Ang Mahusay Flood

7 At ang Panginoon ay nagsabi sa Noah, "Halika sa ang kaban, sa iyo at sa lahat ng iyong bahay, dahil nakita ko na ikaw ay matuwid bago Akin sa henerasyon na ito. 2 ay dapat mong dalhin ka ng pitong bawat isa ng bawat malinis na hayop, isang lalaki at ang kanyang mga babae; dalawang sa bawat isa ng mga hayop na ay marumi, isang lalaki at ang kanyang babae; 3 din pitong bawat isa ng mga ibon ng hangin, lalaki at babae, upang panatilihin ang mga mga species na buhay sa mukha ng lahat ng lupa. 4 Para sa pagkatapos ng pitong higit pang mga araw ko ay maging sanhi ito sa ulan sa sa lupa mga apatnapu araw at apat-napu gabi, at ako ay pupuksain mula sa mukha ng lupa ang lahat ng naninirahan sa mga bagay na ginawa ko. "5 At Noe ay ayon sa lahat na ang Panginoon commanded kanya. 6 Noe ay 600 taong gulang kapag ang mga floodwaters ay sa earth.

7 Kaya Noah, sa kanyang mga anak, kanyang asawa, at ang kanyang anak wives, nagpunta sa kaban dahil sa ang tubig ng baha. 8 ng malinis na hayop, ng mga hayop na ay marumi, ng mga ibon, at ng lahat na kilabot sa earth, 9 dalawang ng dalawang nagpunta sila sa kaban sa Noah, lalaki at babae, ng Diyos ay commanded Noe. 10 At ito dumating na ipasa pagkatapos ng pitong araw na ang tubig ng baha ay sa earth. 11 Sa anim na ikasandaan taon ng Noah sa buhay, sa ikalawang buwan, ang

ikalabimpito araw ng buwan, sa araw na iyon ang lahat ng mga fountains ng malaking malalim ay nasira, at ang mga bintana ng langit ay nabuksan. 12 At ang ulan ay sa sa lupa mga apatnapu araw at apat-napu gabi.

13 Sa napaka-parehong araw Noah at Noah ng anak, Shem, Ham, at Japheth, at Noah ng asawa at ang tatlong wives ng kanyang anak sa kanila, ipinasok ang kaban-14 sila at bawat hayop matapos ang kanyang uri, ang lahat baka pagkatapos ng kanilang uri, bawat bagay sa gumagapang na kilabot sa lupa matapos ang uri nito, at bawat ibon matapos ang uri nito, ang bawat ibon ng bawat uri. 15 At nagpunta sila sa kaban sa Noah, dalawang ng dalawang, ng lahat ng laman kung saan ay ang hininga ng buhay. 16 Kaya ang mga ipinasok, lalaki at babae ng lahat ng laman, nagpunta sa bilang Diyos ay commanded kanya; at ang Panginoon ay isinara sa kanya in

17 Ngayon baha ay sa earth apatnapu't araw. Ang tubig ay nadagdagan at lifted ang kaban, at rose mataas sa itaas ng lupa. 18 Ang mga tubig prevailed at lubhang nadagdagan sa lupa, at ang kaban ng inilipat tungkol sa sa ibabaw ng tubig. 19 At ang mga tubig prevailed lubha sa lupa, at ang lahat ng mga mataas na Hills sa ilalim ng buong langit ay sakop. 20 Ang mga tubig prevailed mga labinlimang cubits paitaas, at ang mga bundok ay sakop. 21 At ang lahat ng laman ay namatay na inilipat sa sa lupa:

mga ibon at mga baka at beasts at bawat bagay sa gumagapang na kilabot sa lupa, at bawat tao. 22 Lahat sa na nostrils ay ang hininga ng espiritu [a] ng buhay, ang lahat na noon ay sa tuyong lupa, namatay. 23 Kaya siya nawasak ang lahat ng naninirahan mga bagay na sa mukha ng lupa: parehong tao at mga baka, gumagapang bagay at ibon ng hangin. Sila ay nawasak mula sa lupa. Lamang Noah at ang mga na kasama niya sa kaban nanatiling buhay. 24 At ang mga tubig prevailed sa sa lupa 150 araw.

IBALON

Long ago, the land of Ibalon, known as Bicol, was a land of lush and virginal beauty, but no one lived there.

One day, a mighty warrior called Baltog came upon the land. The richness and beauty of the region made him decide to take his family and his workers to this wonder place. Here they lived in peace and prosperity.

But one day, the tranquility of their lives was threatened by a huge man-eating wild boar. The ferocious beast destroyed the linsa or gabi plants and other crops as well. It also killed people. Soon, vast areas in Ibalon were reduced to waste, and countless people were either killed or maimed. Baltog was dumb-founded as he surveyed the depredation wrought on his kingdom.

Leaving his home under the cover of the night, he went to the muddy fields to wait for his enemy.

Baltog waited for long, long time. Finally, when the moon was bright, the man-eating boar came snorting and tearing crops as it went along. Baltog hid under the bushes. When the boar came within reach, he sprang at it. Man and beast tumbled to the ground in mortal combat. Fortunately, Baltog was able to pin down the beast and summoning all his strength, he finally subdued the boar, not with a spear, but breaking its super-sized jaws with his own strong arms. Baltog’s victory put an end to a terror that had ravished his kingdom for a time.

Ibalon, however, saw few years of peace. One day, huge carabaos followed by winged sharks and giant crocodiles rushed to Ibalon. Every mortal was in fright: death and destruction took a heavy toll. The mighty Baltog could no longer

defend his kingdom, for years had sapped his strength. Defenseless, Ibalon had become an easy prey.

Luck, however, was still with Ibalon. On that tragic day, Handiong, a mighty warrior of the neighboring kingdom, happened to pass by Ibalon. Handiong came to the rescue.

Handiong and his brave seasoned men threw themselves at the stampeding and winging wild enemies. For untold hours, Ibalon saw mortal combat. Blood flowed freely over the land and the streams. One by one, they slew the beasts.

Only one monster escaped Handiong’s mortal blows. This was Oriol, the serpent who could transform itself into a beautiful woman. With her seductive words, she enticed him. But Handiong pursued her through the forest without rest. To save itself, the she-snake struck an alliance with Handiong. She promised to drivethe evil spirits out of the mountains if Handiong would leave her alone. And at last, peace came to Ibalon again.

Handiong encouraged the people to plant, invent farming equipments, build banca and houses. Under his wise administration, Ibalon became rich and peaceful again.

Outside Handiong’s domain, there appeared another threat to his kingdom. This time it was Rabut, a far more terrible monster, for under its spell, mortals could turn to stone.

Handiong called his friend and companion, the mighty Bantong, to deal with the enemy. Together with a handful of men, Bantong raided the monster’s lair. He found the enemy taking its nap. With a cat-like agility, Bantong delivered a mortal blow at the monster’s neck.

The wounded monster cried in agony, and in his struggle for breath, the earth cracked and the water in the sea rolled landward.

Ibalon underwent great physical change. New island began to dot the water near the peninsula. Finally, a tall and perfect cone reared its head to lord over the leveled ruins. This perfect cone is now known as Mayon Volcano.

Thus ends Ibalon.

The Legend of Mariang Makiling

The Legend of Mariang Makiling

-Retold by Jose Rizal

The many legends of Mariang Makiling tell of a young woman who lived on the beautiful mountain that separates the provinces of Laguna and Tayabas. Her dwelling place was never definitely known, because those who had the good luck to deal with her would wander about for a long time lost in the woods, unable to return; neither did they remember the way, nor were they agreed as to the place and its description.

While some say her home was a beautiful palace, bright as a golden reliquary, surrounded by gardens and fine parks, others assert that they saw only wretched hut with a patched roof and bamboo sides. Such a contradiction may give rise to the belief that both parties were romancing, it is true but it may also be due to the fact that Mariang Makiling, like many persons in comfortable circumstances, might have had dwelling places.

According to eyewitnesses, she was a young woman, tall and graceful with big black eyes and long and abundant hair. Her colour was a clear pure brown, the kayumangging kaligatan, as the Tagalog say. Her hands and feet were small and delicate and the expression of her countenance always grave and serious.

She was a fantastic creature, half nymph, half sylph, born under the moonbeams of Filipinas, in the mystery of its ancient woods, the murmur of the waves on the neighbouring shore. According to general belief, and contrary to the reputation imputed to the nymphs and goddesses, Mariang Makiling always remained pure, simple, and mysterious as the genius of

the mountain. An old maid-servant we had, an Amazon who defended her house against the outlaws and once killed one of them with a lance thrust, assured me that she had in her childhood seen her passing in the distance over the reed grass so lightly and airily that she did not even make the flexible blades bend.

They said that on the night of Good Friday, when the hunters built bonfires to attract the deer by the scent of the ashes of which these animals are so fond, they have discerned her motionless on the brink of the most fearful abysses, letting her long hair float in the wind, all flooded with the moonlight. Then she would salute them ceremoniously, pass on, and disappear amid the shadows of the neighbouring trees.

Generally everyone loved and respected her and no one over dared to question her, to follow, or to watch her. She has also been seated for a long periods upon a cliff beside a river, as though watching the gentle currents of the stream. There was an old hunter who claimed to have seen her bathing in a secluded fountain at midnight, when cicadas themselves were asleep, when the moon reigned in the midst of silence, and nothing disturbed the charm of solitude. In those same hours and under the same circumstances was the time when the mysterious and melancholy notes of her harp might be heard. Persons who heard them stopped, for they drew away and became hushed when any attempt was made to follow them up.

Her favourable time for appearing, it is said, was after a storm. Then she would be seen scurrying over the fields, and whenever she passed, life, order, and calm were renewed. The trees again straightened up their over-thrown

trunks, and all traces of the unchained elements were wiped away.

When the poor country folk on the slopes of Makiling needed clothing or jewels for solemn occasions of life, she would lend them and besides, give her a pullet white as milk, one that had never laid an egg, a dumalaga, as they say. Mariang Makiling was very charitable and had a good heart. Now often has she not, in the guise of a simple country maid, aided poor old women who went to the woods for firewood or to pick wild fruits, by slipping among the latter nuggets of gold, coins, and jewels.

A hunter who has one day chasing a wild boar through the tall grass and thorny bushes of the thickets came suddenly upon a hut in which the animal hid.

Soon a beautiful young woman issued from the hut and said to him gently, “The wild boar belongs to me and you have done wrong to chase it. But I see that you are very tired; your arms and legs covered with blood. So I come in and eat and then you may go on your way.”

Confused and startled, and besides charmed by the beauty of the young woman, the man went in and ate mechanically everything she offered him, without being able to speak a single word. Before he left, the young woman gave him some pieces of ginger, charging him to give them to his wife for her cooking. The hunter put them inside the crown of his broad hat and after thanking her, withdrew in content. On the way home, he felt his hat becoming heavy so he took out many of the pieces and threw them away. But what his surprise and regret when the next day he discovered that what the he had taken to be ginger was solid gold, bright as a ray of sunshine. Although he tried to look for them later, he could never find even one.

But for many years now, Maria Makiling’s presence has not been manifested on Makiling. Her vapory figure no longer wanders through the deep valleys or hovers over the waterfalls on the serene moonlight nights. The melancholy tone of her harp is no longer heard, and now lovers get married without receiving from her jewels and other presents. Many fear that she has disappeared forever, or at least, she avoids any contact with mankind.

Yet on the side of the mountain, there is a clear, quiet pool, and the legend persists that the vapory figure may still be seen reflected in this pool in the mists of early dawn, and from time to time people of the countryside go to watch for her there.

