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The
Bright Light Café Presents ...
Wilfredo Ropelos Bongcaron
aka
Ao-Suzume ("the
blue sparrow")
Biography
Poetry
When
were you born?
I was born 28 June 1958, a typical Cancerian.
Where were
you raised?
I was born and raised in the heart of Manila, Sampaloc
district, where I learned my abc’s in a public school, Dr.
Albert Elementary School (1965-1971); and where I started
to pick-up my writing pen at the University of Santo Tomas
Education High School (1971-1975). This catholic school
provided the perfect environment and nourishment in honing
my literary inclination. This is where I joined literary
contests and initially won in one (essay writing).
In 1975, I entered college at the University of the
Philippines College in Manila (UPCM). I took up a Bachelor
of Arts degree; and further honed my appreciation of the
arts. I later transferred to the U.P. Diliman Campus with
the end objective of finishing an engineering course. But
as luck would dictate it (I still consider it a blessing), I
was drawn away from it. I finished my Bachelor of Arts
degree major in Philosophy in the U.P. Diliman Campus in
1981, under the grants-in-aid program of the University.
How has your
upbringing influenced your writing?
I grew up basically in a financially-challenged family. My
father is a carpenter by profession. My mother stayed at
home to do the chores. I am the eldest in a family of five
siblings. Although financially hard-pressed, my parents saw
the value of education to their children; that is why they
really strived hard just to ensure that all of their
children would finish their college education. I would say
that my younger brother, Jess, became the most successful of
the brood. He graduated B.S. Civil Engineering and is now
in Saudi Arabia working in a waterworks in Jubail. His
expertise is in water & sewerage systems.
Are you
married? What is your spouse’s name? When/How did you
meet?
I am married to Martina “Tina” Ragpala. We tied the knot on
August 20, 1984 in a civil ceremony.
My wife was a co-employee in my first job. I worked in the
fastfood industry (Big Twenty Restaurant, Inc.) I was a
management trainee there and she was an internal auditor.
It was a relationship nurtured by time.
Have you any
children? What are their names?
We are blessed with three brilliant kids. The eldest, Donna
(23), graduated with a degree in Information Technology
from the University of Santo Tomas; and is now connected
with the telecommunications industry in Manila. The
second, Kristine (20) graduated A.B. Philosophy from U.P.
Diliman and is now pursuing her Law studies from the same
school. She is now sophomore. And the youngest Percival
(17) is a 3rd year Architecture student from the
University of Santo Tomas.
When did you first start creatively writing
and why? What prompted you to become a writer?
I started to become fascinated in compositions (poems,
essays, etc.) way back in my high school days. Although I
was physically active, engaging in sports activities, I
also got hooked in composing short verses, write-ups, etc.
Perhaps I was influenced by the very impressive life of our
national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, whom many consider as a
multi-talented Asian. If one would just dig deeper into the
psyche of this modern-day hero, one would discover the
limitless capacity of man to accomplish a lot of things.
What is your
favourite book/s and why?
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. (The very impressive
novels of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.) I consider these as classic
masterpieces that have social relevance up to this time.
Also, I am inclined to read philosophical compositions of
great writers and thinkers.
What is your favourite poem/s and why?
Desiderata (Max Ehrmann) – Happiness is an elusive but a
worthy objective.
Mi Ultimo Adios (Jose P. Rizal) – I love my own my native
Philippines. It is a masterpiece of a master.
Tree (Alfred Joyce Kilmer)
–
“… Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a
tree.”
What
is your favourite short story and why?
I like the short stories William Sydney Porter “O.Henry”. “The
Last Leaf” is just super … a masterpiece of a master
storyteller.
Who is your favourite writer and why?
I am really impressed by the writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
They teach humankind a lot about the affairs of men.
What is your
favourite song/music and why?
“New York, New York”… any Frank Sinatra, Matt Monro or Nat
King Cole ditty. I always go for the classics. They remind
me of the good old days.
What are
your writing goals?
I find fulfillment in writing when the reader stops, and
pauses, and tries to make sense of my simple verses. As
what you have said, yes probably I have found my form.
Haiku fits me to a T. I really wanted to share thoughts
that others could appreciate in short bursts.
What are you
dreams and goals?
It is my goal to make my family happy and fulfilled in
whichever small ways I can. And I dream of becoming a
master of the form (haiku) someday.
What are
your hobbies?
Haiku-writing, poems, basketball, badminton, chess,
internet surfing
What is the writing process like for you? Do
you sweat blood or do the words come easily?
The writing process is sometimes an agony … and most of the
time, inspired. I believe that for a writer to master the
craft, he has to practice, practice, practice … write,
write and write, just about anything under the sun.
How many
edits do you normally do before you feel your work is
completed?
I don’t think I edit much … haiku are short bursts of
inspiration that can be honed through constant practice and
writing. I cannot still say that I have learned all the
rudiments … I must say that it is a continuing process of
learning and becoming.
Do you have
any advice you can share with other aspiring writers?
As what one of my mentors Mr. Raul Funilas says: “Tula
lang nang tula!” … write, write and write poems …
compose, compose and compose poems.
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