THE TREE
By G. Burce Bunao
The tree was very beautiful to me
When I was a boy
I climbed for fruit or out of a branch of the tree
Made me a toy--
A top, for instance, that spun around, carefree
And wound for joy
Until it toppled over and was dead.
No longer the boy,
I find the tree as beautiful as though not
Just for branch
Or a bunch of fruit but-more than that-for a bed
Or to fence the ranch
In which I raise the beasts that fill the pot
In the many shapes
My simple commerce turn them to like bread
Or fish or grapes
To feed the brood the little woman me.
There go the boys.
Go watch them, strong limb; spread up the tree,
They pluck their toys
Out of its branches, as out of my childhood tree
I shaped my joys.
“Every little thing that happens in our childhood is somewhat memorable. It makes us smile every time we reminisce to those memories. This poem is also pertaining to the joys of the children while playing in the tree. Those moments still remains every time a child see the tree that becomes a part of their lives.”
CREDENDA
By R. Vinzons Asis
I remembered God and I came
asking bread, became
tearfully insistent, heard
only ringing hunger: no word
So I left, cursing
but the thunder of my words
were as raindrops falling.
Saw God in my hunger:
heard his voice ringing
in my ears; saw the beauty
of his silence.
“Wishes are always asked by people. Like in this poem wishes are not been given right away. We need to wait for those wishes, because there is always a right time for all. It doesn’t really mean that if our wish is not given right away, we are taking for granted. God knows the right time that is good for us. We don’t need to rush everything. Remember that there is something better when we are waiting patiently.”
PHILOSOPHER’S LOVE SONG
By Tita Lacambra-Ayala
If truth is real
it will
become true
If truth is
unreal it will
not become
as you
are truth
as you are real
you will
become true
if not to me
at least to your self
at least to the part
that’s real
to me when I
touch you
“The author’s feeling seems to be hurt. Maybe his fiancé is being dishonest. The poem is very true, that in a relationship it is right that we need to be true, not only for the person that we love but especially for our own self. Being true and honest is the foundation of all relationship.”
MGA BUKAD HA MAYO
kan Eduardo Makabenta
Magpapakaruruyag ngan pinili,
burak ngan tsampaka, marol nga hamili,
rosas, asusenas. Rosal nga mahambot
ngan nagangalimwag sa hangin talambot,
an ira alimyon abot ha hirayo…
Magpakawiwili nga bukad ha Mayo.
Bukad nga kadam’an luob an at’ tuna,
magpakabibihag ha panhunahuna,
may walingwaling ngan may mga manan-aw
nga makalipay ha mata pagtan-aw
may sangyaw, may diri, may masarayo,
magdamit Malaya, di’ bukad ha Mayo.
Inin tarukanga nga labi kahayaw
ha pagkakaaga daw na naparayaw,
bis’an kalatsutsi, bisan surangga,
may hamo’t may dagway nga sadang ibangga:
di’na mapakadto lain nga ibayo,
damo an bukad ta ha bulan ha Mayo.
Magpakadilain nga kabukaranan,
di na kinahangalan ngatanan ngaranan;
may bukad hin kahoy, may bukad nga buhi
nga say rayandayan hinin kinabuhi;
bukad nga nasunog sugad han kalayo,
hinin kasingkasing, kun bulan ha Mayo.
“Every month of May, there is what we called “Flores de Mayo.” These are done by beautiful ladies walking and they have used different flowers for their arko and for their bouquet. Flowers to be used are selected carefully. They symbolize many things and selecting the right flower becomes more attractive to the judgemental eyes of the people watching it. It also gives beauty to the lady that uses the flower as her design in her arko. The beauty of those flowers that we have seen during the month of May is really priceless.”
SOOTHING AS NIGHT WINDS ARE
Salvador B. Espinas
Love is gentle, love is quiet
Like any distant star
Love is beauty, love is music
Soothing as night winds are.
Love is patient and unselfish
Divine, true, neutral, fair –
Love is ageless and immortal,
Lost love is just somewhere
And the heart that abandons,
Nurses a tender scar,
Softly stabbing, and yet sweetly
Soothing as night winds are.
