By: Claire Angeles

            I was sitting under the huge Sampaloc tree in front of my grandmother’s house when he arrived.  He was looking down at me with interest while I read the book on my lap.  It was Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.  I was merely a third year high school student then in one of the run-down public schools located in San Simon, Pampanga.  We had an assignment about that book and not because I was interested in Rizal’s thoughts.  I looked up at the man who had been staring at me for God knows how long.  I squinted my eyes.  The sun’s rays were striking down at me that I felt my eyes become watery.

“Are you crying?” he asked.  He seemed worried.

            “No, no.  I’m not crying.  It’s just that it’s so hot and my eyes are not used to it.”

            “Would you mind if I take a look at that book?”

            “No, I won’t mind.  Here.”  I handed the book to him but I stayed seated on the ground.  I couldn’t take my eyes away from his face.  I noticed his hair had been gelled.  And his suit!  It was an expensive one.  Maybe, a very expensive one.  It was kind of gray, perhaps lighter.  He looked like the guy I saw in one of my history books.  What’s his name?  Oh, yes!  Jose Rizal.  The author of my book.

            “Thank you for letting me look at your book.  Are you busy?  Can you spare me a few minutes?  I just want to talk to you about the book.  He was almost begging.  I don’t know what got into me at that moment.  I let him talk to me.

            He sat beside me under the tree, mindless of the dirt, mindless of his suit.

            He told me many things.  He said he never did approve of a bloody revolution.  He chose to change his society in a less violent means.

            “What was he talking about?”  I wondered, but did not try to interrupt him.  I was so curious that I let him babble on and on.  He told me about a certain man.  His friend, apparently, and one whom he admired so much.  The man, according to him, had so many plans.  He planned to overthrow the leader of the Spaniards who had been oppressing them.  He gathered a large group of men and even women who believed in his ideals.  They fought the Spaniards with their bolos and rifles.  All for the sake of freedom.  He wanted his country to be free from its oppressors.  But he died.

            At that instance, I sighed a long sigh.  His eyes became watery as he spoke of his friend’s death.  Suddenly, I had the urge to hug him, to comfort him.  But I sat still and played with my braids.

            “His men continued their fight because they knew they were fighting for a great cause.  But I never did approve of their way.  I had my own plans.  I wrote and wrote to open up my countrymen’s hearts—to tell them about many things, about the way we had been treated by those Spaniards.  I had influenced their thoughts, I know.  They admired me—those freedom-fighters—and I admired them.  Now, I don’t know who among us had been right.”  And then he left.  He left hurriedly that only his footprints remained.

            I kicked so hard my foot hit the wooden wall of my grandmother’s big hut.  And then I fell from my bed and hit the floor made of bamboo.  I screamed in pain.  My grandmother ran to my side, awakened by my scream.  It was then that I realized, it was only a dream.

            The man’s face was so vivid in my mind.  I kept imagining his gelled hair, his thin moustache, his sleepy eyes that seem to tell a thousand thoughts.

            “Why did he tell me about his friend?  Why did he speak of himself as having written those articles that influenced his countrymen’s thoughts?”  I wondered and wondered.  Even in class, I was lost in my thoughts.  And then, it hit me!

            I went home almost running.  I almost tripped on the rough stones protruding from the dusty road leading to my grandmother’s house.  I opened my book.  “Noli Me Tanger”, I read aloud.  So, I had a dream of Jose Rizal.  He was speaking to me in that dream as if telling me very important things.  I thought about what he told me.  And then, I realized, he was telling me to remember their good deeds, their ideals.

            Tears welled up from my eyes, not because I thought of Rizal’s death, years before his friend’s death, nor because of the death of hundreds, even thousands of other freedom-fighters.  My tears fell down my hot cheeks because I criticized them years ago.  And I’ve forgotten about them.  I, once the daughter of a business tycoon in Manila, a snob, a teenager whose life depended on parties, on shopping malls, on how to spend money here and there, have forgotten about my responsibilities as a Filipino.

            When my family’s business fell, and my father and mother died in a plane crash two years ago, I was left to the care of my grandmother—my real grandmother’s sister—without any amount of money in my pocket.

            Yesterday, as I sat under the Sampaloc tree, I thought of the man in my dreams.  He seemed very real to me.  He was there standing in front of me again while I read El Filibusterismo.  He wanted to tell me so much more but he just stood there, staring at me again.  I realized he had known of what I did a week ago.  We were discussing some Filipino heroes and Renaissance and Enlightenment writers.  I yelled at my teacher in World History for saying that Bonifacio is also worthy of being a National Hero.  For me, only Rizal should be the National Hero because Bonifacio resorted to violence.  The man in front of me knew about that event and he was not pleased.  I remembered him saying to me how much he admired his friend.  Then, I realized, all of them are heroes because they fought for our country’s freedom and left footprints for us to follow.

            I was about to tell him how sorry I was but he was leaving.  There he was, with his back to me, almost running.  He was running away from me.  So fast…until I could see him no more.

By: Claire Angeles

            I was sitting under the huge Sampaloc tree in front of my grandmother’s house when he arrived.  He was looking down at me with interest while I read the book on my lap.  It was Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.  I was merely a third year high school student then in one of the run-down public schools located in San Simon, Pampanga.  We had an assignment about that book and not because I was interested in Rizal’s thoughts.  I looked up at the man who had been staring at me for God knows how long.  I squinted my eyes.  The sun’s rays were striking down at me that I felt my eyes become watery.

“Are you crying?” he asked.  He seemed worried.

            “No, no.  I’m not crying.  It’s just that it’s so hot and my eyes are not used to it.”

            “Would you mind if I take a look at that book?”

            “No, I won’t mind.  Here.”  I handed the book to him but I stayed seated on the ground.  I couldn’t take my eyes away from his face.  I noticed his hair had been gelled.  And his suit!  It was an expensive one.  Maybe, a very expensive one.  It was kind of gray, perhaps lighter.  He looked like the guy I saw in one of my history books.  What’s his name?  Oh, yes!  Jose Rizal.  The author of my book.

            “Thank you for letting me look at your book.  Are you busy?  Can you spare me a few minutes?  I just want to talk to you about the book.  He was almost begging.  I don’t know what got into me at that moment.  I let him talk to me.

            He sat beside me under the tree, mindless of the dirt, mindless of his suit.

            He told me many things.  He said he never did approve of a bloody revolution.  He chose to change his society in a less violent means.

            “What was he talking about?”  I wondered, but did not try to interrupt him.  I was so curious that I let him babble on and on.  He told me about a certain man.  His friend, apparently, and one whom he admired so much.  The man, according to him, had so many plans.  He planned to overthrow the leader of the Spaniards who had been oppressing them.  He gathered a large group of men and even women who believed in his ideals.  They fought the Spaniards with their bolos and rifles.  All for the sake of freedom.  He wanted his country to be free from its oppressors.  But he died.

            At that instance, I sighed a long sigh.  His eyes became watery as he spoke of his friend’s death.  Suddenly, I had the urge to hug him, to comfort him.  But I sat still and played with my braids.

