Imprints of a Morning Walk
by
Milagros dela Rosa-Ibañez
Compiled, arranged and edited by Melchor F. Cichon
Updated: June 30, 2009
Introduction
This work compiles the poems recently written by Mila, an Aklanon nurse-poet. It includes haiku, luwa, and a one-line tongue twister in Aklanon. They are grouped into four: Dawn, Tig-aeani, Luwa, and Tongue Twister
Mila or Milesrn in cyberspace, is a nurse.
Born in Poblacion, Lezo, Aklan, Mila now resides in California, USA.
And she is motherly. I felt this when she learned that I was operated. She shared to me her expertise in nursing. She gives me tips on how I should take the post-operation treatment. Not only that, Mila is a happy lady. Her motto tells it all: A smile is contagious, be a carrier.
But she is not only a nurse.
She is also a poet.
It was in http://my.akeanon.com that she showed her talent in poetry.
She sent some of her poems in Iskul Bukol and later in Haiku in Akeanon.
She writes in English and in Aklanon. But she writes much better in Aklanon, especially luwa.
Some of her haiku have been featured in The 32 Best Aklanon Poets, edited by Melchor F. Cichon, May 2009.
Let us look into some of her poems:
Hay, pangabuhi ko!
Kahapon eang nagsweldo
Dinaea sa Gaisano
Sipot pati sinsilyo.
Here she shows her sensibility on our culture—the one-day millionaire syndrome.
This next poem shows her concern on our environment.
Bagyong Undang
Among eambon sa pangpang it suba
Sa palibot, may kamunsil nga magapa.
Pag-agi it bagyo ag baha,
Inanud, pati mga manok ag baboy nga alaga.
Her love and respect to her father can be seen in her poem:
Dungganong Ama
Nasyon nga gindipindihan,
Banwa'ng tinubu-an,
Pamilya'ng gingiyahan,
Nagakasubo, bangud sa imong pagtaliwan.
But Mila can also write love poem. Here is one of them:
The Lone Traveler
dusk-
the lone traveler hurries home
to kiss me goodnight
When I opened a thread in http://my.akeanon.com on Aklanon tongue twister, Mila contributed. Here is one of them:
Ginbageot it sanggot ro masapnot nga gunot.
Here are some of the poems that I have gathered.
The Dawn
pay day--
walking home my mother
in hurried strides
ripening grains--
not a single field
without a scarecrow
summer picnic--
not one table
without paper plates
another Saturday--
pen in hand
open journal on the table
warm afternoon--
in the bamboo stairs
the kids look like stairs
full moon--
the snail crawls silently
towards the rose bud
one chinese, one filipino
both understand
the language of mahjong
day after day--
up down, up down
this elevator is never tired
in a canyon--
I called my name
it answered my name
rough seas--
the sailboat, i see
i don't, i see
first of may
first cry
first born
janitor's day off--
under the table
crumpled paper over another
drained cup--
the child's head
is tilted backwards
damp soil--
something green
sticking out
summer inn--
coming and going
not a face seen
May--
in some other town
smell of letson
after the harvest--
the farmer rests his back
on the back of his carabao
coming from the barn
the farmer and his cow--
daybreak
halfway through my breakfast
a knock at the door
darn! this cat
breezy afternoon--
the bamboo teaches
other bamboo to sway
quiet night--
lightning, then thunder
small head under a pillow
morning walk—
enjoying the neighbour's garden
until the dog.
dawn—
the milkman and the newspaper boy
on a deserted street
afternoon nap—
on the cool haystock
the kid and his dog
tiny hands grasped
tangled hair, in ponytail
a smile.
toddler...
he learns to walk
to win a marathon.
rag doll –
a child's friend waiting
in the attic.
dark highway—
the deer and my headlight
meet eye to eye
corner street café
cold cup in hand
torn pages of journal.
corner street cafe'
cold cup in hand
torn pages of journal.
summer picnic—
bring this, bring that
bring the kids
rainbow colored
canopy of wildflowers
dancing with the breeze.
many springtime passed
chose caution over passion
chances slip away.
summer heat—
water and sweat dripping
after I took a bath
blue sky
blue sea
red sailboat
mid summer day—
the policeman stands in the curb
watching the traffic
pouring rain—
one umbrella
shoulder to shoulder
after the rain—
the bucket
is still in our living room
following the dirty road
the old man
bends from his waist
whitewashed tombstones
lining up the hill
heroes rest
windy afternoon—
the coke can rolls
into the empty parking lot
in the old porch chair—
he and she
admires the green fields
Doctor's clinic—
walking out alone
in his mind.
sandlot—
imprints of rubber shoes
over another
frosty day—
Mamma's sweet voice calling
warm embrace.
winter fog—
flickering porch light
foggy afternoon—
the golden gate bridge is lost
in my rear view mirror
fresh snow—
pine cones blend
with the slopes.
winter break—
the old cabin
is filled with laughter
windy afternoon—
salty water
dampens the sailor's face
pain
a thin line
that divides comfort
in my car—
the smell of old spice
after he's gone
dusk-
the lone traveler hurries home
to kiss me goodnight
moonless night—
the firefly glows
in its own light.
Oval office
the new leader stares
out of the window
one pillow
over another, and another
what a view from my bed!
summer--
her blouse blends
with the couch
Tig-aeani
tag-aeani
napuno
ro taeagbasan nga madaeom
tig-aeani--
ro hugom it kamuros
nagapangarsada.
Memorial Day, May 28, 2007
sa Italia paborito ro lasanya
sa Pilipinas,
humay ag tinuea.
nina—
kahapdi naga tumoy
sa bilog nga eawas.
mga pamisaea
sa tagipusuon ginhuptan
handumanan ni lolo.
eangaw--
sa humay, sa suea
sa'ng ilong
Sukoe nga rosas
Haead ko kimo
Tatay, daeha sa imong pagpanaw.
March 23, 2007
Mga Luwa
Abu ra'ng kahangawa
Ham-an baea sa Alaska
Alas onse it gabi-i
Mahayag pat-a.
Sa manabaw nga sapa
May aeogsok nga nagapuka-puka
Dakpon ag ihawon
Manami nga suea.
Hinali ako'ng nagbugtaw
May gakinaeay sa among pantaw
Eaom ko manakaw
Kuring gali nga manggaw.
Tanan nga estasyon
it radyo ag telebisyon
ro balita hay pagtaliwan
ni Michael Jackson.
Nagapamatuod
nga hasta makaron
ginadayaw pa imaw
gihapon.
Sa ospital nga akong gina obrahan
Pasyente namon puro magueang.
Maskin siing lugar nga andang adtunan,
Siya'ng may kariton ro andang saeakyan.
Hambae ni Iska
Simple'ng pangabuhi ro gusto nana
Kun imaw mag-asawa
'Di bale'ng gwapo, basta abu 'ra kwarta.
Hay, pangabuhi ko!
Kahapon eang nagsweldo
Dinaea sa Gaisano
Sipot pati sinsilyo.
Ro Amerika
Naga problema sa ekonomiya
Kun paalin solbaron,
Naga palitik si Obama.
Kwarta'ng kabakeanan nakon
Sa pagbaliya it kaean-unon
Kada adlaw kun akong huyapon
Hustong pangmatrikula sa sangdag-on.
Pag-abot ko sa amon
Namalikwa ako it kueon
Linugaw ro ga eupon
Ay madaeum ro taeagbasan namon.
Si Toribio
Bitbit pirme tigib ag martilyo
Pamanday anang trabaho
Halin it Lunes hasta't Domingo
May puno it mangga
Sinikpaw ko ra-a bunga
May tumugpa sa'ng ueo ag alima
Ha kuhit ko pati baeay it paea.
May akon nga kilaea,
Sa gaeastusan, pirming kum-kom ra tudlo't alima.
Sinakon kana: "kun amat, ring tudlo untaya"
"Hin-aga sa ilabas, ikaw ro karatista"
Hueas nga mapilit
Nagadukot sa panit
Abi toto, paligos eon
Ay ring hugom maanghit.
Salbahe'ng mga pispis
Sinubeang ro eroplanong U.S. Airways
Makina nasamad, ro eopad pabaling-baling
Sa suba it Hudson lumanding.
Buean it Marso
Ro silak 'ga kangito-ngito
Nagahueat it Hunyo,
O manog-arado.
Among eambon sa pangpang it suba
Sa palibot, may kamunsil nga magapa.
Pag-agi it bagyo ag baha,
Inanud, pati mga manok ag baboy nga alaga.
Daga eang sinimo
Kun bayangon abo'ng mahimo
Kueon, kaang, banga ro produkto
Ginapabugae sa banwa it Lezo.
Pag-abot ko sa amon
Namalikwa ako it kueon
Linugaw ro ga eupon
Ay madaeum ro taeagbasan namon.
Nasyon nga gindipindihan,
Banwa'ng tinubu-an,
Pamilya'ng gingiyahan,
Nagakasubo, bangud sa imong pagtaliwan.
****A tribute to:
Mr. Juanito Ponce Dela Rosa
WW II Veteran, Legislator, Family man
May 16, 1922 - March 9, 2007
Tongue Twisters
Abu nga bukbok ro gabok nga baeayan it eangbon.
***
Ginbageot it sanggot ro masapnot nga gunot.
***
Nagsikop si Onyok it alimatok sa suok.
***
Nagsinoe-ok it bahae ro hilong nagwinakae nahueog sa kanae.
***
Ro bayawas sa may tupas gintapas ni Tomas.
***
Ro eago nagahinukae sa kanae.
***
Ro maeapuyot nga lasaw ginpabahaw sa kaeaeaw.
***
Ro saewae nga ginsab-it sa kurae, ra tahi barobae.
***
Sa manabaw nga bobon, nagaeutaw-eutaw ro gagaekon.
***
Si Islaw nagkutaw sa baeanaw nga manabaw.
***
Si Lilibit nagbitbit it bitlag
***
Sinueod sa bayuyot ro sinagpot nga dukot.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Ronald Inguillo and his Poems
by
Melchor F. Cichon
Our newly discovered Aklanon poet is a brave and very talented young man. He hails from Bugtong-bato, Ibajay, Aklan but grew up in Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan when his parents, Eden Tiga Temporaza of Panayakan, Tangalan, Aklan and Hanibal Solera Inguillo of Bugtong-bato, Ibajay, Aklan, decided to transfer their residence.
He was born on March 27, 1976.
His name is Jose Ronald Inguillo. But he prefers to be called Ronald.
A graduate of Jawili Elementary School, Ronald continued his studies at Tangalan National High School, then proceeded to RMCAT where he graduated Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) specializing in Machine Shop Technology (MST) in 1998.
After graduation, he went to Manila to work as a machinist but this was shortened when he learned that a certain government agency was hiring a personnel. He was accepted.
He was assigned in Basilan, where he met his future wife Miss Geraldine Tangunan Bonifacio. They have one child, Precious Nadhine Bonifacio Inguillo.
Ronald is now back in the Philippines after his assignment in Liberia.
It was in this country where he joined in my.akeanon.com, particularly in Iskul Bukol where he submitted his poems for comments. After several one-on-one sessions over the internet, this writer told him to make his own way into Aklanon literature.
What does Ronald write?
He is not only a versatile poet, but also a prolific one.
In a few months he was able to produce not only enough poems but something worth studying into for he writes not only love poems but poems with social relevance. His images are fresh and thought provoking.
Here is one of his latest works:
U.S. Airways - -
Naligos sa suba it Hudson
Sa bulig it mga pispis
Ronald experimented in writing Bakod. Bakod is a new type of poetry which I invented in 2008. It is like tanka, the Japanese short poem, but Bakod has five lines with this pattern without losing its poetic characteristics like images, rhyme, etc.
