Vol. 1, No. 3, February 2006

Introduction *

February is the month for the hearts. 

This month we feature the works of Cirilo Castillon, Edna L. Faral, Janice Viloria, Angelo B. Anceta, Cris Ocampo, and Melchor F. Cichon. 

 Incidentally, this month is also the birth month of Edna Romulo Laurente Faral, one of our active contributors, and Angelo B. Ancheta, our guest poet. 

Edna’s favorite flower is Sunflower, hence her cyber name: SunflowR. 

 I was wondering what is there in sunflower. From the internet I learned that Sunflower is a symbol of Peace. 

 Edna or SunflowR was born in Batan, and since her younger days, she has been active in folk dancing. But Edna is not only a dancer par excellence, she is also an Aklanon poet to watch. Before going to the other haiku of Edna, let me reprint here with some additions my short analysis of one of her haiku: Reaching For A Friend by Edna Romulo Laurente Faral twilight – sunflower reaches heaven where tulip sleeps I like this particular poem simply because it speaks of friendship, of peace, and of loyalty. Sunflower is a symbol of Peace. This is Edna, the peace maker. And a person with a big heart. Looking at the poem, we can see that despite the closing of the day, the persona is still looking for her friend, regardless of whether this person is within her class or not. It is a known fact that Edna has been doing a volunteer work to the least fortunate individuals in the state where she resides. On the literary part, we can see that Edna uses simple, concrete, and very forceful words. In short, this is what we call the economy of words. Also, look at how she uses the letter s. There is music in the poem. This poem is like crystal water that runs in a sandy lake. But it is not as clear as we think it is. There is something that is hidden between the lines of this poem. What that something hidden, try to discover it. This is a kind of haiku that has a tier of meanings. I wish Edna good luck and I hope our friends will also write more poetry of this kind. Now, let us look at some of her recent haiku: EDNA L. FARAL Yelo sa Florida yelo sa punta it mahabang daean Rosas Nga Buskad rosas nga buskad daea mo – sakit ko naduea Makusog Nga Hilamon hilamon sa kurae indi pagdutlan maski talibong First Blush under a candle light – lips snatch a kiss the rose blushes This month we also feature ourselves: MELCHOR F. CICHON Bag-ong Dag-on Bag-ng Dag-on— ginaagubayan it bana ra hilong nga asawa Pagguwa't Mga Bituon pagguwa't mga bituon— gainisak ro mga isiw't manok sa idaeo't baeay Between Two Blue Mountains between two blue mountains a lone fisherman in the sea Tabtabon Naton Ro Mga Hilamon dali, tabtabon naton ro mga hilamon sa kurae it Akean Bintoe bintoe, pabay-i ro alimango mag-eangoy-eangoy sa Akean Sa Kisiw maambon nga agahon— gabitaybitay ro amo sa kisiw Tawaya gatunod ro buean— may habatian akong hibayag halin sa Tawaya CIRILO CASTILLON, Jr Bangon eon Bangon eon Pila gid ro tueog It tawong may buot? *** New Year's Resolution My New Year's resolution: Never to make Any New Year's Resolution *** ro isdang madada hidawi gid sa ba-ba. *** Kun owa it suea Manaog sa suba Ag manongya *** Ihueog ro bintoe Pag hueag it bunot Alimangong mabahoe *** Sag-on Ro makasueod Inde makaguwa *** Pagpuka it isda Sakeoban Agod madali hidakpan *** I hate lies— Red, white, Or blue. *** Kapurilan Abo ro Bangdanan. *** No clue— Lost In space *** Friendship: Once lost Get a new one *** Life is so short It ends When you’re having fun! *** I am free to fly In the cage Of bondage *** I am free to live In the cage Of poverty *** I am free to behave In the cage Of ethics *** My life is like a lighted candle bright, but full of tears. *** Truth Plain Simple Clear Easy to tell Easy to remember Easy to understand . . . no need to justify. *** My Mind, All Minds My mind, all minds, what have you done to my body and soul? You rule me with your supremacy and power--without pity, without mercy, You make me like a slave--bound to follow your desire, You ruthless mind--you give me no choice. Why did you make me hate the things I have, And focus my desires on the things that I don't have? You create in me a covetous heart— Envious and jealous of the things that others have. Why did you force me to acquire more wealth, Power and prestige that I really don't need; To do forced labor and go against my will, And set up a standard that I cannot fill? My mind, all minds, why are you keeping me awake? I do need some rest, I do need some sleep; Why did you trouble me to conquer love, attention and praises; And once conquered, they are just useless? My mind, all minds, I only have a short life to live, All the things you're dying for can't be taken to my grave; All I need is a small space and some air for me to breath; Will you make me happy? Will you make me free? *** My Own Freewill Oh, how I long to do my own freewill. To love, to give, and to show my inner feeling, Not forced, not expected, neither because it is wanted. Nor it is my duty, nor my responsibility; But only because it is my own freewill. Oh, how I long to do my own freewill, To cry, to laugh, to shout, to smile, To run, to jump, to sing, to wink my eye; not because it's appropriate; not because it's on the script; But only because it is my own freewill. I am not a robot; I am not an actor; I am not a cuckoo clock that sounds at a given