“Love is unconditional. You can never predict what love is. Love can make things go right and beast will turning to a Good Samaritan”
SPEAK NOT
Soledad R. Juan
Speak not to me of great reception halls
Where stately ladies walk with stately men;
Speak not to me of dancing long at balls
Nor revelry till goodness knows but when.
I would not hear of how an endless round
Of parties, concerts, shows-all the rest forgot-
Is heaven. No, those pleasures find me bound;
They are not mine to taste-I know them not.
But speak to me of quiet, calm repose,
When I may think and give my thoughts free play,
Explore each nook imagination knows,
And roam the world a million times a day.
Then shall my soul find joyful hours alone
When all is mine that Fancy bids me own.
“ This poem was written by a teen-aged girl who was bound to a sickbed all he life, and yet she did not find her life monotonous and boring. Many people measure enjoyment in terms of “ a good time”. They welcome their vacation as one long opportunity foe a good time, and they dread nothing more than being sick in bed.”
QUIETNESS
Amador T. Daguio
I am lover of quietness-
Unechoed songs within a silent heart,
A sliver pond, a statued loveliness
Where words can take no part.
I love the quiet ways of memory,
The quiet looks to give you loving praise,
The quiet secrets of my misery
Through quiet nights and days.
The quiet mountains of the earth I love,
The moving clouds, the sun, the dewy leaf.
My quiet questioning o God above,
My quite, tearless grief
“City people are bombarded by noise. The numble of trucks passing, the screech of the brakes, the blare of radios and jukeboxes forever blast our ears. To a person who spends days and nights in the noisy city, the longing for quiet and serenity is understandable”
Photograph: Father and kids at home
ni Imelda Morales Aznar
There is no balance in composition: all three persons
are pushed to the left, and on the right
only the water meter, mailbox, and the number 17
in your delicate handwriting near the doorway.
My sister stands wearing a naughty grin
and a pendant of the crucified Christ over her shirt.
My year-old nephew is sitting in his carriage, buckled
at the waist. His tiny, white toes alert.
In the background, the steel gate
of your sister’s house looms gray.
Yet like a child you sit on your haunches,
both hands clutching the pram’s handle bars.
And your whole face smiles
like the world is yours.
“Family that prays together stays forever”
MARIA CLARA`S SONG
JOSE RIZAL
Sweet are the hours in one's native land,
Where all is dear the sunbeams bless;
Life-giving breezes sweep the strand,
And death is softened by love's caress.
Warm kisses play on mother's lips,
On her fond, tender breast awaking
When round her neck the soft arm slips,
And bright eyes smile, all love partaking.
“This poems states all the memorable experiences that the writer want to share. It shows also shows one of the great characters of Dr. Jose Rizal and his true appreciation to his land and great love to our country and to his countrymen.”
TO THE FILIPINO FLAG: A SALUTATION
Guillermo V. Sison
Raise our flag and hail it proudly,
Keep it there and guard it bravely,
See it waving in the sun;
Hail the symbol and the flower
Of our people's pomp and power,
See it's grandeur in the sun.
In its colour is the story
Writ in blood of dead men's glory-
Fly it for our martyred brave;
In our dreams we will remember,
In our breasts will grow forever,
All the valor of our brave.
Where are all the hands that held it,
Lips of fire that kissed and hailed it
in balintawak's first cry?
Where are those who died defending
Tirad Pass, their flag up holding,
Flashing it against the sky?
Here we are, the young and daring,
Ready with the country sharing
Sharing in the love of flag;
Here we are beneath its shadow,
Soul undaunted. True to follow
Valiantly our country's flag.
Drape our flag about our bosom
Warmly, till in us will blossom
Flame for our beloved land;
Breathe on it our burning spirit,
Bless it with our life, defend it
With a bold, heroic hand.
Let the flag, as fire to weld us,
Bind our fibres firmly, make us
Strong, invincible, and all
Thus united we shall flourish,
From the earth we shall not perish
Our young nation shall not fall.
Holy flag of God's fair country,
Flag of hope and faith and glory,
Holy Filipino flag!
Be in peace our inspiration,
Guiding gleam and veneration,
Radiant Filipino flag!
