alpas alpas (v.) to become free, to break loose
2
alpas
about the cover
ALPAS is a collection of poems from the Japanese occupation era of the Philippines. The poems are originals of Filipinos of the time, showing prevalent themes to which the folio is divided to. It is said that one must embrace the: emotions, the people and places, the self, and the burning nationalism for them to finally say, nakaalpas na. The editors of this folio have put in their adaptations with the poems to open the gates of contemporary thinking. The intentions of the editors are not limited to promoting and preserving the art of writing, but also in showcasing the timeless beauty of Philippine literature between two periods to which it has offered comfort in understanding and determination in self-actualization as a nation.
Abonal, Banzuela, Daiz, Divison, Hosmillo, Malanyaon, Orbita, Takhar, Zapanta
gikan sa emosyon
4
alpas
Anyaya ni Gonzalo K. Flores
Ang mga saknong ng pagmamahal ko:
“ulilang damo sa tahimik na ilog halika, sinta� Tila ang Huling El Bimbo ko. Gunita para sa kaluluwa mong yumao, Na aantayin sana hanggang sa dulo. Kaso di namalayang winakasan mo.
alpas
5
Love by Rodolfo S. Rosales
Year one was a:
“Pill in the evening” The day after was a comfortable:
“black coffee in the morning and headache at noon.”
6
alpas
Galit ni Emelita Perez Baes
Magalak na nagsimula sa isang pagbati. Kahit takot ay hindi itinanggi. Sa totoo lang…
“Ang damdami’y sumisikido…” Walang kibo na nilalabanan Kawalan ng katiyakan
“sa balitang di-totoo;” Nagkaroon ng panghahawakan
“habang sila’y nanunudyo poot nag-aalimpuyo.” Ngayon, Dahil sa pagbating di itinanggi… May galak pa kayang maihahabi?
7
alpas
Pag-ibig ni Emelita Perez Baes
“Wala iyan sa pabalat at sa puso nakatatak,” Kahit sa mga liham ng iyong pag-ibig, pighati, paghihirap sa ibang bayan.
“nadarama’t nalalasap ang pag-ibig na matapat.” Sa pinakahihintay na araw ng iyong pagbabalik.
8
alpas
Tutubi ni Gonzalo K. Flores
“Hila mo’y tabak… Ang bulaklak, nanginig! Sa paglapit mo.” Takbo na Berting, baka mapatay ka ng tatay! Ngayo’y takot na ang nangibabaw, kasabay ng aking pagpanaw, Baka pagkakataon para sayo’y manakaw.
9
alpas
Tag-init ni Idelfonso Santos
Lahat ng inilalabas ng iyong bibig ay hawig sa salita ng Diyos:
“Alipatong lumapag Sa lupa, nagkabitak Sa kahoy. Nalugayak” Kaya naman sa akin naiwan
“Sa puso, naglagablab”
gikan sa tawo asin banwa
alpas
11
Kaibigan ni Emelita Perez Baes
Maliit pa ako’y sinabi ng inay,
“Ang katoto kapag tunay hindi ngiti ang pang-alay kundi isang katapatan ng mataus na pagdamay” Nahanap ko kay Rosa, nawala rin sa kaniya.
12
alpas
Sanggol ni Emelita Perez Baes
Nais na magunita Nakalipas na galak, ‘sang tunay na likha...
“Pag ang sanggol ay ngumiti nawawala ang pighati,” Dalanging mangyari, Na sa isang simpleng rason Tunay na halaga sa’yo ay mawari.
“pag kalong mo’y sumisidhi ang pangarap na punyagi.” Nakakapagtaka. Paano bang maibabalik Ang noo’y masayang sanggol kahit na walang imik.
13
alpas
Kabibi ni Idelfonso Santos
‘Ika nga ng mundo, napakaganda ng gawa ng kalikasan.