Ang Legend ng Mariang Makiling

-Retold ni Jose Rizal

Ang maraming mga legends ng Mariang Makiling ay sabihin ng isang batang babae na nakatira sa magandang bundok na naghihiwalay sa mga probinsya ng Laguna at Tayabas. Kanyang lugar sa tirahan ay hindi tiyak na kilala, dahil ang mga na nagkaroon ng good luck sa makitungo sa kanyang mahibang tungkol sa para sa isang mahabang panahon na nawala sa mga gubat, hindi upang bumalik; ni tandaan sila ang daan, at hindi rin ay sila sumang-ayon sa lugar at paglalarawan nito.

Habang ang ilang sabihin ang kanyang tahanan ay isang magandang palasyo, maliwanag bilang isang ginintuang relikweri, na pinalilibutan ng mga hardin at pinong mga parke, ang mga iba igiit na sila nakita lamang kahabag-habag na kubo na may isang ng patched bubong at kawayan gilid. Tulad pananalansang ay maaaring pagsimulan ang paniniwala na ang

parehong partido ay romancing, ito ay totoo ngunit ito ay maaaring din dahil sa ang katunayan na ang Mariang Makiling, tulad ng maraming mga tao sa komportable pangyayari, maaaring may mga lugar tirahan.

Ayon sa eyewitnesses, siya ay isang batang babae, matangkad at matikas na may malaking itim na mga mata at mahaba at likas na buhok. Ang kanyang kulay ay isang malinaw na purong kayumanggi, ang kayumangging kaligatan, bilang ang sinasabi ng Tagalog. Ang kanyang mga kamay at paa ay maliit at maselan at ang expression ng kanyang mukha laging libingan at malubhang.

Siya ay isang hindi kapani-paniwala nilalang, kalahati diwata, kalahati marikit na dalaga, na ipinanganak sa ilalim ng ang mga moonbeams ng Filipinas, sa misteryo ng kanyang mga sinaunang kagubatan, ang aliw-iw ng mga alon sa pampang kalapit. Ayon sa pangkalahatang paniniwala, at salungat sa ang reputasyon imputed sa nymphs at goddesses, Mariang Makiling ay laging nanatiling dalisay, simple, at mahiwaga bilang ang henyo ng bundok. Isang matandang dalaga-lingkod namin ay may, isang Amazon na defended kanyang bahay laban sa mga outlaws at sabay pumatay ng isa sa kanila sa isang manibat thrust, panatag ako na siya ay sa kanyang pagkabata nakita ang kanyang pagpasa sa distansiya sa ibabaw ng damo tambo kaya sa babahagya at magandang kumikilos na hindi siya ay gumawa ng kahit na ang mga mga nababaluktot liko blades.

Kanilang sinabi na sa gabi ng Biyernes Santo, kapag ang mga hunters na binuo mga bonfires upang maakit ang usa sa pamamagitan ng ang pabango ng mga ashes na kung saan ang mga hayop na ito ay kaya mahilig, nila discerned kanyang walang galaw sa bingit ng pinaka-natatakot abysses, pagpapaalam kanyang

mahaba Float ng buhok sa hangin, lahat baha sa ang liwanag ng buwan. Pagkatapos ay siya saludo sa kanila ceremoniously, ipasa, at mawala sa gitna ang mga anino ng kalapit ang mga puno.

Sa pangkalahatan lahat mahal at respetado sa kanya at walang isa sa paglipas ng dared sa tanong sa kanya, sundin, o panoorin ang kanyang. Rin siya ay makaupo para sa isang mahabang panahon sa isang talampas sa tabi ng ilog, na tila nanonood sa ang mga magiliw na alon ng stream. Nagkaroon ng isang lumang hunter na inaangkin na nakita ang kanyang damit sa isang liblib na balong sa hatinggabi, kapag ang cicadas kanilang mga sarili ay natutulog, kapag ang buwan ang reigned sa gitna ng katahimikan, at walang nabalisa ang alindog ng mapanglaw na lugar. Sa mga parehong oras at sa ilalim ng parehong pangyayari ay ang oras na kapag ang mahiwaga at mapanglaw na mga tala ng kanyang alpa maaaring marinig. Mga tao na marinig ang mga ito tumigil, para malayo sila Drew at naging hushed kapag ang anumang pagtatangka ay ginawa upang sundan ang mga ito.

Kanyang kanais-nais na oras para sa paglitaw, ito ay sinabi, ay matapos ang isang bagyo. Pagkatapos ay siya ay nakita scurrying sa ang mga patlang, at kapag siya lumipas, buhay, sunod, at kalmado ay renew. Ang mga puno muli unatin ang kanilang mga over-thrown putot, at ang lahat ng mga bakas ng unchained elemento ay wiped malayo.

Kapag ang mahihirap na bansa ng katutubong sa slopes ng Makiling kinakailangan damit o jewels para sa solemne okasyon ng buhay, ay siya bang ipahiram sa mga ito at bukod sa, bigyan ang kanyang isang dumalaga puti ng gatas, isa na ay hindi kailanman inilatag itlog, isang dumalaga, tulad ng sinasabi nila. Mariang

Makiling ay napaka-kawanggawa at nagkaroon ng magandang puso. Ngayon ay siya madalas hindi, sa balatkayo ng isang simpleng dalaga bansa, aided mahihirap lumang mga kababaihan na pinuntahan ang kagubatan para sa kahoy na panggatong o upang pumili ng mga ligaw na bunga, sa pamamagitan ng pagdulas sa sa huli nuggets ng ginto, barya, at jewels.

Ang isang mangangaso na may isang araw habol ng ligaw bulugan sa pamamagitan ng mataas na damo at mahirap bushes ng thickets dumating biglang sa isang kubo na kung saan hayop ang itinago.

Sa lalong madaling panahon ng isang magandang batang babae inisyu mula sa hut at sinabi sa kanya malumanay, "Ang ligaw bulugan nabibilang sa akin at nagawa mo na mali sa Chase ito. Ngunit nakikita ko na ikaw ay masyadong pagod; ang iyong mga armas at binti sakop sa dugo. Kaya ko dumating sa at kumain at pagkatapos ay maaari kang pumunta sa iyong paraan. "

Lito at startled, at bukod sa bighani ng kagandahan ng mga batang babae, ang tao ang nagpunta sa at kumain nang wala sa loob ang lahat na siya inaalok kanya, nang hindi magagawang magsalita ng isang salita. Bago siya kaliwa, ang mga batang babae ay nagbigay sa kanya ng ilang mga piraso ng luya, singilin sa kanya upang bigyan ang mga ito sa kanyang asawa para sa kanyang pagluluto. Hunter ang ilagay ang mga ito sa loob ng korona ng kanyang malawak na sumbrero at matapos na thanking kanya, withdrew sa nilalaman. Sa ang paraan ng bahay, siya nadama kanyang sumbrero magiging mabigat kaya kinuha niya ang maraming ng mga piraso at threw ang mga ito palayo. Ngunit kung ano ang kanyang sorpresa at ikinalulungkot kapag ang mga susunod na araw natuklasan niya na kung ano ang siya ay

dadalhin sa luya ay matatag na ginto, maliwanag bilang isang ray ng sikat ng araw. Kahit na siya ay sinubukan upang tumingin para sa kanila mamaya, hindi siya mahanap kahit isa.

Ngunit para sa maraming mga taon sa ngayon, Maria Makiling presensiya ay hindi nai-manifested sa Makiling. Kanyang vapory pigura hindi na wanders sa pamamagitan ng malalim na lambak o hovers sa ibabaw ng waterfalls sa matahimik na gabi liwanag ng buwan. Ang mapanglaw na tono ng kanyang alpa ay hindi na narinig, at ngayon ay mga lovers makapag-asawa nang hindi pagtanggap mula sa kanyang mga jewels at iba pang mga regalo. Maraming mga takot na siya ay nawala nang tuluyan, o hindi bababa sa, avoids siya ang anumang mga contact sa sangkatauhan.

Pa sa gilid ng bundok, may isang malinaw na, tahimik na pool, at alamat ay umulit na ang vapory numero ay maaari pa ring makita na nakalarawan sa pool na ito sa mists ng maagang liwayway, at mula sa oras-oras ang mga tao ng kabukiran ang pumunta sa panoorin para sa kanya doon.

The Creation of the World

The Creation of the World

as Told by the Mangians and the Negritos

Away back in the long ago the earth did not exist, and there was only a vast immense sea formed by a huge ocean.

Once after the end of the long and painful imprisonment of King Manaul by his opponent King Tubluck Lawi after a bloody war which they fought with the result of the rout of King Manaul, and after Manaul had broken the enormous chain with which he was fastened, he went out flying into space with the intention of avenging himself on his most fierce and feared enemy, Tubluck Lawi.

Many years passed during which King Manaul wandered through the air, flying hither and thither without finding any place where he could alight and rest from his long and tiresome journey. He declared himself the enemy of the earth and of the sky. These, in fury at such boldness, tried to punish King Manaul. The liquid element sent out waves which raised themselves in anger, like tremendous peaks, scattering foam and minute particles of water into space. The sky, in its turn, called to its assistance Canauay and Aminhan, the gods who rule the air, to send out furious winds. The sky discharged a torrential rain. They tried to punish him, but King Manaul, light and agile, with his powerful wings, always escaped and mocked at the infuriated elements, withdrawing lightly from their colossal discharges.

Days and months went by, and then years. But no one yielded a bit in his boasting. At last both grew weary, and having resolved to conclude

their long and quarrelsome rivalry, begged to know each other's desires.

King Manaul begged that he be given light, and instantly there appeared revolving about him an immense number of little lights produced by a multitude of fireflies. Further, he desired counselors, and in a trice he had every kind of bird at his side.

Seeing some exceedingly fine chicks, he could not restrain his gluttony, and in one bound ate up all that were there. Since there were no other chicks on which to satiate his appetite, he began successively to devour and eat, first among the smaller birds, and ending with the largest ones.

His other bird counselors, on the other hand, began to devour his small fireflies, until not the least sign of them appeared.

Angered by so gross an insult, he called his owls, which by chance were passing that place, and swore to them that they should be punished for such a villainy. So he obliged them to stay awake during the night, and gave them double-sized eyes, so that in the future they might see better and not eat his beloved fireflies. From that time, and the desires of King Manaul having been fulfilled, we see owls with their big eyes that are wakeful during night, suffering still the punishment of King Manaul.

Enter the king of the air, many of whose counselors Manaul had devoured. His wrath was boundless. He stamped his feet, and vomitted up terrible lightnings, thunderbolts, and whirlwinds. He sought aid from King Cantan of the Higuecinas, or the genius of the men of the sea, in order to punish the boldness of Manaul. He (Captan) sent from the sky huge

rocks and stones to crush Manaul, but this had no result, for it was avoided by King Manaul.

Here the earth found its beginning, for then Manaul, findling a support in those big stones made them remain fixed forever. They having become his dwelling, King Manaul lived happily forever. Those lands had their beginning from that time and are still here today. Thanks to the rage of Captan against Manaul, the world had its beginning

Ang Creation ng Mundo

ang Mangians at ang mga Negritos

Layo pabalik sa matagal na ang nakalipas sa lupa ay hindi umiiral, at nagkaroon lamang ng isang malawak na napakalawak na dagat na nabuo sa pamamagitan ng isang malaking karagatan.

Sa sandaling matapos ang dulo ng mahaba at masakit na pagkabilanggo ng Hari Manaul sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga kalaban ng Hari Tubluck Lawi pagkatapos ng isang marugo digmaan na kung saan sila fought sa resulta ng bulabugin ng Hari Manaul, at pagkatapos ang Manaul ay nasira ang napakalaking kadena na kung saan siya ay fastened, siya nagpunta lumilipad sa espasyo sa intensyon ng avenging kanyang sarili sa kanyang pinaka-mabangis at feared kaaway, Tubluck ang Lawi.