First line--two syllables
Second line--three syllables
Third line--five syllables
Fourth line--seven syllables
Fifth line---five syllables
unga
naghampang
isaeanhon eang
gapamantaw ro nanay
sa may ugsaran
anwang
gatanga
sa kaeangitan
sa sobrang init adlaw
papisok-pisok
This time he writes Aklanon haiku and luwa, where he can express his thoughts clearly.
For more of his poems, please see this link:
http://aklanonlitarchive.blogspot.com/
Melchor F. Cichon
Our newly discovered Aklanon poet is a brave and very talented young man. He hails from Bugtong-bato, Ibajay, Aklan but grew up in Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan when his parents, Eden Tiga Temporaza of Panayakan, Tangalan, Aklan and Hanibal Solera Inguillo of Bugtong-bato, Ibajay, Aklan, decided to transfer their residence.
He was born on March 27, 1976.
His name is Jose Ronald Inguillo. But he prefers to be called Ronald.
A graduate of Jawili Elementary School, Ronald continued his studies at Tangalan National High School, then proceeded to RMCAT where he graduated Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) specializing in Machine Shop Technology (MST) in 1998.
After graduation, he went to Manila to work as a machinist but this was shortened when he learned that a certain government agency was hiring a personnel. He was accepted.
He was assigned in Basilan, where he met his future wife Miss Geraldine Tangunan Bonifacio. They have one child, Precious Nadhine Bonifacio Inguillo.
Ronald is now back in the Philippines after his assignment in Liberia.
It was in this country where he joined in my.akeanon.com, particularly in Iskul Bukol where he submitted his poems for comments. After several one-on-one sessions over the internet, this writer told him to make his own way into Aklanon literature.
What does Ronald write?
He is not only a versatile poet, but also a prolific one.
In a few months he was able to produce not only enough poems but something worth studying into for he writes not only love poems but poems with social relevance. His images are fresh and thought provoking.
Here is one of his latest works:
U.S. Airways - -
Naligos sa suba it Hudson
Sa bulig it mga pispis
Ronald experimented in writing Bakod. Bakod is a new type of poetry which I invented in 2008. It is like tanka, the Japanese short poem, but Bakod has five lines with this pattern without losing its poetic characteristics like images, rhyme, etc.
First line--two syllables
Second line--three syllables
Third line--five syllables
Fourth line--seven syllables
Fifth line---five syllables
unga
naghampang
isaeanhon eang
gapamantaw ro nanay
sa may ugsaran
anwang
gatanga
sa kaeangitan
sa sobrang init adlaw
papisok-pisok
This time he writes Aklanon haiku and luwa, where he can express his thoughts clearly.
For more of his poems, please see this link:
http://aklanonlitarchive.blogspot.com/
Senator Jose Cortes Altavas: An Aklanon
by
Melchor F. Cichon
August 12, 2007
I visited the Ang Panublion, the Roxas City Museum, on August 11, 2007.
I was with Prof. Virgilio Almario or Rio Alma, a national artist for literature, Prof. John Barrios, and two other companions of Prof. Almario.
In one of the bulletin boards inside the museum, I happened to read a short profile of a supposedly son of Capiz: Jose Cortes Altavas.
But I noticed that Altavas was born in Balete, Aklan on September 11, 1877. His wife is Socorro Laserna, most probably of Kalibo, Aklan. He was a senator from 1916-1922.
But of course at that time, Balete was still a part of Capiz.
But not until Aklan regained her status as an independent province when Pres. Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill into a law making Aklan a independent province from Capiz.
Here is the profile of Atty. Jose Cortes Altavas as posted in that bulletin board.
Jose Cortes Altavas
1877-1952
"Jose Cortes Altavas , lawyer, writer, journalist, politician, was born in Balete, Capiz, now Aklan on September 11, 1877 to Don Jose Altavas Aguilar, a native of Valdeagrofia, Teruel City, Spain and Andrea Cortes Rafals of Balete, Capiz.
"Jose obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (sobresaliente) from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1894. His studies at the University of Sto. Tomas were interrupted by the revolution against Spain and the Filipino-American War. He was admitted to the bar in 1901 In 1903, married Socorro Laserna.
"Altavas was a writer, poet, and novelist and wrote for newspaper in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. In politics, he started as town councilor , provincial board member; representative to the First Philippine Assembly, 1907, governor for 1910-1916; senator for the 7th senatorial district, representative to the Philippine legislature in 1925 and delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1935.
"Dubbed as "Road and Bridge Builder of Capiz", he was credited with the road and bridge networking linking Capiz to the province of Panay.
"Altavas wrote his memoirs "Mr. Diario" in 236 volumes."
Melchor F. Cichon
August 12, 2007
I visited the Ang Panublion, the Roxas City Museum, on August 11, 2007.
I was with Prof. Virgilio Almario or Rio Alma, a national artist for literature, Prof. John Barrios, and two other companions of Prof. Almario.
In one of the bulletin boards inside the museum, I happened to read a short profile of a supposedly son of Capiz: Jose Cortes Altavas.
But I noticed that Altavas was born in Balete, Aklan on September 11, 1877. His wife is Socorro Laserna, most probably of Kalibo, Aklan. He was a senator from 1916-1922.
But of course at that time, Balete was still a part of Capiz.
But not until Aklan regained her status as an independent province when Pres. Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill into a law making Aklan a independent province from Capiz.
Here is the profile of Atty. Jose Cortes Altavas as posted in that bulletin board.
Jose Cortes Altavas
1877-1952
"Jose Cortes Altavas , lawyer, writer, journalist, politician, was born in Balete, Capiz, now Aklan on September 11, 1877 to Don Jose Altavas Aguilar, a native of Valdeagrofia, Teruel City, Spain and Andrea Cortes Rafals of Balete, Capiz.
"Jose obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (sobresaliente) from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1894. His studies at the University of Sto. Tomas were interrupted by the revolution against Spain and the Filipino-American War. He was admitted to the bar in 1901 In 1903, married Socorro Laserna.
"Altavas was a writer, poet, and novelist and wrote for newspaper in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. In politics, he started as town councilor , provincial board member; representative to the First Philippine Assembly, 1907, governor for 1910-1916; senator for the 7th senatorial district, representative to the Philippine legislature in 1925 and delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1935.
"Dubbed as "Road and Bridge Builder of Capiz", he was credited with the road and bridge networking linking Capiz to the province of Panay.
"Altavas wrote his memoirs "Mr. Diario" in 236 volumes."
Sr A Cris T. Ocampo: An Upcoming Aklanon Poet
by
Melchor F. Cichon
One of the most productive contemporary Aklanon haiku poets is Sr A Cris T. Ocampo popularly known in cyberspace as Toryo.
Cris was born in Kalibo, Aklan. At present, he is assigned in South Korea.
Cris is not new in poetry.
According to him, his interest in poetry started when he was still in high school.
Let me quote him:
“It all started when I was in high school because one of my English subjects talked about poetry and haiku and we had to do one. So I had to read some books about poetry. And since I was a member of a band and a composer I was able to relate poetry writing with song writing. I wrote a lot of poems which I turned them into songs. Unfortunately hindi ko na makita yung libro ko un tsaka ala na rin masyadong time kc patapos na rin ako ng high school nun kaya tumigil na ako.”
Cris graduated at Kalibo Pilot Elementary School in Kalibo in 1993.
Since his elementary grades, he was not only active in boy scout activities but also in athletics especially in sepak takraw. He went as far as West Visayan Meet .
After his stint in Kalibo Pilot Elementary School, he was admitted at Science Development National High School , (now Regional Science High School) in Kalibo, although he wanted to study at RMCAT “dahil mahilig rin ako magbutingting ng mga kung anu-ano eh tsaka gus2 ko ung hands-on nila ng electrical stuff eh pero hindi ako pinayagan kc dun ung mga pinsan ko nag-aaral eh baka daw magbulakbol ako dun.”
After high school, Cris took entrance exams in the schools he wanted to enroll at and finish a bachelor’s degree.
Let me quote him again:
“ kumuha ako ng entrance exam sa mga skul na gus2 ko pasukan pasado nman lahat kaso sa me quota ung engineering sa UP at UST pero balak ko maging seaman at abogado nun..dahil sa pinilit akong kumuha ng engineering sa UE ako napunta. I took ECE sa UE ok nman ung grades ko nung 1st 3 yrs then nasama na sa mga rally rally nagkaproblema na sa skul kaya kelangan ko pang kumuha ng summer classes para maging regular..nung graduating na ako dumating ung paperworks para magmigrate ng states kaya 5th yr na akong umalis ng pinas nung 2002..pagdating ko dun nagwork muna ako bilang waiter for 2 months habang nag-aaral ako sa Community College para sa eng’g degree ko pero natanggap ako sa inaplayan kong trabahao kaya tumigil ako sa pag-aaral nang hindi pa nakakakuha ng bachelors degree sa eng’g. nung tumagal na ako sa work naisipan kong mag-aral ulit at dun ko nakuha ung associates degree ko kc medyo busy din kc tsaka palipat lipat..pero gus2 ko makuha ung bachelors ko kaya ngaun kahit sa Korea na ako tinatry ko pa ring makuha un kc halos karamihan ng kbatch ko meron ng bachelors eh..sa totoo lang hindi ko na rin kelangan un eh kc kuntento na rin ako sa work ko kc eng’g field din ung nakuha kong work sa gobyerno kaya ok lang din. Me balak pa rin akong ituloy ung magkuha ko ng bachelors pero one at a time lang muna kc medyo busy eh lalo na ngaun asa korea ako nakaassign kaya medyo mahirap ng kunti..”
When I asked Cris on his concept about poetry, he wrote: “my concept about poetry is it makes your emotions come out lalo na pag mag-isa ka lang..dito mo nabubuhos ung mga nararamdaman mo its either na masaya, malungkot, anger, magmamahal, halos lahat na cguro ng emosyon pwede mong ilipat sa poetry..at nakakapag-isip ka ng mga matatalinhagang salita na ikaw lang or kunti lang ung makakagets at tapos pagnabasa ng iba, iba-ibang opinion ung maririnig mo na hindi lang pala ikaw ang nakakaalam nun at meron pa plang nakatagong meaning sa sinulat mo.. “
Some of his haiku were published in Haiku, Luwa and Other Poems by Aklanon (2005).
Let me comment on one of his latest works:
Matig-ang Bagoe
matig-ang bagoe
gapanago sa amamakoe
hin-aga mano-eo
This poem can be read in different angles.
Let me read it in its political dimension.
There are political leaders who are hard headed, people who believe in there conviction despite the fact that most of her/his constituents do not believe in her/him as their effective leader. The truth however is that this leader is just hiding or depending on his/her trusted followers who are like him/her who are also weak, if not just taking advantage of their leader's weakness. So when time will come when their help are already needed, they withdraw their support.
This situation is also true in offices where subordinates just withdraw their support when they believe that their leader is no longer that effective.
There is a saying that says that when the house is about to fall, the rats start to run away from that house.