“Kabibi, ano ka ba? May perlas maganda ka Kung idiit sa tainga…” Sapagkat ako raw ay tulad ng isang Kabibi:
“…Nagbubuntunghininga” Nagbubuntong hininga para sa katuwaan ng iba.
14
alpas
Strangers at first sight by Nick Joaquin
She wondered in nostalgia at the sight of what was once hers:
“How could you possibly start from nothing? And then end up as everything?” He dared not to stare, restraining the sense of familiarity:
“I never thought I’d feel this way again… More like I pushed myself to never fall victim again To this arresting feeling“ She felt the pangs of loss and regret:
“How ironic is it, That what I wanted to lose the most, Is what most people long for their whole life” He felt the aches of longing and distress to her turning away:
“I don’t know what to do, Guess I’ll just ignore everything again, Time to shut my senses to all the assaults that the world has to offer…” She knew he has forgotten, let alone his nonchalance:
“After all, I’ve suppressed everything so far What’s one more to add?” And they parted with the apprehensions of what will remain unsaid.
15
alpas
Virginia by N.V.M. Gonzales
“You have a secret but you are silent about it,” You can still hear the neighbor’s last night’s episode And the children making their way to their breakfast,
“like the dawn that draws its stealthy feet upon the hills, and leaves but the wetness on the grass” While the sunday radio sings
“to tell of the mists that have settled and gone.” Nothing speaks like a new day in the town you grew up in.
16
alpas
At Puerto by N.V.M. Gonzales
“Like a cigarette, the lighthouse sits between the lips of the harbor,” And I, feeling the warmth of your kiss,
“and the smoker spreads his arms upon the sea to receive the shadow of ships” Trusting you in our deep embrace.
“trembling with the threatenings of the storm that rages outside the bay-to frighten the ghost of little sea-horses.” And with you, after all these years, calms my weary heart in this tempest.
17
alpas
The lady on the operating table by N.V.M. Gonzales
“She is asleep on the arms of night, and the fingers of dreams are playing upon her hair. Her hair is golden like the tassels of young corn, but the fingers of dreams are violet for the want of the blood of reality. Transfuse the blood of my love into the body of her dreams. She will awake upon the light of morning with the blush of sunshine on her cheeks. But, without the blood of my love, what shall I be?� What I felt then is still what I feel now. This is what I shall remain to be.
18
alpas
Kay Inay ni Emelita Perez Baes
Filipinos value parenthood above most things. And though a mother’s love, so as a father’s, is not always put to words and deeds, Emilita Baes’ poems are messages of every son and daughter to their parents - timeless, pure, and untouched.
“Sa aking kamusmusang balot ng kalungkutang iniwanan ni Itay, sa mulat kong paningi’y naiwanan ang latay na naumang kay Inay; labing-anim na matang ipinauunawa’y lantay na pagmamahal, ang kanyang kinapiling sa pakikipaghamok sa kinaparoonan! May aninaw ng dilim ang wisik ng siphayong sa puso ay pangwindang, na kanyang katuusan upang ang mga bunso sa aral ay tustusan; ito’y mga gawing di malirip ng diwa’t di mabata ng laman ngunit magpapayabong ng walong pintig buhay at walong kaisipan. Haba ngang nagtatagal ay lalong bumibigat iyang mga dalahin nitong mahal kong Inang may matibay na. dibdib sa dusa at tiisin; at iyang mga supling na kulang pa ang malay ay kung pakaisipin kanyang naitaguyod sa sipag at tiyagang kay hirap patigilin! May kurus s’ya sa dibdib handang magpakasakit at handa ring magtiis, mayroon siyang sagot
alpas
