# Epitacio Tongohan

Epitacio Ramos Tongohan (born 19 November 1958), known in global literary circuits as Doc PenPen Bugtong Takipsilim, or simply Doc Penpen, is a medical doctor, indie filmmaker and producer, artist, and poet from Tanay, Rizal, the Philippines, and conferred by different poets organizations in different parts of the globe the title "Father of Visual Poetry". He is also the founder of the global organization of poets and artists Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry. He is also actively campaigning for the Philippines be declared as the "Poetry Heart of the World" to help boost its tourism and literary industry.

## Early life and education

Tongohan grew up in Tanay, a municipality in Rizal. A trained medical doctor specialising in anatomic pathology, he obtained his degree in Medical Technology from University of Santo Tomas in Manila in 1979. He got his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of the East - Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in 1984. He returned to UST for his post-doctorate studies specializing in Anatomic Pathology in 1988.

## Poetic style

As a visual poet, Tongohan's poetry is "controversial" as it does not follow the conventional way of writing poetry. A journalist and critic from the Philippines called Tongohan's poetry as "out of the box", and "...dared provoke the standard, the conventional and the traditional." The critic said that Tongohan's visual poetry are "...nearly insolent bravado with which the poems were written defies time-honored rules, taunting rather mischievously the establishment without reservation, hesitation or trepidation." His experimentation with words, symbols, and other elements has given his poetry "abstract" and "surrealist" characteristics, if compared to paintings. Moreover, Tongohan pioneered the "5Ms" concept in visual poetry: multilingual, multimodal, multiangular, multisensorial and multidimensional, which he called Pentasi B poetry.
Meanwhile, an article published in an online newspaper in the Philippines saying that Tongohan's poetry has "liberamorphic and therapeunigmatic" characteristics, based on the observations of a Zambaleno poet, Danilo E. Gallardo.

## Works

Tongohan's works were compiled in a three-volume book called Pentasi B Poems. The copies of his books were deposited to the following libraries and universities in the world:
* Irving K. Barber Library, University of British Columbia, Canada (deposited in 2012)
* OTUSA.TV Building, Los Angeles, USA (2012)
* The National Library of the Philippines (2013)
* The University of Sabanci, Turkey (2014)
* The University of Bari, Italy (2016)
* The National Library of India (2017)
* The National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco (2017)
* The University of Ghana, Africa (2018)
* The National Library of China, Beijing (2019)

## Awards and recognitions

In 2013, Tongohan was given the title "Father of Visual Poetry" by different Filipino poets at the National Library of the Philippines during the Pentasi B Historical forum, organized by the National Library. Earlier, in 2011, he was awarded by OTUSA TV as the "Father of Philippine Visual Poetry", in an event held at the Grand Ballroom Cloud 9, in Antipolo City, Rizal. Chinese poets in Beijing also conferred the same title to Tongohan during the Pentasi B World Poetree in Beijing, China in 2020. Tongohan received numerous recognitions and accolades from prominent poetry groups worldwide, including the title "King of Visual Poetry", which has been given to him by poets in India. During that poetry festival, Tongohan has been able to meet the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As a filmmaker, Tongohan has received a special citation from FAMAS for his docu-indie film, "Takipsilim" in 2007. Meanwhile, the Tanay local government, by virtue of Municipal Resolution No. 43, has nominated him to the Order of National Artist in Literature for his contribution to the development of visual poetry and local culture. In an article regarding the nomination of Tongohan to the Order of National Artist, it quoted the Municipal Mayor of Tanay, Rafael Tanjuatco discussing the merit of such nomination, saying: "Tongohan deserves to be a National Artist for Literature (Poetry) because he has shown a visionary commitment to global unity through the foundation of Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry which gained world acclaim, a revolutionary Filipino poet who has transformed the landscape of language, as a renowned Father of Visual Poetry by esteemed organizations worldwide..."
Former professor, writer, and chairperson of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, Jose Laderas Santos said that this nomination is "long overdue" since Tongohan has been able to bring international recognition to the country being the Father and King of Visual Poetry. Even the late multi-awarded Filipino fiction writer, poet, activist, journalist and educator Rogelio L. Ordoñez praised Tongohan's visual poetry, saying that it surpassed Jose Garcia Villa's "comma poem".