Here are some of his other latest works:
Gaoy
pirot eon ang mata
12 oras nga trinabaho
owa man it nag bag-o
Sanga
nagdapo ro maya
nabali ro sanga
pugad nahueog sa eugta
Masunod nga adlaw
nagpamaeo ro manok
naghipos ro ayam
manog-guwa eon ro adlaw
Paka
ro nag-eumpat nga paka
nagsaeom
sa kilid it sapa
Gaoy nga Maya
ginahapo ro maya
mintras nagatan-aw
sa maeayo nga lugar
Gabok nga Tulay
pagkatapos it bagyo
nagkaeabali
ro gabok nga tulay
Note: This article was first published in Bueabod, April 2006
Melchor F. Cichon
One of the most productive contemporary Aklanon haiku poets is Sr A Cris T. Ocampo popularly known in cyberspace as Toryo.
Cris was born in Kalibo, Aklan. At present, he is assigned in South Korea.
Cris is not new in poetry.
According to him, his interest in poetry started when he was still in high school.
Let me quote him:
“It all started when I was in high school because one of my English subjects talked about poetry and haiku and we had to do one. So I had to read some books about poetry. And since I was a member of a band and a composer I was able to relate poetry writing with song writing. I wrote a lot of poems which I turned them into songs. Unfortunately hindi ko na makita yung libro ko un tsaka ala na rin masyadong time kc patapos na rin ako ng high school nun kaya tumigil na ako.”
Cris graduated at Kalibo Pilot Elementary School in Kalibo in 1993.
Since his elementary grades, he was not only active in boy scout activities but also in athletics especially in sepak takraw. He went as far as West Visayan Meet .
After his stint in Kalibo Pilot Elementary School, he was admitted at Science Development National High School , (now Regional Science High School) in Kalibo, although he wanted to study at RMCAT “dahil mahilig rin ako magbutingting ng mga kung anu-ano eh tsaka gus2 ko ung hands-on nila ng electrical stuff eh pero hindi ako pinayagan kc dun ung mga pinsan ko nag-aaral eh baka daw magbulakbol ako dun.”
After high school, Cris took entrance exams in the schools he wanted to enroll at and finish a bachelor’s degree.
Let me quote him again:
“ kumuha ako ng entrance exam sa mga skul na gus2 ko pasukan pasado nman lahat kaso sa me quota ung engineering sa UP at UST pero balak ko maging seaman at abogado nun..dahil sa pinilit akong kumuha ng engineering sa UE ako napunta. I took ECE sa UE ok nman ung grades ko nung 1st 3 yrs then nasama na sa mga rally rally nagkaproblema na sa skul kaya kelangan ko pang kumuha ng summer classes para maging regular..nung graduating na ako dumating ung paperworks para magmigrate ng states kaya 5th yr na akong umalis ng pinas nung 2002..pagdating ko dun nagwork muna ako bilang waiter for 2 months habang nag-aaral ako sa Community College para sa eng’g degree ko pero natanggap ako sa inaplayan kong trabahao kaya tumigil ako sa pag-aaral nang hindi pa nakakakuha ng bachelors degree sa eng’g. nung tumagal na ako sa work naisipan kong mag-aral ulit at dun ko nakuha ung associates degree ko kc medyo busy din kc tsaka palipat lipat..pero gus2 ko makuha ung bachelors ko kaya ngaun kahit sa Korea na ako tinatry ko pa ring makuha un kc halos karamihan ng kbatch ko meron ng bachelors eh..sa totoo lang hindi ko na rin kelangan un eh kc kuntento na rin ako sa work ko kc eng’g field din ung nakuha kong work sa gobyerno kaya ok lang din. Me balak pa rin akong ituloy ung magkuha ko ng bachelors pero one at a time lang muna kc medyo busy eh lalo na ngaun asa korea ako nakaassign kaya medyo mahirap ng kunti..”
When I asked Cris on his concept about poetry, he wrote: “my concept about poetry is it makes your emotions come out lalo na pag mag-isa ka lang..dito mo nabubuhos ung mga nararamdaman mo its either na masaya, malungkot, anger, magmamahal, halos lahat na cguro ng emosyon pwede mong ilipat sa poetry..at nakakapag-isip ka ng mga matatalinhagang salita na ikaw lang or kunti lang ung makakagets at tapos pagnabasa ng iba, iba-ibang opinion ung maririnig mo na hindi lang pala ikaw ang nakakaalam nun at meron pa plang nakatagong meaning sa sinulat mo.. “
Some of his haiku were published in Haiku, Luwa and Other Poems by Aklanon (2005).
Let me comment on one of his latest works:
Matig-ang Bagoe
matig-ang bagoe
gapanago sa amamakoe
hin-aga mano-eo
This poem can be read in different angles.
Let me read it in its political dimension.
There are political leaders who are hard headed, people who believe in there conviction despite the fact that most of her/his constituents do not believe in her/him as their effective leader. The truth however is that this leader is just hiding or depending on his/her trusted followers who are like him/her who are also weak, if not just taking advantage of their leader's weakness. So when time will come when their help are already needed, they withdraw their support.
This situation is also true in offices where subordinates just withdraw their support when they believe that their leader is no longer that effective.
There is a saying that says that when the house is about to fall, the rats start to run away from that house.
Here are some of his other latest works:
Gaoy
pirot eon ang mata
12 oras nga trinabaho
owa man it nag bag-o
Sanga
nagdapo ro maya
nabali ro sanga
pugad nahueog sa eugta
Masunod nga adlaw
nagpamaeo ro manok
naghipos ro ayam
manog-guwa eon ro adlaw
Paka
ro nag-eumpat nga paka
nagsaeom
sa kilid it sapa
Gaoy nga Maya
ginahapo ro maya
mintras nagatan-aw
sa maeayo nga lugar
Gabok nga Tulay
pagkatapos it bagyo
nagkaeabali
ro gabok nga tulay
Note: This article was first published in Bueabod, April 2006
Simeon Mobo Reyes, The Grandfather of Aklan
ni
Melchor F. Cichon
Sin-o ro greatest Aklanon?
Malisod, pero hara ro Akeanon nga pwede naton nga mapabugae gid.
Si Simeon Mobo Reyes (Sept. 22-1873- April 6-1951) taga-Poblacion, Lezo.
Ano ro ana nga naobra para sa kamaeayran it Akean? Take note that Aklan since the Spanish time until 1956 was still a part of Capiz.
1. Provincial secretary of Capiz.
2. Representative of the 3rd District (Aklan section) of Capiz
3. Municipal councilor of Kalibo
4. Presidente municipal (mayor) of Kalibo in 1913
5. Governor it Capiz
6. Member of the provincial board of Capiz for two terms.
7. Founder it Colegio del Santo rosario, a private school for boys in Aklan
8. Chairman of a committee charged with paving the way for a peaceful negotiations between the Americans and the local revolutionaries which resulted in the holding of a peace conference in Lezo in February 1901 between Captain Morton of the U.S. Army and Colonel Cavives of the revolutionary forces.
9. Delegate and spokeman from the Aklan Section of Capiz to the Taft Commission. It was here where he initiated the move to separate Aklan from Capiz.
If Goding Ramos is known as the Father of Aklan, Simeon Mobo Reyes could be called as the Grandfather of Aklan.
Mobo died a poor man. His remains were buried at the cemetery in Lezo, Aklan. A street in Lezo Poblacion was named after him.
Source: Town of A Thousand by Roman A. de la Cruz, 1993.
Melchor F. Cichon
Sin-o ro greatest Aklanon?
Malisod, pero hara ro Akeanon nga pwede naton nga mapabugae gid.
Si Simeon Mobo Reyes (Sept. 22-1873- April 6-1951) taga-Poblacion, Lezo.
Ano ro ana nga naobra para sa kamaeayran it Akean? Take note that Aklan since the Spanish time until 1956 was still a part of Capiz.
1. Provincial secretary of Capiz.
2. Representative of the 3rd District (Aklan section) of Capiz
3. Municipal councilor of Kalibo
4. Presidente municipal (mayor) of Kalibo in 1913
5. Governor it Capiz
6. Member of the provincial board of Capiz for two terms.
7. Founder it Colegio del Santo rosario, a private school for boys in Aklan
8. Chairman of a committee charged with paving the way for a peaceful negotiations between the Americans and the local revolutionaries which resulted in the holding of a peace conference in Lezo in February 1901 between Captain Morton of the U.S. Army and Colonel Cavives of the revolutionary forces.
9. Delegate and spokeman from the Aklan Section of Capiz to the Taft Commission. It was here where he initiated the move to separate Aklan from Capiz.
If Goding Ramos is known as the Father of Aklan, Simeon Mobo Reyes could be called as the Grandfather of Aklan.
Mobo died a poor man. His remains were buried at the cemetery in Lezo, Aklan. A street in Lezo Poblacion was named after him.
Source: Town of A Thousand by Roman A. de la Cruz, 1993.
Losally R. Navarro: An Emerging Aklanon Poet
By Melchor F. Cichon
December 8, 2005
Her name: Losally R. Navarro.
She was born in Banga, but grew up in Malinao.
But now she is in Canada.
She used to write feature articles in the Aklan Collegian, the official student publication of Aklan College in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines, where she got her BSE degree.
As an Aklanon, she is homesick and so when she spotted the website, http://www.my.akeanon.com, she sent in her comments, and exchanged ideas with her fellow Aklanons from the other parts of the world.
Then one day, a thread, Iskul Bukol, was opened in the above website where Aklanons with poetry writing interest posted their masterpieces.
With some hesitations, beeSPUNKY, that is her cyber name, she tried posting her first poems. She said once that poetry writing was not her cup of coffee. But I practically twisted her arms to write poems. I told her I would be around to help her write poems; and if only she would try, she would find poetry writing very challenging.
It turned out that she could not only write, but could write good haiku.
Here is one of my favorite haiku that she wrote:
fear nothing
even if our taj mahal
is made of bamboo
Here we can see how determined and brave the persona is. One can also feel the rhythm of the lines.
Since she is living away from her family and close friends, loneliness always creeps in her mind.
maeapad nga eawod
gapatunga
sa atong paghigugma
(para sa mga akeanon sa panawan ag sa andang pamilyang inaywanan sa Akean)
Previously, she wrote this haiku, where she thought of those foods she used to eat in Malinao:
ginahandum ko—
binakoe nga manok
sa noche buena
She loves her niece so much that she has written about three or four poems about her, especially so that her niece had experienced hardship fighting for her life. Luckily, Shelahanie has passed that critical stage, and now she is on her way to a better life.
Shelahanie
siyam nga buean
naghueat ing nanay
sa pag-abot mo.
And she also thought of her father and her mother-teacher. She wrote:
kasikaeom-
pagtunod it adlaw
nag bye bye
si tatay sa anwang
maestra
adlaw-gabi-i
gahaboe it pamisea
si nanay
(for mom sally,my grade 2 ma'am)
Here are two other very good haiku: condensed and forceful.
eomamig ro kape
samtang ginahaboe
kita sa akong painu-ino
***
ham-an it maila
ikaw kakon
ag bukon kay Basho?
But she is not also thinking of her family and friends. She also thinks of those animals that she always see, with a little tickle.
She wrote:
ro squirrel
gustong magpabukot
sa akong haboe.
***
hakatueog ro beaver
sa paghinueat
it summer.
***
icicle---
pareho sa damang
gakapyot sa bubong.
**
bituon---
nagaidlap idlap
sa puno it eangka.
We can also find how hardworking beeSPUNKY is. Look at her latest haiku:
~canada~
gakatueog pa ro adlaw
pagbugtaw ko
para mag-usoy it dolyar.
December 8, 2005
Her name: Losally R. Navarro.
She was born in Banga, but grew up in Malinao.
But now she is in Canada.
She used to write feature articles in the Aklan Collegian, the official student publication of Aklan College in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines, where she got her BSE degree.