at laging handang tugon sa mga suliranin; mapagpala n’yang kamay panghaplos ng dusa at panlunas sa sakit, mapagmahal na dibdib ay mapagsusukdulan ng mga hinanakit. Kinalong niyang lahat iyang kapalaluang katambal ng pagluha at sa silid ng puso’y binigyang puwang niya, lahat ng mga hiwa; may hapdi man ang sugat na wala ng panlunas sa gasgas na hiwaga, karamay pa rin siya sa lahat ng sandaling pagkapariwara. Ngayon nga’y kaarawan ng aking sintang ina . .. ika-limampu’t siyam, may putong siyang koronang mula sa ating Poong sa kanya ay gumabay; sa nagdaang panahon ng pagpapakasakit at tinamong tagumpay marmol siyang bantayog niyang kadakilaang walang makakapantay! Siya nga ang babaing aking dadakilain sa lahat ng panahon, ngayong may isip na ko’y karapatan ko lamang na siya’y ipagtanggol; ipalasap sa kanya — itong pasasalamat na sa puso ay taos, ang kumot ng ginhawa’y ilulukob sa kanya ng buong pagkalugod! Sa kanya ay alay ko ang halik ng pagsinta at ng mga pag-irog at mga panalanging nawa’y pagkalooban ng dugong dumadaloy ang nalalabing buhay na sa ugat ng puso ay pait ang bumalong
19
20
alpas
nang kahit na sang saglit banaag na ligaya sa kanya’y mapakalong!�
alpas
21
Untitled unknown author
“I saw two seagulls” Rare in this town. Oh,
“And a red bird in a tree Waiting there for spring” As I am for you.
gikan sa nasyonalismo
alpas
23
My Islands by N.V.M. Gonzales
“Even as the bough breaks from the sheer weight of song so does my heart break with love, so will my rivers flow to kiss the sea’s warm eternal breast, so will my islands poise their hills against the sun.” I have returned. To the unapologetically magnificent locale of seven thousand lands that was my beginning and will be my end:
“My heart is proud of this dream and prouder yet my rivers of the fate that keeps the pace of tides and moons, and prouder still my islands of their hills.”
24
alpas
Ako ay Pilipino by Jose G. Katindig
Ito’y isang malungkot na kuwento Noong hindi ko isinigaw ang mga salitang ito Habang ang kamay ay nasa dibdib:
“Sino Ako? Ako’y sino? Pilipino ang sagisag” Na sa noo’y siyang tanda nang sumilang sa liwanag; Sa dugo ko at sa kulay, sa anyo ko at sa tikas, Sa buhay ko at gawai’y buung-buong nasisinag Ang anino at larawan nitong Mutyang Pilipinas; Nakikitang parang likha ng salamin ng pangarap Ang katutubong ugali, ang kaloobang busilak, Ang damdaming makabayang walang maliw, walang kupas. Ang puso na mahabagin sa sinumang sawimpalad, Ang giting at katapangan ng bayaning nakilamas,
alpas
Ang dangal ng manggagawang matiyaga at masipag; Ang maganda nating langit, ang masayang alapaap, Ang araw na lumulubog at ang buwang sumisikat, Ang maibong papawirin at maisda nating dagat, Ang halamang malalago, ang damuhang nakalatag, Ang amihang umaawit ang batisang nangungusap, Ang maginto nating bundok, ang makahoy nating gubat, Ang kumersyo’t industriya sa sarili nating pugad At ang Wika na sinuso sa magulang na naghirap. Pag-ibig sa Demokrasya’t Republikang Bagong Tatag, Ang Pagmamahal sa Diyos, “Inang-Bayan at Watawat.
25
26
alpas
Sino Ako? Ako’y sino? Ako’y Pilipinong ganap: Pilipino sa damdamin, sa gawain at sa hangad,” At pinusuan ko ang nilalaman ng Facebook post Na proyekto ng aking kapatid:
“Pilipino sa ugali, sa salita, pag-iisip at sa lahat: Nalikha na Pilipino’t Pilipinong mauutas”
27
alpas
Justice by Rodolfo S. Rosales
In the presence of the jury and witnesses, the call for justice has been made: “Flip a coin: crown or king.” Anticipation climaxed, the determinant lands and it reads: “Coin, neither crown nor king,” The unprecedented verdict is delivered: “Not guilty!” This is irony in the state of the country.
