Encanto

An pagkaaki sarong lumang agihan pakadto sa may dating molinohan kun sain ka nagtago para dai mahiling ni Ruping, si kakawat mo kaidto. Dai ka niya nakua pagka-kamang mo sa may baliti kun sain, sabi ni Lolo Kanor mo, nag-iistar an engkantong si Primitibo.

Dai ka na nagtungá kaya huminabo na sana  an kakawat mo. Pag-sinarom, nakua ka ni Manoy mo harani sa kamalig. Pagal-pagal ka, haros dai naghahangos, mu’singon. Dai ka naggigirong,  bara’ba an kalson.

Mayo nin naghapot kun nagparasain ka. Mayo nin naghapot kun napa’no ka. Pagkabanggi, hinanap mo sainda si Lolo mo—pag-abot niya, mga sanggatos na beses kang huminadok saiya. Sabi lugod kan kabuhan mo, na-ingkanto ka daa.

Tapos na an taraguan nindo, pero poon kadto bisan sain ka magduman, gusto mo na lang magparatago, garong pirming takot kang may makahiling o makakua saimo—sa libod kansa may baylihan; eskwelahan pag-urulian; sa bakanteng lote

Sa laog kan mapa’raton na sinehan sa siyudad; minsan nahiling nagrarabay-rabay sa Naga—hali sa Calle Ojeda asta sa Abella. Sabi ninda, hinahanap mo daa si Primitibo, an tawong lipod na nakaanayo saimo.

    

Flores de Mayo

Susog sa Obra Ni Clemente S. Manaog,
Mio Hermano Intimo
Agosto 2007


Bagacay, 1942

Kan si Rafael San Andres mga pitong taon pa sana, dahil naman gayod sa kahisdulan, igwang nakalaog na crayola sa saiyang dungo. Mga pirang aldaw an nag-agi, mala ta maski ano an gibohon kan ina niyang si Visitacion, dai nanggad mahali-hali an crayola sa dungo kan aki.

Kan bulan na iyan, Mayo, igwa nin pa-Flores si Visitacion sa saindang harong sa Iraya. Dawa na ngani gayod makulugon ang dungo, nin huli ta igwa baya nin tandan na sopas na tanggo saka galleta an mga  aki, nagbale sa Flores si Rafael.

Sa saday na harong ni Visitacion, an mga aki minadarara nin mga sampaguita, gumamela, dahlia, dahon nin cypres na ginurunting na saradit. Maparangadie muna an mga gurang mantang an mga aki nakaturukaw sa salog. Dangan maabot sa cantada an pagpangadie ninda sa Espaniol. Dangan maabot sa parte na an mga aki masarabwag kan mga dara nindang burak sa altar ni Inang Maria. Magkapirang beses masabwag an mga aki nin mga burak segun sa cantada.

Sa mga pagsabwag ni Rafael kan saiyang mga burak sa altar, basang na sanang tuminubrag hali sa dungo niya an crayola. Nagparaomaw si Visitacion asin daing untok na nagpasalamat sa nangyari. Nin huli man sa nangyari, nangayo-ngayo si Visitacion na gigibohon kan pamilya an Flores de Mayo sa masurunod pang taon bilang pasasalamat sa pagkahali kan crayola sa dungo ni Rafael.

Poon kaidto sagkod ngonyan, pinapadagos kan pamilya ni Visitacion San Andres an saiyang panata na dae mababakli ni isay man. Hasta ngonyan, tinutungkusan kan pamilya San Andres an pasasalamat kan saindang mga apoon, patunay na binibisto kan tawo an karahayan kan Mas Nakakaorog.

Naga Nostalgia

Mapa-Naga daa ngonyan si Mama, iibahon si Nene. Kaya ogmahon siya.