            “His men continued their fight because they knew they were fighting for a great cause.  But I never did approve of their way.  I had my own plans.  I wrote and wrote to open up my countrymen’s hearts—to tell them about many things, about the way we had been treated by those Spaniards.  I had influenced their thoughts, I know.  They admired me—those freedom-fighters—and I admired them.  Now, I don’t know who among us had been right.”  And then he left.  He left hurriedly that only his footprints remained.

            I kicked so hard my foot hit the wooden wall of my grandmother’s big hut.  And then I fell from my bed and hit the floor made of bamboo.  I screamed in pain.  My grandmother ran to my side, awakened by my scream.  It was then that I realized, it was only a dream.

            The man’s face was so vivid in my mind.  I kept imagining his gelled hair, his thin moustache, his sleepy eyes that seem to tell a thousand thoughts.

            “Why did he tell me about his friend?  Why did he speak of himself as having written those articles that influenced his countrymen’s thoughts?”  I wondered and wondered.  Even in class, I was lost in my thoughts.  And then, it hit me!

            I went home almost running.  I almost tripped on the rough stones protruding from the dusty road leading to my grandmother’s house.  I opened my book.  “Noli Me Tanger”, I read aloud.  So, I had a dream of Jose Rizal.  He was speaking to me in that dream as if telling me very important things.  I thought about what he told me.  And then, I realized, he was telling me to remember their good deeds, their ideals.

            Tears welled up from my eyes, not because I thought of Rizal’s death, years before his friend’s death, nor because of the death of hundreds, even thousands of other freedom-fighters.  My tears fell down my hot cheeks because I criticized them years ago.  And I’ve forgotten about them.  I, once the daughter of a business tycoon in Manila, a snob, a teenager whose life depended on parties, on shopping malls, on how to spend money here and there, have forgotten about my responsibilities as a Filipino.

            When my family’s business fell, and my father and mother died in a plane crash two years ago, I was left to the care of my grandmother—my real grandmother’s sister—without any amount of money in my pocket.

            Yesterday, as I sat under the Sampaloc tree, I thought of the man in my dreams.  He seemed very real to me.  He was there standing in front of me again while I read El Filibusterismo.  He wanted to tell me so much more but he just stood there, staring at me again.  I realized he had known of what I did a week ago.  We were discussing some Filipino heroes and Renaissance and Enlightenment writers.  I yelled at my teacher in World History for saying that Bonifacio is also worthy of being a National Hero.  For me, only Rizal should be the National Hero because Bonifacio resorted to violence.  The man in front of me knew about that event and he was not pleased.  I remembered him saying to me how much he admired his friend.  Then, I realized, all of them are heroes because they fought for our country’s freedom and left footprints for us to follow.

            I was about to tell him how sorry I was but he was leaving.  There he was, with his back to me, almost running.  He was running away from me.  So fast…until I could see him no more.

Ken, well dressed creatures da pay! Nagpipintas ti uretda a maibagay iti surroundings da–karuotan man wenno kabulbulungan.

Ti inspiration ko iti daytoy a Salaysay isu daydiay napintas nga article ni Allyssa Mae (A. Tuazon) idiay iluko.com maipuon iti ul-uleg (ti title na–”it’s a busy world” (this one we’ve got to believe!)). Sinuktak ti nagan dagiti characters nga inusarko ditoy a salaysay.

Gapu ta diak malagip a napasamak daytoy umuna nga isalaysayko, mabalin nga awan pay tallo a tawenko idi. Estorya laeng kaniak ni manangko nga  inauna kaniak iti 7 a tawen.

Kaykayatko kano ti ag-drawing iti an-animal idi ubingak. Lalo kadagiti ul-uleg nga maysa la nga straight line ti aramidek  sako palikmutan iti nadumaduma a color na iti krayola. Es-estoryaandak met dagiti natataengan maipuon iti kabibiag dagiti an-animals, adda nasayaat kadakuada, adda met madi ti ugalida. Adda pay daytay estorya maipuon kenni Ina nga Uleg nga binagbagaanna dagiti babassit nga annakna nga uleg nga agsingsingpet dagitoy ta mapan bassit agbiruk iti kanenda.

Maysa nga aldaw, nakakitaak iti Uleg nga 2 feet ti kaatiddogna nga napintas ti color na nga aguy-uyas nga umas-asideg iti ayan diay manok nga adda aywanna a pi-piyek. Nasiputan daydiay manok ket naglabanda. Sinippisippit diay manok daydiay ulo daydiay uleg.

Idi nakitak nga naabaken daydiay uleg ket kasla matmatayen, nagsangitakon. Kayatko nga adda mangarayat idiay uleg. Inguyod-guyudko daydiay bado ni manangko ngem madi met isu nga umarayat idiay uleg.

Ti inaramidko, ginammatak daydiay ipus daydiay uleg nga narigatna nga itungwa daydiay ulona ta naariweng ngarud. Agsangsangit, bitbitko nga inkamat-kamat daydiay uleg kenni manangko nga ti tarayna kano nga agririaw nga ibbatak kano koma daydiay uleg. Pati ni baingko nga Angkila (Angela, my great grandma) ket nabugak nga agros-rosaryo ket napalalo ti kulagtitna idi nakauliak diay balay ket kayatko nga agpatulong kaniana a biagenna koma diay bitbibitbitko nga uleg.

No ut-utubek itatta, ubingngak pay la gayam ket adda ugalikon nga maasian kadagiti mairurumen wenno dehado wenno maab-abak!

—— 0 O 0 ——

High School’ak idin idi agririaw iti “uleg, uleg, Joven, tulungannak” ni ilyang nga Kaduada diay kaarruba nga balay. Joven ti awagda kaniak idi ubingak, Linagtok diay nababa nga alad ket nagdisoak iday solarda. Nakitak diay uleg nga aguy-uyas manipud kusina nga agturong diay asideg a kasabaan.

Nataldiapak ket innalak a dagus daydiay kallipos ti kaatiddogna nga nakuttong a kawayan nga us-usaraenda a tukal ti balaybayanda a barut. Inusarko daytoy a panangbatbat diay katingngaan ti bagi diay uleg nga nasurok a 2 feet ti kaatiddogna!

Intungwa diay uleg diay ulona sana inngangana diay ngiwatna (wide open) nga nakapaturong kaniak. Nakigtotak ket nagbutengak nga di nakakuti. Binuyak lattan nga inbaba diay uleg diay ulona nga insadag diay daga. Dagus metten  nga innala kaniak ni ilyang daydiay iggemko nga kawayan ket isu ti inusarna nga panangbatba-batbat ken panggusod-gusod diay ulo diay uleg aginggana’t maderder daytoy!

Maasianak diay uleg. Aginggana ita, ma-imagine ko pay laeng no kasano iti pnangiturongna diay ulo ken open wide nga ngiwatna kaniak. Iti riknak kasla nakabasolak, kasanon ngay dagidiay annakna nga uleg, aglalo no babassitda pay?

