Reading the newspaper was a favorite pastime of mine when I was younger. Especially when I was reviewing for the CPA board exams. I love reading the opinion section of the broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer. Conrado De Quiros’s column titled There’s The Rub is one of my favorite reads.
His column is the first one I read or just the one I read before I start my study session. I find his articles enlightening. And it seems he is the one who can voice out the feelings I have about a particular issue in our country. We have a lot of political issues, to say the least.
And now that I have taken the plunge into writing, he is the first person who comes to mind. He is the one that I would like to emulate.
I want to be a writer who can put into words what can only be felt.
Enter Life
I have never particularly looked into the life of my favorite columnist. All I know is that he is a great writer and that I share most of his opinions.
Then the internet and social media came. Forever changing the landscape of the medium where we get our information.
That and also life happened. I found myself with less and less time to read because of a corporate job and albeit higher-than-minimum-wage salary.
It was only in recent years that I noticed that his column was no longer in the section where it usually was. At first, there were guest writers in his section with a note that he was on medical leave. Later on, his column was completely replaced.
By this time, we no longer had a subscription to the paper. But up to this day, he is the only non-fiction writer I can name who has an impact on me.
He is a reminder of a time in my life when I cared about current issues.
Who is Conrado de Quiros
As I search the internet for his biography, it seems that there is little written about his personal life. All I can find are his past columns and his books.
I believe the lack of write-ups about him is because he is described as someone who avoids the spotlight. Some articles are negative about him, which is to be expected given that his column focuses on sociopolitical issues in the Philippines.
I did find an excerpt from one of his articles:
Hometowns
“My own hometown is Naga City, though I was born in Manila. It is where I spent my boyhood and adolescence and learned my first language, which is Bicol.
It is where I go to charge my psychic batteries. I barely know anybody there anymore from childhood. But the place itself holds a raging volcano of memories for me. Which sends electrical surges through my soul.
Hometowns give you a sense of bearing in a world — especially so this country — seemingly drifting in space, bound for nowhere.”
– Excerpt from his article 10 things to love about being in the Philippines
Once again I share his sentiment regarding hometowns. I am 139 miles away from my hometown. And during these uncertain times, I find myself wishing I could visit the place where I grew up and recharge.
Given that travel is not recommended at this time. Looking up to people who inspire us is as good a thing as any. To remind us of who we once were and to fortify our resolve to become who we want to be.
Outside link: