It's been almost two months since my last blog post. Technically, this online haven is dead. Thank goodness, I had my Philippine Literature students create their own blogs where they can display their brilliance in writing and deep thinking, *char lungs pramis*, and yey!, I found myself a way to have a blog entry.
I picked the top 5 "awesomest" poems from this class (though they all had written superrrr amazing poems) and decided to feature them here because:
1. they are worth sharing;
2. I want them to be inspired to bring out the best in them; and
3. I need to have a blog entry, or else I'm doomed!. HAHAHA!
The last reason proves to be the heaviest of all....!!!! :))))
Anyway, for their 2nd weekly assignment, I asked them to make poems which have social relevance themes. No poems about love, friends and family because these themes are too mainstream (or the teacher is just bitter!).
So dear readers (I know most of you are my students), here are the poems I chose to feature from your class.
1. FACES ON HIDE by Cloie Ann Paler
I found this poem to be extra special since the first time I read it because it reveals the type of undeserved prejudice people get from the society they live in.
Sample lines:
I'm a teenage mom.
You look at me at disgust
Like I'm a trash
You look at me with eyes so cold
You don't know I was abused when I was twelve years old.
I have a huge scars on my face.
You tell me I'm ugly,
And I don't deserve any.
Live with only lonely,
You don't know I was once a soldier who sacrifice for my country.
I'm an indigenous man.
You treat me like a dog astray,
Pass by me day by day.
You don't know I came to this place first but I was thrown far away.
Themes about abortion were a bit common among the class, but I found "Hinaing" to be creative and full of heart. The story telling style was also a plus in the poem!
Sample lines:
Ina ko’y maganda at napakaputi pa
Naghahanap buhay para sa pamilya
Kahit ano, go lang ng go
Kahit na nakakasama ng ibang tao
Oh, Ina, mahal kong Ina
Ba’t ka humahanap ng kasiyahang masama?
Una mo pa lang siyang nakilala,
At nabihag ka na?
Oh, Ina, Di ko alam ano ang aking kasalanan
Ba’t ang buhay ko’y iyong pinutol ng walang dahilan?
Ako’y nakita ng maraming tao
Pinaghahanap ang may gawa nito
Talk about social relevance.
Sample lines:
Araw at gabi’y dumanak ang dugo,
Napuno ng takot ang bawat pulo,
Kasabay ng kalabit ng baril at putok ng bomba,
Ay ang nakabibinging iyak at inosenteng luha.
Kapwa tao’y nagsasakitan,
Kapwa Pilipino’y nagpapatayan,
Kapatid sa kapatid, laman sa laman,
Mga isinakripisyong buhay at sugatang sibilyan.
Ilang taon pa kaya ang lilipas?
Gaano pa karami ang larawang kukupas?
Kalian makakamit ang katahimikan?
Ang katahimikang papayapa at magbubuklod sa bayan ni Juan.
Apparently, this non-reciter in class has more depth in him than we all came to know. :)
Sample lines:
Problema sa'ting bansa'y di nauubos
Mga mamamayan nalulunod sa unos
Pilipino'y makakatikim pa ba ng ginhawa?
Mga tagapamuno hindi ba kayo naaawa?
Ang kahirapan tila walang katapusan
Sapagkat mga dukha walang kalaban-laban
Ang mga kalye'y tila nagsilbing bahay
Sa pamilyang naghihikahos ang buhay
5.
Freedom, Where are You? by Angelie Rose Glimada
Though the poem has some minor (forgivable) grammatical glitch, I still found it unique and bold. And because poems need not to rhyme. :)
I was held into duress by a bull,
For three centuries I languished; I tried to combat but it didn't work.
And a bald eagle came and ransomed me, I found favor.
And thought it was all done,
The ones I acknowledged as my friend has become my foe.
I fondled once again the pain and hurt,
And this time, it's more excruciating, it cuts down through my nerves
I felt so flaccid, I'm extremely sadden of your disappearance.
Because, now I fighting against my own family, my own blood of another color.
I can only ask myself what have I done?
How I miss you, oh freedom.
But just one thought came in,
Have I really missed you, have I really experienced you?
Or is it all an illusion?
Hope you had fun reading!
Labels: literature, poems, poetry, Random Musings
