Irving Wallace, Pinoy Media and “The Almighty" (Article from Mindaview)

                       " Irving Wallace,  Pinoy Media

                     and  The Almighty "

Fiction  as it encompasses all disciplines simply makes me crazy. In this world full of lies, deceit and upheavals, fiction  liberates giving valuable  insights, wisdom, zest and contentment. In short – life. I admit that  I’m passionate with music and could probably live without it and  other basic necessities in life. But without books –  that’s sick joke bordering on stupidity. So you want  books  that would make your day?  Then meet Irving Wallace larger than the books he wrote, writers’ writer, epitome of  creative writers, the Lord of fiction rolled into one.

Intellectual bias? No and never. I don’t play around with  favorites reserving my judgement where writers made their mark best.  Thus as student of literature I dig for   Aldous Huxley, George Orwell and yes, our very own  Jose Rizal- for his  Noli and Fili why really not -   for classics; Lamberto Avellana, Sionel Jose and Edilberto Tiempo for their graphic portrayal of Filipino psyche; Antonio Enriquez, Manuel Arguelles,Sionel Jose  and NVM Gonzales for storytelling; Nick Joaquin,  Francis Bacon, Sommerset Maughan  for the simplicity and eloquence of English language; Carl  Sandburg and Charles Dickens  as biographers among others. Role model writers I believe just come naturally and as clear as sunny day at the end of the day. That day maybe a year or two depending on the numbers of  books you are  reading.  I’m now past  middle blood my age turning into gold  but I confess that  reading  Mr. Wallace’ works feeding that  bookworm in me makes me even more younger. For the budding fiction writers out  there and the  walang binatbat,  usyoso and maselan  ones  detesting manomano writing strategy who can’t create symbols and ideas into stories without computers,  take Wallace peculiar  three “T’s” winning formula. Writing  Timeless not necessarily timely subjects   using Typewriter (lest he would lost his Midas’ touch) and  using the  article ‘The’ before writing compete title in two words, show what it takes  writing bestsellers. The sheer volume of  his books (I read ten of them and still counting) alone aver the depth and sweetness of  creative juices  the man has.   His ‘The Prize’, the story  of six Nobel awardees, how they cope up the strain  of pressure, fame and money, took fifteen long years gestation.  He had that incident counting man-hours spent in the making  of the book  revealed in the accompanying ‘The Writing of One Novel’. So any aspiring  Pinoy fictionist out there. Don’t fret yet. Never mind how long your  materials have gathered  dust in your closet. Given the  promise Pinoy fiction has in the future  Rica Bolipata Santos learned from the internet, it is not yet that hopeless case that  yours’ could make it invading international market giving you  possible handsome dividend in return. Who knows? Pila ra may palad sa unggoy, as we said in Visayan. So just write on  squeezing whatever creative juices you’ve got. .

 Moreover, he not only embodies those ‘best’  among great writers identified but most importantly, enhances those whom he integrated into his system. He has Hemingway’s  simplicity of language; fast-paced action of  Forsythe, Sanders and Hailey; the psychology of  Agatha Christie and Sidney Shieldon and all that. Add his scholarship, patience and timeless  subjects and you have wide array of explosive works  satisfaction guaranteed at your disposal. Consider  the  likes of the discovery of the fountain of youth in ‘The Pigeon Project’; or of the need of instituting surrogate mates to address sexual and  infertility problem among couples in ‘The Celestial Bed’.

For  fast-paced action you would probably like re-reading,  one that holds your breath all the way to the last page without putting the book down turning your coffee to cold once you open it, take the   gripping  account of Hitler’s death in a bunker, ‘The Seventh Secret,’ a subterranean city in Berlin he and Eva Braun lived  like any other ordinary mortals until the MASSAD, Israel’s Intelligence bounty hunters of Nazi’s Butchers, holed in killing both  in April 30,1975   instead of 1945 as history wrote  when Russia captured Berlin. Here, I see his creativity in full throttle and at  his best relegating in the dustbin similar work by  Colin Forbes (The Leader and the Damned) who theorized that Hitler was long dead in 1943 two years before Germany’s surrender what with gallons of gasoline poured into his body burning beyond recognition; that the one killed in 1945 was only  his double. ( Therefore Wallace ruthless leader must be the triple! One of them must be lying.  What’s your comment?)  But no, Wallace’ begged the question. They might have burn his body alright   but not the teeth of his double and those of  Eva Braun’s retrieved  in 1945 which did not match their existing  official dental records on file. There ensued that gripping account tracking the couple ending the search in the bunker. If you don’t go nuts reading this kind of piece, tell me. Storytelling in its finest, Wallace is just unbeatable;

That  irresponsible radio station which aired that infamous ‘Hello Garci tape’ causing pandemonium in the palace prompting PGMA to ask public apology (never mind   if the face did not support her sincerity as sourgraped by the opposition.), obviously  overwhelmed by the personality implicated and the concomitant effects to Juan more than the importance of the story, should have first  relished reading  Wallace’  ‘The R Document’.  The ‘R’ stands for the reconstruction of United States. In that fiction it just took ten straight minutes after showing sheaf of voiceprints and corresponding legal authentication from an authority before a conspiracy  was exposed.  Coincidence or not but  Watergate,  Gloriagate and Wallace ‘R’  scandal, three different events  have one thing in common – the use of  voicetape as material evidence unfortunately in Hello Garci’s tape was even more  muddled by dirty politics.