Malunad sinda sa halabaon na jeep na Tio Magno. Sasakuluhon siya ni Mama. Maagi sinda sa Manguiring, duman sa dinalanan mi nin tunton kaidto. Pag may nagbaba sa Calabanga, makakatukaw si Nene sa tukawan. Mahihiling niya an nag-aaraging mga harong, karaskason. Nagdadaralagan an mga kahoy sagkod mga poste. Maduroson. Mapirirong siya ta maduroson sa may bintana kan jeep. Sasabihan siya ni Mama na dai iluwas an kamot sa bintana. Magagayonan siya ta maduroson tapos karaskason tapos nag-aarandar an inaaragihan ninda.

Madalhog sinda sa may ka Tiyang Didang sa atubangan kan Supermarket. Magkakahiriling ni Nene kadakulon tawong nag-aaragi. Mabalyo sinda sa tinampo, malaog sa bangko. Mahalat siya ki Mama sa malumuyon na kutson na tukawan sa laog kan Bicol Savings. Malipoton sa laog kan hinahalatan niya. Ogmahon si Nene. Pag inapod na si Mama kan magayon na babaying nakamake-up, kakabiton na siya ni Mama, tatawanan kan babaye si Mama nin kuwarta. Pirang minuto na lang maluwas na sinda.

Makakan sinda sa New China. Masakat sinda sa second floor ta magayonon saka malipoton. Makakan sinda nin pansit sagkod siopao sagkod Royal. Tapos malaog sinda sa Shoppers Mall. Mahihiling ni Nene bagohon an bado kan aki sa display-han kan Shoppers Mall. Babakalan siya ni Mama nin bagong bado sagkod medyas. Dakul nang bado si Nene pagluwas. Ogmahon si Nene.

Tapos babakalan pa siya ni Mama nin sapatos sa Zenco Footstep. Papasukulon si Nene kan saleslady nin pirang padis nin sapatos. Hinuhurulog sa labot hali sa itaas an mga sapatos. Hahapoton siya nin Mama kun piot o haluag. Pag may nagustuhan na siya, babayadan na ini ni Mama. Pagluwas ninda, igwa na siyang bagong sapatos.

Mapangudto sinda sa Supermarket. Ma-order si Mama nin kandingga sa Deniega. Mapapaso si Nene ta mainiton an maluto. Mahuhulog niya an tinidor kan kinapotan niya na tulos an bote nin Royal. Aanggotan siya ni Mama ta nabasa an bado niya. Pupunasan ni Mama an bado ni Nene ta nabasa.

Pagkapangudto malakaw sinda pa-Bichara. Mahiling sinda sa kartel kan bagong pasine. Mahamot an parong sa Bichara. Parong popcorn sagkod malipotlipot sa may sinehan. Mabayad si Mama nin tiket. Makabit si Nene ki Mama tapos mabakal sinda nin Growers sagkod softdrink sa tindahan kan sinehan. Madiklomon sa laog kan sinehan kaya dai mabutas si Nene ki Mama.

Pagluwas ninda sa Bichara, mabalik sinda sa Supermarket. Masakat sinda sa third floor. Mabakal sinda nin gulay, bawang, sibulyas, kamatis, lana, sagkod tinapa. Bago magbaba, baad mapilipili pa sa Mama nin segunda-mano sa second floor.

Bago sinda magbalyo pasiring sa paradahan kan jeep, mahapit muna sinda sa Romero's. Mabakal si Mama nin sa diez pesos na pan Legaspi, an tinapay mainit pa. May kakakanon pa sinda sa jeep bago maglarga.

Maiba man daw 'ko.

Grace after Meals

Nagdamoy si Rudy.
Mu'riton siya pagkatapos
magkakan nin manggang
binakalan niya pa hali sa Leon.
Hinog na daa pero masakrot pa.

Pinandulsi ninda an prutas
kan agom niyang si Maria
na nag-alsom nin balanak
na pinangudtuhan ninda.
Inon-on daa pero mayo nin la'ya.

Huminigda na siya sa papag
nagpapahiran-hiran; hinu-
hugasan kan agom niya
an saindang kinakanan.

