By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS
I haven’t bidden Norman goodbye properly and I feel bad about it.
Norman is a very good writer and it was a privilege for VERA Files to have him as one of our writers.
When young writers inquire about contributing feature stories for VERA Files, a group that publishes in- depth and feature stories, I always tell them to check out articles by Norman, Pablo Tariman, Babeth Lolarga and Winnie Velasquez as examples of good writing.
It’s good writing if once you’ve started with the first paragraph, you continue reading until you get to the last sentence. It’s a good article if you learned something new– an information or a perspective of an issue.
Norman loved history and he wrote about it in the context of contemporary times. Or if he writes about today’s technology, he always included a sense of history. Like the exhibit “Last, Lost, Lust for Four Episodes” at the Ayala Museum June 2015. Norman chose as peg for the article the Voltes V craze in the late 70s and the oppressive environment under Martial Law.
Titled, “Revenge of the Voltes V Generation,” the article, written last year is even more relevant today.
Norman talked about a 13-foot-tall sculpture by artist Toym Imao, who was 11 years old when then President Ferdinand Marcos ordered a ban of Voltes V in 1979.
Norman wrote: “Today’s generation may simply see it as an artwork demonizing the dictator. What they do not know was that it echoes the Sky Rook, the large Boazanian starship that resembled a skull with devil horns. On top was a Disney-style castle, where the Boazanian leadership monitored the battles between their beast fighters and Voltes V.
“The artwork has also something more relevant to say to the present generation: how Filipinos choose their leaders come elections, as if they have a penchant for committing suicide by politics.”
Norman quoted Imao saying, “My frustration does not stem from the fact that another Marcos is gunning for the highest position of the land, but from how a vast majority of our people — through their choice of leaders — perpetuate nepotism and political dynasties. That the Marcoses are still in power, along with other similar incarnations in our existing government, is a barometric reading on our political maturity as a people.”
Norman concluded” “The Marcos dictatorship may have ended almost 30 years ago, but the politics of impunity remain. So, the struggle continues, with the ending nowhere in sight. Laments Imao: ‘We are still victims of patronage and celebrity politics.’”
I met Norman through his wife, Carla, in our Icanserve events. Icanserve is an organization of cancer survivors and Carla, a stage-4 breast cancer survivor, is one of the active movers.
All members of Icanserve consider Norman an honorary member.
One time, I asked Carla to write about Icanserve for VERA Files. She gave a better idea: Why don’t you ask Norman to write about how the other half of the couple cope when one has cancer.
For the article, Norman interviewed musician Jim Paredes, whose wife, Lydia, is a breast cancer survivor.
A portion of Norman’s article: “Yes, husbands also suffer. For them, dealing with breast cancer is a learning experience for which there is no preparation, no on-the-job-training, and no orientation. The only way to learn how to swim is to be in the water.
“Adding to the challenge is the fact that men by nature do not talk about their problems. Talking is a woman thing, not a man thing. That may explain why there are support groups for breast cancer patients and survivors but there are a handful for the men — if you can find them.”
He shared three tips from Paredes: First step is acceptance; talk about it; and learn from others.
Norman underscored this advice from Paredes which he himself experienced: “There will be fear to deal with. Feel the fear, face it and do what you must do.”
I always look forward for Norman’s articles. Last Feb. 17, I got a text message from him: “Hi Ellen, I’m back. Kumusta? Anyway, would you be interested in a piece about the Philippine ambassador to Japan? We’re going there in March.”
I was happy to get that message because I have seen posts in his Facebook page about him confined in a hospital. I replied: “Okay. Glad you are well now.” And he answered: “Thanks.”
Every time I opened my email, I was hoping to get Norman’s article. Monday last week, when I was home feeling the symptoms of incoming flu, I checked my email and was shocked to get this a message from Kara Alikpala: “ Carla, our dear sister, just lost her husband a few minutes ago, our dear Norman Sison, a tireless volunteer and an adorable boyfriend to all ICANSERVE sisters!”
It’s not farewell, Norman. The insights you shared with us through your articles, I will forever treasure.