Idi nagbaybayag gapu’t panagbasbasak ken naibaga met dagiti lallakay, naammuak nga saan a makapatay gayam dagiti uleg ti balay. Saanda nga agdangran iti tattao,  isuda gayam dagitay agkaan kadagiti peste nga Utot (rat). Utot kunami diay Pangasinan iti Rat gapu ta ti Bao, isu ti awag dagiti Panggalato iti parte ti bagi ti babae nga kalkalubanda a nabatbati no agusarda iti Bikini, hehehe…

Saanda nga agdangran iti tattao dagita nga klase ti uleg, makatulongda pay.

Ngem no siak laeng, kasano ngarud a mailangaak iti poisonous nga uleg iti non-poisonous? Tarayak laengen ida wenno mapilitan a patayek ida no ma-corner dak kas pagarigan!

—— 0 O 0 ——

Nakakitaakon iti nakagat iti uleg. Ni Atty. Siksikan nga kasadarak. Idi ubing pay, nakagat iti uleg ket tinandok ni Mr. Tandoc. Sinugatsugatna diay saka ni Atty. diay asideg ti lipay lipay daytoy. Tallo nga suction rubber nga maysa pulgada ti diameter ti maysa ti nangsusup iti gita diay uleg. Adda met puraw a kasla nana a nailaok kadagiti dara a nasusopda. Sadala insardeng iti agsusop idi awanen ti nailaok a gita.

Dagiti dadduma a tumatandok, ngiwatda ti pagsusupda diay gita, sada itupra. Apay, saan ngata a masamalan no maramananna diay tumatandok ti gita ti uleg?

Saan siguro a nasamay ti gita diay uleg ta apay nga nakataray pay ni Atty. nga nagpaarayat ket naurayda pay ni Mr. Tandoc nga naggapu pay idiay bangir ti Poblacion. Saan a kas kadagitay ibagbagada nga Karasaen (cobra) nga sumagmamano nga minuto laeng ket mataykan no makagatka.

—— 0 O 0 ——

Daytoy ti nakakatkatawa a pasamak–maipuon kenni gayyemko a kaarruba a ni Tapuak. Nabirngasan isu ti Tapuak gapu kenni tatangna nga agsakit kano idi gubat (world war II) ket idi nakangngeg kano iti kanalbuong iti paltog, rimmuar kano nga nagtaraytaray ket nagkulmeg iti nakubong a semento nga nauneg gayam a bubon. Natinnag diay bubon nga 20 feet seguro ti kaunegna. Imbag la ketdin ta saan nga adalem ti danum diay bubon, pagat-siketna laeng!

Tallo nga aldaw ti napalabas idi adda agsakdo diay bubon (awan ngaminen dagiti nagpipinnaltogan nga gerilya ken Hapones) ket nakitada nga adda naipisuk a tao diay bubon!

Manipud idin Tapuak ti inpanaganda ket natawid met daytoy gayyemko nga anakna ti nagan a Tapuak.

Maysa kadagiti uso nga ay-ayammi idi ubbing kami iti Fencing ti ima (escrima nga takiag ti usarenmi nga sword a pakibakal). Pati babbae nga kaay-ayammi maki-fencing met. Uray ni ilyang nga maid diay kaarrubami naaw-awis ko met a maki-fencing kaniami no rabii a nalpas ti trabahona. Siyempre, saanmi unay nga pigpigsaan a duyuken ti parte ti bagi ti babbae. Ngem nakaro no isuda ti dumuyok, bumanogbog pay!

Ngem namisan, natiruan diay maysa a babae wenno nagammatanna diay kukuak! (Diak ammo no ingagarana nga ginammatan wenno saan.) Diak laengen nagpapahalata ta siguro di met ammo diay babae ti napasamak.

Ngem saan nga dayta ti nakakatkatawa! Inawisko ni Tapauak nga nag-practice kami idiay tuktok ti padpader ti simbaan ta adda tournament mi iti Fencing a kalaban ti sabali a grupo iti mabiit. Napan kami iti tuktok ti pagat-lipos a pader a pingir ti simbaan a napuoran idi gubat–na-enclose a pader made of red bricks wenno nardilyo nga kasla gold bars ti kadadakkelda a natuon-tuon a naaramid payla idi panawen ti Kastila.

Nag-fencing kami ngarud ket nadugsolko diay barukongna ket natinnag ni Tapuak. nagdisso iti abay ti naraber a mula ket nagkuti pay dagidiay mulmula.

“Nakagatak ti uleg!” nagriaw ni Tapuak. Nagbutengak met ngem idi kuan timmapuakak met ta arayatek isuna. Adda nga agpayso ti sugatna diay asideg ti tangan diay kannawan a sakana ket adda dara a rumrumuar.

“Mo ta kamisitam ta singdanak ta gurongmo,” naisingasingko.

“Tarayek laengen a mapan diay balayda lakay Doro!” kinunana ket tmmakder sa timmaray. Ni lakay Doro, no agtandok, ngiwatna ti pagsusop iti gita sana itupra.

Awan naaramidko no di kimmamat kaniana kenni Tapuak. 300  meters laeng ti kaadayo ti balay da lakay Doro ket nabiitmi a nadanon. Ti am-amkek laeng idi, baka sumamay a dagus daydiay gita ta agwaras kano a dagus no makulog ti daram iti panagtaraymo.

Imbag ta nairana a saan a nagpataltalon ni lakay Doro. Nagkatawa ni lakay Doro idi makitana ti sugat ni Tapuak. Awan kano ti kagat ti uleg, awan ti tallo a naipalok a ngipen ti uleg. Nauklap nga apgpayso ti kudil diay sakana. Ngem sugat ngata iti sarming wenno natadem a pisi ti nardilyo diay pader a nagay-ayamanmi.

Agkakapsut nga agsigkisigking a tinulungak nga nagawid ni Tapuak. Timmarayak bassit a ngangala iti dua a Cortal (pain reliever) diay balaymi sako pinatumar ni Tapuak. Saan a nagbayag nakaturog piman ni Tapuak.

—— 0 O 0 ——

Ni Pampam Jr. napanaganan iti kasta ta naestoryak iti napasamakmi idi naminsan immatindar kami iti fiesta diay Binalonan nga kaabay ti ilimi. Kaeskuelaak idi iti High school, maysa a kabassitan ngen nakomik ket naparagsit nga agkutkuti.

Nagbuyabuya kami iti nadumaduma a pabuya kaduami ni Dolfo a maysa met a battit a kaeskwelaanmi. Ni Pampam Jr. pasublisubli nga agbuya iti maymaysa a pabuya ket katawa a katawa. Awanen ti kuartami kenni Dolfo idi inawis na kami ni Pampam Jr. idiay paboritona a buyaen Inikkannakami iti sag-dye-dyes sentimos ket simbrek kami met a nagbuya.

Isu gayam a maay-ayatan nga agbuya ni Pampam Jr. gapu ta adda tallo nga babbae nga agsalsala nga naka-bra ken panty laeng ti kawesda. Ket idi agleppasen ti tokar,nabati diay kapintasanda a babae nga iniikkatna diay bra na santo inikkatna a pang-last diay panty na. Idi ma-expose diay saan met unay a naraber nga akinbaba a buok, timmaray a dagus a nagkamang diay backstage!