Mini-Hydro, Sabado

Amay nag-uli si Kristina.
Nagpaaram siya ka Shiela
sagkod ki Glenn, na nagpapara-
hulnakan na sana poon pa kan aga
pag-abot mi digdi. Siguro nalipot
siya sa paglangoy kansubago.
Pa'no man ko makakalangoy,
amay pa lang baragol na tulos
si bitis ko. Amay pa man talaga
ta dai mi pa nauubos ni Paulo
si panduwang Gilbey's. Maenot
na siya; habo pating magpahatod.

Facebook Poetry

May 6 Friend Requests ka pero saro sana
man an bisto mo sainda: si Noel Blancaflor.
Saiirisay man 'ni? May Sally Diaz, may Stanley Po.
Saiirisay man 'ni? Add mo daa as Friend?
Mayo ning Add as Non-Friend? As Acquaintance?
Dai man daw na an ngaran mo kapangaran mo?

Nag sign-up ka kaidto ta sabi kan amiga mo
ma-Reply siya saimo. Pero perang bulan ka nang
member since April 2009 pa, mayo man siya baga.

Naka-Thumbnail an mga Friends mo Recently Added
pero dai man nagi-reply sa comment mo. Dai mo aram
kong nababasa an pira nang pangungumusta mo. Inutil!

You like this. You sagkod si Polana sagkod si Polano like this.
Ano ta "Comment. Like. Delete." sana? Mayo nin Dislike?

Ay, uni ho, mga quiz-quiz na maski ano na sana.
Anong kanta ka ni Britney Spears? Who cares?
What time will you die? Paligsok man ni ýo.
Igwang Which Sexual Position Are You? Buray ni Ina niya!
Kulang na lang Anong Gamit ni Barack Obama
sa White House an Garo Ika? Stapler.

Kadakul-dakul Causes an inaagdang ayunan mo--
ta'no mayo kang mauyunan? May Plant A Tree,
Donate a Book, Adopt a Child. Ta'no mayo nin
Sire a book, plant a child, write a tree?
Hadaw mayo nin Sue a Government Official
o baad mas magayon: Meet God in Person?

Pirming Mafia Wars an pinsan mong si Ardo--
si Saddam Hussein an nahihiling mo sa logo.
Haros gabos sa Friends List mo nagkakawat
nin harong-harong, kagrugaring nin mga baka,
manok, tuka-rig, gadya, kurasmag na marayo man.
Farmville na pahingurag na lintian.

Bedtime Stories

Dai ka nakakaturog kawasa
ngonyan may nanu'dan kang
bago ki tataramon, agom

Mapaturog ka pa man daw
kun bara-banggi sa ulunan mo
may minahinghing, siram

Dai ka na makakaturog naman
kun kadurog mo atyan
na banggi magkiblit, saro pa

All Souls' Day

Kun yaon si Mama, sasabihan ka ka’to,
sinarablayan ka na naman nin mabata,
dai ka nagduman sa kamposanto.

Nagdara ka nin trabaho sa harong.
Nag-agi na an Sabado, an sobre
kan pa-responso yaon pa saimo.

Mag-andam ka atyan pagsinarom
igwang malayog-layog na kulagbaw
sa kakanan, aram mo kun siisay
an pirming nagtutukaw sa kabisera.

May mapaparong kang napalsok
na kandila; pagsakat mo sa hagyan,
maga’ragot an dating katre ni Lola Dula.

Sa taas an mga ritrato ni Lolo Amon
sagkod ni Lola Iding marayo sa altar.
May nagkua siguro. Baad nagharali?
Nagpakaramposanto ta dakul gayod
an bisitang maarabot sa nitso ninda.

Pag madiklom na, may magkakahurulog
sa atop, ralagabong, bungang santol
parasuba baga pati ‘to si Lolo Peping,
dai ka na mapapaturog, hala ka.

Pistang Gadan

Kun yaon si Mama, sasabihan ka ka’to,
sinarablayan ka na naman nin mabata,
dai ka nagduman sa kamposanto.

Nagdara ka nin trabaho sa harong.
Nag-agi na an Sabado, su sobre
kan pa-responso yaon pa saimo.

Mag-andam ka atyan pagsinarom
igwang malayog-layog na kulagbaw
sa kakanan, tanda mo kun siisay
an dating nakatukaw sa kabisera.