Maraming lumipas ang mga taon na kung saan Hari ang Manaul wandered sa pamamagitan ng hangin, paglipad paroo't parito nang hindi paghahanap ng anumang lugar kung saan siya maaari hapunan at pahinga mula sa kanyang mahaba at nakapanghihina paglalakbay. Ipinahayag niya sa kanyang sarili ang mga kaaway ng lupa at ng kalangitan. Mga ito, sa

pagngangalit sa tulad ng katapangan, sinubukan upang parusahan ang Hari Manaul. Ang likido sangkap na ipinadala ang mga waves na itinaas ang kanilang sarili sa galit, tulad ng napakalaking peaks, ng scattering mga particle bula at minuto ng tubig sa espasyo. Ang langit, sa pagliko, na tinatawag na nito ng tulong Canauay at Aminhan, ang mga gods na patakaran sa hangin, upang ipadala ang mga galit na galit hangin. Ang langit discharged isang torrential ulan. Sinubukan nila sa parusahan kanya, ngunit Hari Manaul, liwanag at masigla, sa kanyang makapangyarihang pakpak, palaging escaped at mocked sa ang infuriated elemento, withdraw gaanong mula sa kanilang napakalaki discharges.

Araw at buwan ay nagpunta sa pamamagitan, at pagkatapos taon. Ngunit walang isa yielded isang bit sa kanyang bansag. Sa huling parehong lumago pagod, at na malutas upang tapusin ang kanilang mga mahaba at palaaway agawan, begged upang malaman ng bawat isa sa mga desires.

Hari Manaul begged na siya ay bibigyan ng liwanag, at agad na may lumitaw umiinog tungkol sa kanya ng isang napakalawak na bilang ng mga maliit na ilaw na ginawa ng isang tao ng mga fireflies. Karagdagang, nais niya tagapayo, at sa isang saglit na siya ay nagkaroon ng bawat uri ng ibon sa kanyang tagiliran.

Nakikita ilang lubha pinong chicks, hindi siya maaaring sawayin kanyang katakawan, at sa isang nakagapos kumain up lahat na doon. Dahil doon ay walang ibang chicks kung saan upang mabusog nang husto ang kanyang ganang kumain, nagsimula siya sa sunud-sunod na sumila at kumain, unang na kabilang sa mga mas maliit na ibon, at nagtatapos sa mga pinakamalaking mga.

Ang kanyang iba pang mga ibon tagapayo, sa kabilang banda, nagsimulang lamunin ang kanyang mga maliliit na fireflies, hanggang sa hindi bababa sa mag-sign sa kanila lumitaw.

Angered sa pamamagitan ng kaya mahalay isang mang-insulto, siya na tinatawag na kanyang mga owls, kung saan sa pamamagitan ng pagkakataon ay dumadaan sa lugar na iyon, at swore sa kanila na dapat sila ay parusahan para sa tulad ng isang kataksilan. Kaya siya nagpapasalamat sa kanila upang manatiling gising sa loob ng gabi, at ibinigay sa kanila double-sized na mga mata, upang sa hinaharap ay maaaring makita nila ang mas mahusay at hindi kumain ang kanyang minamahal na fireflies. Mula sa oras na iyon, at ang mga desires ng Hari Manaul na natupad, namin makita ang mga owls sa kanilang malaking mata na hindi makatulog sa panahon ng gabi, naghihirap pa rin ang parusa ng Hari Manaul.

Ipasok ang hari ng hangin, marami ng na ang mga tagapayo Manaul ay devoured. Ang kanyang galit ay walang hanggan. Ang siya naselyohang kanyang mga paa, at vomitted up ng mga mga nakakikilabot lightnings, thunderbolts, at whirlwinds. Siya na hinahangad ang aid mula sa ng Hari Cantan ng ang Higuecinas, o ang henyo ng mga tao ng dagat, upang parusahan ang katapangan ng Manaul. Siya (Captan) na ipinadala mula sa langit na malaking bato at bato sa crush Manaul, ngunit ito ay walang resulta, para ito ay iwasan ng Hari Manaul.

Narito lupa nahanap ang simula nito, para pagkatapos Manaul, findling ng suporta sa mga malaking bato ginawa mananatiling kanila naayos magpakailanman. Sila nagkakaroon maging ang kanyang tirahan, Hari Manaul nakatira masaya magpakailanman. Mga lupain ay kanilang simula mula sa oras na iyon at pa rin

dito ngayon. Salamat sa galit ng Captan laban Manaul, ang mundo ang nagkaroon nito simula

The Tale of Tungkung Langit and Alunsina story (Visayan Myth)

In the beginning everything was shapeless and formless. The earth, the sky, the sea, and the air were almost mixed up. In a word, there was only confusion. Then from the depth of this formless void there appeared the god Tungkung Langit and the goddess Alunsina.

It was not known just where these two deities came from but it is related by old Bisayan folk that Tungkung Langit fell in love with Alunsina. After he had courted her for many years, they married and made their home in the highest part of heaven. There the water was always warm and the breeze was forever cool. In this place order and regularity began.

Tungkung Langit was a loving, hard-working god. He wanted to impose order over the confused world. He decided to arrange the world so that the heavenly bodies would move regularly. On the other hand, Alunsina was a lazy, jealous, selfish goddess. She sat at the window all day doing nothing.

Sometimes she would leave her home, sit down by a pool near the door, and comb her long, jet-black hair all day long. One day Tungkung Langit told his wife that he would be away for some time. He said he must make time go on smoothly and arrange everything in the world.

When he was gone, Alunsina set the breeze to spy on Tungkung Langit. Tungkung Langit found this out and he became very angry. After he returned home, he told her that it was ungodly of her to be jealous since there were no other gods in the world except the two of them.

Alunsina resented this reproach, and they quarreled. In his anger, Tungkung Langit drove his wife away. No one knew where she went. Several days later, Tungkung Langit felt very lonely. He realized that he should not have lost his temper. But it was too late.

Once vibrant with Alunsina's sweet voice, his home became cold and desolate. In the morning when he woke up, he would find himself alone. In the afternoon when he came home, he would feel loneliness creeping deep or soothe his aching limbs.

For months Tungkung Langit lived in utter desolation. Try as he did he could not find Alunsina. And so in his desperation, he decided to do something to forget his sorrow. The sight of the lonely sea and the barren land irritated him. So he came down to earth and planted trees and flowers. Then he took his wife's jewels and scattered them in the sky. He hoped that when Alunsina should see them she might be induced to return home.

Alunsina's necklace became the stars, her comb the moon, and her crown the sun. But in spite of these, Alunsina did not return home. Up to this time, the old folk say Tungkung Langit lives alone in his palace in the skies. Sometimes, he would cry out his pent-up emotions and his tears would fall down upon the earth. The people say that rain is Tungkung Langit's tears.

When the thunder rolls, the old folks say that it is Tungkung Langit sobbing, calling for his beloved Alunsina to come back - entreating her so hard that his voice reverberates across the fields and countryside.

IBALON

Long ago, the land of Ibalon, known as Bicol, was a land of lush and virginal beauty, but no one lived there.

One day, a mighty warrior called Baltog came upon the land. The richness and beauty of the region made him decide to take his family and his workers to this wonder place. Here they lived in peace and prosperity.

But one day, the tranquility of their lives was threatened by a huge man-eating wild boar. The ferocious beast destroyed the linsa or gabi plants and other crops as well. It also killed people. Soon, vast areas in Ibalon were reduced to waste, and countless people were either killed or maimed. Baltog was dumb-founded as he surveyed the depredation wrought on his kingdom.

Leaving his home under the cover of the night, he went to the muddy fields to wait for his enemy.

Baltog waited for long, long time. Finally, when the moon was bright, the man-eating boar came snorting and tearing crops as it went along. Baltog hid under the bushes. When the boar came within reach, he sprang at it. Man and beast tumbled to the ground in mortal combat. Fortunately, Baltog was able to pin down the beast and summoning all his strength, he finally subdued the boar, not with a spear, but breaking its super-sized jaws with his own strong arms. Baltog’s victory put an end to a terror that had ravished his kingdom for a time.

Ibalon, however, saw few years of peace. One day, huge carabaos followed by winged sharks and giant crocodiles rushed to Ibalon. Every mortal was in fright: death and destruction took a heavy toll. The mighty Baltog could no longer

defend his kingdom, for years had sapped his strength. Defenseless, Ibalon had become an easy prey.

Luck, however, was still with Ibalon. On that tragic day, Handiong, a mighty warrior of the neighboring kingdom, happened to pass by Ibalon. Handiong came to the rescue.

Handiong and his brave seasoned men threw themselves at the stampeding and winging wild enemies. For untold hours, Ibalon saw mortal combat. Blood flowed freely over the land and the streams. One by one, they slew the beasts.

Only one monster escaped Handiong’s mortal blows. This was Oriol, the serpent who could transform itself into a beautiful woman. With her seductive words, she enticed him. But Handiong pursued her through the forest without rest. To save itself, the she-snake struck an alliance with Handiong. She promised to drivethe evil spirits out of the mountains if Handiong would leave her alone. And at last, peace came to Ibalon again.

Handiong encouraged the people to plant, invent farming equipments, build banca and houses. Under his wise administration, Ibalon became rich and peaceful again.

Outside Handiong’s domain, there appeared another threat to his kingdom. This time it was Rabut, a far more terrible monster, for under its spell, mortals could turn to stone.

Handiong called his friend and companion, the mighty Bantong, to deal with the enemy. Together with a handful of men, Bantong raided the monster’s lair. He found the enemy taking its nap. With a cat-like agility, Bantong delivered a mortal blow at the monster’s neck. The

wounded monster cried in agony, and in his struggle for breath, the earth cracked and the water in the sea rolled landward.

Ibalon underwent great physical change. New island began to dot the water near the peninsula. Finally, a tall and perfect cone reared its head to lord over the leveled ruins. This perfect cone is now known as Mayon Volcano.

Thus ends Ibalon.

IBALON

Matagal na ang nakalipas, ang lupa ng Ibalon, na kilala bilang Bicol, ay isang lupain ng masagana at birhen kagandahan, ngunit walang nakatira doon.

Isang araw, isang malakas na mandirigma na tinatawag Baltog ay dumating sa lupa. Ang kayamanan at kagandahan ng rehiyon ginawa magpasya siya sa kanyang pamilya at ang kanyang mga manggagawa sa lugar Wonder na ito. Dito sila nakatira sa kapayapaan at kasaganaan.

Ngunit isang araw, ang kapanatagan ng kanilang mga buhay ay threatened sa pamamagitan ng isang malaking tao-kumain ng ligaw bulugan. Ang mabangis na hayop ay nawasak ang halaman linsa o gabi at iba pang crops pati na rin. Ito rin pumatay ng tao. Lalong madaling panahon, malawak na lugar sa Ibalon ay nabawasan sa basura, at hindi mabilang mga tao ay alinman namatay o lumpo. Baltog ay pipi-itinatag bilang siya surveyed panloloob ang yari sa kanyang kaharian.

Aalis ang kanyang tahanan sa ilalim ng takip ng gabi, siya ay napunta sa sa maputik na mga

patlang upang maghintay para sa kanyang mga kaaway.

Baltog ay naghintay para sa mahaba, mahabang panahon. Panghuli, kapag buwan ay maliwanag, ang tao-pagkain bulugan ay dumating ng snorting at pansiwang ang mga crops bilang ito nagpunta kasama. Baltog itinago sa ilalim ng bushes. Kapag ang bulugan ang dumating sa loob ng abot, siya sprang ito. Tao at hayop tumbled sa lupa sa mortal lumaban. Sa kabutihang palad, ang Baltog ay daganan sa hayop at summoning ang lahat ng lakas kanyang, siya sa wakas sakop bulugan, hindi sa isang sibat, ngunit paglabag nito sobrang-laking jaws sa kanyang sariling malakas na armas. Baltog ng tagumpay tapusin sa isang malaking takot na ay ravished kanyang kaharian para sa isang oras.

