Tony Perez - Goodbye for Now!

 

I first met Tony Perez in 1991, when the US Embassy/USIS sent me on a book tour in the Philippines. He was working for the US Embassy with Cultural Affairs, and he and Tanya Anderson were the primary folks assigned to take care of me. Tony, Tanya, and Bernie Lovejoy travelled with me to Zamboanga and also to Baguio where I gave talks.

 I quickly discovered Tony’s interest in the paranormal and we had a lot of conversations about this topic. I recall talking to him about some presence in my hotel room in Zamboanga, something he took seriously. At the end of the talking tour, before we parted, he gave me some anting-antings which I still have.

 As the years passed, I was aware of his Spirit Questors. It was all fascinating, the notion of spirits stuck in this world, and how we can actually send them on. I had another shaman friend who said pretty much the same thing.

 Because I’m based in California, I didn’t really see much of him, but later on, Facebook allowed some contact. In fact Tony gifted me with an oil portrait, which is part of his Writers Collection.

 But even though our contact was limited to social media, I felt a closeness to Tony. I think he made people feel that way. My shaman friend would say he accepted the assignment of coming to this world to be a Teacher. I could see him advise people about their dreams, about how to behave, how writers and artist are better off having a real job so they can have a pension and not be so strapped financially. Practical matters.

 I was surprised to hear he had gotten ill because I picked up his oil portrait of me in 2023, and he seemed fine then.

 Even with the health challenges, I could see on Facebook how he continued teaching his followers, how he continued with his art.

 I forgot to mention that he granted me another gift – a personal essay about how he became a writer. This is featured in my blog, and it is part of an anthology with 21 other Filipino writers. I am sorry he will miss seeing the actual book, which will be launched this June 7, but Tony did know that the book will be released. His write up “teaches” again. 

 I am heartbroken that he has passed on. He was a creative advanced human being, and a big loss to all of us. But hopefully, we have learned something from him and will share that with others.

Tags: Filipino writers, Filipino paranormal, Spirit questors

READ ALSO:

        Tony Perez, Goodbye for Now 

How I Became a Writer Series

Ian Rosales Casocot 

Caroline S. Hau

 Paulino Lim, Jr 

Tony Perez

Eileen R. Tabios

John Jack G. Wigley

Hope Sabanpan Yu

AND MORE from Cecilia's blog:

Writing Workshop with Author Cecilia Brainard April 19, 2025

 Author Cecilia Brainard Interview by Read Pinoy Philippine National Book Development Board

Cecilia Brainard Talks About Her Novel The Newspaper Widow and More - video link  

A Book Fair to Remember (And Get Ready For), by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Positively Filipino 

Philippine Folktale - Los Siete Pecados, by Filomena Alesna Cuenco 

An Afternoon with Exploding Galaxies, with Carlos Bulosan Book Club, PALH

Carlos Roxas Interview of Cecilia Brainard re Frankfurt Book Fair 

Cecilia Brainard's Travel Report of Frankfurt Book Fair 2024

 Tags: Filipino authors, Filipino writers, Filipino books, Filipino literature