtagumpay.
Author
Rolando B. Tolentino is an associate for fiction of the UP Institute for Creative Writing. He is a faculty member of the UP Film Institute. He is the founding chair of Katha, the fictionists group in Filipino, and is a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and the Congress of Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND-UP). His works include: Sakit ng Kalingkingan: 100 Dagli sa Edad ng Krisis (2005), Kuwentong Syudad (co-editor, 2002), Sapinsaping Pag-ibig at Pagtangis: Tatlong Novella ng Pagsinta’t Paghinagpis (1999); Fastfood, Megamall at iba pang kwento sa pagsasara ng ikalawang milenyum (1999); Relasyon: Mga Kwuwento ng Paglusong at Pag-ahon (co-editor, 1999); Ali*bang+Bang atpb. Kwento (1994); Habilin: Antolohiya ng Katha Para sa Pambansang Kasarinlan (co-editor, 1991); Engkwentro: Kalipunan ng mga Akda ng Kabataang Manunulat (co-editor, 1990). He has received many awards here and abroad, namely: Distinguished Visitor, UC-Berkeley and UCLA Southeast Asian Studies Consortium (2006), Visiting Fellow, Sociology Department, National University of Singapore (Jul 2005-Dec 2006), Obermann Summer Research Fellowship (2004), Best Arts Book, Gintong Aklat, (2002), Writer’s Prize, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (2001), Manila Critics Circle Award for Best Film Criticism Book (2001); Gawad Chancellor for Best Literary Work (2001); Lily Monteverde Professorial Chair (2000-2001); UP International Publication Award (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003); Henry Sy Professorial Chair (1998-1999); Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, 1998, 1994, 1991; Research Grant, U.P. Office of Research Coordination, 1998-1999, 1999-2000; Research Grant, U.P. Center for Integrative Development Studies, 1997-1998; Angara Fellowship, U.P. Women’s Studies Center, 1997-1998; Belmonte Creative Writing Grant, U.P. College of Arts and Letters, 1997-1998; Research Grant, Sumitomo Foundation, 1997-1998; CCP Gawad para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, 1996; All University Predoctoral Merit Fellowship, USC, 1993-1996; Fulbright Grant to pursue Ph.D. in area of Critical Theory and Cultural Studies, 1992-1996; Writing Grant, Cultural Center of the Philippines; Thesis Grant, Philippine Social Science Council, 1991.
