TUNGKOL SA MATANDA
.
"Sinasabi ko," wari’y may itinatatag
sa pagkakalatag ng kaniyang tinig.
.
Ibinaba ko ang aklat na binabasa
at ibinaling ang buong pansin
sa kaniyang sasabihin.
.
(Wari’y buong mundo ang lumingon
sa kaniya upang makinig.
.
Hindi ito ang una naming pagkikita.
Matagal ko na siyang nakilala
sa di matapos-tapos na aklat na binabasa.)
.
"Sinasabi ko."
.
At hindi na niya ipinagpatuloy.
.
.
TUNGKOL SA MATANDA
.
Naramdaman niya ang pagtawag sa kaniya ng lupa. Nagpasiya siyang sa isang burol na lamang manatili—kipkip ang mga nalalabi sa sarili: takot, kalungkutan, kawalang-katiyakan.
.
Sa paglapit niya sa tuktok, mas lumalakas ang tinig, mas bumibigat ang kaniyang paghakbang; kaya isa-isa niyang binitiwan ang mga bitbit na alinlangan.
.
Naghintay siya nang saglit sa inaatubili. Sa halip, tanging hangin lamang ang naroroon, kipkip ang mga alikabok na nalikom. Ganap ang katahimikan: nakaramdam siya ng saglit na kamatayan.
.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award 2006 names finalists

by Vic Nierva . TWO fiction books and three poetry collections were named finalists of the annual Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award (MGBFBA), the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing (UP-ICW) and the Madrigal-Gonzalez family announced on Thursday, October 19. . Included in the shortlist are fiction books “Iskrapuk” (University of the Philippines Press) by Allan Derain and “Pangangaluluwa at Iba Pang Kuwento” (UP Press) by Jimmuel C. Naval; and poetry collections “Mga Tulang Tulala: Mga Piling Tula sa Filipino, Bikol at Rinconada” (Goldprint Publishing House) by Kristian Sendon Cordero ; “Order of the Poets: Poems in English and Filipino” (Akdang Bayan) by Jaime Dasca Doble; “Ibang Daan Pauwi: Mga Tula” (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House) by Manolito Sulit. . The MGBFBA winner will be announced on December 8, 2006, after a Book Forum with the finalists at 2pm of the said date. The book forum as well as the awarding ceremony will be held at the Pulungang Recto, Bulwag...
Read more

Ragang Rinaranga

Image
AGNUS PRESS RELEASES FIRST BOOK BY VETERAN BIKOL POET . Prize-winning writer and Ford Foundation scholar H. Francisco V. Peñones will finally launch his first-ever title. Under a new Publishing Firm, the Agnus Press, RAGANG RINARANGA will showcase 52 Iriganon poems along with their English translations. . Also a distinguished visual and performance artist, Peñones was a UP National Writers Workshop fellow for Bikol poetry. His works have appeared in Asiaweek, Ani, Mantala, HomeLife, Hingowa, Bangraw, Salugsog sa Sulog and other important publications and journals. He runs a column for the Bikol Reporter and edits its Bikol poetry section. He has won the Pedro Sabido Award for Creative Writing, Sumagang Award, Catholic Mass Media Award and the Premio Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikolnon. . Launchings will be held on August 10, 2pm at the Iriga City Hall and on August 11, 6pm at Lolo's Bar, Avenue Square, Naga City.
Read more

Thoughts of death drives young writer to pen winning pieces

By Juan Escandor Jr. . IRIGA CITY — This young Bicolano writer is preoccupied with death but he said that this unusual thought that lingers in his mind drives him to write literary pieces, which eventually earned awards and recognitions. Kristian Sendon Cordero , 23, poet and fictionist, confessed he feels he’ll die at the age of 40, and assuming he has some 17 years more to live, he wanted to be more productive by creating works that would contribute to Bicol literature. . Awards . Cordero’s short story entitled “Langaw” won second prize in the category of short fiction in Filipino in this year’s Palanca Award. It is a dark tale of a poor, abused girl whose sufferings ended tragically by the railroad where she died after being raped by several men. . He said he wanted to make a statement on violence against women to make people aware of the creeping problem that victimized many helpless girls and women. . “I cannot forget my aunt who died a violent death in the hands of her husband,” ...
Read more