28
alpas
Palay ni Idelfonso Santos
“Palay siyang matino” Ito ang bukambibig ng ina sa anak niya.
“Nang humangi’y yumuko, Ngunit muling tumayo, Nagkabunga ng ginto.” Dahil sa kaniyang ina mayroon siyang natamo. Bulong niya sa sarili,
“Balang araw sasalubong rin ang Pilipinas ng ginto.”
29
alpas
Like the Molave by Rafael Zultueta de Costa
“ Not yet, Rizal, not yet. Sleep not in peace: There are a thousand waters to be spanned; there are a thousand mountains to be crossed; there are a thousand crosses to be borne. Our shoulders are not strong; our sinews are grown flaccid with dependence, smug with ease under another’s wing. Rest not in peace; Not yet, Rizal, not yet. The land has need of young blood-and, what younger than your own, Forever spilled in the great name of freedom, Forever oblate on the altar of the free? Not you alone, Rizal. O souls And spirits of the martyred brave, arise! Arise and scour the land! Shed once again your willing blood! Infuse the vibrant red into our thin anemic veins; until we pick up your Promethean tools and, strong, Out of the depthless matrix of your faith in us, and on the silent cliffs of freedom, we carve for all time your marmoreal dream! Until our people, seeing, are become like the Molave, firm, resilient, staunch, rising on the hillside, unafraid, Strong in its own fiber, yes, like the Molave! Not yet,Rizal,not yet. The glory hour will come Out of the silent dreaming from the seven thousand fold silence We shall emerge, saying WE ARE FILIPINOS! and no longer be ashamed sleep not in peace the dream is not yet fully carved
30
alpas
hard the wood but harder the woods yet the molave will stand yet the molave monument will rise and god’s walk on brown legs “ Mr. Da Costa has said what the nation loves to hear but easily forgets. But his words are not yet dead so long as there is a molave among us.
31
alpas
Kung tuyo na ang luha mo, aking bayan ni Amando V. Perez
Digmaang bumalot sa bayang lagalag ang diwa ang laman ng lumipas na mga taon. Ang pagal na ina’y nahihimbing sa kanlungan ng kanyang anak. Ligalig man ang isip, isang buhay na liwayway ang nasa puso ng dalawa. Pagbangon.
“Lumuha ka, aking Bayan; buong lungkot mong iluha Ang kawawang kapalaran ng lupain mong kawawa: Ang bandilang sagisag mo’y lukob ng dayong bandila, Pati wikang minana mo’y busabos ng ibang wika, Ganito ring araw nang agawan ka ng laya, Labintatlo ng Agosto nang saklutin ang Maynila, Lumuha ka, habang sila ay palalong nagdiriwang, Sa libingan ng maliit, ang malaki’y may libingan; Katulad mo ay si Huli, naaliping bayad-utang, Katulad mo ay si Sisa, binaliw ng kahirapan; Walang lakas na magtanggol, walang tapang na lumaban, Tumataghoy, kung paslangin; tumatangis, kung nakawan! Iluha mo ang sambuntong kasawiang nagtalakop Na sa iyo’y pampahirap, sa banyaga’y pampalusog: Ang lahat mong kayamana’y kamal-kamal na naubos, Ang lahat mong kalayaa’y sabay-sabay na natapos; Masdan mo ang iyong lupa, dayong hukbo’y nakatanod, Masdan mo ang iyong dagat, dayong bapor, nasa laot! Lumuha ka kung sa puso ay nagmaliw na ang layon, Kung ang araw sa langit mo ay lagi nang dapithapon, Kung ang alon sa dagat mo ay ayaw nang magdaluyong, Kung ang bulkan sa dibdib mo ay hindi man umuungol, Kung wala nang maglalamay sa gabi ng pagbabangon, Lumuha ka nang lumuha’t ang laya mo’y nakaburol. May araw ding ang luha mo’y masasaid, matutuyo,
32
alpas
May araw ding di na luha sa mata mong namumugto Ang dadaloy, kundi apoy, at apoy na kulay dugo, Samantalang ang dugo mo ay aserong kumukulo; Sisigaw kang buong giting sa liyab ng libong sulo At ang lumang tanikala’y lalagutin mo ng punglo!�
gikan sa sadiri
34
alpas
Bagong Taon ni Alejando G. Abadilla
New Year’s in the Philippines is welcomed with emotions that linger in churches, plazas, and every stretched street. While fireworks argue with the neighbor’s karaoke set, people gather around the media noche with their beloved. And as high-spirited as Filipinos are in this tradition, we never forget to think about what comes, perhaps more to the self. We compose new songs to give birth to the change, even if it plays only for the first few days.