As an Aklanon, she is homesick and so when she spotted the website, http://www.my.akeanon.com, she sent in her comments, and exchanged ideas with her fellow Aklanons from the other parts of the world.
Then one day, a thread, Iskul Bukol, was opened in the above website where Aklanons with poetry writing interest posted their masterpieces.
With some hesitations, beeSPUNKY, that is her cyber name, she tried posting her first poems. She said once that poetry writing was not her cup of coffee. But I practically twisted her arms to write poems. I told her I would be around to help her write poems; and if only she would try, she would find poetry writing very challenging.
It turned out that she could not only write, but could write good haiku.
Here is one of my favorite haiku that she wrote:
fear nothing
even if our taj mahal
is made of bamboo
Here we can see how determined and brave the persona is. One can also feel the rhythm of the lines.
Since she is living away from her family and close friends, loneliness always creeps in her mind.
maeapad nga eawod
gapatunga
sa atong paghigugma
(para sa mga akeanon sa panawan ag sa andang pamilyang inaywanan sa Akean)
Previously, she wrote this haiku, where she thought of those foods she used to eat in Malinao:
ginahandum ko—
binakoe nga manok
sa noche buena
She loves her niece so much that she has written about three or four poems about her, especially so that her niece had experienced hardship fighting for her life. Luckily, Shelahanie has passed that critical stage, and now she is on her way to a better life.
Shelahanie
siyam nga buean
naghueat ing nanay
sa pag-abot mo.
And she also thought of her father and her mother-teacher. She wrote:
kasikaeom-
pagtunod it adlaw
nag bye bye
si tatay sa anwang
maestra
adlaw-gabi-i
gahaboe it pamisea
si nanay
(for mom sally,my grade 2 ma'am)
Here are two other very good haiku: condensed and forceful.
eomamig ro kape
samtang ginahaboe
kita sa akong painu-ino
***
ham-an it maila
ikaw kakon
ag bukon kay Basho?
But she is not also thinking of her family and friends. She also thinks of those animals that she always see, with a little tickle.
She wrote:
ro squirrel
gustong magpabukot
sa akong haboe.
***
hakatueog ro beaver
sa paghinueat
it summer.
***
icicle---
pareho sa damang
gakapyot sa bubong.
**
bituon---
nagaidlap idlap
sa puno it eangka.
We can also find how hardworking beeSPUNKY is. Look at her latest haiku:
~canada~
gakatueog pa ro adlaw
pagbugtaw ko
para mag-usoy it dolyar.
Belle Nabor: A Filipino Haijin
By
Melchor F. Cichon
November 26, 2005
As a haijin, or a haiku poet, she is recognized worldwide.
Her haiku have been published both in print and in the web. They were published in the Mainichi Daily News, a world famous newspaper that prints haiku, The Makata, Short Stuff, and in Poetry Country Mouse. Her other haiku were included in Sakura Anthology of Haiku published in Sweden along with other world famous haijins like Robert D. Wilson, Michael Rehling, an'ya, and 27 other poets. Her popular blog, http://short-poetry.blogspot.com that features her short poems: haiku, tanka, and cinquain, has been instrumental in her introduction to world haiku.
Her haiku were featured twice (September 2003 and Spring 2005) in the issues of Simply Haiku, edited and owned by a well-known haijin, Robert D. Wilson.
In addition, some of her poetry has been printed on hand-made greeting cards made by the Red Dragonfly Cards from Malaysia.
The name of this Seventh-day Adventist lady and a boxing aficionado is Belle Nabor, an Aklanon.
Belle was born on August 2, 1972 in Ibajay, Aklan. Her father is a native of Numancia, while her mother is from Ibajay. She has one elder sister, and one younger brother. She also has one half-brother and one half-sister from her mother.
She first studied at Kalalake Elementary School in Olongapo City, then transferred to Bulwang Elementary School in Numancia, Aklan. She finished her secondary and tertiary education in Aklan College, Kalibo, Aklan. Now she works as a University Research Associate at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD). At the same time, she is working for her master's degree in Education majoring in Guidance and Counseling at UPD where she is also studying the French language.
Here is an excerpt of my online interview with Belle. Those in black are my questions, while those in blue are Belle's answers:
***
Ay saeamat ay nagbaeos ka.
Pag-eaom ko hay nageain ring buot sa pangabay ko nga masueat ako hanungod kimo.
You're funny, Nong Mel. =) Owa nageain ang boot. Hehe. Nakibot pa ngani ako but I was glad that you've noticed my poetry. =)
No doubt, you are worthy to such an honor.
So far no Aklanon has been published in Simply Haiku and in the websites you have mentioned in your short note in your blog.
In fact, I am so happy to find out that here is an Aklanon who has been writing haiku. Really, I thought that I was the only Aklanon to have been published in Heron's Nest.
Thanks po for the compliments! I have heard about Heron's Nest but I haven't tried submitting my haiku there yet. Actually, I haven't been participating in poetry fora and haven't had time in submitting my haiku in journals. Work is just crazy lately.
I know that you have been writing haiku. How did you become interested in haiku writing? What is in haiku that caught your interest?
What sparked my interest in haiku writing was the time when I had accidentally come across a haiku or two while perusing some poetry books before. I was really amazed at how such a short poem which consists of only a few words can provide so much imagery and even has rhythm and melody.
I understand that aside from haiku you also write tanka. And other short poems. Have you also written longer poems?
Yes, I also write Tanka, as well as Cinquains.Cinquain as influenced by the Japanese short form of poetry was developed in the US. It is an unrhymed poem of five lines with a syllable count of 2-4-6-8-2. It's challenging to delve into other types of poetry. I am careful with Cinquains though because most of those who tend to experiment on this form sacrifice the rhythm thus, they become contrived while following its rigid format of 2-4-6-8-2. I don't want that to happen on my Cinquains, so my collection of Cinquains is far lesser than my haiku poems. I am very comfortable with haiku writing, however, I have longer poems too. In fact, I have written lots of haiku and longer poems, compared to Tanka and Cinquain.
Aside from poems, do you also write other forms of literary works and in what other language. I understand you are studying French. Do you also write poems in French?
I have written short stories before. They are mostly autobiographical in nature. I only write in the English language. Yes, am currently studying French. They say it's the language of love! I'll be finishing French 3 this month and is planning on moving on to higher levels in the months to come. As soon as I get much more acquainted with the language, I definitely would write haiku or poems in French.
You told me your parents are both from Aklan. May I know where you were born and when? Your siblings? Your educational backgrounds.Did you get any scholastic honors in the elementary, high school and in college?
My parents are both from Aklan. My father is from Numancia and my mother, from Ibajay. I was born in Ibajay on August 2, 1972. I have an older sister and a younger brother. My life is really complicated having grew up with separated parents. I also have a half-brother and half-sister from my mother's.
I had my elementary education in Kalalake Elementary School in Olongapo City, then transferred to Bulwang Elementary School in Numancia. I studied high school and college in Aklan College, now Aklan Catholic College. I was an honor student in the elementary grades. High school and college were tough times during my growing up years and I retreated into the background. It's truly a sob story but this interview is not about that. My family background though may have contributed a lot in my interest in poetry writing.
I am currently taking my MA Education, Major in Guidance and Counseling at the University of the Philippines Diliman, while at the same time working on my French classes in the same university.
What is your undergraduate degree, and your major?
I finished Bachelor in Elementary Education, Major in English in Aklan College. I remembered a funny incident during my enrollment. After high school, I wanted to study in a university but my father was adamant that I stay in Aklan. It's almost 5:00PM on that enrollment day, yet, I still hadn't chosen a course to take. I would prefer to study Journalism or Creative Writing but they're not offered in Aklan. Majoring in English though was the closest thing to those courses. But I am proud to be an Aklan Collegian with a loyalty award under my belt having studied high school and college there.
I know you must be related to Artemio Nabor, the historian, but are your parents writers too?
I am sure Mr. Artemio Nabor is one of our relatives. The Nabors from Numancia and Madalag are a lot although I don't personally know most of them. My older relatives might know them for sure.
Nope, my parents are not writers.
Did you attend any creative writing workshops in our country or abroad?
I haven't... yet. But I would love to given the opportunity. I have taken some units in Creative Writing (focusing on poetry and short story writing) in U.P. Diliman to "test the waters" so to speak since I have been writing poetry since high school. My interest started when I was in the elementary grades because from a very young age, I have loved the English language and I read story books every single time.
Who greatly influenced your writing?
When did you first publish your poem? And what was it? Can you share that with our readers?
I always say that I am a hopeless romantic thus, any writings that depict love before was an inspiration to me. I like Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet #43, How Do I Love Thee. I remember that I tend to always recite it out loud with feelings and emotions! I greatly admire Pablo Neruda and the Chinese poet, Li Po as well as Ezra Pound because his poems seek to introduce clarity and economy of language.
I never intended to have my poems published before. When they get published in any way lately, it was pure accidental. Writing poems for me is just a hobby. I write them to let out my emotions, my experiences and the drama in my life. I have a friend who teaches poetry in the university and when he learned that I write poems, he told me to submit them to him for possible publication. I never did because I have this principle before that when my poems are worth it, I don't need friends to help me publish it.
I have kept my poetry writing a secret for far too long. I just share it with people online through my Short*Poetry site. My real publication came when Robert Wilson, an American haijin and editor discovered my haiku, and he encouraged me to submit them for the book, Sakura. I was quite flattered because here is a person who doesn't know much about me, yet have found my poems worthy of such an honor. Then, somebody in Canada has also discovered them and decided to contact me to publish some of my poems, as well as an entrepeneur of hand-made greeting cards from Malaysia who asked me to use some of my short poems for their cards. After that came a string of online publications, as well.
Back in high school though, I have two poems submitted for our paper, The Reflector. I lost my copy of it because of numerous typhoons and floods. I even announced to my batchmates that I would give a reward for whomever can give me a copy of it.
I know you have written hundreds of short poems?
Yes, I did and still counting. I'm hooked on it forever.
Could you give us ten of your most favorite haiku and tanka?
Most of my favorite haiku were already published and my favorites are more than ten. =) Here are some of my haiku and tankas I can share here though:
HAIKU Selections
crossing the mirror
the gait
of a confused ant
fireworks—
a blind girl's
enraptured face
inside a train
the city
moves faster too
surf sound—
the uncoiling
of a troubled sea
canoe-shaped moon
tonight, your beauty
floats
tired of seeing
the world, the snail—
a recluse again
drooping eyelids
the moon
looks smaller now
TANKA Selections
Burying
the box from the attic
was full of letters, faded ink
those soulless papers — haunting
it wasn't that easy
putting him to rest.
Poet in Love
for you, I'll begin to write
this poem, a new set
of words with my heart
full of yearning
I could not speak.
Forgetting Time
we sit side by side
under the graceful stars
our hands entwined
dawn has arrived
too soon.
Have you won in any poetry competition?
I have never tried joining a poetry competition ever since. It has never become a need or a necessity for me maybe because I tend to write for friends only. As I've said earlier, I never advertise my poems. I write for a small audience, and only lately that people are discovering it online. Lately, I've been mulling of joining a poetry competition and maybe someday soon, I'll be doing that when I have some free time. Probably, I'll write a new one for this purpose alone or polish a poem or two that I have written before. Now, that would be something to look forward to.
Aside from writing poetry, do you have any other "fashions"?
I love dancing. I always say that dancing is in my veins. (Maeara: in her blog, she says she loves walking in the beach and watching sunset)
What message can your give to our fellow Aklanon poets?