Wave, O flag, o'er farms of golden
Grain; o'er mountains, fields,
wealth-laden
O'er this paradise of peace!
We will work with warmer passion,
Build our dreams a living tension,
Grow in God's sweet light and peace.
Flag that loosed us our serfdom;
Flag that gave us morning, freedom;
Lead our race, the the brown and free!
None shall haul thee down and trample
On our freedom's sacred temple,
None shall slave again the free!
“In this poem, it states that our flag is one of the most important treasures of our country, because it reminds us to the fight of every Filipino and all of the heroes who dedicate their lives for freedom. It reminds us to the true meaning of freedom, unity and love for our country.”
MACTAN
Virginia B. Licuanan
A messenger from the Spaniards came
That day in fifteen twenty-one;
He came in in Magellan's name
To the island of Mactan.
To Lapulapu who was the chief
That on Mactan did reign
He said “I ask in our leader's name
A tribute name for the king of Spain.”
“A tribute for a foreign king?”
He heard proud Lapulapu say.
“Tell your leader not tell a thing
Will the of this island pay.
“We and their fathers before
Have on this island live:
We owe no tribute to any king,
And no tribute shall we give.”
“if you do not give what we ask”
Was the messenger's reply
“The Spaniards will come with swords and guns
And you and your men shall die.”
“If they have guns,”Lapulapu said,
“So have we our weapons too;
If the Spaniard to our island come,
They shall see what bamboo spears can do.
“The Spaniards sword are made for steel
And their armors are strong and bright
Against all weapons we shall win
While we are in the right.”
Lapulapu's eyes flashed as he repeated ,
And his voice did proudly ring:
“We are freemen and will pay
No tribute to a foreign king.”
When Magellan heard Lapulapu words
He said with all disdain
“How dare this little chief affront
His Majesty of Spain.
“Our guns and this man's
False pride will break,
If he will not tribute give,
Then tribute we will take.
Well show this chief that our words
We can follow with our deed
Prepare three ships and sixty men
And I myself will lead.
For the island of Mactan
The Spaniards did set sail,
Their and swords are in great display
To make the enemy quail.
Their ships and armor were glittering show
Of military might
Never had the peaceful Mactan waters,
Mirror was a warlike sight
And when they anchored dropped
Off the palm-fringed Mactan shore ,
“I'll teach this chief a lesson,:
The Spanish leader swore
He lead his soldier to the beach
In full battle array.
“My men, for our king ' Magellan said
“Let us make this a proud day.”
We have guns and armor
Our enemy has none
Our sword against those bamboo spears.
The fight as good as won.
But Lapulapu stood proudly
As the Spanish drew near
“No Spaniards armor
Will save them from my spears.
“Aim true !” he told his men
“when your spears fling
Remember the freemen do not bow
To any foreign king.
Steel sword against bamboo spears
It seemed an uneven fight
And the Spanish armor
Increased each Spaniard might.
But Lapulapu and his brave men
Into the battle led
And soon the blue-green Mactan waters
With the Spaniard blow red
“Fight on my men “Magellan cried
“Fight for gracious Majesty.......”
“Fight on ,men in Mactan.”Lapulapu said,
“Fight for our liberty.
: The Cause of the Liberty lent more strength
Than the Spanish steel and lead
And soon Magellan lay dying ,
And his soldiers all had fled.
And Mactan is an island
That lives in history
Where man brave men died for a king
And another lived for liberty.
“The story of our past would not be complete if we leave out the story of our struggle for freedom. The poem that followed shows vivid glimpse of our fight for liberty. The historical account of arrival of Magellan and Lapu-lapu fought to keep our country from foreign rule.”
THE SAMPAGUITA
Natividad Marquez
Little sampaguita
With the wondering eye
Did a tiny fair
Drop you where you lie?
In the witching hour
Of the tropic night
Did the careless moonbeam
Leave you in its fight?
“As a child you must have looked for the tiny buds as the early rain began to fall. You probably watched this buds develop into a flower which perfumes the air. The sampaguita is tiny and fragrant. We use to make leis with which to greet our friends who come to visits us.”
