I take the opportunity to point to DBIx::Simple, which provides means to insert this kind of stuff automatically, if you use a double question mark.

$db->query('INSERT into monica.event (msg, source, situation, version,
+ date, hostname, last_uid, sub_origin, component, guid, severity, ada
+pter_host) values (??)', 'this is a test event, ignore', 'Testing', '
+START', '0.1', '2006-11-28 19:13:18', 'test', '', 'SelectDocument', '
+IT_SERVICE', '623375574', 'CRITICAL', 'this_box');
[download]

Or even, using the SQL::Abstract mode:

$db->insert('monica.event' => {
              'msg' => 'this is a test event, ignore',
              'source' => 'Testing',
              'situation' => 'START',
              'version' => '0.1',
              'date' => '2006-11-28 19:13:18',
              'hostname' => 'test',
              'last_uid' => '',
              'sub_origin' => 'SelectDocument',
              'component' => 'IT_SERVICE',
              'guid' => '623375574',
              'severity' => 'CRITICAL',
              'adapter_host' => 'this_box'
        });
[download]

which I like very much.

DBIxSimple will build the proper SQL statement, and cache the statement handle for you, for if you use it more than once. Which is very neat.