May mapaparong kang napalsok
na kandila; pagsakat mo sa hagyan,
mag'aragot an katre ni Lola Dula.

Sa 'taas an mga ritrato ni Lolo Amon
sagkod ni Lola Iding marayo sa altar.
May nagkua siguro. Baad nagharali.
Nagpakaramposanto gayod ta dakul
an bisitang maarabot sa nitso ninda.

Pag madiklom na, may magkakahurulog
sa atop, maralagabong mga bungang santol;
parasuba baga ‘to si Lolo Peping, dai ko
aram kung mapapaturog ka pa, hala ka.

Bedtime Stories

Dai ka nakakaturog kawasa
ngonyan may nanu'dan kang
bago ki tataramon, agom

Mapaturog ka pa man daw
kun bara-banggi sa ulunan mo
may minahinghing, siram

Dai ka na makakaturog naman
kun kadurog mo atyan
na banggi magkiblit, saro pa

Beautiful boxers

DURING the Pacquiao–Barrera match some years ago, from out of the blue, my junior student Carlo Timbol texted me exclaiming that Manny won over the Mexican. Perhaps he could not contain his elation that he must have texted more people including me.

I was touched by my student’s gesture—especially when I realized that Carlo, a minute character in his small stature and physique—who fairly looks like Manny Pacquiao—comes to identify and relate with his modern hero.

Indeed, after knocking out three Mexican boxers, and virtually every other boxer pitted against him, southpaw Pacman has come to symbolize the Filipino fighting spirit. Pacquiao’s successful feat does not only give hope to us but also clouds our real plight.

Through his impressive wins, we are swayed from the real plight of our lives, we become heroes with him—we forget that we live in [or belong to—whichever you choose] a sad republic, we tend to just go on further on.

In his consistently unfazed countenance in every bout, the Destroyer has gradually become everyman. His heroic deed is more than worth telling, for it has unified a divided nation; for many times, he has inspired the Filipino people to go on.

Even now, through the words “Manny Pacquiao,” I can relate to you as a fellow Filipino—despite our social differences engendered by so many isms around.

The General Santos southpaw who has come a long way from poor humble beginnings makes us turn the same way—and make sense of the words courage, determination, and heroism.

And whether or not Manny Pacquiao becomes a stale memory years from now—by then he has already become a household icon, someone whose life is worth emulating by anyone because it was fully lived—for it has had a purpose.

THOUGH Muhammad Ali is worthy of another article, at least here, we should say no other life of a superman could be more dramatic than his. Whenever he appears on television these days, we perennially realize how fates can be twisted, and how bluntly it hurts. His powerful punches against his contenders in the past are indeed nothing compared to the daily struggles he has now—having Parkinson’s disease.

Cassius Clay’s life story rather spells out that life is not a bed of roses—rather a path strewn with thorns—let it be added that we are to walk this path with nothing but our own feet. Nevertheless, whenever we see him shaking and trembling, we would be compelled to value our own strengths while [we are] in our prime. We would see how destiny could play with those who have lived their lives to the fullest. Or we would also realize how—if at all—you could not really waste your life by simply living it to the “fool”est. Just like Christopher Reeve whose life, Ali’s life is plainly irony.

MEANWHILE, talking of boxing as an achievement and later a jumping board for a career, we have the case of Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco. Velasco had his fifteen-minute fame when he clinched a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Onyok nearly clinched the country's first Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when he slugged it out with Bulgarian Daniel Bojilov in the light-flyweight finals. Before this, Velasco was one of the three Filipino boxers who clinched gold medals in the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima, Japan.

Even before his career eclipsed into becoming a comedian in some film flicks that feed the movie industry, the honor he won for the country had embedded his person in the sensibility of most Filipinos.

LUISITO Espinosa and Gerry Peñalosa are names I would hear when I was a student through the 90s. In times in the past, Espinosa “the Golden Boy” and Peñalosa dominated the national pages for their amazing fights, impressive boxing records, and perhaps wonderful careers. But now we can only wonder what exactly happened to them.