Saankami a naganasan kenni Dolfo, “apay nagbiit met,” kinunkunami, ket naestoryami ti napasamak diay eskuelaanmi. Nanipud idi, napanagananen iti Pampam Jr. toy gayyemko… Jr. ti pusurot ti naganna ta Pampam metten ti nagan diay maysa a tough guy ditoy ilimi.

Nakaskas-ang ti napasamak kenni Pampam Jr. idi nakaasawa ken nagkaanak ti baketna, saan a nagbayag binagsol ti kinalabanna ket impatayna daytoy. Nasapa a natay daytoy nakomik a gayyemko. Nakaskas-ang!

Ngem antes dayta, kastoy man ti napasamak ko ken ni Pampam Jr. maipuon iti uleg. Agpada kami a miembro iti Boy Scout ket immatindarkami naminsan iti Jamboree iti Kristo Rey (Christ the King celebration) iti maysa nga ili idiay Pangasinan nga abay iti baybay.  Adda pupukan ti sidsida ti panginaen ni Pampam Jr.

Idi adda break mi diay campomi ti scouts, inawisnak kadua ti dua pay a ka-scout’an mi nga nagpasyar diay pupukan ni auntie na. Nagbangka kami ket rinikus-rikusmi dagiti parte ti pupukan a naal-aladan a nakulong-kulong iti nalagalaga a kawayan. Pinagsisnada siguro dagiti nadumaduma nga ipuppupokda a sidsida. Immikkat kami met diay bangka ket naglangoy kami a sikakawes iti uniporme ti Boy scout–short sleeved nga khaki a bado ken short pant a khaki met.

Pagam-ammuan ket nakatiliw ni Pampam Jr. iti Uleg nga in-kuentas na kaniak!

Ti riawko nga nga nangiwagsak diay uleg nga naglangoy langoy kalpasanna. Nagpatud-patudak a paadayo ket linagto-lagtok pay a linangoy-langoy dagidiay nakaballangan nga bakod-bakod a nalagalaga a kakawayan. Anian a butengkon! Nagkakatawada amin a nalabsanak nga ipukpukkawda nga saan kano nga agkagat daydiay uleg! Saan kano a makasamal!

Intuloyko latta iti naglangoy a nagsubli idiay takdang. Diakon a naglugan pay idiay bangka, nagpamagaak laengen iti uniporme a badok ket inurayko la idan a timmakdang! Anian a butengkon aya!

—— 0 O 0 ——

Sabali met ti mai-salaysay ko nga padas daydi Father ko, idi Hunter pay isuna. Naminsan, aduda a nagkukuyog nga pinsarda nga ag-hunting iti bilbillit, ugsa ken alingo.

Idi nabannogda a nagkakadua a nagpalpaltog iti bilbillit, nagsardingda ta kayatda ti agluto iti makanda. Adda nakitada a kasla napintas ti color na nga bato wenno kasla earthen ware nga nadamile nga kasla balukutsa ti sukogna a perfect circle. Nangalada iti dua pay a bato sada insimpa diay sangwanan ti napintas a bato. Intuonda idiay ti bangada, idiay tallo a batbato nga insimpada to form a triangle of stones.

Manarimaan nga agap-apoy daydiay inarunanda idi agkuti metten daydiay napintas a bato ket napattog daydiay lutlutuenda. Beklat gayam a nakakulunikon a matmaturog daydiay napintas a bato! Aduda a nagtitinnulong a nangkemmeg diay beklat. Kakaasi met piman diay beklat a rinangrangkayda a nagbibingayan nga inyawid. Nakakaasi a beklat!

—— 0 O 0 ——

Adu ti naknakanko idi ubingak nga exotic foods a makunkuna. Napalalo ti imasna dagiti billit a ma-hunting ni Father ko. Alimuken, Balog, malaksid kadagitay billit nga agsidsida iti igges, saan kano a kakanen kuna daydi father ko. Ayna, nagimas ti kannaway! Naramraman nga adayo ngem manok wenno itik.

Naminsan, saan a natay, napadalingiasan laeng ti inyawid a a kannaway ni Father ket inpupukda iti baki (pagyanan ti manok no agapon kenno agukop). Nagbalin a Pet ko ta maasianak a partienda.

Naminsan iti pangsirip-siripko idiay babassit nga abut ti baki, tinuktok diay kannaway diay baba ti maysa a matak! Nakakaasi a kannaway ta kapilitan a pinarte ni Father ko. Ti rungaabko kano ta diak kayat a matay diay Pet ko!

Mabalin nga nakakaanak payen iti banias. Agsangpet idi ti nadumaduma a karkarne. Pinakanda pay kano idi ni baingko Angkila iti karne nga insangpet dagiti appona naggapu away. Sala ammo ni baingko ti karne nga impasidada kaniana idi nakitanak nga ibaut-baot ko kano diay ipus diay Angkeng (monkey) idiay asidegna!

Ngem idi addaak College diay Manila, adda paw-it ni Father ko kaniak nga tallo kaiwa ti kasla pitso (breast iti manok). Nagimas ti pannakalutona nga adobo, inalunos ko pay diay immuna a pitso. Insaruno nga inlabay iti innapuy dagidiay nabatbati a dua kaiwa. Nagimas ketdin, naisalsalumina iti ramanna a manok–kaimasan a naramanak! Ngem masmasdaawanak nga apay a tallo a pitso daytoy? Sigud-sigud met nga no agparte kami iti manok diay balaymi, saggaysa a manok laeng ti ma-afford mi a partien. Nakaskasdaaw!

After 6 months, idi nagbakasyunak idiay probinsia, nasaludsod ni Father ko no naawatko ken naramanak diak tallo kaiwa ti beklat nga impaw-itna. Beklat gayam nga natiliw ni uncle Ambrose idiay kakawayanan diay away. Agsidsida kano iti manmanokda daydiay nga beklat! Nakakaasi manen a beklat, ngem naimas gayam ti karneda, hehehe…

—— 0 O 0 ——

Idi agad-adalak pay laeng iti Architecture idiay Manila, nagtrabahoak iti dua nga agkabsat a Contractor. Maysa kadakuada ti nakatulungak iti design ken in-draft ko amin nga 20 houses some of them in White Plains, maysa iti sango latta ti balay ni Nida Blanca a natayen gapu iti murder a di pay na-solve aginggana ita. Adu kadagita nga nai-drawing ko iti expensive houses ngem iti kaykayatko unay, dagiti 6 nga low cost housing models nga siak mismo a bukodko ti nang-design. 1 to 2 bedroom units dagitoy. Maragsakanak idi naammuak nga na-construct dagitan, adu idiay Bulacan, At least nakatulungak met kadagiti pampamilya nga bassit la ti kuartada ket nakabalayda met. maragsakanak uray ta nakatulungak kadagiti bassit laeng ti makuarkuartana.

Arkitektoak ngem imbes nga dagiti mamayaman nga kabaelanda ti agpaaramid iti babbalay, dagiti met popobre a padak ti kinay-kayatko a kapulapol idi, hehehe…

Ditoy opisinami iti nakakitaak iti ubing nga uleg. Agririaw nga nagpaarayat diay secretary nga babae idiay opisina nga asideg diay kuartok nga agdro-drawing. Tinaray ko diay opisina ngem naikulengak idi makitak daydiay 1 foot kaatiddogna nga baby uleg (siguro) nga aguy-uyas diay floor. Naggapu kano nga nagbitin idiay kurtina na mala rosas ti burda na. Kakul-color diay uleg dagidiay mulmula a masirip diay ruar ti jalousie windows.