Ibalon, gayunpaman, nakita ng ilang taon ng kapayapaan. Isang araw, malaking mga carabaos sinundan sa pamamagitan ng mga pakpak na pating at higanteng mga crocodiles rushed sa Ibalon. Bawat mortal ay sa sindak: kamatayan at pagkawasak kinuha ng isang mabigat na toll. Ang malakas Baltog maaaring hindi na ipagtanggol ang kanyang kaharian, para sa mga taon ay sapped kanyang lakas. Walang pagtatanggol, Ibalon ay maging isang madaling biktima.

Kapalaran, gayunpaman, ay pa rin sa Ibalon. Sa na trahedya na araw, Handiong, isang malakas na mandirigma ng kalapit na kaharian, ang nangyari sa pumasa sa pamamagitan ng Ibalon. Handiong ay dumating sa ang iligtas.

Handiong at ang kanyang mga taong matapang lalaki na tinimplahan threw ang kanilang sarili sa ang stampeding at winging ng mga mabangis na kaaway. Para sa mga hindi nabunyag oras, ang Ibalon nakita mortal lumaban. Dugo flowed

malayang sa ibabaw ng lupa at ang mga daloy. Isa-isa, liko sila sa beasts.

Isa lamang halimaw escaped Handiong ng mortal blows. Ito ay Oriol, ang mga demonyo na maaaring ibahin ang anyo mismo sa isang maganda na babae. Sa kanyang mga nakatutukso salita, siya ay enticed sa kanya. Ngunit Handiong pursued kanyang sa pamamagitan ng kagubatan walang pahinga. Upang i-save mismo, ang siya-ahas struck ng isang alyansa sa Handiong. Ipinangako niya sa drivethe ang masamang espiritu ng mga bundok kung Handiong ay umalis sa kanyang nag-iisa. At sa wakas, ang kapayapaan ay dumating sa Ibalon muli.

Handiong hinihikayat ang mga tao sa planta, ilikha ang mga equipments pagsasaka, bumuo ang banca at bahay. Sa ilalim ng kanyang matalino pangangasiwa, Ibalon naging mayaman at mapayapang muli.

Labas Handiong ng domain, may lumitaw isa pang pagbabanta sa kanyang kaharian. Oras na ito ito ay Rabut, isang malayo mas kahila-hilakbot halimaw, para sa ilalim nito spell, mortals ay maaaring buksan sa bato.

Handiong tinatawag na ang kanyang mga kaibigan at kasamahan, ang malakas na Bantong, upang makitungo sa ang kaaway. Sama-sama sa isang dakot ng mga tao, Bantong raided pugad ang halimaw. Siya natagpuan ang kaaway sa pagkuha nito siyesta. Sa pamamagitan ng isang cat-tulad ng liksi, Bantong inihatid ng isang mortal na pumutok sa leeg ang halimaw. Ang nasugatan halimaw cried sa matinding paghihirap, at sa kanyang pakikibaka para sa paghinga, ang lupa ang basag at ang tubig sa dagat lulon patungo sa lupa.

Ibalon underwent dakilang pisikal pagbabago. Bagong isla ay nagsimula sa tuldok ng tubig malapit sa peninsula. Sa wakas, ang isang matangkad at perpektong kono reared ang ulo nito upang pagharian sa ibabaw ng leveled mga lugar ng pagkasira. Ang perpektong kono na ito ngayon ay kilala bilang Mayon Bulkan.

Kaya nagtatapos Ibalon.

Riddles (Part 1)

· Ania iti pinarsua iti Dios a balin suec a maturog?

Answer: (Iloc.) Panniqui

· What thing that God made sleeps with its head down?

Answer: Bat

· Pantas ca man, at marunong bumasa at sumulat, aling ibon dito sa mundo ang lumilipad ay sumususo ang anak?

Answer: (Tag.) Kabag

· Although you are wise and know how to read and write, which bird in this world flies and yet suckles its young?

Answer: Bat

· Uppat iti adiguina, maysa iti baotna, dua iti paypayna, dua iti boneng.

Answer: (Iloc.) Carabao

· Four posts, one whip, two fans, and two bolos.

Answer: Carabao

· Apat na tukod langit at isang pang hagupit.

Answer: (Tag.) Kalabao

· Four earth posts, two air posts and whip.

Answer: Carabao

· Saquey so torutoro duaray quepay-quepay a patiray mansobsoblay.

Answer: (Pang.) Dueg

· One pointing, two moving, four changing.

Answer: Carabao

The head points, the ears move, the legs change position.

· Nu mat-tut-lud ay atanang udde; nu mat-tadag ay ibbafa.

Answer: (Gad.) Atu

· If he sits down he is high; if he stands up he is low.

Answer: Dog

· Adda maysa nga parsua ni Apo Dios nga adda uppat a sacana, ipusna quen maysa nga ulona nga aoan ti imana.

Answer: (Iloc.) Caballo

Riddles (Part 2)

· There is one creature of our Lord God which has four legs and a tail and one head; but it has no arms.

Answer: Horse

· Carga nang carga ay ualang upa.

Answer: (Tag.) Babuy

· Always working and no pay.

Answer: The pig

He is ever eating garbage and waste.

· Eto na si “Nuno,” may sunong na guinto.

Answer: (Tag.) Babuy

· Here comes “Nuno” with gold on his head.

Answer: Pig

The pig is a constant scavenger and frequents the space below latrines and privies; it is a common thing that his snout is yellow as result of his search.

· Magmagna ni inam sangsangitam.

Answer: (Iloc.) Burias

· While the mother is walking the child is crying.

Answer: A little pig

· Adda maysa nga lacay gomogoyod ti oay.

Answer: (Iloc.) Bao

· There is an old man, who always drags rattan.

Answer: Rat

· Kahoy cong Marigundong, na sangay ualang dahon.

Answer: (Tag.) Sungay

· My tree in Marigundong (town in Cavite) has branches but no leaves.

Answer: Horn

The branching horn of a deer.

· Maco ca quian, yacu naman ing quian.

Answer: (Pamp.) Ding bitis daring animal a tiapat a bitis nung lalacad ya.

Riddles (Part 3)

· Away! let me have your place.

Answer: The forward legs of an animal

The hind feet tread in the prints of the forefeet.

· Nang hataken co ang baging nagkagulo ang matsing.

Answer: (Tag.) Batingao

· When I pulled the vine the monkeys came around.

Answer: Bell

· Tinugtog co ang bangca nagsilapit ang isda.

Answer: (Tag.) Campana sa misa

· I rang the banca and the fishes came.

Answer: Bell

· Togtoquec ti teppang agarayat ti bagsang

Answer: (Iloc.) Campana

· I strike upon the washout and the bagsang come for help.

Answer: Bell

· Otin nen laquic Tapal ni baleuet ed corral manaquis, ya agnaecal.

Answer: (Pang.) Campana

· Tapal's ——— hanging within the corral is crying to get out.

Answer: Bell

· Nasatiyan pa nang kanyang ina, kinuha at pinapagasawa.

Answer: (Tag.) Ang bungang isinasama sa itso

· Still in his mother's body was taken and made to marry.

Answer: Betel

· Bulong tiptipparo; puso balasang baro.

Answer: (Iloc.) Mama

· A tiptipparo leaf; the heart, a young man and a young woman.

Answer: Betel

· Papel a berde sinoratac ti purao Page 30quet intedco iti sangaili dina insubli.

Answer: (Iloc.) Gaoed

Riddles (Part 4)

· I wrote a green paper with white: I gave it to my visitor and he did not return it.

Answer: Betel-leaf

· Nagcapa dimet nagpadi; Nagcorona dimet nagari.

Answer: (Iloc.) Manoc

· Gown but not priest; crown but not king.

Answer: Cock

· Nancorona agimiet ari; nan capa agmuet pari.

Answer: (Pang.) Manoc

· The king's crown but not king; the priest's cope, but not priest.

Answer: Cock

· Ania ti pinarsua ni Apo Dios nga ag-gungon ti maquimbaba quet agpidot ti maquin ngato?

Answer: (Iloc.) Manoc

· What thing that Lord God made Page 31sifts below and picks up above?

Answer: Fowl

· Dinay pinalsay Dios ya managtay carne?

Answer: (Pang.) Manoc

· What creature of God is with meat on its head?

Answer: Cock

· Ania a parsuo ni Apo Dios ti nagsusoon ti carne nga aoan ti imana?

Answer: (Iloc.) Tapingar

· What creature of our Lord God carries meat but has no hands?

Answer: Cock

· Uyana-uyana mamuntuk yang baya!

Answer: (Pamp.) Manuc

· Here he comes with glowing charcoal on his head!

Answer: A cock

· No umayac idiay balayo agtuptupuaccayo.

Answer: (Iloc.) Manoc

Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog

Andres Bonifacio

Spanish Period

Itong Katagalugan, na pinamamahalaan nang unang panahon ng ating tunay na mga kababayan niyaong hindi pa tumutulong sa mga lupaing ito ang mga Kastila, ay nabubuhay sa

lubos na kasaganaan, at kaginhawaaan. Kasundo niya ang mga kapit-bayan at lalung-lalo na ang mga taga-Japon, sila’y kabilihan at kapalitan ng mga kalakal, malabis ang pagyabong ng lahat ng pinagkakakitaan, kaya’t dahil dito’y mayaman ang kaasalan ng lahat, bata’t matanda at sampung mga babae ay marunong bumasa at sumulat ng talagang pagsulat nating mga Tagalog. Dumating ang mga Kastila at dumulog na nakipagkaibigan. Sa mabuti nilang hikayat na diumano, tayo’y aakayin sa lalong kagalingan at lalong imumulat ang ating kaisipan, ang nasabing nagsisipamahala ay nangyaring nalamuyot sa tamis ng kanilang dila sa paghibo. Gayon man sila’y ipinailalim sa talagang kaugaliang pinagkayarian sa pamamagitan ng isang panunumpa na kumuha ng kaunting dugo sa kani-kanilang mga ugat, at yao’y inihalo’t ininom nila kapwa tanda ng tunay at lubos na pagtatapat na di magtataksil sa pinagkayarian. Ito’y siyang tinatawag na “Pacto de Sangre” ng haring Sikatuna at ni Legaspi na pinakakatawanan ng hari sa Espana.

Buhat nang ito’y mangyari ay bumubilang na ngayon sa tatlong daang taon mahigit na ang lahi ni Legaspi ay ating binubuhay sa lubos na kasaganaan, ating pinagtatamasa at binubusog, kahit abutin natin ang kasalatan at kadayukdukan; iginugugol natin ang yaman, dugo at sampu ng tunay na mga kababayan na aayaw pumayag na sa kanila’y pasakop, at gayon din naman nakipagbaka tayo sa mga Insik at taga-Holandang nagbalang umagaw sa kanila nitong Katagalugan.

Ngayon sa lahat ng ito’y ano ang sa mga ginawa nating paggugugol ang nakikitang kaginhawahang ibinigay sa ating Bayan? Ano ang nakikita nating pagtupad sa kanilang kapangakuan na siyang naging dahil ng ating

paggugugol! Wala kudi pawang kataksilan ang ganti sa ating mga pagpapala at mga pagtupad sa kanilang ipinangakong tayo’y lalong gigisingin sa kagalingan ay bagkus tayong binulag, inihawa tayo sa kanilang hamak na asal, pinilt na sinira ang mahal at magandang ugali ng ating Bayan; iminulat tayo sa isang maling pagsampalataya at isinadlak sa lubak ng kasamaan ang kapurihan ng ating Bayan; at kung tayo’y mangahas humingi ng kahit gabahid na lingap, ang nagiging kasagutan ay ang tayo’y itapon at ilayo sa piling ng ating minamahal ng anak, aswa at matandang magulang. Ang bawat isang himutok na pumulas sa ating dibdib ay itinuturing na isang malaking pagkakasala at karakarakang nilalapatan ng sa hayop na kabangisan.

