By Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr.
Sunshine Place, a senior recreation center situated in Makati, has organized another memoir writing workshop online batch for senior citizens and aspiring writers alike.
After a successful outing in July this year, the center is bringing back the workshop with Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas recipient, Dr. Oscar Peñaranda.
In an online interview with the Manila Standard, Dr. Peñaranda explained his love for teaching memoir writing and his eagerness to help writers not just in their skills but also for their mental health amid COVID-19 pandemic.
“Memoir is not experience only. It’s also their reflections and things they contemplate about. In a way, it is an antidote for the pandemic that we have,” Dr. Peñaranda said.
He explained that due to the COVID pandemic, some people feel mentally challenged due to restrictions of heading out. Thus, he said that memoir writing is a way to let go of pent up frustrations in a more delicate and knowledgeable way.
“Memoir writing has the same sort of effects with a ritual that releases catharsis in your stress and [fills] human needs,” Dr. Peñaranda explained.
The success of the first batch
Dina Lucenario, a student from the first batch of the workshop, said that she learned a number of special things after attending Dr. Peñaranda’s Memoir Writing Workshop.
“I never expected that I’d be productive in one month to be able to do probably the beginnings of a whole book,” she said in the same online interview.
Lucenario, a journalism graduate-turned lawyer, said it was something she needed in a transitional period of her life.
After having setbacks caused by COVID-19, Lucenario turned to memoir writing in hopes of writing down information she holds dear in her heart.
“I’m really coming from a place where I have to write things down… There are many stories waiting to be written so this memoir writing [workshop] jump started what I need to do,” she said.
As for Dr. Peñaranda, his decision to come back for a second batch was mostly inspired by his profession of teaching.
Peñaranda described his line of work as something he’s “always been doing”.
He attributes his return for a second batch of workshop writers to a saying he heard in his hometown of Leyte as a kid – which is “If you have to do between one good or the other, choose the one that can benefit more.”
Dr. Oscar’s perception of a good memoir
As the Gawad recipient puts it, memoir writing workshop is more than just writing a daily anecdote.
“Your life in words can affect not just you but others as well,” Dr. Peñaranda said.
Furthermore, it can be a practice for individuals to practice empathy in such a dreading time.
“It trains you to write in an objective certain way so that in real life, when you see things happening, you don’t just involve yourself, but you also see things objectively,” he said.
Dr. Peñaranda’s Memoir Writing workshop is open for all.
The workshop will start on September 9 until October 14, with sessions happening every Thursdays.
Rates for the workshop ranges from 4,800 pesos for seniors and 6,720 pesos for regular aspirants.
Inquiries can be made through their contact nos. 0917-515-5656 or 856-4144.