### Major Awards and Recognitions Received

* Special Citation as "New Filmmaker" for Takipsilim, Philippines, 2007 (FAMAS)
* Father of Visual Poetry, Canada, 2012 (University of British Columbia, World Poetry Canada)
* Visionary Poet, Canada, 2012 (Writers International Network)
* Father of Philippine Visual Poetry, USA, 2012 (OTUSA.TV)
* Father of Visual Poetry, Philippines, 2013 (Spearheaded by National Library, held at the National Museum of the Philippines)
* Gorsel Siir Babasi (Father of Visual Poetry), Turkey, 2014 (KIBATEK Literary International Festival)
* Most Outstanding Alumni 2014 Career Achievement Award, Philippines, 2014 (University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical College)
* Illustrious Son of Tanay, Philippines, 2015 (Municipal Government of Tanay)
* Il Padre Della Poesia Visuale (Father of Visual Poetry), Italy, 2016 (Kibatek and Pablo Neruda Cultural Association of Italy)
* Anyuinsem Agya (Father of Visual Poetry), Ghana, 2016 (Duois Centre International Poetry Festival)
* Father of Visual Poetry (FAMAS), Philippines, 2016
* International Icon of Literature, India, 2016 (Mewadev Laurel Award)
* Driisya Kavita Chakravarty (King of Visual Poetry), India, 2017 (India World Poetree Festival)
* Lifetime Achievement Award, India, 2017 (Yayati Madan G Gandhi Poetry Awards)
* Pride of the Globe, Kazakhstan, 2017 (World Nations Writers’ Union)
* Abu al-Shi'r al-Baṣri (Father of Visual Poetry) and as Innovative and Spiritual Father of Poetry, Morocco, 2017 (By THE PRESIDENT OF THE MOROCCAN ASSEMBLY FOR POETRY, on the 5TH EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CULTURAL DIPLOMACY)
* Prize Achievement for High Level Of Writing, Kosovo, 2017 (International Writers Association "Pjetër Bogdani" / Shoqata Ndërkombëtare e Shkrimtarëve "Pjetër Bogdani")
* INTERNATIONAL ICON OF LITERATURE (MEWADEV LAUREL AWARD – 2018/ CONTEMPORARY LITERARY SOCIETY OF AMLOR: BANDA (U. P. - INDIA))
* King of Kings of Visionary Poetry, Ghana, 2018 (International Humanity Conference, University of Ghana)
* World Icon of Literature, Egypt and India, 2018 (Sl.No.43 IHACEL [INTERNATIONAL HIGHER ACADEMIC COUNCIL OF ENGLISH LITERATURE])
* NOBLE STAR FOR LITERATURE, 2018 (Sl.No.2/IHACEL/18; Date of Issue- 17/12/2018; INTERNATIONAL HIGHER ACADEMIC COUNCIL OF ENGLISH LITERATURE; LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATE)
* Certificado que avala la inclusión del ilustre poeta, Mexico. 2018 (EL DIRECTORIO MUNDIAL noamericana Moderna DE ESCRITORES)
* Keynote Speaker (Father of Visual Poetry), Philippines, 2018 (Bards from the Far East)
* CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE, Morocco, 2019 (International Forum for Creativity and Humanity)
* Vizual Poeziyaniing Otasi (Father of Visual Poetry), Uzbekistan, 2019 (Golden Word Literary Festival)
* Honorary Ambassador of Science and Fiction Center of Macedonia, Macedonia, 2019 (VISION - SCIENCE FICTION CENTER OF MACEDONIA)
* Recognition as Padre Dela Poesia Visuale, Mexico, 2019 (Latinoamerican Academy of Modern Literature)
* Shìjué Shīgē Zhī Fǔ (Father of Visual Poetry), China, 2019 (Sophy Chen World Poetry Awards, Xian Hotel, China)
* Literary Excellence at par with Global Standards, INDIA, 2020 (Motivational Strips)