I am so humbled to be given this opportunity to talk with you, Sir Mel, and through this medium, have made my writings known to all Aklanons. To the Aklanon poets, especially you, I am truly honored and I am happy to share with all of you my humble writings. I hope I can continue to contribute to the Aklanon literature by writing more. To my admired and established Aklanon poets, do make waves in literature because your accomplishments are also the accomplishments of our province and people. [/color]
Do you have any other information to share?
I am planning to compile my short poems to make a book of haiku and maybe publish them. I just need to find illustrators in making it possible. It's a big work but people are telling me that it is better that way to protect my works. In other news, some of my haiku might get published again abroad. Everything is still in the pipeline.
By the way, we have had our first high school reunion last year, and our batch has bestowed upon me the Breaking the Barriers Award for my contribution in literature. I was not able to attend it due to pressing matters at work. I have yet to claim the trophy. Hope it is still there! *laughs*
Melchor F. Cichon
November 26, 2005
As a haijin, or a haiku poet, she is recognized worldwide.
Her haiku have been published both in print and in the web. They were published in the Mainichi Daily News, a world famous newspaper that prints haiku, The Makata, Short Stuff, and in Poetry Country Mouse. Her other haiku were included in Sakura Anthology of Haiku published in Sweden along with other world famous haijins like Robert D. Wilson, Michael Rehling, an'ya, and 27 other poets. Her popular blog, http://short-poetry.blogspot.com that features her short poems: haiku, tanka, and cinquain, has been instrumental in her introduction to world haiku.
Her haiku were featured twice (September 2003 and Spring 2005) in the issues of Simply Haiku, edited and owned by a well-known haijin, Robert D. Wilson.
In addition, some of her poetry has been printed on hand-made greeting cards made by the Red Dragonfly Cards from Malaysia.
The name of this Seventh-day Adventist lady and a boxing aficionado is Belle Nabor, an Aklanon.
Belle was born on August 2, 1972 in Ibajay, Aklan. Her father is a native of Numancia, while her mother is from Ibajay. She has one elder sister, and one younger brother. She also has one half-brother and one half-sister from her mother.
She first studied at Kalalake Elementary School in Olongapo City, then transferred to Bulwang Elementary School in Numancia, Aklan. She finished her secondary and tertiary education in Aklan College, Kalibo, Aklan. Now she works as a University Research Associate at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD). At the same time, she is working for her master's degree in Education majoring in Guidance and Counseling at UPD where she is also studying the French language.
Here is an excerpt of my online interview with Belle. Those in black are my questions, while those in blue are Belle's answers:
***
Ay saeamat ay nagbaeos ka.
Pag-eaom ko hay nageain ring buot sa pangabay ko nga masueat ako hanungod kimo.
You're funny, Nong Mel. =) Owa nageain ang boot. Hehe. Nakibot pa ngani ako but I was glad that you've noticed my poetry. =)
No doubt, you are worthy to such an honor.
So far no Aklanon has been published in Simply Haiku and in the websites you have mentioned in your short note in your blog.
In fact, I am so happy to find out that here is an Aklanon who has been writing haiku. Really, I thought that I was the only Aklanon to have been published in Heron's Nest.
Thanks po for the compliments! I have heard about Heron's Nest but I haven't tried submitting my haiku there yet. Actually, I haven't been participating in poetry fora and haven't had time in submitting my haiku in journals. Work is just crazy lately.
I know that you have been writing haiku. How did you become interested in haiku writing? What is in haiku that caught your interest?
What sparked my interest in haiku writing was the time when I had accidentally come across a haiku or two while perusing some poetry books before. I was really amazed at how such a short poem which consists of only a few words can provide so much imagery and even has rhythm and melody.
I understand that aside from haiku you also write tanka. And other short poems. Have you also written longer poems?
Yes, I also write Tanka, as well as Cinquains.Cinquain as influenced by the Japanese short form of poetry was developed in the US. It is an unrhymed poem of five lines with a syllable count of 2-4-6-8-2. It's challenging to delve into other types of poetry. I am careful with Cinquains though because most of those who tend to experiment on this form sacrifice the rhythm thus, they become contrived while following its rigid format of 2-4-6-8-2. I don't want that to happen on my Cinquains, so my collection of Cinquains is far lesser than my haiku poems. I am very comfortable with haiku writing, however, I have longer poems too. In fact, I have written lots of haiku and longer poems, compared to Tanka and Cinquain.
Aside from poems, do you also write other forms of literary works and in what other language. I understand you are studying French. Do you also write poems in French?
I have written short stories before. They are mostly autobiographical in nature. I only write in the English language. Yes, am currently studying French. They say it's the language of love! I'll be finishing French 3 this month and is planning on moving on to higher levels in the months to come. As soon as I get much more acquainted with the language, I definitely would write haiku or poems in French.
You told me your parents are both from Aklan. May I know where you were born and when? Your siblings? Your educational backgrounds.Did you get any scholastic honors in the elementary, high school and in college?
My parents are both from Aklan. My father is from Numancia and my mother, from Ibajay. I was born in Ibajay on August 2, 1972. I have an older sister and a younger brother. My life is really complicated having grew up with separated parents. I also have a half-brother and half-sister from my mother's.
I had my elementary education in Kalalake Elementary School in Olongapo City, then transferred to Bulwang Elementary School in Numancia. I studied high school and college in Aklan College, now Aklan Catholic College. I was an honor student in the elementary grades. High school and college were tough times during my growing up years and I retreated into the background. It's truly a sob story but this interview is not about that. My family background though may have contributed a lot in my interest in poetry writing.
I am currently taking my MA Education, Major in Guidance and Counseling at the University of the Philippines Diliman, while at the same time working on my French classes in the same university.
What is your undergraduate degree, and your major?
I finished Bachelor in Elementary Education, Major in English in Aklan College. I remembered a funny incident during my enrollment. After high school, I wanted to study in a university but my father was adamant that I stay in Aklan. It's almost 5:00PM on that enrollment day, yet, I still hadn't chosen a course to take. I would prefer to study Journalism or Creative Writing but they're not offered in Aklan. Majoring in English though was the closest thing to those courses. But I am proud to be an Aklan Collegian with a loyalty award under my belt having studied high school and college there.
I know you must be related to Artemio Nabor, the historian, but are your parents writers too?
I am sure Mr. Artemio Nabor is one of our relatives. The Nabors from Numancia and Madalag are a lot although I don't personally know most of them. My older relatives might know them for sure.
Nope, my parents are not writers.
Did you attend any creative writing workshops in our country or abroad?
I haven't... yet. But I would love to given the opportunity. I have taken some units in Creative Writing (focusing on poetry and short story writing) in U.P. Diliman to "test the waters" so to speak since I have been writing poetry since high school. My interest started when I was in the elementary grades because from a very young age, I have loved the English language and I read story books every single time.
Who greatly influenced your writing?
When did you first publish your poem? And what was it? Can you share that with our readers?
I always say that I am a hopeless romantic thus, any writings that depict love before was an inspiration to me. I like Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet #43, How Do I Love Thee. I remember that I tend to always recite it out loud with feelings and emotions! I greatly admire Pablo Neruda and the Chinese poet, Li Po as well as Ezra Pound because his poems seek to introduce clarity and economy of language.
I never intended to have my poems published before. When they get published in any way lately, it was pure accidental. Writing poems for me is just a hobby. I write them to let out my emotions, my experiences and the drama in my life. I have a friend who teaches poetry in the university and when he learned that I write poems, he told me to submit them to him for possible publication. I never did because I have this principle before that when my poems are worth it, I don't need friends to help me publish it.
I have kept my poetry writing a secret for far too long. I just share it with people online through my Short*Poetry site. My real publication came when Robert Wilson, an American haijin and editor discovered my haiku, and he encouraged me to submit them for the book, Sakura. I was quite flattered because here is a person who doesn't know much about me, yet have found my poems worthy of such an honor. Then, somebody in Canada has also discovered them and decided to contact me to publish some of my poems, as well as an entrepeneur of hand-made greeting cards from Malaysia who asked me to use some of my short poems for their cards. After that came a string of online publications, as well.
Back in high school though, I have two poems submitted for our paper, The Reflector. I lost my copy of it because of numerous typhoons and floods. I even announced to my batchmates that I would give a reward for whomever can give me a copy of it.
I know you have written hundreds of short poems?
Yes, I did and still counting. I'm hooked on it forever.
Could you give us ten of your most favorite haiku and tanka?
Most of my favorite haiku were already published and my favorites are more than ten. =) Here are some of my haiku and tankas I can share here though:
HAIKU Selections
crossing the mirror
the gait
of a confused ant
fireworks—
a blind girl's
enraptured face
inside a train
the city
moves faster too
surf sound—
the uncoiling
of a troubled sea
canoe-shaped moon
tonight, your beauty
floats
tired of seeing
the world, the snail—
a recluse again
drooping eyelids
the moon
looks smaller now
TANKA Selections
Burying
the box from the attic
was full of letters, faded ink
those soulless papers — haunting
it wasn't that easy
putting him to rest.
Poet in Love
for you, I'll begin to write
this poem, a new set
of words with my heart
full of yearning
I could not speak.
Forgetting Time
we sit side by side
under the graceful stars
our hands entwined
dawn has arrived
too soon.
Have you won in any poetry competition?
I have never tried joining a poetry competition ever since. It has never become a need or a necessity for me maybe because I tend to write for friends only. As I've said earlier, I never advertise my poems. I write for a small audience, and only lately that people are discovering it online. Lately, I've been mulling of joining a poetry competition and maybe someday soon, I'll be doing that when I have some free time. Probably, I'll write a new one for this purpose alone or polish a poem or two that I have written before. Now, that would be something to look forward to.
Aside from writing poetry, do you have any other "fashions"?
I love dancing. I always say that dancing is in my veins. (Maeara: in her blog, she says she loves walking in the beach and watching sunset)
What message can your give to our fellow Aklanon poets?
I am so humbled to be given this opportunity to talk with you, Sir Mel, and through this medium, have made my writings known to all Aklanons. To the Aklanon poets, especially you, I am truly honored and I am happy to share with all of you my humble writings. I hope I can continue to contribute to the Aklanon literature by writing more. To my admired and established Aklanon poets, do make waves in literature because your accomplishments are also the accomplishments of our province and people. [/color]
Do you have any other information to share?
I am planning to compile my short poems to make a book of haiku and maybe publish them. I just need to find illustrators in making it possible. It's a big work but people are telling me that it is better that way to protect my works. In other news, some of my haiku might get published again abroad. Everything is still in the pipeline.
By the way, we have had our first high school reunion last year, and our batch has bestowed upon me the Breaking the Barriers Award for my contribution in literature. I was not able to attend it due to pressing matters at work. I have yet to claim the trophy. Hope it is still there! *laughs*
Prof. Prudencia V. Conlu: Ichthyologist Par Excellence
By
Melchor F. Cichon
Do you know that one of the most prominent ichthyologists in the Philippine is an Aklanon?
She is no other than Prof. Prudencia V. Conlu, a retired professor and former dean of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo.
She began as an instructor in ichthyology in the College in 1961 until she rose to the position of full professor in 1981. She also held various administrative positions in the CFOS the latest of which was as dean from 1992 to 1995.