“Bagong sigla, Kung sa daho’y lantang dahon at tuyo na. Bagong Taon, Sa pagdatal mong ang mukha ay masaya, Sumariwa itong pita Pagkaraka!… Bagong diwa, Bagong diwa ng makatang Kung sa bati ay batisang walang tula. Bagong Taon, Pag ngiti mo, ang batisa’y nagkamutya’t Bakit kaya?… Bagong balak, Bagong balak ng pangarap Ay musmos pa’t walang kayang makalakad, Bagong Taon, Nan gang bata’y mahagkan mo ay lumakas, At sa gayon, ang hinanap, Kanyang palad!… Bagong aliw, Bagong aliw ng mithing Kung sa puso’y pusong kuyom ng hilahil. Bagong Taon,
alpas
Nang lumapit ka sa kanyang may paggiliw, Nahango mo sa titsing Maglilibing!… Bagong taon, Bagong taong muli ngayon At ang bawa’t tao’y tila mayrong layon, Bagong Taon, Ikaw baga’y magbabalik kay Kahapong Natigmak na sa linggatong?… Huwag gayon!”
35
36
alpas
Progress by Rodolfo S. Rosales
When I was a kid, my father told me:
“You chill comrade dragonfly then please you put a tiger in your tongue� And so I set the world on fire with my passion at my footsteps.
37
alpas
Katauhang Laglag by Alejandro G. Abadilla
When we were kids, our parents told us about the creation of the universe in seven days. God made man and woman that later became part of our every encounter of life. To a five-year old, it’s just a story from a book but in the eyes of a sunken believer, it is the question of whether he is capable of knowing himself by questioning what he does not know.
“Ang layo ng kalayuan Ay ang kalayuan ng layo mo Sa sarili... At nalakbay mo na Mula kay Adan ang mga panahon, Ang mga lupa, mga dagat at mga papawirin, At ikaw hangga ngayo’y naglalakbay pa ring Naghahanap, naghahanap Ng tubig na kinauuhawan Ng budhi-mong-kaluluwa. At inatasan Niya si Samwel Na maging gayon, katulad mong itinalaga Niya Sa paghahanap, sa paghahanap, At naghanap ka at kumatok, Ay, walang nagbukas! Ang pinto ng langit Ay nakapinid sa harap mo, sa harap mo Habang ikaw’y kumakatok, At hangga ngayo’y kumakatok ka pa rin, O, katauhang lagalag! Ang mga yutang dantaon Ay mahabang sangkisap-matang kasaysayan Ng buhay na di makasapit...
