A KING has everything: a voice, wealth, a point of finger. 

A king makes other people dream but a king dreaming? He must be poet, then! 
And he is and he was. That is why when Vedasto Ocampo, the third Ari ning Parnaso and a native of Magalang, was still alive, he shared one dream to an eager man.

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We would not know what they have talked about but we can know one thing: to publish the last works of the old poet seemed more like a dream, a daydream if one may say, for if to Ocampo’s words it would be “paninap a makagising.” The king is a poet, indeed! 

That eager man was of course none other than Joel Mallari, who begun meeting Ocampo on the year 2004. It was fate and duty intertwined together, since Mallari is the in-house researcher of Kapampangan Center. It was that fate and duty, later mixed with curiosity, which Mallari had conjured up an idea of why not publish the last works of the poet king.  

And why not. On the Aldo ning Amanung Siswan on August 28 this year, the “fetchcrift” (a book in honor of another writer) for Ocampo was launched at the Benigno Hall in San Fernando. The event was graced by variety of people, literary or not, including Josie Henson, Erlinda Cruz, Renato Alzadon, Romeo Rodriguez, poets laureate of different towns, as well as Governor Eddie Panlilio. 

The 184-book, in white copy and attractive blue cover entitled “Paninap ning Ari, Vedasto David Ocampo” is a material that goes beyond the poet king’s compilation of last works, making it precious indeed.  

It included several fellow poet’s message and experience with Ocampo, others in prose, others in poetry (for they are poets!), and a memorabilia of pictures that were deemed exclusive. 

On the physical side, this reader finds the book in wonder. A talented artist, Mallari also did the sketch of Ocampo’s mug and then alternately used different hues of blue while playing up with fonts to make it more attractive.

The pictures are clear and the pages, aside from the perfect whiteness, are crisp with text very friendly to the eyes. 

But wonder can also exceed in physical form when its content becomes heavy.  
When Clinton Palanca, awarded writer in the country says “content is king,” Mallari’s book is kingly, indeed (at least to me). More than a biography of late Ocampo, Mallari also added informative contexts highly useful to any college student, a scholar, or even someone who may want a preview to local literature.  

Taking Masters Degree in Archaeology major in Pre-history in UP Diliman, Mallari is also a vernacular writer and Kapampangan vigilant, making the book a myriad of topics that may be a forte to the author.  

But none of this is on Mallari’s mind when he thanks the printing to generous people, he said, “Ding sinawup keng palimbag I Ray Tanjoco at Rene Alzadon…” 
The grateful author also described the late Ocampo, “Iya ing siwala nang Aring Sinukwan kening bayung panaun, iya ing piping gulisak, ing panulung lasun, mikudtang malalam kng poema ning Kapampangan.” 

Vedasto Ocampo was born on August 11, 1925 in a humble village of San Jose, Magalang. He died out of old age on May 26, 2009.  

Vedasto Ocampo started his literary bright lights at the age of 11 through joining contests. He succeeded Jose Gallardo of Candaba as the Ari ning Parnaso when the former died. There was no one fitted and thus, more deserving to receive the title, they said, other than Ocampo himself. 

Vedasto Ocampo is known, particularly to the people of Kapampangan Center, even to Director Robby Tantingco, for his humility despite the golden title. 
It was such trait that made the Center a formal tribute on June 4, 2009 to commemorate his 40th day (of death) in his hometown. 

Vedasto Ocampo is also the patron distinct to then poeta laureado Renato Alzadon, who under his wing, they said, would not only make a common people into a writer or a writer into a poet or a poet into a laureat but a laureat into the King of Parnassus. 

Ask the fourth and current Ari ning Parnaso and he will tell you. 

Ask Renato Alzadon for that matter. 

While some poets find their world exclusive to them, owning it as if they are higher being than the rest of us common mass, this king poet did not think so. He made poetry accessible to any man, low man or leader of the land. 

I should know. I started reading the book as soon as I got a copy. 

Mallari’s book is more than a book, it has become a biography, a compiled chronicles of other fellow poets, a tribute to an adored rhymester, an archeological jewel in literary form, a final gift to the poet king, but probably above all, a king’s dream come true.