Prof. Conlu was born in Ibajay, Aklan on April 27, 1930. She earned a degree of Bachelor of Science in Education, major in Biology in 1952 at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in Manila. In 1957, she took a special training course in Marine Taxonomy (fishes) and Planktology as a UNESCO fellow at the Oceanographic Institute, Nhanrang, Vietnam. She obtained her Master of Science in Zoology degree at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia as a Colombo Plan Fellow in 1961. Again in 1964, Prof. Conlu became a UNESCO fellow in Advanced Courses in Marine Biology: Marine Invertebrates and Fish and Fisheries at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
As an ichthyologist, she was instrumental in the establishment of the College of Fisheries Museum and has written various scientific and technical papers including two landmark books on Philippine fishes. These are the Guide to Philippine Flora and Fauna (Fishes), vol IX, published by NRMC, Ministry of Natural Resources and the University of the Philippines in 1986 and Guide to Philippine Flora and Fauna (Fishes), vol 1, published by MNR-UPNSRC project funds, in 1982. Also, in recognition of her expertise in fisheries, she has been asked as external examiner for many graduate school theses of universities in the Philippines and abroad.
For her valued contributions for the development of fisheries and fisheries education in the Philippines, Prof. Conlu received 16 citations and awards from various organizations in the country. Some of these are the Likas Yaman Award given by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Pride of Heritage Award as Outstanding Educator of the International Press Research Development Progress. She was also the first to be given the Trident Award as the Most Outstanding College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Faculty by the UP Fisheries Guild of the UP in the Visayas.
She is a member of 19 national and internationally recognized learned societies, professional and scientific organizations like Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society Alpha Chi, Chapter of UP, the New York Academy of Science, and the American Society of Ichthyologist and Herpetologists.
Prof. Conlu retired from the government service one month after her 65th birthday last May 27, 1995. Her colleagues and those she had worked with will always remember her as the lady whose deep love for fishes was expressed through dedication and hard work in her chosen career.
Melchor F. Cichon
Do you know that one of the most prominent ichthyologists in the Philippine is an Aklanon?
She is no other than Prof. Prudencia V. Conlu, a retired professor and former dean of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo.
She began as an instructor in ichthyology in the College in 1961 until she rose to the position of full professor in 1981. She also held various administrative positions in the CFOS the latest of which was as dean from 1992 to 1995.
Prof. Conlu was born in Ibajay, Aklan on April 27, 1930. She earned a degree of Bachelor of Science in Education, major in Biology in 1952 at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in Manila. In 1957, she took a special training course in Marine Taxonomy (fishes) and Planktology as a UNESCO fellow at the Oceanographic Institute, Nhanrang, Vietnam. She obtained her Master of Science in Zoology degree at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia as a Colombo Plan Fellow in 1961. Again in 1964, Prof. Conlu became a UNESCO fellow in Advanced Courses in Marine Biology: Marine Invertebrates and Fish and Fisheries at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
As an ichthyologist, she was instrumental in the establishment of the College of Fisheries Museum and has written various scientific and technical papers including two landmark books on Philippine fishes. These are the Guide to Philippine Flora and Fauna (Fishes), vol IX, published by NRMC, Ministry of Natural Resources and the University of the Philippines in 1986 and Guide to Philippine Flora and Fauna (Fishes), vol 1, published by MNR-UPNSRC project funds, in 1982. Also, in recognition of her expertise in fisheries, she has been asked as external examiner for many graduate school theses of universities in the Philippines and abroad.
For her valued contributions for the development of fisheries and fisheries education in the Philippines, Prof. Conlu received 16 citations and awards from various organizations in the country. Some of these are the Likas Yaman Award given by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Pride of Heritage Award as Outstanding Educator of the International Press Research Development Progress. She was also the first to be given the Trident Award as the Most Outstanding College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Faculty by the UP Fisheries Guild of the UP in the Visayas.
She is a member of 19 national and internationally recognized learned societies, professional and scientific organizations like Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society Alpha Chi, Chapter of UP, the New York Academy of Science, and the American Society of Ichthyologist and Herpetologists.
Prof. Conlu retired from the government service one month after her 65th birthday last May 27, 1995. Her colleagues and those she had worked with will always remember her as the lady whose deep love for fishes was expressed through dedication and hard work in her chosen career.
Edna Laurente Faral, A Pride of the Aklanons in Tampa, Florida, USA
By
Melchor F. Cichon
Her passion has always been folk dancing.
Edna or SunflowR among her cybermates migrated to Florida, USA in 2001 immediately after her husband was hired by an American company in the states. She did not know that when she settled in Florida she would be a member of its famous dance troupes.
“I like to dance”, she said, “because it reflects my personality. Dancing is my inner feeling, my desire and my love. The moment I dance I'm lost in my own small world. Besides, I'm promoting our very own culture to every Filipino I encountered each time I perform. I tell them through dancing that we Filipinos have a beautiful and rich culture. Through my dance, I am encouraging our kababayan in the United States to revisit the Philippines.”
Edna started dancing at the age of seven, while in grade one and all throughout her elementary years in Batan, Aklan, her birthplace. Her interest in dancing was greatly influenced when she watched the dancers of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe and the Barangay Dance Troupe, especially because two of her fellow townmates were members of the latter dance troupe. She would always remember Ms. Nelida Cortes Abella, Nang Bebot to them, who trained them the basic to complicated steps of folkdancing.
She told herself: “it feels great to belong to those groups,” meaning the Bayanihan Dance Troupe and the Barangay Dance Troupe..”
While in the elementary grades, she was among those selected pupils to dance during intermission numbers on the programs of the school. At times she would perform during big events in their town like fiesta.
During her high school days, she joined the school's dance troupe. They had big shows before like "Dance Potpourri" in their town social hall. They would sometimes represent their school in the provincial event held in Kalibo, the capital of Aklan.
She took her high school at Kalantiaw Institute, Batan, Aklan.
Her passion in dancing reached its height when she joined the Florida-based Philippine Performing Arts Company (PPAC) and the Indak Pambata, also in Florida, USA.
After her husband, Conrad Faral of Tinga Itaas, Batangas City, came to the United States in June 2001, to work in an American company, Edna and their son, Concon, followed him.
Luckily, Conrad knows Mr. Rudy Curioso and Ms. Bing Curioso. Ms. Curioso is a choreographer of Indak Pambata and a member of the Tampa, Florida based Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. After learning that Edna and her son, Concon, are folk dancers, Bing asked them to join Indak Pambata. That started her life as a dancer in the states.
Later on, she was cast in some dances of Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. by Mr. Joey Omila, the choreographer of that group. Mr. Joey Omila is a former member of the well known Bayanihan Dance Troupe.
When Edna was asked what particular dance she likes to perform, she says: Igorot dances. She specially mentioned Banga and the Kalinga Festival Dance.
Since then, Edna has danced in the following festivals:
2002
PHILFEST 2002, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
2003
PHILFEST 2003, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
BARRIO FIESTA, Tampa, Florida
INDEPENDENCE DAY, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
MUSIKONG KAWAYAN IN CONCERT, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
SAMPAGUITA BALL, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
2004
PHILFEST 2004, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
ASIAFEST 2004, Cotanchobee Park, Downtown Tampa, Florida
ASIAN PACIFIC FESTIVAL, F. Burton Smith Regional Park, Cocoa, Florida
FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida
PAGDIRIWANG: MUSIKONG KAWAYAN IN CONCERT, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
23rd ANNUAL MAHARLIKA NIGHT, Cathedral of Jesus of Nazareth, Tampa, Florida
PHIL-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TAMPA, CHRISTMAS PARTY, Cathedral of Jesus of Nazareth, Tampa, Florida
PASKO, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
2005
PHILFEST 2005, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
ASIAFEST 2005, Cotanchobee Park, Downtown Tampa, Florida
2005 TAMPA BAY FEDERAL AGENCIE'S 6TH ANNUAL UNITY FESTIVAL, Ashley Plaza Hotel, Tampa, Florida
FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL, Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park, White Springs, Florida.
25th JUBILEE CELEBRATION FOR FATHER PROUX, Nativity Church, Brandon, Florida.
As a dancer, her choreographer, Ms. Aurora Curioso, has all praises of Edna.
Ms. Curioso says it all in her email to Edna:
“My dear Edna, siyempre naman - what can I say. You are a fast learner, you pick up right away. You remember your sequence, you help the others who are slow, you are a big support backstage and a great dancer on stage. Ano pa ba. One thing I know, if you do not deserve to be on stage and be one of my folk dancers, I will be the first to pull you out of there and tell you on your face, hoy, masaya ka. But that is not the case. As a matter of fact, you are graceful and have that pleasant smiling face which gives joy and delight to the audience.
Tita Bing.”
Dancing is not the only passion of Edna.
She is also a haiku poet.
Here are three of her haiku:
morn
the sunflower
beneath my strength
****
across the horizon
sunlight waves goodbye
to embrace tomorrow
***
sunset in Venice –
we kiss to fulfill
a promise
Edna has been dancing in Tampa, Florida but she wishes that she could go home to the Philippines and perform together with the Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. and at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Florida, USA.
Aside from being a folk dancer and a poet, Edna also works as a volunteer at St. Stephen Catholic Church for its Meals on Wheels civic project. She helps give free foods to the elderly.
Edna also works as a volunteer at Hands On Tampa Bay (HOT), a volunteer program of the United Way of Tampa Bay . Here she sorts donated food at local food bank.
Melchor F. Cichon
Her passion has always been folk dancing.
Edna or SunflowR among her cybermates migrated to Florida, USA in 2001 immediately after her husband was hired by an American company in the states. She did not know that when she settled in Florida she would be a member of its famous dance troupes.
“I like to dance”, she said, “because it reflects my personality. Dancing is my inner feeling, my desire and my love. The moment I dance I'm lost in my own small world. Besides, I'm promoting our very own culture to every Filipino I encountered each time I perform. I tell them through dancing that we Filipinos have a beautiful and rich culture. Through my dance, I am encouraging our kababayan in the United States to revisit the Philippines.”
Edna started dancing at the age of seven, while in grade one and all throughout her elementary years in Batan, Aklan, her birthplace. Her interest in dancing was greatly influenced when she watched the dancers of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe and the Barangay Dance Troupe, especially because two of her fellow townmates were members of the latter dance troupe. She would always remember Ms. Nelida Cortes Abella, Nang Bebot to them, who trained them the basic to complicated steps of folkdancing.
She told herself: “it feels great to belong to those groups,” meaning the Bayanihan Dance Troupe and the Barangay Dance Troupe..”
While in the elementary grades, she was among those selected pupils to dance during intermission numbers on the programs of the school. At times she would perform during big events in their town like fiesta.
During her high school days, she joined the school's dance troupe. They had big shows before like "Dance Potpourri" in their town social hall. They would sometimes represent their school in the provincial event held in Kalibo, the capital of Aklan.
She took her high school at Kalantiaw Institute, Batan, Aklan.
Her passion in dancing reached its height when she joined the Florida-based Philippine Performing Arts Company (PPAC) and the Indak Pambata, also in Florida, USA.
After her husband, Conrad Faral of Tinga Itaas, Batangas City, came to the United States in June 2001, to work in an American company, Edna and their son, Concon, followed him.
Luckily, Conrad knows Mr. Rudy Curioso and Ms. Bing Curioso. Ms. Curioso is a choreographer of Indak Pambata and a member of the Tampa, Florida based Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. After learning that Edna and her son, Concon, are folk dancers, Bing asked them to join Indak Pambata. That started her life as a dancer in the states.
Later on, she was cast in some dances of Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. by Mr. Joey Omila, the choreographer of that group. Mr. Joey Omila is a former member of the well known Bayanihan Dance Troupe.
When Edna was asked what particular dance she likes to perform, she says: Igorot dances. She specially mentioned Banga and the Kalinga Festival Dance.
