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TULA NG HIMAGSIK

(POEM OF RESISTANCE)

(This is my fifth poem since I began to write poetry December 1987, and my first since my initiation in the democratic movement. In fact this was written with mixed feelings of inspiration, hope, anger, frustration, fear, hunger, and weakness, in the midst of my very first ever political struggle and resistance against the status quo at the sideline of the Hunger Protest Camp in our universtiy. "Tula ng Himagsik" was written September 2, 1989, later that month was published in the college news organ, the Collegian. For writing the piece, I received 200 pesos Philippine Currency or 5.00 U.S. dollars at its present value. This poem may not be excellent and contain no literary value, nevertheless it may show some thoughts which may reflect myself those days of my turbulent and adventurous youth. It is literally translated here from its original Filipino.)

ang bunga ng laksang pangarap

the yield of thousand dreams

ng pawis, ng dugo, ng luha

of sweat, of blood, of tears

ng katawang pinagal na sa hirap

of flesh tired by poverty

ay sakit ng sikmura't bigti sa hininga.

were stomach pain and breath strangled.

bagwis na sa pagkampay ay pinigil

wings that fly was bound

manggagawang dinusta't katwirang sinupil

exploited toiler and thoughts silenced

ng lihis na diwa't baluktot na palakad

of corrupt minds and baneful rule

ng katarungang bulag sa kanlungan

of blind justice in the womb

ng dukha't sa pugad ng mahirap!

Of the humble and nest of destitute!

Kabataang walang malinaw na paningin:

Youth with unclear sight:

Kabataang nagbubulag-bulagan

Youth that assumed as sightless

Gumising ka! Bumangon! Humakbang!

Waken! Stand! To the march!

Pag-asa ka, kinabukasan ka

You are the hope, and you are the future

Ng ating bayan...

Of our people...

Buwaya, buwitre, hunyango

Crocodile, birds of prey, cameleon

Tuta't asong ulol sa gubat

Jungle puppets and wild dogs

Mga pinapanginoon sa luklukan

Most were the lords of throne

Ganid, inutil, baog sa lipunan!

Selfish, senile, social waste!

Madilim ang gabi, maginaw

Dark was the night, and cold

Diwang maalab ang makaaarok

Passionate mind can understand

Liwanag sa karimlang nagliliyab

Light in the blazing deep of darkness

Isipang may ningas, sa dawag pananglaw

Ideas that glow, to guide us from wild

Kislap ng diwang nag-aapoy

The glint of thought burning

Apoy na pinagliyab ang siyang tutupok

Fire inflamed will cinder

Sa halimaw ng gubat!

Monsters of the wild!

March 2000