Ngayon wala nang maituturing na kapanatagan sa ating pamamayan; ngayon lagi nang gingambala ang ating katahimikan ng umaalingawngaw na daing at pananambitan, buntong-hininga at hinagpis ng makapal na ulila, bao’t mga magulang ng mga kababayang ipinanganyaya ng mga manlulupig na Kastila; ngayon tayo’y nalulunod na sa nagbabahang luha ng Ina sa nakitil na buhay ng anak, sa pananangis ng sanggol na pinangulila ng kalupitan na ang bawat patak ay katulad ng isang kumukulong tinga, na sumasalang sa mahapding sugat ng ating pusong nagdaramdam; ngayon lalo’t lalo tayong nabibiliran ng tanikalang nakalalait sa bawat lalaking may iniingatang kapurihan. Ano ang nararapat nating gawin? Ang araw ng katuwiran na sumisikat sa Silanganan, ay malinaw na itinuturo sa ating mga matang malaong nabulagan, ang landas na dapat nating tunguhin, ang liwanag niya’y tanaw sa ting mga mata, ang kukong nag-akma ng kamatayang alay sa atin ng mga ganid na asal. Itinuturo ng katuwiran, na wala tayong iba pang maaantay kundi lalo’t lalong kaalipinan. Itinuturo ng

katuwiran, lalo’t lalong kaalipustaan at lalo’t lalong kaalipinan. Itinuturo ng katuwiran, na huwag nating sayangin ang panahon sa pag-asa sa ipinangakong kaginhawahan na hindi darating at hindi mangyayari. Itinuturo ng katuwiran ang tayo’y umasa sa ating at huwag antayin sa iba ang ating kabuhayan. Itinuturo na katuwiran ang tayo’y magkaisang-loob, magkaisang isip at akala at nang tayo’y magkaisa na maihanap ng lunas ang naghaharing kasamaan sa ating Bayan.

Panahon na ngayong dapat na lumitaw ang liwanag ng katotohanan; panahon nang dapat nating ipakilala n tayo’y may sariling pagdaramdam, may puri, may hiya at pagdadamayan. Ngayon panahon nang dapat simulan ang pagsisiwalat ng mga mahal at dakilang ani na magwawasak sa masinsing tabing na bumubulag sa ating kaisipan; panahon na ngayong dapat makilala ng mga Tagalog ang pinagbuhatan ng kanilang mga kahirapan. Araw na itong dapat kilalanin na sa bawat isang hakbang natin y tumutuntong tayo at nabibingit sa malalim na hukay ng kamatayan na sa ati’y inuumang ng mga kaaway.

Kaya, O mga kababayan, ating idila ang bulag na kaisipan at kusang igugol sa kagalingan ang atin glakas sa tunay at lubos na pag-asa na magtagumpay sa nilalayong kaginhawahan ng bayan tinubuan.

LIKE THE MOLAVE

by Rafael Zulueta da Costa

Not yet, rizal, not yet. Sleep not in peace:

There are a thousand waters to be spanned;

There are a thousand mountains to be crossed;

There are a thousand crosses to be borne.

Our shoulders are not strong; our sinews are

Grown flaccid with dependence, smug with ease

Under another’s wing. Rest not in peace;

Not yet, Rizal, not yet. The land has need

Of young blood-and, what younger than your own,

Forever spilled in the great name of freedom,

Forever oblate on the altar of

The free? Not you alone, Rizal. O souls

And spirits of the martyred brave, arise!

Arise and scour the land! Shed once again

Your willing blood! Infuse the vibrant red

Into our thin anaemic veins; until

We pick up your Promethean tools and, strong,

Out of the depthless matrix of your of your faith

In us, and on the silent cliffs of freedom,

We carve for all time your marmoreal dream!

Until our people, seeing, are become

Like the molave, firm, resilent, staunch,

Rising on the hillside, unafraid,

Strong in its own fibre, yes, like the molave!

Footnote to Youth

Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

The sun was salmon and hazy in the west. Dodong thought to himself he would tell his father about Teang when he got home, after he had unhitched the carabao from the plow, and let it to its shed and fed it. He was hesitant about saying it, but he wanted his father to know. What he had to say was of serious import as it would mark a climacteric in his life. Dodong finally decided to tell it, at a thought came to him his father might refuse to consider it. His father was silent hard-working farmer who chewed areca nut, which he had learned to do from his mother, Dodong's grandmother.

I will tell it to him. I will tell it to him.

The ground was broken up into many fresh wounds and fragrant with a sweetish earthy smell. Many slender soft worms emerged from the furrows and then burrowed again deeper into the soil. A short colorless worm marched blindly to Dodong's foot and crawled calmly over it. Dodong go tickled and jerked his foot, flinging the worm into the air. Dodong did not bother to look where it fell, but thought of his age, seventeen, and he said to himself he was not young any more.

Dodong unhitched the carabao leisurely and gave it a healthy tap on the hip. The beast turned its head to look at him with dumb faithful eyes. Dodong gave it a slight push and the animal walked alongside him to its shed. He placed bundles of grass before it land the carabao began to eat. Dodong looked at it without interests.

Dodong started homeward, thinking how he would break his news to his father. He wanted to marry, Dodong did. He was seventeen, he had pimples on his face, the down on his upper lip already was dark--these meant he was no longer a boy. He was growing into a man--he was a man. Dodong felt insolent and big at the thought of it although he was by nature low in statue. Thinking himself a man grown, Dodong felt he could do anything.

He walked faster, prodded by the thought of his virility. A small angled stone bled his foot, but he dismissed it cursorily. He lifted his leg and looked at the hurt toe and then went on walking. In the cool sundown he thought wild you dreams of himself and Teang. Teang, his girl. She had a small brown face and small black eyes and straight glossy hair. How desirable she was to him. She made him dream even during the day.

Dodong tensed with desire and looked at the muscles of his arms. Dirty. This field

work was healthy, invigorating but it begrimed you, smudged you terribly. He turned back the way he had come, then he marched obliquely to a creek.

Dodong stripped himself and laid his clothes, a gray undershirt and red kundiman shorts, on the grass. The he went into the water, wet his body over, and rubbed at it vigorously. He was not long in bathing, then he marched homeward again. The bath made him feel cool.

It was dusk when he reached home. The petroleum lamp on the ceiling already was lighted and the low unvarnished square table was set for supper. His parents and he sat down on the floor around the table to eat. They had

fried fresh-water fish, rice, bananas, and caked sugar.

Dodong ate fish and rice, but did not partake of the fruit. The bananas were overripe and when one held them they felt more fluid than solid. Dodong broke off a piece of the cakes sugar, dipped it in his glass of water and ate it. He got another piece and wanted some more, but he thought of leaving the remainder for his parents.

Dodong's mother removed the dishes when they were through and went out to the batalan to wash them. She walked with slow careful steps and Dodong wanted to help her carry the dishes out, but he was tired and now felt lazy. He wished as he looked at her that he had a sister who could help his mother in the housework. He pitied her, doing all the housework alone.

His father remained in the room, sucking a diseased tooth. It was paining him again, Dodong knew. Dodong had told him often and again to let the town dentist pull it out, but he was afraid, his father was. He did not tell that to Dodong, but Dodong guessed it. Afterward Dodong himself thought that if he had a decayed tooth he would be afraid to go to the dentist; he would not be any bolder than his father.

Dodong said while his mother was out that he was going to marry Teang. There it was out, what he had to say, and over which he had done so much thinking. He had said it without any effort at all and without self-consciousness. Dodong felt relieved and looked at his father expectantly. A decrescent moon outside shed its feeble light into the window, graying the still black temples of his father. His father looked old now.

"I am going to marry Teang," Dodong said.

His father looked at him silently and stopped sucking the broken tooth. The silence became intense and cruel, and Dodong wished his father would suck that troublous tooth again. Dodong was uncomfortable and then became angry because his father kept looking at him without uttering anything.

"I will marry Teang," Dodong repeated. "I will marry Teang."

His father kept gazing at him in inflexible silence and Dodong fidgeted on his seat.

"I asked her last night to marry me and she said...yes. I want your permission. I... want... it...." There was impatient clamor in his voice, an exacting protest at this coldness, this indifference. Dodong looked at his father sourly. He cracked his knuckles one by one, and the little sounds it made broke dully the night stillness.

"Must you marry, Dodong?"

Dodong resented his father's questions; his father himself had married. Dodong made a quick impassioned easy in his mind about selfishness, but later he got confused.

"You are very young, Dodong."

"I'm... seventeen."

"That's very young to get married at."

"I... I want to marry...Teang's a good girl."

"Tell your mother," his father said.

"You tell her, tatay."

"Dodong, you tell your inay."

"You tell her."

"All right, Dodong."

"You will let me marry Teang?"

"Son, if that is your wish... of course..." There was a strange helpless light in his father's eyes. Dodong did not read it, so absorbed was he in himself.

Dodong was immensely glad he had asserted himself. He lost his resentment for his father. For a while he even felt sorry for him about the diseased tooth. Then he confined his mind to dreaming of Teang and himself. Sweet young dream....

-------------------------------------------

Dodong stood in the sweltering noon heat, sweating profusely, so that his camiseta was damp. He was still as a tree and his thoughts were confused. His mother had told him not to leave the house, but he had left. He had wanted to get out of it without clear reason at all. He was afraid, he felt. Afraid of the house. It had seemed to cage him, to compares his thoughts with severe tyranny. Afraid also of Teang. Teang was giving birth in the house; she gave screams that chilled his blood. He did not want her to scream like that, he seemed to be rebuking him. He began to wonder madly if the process of childbirth was really painful. Some women, when they gave birth, did not cry.

In a few moments he would be a father. "Father, father," he whispered the word with awe, with strangeness. He was young, he realized now, contradicting himself of nine months comfortable... "Your son," people would soon be telling him. "Your son, Dodong."

Dodong felt tired standing. He sat down on a saw-horse with his feet close together. He looked at his callused toes. Suppose he had ten

children... What made him think that? What was the matter with him? God!

He heard his mother's voice from the house:

"Come up, Dodong. It is over."

Suddenly he felt terribly embarrassed as he looked at her. Somehow he was ashamed to his mother of his youthful paternity. It made him feel guilty, as if he had taken something no properly his. He dropped his eyes and pretended to dust dirt off his kundiman shorts.

"Dodong," his mother called again. "Dodong."

He turned to look again and this time saw his father beside his mother.

"It is a boy," his father said. He beckoned Dodong to come up.

Dodong felt more embarrassed and did not move. What a moment for him. His parents' eyes seemed to pierce him through and he felt limp.

He wanted to hide from them, to run away.

"Dodong, you come up. You come up," he mother said.

Dodong did not want to come up and stayed in the sun.

"Dodong. Dodong."

"I'll... come up."

Dodong traced tremulous steps on the dry parched yard. He ascended the bamboo steps slowly. His heart pounded mercilessly in him. Within, he avoided his parents eyes. He walked ahead of them so that they should not see his face. He felt guilty and untrue. He felt like crying. His eyes smarted and his chest wanted

to burst. He wanted to turn back, to go back to the yard. He wanted somebody to punish him.

His father thrust his hand in his and gripped it gently.

"Son," his father said.

And his mother: "Dodong..."

How kind were their voices. They flowed into him, making him strong.

"Teang?" Dodong said.

"She's sleeping. But you go on..."

His father led him into the small sawali room. Dodong saw Teang, his girl-wife, asleep on the papag with her black hair soft around her face. He did not want her to look that pale.

Dodong wanted to touch her, to push away that stray wisp of hair that touched her lips, but again that feeling of embarrassment came over him and before his parents he did not want to be demonstrative.