38
alpas
At ang hantungang yaon Habang linalakbay ay lalong lumalayo Sa kapalaran mong itinaboy Niya Mula sa Paraiso. Mula na noon Ay ikinahiya mo ang hubad na kagandahan At ito’y sinaplutan ng mga hangad na banyaga Sa dalisay niyang kalikasan; Mula na noon Ay itinakwil ng mga Kain na kapamuhayan mo Ang mga sambahan ng katiwasayang Pambudhi at pangkaluluwa; At mula na noon Nagsimula na ngang mag-ugat at umusbong Ang katuturan ng mga katuturan -Na ang layo ng kalayuan Ay ang kalayuan ng layo mo Sa sarili. At ikaw ngayon Ay hindi na ang dating ikaw�
39
alpas
The Martyr by Nick Joaquin
For an old wives’ tale of loving in the allusion of sacrifice and annihilation, it is the self that must merit the ultimate form of vindication. The mother claimed with pride:
“Being in love means never having to say you’re sorry After all, at some point in your life That love was the most important thing to you, That love might be the one that you hoped would last forever, That love made you believe that destiny does exist, And that love made you question, Why you were afraid to fall in love in the first place. At that time in your life, Everything just seemed so perfect, Everything seemed so beautiful, Everything seemed to glow for you, And you were my everything.” While the maiden replied:
“I wouldn’t even think twice about sacrificing my own happiness for yours, I was even willing to bare up this walled but crumpled heart of mine, Just so I could be with you. All I ever did was care for you. All I ever did was to make you happy. And all I ever did was love you. Being in love means never having to say you’re sorry But I needed to ask forgiveness from the one who was hurt the most… Myself.“
40
alpas
Beauty by Rodolfo S. Rosales
To all the women out there, don’t satisfy with the complement of being called beautiful. Mr. Rosales has made it it clear that beauty is
“A wind unseen, a sound unheard: a broken guitar” And more importantly, You are so much more than that. Queens don’t sit beside kings for pleasure. They wait and grieve for the death of the throne and then conquer the right way - better, braver, and more powerful.
“bones and skulls.”
nakaalpas na
42
alpas
Happy ever after by Nick Joaquin
Manuel, when you went to the dreaded battle, I thought to myself,
“How could I possibly stay awake Despite knowing what horrors await me In this life full of lies and despair Where the only hope that remains Is having you near me. And yet, However I push myself towards you, The more I feel like we’re never meant to be, The more we try to reach each other, The more I feel so alone. How could I possibly live my happily ever after Without you by my side Where even the fairy tales pale in comparison for how much I feel for you When will He finish this chapter? Does it even end? Surely, any end is better than a one left hanging For a simple No, might simply be the best answer Rather than to face the agony of waiting and fear of the unknown.” Now, I wish that I’ve stopped you. We’ll see each other in heaven.
alpas
43
Death by Rodolfo S. Rosales
As she was reaching her demise My love reached out and uttered
“Never, forever! And now my life is just:
a rusty hinge, a fiery fever to become.�
44
alpas
Circus Song by N.V.M. Gonzales
Upon life, upon love.
“I am a juggler of hazardous moments.” These are my treasures that keep me from ending it all.
“My oranges are real oranges, and I eat them all when my show is over My daggers-- ah, one of them pricked the heart of my Antonietta” Like my love, my life.
alpas
45
Winter unknown author
“Beautiful mountains, Rivers with cold, cold water, White cold snow on rock, Trees over the place with frost, White sparkly snow everywhere.� That was how my grandfather described me. These were the beauty in the ghosts of his war time.
46
alpas
Poetry by Rodolfo S. Rosales
Like life, the universe and everything that need not be explained.
“Corporeal, unevaporeal blood, bold, on the hand of time.� We move destiny as it moves us.
alpas
47
Ang Buto ng Atis ni Amado V. Hernandez
Ito ang kwento ng aking nais.
“Minsa’y nakapulot ng buto ng atis ang isang dalaga. Pagdating sa bahay sinabi sa ina ang kanyang naisip — buto’y itatanim at aalagaan.” Lumipas ang oras, Patuloy akong nangarap
“At ang punong-atis paglaki’t namunga, bunga’y sa palengke agad kong dadalhin; ang mapagbibilhan” anyang nakatawa “ay ibibili ko ng hikaw at singsing.” Ngunit may mga tao talagang hahadlang Upang pangarap nati’y di makamtan
Pagalit ang inang sinugod ang anak, kasabay ang bantang kinurot sa singit: ‘Ipagpahiraman ang iyong alahas at nang putukan ka sa akin ng lintik!’” Kaya’t ako’y sumuko na lang.