For this quarter’s issue of Santelmo the guest editor is internist Joti Tabula, who I always refer to as the patron saint of medical narratives and humanities in the Philippines. He said he’d take the title, although he wouldn’t protest being called the queen or the harlot of medical humanities.

We had our launch a few weekends ago at Blue Rocket Cafe. The last time I attended was the one for the previous issue sometime July 2023, during the launch of the Justice Issue with Sen. Leila de Lima on the cover. I was supposed to be Joti’s guest since I had no contribution to the issue, but some activity had kept him from coming. I became his de facto representative, and I had to read his poetry which was livestreamed on Facebook and which he watched while he was in traffic. I asked him for review on how I did, he said that I read it too fast.

The latest issue is about health and wellness, and I was able to have 2 essays included: Come Back Marcus, and Innocent, both of which have been previously posted in this bloggeth. I could use anything for therapy, so I happily attended the event and read an excerpt from Come Back Marcus.

It was still early, and I couldn’t bear the thought of going home just yet, and Joti said there’s a book launch at the UP Hotel that he would be attending. I tagged along. It was for Ang Wala Rito, the poetry book of RR Cagalingan, whom I met during the Justice Issue launch. I’m terrible at poetry comprehension, but being surrounded by poets such as national artist Virgilio Almario, Dakila Cutab, Joti Tabula, and Fidel Rillo, I already felt extremely smart. To more literary and cultural events!

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