The hilot was wrapping the child, Dodong heard it cry. The thin voice pierced him queerly. He could not control the swelling of happiness in him.

“You give him to me. You give him to me," Dodong said.

-------------------------------------------

Blas was not Dodong's only child. Many more children came. For six successive years a new child came along. Dodong did not want any more children, but they came. It seemed the coming of children could not be helped. Dodong got angry with himself sometimes.

Teang did not complain, but the bearing of children told on her. She was shapeless and thin now, even if she was young. There was interminable work to be done. Cooking. Laundering. The house. The children. She cried sometimes, wishing she had not married. She did not tell Dodong this, not wishing him to dislike her. Yet she wished she had not married. Not even Dodong, whom she loved. There has been another suitor, Lucio, older than Dodong by nine years, and that was why she had chosen Dodong. Young Dodong. Seventeen. Lucio had married another after her marriage to Dodong, but he was childless until now. She wondered if she had married Lucio, would she have borne him children. Maybe not, either. That was a better lot. But she loved Dodong...

Dodong whom life had made ugly.

One night, as he lay beside his wife, he rose and went out of the house. He stood in the moonlight, tired and querulous. He wanted to ask questions and somebody to answer him. He wanted to be wise about many things.

One of them was why life did not fulfill all of Youth's dreams. Why it must be so. Why one was forsaken... after Love.

Dodong would not find the answer. Maybe the question was not to be answered. It must be so to make youth Youth. Youth must be dreamfully sweet. Dreamfully sweet. Dodong returned to the house humiliated by himself. He had

wanted to know a little wisdom but was denied it.

When Blas was eighteen he came home one night very flustered and happy. It was late at night and Teang and the other children were asleep. Dodong heard Blas's steps, for he could not sleep well of nights. He watched Blas undress in the dark and lie down softly. Blas was restless on his mat and could not sleep. Dodong called him name and asked why he did not sleep. Blas said he could not sleep.

"You better go to sleep. It is late," Dodong said.

Blas raised himself on his elbow and muttered something in a low fluttering voice.

Dodong did not answer and tried to sleep.

"Itay ...," Blas called softly.

Dodong stirred and asked him what it was.

"I am going to marry Tona. She accepted me tonight."

Dodong lay on the red pillow without moving.

"Itay, you think it over."

Dodong lay silent.

"I love Tona and... I want her."

Dodong rose from his mat and told Blas to follow him. They descended to the yard, where everything was still and quiet. The moonlight was cold and white.

"You want to marry Tona," Dodong said. He did not want Blas to marry yet. Blas was very young. The life that would follow marriage would be hard...

"Yes."

"Must you marry?"

Blas's voice stilled with resentment. "I will marry Tona."

Dodong kept silent, hurt.

"You have objections, Itay?" Blas asked acridly.

"Son... n-none..." (But truly, God, I don't want Blas to marry yet... not yet. I don't want Blas to marry yet....)

But he was helpless. He could not do anything. Youth must triumph... now. Love must triumph... now. Afterwards... it will be life.

As long ago Youth and Love did triumph for Dodong... and then Life.

Dodong looked wistfully at his young son in the moonlight. He felt extremely sad and sorry for him.

My Father Goes To Court

(Carlos Bulusan)

When I was four, I lived with my mother and brothers and sisters in a small town on the island of Luzon. Father’s farm had been destroyed in 1918 by one of our sudden Philippine floods, so several years afterwards we all lived in the town though he preferred living in the country. We had as a next door neighbour a very rich man, whose sons and daughters seldom came out of the house. While we boys and girls played and sang in the sun, his children stayed inside and kept the windows closed. His house was so tall that his children could look in the window of our house and watched us played, or slept, or ate, when there was any food in the house to eat.

Now, this rich man’s servants were always frying and cooking something good, and the aroma of the food was wafted down to us form the windows of the big house. We hung about and took all the wonderful smells of the food into our beings. Sometimes, in the morning, our whole family stood outside the windows of the rich man’s house and listened to the musical sizzling of thick strips of bacon or ham. I can remember one afternoon when our neighbour’s servants roasted three chickens. The chickens were young and tender and the fat that dripped into the burning coals gave off an enchanting odour. We watched the servants turn the beautiful birds and inhaled the heavenly spirit that drifted out to us.

Some days the rich man appeared at a window and glowered down at us. He looked at us one by one, as though he were condemning us. We were all healthy because we went out in the sun and bathed in the cool water of the river that flowed from the mountains into the sea. Sometimes we wrestled with one another in the house before we went to play. We were always in the best of spirits and our laughter was contagious. Other neighbours who passed by our house often stopped in our yard and joined us in laughter.

As time went on, the rich man’s children became thin and anaemic, while we grew even more robust and full of life. Our faces were bright and rosy, but theirs were pale and sad. The rich man started to cough at night; then he coughed day and night. His wife began coughing too. Then the children started to cough, one after the other. At night their coughing sounded like the barking of a herd of seals. We hung outside their windows and listened to them. We wondered what happened. We knew that they were not sick from the lack of nourishment

because they were still always frying something delicious to eat.

One day the rich man appeared at a window and stood there a long time. He looked at my sisters, who had grown fat in laughing, then at my brothers, whose arms and legs were like the molave, which is the sturdiest tree in the Philippines. He banged down the window and ran through his house, shutting all the windows.

From that day on, the windows of our neighbour’s house were always closed. The children did not come out anymore. We could still hear the servants cooking in the kitchen, and no matter how tight the windows were shut, the aroma of the food came to us in the wind and drifted gratuitously into our house.

One morning a policeman from the presidencia came to our house with a sealed paper. The rich man had filed a complaint against us. Father took me with him when he went to the town clerk and asked him what it was about. He told Father the man claimed that for years we had been stealing the spirit of his wealth and food.

When the day came for us to appear in court, father brushed his old Army uniform and borrowed a pair of shoes from one of my brothers. We were the first to arrive. Father sat on a chair in the centre of the courtroom. Mother occupied a chair by the door. We children sat on a long bench by the wall. Father kept jumping up from his chair and stabbing the air with his arms, as though we were defending himself before an imaginary jury.

The rich man arrived. He had grown old and feeble; his face was scarred with deep lines. With him was his young lawyer. Spectators came in and almost filled the chairs. The judge

entered the room and sat on a high chair. We stood in a hurry and then sat down again.

After the courtroom preliminaries, the judge looked at the Father. “Do you have a lawyer?” he asked

“I don’t need any lawyer, Judge,” he said.

“Proceed,” said the judge.

The rich man’s lawyer jumped up and pointed his finger at Father. “Do you or you do not agree that you have been stealing the spirit of the complaint’s wealth and food?”

“I do not!” Father said.

“Do you or do you not agree that while the complaint’s servants cooked and fried fat legs of lamb or young chicken breast you and your family hung outside his windows and inhaled the heavenly spirit of the food?”

“I agree.” Father said.

“Do you or do you not agree that while the complaint and his children grew sickly and tubercular you and your family became strong of limb and fair in complexion?”

“I agree.” Father said.

“How do you account for that?”

Father got up and paced around, scratching his head thoughtfully. Then he said, “I would like to see the children of complaint, Judge.”

“Bring in the children of the complaint.”

They came in shyly. The spectators covered their mouths with their hands, they were so amazed to see the children so thin and pale. The children walked silently to a bench and sat

down without looking up. They stared at the floor and moved their hands uneasily.

Father could not say anything at first. He just stood by his chair and looked at them. Finally he said, “I should like to cross – examine the complaint.”

“Proceed.”

“Do you claim that we stole the spirit of your wealth and became a laughing family while yours became morose and sad?” Father said.

“Yes.”

“Do you claim that we stole the spirit of your food by hanging outside your windows when your servants cooked it?” Father said.

“Yes.”

“Then we are going to pay you right now,” Father said. He walked over to where we children were sitting on the bench and took my straw hat off my lap and began filling it up with centavo pieces that he took out of his pockets. He went to Mother, who added a fistful of silver coins. My brothers threw in their small change.

“May I walk to the room across the hall and stay there for a few minutes, Judge?” Father said.

“As you wish.”

“Thank you,” father said. He strode into the other room with the hat in his hands. It was almost full of coins. The doors of both rooms were wide open.

“Are you ready?” Father called.

“Proceed.” The judge said.

The sweet tinkle of the coins carried beautifully in the courtroom. The spectators turned their

faces toward the sound with wonder. Father came back and stood before the complaint.

“Did you hear it?” he asked.

“Hear what?” the man asked.

“The spirit of the money when I shook this hat?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then you are paid,” Father said.

The rich man opened his mouth to speak and fell to the floor without a sound. The lawyer rushed to his aid. The judge pounded his gravel.

“Case dismissed.” He said.

Father strutted around the courtroom the judge even came down from his high chair to shake hands with him. “By the way,” he whispered, “I had an uncle who died laughing.”

“You like to hear my family laugh, Judge?” Father asked?

“Why not?”

“Did you hear that children?” father said.

My sisters started it. The rest of us followed them soon the spectators were laughing with us, holding their bellies and bending over the chairs. And the laughter of the judge was the loudest of all.

Philippine Literature

POST – WAR PERIOD (1945-1960)

In the year 1941-1945, Philippine Literature was interrupted in its development when the Philippines were again conquered by another foreign country, Japan. Philippine literature in English came to halt.

.

After the war, it took some time before the writers could find their bearings.

-Writing in English was consigned to limbo.

the reason was that almost writings in English were stopped or strictly prohibited by the Japanese.

* In other words, Filipino literature was given a break during this period.

* This had an advantages effect on Filipino Literature, w/c experienced renewed attention because writers in English turned to writing in Filipino.

* After the war, however with a fervor and drive for excellence that continues to this day.

Until 50th years – literary output still carried the stock theme of war and its hardship. Bitterness was a common tone.

Later a new group of writers sprung up.

*writing of this new group was characterized by liberalism in thought and outlook.

They were influenced by new literary theories by a new of symbolism, by existentialism by the post-war European, new communication

modes, by ideology and practice of communism.

Filipino had by this time, learned to express themselves more confidently but post-war problems beyond language and print like economic stability, the threat of new ideas and morality had to be grappled with side by side.

Order for Masks

Virginia R. Moreno

To this harlequinade

I wear a black tights and a fool’s cap

Billiken, make me three bright masks

For the three tasks in my life.

Three faces to wear

One after the other

For the three men in my life.

When my Brother comes

Make me one opposite

If he is a devil, a saint

With a staff to his fork

And his horns a crown.

I hope my contrast

To make nil

Our old resemblance to each other

And my twin will walk me out

Without a frown

Pretending I am another.

When my Father comes

Make me one so like

His child once eating his white bread in trance

Philomela before she was raped. I hope by likeness

To make him believe this is the same kind

The chaste face he made,

And my blind Lear will walk me out

Without a word

Fearing to peer behind.

If my lover comes

Yes, when my Seducer comes

Make me the face

That will in color race

The carnival stars

And change in shape

Under his grasping hands.

Make it bloody

When he needs it white

Make it wicked in the dark

Let him find no old mark

Make it stone to his suave touch

This magician will walk me out

Newly loved.

Not knowing why my tantalizing face

Is strangely like the mangled parts of a face

He once wiped out.

Make me three masks.