Since then, Edna has danced in the following festivals:
2002
PHILFEST 2002, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
2003
PHILFEST 2003, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
BARRIO FIESTA, Tampa, Florida
INDEPENDENCE DAY, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
MUSIKONG KAWAYAN IN CONCERT, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
SAMPAGUITA BALL, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
2004
PHILFEST 2004, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
ASIAFEST 2004, Cotanchobee Park, Downtown Tampa, Florida
ASIAN PACIFIC FESTIVAL, F. Burton Smith Regional Park, Cocoa, Florida
FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida
PAGDIRIWANG: MUSIKONG KAWAYAN IN CONCERT, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
23rd ANNUAL MAHARLIKA NIGHT, Cathedral of Jesus of Nazareth, Tampa, Florida
PHIL-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TAMPA, CHRISTMAS PARTY, Cathedral of Jesus of Nazareth, Tampa, Florida
PASKO, Bayanihan Arts Center, Tampa, Florida
2005
PHILFEST 2005, PCFI Festival Grounds, Tampa, Florida
ASIAFEST 2005, Cotanchobee Park, Downtown Tampa, Florida
2005 TAMPA BAY FEDERAL AGENCIE'S 6TH ANNUAL UNITY FESTIVAL, Ashley Plaza Hotel, Tampa, Florida
FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL, Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park, White Springs, Florida.
25th JUBILEE CELEBRATION FOR FATHER PROUX, Nativity Church, Brandon, Florida.
As a dancer, her choreographer, Ms. Aurora Curioso, has all praises of Edna.
Ms. Curioso says it all in her email to Edna:
“My dear Edna, siyempre naman - what can I say. You are a fast learner, you pick up right away. You remember your sequence, you help the others who are slow, you are a big support backstage and a great dancer on stage. Ano pa ba. One thing I know, if you do not deserve to be on stage and be one of my folk dancers, I will be the first to pull you out of there and tell you on your face, hoy, masaya ka. But that is not the case. As a matter of fact, you are graceful and have that pleasant smiling face which gives joy and delight to the audience.
Tita Bing.”
Dancing is not the only passion of Edna.
She is also a haiku poet.
Here are three of her haiku:
morn
the sunflower
beneath my strength
****
across the horizon
sunlight waves goodbye
to embrace tomorrow
***
sunset in Venice –
we kiss to fulfill
a promise
Edna has been dancing in Tampa, Florida but she wishes that she could go home to the Philippines and perform together with the Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. and at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Florida, USA.
Aside from being a folk dancer and a poet, Edna also works as a volunteer at St. Stephen Catholic Church for its Meals on Wheels civic project. She helps give free foods to the elderly.
Edna also works as a volunteer at Hands On Tampa Bay (HOT), a volunteer program of the United Way of Tampa Bay . Here she sorts donated food at local food bank.
Johnrex De Pedro: The Busy Man
By
Melchor F. Cichon
When I asked Johnrex de Pedro what his motto is, he said: “Poverty is not a hindrance to success.”
And this is the force that moved Johnrex to find a better life.
Born from a middle class family of Altavas, Aklan, Johnrex, worked his way to finish a college degree. And beyond until he settled in Los Angeles, California, USA.
John’s parents are Roberto Nicolas de Pedro originally from Brgy. Bangkerohan, Altavas, Aklan and Merline Pascual Panado de Pedro of the same place. John’s father is a fish distributor or fish business financier.
His original name was Rex de Pedro, but when he became an American citizen, he was told that he could change his name. But instead of changing his name, he added John. So now he is legally called Johnrex Panado de Pedro.
Johnrex first took up an electrical engineering course at the Western Institute of Technology in Iloilo City. But he realized that this course could not make him prosperous. So he took up another degree which he thought would uplift him. This time a nautical course at the Garcia Polytechnic College in Kalibo, Aklan.
With those educational preparations, he went to America and later landed a job in a cruise liner that plied to the Caribbean. While in the Bahamas, he applied for a multiple visa to the USA. And he was granted.
After one year, he went back to the Philippines.
But then again, John did not stay long in the country. He went back to America. This time in Los Angeles, California.
After one week he found a job as a maintenance engineer in an elderly facility.
But at night he went to school to take his third degree, manufacturing engineering technology at Mt. San Antonio College where he met his future wife, the former Miss Melanie Pador Pedrola of Kalibo, Aklan. She was working in the hospital. They now have two kids: Johnrexter, 7 years old, and Marc Anthony 5 years old.
(Rex: Is Melanie a nurse?)
In (? ) , John moved to an engineering company. How he works as a supervisor engineer.
Let us hear from Johnrex himself how he broke the barrier to success.
“Well, ro among sitwasyon dati? hmmm I would say middle class....parents ko may kwarta sanda dati kat ga iskoyla pa ako kaso yong father ko owa imaw naila mag gastos sa school in the first place...in fact ako naga struggle mat-a eagi since sa elementary pa ako....ga-usoy ako it paagi kung paalin ako makakwarta para sa sarili ko...idto ako gatinir sa eogta namon sa baryo...tanom it saging para ibaligya ko kung bumunga...lingkad it niyog....arado sa bukid...hasta it nag high school ako....gabaligya ako it isda under sa father ko...ginataw-an na rayon ako it bali suhoe ron. Haeos ga-abot ako una sa Passi, sa Iloilo, sa Kalibo, sa banwa-banwa it Capiz like Manbusao, Sapian, Dumarao, Jamindan, Lucero magbaligya it isda. Ag iba pa sos kaabo pang lugar. Kaya in my early age sayod ko eot-a kun paalin mangabudlay sa pagpangabuhi.
Kun indi ako makabaligya it isda gabiyahi ako it motor siklo single. Sayod mo man una sa Altavas, puro mga single ro ginabiyahi
Sayod mo man maski makaron kabudlay ang haagyan....proud mat-ang gihapon sa Tatay ko...kasi diba may kwarta sanda dati hasta it ga tu-on pa ako hasta sa kolihiyo? Naisip ko, kun ginpagustuhan nanda ako it allowance, basi owa man ako nakatapos it pag tu-on. Syempre pag may kwarta ka indi ka eon maka-isip magsueod sa iskoylahan....parehas ku iba nga ginapatu-on ag may sobra-sobra nga allowance kada buean, oh ano natabo? owa katapos.
When I asked him how he went to the United States, he wrote me this:
anyway... ro nagsponsor kakon pag adto iya? humuean ako sa auntie ko sa Manila it kwarta...owa it pasayod sa parents ko...pumanaw ako iya maski sambilog sa pamilya nakon owa gid it naghatod kakon sa airport o nagbulig it prepare manlang ku ang mga gamit...isaea pa unexpected ro ang pamanaw....ma recall ko ngani 10:30am umadto eang ako sa kompanya. Pag-abot ko mga 11:30am hinambaean ako nga mapanaw ako 9:45pm to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Miami, Florida...sos owa gid it ha-om ron...owa ako it travelling bag, toothbrush, toothpaste…everything Nong Mel...owa pa it kwarta....hahahaha sos miyo....ako manlang abing sambilog sa baeay that time may sueod si auntie sa school, teacher abi....ang inobra, umandto ako kay auntie sa school para mangayo it kwarta pang bakae it gamit..tapos adto sa SM. Tag boeo ako. Bakas ko it pang habnit ro mga gamit nga kinahangeanon ko. Naaeagan ako sa cashier. Bukon it tikang ha daeagan....hahahaha tueok ako it mga tawo domdom nanda hay manakaw ako hahahaha....tapos ito pa sakay ako it jeep sa pilahan...owa pa it pasahero siguro mga lima paeang kami.....hambae ko mama umalis bayaran ko lahat ng pasahero mo...tapos kinutana na ako sabi bakit sino ang humahabol sayo mga pulis ba? hahahaha hambae ko bakit anong palagay mo sa akin magnanakaw? hinambae ko lang kana nga basi hi-aywan ako it eroplano hapon eot-a abi siguro mga maeapit eon sa 6:00pm. Sa Malabon pa ako mahalin.
To increase his income, he established in 1994 together with his aunt, Dr. Teresita Pastrana Pador Rodriguez, a store that specializes on Filipino movies.
The name of this store is ARCHER VIDEO CONNECTION. It is located at Main Avenue, Baldwin Park, California 91706, USA.
As part of its promotion, its management would sometime sponsor jointly the concerts of some Filipino singers in Los Angeles, and eventually visit their store..
Some of those Filipino personalities who have graced their store were: Gary Valenciano, Vina Morales, Christian Bautista, and lately Kaye Abad, that beautiful multi-talented Filipino-American tv and movie actress. Kaye has appeared in several TV series and movies like “Sana’y Wala ng Wakas” (2003), and “Ang Tanging Ina” (2003), respectively.
When I asked him what he is known for, his answer was: “hmmm a good billiard player, I guess.”
I hope that he did it also by breaking the barrier to billiard.
Melchor F. Cichon
When I asked Johnrex de Pedro what his motto is, he said: “Poverty is not a hindrance to success.”
And this is the force that moved Johnrex to find a better life.
Born from a middle class family of Altavas, Aklan, Johnrex, worked his way to finish a college degree. And beyond until he settled in Los Angeles, California, USA.
John’s parents are Roberto Nicolas de Pedro originally from Brgy. Bangkerohan, Altavas, Aklan and Merline Pascual Panado de Pedro of the same place. John’s father is a fish distributor or fish business financier.
His original name was Rex de Pedro, but when he became an American citizen, he was told that he could change his name. But instead of changing his name, he added John. So now he is legally called Johnrex Panado de Pedro.
Johnrex first took up an electrical engineering course at the Western Institute of Technology in Iloilo City. But he realized that this course could not make him prosperous. So he took up another degree which he thought would uplift him. This time a nautical course at the Garcia Polytechnic College in Kalibo, Aklan.
With those educational preparations, he went to America and later landed a job in a cruise liner that plied to the Caribbean. While in the Bahamas, he applied for a multiple visa to the USA. And he was granted.
After one year, he went back to the Philippines.
But then again, John did not stay long in the country. He went back to America. This time in Los Angeles, California.
After one week he found a job as a maintenance engineer in an elderly facility.
But at night he went to school to take his third degree, manufacturing engineering technology at Mt. San Antonio College where he met his future wife, the former Miss Melanie Pador Pedrola of Kalibo, Aklan. She was working in the hospital. They now have two kids: Johnrexter, 7 years old, and Marc Anthony 5 years old.
(Rex: Is Melanie a nurse?)
In (? ) , John moved to an engineering company. How he works as a supervisor engineer.
Let us hear from Johnrex himself how he broke the barrier to success.
“Well, ro among sitwasyon dati? hmmm I would say middle class....parents ko may kwarta sanda dati kat ga iskoyla pa ako kaso yong father ko owa imaw naila mag gastos sa school in the first place...in fact ako naga struggle mat-a eagi since sa elementary pa ako....ga-usoy ako it paagi kung paalin ako makakwarta para sa sarili ko...idto ako gatinir sa eogta namon sa baryo...tanom it saging para ibaligya ko kung bumunga...lingkad it niyog....arado sa bukid...hasta it nag high school ako....gabaligya ako it isda under sa father ko...ginataw-an na rayon ako it bali suhoe ron. Haeos ga-abot ako una sa Passi, sa Iloilo, sa Kalibo, sa banwa-banwa it Capiz like Manbusao, Sapian, Dumarao, Jamindan, Lucero magbaligya it isda. Ag iba pa sos kaabo pang lugar. Kaya in my early age sayod ko eot-a kun paalin mangabudlay sa pagpangabuhi.