Lately, we must have heard some famous boxer who got into brawls and fistfights and similar troubles—had murky married life, or unsuccessful occupations and eventual pursuits. Whatever happened to them—famous or infamous—does not at all matter to them. For once in their lives, they became the people’s heroes. People feasted on their strength and claimed it their own.

Sad life, indeed, is the boxer’s life. Yet now, what matters is that for once in their lives, they must have fought and gained honor for every one of us. In each upper cut of left hook they landed on the opponent’s face, we were fighting with them, for they always carried our country’s name. Their valor is that of a soldier, and their wounds and bruises their virtual red badge of courage—the proofs of their resilience, their heroism.

Interestingly, though, in fiction, most boxers are made [and yet, because they are born].

Perhaps the “Rocky” movies that starred Sylvester Stallone also moved more hearts than any other human preoccupation. The biopic of Rocky Balboa—produced in installments—were another favorite in our clan—probably because the folks loved to see how the actor’s face is transformed from a dashing, debonair man into someone in a vegetative state.

Rocky’s famous blabbering dialogue would not fail to amaze anyone who has seen him in other movies like “Rambo,” “Cobra,” etc. Simply at the time if you did not know Sylvester Stallone in the eighties—you were definitely not in. The Rocky craze became a household philosophy. His dialogues became everybody’s line—his movies’ soundtracks became everyman’s anthems. What made Rocky famous? It must have been his charm and strength and the emotional weakness that he tried to counter. In the movies the boxer is depicted as vulnerable as well as resilient. The usual underdog rising to topple down the crowd’s favorite has never been fresh than in Rocky movies.

As a young boy in the eighties, I must have watched Jon Voight’s “The Champ” [1979] million times. Later on, I would know it is Franco Zeferelli’s masterpiece which is a remake of a 1931 classic.

The film zooms in on how an ex-boxer Bill Flynn redeems himself with his son whom he inspires despite the challenges he faced. The movie asks the viewer to sympathize with the boxer whose failed marriage with his wife renders some payoffs when the boy realizes that his father is his champion and no one else. The film experiments and presents the father-son chemistry as something desirable—since the bonding cannot at all be common, but something that is attainable through determination.

Our relatives must have owned their personal copy—that the movie had become a staple when there were no new tapes to show.

More interestingly, I must have watched it more than usual because it featured how the boxer was able to raise his son properly despite the tumultuous marriage. Talk of gender identification at a young age and family crisis.

Nevertheless, the people in our clan—from the aunties to uncles to brothers to siblings and cousins—must have seen the film more times than we could think of. As young children, my cousins and I even memorized the lines uttered by the son of who encouraged the boxer to keep up the fight despite that he was cheated both in the ring and in the ring of life.

The Oscar-winning character of Hillary Swank in Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” [2004] gives us a skewed picture of the boxer whose life turns around—because her own courage and determination allowed things to happen against her.

Maggie Fitzgerald’s eagerness to engage in the sports articulates the passion she sees in it [that is—sadly—predominated by males].

At first, Clint Eastwood’s Frankie Dunn, her trainer, is reluctant to take her on until he realizes they can jive together and realize for her the dream of becoming the boxer.

Later on, both realize that they share a commonality that will change their lives forever. Together they will bond and find each other the sense of family which they lost along the way. Eastwood’s opus clinched the Best Picture for Oscar in 2005.

It’s funny how the movie industry has—through the years—created wonderful works in the characters of boxers.

Boxing films are not a new genre. In fact, Marlon Brando’s Oscar-winning character in “On the Waterfront” [1954] in the 1950s and Robert de Niro’s boxer in “Raging Bull” in the 1970s further illustrate how the world of boxing—through its characters and their life stories—literally converts the boxing ring into the ring of life—the arena where people virtually are either scarred physically, or marred spiritually. Of course, the latter casualty is more irreparable—deadlier than the physical trauma suffered.

In the lives of all these pugilists—actual or contrived—nothing is more enlightening than the lessons they teach us—they whose lives afford us the chances to become aware of our own struggles and fights in this ring of life.