Spot Shelf: This Essay Collection Explores the Many Meanings of Departure

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(SPOT.ph) The word "departures" can have different meanings for different people. But more often than not, it is perceived as leaving, saying goodbye, or signaling the end of something. Life follows a continuous pattern, where what we interpret as an end might be a return to something else. A departure could be another phase in an ongoing, interconnected journey. We leave to discover other places, but most of the time, we return. In departing, we realize many things, and the learnings become part of the journey. 

Priscilla Supnet-Macansantos's Departures is a collection of 10 essays, revealing her personal experiences with various forms of departure in her life. The collection was crafted over 20 years, with the titular essay written in 1998 and concluding in the final year of 2020. 

Different Forms of "Departures"

In the book, Macasantos delves into various "departures" in her life.

In "The Roads We Travel," she recalls departing from her hometown in Narvacan, Ilocos, to Quezon City to study high school; to Paco, Manila, where her elder sister lives; and to Dumaguete to attend a training and writing workshop. It also details her travels to the south to visit her soon-to-be then-husband and her constant trips from Ilocos to Baguio and vice versa.

For her, departure is when one travels from one place to another to discover new things and friendships. It also enriches a person, not only the discovery itself but, more importantly, the encounters she can keep. Macasantos is always anxious about having to leave or embark on a journey, but she still does it because the journey itself is a gift to herself.

In the titular essay, "Departures," Macansantos narrates her family’s relocation and migration to the United States in search of greener pastures. This essay serves as more than a mere recollection of the history and tribulations of her clan; it delves into the broader narrative of the pioneering wave of Ilocano expatriates in pursuit of the American Dream.

There is also the departure of loved ones through death, which was heavily illustrated in many of the essays in the collection. "The Best of Times" is a recollection of Macansantos as a high school student at the Philippine Science High School, where she became interested in political issues and eventually joined activism activities. She recalls friends, classmates, and people she knew back then who died because of what they were fighting for.

In "Baguio Earthquake: A Shaken City," she narrates the catastrophic event that claimed the lives of hundreds of people, both young and old. In "To Heal," she recounts the death of her three-year-old brother from an unknown illness, an old officemate who succumbed to the disease a week before the 2020 community quarantine, the demise of a young coworker's husband due to cancer, and the untimely passing of her husband in 2017. Perhaps one of the most painful "departures" she had to endure and accept.

A positive manifestation of departure is Macansantos' recovery—her triumph over personal struggles and challenges, a theme she elucidates whenever she concludes her essay. Writing these essays is her way of making sense of what happened, an integral part of her healing process. It's about experiencing departures without succumbing to the defeat of grief, but rather, comprehending the sadness and, in doing so, creating a space for healing as she accepts all these "departures."

For readers, her various forms of departures in life serve as a realization—a shared insight that becomes universal. She eloquently captures this sentiment on page 41: “Even in the most miserable conditions, in the most inauspicious circumstances, love blossoms and brightens one’s small patch of sky.”

Historical Events That Shaped the Author

Macansantos’ essays are highlighted by three major events or timeframe: the Martial Law years in the '70s, the Baguio Earthquake in '90s, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

As a school activist, Macansantos was a detainee during the initial years of Martial Law. She bore witness to the deaths of friends and fellow detainees. During this period, she encountered her first love, with whom she exchanged love letters through pig slob. Her multiple arrests, which angered her father and brought tears to her mother upon seeing her confined in a bartolina as a labeled "hardcore" activist, marked a challenging time. Despite these difficulties, she eventually became part of the student government and the student paper, and she still managed to deliver her valedictory address.

The earthquake on July 16, 1990, devastated Baguio City and the surrounding areas in Luzon. With a magnitude of 7.8, the earthquake caused extensive damage to infrastructure, resulting in tragic loss and leaving a lasting mark on the collective memory of Macansantos and those who experienced or witnessed its aftermath.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 marked a global health crisis that significantly impacted daily life, leading to widespread disruptions to normal routines, the economy, and social interactions. Like many readers, Macansantos vividly recounts the overwhelming feeling during the implementation of strict lockdowns and quarantine measures, as well as the tragic loss of lives. This collective experience reflects how Filipinos navigated the uncertainties and challenges of the pandemic, leaving a lasting impact not just in the country but on the world at large.

Macansantos, as a Math Professor and Literary Writer

While it may be considered rare, some individuals excel in both mathematics and literary writing. Demonstrated proficiency in both fields has been documented previously. For instance, the mathematician Bertrand Russell was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Ian Stewart, a mathematics professor at the University of Warwick, is also a prolific science fiction writer. Additionally, the mathematician Lewis Carroll is renowned as the author of the classic English children’s novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Macansantos holds the position of professor emeritus at UP Baguio’s Department of Mathematics and formerly the head of the NCCA’s Committee on Literary Arts. Her extensive contributions to mathematical analysis, particularly in differential equations and inclusions, have been published in numerous international and local journals. Notably, she recently received the 40th National Book Award for Nonfiction Prose in English for her book of essays, Departures.

Macansantos is a refined and collected writer, evident in her narrative style and composed tone. Perhaps being a mathematician necessitates precision, resulting in prose that is never extravagant—sparse, yet never lacking in literary poise and cadence.

Her narrative style and tone mirror her precision, a trait inherent to her background as a mathematician. Her prose, marked by its absence of extravagance, maintains a balance, consistently embodying literary cadence.

Butch Dalisay, in his brief introduction to the book, succinctly encapsulates Macansantos' "stoic evenness" in confronting pain and opting for "tenderness" over distress. The passage of time and collection of life experiences contribute to a transformation in one's writing, fostering heightened sensitivity and a profound acceptance of life in its unadorned reality. These qualities are nurtured through the inevitable process of reasoning, achieving a harmonious balance between thought and emotion over time—essential ingredients that establish Macansantos as a gifted storyteller.

While her essays are deeply personal to her and her family’s experiences, the insights that can be derived are shared and universal. It is something that readers, regardless of their generational background, can easily relate to.

Departures: Essays (University of the Philippines Press, 2021) by Priscilla Supnet-Macansantos is available on Lazada for P370. 

Rita T. dela Cruz is a science writer and editor at a government research institute. She finished BS Development Communication from UPLB and MA Filipino (Malikhaing Pagsulat) from UP Diliman. Her first book, Solo Flight: Mga Kuwento (Isang Balangay Media Productions, 2021) is available on Lazada for P556.

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