Lola Ex

I wanted to say "thank you, google" but, I realized that google would not have been possible if there was no internet and the world wide web. I thought that the internet is synonymous with the www but according to wikipedia, they're two separate entities. I'm no expert in these www mumbo-jumbo, but what I'm really thankful for is being able to write in this blog for all the world to see and read (never mind if currently I'm being read / viewed by approximately 9 people -- and that's including my 2 year old daughter).

There is, of course, a lot of guts and exhibitionism involved in blogging, 2 things that I have an endless supply of. Exhibitionistic or not, blogging is a cathartic experience, a way of purging, because, according to Aristotle, "it is the human soul that [needs] to be purged of all its excessive passions".

Going back, I'm thanking the internet, the www, and google for immortalizing my grandmother. My sister, Cecille, who lives in NJ told me the other day to google our Lola Exal. Lola Ex was a writer and I've always considered her as my greatest influence. She used to write these short poems for us and we'd memorize them and recite them over the local radio. I had such rich memories of Lola Ex. She was a rarity, a betel nut chewing-mystic who always had a fantastic (as in the genre, as well as the adjective) story to tell. She was also a playwright, specifically a comedia writer. An article that was published online had this to say about her: "Beyond this lifeline, Antique has another star in its literary history as it has in its fold the rarity of an established comedia authorship, that of Exaltacion Combong..."

I wish we were able to compile all her works, but unfortunately, when she died, not one of her writings was ever found. You can call it mysticism or stupidity, but until now, we're still looking for her works. How tragic is that? But on the upside, I'm glad that Antique has acknowledged her talent and her contribution to literature and the arts.