Nauraymi nga adda timmulong kaniami nga maysa met nga empleyado nga nangtupak iti napuskol a libro idiay uleg. Nagpintas nga uleg nga berde nga turikan ti color na. Nailalaanak iti ubing nga uleg. Nakakaasi met, nakunak laengen iti bagik. Makabiruk koma pay iti partner na ken makaanak pay, tsk tsk tsk ….

—— 0 O ——

Adu metten ti nabuybuyak nga ul-uleg–kadagiti Zoo’s nga napaspasyarko ken nabuybuyak iti TV shows, nagpipintas, nakaay-ayatda a buybuyaen!

Iti daytoy panaglakaykon–nagkasakit, naospital, nabulagak gapu’t diabetes ket iti maysa a rabii–nagtagtagepnepak. saansa nga ordinaryo a tagtagepnep, tagtagepnep sa nga half conscious’ak ta apay ket na-control ko met ti napasamak?

Adda kampay idi abut a kalalainganna ti kalawana nga adda uleg wenno bassit a beklat nga rimmuar lattan idiay igid ti abut.  Saan nga agkagat daytoy, imbagak iti bagik ket inyasidegko dagiti matak nga miniramira ti texture diay uleg.

Naglawag nga nakitak ti details na diay uleg! Nakitak no kasano pannaka-urnos dagiti siksikna, dagiti patterns, color na nga different colors–I swear I can paint them if not in oil, it would be in tempera (opaque water colors). Kastoy gayam ti imagination iti maysa a Pintor, naglawag a makitana ti detalye ti ipinpintana! Wow, tattak la nga ag-imagine iti kastoy! Makariingak laeng,kinunak iti bagik, “I will paint it  before it dis-appears in my mind!”

Ngem idi nakariingak, diko met maipinta ta kasano ngarud ket diak met makakita, diak met mapaglalasin dagiti colors–nangisit da met amin!

Aginggana ita nga makakitaak manen, diak met maipinta ta napukaw metten daydiay imagination ko a kas painter.

At least, naikkanak iti chance idiay tagtagepnep wenno am-ammangaw ko nga naikkan iti mata ti maysa a Painter! Even for just a night.

Anian a gasatko no maikkanak koma manen iti gundaway a matagtagepnep wenno maarapaap a nakariing a maddaan iti mata iti Painter! No kas koma idiay napasamak kaniak idi antes a ma-ospitalak idi 2004– iti las-ud iti 10 months a nakaputarak iti 900 pieces of Music!

Manmano a mapasamak a galad dagita. Agyamanak laengen nga naikkanak iti chance a ma-experienc iti saan a ma-experience iti daddama a tattao!

—— 0 O 0 ——

This essay was published also in

iluko.com : http://www.barroga.net/article.aspx?ArticleID=9806

A. CONTEST MECHANICS

1. The contest is open to all intermediate grade school (grades four to six) and high school (all four year levels) students in the Philippines. Both student subscribers (those studying from schools that subscribe to Student’s Digest, S&T Digest, and/or V2day) and nonsubscribers (those from schools that do not subscribe to all or any of the three magazines) are welcome to join.

2. The article could be written in either Filipino or English. It should be original and unpublished whether in print or online. It should discuss/describe a unique practice or tradition in the contestant’s town or community. The contestant must explain why this practice/tradition is special to him/her and must highlight its importance in his/her place and to the country’s culture. His/Her article must be able to promote and popularize the said practice/tradition.

3. To read any of the sample articles, log on to SDmags.net (www.sdmags.net), the official Web site of the three SD Publications, Inc. magazines and click on the “SD Sample Articles” icon.

4. A teacher/coach in the contestant’s school must guide him/her in the course of writing the article. The teacher/coach must also ensure that the contestant strictly follows the contest rules as well as writing and copyright rules.

5. Articles must be written using Microsoft Word, Open Office, or other word processing programs, and saved in .rtf format. The article length must be at least 200 words for grade school contestants and 300 words for high school contestants.

6. Articles must contain at least one related photograph. They can also have a multimedia component (e.g., audio narration, video, animation, etc.). If the photographs and/or multimedia component are not original (not owned by the contestant), the sources for such (e.g., URLs, television shows, films, etc.) must be indicated at the bottom of the entry.

7. High school contestants have the option to feature their article in blog format (WordPress, Multiply, Blogspot, etc.). The text content, however, should be exactly the same as that of the article that they will submit to SD Publications, Inc. The blog must link back to their uploaded entry on SDmags.net. Contestants must indicate the URL of the blog in the entry information.

8. Articles must strictly observe copyright rules (e.g., no plagiarism, proper accreditation of sources, etc.).

9. All entries should include the following information: contestant’s full name, home address, school (and address), grade / year level, the full name of the teacher/coach, contact number (mobile phone number and/or landline), and the URL of the blog (if applicable).

10. Articles should be sent (as attachment) via e-mail to sdmagsonline@gmail.com (cc: students_digest@yahoo.com). Upon receipt, an e-mail will be sent to the contestant to confirm that SD Publications, Inc. has received his/her entry.

11. The staff writers of SD Publications, Inc will upload all entries on SDmags.net.

B. PRIZES

1. Ten finalists each for grade school and high school will be chosen among the entries. The finalists’ entries will also be published in the printed editions of Student’s Digest.

2. Each of the 10 finalists will receive a special Student’s Digest 30th anniversary wristwatch.

3. A grand prize winner will each be chosen from the grade school and high school category. Each grand prize winner will receive PhP 5,000. The coach/teacher of the winner will receive PhP 3,000. If the winner is from a subscriber school, the school will receive PhP 10,000. The winners will also be invited to become a regular contributor/writer of Student’s Digest or SDmags.net.

4. A Readers’ Choice Award will also be given to the entry that will receive the most number of online votes from the readers of SDmags.net. The winner of this award will receive PhP 3,000 and a Student’s Digest 30th anniversary wristwatch.

5. We will also choose the best blog among the contestants who wrote a blog entry. The winning contestant will receive PhP 2,000.

6. The contest period will be from June 1, 2010 to September 1, 2010.

7. Winners will be announced during the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) Convention on September 22 to 24, 2010 in Cebu City. An announcement will also be posted on SDmags.net and the three SD Publications, Inc. magazines.

8. All entries and original photographs and multimedia content submitted will become the property of SD Publications, Inc. Acknowledgement will be given to the person who submitted the said content.

C. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING

1. Writing — 80%

a. Voice (the article’s slant and how the theme is presented and discussed) — 30%

b. Language (grammar, spelling, punctuation) — 30%

c. Style/Composition (How the entry is written, flow of ideas) — 20%

2. Digital Component (use of hyperlinks and multimedia, diversity and reliability of online sources and references) — 15%

3. Overall Impact of the Article — 5%

From http://panitikan.com.ph

Proposals should be for projects scheduled for implementation in 2011.