set of time; I am me, different than he, different than they, With flesh and blood who longs to do my own freewill. Oh, God, My God; You are the only One Who understands; With all Your power, with all Your might, You don't forsake me, You don't twist my arms; You have patiently waited on my doorstep; Until I let You in, to dine with me, in my own freewill. One's Courage One man with courage makes a majority. --unknown Fairness and justice Are all what people desire Have courage to stand in defiance To treatment not like one Though alone be firm In defense for humankind. My People Filipinos are worth dying for. –Benigno Aquino, Jr. Rich but poor Advantaged but taken advantage of Used and abused Helpless yet hopeful and worth dying for. Swallow Me The best of us must sometimes Eat our words. –J. K. Rowling Proud like a peacock Spreading its wings To be admired Look at me! Better than him Better than they Forgetting Not knowing Somebody out there Still better than me . . . the best of us must sometimes swallow our pride. *** The Secret of Green Pine trees Tamed by the wind Beneath the great blue sky Home for the birds and the squirrels Smell green. **** Your Smile Your smile like a rare gem I cannot understand when given to others, I am crying. *** Take A Hike Your eyes wander a lot I want to kick your butt on the place where it really hurts. Goodbye. *** Freedom Freedom Is being Uncivilized Freedom Is abundant In uncivilized world There is no freedom Under The law The freedom we know Is to follow or no Skill Center Scoop, June 1997 The Argument The test of a man or woman’s breeding is how they behave in an argument. In the battle of words, Called argument, What comes first, The egg or the chicken? This bottle of wine, Half-full or half-empty? Where did we come from, Created or evolved from the monkey? In whatever argument, On what side you stand, Carry it out with poise and intellect, Get hold of your hands. So your opponent will not say, You are an egghead, Half-empty With the breeding of a monkey. Cupcake America is an enormous frosted cupcake in the middle of millions of starving people. Starvation among people, among nations Ruled by dictatorships and corruptions Governments keep money for themselves And leave their people all alone. Their people run by millions, Trying to escape the bullets and deaths Wrap up their properties, to carry on their heads, And run away from uncertainties. No food to feed them, no water to drink No medicine to heal their wounds Their skin touches their bones, They die along the way from starvation. Be thankful therefore, America: For you are not only an enormous frosted cupcake, But also a sizzling juicy choice cut steak Amidst millions of starving people. You may not die of starvation for sure, But you may die of being overfed. Dali Kita, Dali Dali, tabtabon naton ro mga hilamon sa kurae it Akean. --Maeara Mga Akeanon Maghinugay kita't duhong Kun inde kita mag hueag Mamatay kita sa gutom. Mapi-ot, magamo Ro atong palibot Masakit man sa mata Kun atong pamantawon. Sadyaan do mahawan Maalwan sa pamantawan Mag tanum kita't daehog Mabusog pa ro tiyan. Dali kita, dali Tabtabon ro hilamon Ag islan it daehog Agod may maka-on. *** Empty Page: Just Another Day It was just another day. Hours passed In searched for words to weave To pour the sentiments of the heart. Tears fell. . . . . .Tired . . .Sleepy Leaving the page Wet . . . Empty. CYRUS JAY CASTILLON I am tired and handsome. -- *** CRIS OCAMPO Gaoy pirot eon ang mata 12 oras nga trinabaho owa man it nag bag-o Bag-ong Dag-on bag-ong dag-on bag-ong pangabuhi bag-ong kasubo. Puyo puyo ginsibot sa manabaw nga sapa. *** ANGELO B. ANCHETA Our guest poet in this issue is a half-Iloko and half-Aklanon. Born in Pasay City on February 19, 1971 from an Ilocos Region father and an Aklanon mother, his poems and essays have been published in journals like Mojo’s Almanac and Ducts: Journal of Personal Stories, both US-Based. Locally, his article and poems have appeared in the Philippine Graphic, Philippine Star, Panorama, Homelife magazine and Real Pinoy Magazine. Online, his poems have appeared in MAKATA Journal of Contemporary Poetry (edited by Sonny Villafania), TBloc: Poetry (edited by Jose Jason Chancoco) and INQ7.Net. Tanaga Ilapat mo sa awit, damdaming bitbit-bitbit. Tulad ng mandaragit, gumala ka sa langit. *** Ilang beses si Hesus ipinapako sa krus? Dugo nyang umaaagos upang tayo'y matubos. *** Tanka going to Chinatown i join friends watching the dragon dance driving bad luck away from me *** JANICE M. VILORIA Janice is a 4th year AB Literature student of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo. She is a beauty from Mandong, Batan, Aklan. Ang Pagtatagpo Sa maliit na silid ako'y hindi nag-iisa Nararamdaman ko sa bawat sulok ng aking mata Ikaw ay nakakubli sa madilim na bahagi Marahan kong pinatay ang ilaw Kasabay ng pagkalat ng dilim Ang marahan mong paglapit Naramdaman ko ang iyong pagdampi sa aking pisngi Sa bawat minutong ako'y malingat Isang pagkakataong para sa iyo'y Masipsip ang aking balat Hindi kita masaway at sa halip Sa aking tenga ikaw ay bumubulong Ng mga bagay na kailanma'y di ko maunawaan Hindi ako gumalaw at ikaw ay hinayaan At nang maramdaman kong abot-kamay na kita Isa, dalawa, tatlo-- Pak! Sa wakas patay kang lamok ka. (First published in HomeLife Magazine, December 2005)

 

*For editing