Kun indi ako makabaligya it isda gabiyahi ako it motor siklo single. Sayod mo man una sa Altavas, puro mga single ro ginabiyahi
Sayod mo man maski makaron kabudlay ang haagyan....proud mat-ang gihapon sa Tatay ko...kasi diba may kwarta sanda dati hasta it ga tu-on pa ako hasta sa kolihiyo? Naisip ko, kun ginpagustuhan nanda ako it allowance, basi owa man ako nakatapos it pag tu-on. Syempre pag may kwarta ka indi ka eon maka-isip magsueod sa iskoylahan....parehas ku iba nga ginapatu-on ag may sobra-sobra nga allowance kada buean, oh ano natabo? owa katapos.
When I asked him how he went to the United States, he wrote me this:
anyway... ro nagsponsor kakon pag adto iya? humuean ako sa auntie ko sa Manila it kwarta...owa it pasayod sa parents ko...pumanaw ako iya maski sambilog sa pamilya nakon owa gid it naghatod kakon sa airport o nagbulig it prepare manlang ku ang mga gamit...isaea pa unexpected ro ang pamanaw....ma recall ko ngani 10:30am umadto eang ako sa kompanya. Pag-abot ko mga 11:30am hinambaean ako nga mapanaw ako 9:45pm to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Miami, Florida...sos owa gid it ha-om ron...owa ako it travelling bag, toothbrush, toothpaste…everything Nong Mel...owa pa it kwarta....hahahaha sos miyo....ako manlang abing sambilog sa baeay that time may sueod si auntie sa school, teacher abi....ang inobra, umandto ako kay auntie sa school para mangayo it kwarta pang bakae it gamit..tapos adto sa SM. Tag boeo ako. Bakas ko it pang habnit ro mga gamit nga kinahangeanon ko. Naaeagan ako sa cashier. Bukon it tikang ha daeagan....hahahaha tueok ako it mga tawo domdom nanda hay manakaw ako hahahaha....tapos ito pa sakay ako it jeep sa pilahan...owa pa it pasahero siguro mga lima paeang kami.....hambae ko mama umalis bayaran ko lahat ng pasahero mo...tapos kinutana na ako sabi bakit sino ang humahabol sayo mga pulis ba? hahahaha hambae ko bakit anong palagay mo sa akin magnanakaw? hinambae ko lang kana nga basi hi-aywan ako it eroplano hapon eot-a abi siguro mga maeapit eon sa 6:00pm. Sa Malabon pa ako mahalin.
To increase his income, he established in 1994 together with his aunt, Dr. Teresita Pastrana Pador Rodriguez, a store that specializes on Filipino movies.
The name of this store is ARCHER VIDEO CONNECTION. It is located at Main Avenue, Baldwin Park, California 91706, USA.
As part of its promotion, its management would sometime sponsor jointly the concerts of some Filipino singers in Los Angeles, and eventually visit their store..
Some of those Filipino personalities who have graced their store were: Gary Valenciano, Vina Morales, Christian Bautista, and lately Kaye Abad, that beautiful multi-talented Filipino-American tv and movie actress. Kaye has appeared in several TV series and movies like “Sana’y Wala ng Wakas” (2003), and “Ang Tanging Ina” (2003), respectively.
When I asked him what he is known for, his answer was: “hmmm a good billiard player, I guess.”
I hope that he did it also by breaking the barrier to billiard.
Roman de la Cruz, the Compelling Writer
By
Melchor F. Cichon
October 18, 2005
He is known as the Dean of Aklan journalism and the historian of Aklan. But he is also a poet, a novelist, a politician, an essayist, and a lay minister
He started writing when he was still in high school. Now at 82 years old, he is still actively writing on his age-old Remington typewriter.
“I will not use a computer,” he said.. “I do not have time to study that”.
Aside from his weekly editorials and essays in his weekly newspaper, The Aklan Reporter, his major works include Town of A Thousand, a 270-page history of Kalibo, the capital of Aklan, covering the period from the middle of the 13th century up to year 1993. He is presently updating this work. His 618-line epic poem, Song of The Ati-Ati, was published in 1973. His short stories on war and non-war, were compiled in a book entitled: Alone Along A Lonely Road and Other Stories which came in 1973.
His other works are Concordance on the Triune God; Is Christ God; Life with the Family, City World; The Power of Prayer With Praise, The Joy and The Wrath, The Hero Who Was Not, To The Child King: An Image and A Song, The Adventures of Umpag and Bonghayan, Out Of Too Much Grief, and The Filipino Speaks, a 79-page treatise in reaction to a multi-interneted article of an American from Nevada proclaiming “nothing respectable has ever come from the Filipino people during the entire human history; ”
But his monumental contribution to Aklan is his 929-page five-language dictionary that came out in 2004. It includes English, Hiligaynon, Tagalog, Kinaray-a and Aklanon words.
His whole collection of works are now being compiled in a two-volume book entitled Legacy. It consists of short stories, novel, historical book, book of poetry, eulogies, speeches and lectures, declamations, essays and others.
His name is Roman A. de la Cruz.
Mr. de la Cruz or Tay Omeng to most of his friends was born in Kalibo, Aklan, on August 9, 1923. He studied at Kalibo Elementary School, then proceeded to Kalibo Institute, and took his Bachelor of Science in Education degree at Northwestern Visayan Colleges also in Kalibo.
At the age of 17, his short stories were published in Philippine Commonweal. These were then included in Jose Garcia Villa’s Roll of Honor for Filipino Short Stories , 1940-41.
During the war, he enlisted himself as a guerilla in the USAFFE. His experiences in the war were included in his short story book, Alone along the Lonely Road and Other Stories. One of the stories here had been included in the The Voice of the Veteran (An Anthology of the Best in Song and Story by the Defenders of Freedom) edited by Manuel E. Buenafe in 1946.
After the war, Tay Omeng taught in high school from 1950 to 1956. But he left his teaching career and switched to journalism and politics. He founded and edited The Aklan Reporter, where he wrote a lot of essays and poems on politics, economics, religion, and other things about the happenings in the Philippines.
While editing and publishing this community newsweekly, he wrote short stories, novels, historical materials, and dictionary.
And joined politics. He was elected as Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member of Kalibo from 1971 to 1986 (16 years).
Tay Omeng is indulging not only in writing, but he is also in sculpture and in sketches. His six-foot cement sculpture of Jesus Christ is in their house, still unfinished. His sketches are found in the covers of his books. He also molded the Madonna and Child which can be seen on the wall of their sala in Kalibo.
A religious and civic minded man, Tay Omeng is involved in the various civic and religious organizations like the Knights of Columbus, Barangay Sang Birhen, Charistmatic Movement, and Aklan Press Club.
As a writer, publisher and community leader, his biodata is included in Baron’s “Who’s Who in the Asian Pacific Rim” 1992 international edition.
In 1996, the Department of Education and Culture conferred him the Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino Award (Model Filipino Family) for Western Visayas.
On December 14, 2004, the Publishers Association of the Philippines conferred an Award of recognition to Aklan Reporter/Roman A. de la Cruz during its 9th National Press Congress pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 738.
And this year (2005), the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan together with the Kalibo Knights of Columbus and the Philippine Association of Publishers, Inc. (PAPI) have nominated him to the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature and Journalism.
Dela Cruz is married to Julita O. Ilarina of Banga, Aklan. They have seven children -Vellyzarius, Cortesa, Marlon, Didecas, Sumra, Hagbong and Amihan.
He is the grandson of the late Roman Aguirre of Lezo, Aklan, one of the 19 Martyrs of Aklan.
Melchor F. Cichon
October 18, 2005
He is known as the Dean of Aklan journalism and the historian of Aklan. But he is also a poet, a novelist, a politician, an essayist, and a lay minister
He started writing when he was still in high school. Now at 82 years old, he is still actively writing on his age-old Remington typewriter.
“I will not use a computer,” he said.. “I do not have time to study that”.
Aside from his weekly editorials and essays in his weekly newspaper, The Aklan Reporter, his major works include Town of A Thousand, a 270-page history of Kalibo, the capital of Aklan, covering the period from the middle of the 13th century up to year 1993. He is presently updating this work. His 618-line epic poem, Song of The Ati-Ati, was published in 1973. His short stories on war and non-war, were compiled in a book entitled: Alone Along A Lonely Road and Other Stories which came in 1973.
His other works are Concordance on the Triune God; Is Christ God; Life with the Family, City World; The Power of Prayer With Praise, The Joy and The Wrath, The Hero Who Was Not, To The Child King: An Image and A Song, The Adventures of Umpag and Bonghayan, Out Of Too Much Grief, and The Filipino Speaks, a 79-page treatise in reaction to a multi-interneted article of an American from Nevada proclaiming “nothing respectable has ever come from the Filipino people during the entire human history; ”
But his monumental contribution to Aklan is his 929-page five-language dictionary that came out in 2004. It includes English, Hiligaynon, Tagalog, Kinaray-a and Aklanon words.
His whole collection of works are now being compiled in a two-volume book entitled Legacy. It consists of short stories, novel, historical book, book of poetry, eulogies, speeches and lectures, declamations, essays and others.
His name is Roman A. de la Cruz.
Mr. de la Cruz or Tay Omeng to most of his friends was born in Kalibo, Aklan, on August 9, 1923. He studied at Kalibo Elementary School, then proceeded to Kalibo Institute, and took his Bachelor of Science in Education degree at Northwestern Visayan Colleges also in Kalibo.
At the age of 17, his short stories were published in Philippine Commonweal. These were then included in Jose Garcia Villa’s Roll of Honor for Filipino Short Stories , 1940-41.
During the war, he enlisted himself as a guerilla in the USAFFE. His experiences in the war were included in his short story book, Alone along the Lonely Road and Other Stories. One of the stories here had been included in the The Voice of the Veteran (An Anthology of the Best in Song and Story by the Defenders of Freedom) edited by Manuel E. Buenafe in 1946.
After the war, Tay Omeng taught in high school from 1950 to 1956. But he left his teaching career and switched to journalism and politics. He founded and edited The Aklan Reporter, where he wrote a lot of essays and poems on politics, economics, religion, and other things about the happenings in the Philippines.
While editing and publishing this community newsweekly, he wrote short stories, novels, historical materials, and dictionary.
And joined politics. He was elected as Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member of Kalibo from 1971 to 1986 (16 years).
Tay Omeng is indulging not only in writing, but he is also in sculpture and in sketches. His six-foot cement sculpture of Jesus Christ is in their house, still unfinished. His sketches are found in the covers of his books. He also molded the Madonna and Child which can be seen on the wall of their sala in Kalibo.
A religious and civic minded man, Tay Omeng is involved in the various civic and religious organizations like the Knights of Columbus, Barangay Sang Birhen, Charistmatic Movement, and Aklan Press Club.
As a writer, publisher and community leader, his biodata is included in Baron’s “Who’s Who in the Asian Pacific Rim” 1992 international edition.
In 1996, the Department of Education and Culture conferred him the Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino Award (Model Filipino Family) for Western Visayas.
On December 14, 2004, the Publishers Association of the Philippines conferred an Award of recognition to Aklan Reporter/Roman A. de la Cruz during its 9th National Press Congress pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 738.
And this year (2005), the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan together with the Kalibo Knights of Columbus and the Philippine Association of Publishers, Inc. (PAPI) have nominated him to the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature and Journalism.
Dela Cruz is married to Julita O. Ilarina of Banga, Aklan. They have seven children -Vellyzarius, Cortesa, Marlon, Didecas, Sumra, Hagbong and Amihan.
He is the grandson of the late Roman Aguirre of Lezo, Aklan, one of the 19 Martyrs of Aklan.
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