Deadline for submission is on September 15, 2010. Proposals received after the deadline and/or with incomplete requirements shall not be processed.

Submit proposals to: Marichu G. Tellano, Chief, Policy, Plan, Formulation and Planning Division (PPFPD), 5th Floor, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 633 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila

Copy of the Project proposal form may be obtained at the PPFPD Office or downloaded from the NCCA website: www.ncca.gov.ph

For eligibility of proponents, requirements, and/or further details, call 527-2192 or visit the NCCA website.

Widely regarded as Bicol’s premiere literary prize, the annual writing contest is open to all Bicolano writers and literary enthusiasts based in the region or elsewhere. New, unproduced, and unpublished works written in any of the variations of the Bikol language (e.g. Bikol Rinconada, Bikol Albay, Bikol Naga, etc) that show literary merit and social significance are eligible for the competition. Category winners receive P5,000 and the Premio Arejola medallion, and are eligible for the P10,000 cash prize and the title Parasurat kan Taon (Writer of the Year).

The literary prize is named in honor of a leading member of the Propaganda Movement who was a signatory of the Malolos Constitution, a delegate to the First and Second Philippine Assembly, and president of La Liga Filipina. The PTALB also runs an annual creative writing workshop, the Juliana Arejola-Fajardo Workshop sa Pagsurat-Bikol.   
  
Also up for grabs are prizes for the Rawitdawit para ki Ina (Poems for the Lady of Peñafrancia), a special category open to pupils of the elementary level, high school students and out-of-school youth not more than 18 years old. The category was inaugurated in 2008 to engender the creation of literary works that articulates a young person’s devotional sentiments to the Lady of Peñafrancia and states, in poetic manner, the significance of such devotion in today’s world. Private catholic schools, universities, and public high schools have participated in the category, which awards a specially-designed medallion and cash and prizes worth P3,000 for the winner and his/her coach.

Likewise being accepted are entries for the Premio Bibiano Sabino para sa Librong Bikol, now also in its 3rd year. The category is open to book authors, book designers/ illustrators, anthologists/editors and publishers of Bikol literary titles. To qualify, the book must be written in the Bikol language, edited/ anthologized, designed/illustrated by a Bicolano native or resident. Titles published and distributed between September 2009 and August 2010 are eligible for the said book prize. The winner will receive a testimonial plague, P5,000, and shall be listed in the roster along with the winners of the regular and special categories and Lifetime Achievement Awardees.  
  
All short-listed entries will be awarded Diplomas of Merit in an awards ceremony on October. Entries for all categories must be received on or before August 31, 2010. For full contest rules, please log on to www.panitikan.com.ph or email SuratBikol@gmail.com.

Yes, Good deeds gets rewarded too!…

I changed the names of the main characters involved. These 2 stories were related to me by my wife. My wife who was mainly a house wife was a favorite consultant to friends and relatives about matters pertaining to investments in real estate and stock market, tax returns, immigration matters etc, etc. (Of course I was the one secretly supplying Info to my wife). People like to tell stories to my wife which my wife tells me also, hehehe…

—– O O O —–

The first story is about Martang, who worked as a Caregiver in one facility for the Aged in San Jose, California. She and her husband and 2 children immigrated to the USA from their Barrio somewhere in Eastern Pangasinan during the early 1970’s. One and a half year after staying with a relative, Martang’s family moved to their first home, a 3 bedroom bungalow. She and her husband worked hard, her husband even worked double jobs that they were able to save $2,000 for the downpayment of a 15 year old house worth $40,000 at that time.

Martang’s family had a neighbor, an 80 year old White woman who lived alone in a house next to Martang’s house. Years before, the neighborhood was populated by mostly White families but when some Hispanic people moved in the neighborhood and values of homes doubled in value, those White families decided to move to other affluent communities in the Suburbs.

This White woman we’re going to call Mrs.Smith, decided to remain in this neighborhood which was also a favorite place for Ilocanos to own their first homes. She chose to remain, maybe because she was still waiting for her daughter to return, a daughter who left her to live somewhere in the east coast when the husband of Mrs. Smith died.

Mrs. Smith sold her car years ago when she failed the Vision test for driving. She just push a cart from the grocery store to her home 2 blocks away when she buys her food. One day Martang saw how hard the White woman brought her groceries home that Martang offered to push the cart for Mrs. Smith. From then on Martang’s family became friends with Mrs. Smith.

Martang from time to time went to the house of Mrs. Smith to help the old woman housekeeping, laundry, cooking and other chores. Martang did not accept money for her services, just some cookies and some used clothes, and toys for her kids. Martang brought Mrs. Smith to parties in their house and houses of relatives. Martang’s children even considered Mrs. Smith as their Grandma.

Sometime after Mrs. Smith died, Martang learned that the Old woman willed her house to her! I don’t know if Martang kept the house she inherited for rental purposes or she sold it. 30 years later, the $40,000 bungalows in Martang’s neighborhood were worth $600,000 each!

—– O O O —–

This second story is about our neighbor across the street. They are Ilocanos also. We will call them manang Teryang and manong Ben. They came from Zambales, but originally from La Union.

Manong Ben suffered a stroke/ He talks with a slight blurring in speech and limps when he walks. He was a retired Colonel in the then Phil. Constabulary. He even served under Gen Fidel Ramos, who became President later.

Every year, manong and manang visited Zambales. In one of their visits, manong suffered another stroke and was confined in St Luke’s hospital (I guess that’s the name) for several days. In that hospital, a nurse we’re going to call Grace was assigned to take care of the needs of manong Ben.

Grace took care of manong Ben so well that the retired colonel became so fond of her that one day on his last stay in the hospital he asked Grace:

“Balasangko, I got a son in the US who is still single. He is interested in marrying somebody here in the Phil. Would you be interested to know him further?”

Grace smiled and said it’s Okay if she is “maikarkari.”

That was the beginning of a not too long courtship by phone and letters. The son of manong and manang visited Grace in the Philippines and boy and girl decided they were meant for each other.

Grace was petitioned as Fiancee and less than a year later Grace and manong’s son were married. Having passed the California board of examiners for nurses, Grace is now employed as nurse in California. The starting salary of nurses in California is at least $40 /hr or around $80,000/yr.

Scholarship Eligibility

As a state-supported special secondary school, PHSA accepts only a limited number of freshmen every year. Annual intake averages forty to fifty students only to ensure a more individualized and differentiated academic and arts training programs possible.

To be eligible for scholarship, an applicant must:

• be Filipino citizen with no pending application as immigrant to any foreign country;
• have an outstanding ability in an art discipline;
• be a graduating Grade VI or VII pupil at the time of application;
• be able to take up the scholarship in the School Year for which it is granted;
• not be older than 14 years upon enrolment;
• be proficient in oral and written Filipino and English;
• be willing to study in a residential school;
• have no debilitating illnesses or systemic and/or communicable diseases such as serum sickness, congenita;
• heart disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis A and/or B, untreated primary complex, chronic otitis media, malaria, bronchial asthma, and/or seizures/involuntary tremors; and
• be determined to pursue a college degree in Dance, Creative Writing, Architecture, Fine Arts, Music, Theater Arts, Journalism, or any related courses upon graduation from PHSA.