About the Author:

Virginia Moreno is a feminist. She is recognized not only as a poet but as a Philippine woman artist whose vision of art includes both aesthetics and politics. She is a poet whose works are deeply imbricated in her country’s socio-political and cultural milieu. Moreno has, however, managed to marry form, content and create texts whose polyvalence of idioms allow readers to contend with their very own historicity. She is a poet who has an interest in French Impressionism and Symbolist poetry while the rest of her generation, having been immersed in English and American Literature

The poem, "Order for Masks", is clearly talking about the different roles that the woman, who is the persona in the poem, has to portray throughout her life. It presents the woman's three masks which represent the three tasks in her life and the three faces she has to wear for the three men in her life. The first role that is illustrated is that of a sister – the woman towards her brother. As a sister, she tries to differentiate herself from her brother that is why she does things that are completely opposite or in contrast with the things her brother does. She wants to be unlike him in every possible way so to make him feel secure in his masculinity and to make him believe that she is not a threat to him. The next role

mentioned is that of a daughter – the woman towards her father. As a daughter, she wants to show her father that she is the kind of woman that he expects her to be – pure, innocent and chaste, leading him to believe that she is the perfect or ideal daughter. Also, the woman is projecting to him that she is still the same child he knew and the same face he made. The last role that she plays is that of a lover – the woman towards her lover. This time, she projects herself as someone who does her best to satisfy and fulfill the needs and wants of her partner. She makes him believe that by being the woman he wants her to be, she is making herself the best partner for him. In the three roles that the poem discusses, it can be said that the woman shapes her behavior, actions and personality in accordance to the needs of the men. This, in a way, degrades or lowers the status of the woman as it reduces her whole being to mere instrument that satisfies and pleases men's needs and wants. But this conclusion is compensated by the other fact that the poem is trying to imply. The poem shows that the woman, through her ability to make the men in her life see and believe what she wants them to,

Elements of the poem:

Simile: a figure of speech in which unlike objects are compared using the words like and as.

Ex. Make me one so like his child once eating his white bread in trance

Not knowing why my tantalizing face is strangely like the mangled parts of a face

Antithesis: a contrast of words or ideas. It makes ideas more emphatic and most effective

if the phrasing of the contrasted ideas is parallel.

Ex. If he is a devil, a saint

Make it bloody when he needs it white

Alliteration: repetition of a sound at or near the beginning of words.

Ex. Make for me the face

That will in color race

Free Verse: poetry which does not follow a regular pattern of rhythm.

Literary Merits:

Universality:

The message of the poem was universal because just like in the main character or persona of the poem, we are also experiencing different roles or tasks in our life. And everyone can relate themselves of what the poem tells us.

Permanence: The poem will last long for the reason that the topic being tackled there is so much applicable in real life. Even decades, centuries had passed; it will remain and serve as an inspiration in every reader.

Emotional Value:

In reading the poem you will have a mixed feeling. At first you will feel glad because the persona of the poem is a versatile woman who can adjust her attitude into different situation. But as you had deep realization, it is sad to

know that the main character which was a woman shapes her behavior, actions and personality in accordance to the needs of the men. This in a way degrades or lowers the status of the woman as it reduces her whole the status of the women her whole being to please men’s needs and wants.

Intellectual Value:

Education has changed the outlook of women. Years ago, most women did not attend school and could neither nor write. But as time goes by, it was already changed. The discrimination among the women was stopped. Now, women already have shown capabilities and powers of leadership in their homes and society.

Artistry/Style Value: The symbolism used by the author caught the attention and curiosity of the reader. This can attract the reader in all ages.

Songs of a Tear gassed Man

In this poem, the poet creates for us a situation where we are made to see man

That could be a rally’s during the Martial Law. He speaks of his experience from having

To be “tear gassed by the policemen. He’s encouraging somebody to join him from his

Struggle. The poem has 7 stanzas. The stanzas 2, 4, & 6 have the same lines w\c says.

“Get aloud of it, brother while it’s free,

You may never get another chance,

This is the right stuff, the real McCoy,

Pure imported chemicals from Frame.”

From this stanza, the man was persuading somebody to be w\ him in his struggle. He maybe one of those ralllyists fighting for their freedom from the Marcos regime. He has been tear gassed in return and for him his having the real taste of his fighting the one whom was the responsible from there struggles.

In the first stanza w\c says:

“I love it! I love it!

This tear gassed sanctifies my corrupted soul.

Oh! The divine color of it, the excitement

Better than demos or rock & roll.”

On the metaphorical level of interpretation, Bautista points out to us that instead of hating the situation his facing his expressing the opposite feeling towards the situation.

In the 3rd stanza w\c says…

“We may not have money in the bank,

No food on the table, no seat on the Love been,

But we have secret marshals & policemen

& most of all we have a lot of teargas.”

From the choice of words of Bautista, he’s actually describing he status of the man in the poem. If he’s not able to have money in the bank, no food on the table, no seat on the love een, then this man was one of those in the poverty level of Filipinos living during the Marcos regime. He’s been living in the streets, fighting for freedom because he’s been already to teargas as stated in this line, “but we have secret marshals & policemen & most of all we have a lot of teargas.”

“Don’t save your tears, brother,

They are meant to be shed,

You cannot turn them into cash,

But if you join me in this martial festival

You’ll get a taste of refreshing tear gas.”

From this stanza, he’s showing braveness to persuade his other fellow Filipino brothers to join the force & fight the administration of the Marcos’s. He’s suggesting that if more people joined the rally, they will be able to make the Marcos’s to step down from their position & they will soon have the freedom & peace that they needed from the start.

In the 5th stanza…

“We may not have houses or running water,

The taxmen may be running after us,

But we have floods, garbage, amendment 6,

& most of all we have a lot of teargas.”

From this stanza, you could see the similarity in the 3rd stanza. The description of way of living of the man in the poem was being described. He has been living to a most Filipino living during the Martial Law. There are taxes to be fade & what they got was all hardships.

New Yorker in Tondo

Marcelino Agana Jr.

Scene 1:

Mrs. M: Visitors, always visitors, nothing but visitors all day long. I’m beginning to feel like a society matron.

Mrs. M: Tony! I thought you were on the province.

Tony: Is that you aling Atang?

Mrs. M: of course. It’s I, foolish boy. Why?

Tony: You don’ look like Aling Atang.

Mrs. M: I had a hair cut. Think it’s horrible?

Tony: Oh, no, no.. You look just wonderful. Aling Atang for a moment, I thought you were Kikay.

Mrs. M: Oh, you are so palikero as ever, Tony. But come in. Here, sit down. How is your mother?

Tony: Poor mother. She is homesick for Tondo. She wants to come back here at once.

Mrs. M: How long have you been away?

Tony: Only 3 months..

Mrs. M: Only 3 months!!! It’s too long for a Tondo native to be away from Tondo. My poor kumare. She must be bored out there.

Tony: Well, you know, we engineers are always on call. But as soon as I finish the bridge in Bulacan, we’ll be going here in Tondo.

Mrs. M: Yes, must bring her back as soon as possible. We miss her when we play mahjong..

Tony: That is what she misses most of all.

Mrs. M: I understand. Once a Tondo girl always a Tondo girl. I wonder if that’s fit my Kikay because after a year in America , she says she’s not homesick at all..

Tony: When did Kikay arrive Aling Atang?

Mrs. M: Last Monday.

Tony: I didn’t know it ‘till I read it in the newspaper.

Mrs. M: That girl only arrived last Monday and look what happened to me! She dragged me to the parlor. My hair was cut, eyebrows shaved, nails manicured. And when I’m going to the market, I used lipstick! All my kumares are laughing. People think I’m a loose woman. Because of my age, but I can’t do anything because it’s hard to argue with Kikay. And she insists that I should look like an Americana ..

Tony: You look just wonderful, and where is she now?

Mrs. M: Who?

Tony: Kikay? Is she at home?

Mrs. M: She’s still sleeping!

Tony: Still sleeping?!

Mrs. M: She says, in New York , people don’t wake up until 12:00 noon.

Tony: It’s only 10:00 now.

Mrs. M: Besides, she’s busy. Since she came home. Welcome parties here and there. Visitors all day long. She’s spinning like a top.

Tony: Well, will you tell her I called to welcome her. And kindly give her these flowers.

Mrs. M: But surely you’re not going yet?

Tony: I did want to see Kikay. But if she doesn’t get up at 12 noon

Mrs. M: Wait a minute. I’ll go and wake her up.

Tony: Please don’t bother Aling Atang. I can come back some other time

Mrs. M: Wait right here. She’ll simply be delighted to see her childhood friend. The flowers are beautiful, how expensive they must be

Tony: Oh, they’re nothing at all Aling Atang.

Mrs. M: Oh, Tony..

Tony: Yes Aling Atang?

Mrs. M: You mustn’t call me “Aling Atang”

Tony: Why not?

Mrs. M: Kikay says that it’s more civilized to call me Mrs. Mendoza.

Tony: Yes aling… I mean, Yes, Mrs. Mendoza..

Mrs. M: Wait a minute and I’ll call Kikay.

Tony: Huh!!

Mrs. M: Oh! And Tony..

Tony: Yes, Aling…. I mean, Mrs. Mendoza?

Mrs. M: You must not call her Kikay.

Tony: And what shall I call her?

Mrs. M: You must call her Francesca..

Tony: Francisca?

Mrs. M: Not Francisca.. Fran-CES-ca..

Tony: But why Francesca?

Mrs. M: Because in New York , she says that’s the way they pronounce he name, it sounds like “chi-chi” so Italian, be sure to call her Francesca and not Kikay.

Tony: Yes, Mrs. Mendoza .

Mrs. M: Now, wait right here while I call Francesca…. AIE DIOSMIO!!!

Tony: Never mind Mrs. Mendoza, I’ll answer it.

Mrs. M: Just tell them to wait, Tony.

Scene 2:

Totoy: Tony!

Tony: Totoy!

Totoy: You old son of your father!

Tony: You big carabao!

Totoy: Mayroon ba tayo dyan?

Tony: You ask me that… and you look like a walking goldmine! How many depots have you been looting, huh!!??

Totoy: Hey hey!! More slowly there.. It is you the police are looking for.

Tony: Impossible! I’m a reformed character! Come in Totoy

Totoy: Okay Tony.

Tony: Good to see you old pal.. Here, have a smoke.

Totoy: I thought you were in the province, partner.

Tony: I am. I just came to say hello to Kikay.

Totoy: Tony. I’ve been hearing the most frightful things about that girl.

Tony: So have I.

Totoy: People say she has gone crazy.

Tony: No, she has only gone New York .

Totoy: What was she doing in New York anyway?

Tony: Oh, studying.

Totoy: Studying what?

Tony: Hair culture and Beauty Science. She got a diploma.

Totoy: Imagine that! Our dear old Kikay!

Tony: Pardon me, she’s not Kikay anymore,.. She’s Fran-CeS-ca..

Totoy: Fran-CeS-ca??

Tony: Our dear Kikay is now an American.

Totoy: Don’t make me laugh! Why I knew that girl when she’s still selling rice cakes.. Puto kayo dyan!! Bili na kayo ng puto mga suki!!

Tony: Remember when we pushed her into the canal?

Totoy: She chased us around the streets.

Tony: She was dripping with mud!

Totoy: Naku! How that girl could fight!

Scene 3:

Nena: Why, Totoy?!

Totoy: Nena, my own.

Nena: And Tony, too.. What’s all this? A Canto Boy Reunion ?

Totoy: We have come to greet the Lady from New York .

Nena: So have I. Is she at home?

Tony: Aling Atang is trying to wake her up.

Nana: To wake her up?! Is she still sleeping??

Mrs. M: No, she’s awake already. She’s dressing. Good morning Nena and Totoy.

Mrs. M: Well, Totoy? Nena? Why are you staring me like that?

Nena: Is that you Aling Atang?

Totoy: Good God, it is Aling Atang!

Mrs. M: It’s Kikay who prefers it.

Nena: How you used to pinch and pinch me Aling Atang, when I was a li’l girl.

Mrs. M: Because you were all naughty, especially you! Always sneaking into our backyard for mangoes

Totoy: Do you still have that mango tree?

Mrs. M: Yes. Come and help me carry something in the kitchen.

Nena: Aling Atang, don’t you prepare anything for us. We’re not visitors

Mrs. M: It’s only orange juice. I was preparing some for Kikay.