 Others radio commentators should also draw lesson from this to disabuse in their minds that talking on board does not give them license dishing out  inconclusive items. General viewing and hearing public deserve better piece given in clean resonant voice not taken for a ride giving them fleeting contentment the rest spoiling their day by berating, raving and ranting irascible broadcasters polluting the airwaves. These kind of broadcasters don’t deserve space in airwaves. Gullible masa should not be dragged into confusion aggravating the  already heavy traffic of the airlanes. Shouting alright is very effective communication. Yes of course, if not  in the forest only.  Tarzan gained mastery over the craft because he communicated and used the language of animals. Unfortunately our irresponsible commentators can’t qualify. He could not be tarzan because there could only be one such tarzan in the forest. They are the  almighties Wallace  might have missed incorporating in the book. They  are in dire need of refresher course on communication, on top of vocal coaching, imbuing them greater sense of understanding on  the importance of a message from  giver to the receiver.   To any  politicians out there  who intends to  practice the art of  cheating, take Wallace timely advice: Don’t take any chances. Just let your conspiracy theory  whatever it is, stay in your head.  No one can bugged it  in there except yourself!

            For a change, how religious are you?  Try checking yourself   for the good of your soul  if you are merely superstitious  using your  faith as crutch to help you  stand  leaving your fate ‘Bahala Na’  to God by testing to your heart’s delight Wallace’ creative juice in ‘The Word’ making you  wonder why fiction indeed are sometimes  truer than truth. Beware indulging in choppy reading though not completing reading the book specially the clincher where Wallace  normally reserves his  best shot. or it might cost your belief in the Almighty  The book recounts the discovery of papyrus parchment purportedly a gospel written by James the Just, the younger brother of Jesus at the ruins of Ostia Antica, ancient Roman seaport. Thought to be the source of the four gospels  calling for re-writing of entire New Testament, when it was actually mere concoction of a convict madman and genius to exact vengeance from the church and  clergy who caused him misfortune and imprisonment. Later engrossing writers the likes of David Yallop (In God’s Name), John Cornwell (A Thief in the Night) both literature probed into the questionable death of  Pope John XXIII ruling that the shortest reigning Pope might have  died out of foul play instead of natural death with his eyeglasses still securedly perching on his nose the day he was found dead;  or of Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci’s Code’ though treating different themes, Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln well researched “Holy Blood Holy Grail” definitely have all taken clue from Wallace most likely without reading his work.

 Here’s for the record though.  Where he succeeded in weaving his plot par excellence, Pinoy practically beat him   black and blue pounding   him into smithereens completely outsmarting   ruling  him outdated  leaving probably the poor Wallace groping in the dark wondering whatever happen to Filipinos that we allow ourselves to be taken into joyride by enterprising Messiah.  Where can he find for instance a Big Brother’s one vote capitalizing St.  Paul’s ‘be of one mind’ exhortation to the Romans commands  million others of votes; that he who does  not accept hook, line and sinker of their neurotic claim that  the elder Felix Manalo was God’s messenger  for Iglesia Ni Kristo would get  condemnation of soul; or Phil.  Benevolent Association’s  claim that Master Tomas Eugenio is God the Spirit Incarnate in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental; or the tax-paying Rasputins suffering Messiahnic  complex giving  unsolicited advice ingratiating themselves to  GMA  and  mighty politicians. Only in the Philippines. Good grief!

 If you’re hooked by Wallace’ sleuthing in fiction, the more you will be awed by his scholarship conducting painstaking  research  resulting in  scholarly breakthroughs contributing greatly to body of knowledge giving justice to whom it is due. Words for instance erroneously ascribed to Shakespeare when they are   not  his’ but Bacon’s were accordingly recorded. Here  Pinoy media  can get  many valuable lessons from and should serve as inspiration– mastering the art of reading between the lines as precondition in delivering conclusive stories.  Free market of ideas no holds barred clearing relevant  facts, figures, issues, ideas were all  collected in his non-fiction  ‘The Sunday Gentlemen’,  Unlike  in this country where politics is the name of the game  nipping in the bud so  to speak even before  correction are proposed.

            Lest misconstrued as fanatic, I’m not all praises though to Wallace. His “The Second Lady”,  KGB’s duplication of the US First Lady securing highly confidential qualified information on arm race  equally written with finesse extra-ordinaire left me hanging when on the last page he asked: Who was it who step down from the plane before it exploded – the First or the Second Lady?  Aba malay ko was of course my honest reply griping.  Never did I touch anymore  of his work thereafter.  But not when his ‘The Almighty’ came where he seemed to have remedied putting my passion for fiction back in shape.