Scholarship Requirements

The following documents must be received by the Search Committee for the preliminary evaluation of scholarship applications:

• fully accomplished PHSA Scholarship Application Form;
• photocopy of Birth Certificate issued by the NSO;
• photocopy of Grade V or Grade VI Report Card;
• one-page resume citing accomplishments in the art field of interest;
• two (2) sets of priority mail stamps;
• ten (10 samples of works (e.g. short story, poem, essay) in Filipino and/or English, typewritten, double-spaced on A4 white bond paper authenticated by the teacher-in-charge (for creative writing)
• ten (10) images of artworks (jpeg format) in CD or DVD (for visual arts)-optional

Official records and other documents will not be returned to the applicant. Please be advised not to submit original copies when not required to.

All applications must be received by the Scholarship committee on or before August 30, 2010.

Ti SABALI Awards 2009-2010 wenno Savella-Baclig Literary Awards ket pasalip iti sarita nga inesponsoran dagiti agassawa a naayat iti literatura, da Judge Vivencio S. Baclig ken Mrs. Nenita F. Baclig. Da met Ariel S. Tabag, Cles B. Rambaud ken Juan S. P. Hidalgo, Jr. dagiti nagpaay a hurado.

“Dagiti Kumpet iti Patadem” a sarita ni Virgilio D. Domaloy manipud iti Brgy. Agat, Sison, Pangasinan ti nangiyalat iti maikatlo a gunggona. Ti pagpintasan ti sarita ti umuna man nga intay imurian ken idasig.

Take note, pagpintasan kunatayo, ta kadaytoy sinurattayo nga artikulo ket sursurotenna ti nakuna ken opinion ti nalatak a mannurat a ni Ralph Waldo Emerson no ania ti kritisismo. Kuna ti pagtamdagantayo a mannurat: “Criticism should not be querulous and wasting, all knife and root-pulling, but guiding, instructive, inspirational.” Ngarud, suroten pay laeng daytoy a sinurat dayta a balakad.

Maysa a pagpigsaan daytoy a sarita a naamirisko ket gapu ta napapanawen wenno timely a makunkuna a sarita. Saan laeng a basta timely no di ket namsek ti sarita kadagiti paripirip a mapasamak. Uray ti naggibusan ket naiparipirip nga immuna sakbay a napasamak. Nagamayan pay iti retorika ti paulo a mangpananam iti sarita.

Ti laengen paulona ket maysa a nabaked a metapora. Makapatig-ab. Nupay saan la a daytoy a sarita ti nakaaramatanna, ta nausaren iti adun a sarita, napudot latta gapu ti isyo a napapanawen. Basingkawel ngamin ti politika daytoy a tawen ket napapanawen la unay daytoy a banag. Kabarbaraanna nga isyo ta maipapan iti basingkawel ti politika dagiti dominante a damag iti inaldaw. Sumurot met dagiti sinurat. Maipapan ti basingkawel ti politika ti masarsarita iti sarita.

Iti laksid a maipapan iti politika ti topiko, nasuportaran dagiti naidatag a detalie wenno pasamak wenno napaneknekan ketdi dagiti argumentos ket lalo a dimmaeg ti sarita. Nadaeg ti pannakaisurat ti sarita agsipud ta naipakita dagiti rumbeng a maipakita ken naidetalie met dagiti rumbeng a maidetalie. Saanen a nagpalikawkaw ken nagaramat ti autor kadagiti pangngarig ta ad-addan a dagiti pasamak ti namaggunay ken nangsakop ti pakabuklan ti amin.

Intay man ngarud rugian nga ibugasan iti punto por punto ti sarita a kas maiyataday kadagiti ramen ti maysa a sarita…

TI PAULO

Nabileg a paulo ti “Dagiti Kumpet iti Patadem.” Inladawanna ti kinaasino dagiti agakem. Inladawanna ti kababalin ken takder dagiti agbibiag. Iti paulo pay laeng maiparipiripen ti pakabuklan ti amin. Adda pamalpalatpatan iti karakterisasion dagiti kangrunaan nga agbibiag.

Ta ania ngamin ti akem ti paulo? Isu ti masarsarita. Ti paulo ket maipapan kadagiti kumpet iti patadem. Asino dagiti kumpet iti patadem? Dagiti kangrunaan nga agbibiag, da Brando ken Oscar.

Apay a kumpetda iti patadem? Makapaladingit nga agpayso ta gapu iti kinarigat ti panagbiag dagiti agbibibiag, inkapilitan a kimpetda iti patadem ta kasapulanda la unay ti dakkel a gatad ti kuarta. Adda sense of exigency. Ni Brando, kasapulanna ti dakkel a gatad ti kuarta a pangpaagas ken ni tatangna a masaksakit. Ni Oscar kasapulanna met ti dakkel a gatad a pangsakana iti nakasalda a dagada. Nupay ammoda a narisgo ti ikakapetda iti patadem, awan sabali a maaramidanda no di ti kumpet.

TI TEMA:

Saanen a nasken nga ibugasan pay ti tema, a kas dagiti dadduma a sarita ta naiparang a nakamulagat. Naidaya a nangpadaeg manen ti sarita. Dagiti dadduma a sarita, agtaud kadagiti agbasbasa no ania ti interpretasion ti tema. Itoy a sarita, saan. Ti tema ti sarita ket “crime does not pay.” Konektado daytoy a tema iti paulo ti sarita.

TI PANGRUGIAN:

Wenno rugi ti sarita. Saan a naidetalie wenno naibaga lattan ti akem daytoy a paset ti sarita no di ket naipakita pay ta agserbida a kas mangiladawan iti kabibiag dagiti agbibiag. Nupay mabalin met koma a lisian dayta a banag no di ket irugi lattan babaen ti panangidetalie, kinaykayat ti author nga inaramat ti dramatically effects tapno maammuan ken mananam dagiti agbasbasa no apay a kimpet dagitoy nga agbibiag iti patadem. Nagballigi ti akem daytoy a paset a kas nangipakita – wen, naipakita ditoy – ti katatao ken kababalin dagiti agbibiag a kimpet iti patadem. Indibidual dagitoy a karakter a naaddaan iti bukod a biag ken katatao, nga agbiddut iti inda ikeddeng. Saan amin nga indibidual wenno persona ket umno ti pangngeddengda. Adda latta met saan a makaamiris ti kinalinteg. Adda latta met agbiddut. Saan a perpekto amin a tao.

Nagballigi pay a daytoy a paset ti sarita a nangipakita ti nauneg a relasion da Brando ken Oscar. Relasion a nalablabes pay ngem agkabsat. Manipud panagubingda, iti kinaagtutuboda ken ti pagtungpalanda (destiny) a kas maiyataday segun ti masarsarita a paset – dagiti kumpet iti patadem.