Nena: Well. Tony.

Tony: You shouldn’t have come today, Nena.

Nena: Oh, why not?

Tony: I haven’t talked with Kikay yet.

Nena: Not yet! I thought you said it last night.

Tony: I lost my nerve.

Nena: Oh Tony, Tony!

Tony: Use your head. Nena it’s not easy breaking off his engagement with Kikay or with the girl for God sake!!

Nena: Are you in love with Kikay or with me?

Tony: Of course with you!! I’m engage with you.

Nena: Yes, and with Kikay. Too!

Tony: That was a year ago! Nena, you know how much I love you.

Nena: How could you ask me if you’re still engage with Kikay!

Tony: This is what I get from being honest!

Nena: Honest? Making me fall for you when you’re inlove and engaged with Kikay!

Tony: I thought I didn’t belong to Kikay anymore. It’s only a secret engagement anyway. I proposed to her before she left for America . But when she stopped answering my letters, I considered myself a freeman again.

Nena: And so you proposed to me..

Tony: Yes..

Nena: Then, you tell me to keep it a secret!

Tony: Because I found out that Kikay was coming back.

Nena: I’m tired of being secretly engaged to you!

Tony: Just give me a chance to explain to Kikay. Then we’ll tell them.

Nena: Well, you better hurry. I’m getting impatient.

Tony: How can I talk to Kikay?

Nena: Why not?

Tony: Because you’re here and also Totoy. I don’t wanna jilt Kikay infront of everybody.

Nena: You want Totoy and me to clear out?

Tony: No.. just give me a chance to be alone with Kikay for a moment..

Nena: I’ll take care of Totoy..

Tony: That’s good..

Nena: Just leave it to me..

Scene 4:

Totoy: Puto kayo dyan.. Bili na kayo..

Mrs. M: Here comes Kikay, But she wants to call her Francesca.

Kikay: Oh hello darling people!! Nena my dear…… But how but you’ve become.. and Tony, my little pal… how are you? And Totoy… my raishing! You look goodness,, you look like a Tondo Super Production in Technicolor!! But sit-down everybody and let me look at you.. Oh mumsy!!!

Mrs. M: What’s the matter now?

Kikay: How many times I must tell you, never to serve fruit juices in water glasses?

Mrs. M: I couldn’t find those tall glasses you brought home.

Kikay: Oh, poor li’l mumsy.. she is so clumsy noh? But never mind, don’t break your heart about it. Here sit down.

Mrs. M: No, I must be going to the market

Kikay: Oh, don’t forget my celery. I can’t live without it. I’ like a rabbit, munch all day.

Mrs. M: Well, if you people will excuse me. Tony, remember me to your mother.

Kikay: And remember, a little bloom on the lips, a little bloom on the cheeks. Say mwah, mwah..

Mrs. M: Do I have to, Kikay?

Kikay: Again mumsy?

Mrs. M: Do I have to paint this old face of mine? Rancesca, what am I going to do with you?

Kikay: But how dreadfully you put it. Oh mumsy, what am I going to do with you?

Mrs. M: I give up!

Kikay: Poor mumsy. How pathetic!

Nena: Tell us about New York .

Tony: How long did you stay there?

Kikay: 10 months, 4 days, 7 hours and 21 minutes.

Totoy: And she’s still there…. In her dreams…

Kikay: Yes, I feel as if I was still there, as though I had never left it, as though I lived there all my life. But I look around me and I realized that no, no, I’m not there. I’m not in New York , I’m at home. But which is home for me, this cannot be home because here, my heart aches with homesickness..

Nena: I don’t think we ought to be here at all.

Tony: Yes, we shouldn’t disturb her.

Totoy: Let’s all just walk out very, very quietly.

Nena: And leave her alone with her memories.

Tony: Is that girl we used to go swimming with the mud puddles?

Kikay: Ah, New York , my own dear New York ..

Nena: Totoy, will you come with me..

Totoy: To the ends of the earth!

Nena: No darling, just out to our dear little backyard.

Totoy: Oh, the backyards of Tondo, the barong barongs of Mypaho, the streets of Sibakong..

Nena: Listen Idiot! Are you coming with me or not??

Totoy: Anywhere dream girl, anywhere at all!!

Scene 5:

Kikay: Apparently, out Totoy still has a most terrific crush on Nena. Do wake up, Tony. What are you looking so miserable about?

Tony: Kikay, I don’t know how to begin.

Kikay: Just call me Francesca… that’s a good beginning.

Tony: There is something I must tell you… something very important.

Kikay: Oh, Tony, can’t we just forget all about it?

Tony: Forget??

Kikay: That’s the New York way, Tony. Forget, nothing must ever too serious; nothing must drag on too long. Tonight, give all your heart, tomorrow, forget. And when you meet again, smile, shake hands… just good sports..

Tony: What are you talking about?

Kikay: Tony, I was only a child at that time.

Tony: When?

0Kikay: When you and I got engaged. I’ve changed so much since then, Tony.

Tony: That was only a year ago.

Kikay: To me, it seems a century. So much had happened to me. More can happen to you in just one year in New York .

Tony: Listen, I don’t want to talk about New York … I want to talk about our engagement.

Kikay: And that’s what we cannot do Tony. Not anymore.

Tony: Why not?

Kikay: Tony, you got engaged to a girl named Kikay. Well, that girl doesn’t exist anymore. She’s dead. The person you see before you is Francesca. Don’t you see, Tony, I’m a stranger to you. I hate to hurt you, but surely you see that there can be no more talk of an engagement between us. Imagine, a New York Girl, marrying a Tondo Boy!!! It’s so insane!!

Tony: Now look here..

Kikay: I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you, Tony.

Tony: I’m not going to sit here and be insulted.

Kikay: Hush! Tony! Hush! Don’t shout, don’t lose your temper. It’s so uncivilized. People in New York don’t lose their temper.

Tony: What do you want me to do? Smile, say thank you for slapping my face?

Kikay: Yes, Tony. Be a sport, let’s smile and shake hands, and be just friends, huh?

Tony: If you weren’t a woman, I’d I’d…

Scene 6:

Totoy: Hold it Tony. You must never, never hit a woman.

Nena: What’s all this?

Kikay: Nothing,,, nothing at all..

Totoy: What were you two quarrelling about?

Kikay: We were not quarrelling. Tony and I just decided to be good friends and nothing more

Nena: Tony, is it true?

Tony: Yes!

Nena: Now, we can tell them!

Kikay: Tell us what?

Totoy: What’s going on here?

Nena: Tony and I are engaged!!

Kikay: Engaged!!

Totoy: Engaged! Engaged!!

Nena: Yes! We’ve been secretly engaged for a month!

Kikay: A month!? Why you….you…

Tony: I did try to tell you Kikay, I was trying to tell you…

Kikay: You unspeakable cad!!

Nena: Hey, carefully there!! You’re speaking top of my fiancé..

Kikay: He’s not your fiancé!

Nena: Oh No!! And why not, huh!!??

Kikay: Because he was still engaged to me when he got engaged to you!

Nena: Well, he’s not engaged to you anymore, you just said it yourself.

Kikay: Ah, but I didn’t know about all this..

Tony: Now remember, Kikay… it’s so uncivilized to lose one’s temper, People in New York don’t lose their temper.

Kikay: I’ve never felt so humiliated in all my life!! You beast, I’ll teach you!!

Nena: I told you to leave him alone. He’s my fiancé!!

Kikay: And I tell you he’s not!! He’s engaged to me until I release him… and I haven’t release him yet.

Nena: You ought to be ashamed of yourself! You’re just being a dog in the manger!

Kikay: You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Stealing my man behind my back!

Nena: What? What did you say!!??

Tony: Totoy, pull them apart!

Kikay: You keep out of this or I’ll knock your head off!

Totoy: Naku lumabas din ang pagka Tondo!

Nena: Shameless hussy!!

Kikay: Man eater!!

Tony: How dare you suck her??!!

Nena: She hit me first!

Tony: Look what you’ve done to her!

Nena: Are you trying to defend her? You never defended me!

Tony: Shut up!!

Nena: I hate you! I hate you

Tony: Shut up or I’ll bash your mouth off!!

Totoy: Hey, don’t you talk to Nena that way.

Tony: You keep out of this!

Nena: He’s more of a gentleman than you are. He defends me!

Totoy: You take your hands off her!

Tony: I told you to keep out of this!

Nena: Oh, Totoy, you’ve save my life

Kikay: Tony! Tony, open you eyes!

Tony: Oh, get away from her!

Nena: Take me away from her!

Totoy: Are you still engaged to him?

Nena: I hate him! I never want to see him again in my life!

Totoy: Good! Come on, and let’s go!

Tony: Hey!

Nena: Don’t you speak to me, you brute!

Tony: I wasn’t talking to you!

Totoy: Don’t you speak to me either! You have insulted the woman I love!

Nena: Oh, Totoy, why have you never told me?

Totoy: Well, now you know.

Tony: Congratulations!!!

Nena: Let’s go darling; I don’t want the smell around here.

Scene 7:

Tony: Now, you’ve ruined my life! I hope you’re satisfied.

Kikay: I…. have ruined your life??? You…. Ruined mine!!

Tony: What you need is a good spanking!

Kikay: Don’t you come near me, you,,, you Canto Boy..

Tony: Don’t worry, I wouldn’t touch you with my ten foot pole.

Kikay: And I wouldn’t touch you with my twenty foot pole.

Tony: Just one year in New York and you forgot your old friends.

Kikay: Just one year that I’m in New York … and what did you do? But when we got engaged, you swore to be true, you promised to wait for me. And I believe you!! Oh, you’re a fickle, fickle..

Tony: What are you crying about? Be brave…..forget….. That’s the New York way.. Nothing must ever be too serious, nothing must ever drag on too long..

Kikay: Oh Tony Please, please!

Tony: Besides, there could be no more talk of an engagement between us. Imagine a New York Girl, marrying a Tondo boy!!

Kikay: Oh Tony, I’ve been such a fool.. I’m sorry, Tony..

Tony: Well, I’m not! I’m glad I found out what kind of a person you are!

Kikay: Oh Tony, you’re wrong, you’re wrong! I’m not that kind of person at all..

Tony: Oh. “person” is just a relative name, huh!?

Kikay: Yes Tony, that was Francesca saying all that. But Francesca exist no more, Tony, the girl standing before you now, is Kikay.

Tony: In that silly dress?

Kikay: Oh this is just a gift wrapping, Tony.

Tony: Well, well, well..

Kikay: It’s true Tony. I’m Kikay….remember me??

Tony: If I remember it right, I was right, I was engaged to a girl named Kikay.

Kikay: Yes, and you’re still engaged to her Tony!

Tony: Welcome home Kikay!!! How was the trip?

Kikay: Horrible!! I couldn’t wait to get back.

Tony: Like it in New York ?

Kikay: Uh-uh! Give me a Tondo anytime!

Tony: Why didn’t you answer my letters?

Kikay: Francesca wouldn’t let me write, Tony.

Tony: That nasty girl. I’m glad she’s dead!

Mrs. M: Frances ……. Oh, Tony, are you still here? Francesca, don’t be angry but I couldn’t find any celery..

Kikay: Oh, never mind, Inay, I hate celery!

Mrs. M: Hate celery? Why? You said, you couldn’t live without it!

Tony: That was Francesca. Aling Atang and Francesca is dead. The girl standing before you is Kikay

Mrs. M: But Kikay is Francesca..

Kikay: Oh, no, Inay, I’m not Francesca……I’m Kikay!

Mrs. M: I give up!!

Kikay: That tune! What memories it brings back! I first heard it in New York , at Eddie Candon’s..

Tony: uh-uh..

Kikay: Sorry darling. May I have this dance with you partner?

Tony: Delighted, madame..