            Where Pinoy  outsmarted Wallace in matters of religion  however, we are on the  receiving end in his ‘The Almighty’  hitting us hard like Manny Pacquiao’s lethal left-right hand combination sending us to the canvas  reeling and counting us ‘out’ for good.

Fourth state, fiscalizer, watchdog, journalist,  writer and lately, endangered species what have you – these are words we have been associating with ‘Media’. Which one do you think speak louder ringing justice?  Probably all of the above, you might say. Or  it depends where you stand. Well taken. But as an independent observer, I daresay  it depends  most on whose interest you’re  protecting. Call it what you want I don’t think we could ever exhaust it.  If ever though  there is closer words to describe them given the tremendous power it wields, I don’t think there is any other better substitute word than  ‘The Almighty’ Wallace’ parlance shows in the book.

The plot simply  revolves  around a son inheriting the most prized possession he could ever wished for  – a huge multi-million dollar media outfit  from his father. All is told, he went overboard from his father’s ideal instigating in fact world events just to  have them printed in his tabloid  the following day. Terrorism, massacre, espionage and all that were all facilitated to secure handsome dividend from his media exploit for fame, money and glory. Too ambitious that he even had  the plane where US Pres. boarded ordered blown  up as his ultimate softener to his implacable orgy of  making news.  Unfortunately, this one proved to be his last undoing as he became casualty of  his own lust for power.  Buried with him was his greed leaving his once  all-powerful media outfit behind he  re-invented and redefined to suit his own vested interest. But  to no avail. Lesson drawn  – hidden agenda is never compatible with media. It does not only  make or break forming and or shaping society.  Its abuse also kills.

Definitely Wallace has no clue of  the ramification of Philippine politics let alone has any iota of knowledge how the media in general handles its avowed rules in shaping reality of the country this part of the globe. His treatment of the story weaving  plot  until  the book ended too well  speaks too of  media reality  in the country. That Pinoy media suffers ‘the  almighty’ complex has been seen is a fact known to many observers what with the realities facing the society today.

 That character of society  defining   the qualities of  journalists, using  award-winning Maria Ressa’s reality check,    on the kind  of society and  stuff our media   made of, says it all! Are  they doing their homework or have they  remained complacent allowing competition, rating, personality, deadline or envelopmental journalism mentality as Cheche  Lazaro been waging war against, seeping through the crevices of their minds all the way to their pockets, lord over the importance of getting and making the story? If this is not plain ignorance not knowing its effect on the society it delivers to shape, what is it? Tragedy.

 There lies the problem.  As the punning  but pregnant with meaning maxim puts it: It’s very hard to face the problem if the problem is your face. Indeed that media excesses have  done more damage than good I declare as an independent observer,  is explainable. What would you expect anyway when media suffers  identity crisis dishing out inconclusive story if not confusion, chaos and upheaval. Alarming development but true.   No, the Church is not divided complained Archbishop  Ricardo Vidal of Cebu then. It’s the media dividing us, he qualified begging the question instead.. Similarly, no less than PGMA learning how the media exploited  dirty political development riding the crest of issues re-echoed said bad refrain in her sorties in United Nation.  Other than opposition, it’s the media sowing seed of division and destabilization among our people in the country, she wailed. GMA- 7 Jessica Soho’s blunt apology ‘Sori lang po kung minsan ay pinagsasabongsabong  kayo naming’ to promising politicians former  DENR Sec. Mike Defensor  and now Senator Francis Escudero over her Kapuso weekend show bares how imprudence sometimes confirms station’s hidden agenda  playing around not just ordinary Juan but also important personalities.

True that media facilitated fashioning significant events ushering brand new definition of democracy through Peoples’ Power in 1986 ending Marcos’ dictatorship installing  Cory Aquino into presidency; enjoying economic development under Fidel Ramos  its aftermath  dethroning  Erap  out from Malacanang installing PGMA until given fresh mandate (or was it stolen if the Hello Garci tape is to be believed) triggering more waves reaping many crazy Filipinos  (or just pretending for a fee) Tita Cory surprisingly included to its fold,  but has the devil been exorcised? Or has it successfully metamorphosed resurrecting himself  into batman hovering and haunting us again ad infinitum. Where would we ever learn? Media knows definitely better the answer than Juan unless they are  pretending not.  But  no.  Now look how we’ve been  dragged into the mess not out of our own making they exploited  to the tilt serving more  their  purpose than ours for good. With truth as direct casualty peddled to animals by media guess if  we would not soon wake up seeing our country eaten by dogs someday.         

            Pinoy media quo vadis? Hope this piece is merely a fiction and  that you can pick  those broken  pieces up back and fix whatever is left for the better future.