SESSION 8: Sandaang (100) Survey Forms
Fellow: Jayson Visperas Fajardo (Novel, English, Filipino)
Panelist: Laurence Marvin Castillo

To preface the session on Sandaang (100) Survey Forms, Laurence Castillo discussed how the novel, as genre, contains many dynamic, democratic possibilities; in its ability to accommodate diversity in voices, registers, and modalities, it challenges the authorial voice and becomes a site for dialogue rather than monologue. Fajardo’s work wields these potentialities to great effect in its inclusion of various found documents, from evaluation surveys and film reviews to official correspondence. The novel-in-progress is a product of his experiences working for the NCCA; while the nature of his work required dealing with quantitative, statistical data, he wished to instead highlight the voices and stories of communities.

Several praised the work as effective critique of the limitations of certain institutional modes of knowledge production. One example cited is how the inclusion of formal correspondence serves as a peek behind the curtain, illuminating the unseen realities and tensions behind state-funded projects. In its appropriation of rigid, bureaucratic practices as form, the work reclaims the language of alienating institutions, language that is used to perpetuate the hegemonic order. However, others also pointed out that the work lacks cohesion and narrative flow–perhaps it would benefit from a clear and purposeful grand design. Another suggestion is to improve on the realism of the respondees’ answers, to diversify and texturize their voices in order to capture certain sociolects.

To end the session, Fajardo expressed gratitude for the helpful suggestions on form and technique.