* Robert Burns International Literary Prize, Scotland-USA, 2021 (The International Art Center "Radius of Peace" (The International Art Center "Radius of Peace" [USA, Los Angeles: chairman of the jury – Anatoly Fradis; and its office in Scotland: Edinburgh]))
* 2020/2021 LITERARY LUMINARIES AWARD, Lagos, Nigeria, 2021 (SCHOOL ARTS AND POETRY)
* DOCTOR OF HUMANITY OF PRIXTON CHURCH, Miami, Florida, November 28, 2021, (PRIXTON CHURCH & UNIVERSITY)
* International Ambassador of Peace, Bhutan, 2021 (WORLD LITERARY FORUM FOR PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS)
* RECONOCIMIENTO INTERNACIONAL, Con Una: MENCIÓN DESCADA, Bolivia, 2022 (CLUB CULTURAL LITERARIO "VERSOS DESDE EL PILCOMAYO)
* Golden Heart International Award, Kyrgyzstan, 2022 (World Foundation named after the poet Rahim Karim [Karimov])
* Honorary Diploma for Contributions to World Literary and Art Culture, Russia, 2023 (Второй международный конкурс поэзии Мемориал В.М. Терехова-2023)
* Father of Visual Poetry and Global Humanitarian Award, Philippines, 2023 (Okada Hotel, Manila)
* INTERNATIONAL MAN OF INFLUENCE IN THE FIELD OF VISUAL POETRY AWARD, June 27, 2023
* 5:00 pm, Grand Ballroom, Grand Xing Imperial Hotel, Iloilo City, Philippines, 2023 (R ROYAL CREATIVE EVENTS MANAGEMENT Integrity Professionalism. Service 1ST INTERNATIONAL - Golden Globe ACHIEVERS AWARDS 2023)
* World Literary Prize, Kyrgyzstan, 2023 (Rahim Karim Literary Foundation)
* Iconic Pinoy Maharlika: Father of Visual Poetry, UAE, 2023
* Golden Ace Award, India, 2023 (WORLD PICTORIAL POETRY & ART FORUM)
* Father of Visual Poetry Driisya Kavita Chakravarty (King of Visual Poetry) "ASIA'S MOST ESTEEMED AND MOST BELOVED VISUAL POET OF THE YEAR", 2024 (9th ASIA PACIFIC LUMINARE AWARDS)
* FATHER OF VISUAL POETRY and GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD, Philippines Golden Eagle Award, Grand Ballroom, Okada Manila, 2024
* Master Epitacio Tongohan Recognition for Society Literacy and Humanity, Puerto Rico, 2024 (International Federation of Arts & Literatures in the World العالم في واآلداب للفنون الدولي االتحاد)
* Nominee for the Order of National Artist for Literature, Philippines, 2024 (Resolution No. 43 by Tanay Municipal Government)
* MAKATA NG LAHI, Panginay, Balagtas, Bulacan, Philippines, 2024 (Paaralang Pang-alaala Kay Francisco Balagtas, ARTEMIO F. DELA CRUZ, Tagapagtaguyod, Punong Barangay)

## Philanthropy and advocacy

Tongohan is also a philanthropist, having his work auctioned for a cause. The sales of his books and paintings have been used to finance education of less privileged youths in the Philippines. In fact, his Pentasi B poetry book fetched US$30,000 and used the money for this purpose. According to sources, he also solely financed the Pentasi B Award for deserving poets and creatives worldwide.
Moreover, as a poet, Tongohan is seen by some poets all over the world as one of the advocates of the democratization of poetry, bringing back to the ordinary folks the power to create poems. Tongohan even defended flip top, a form of poetry, saying flip top, "in a way, a revolution of the literary tradition or form," adding "it has elements of literature but the way it delivered something very earthshaking and revolutionary."