Iti pannakailap ti dakulap ni Brando babaen ti as-asaenna a buneng ti mangiparangarang iti nadara a paggibusan. Dayta a paripirip ket dakkel ti kaipapananna iti sarita. Ngarud, agpadpada a maibugasan ti relasion ti pangrugian ken ti paggibusan ti sarita itoy a nangrugian ti sarita. Ditoyda a naiyabel. Saanda a nagsina wenno simmailiwasiw iti tunggal maysa no di ket nagtugmokda a dua a mangpagagar iti pakabuklan ti sibubukel nga istoria.

DAGITI RISIRIS:

Wenno conflict situation. Sumagmamano laeng ti dakamatentayo…

Ti tao kontra iti tao. Dakkel nga ilgat daytoy, kas iparangarang ti nadara a nangrugian, ti paulo, ken dadduma pay. ket Nabugasan ti kastoy a risiris iti lib-at, kinasikap, kinapintek a mangipatungpal iti panggep nga aramiden. Saan a maawan dagitoy agsipud ta maipanggep iti politika ti madakdakamat. Nagamayan daytoy iti bang-i ti pulbora a kas kidkiddawen ti napapanawen nga eksena. Nadara nga eksena, iti pay laeng pangrugian ti sarita a naibaga.

Ti tao kontra iti gimong. Dakkel unay a risiris daytoy ta saan koma met a mapasamak iti ikakapet iti patadem. Ngem agsipud ta napaidam la unay ti gundaway kadagiti marigrigat, nagnunog iti makakeltay ti panangragpatda iti arapaapda ken essemda a rumang-ay. Gapu itoy a situasion, kasapulan dagiti agbibiag a kumpet iti patadem.

Ti tao kontra iti bagina met laeng. Makita daytoy ken ni Brando. “No badigard wenno ex-convict a mammapatay, uray man mano ti patangadenna iti barsanga. Ngem no biag ti inosente ti kettelenna, dina la ketdi maitured!” Dayta a risiris ket adda iti dandanin paggibusan ti sarita.

TI BALABALA.

Saankon nga idetalye no kasano ken ania dagiti napasamak no di ket sawekon nga idiretso ti nagudilan daytoy kas nangpabaknang ti sarita.

No idatalye babaen ti graphology wenno chart, nangrugi daytoy iti baba ket in-inut ti inna irarasuk. Ket idi dimtengen dayta a karasukan a pasetna, pimmaspas metten ti taray ti istoria agingga iti gibusna.

Iti paggibusan, umno la unay a matay dagiti kangrunaan nga agbibiag maiyataday iti tema a ‘crime does not pay.’ Saan laeng a basta sinagidna no di ket impasimudaagna pay iti kangatuan nga agpang dayta a banag.

Nabara a kablaaw iti author!#

“Ti Lalaki A Pakaikamangak”

Maikadua a Gunggona, Sabali Awards 2009-2010

Sarita ni Jovito Amorin ti Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur.

Kas kadagiti naruay a saritana, naimarkan kenkuana daytoy estilona a sumurat ti sarita: awanen ti adu pay a palpalikaw. Straight to the point. Ababa ngem namsek, ngem madrama ken naannad a nangpili kadagiti indatagna nga eksena. Napili dagiti eksena. Uray kadagiti naratibo a paset ket ababa ngem namsekda kadagiti binatog.

Makaay-ayo ti kastoy a wagas ti panangiparang ti sarita (presentation) ken uray ania sinurat ta suroten laengen ti agbasbasa ti basbasaenna a sarita ket agtik-ab la ketdi iti nakaat-atiddog. Dagiti napili nga eksena ket isuda ti nangparnuay iti makagagar, makapikapik ken makaay-ayo a buya tapno saan nga ibbatan ti basbasaen.

Babaen ti first person point of view, ababa ken namsek a binatog, makuna a daytoyen ti makunak a marka ti author iti Literatura Ilokana. Personal memoir. Kas agpalpaliiw iti Ilokano literature, daytoy ti nadlawko…

Bueno, pasadaantayo man ti sarita…

TI PAULO:

“Ti Lalaki a Pakaikamangak.” Saanen a nagpalikaw. Ti kadakkelan a parikut ket kasanona (ni Joven) nga iyasideg ti riknana iti lalaki a pakaikamanganna. Saanna nga am-ammo dayta a lalaki. Am-ammona laeng a kas kriminal. Siga. Ngem kayatna latta ti maikamang iti daytoy a lalaki.
Hmn, makapalibbi met ken makapangato kadagiti kiday ti napili a topiko ti sarita!

Ta kas kuna ni Joven: “Ania koma no kriminal ti lalaki a pakaikamangak? Maksayan aya ti kinataok? Saan met a naikawes ti kinadakes ti maysa a tao. Ammok nga uray kriminal ti maysa a tao adda latta uray uray sangkabassit a kinaimbag a nabati ken naimula iti pusona.” Daytoy ti prinsipio ni Joven. Nasiken a prinsipio nga umayon iti karakterna.

Pinasarunuan pay dagiti met mangisakit kenkuana: “Sika ti torpe ken tanga no patiem amin nga ibagbagada.” Kinunada. Ta ngamin dagiti mangdurdurog kenkuana nga armenna laengen ti anak ti prinsipalda ket kayatda laeng ti agpasikat ken mamadpadakes ken Merci ta adda met “sisiimenda” a pakairanudan ken nalimed-a-saan a panagibales..

Ngem ti napudno nga agayat, uray ngata isullatmo iti bunganga ti kanion samo pagunien isunto pay la nga isu a yebkasna ti napudno a panagayatna. Ta iti ayat, awanan iti nagbabaetan wenno lapped a makaguped iti nadarisay a panggep. Saan a nalaka a mabaw-ing. Kasta ti napudno nga agayat, saan?

Ti napintas kadaytoy a sarita ket ti expectation no kasano a sanguen ti bida dayta a parikut iti pakaikamanganna. Adu dagiti tumaud a saludsod sakbay a malawlawagan ti amin. Adda daydiay saludsod “kalpasanna, aniat, napasamak?” No masagsagannad dayta a saludsod, ad-adda pay a nangipaay iti makagagar nga eksena. Daytoy ti inawit a birtud ti paulo daytoy a sarita…

TI PANGRUGIAN:

Madlaw iti pangrugian ti nairteng a gutad ti first person story. Damo pay laeng, wenno iti lukat, naisubon kadagiti agbasbasa ti makasilud a balikas tapno saan nga ibbatan ti agbasbasa ti basbasaenna: “Makapasuron a saan dagiti padak a mannursuro iti East Central. Ti ket pannakaikawkawakon a nangibaga nga adda riknak ken ni Merci a kamaestraanmi.”

Kadayta a lukat, maimarkan iti panunot ti agbasbasa dagiti agsasagannad a saludsod a kayatna a masungbatan kabayatan nga agtultuloy ti panangbasana iti sarita. Naimarka dita a kayat ti agbasbasa a maammuan dagiti sumaruno nga eksena ken ti kangrunaan a paset: ‘asino aya ti lalaki a pakaikamangan ni Joven?’

Iti ababa a pannao, ti pangrugian ti nagserbi a banniit kadagiti agbasbasa tapno ituloyda a basaen ken dida ibbatan ti basbasaenda. Agtultuloy dagiti saludsod a panangammo kadagiti sumaruno nga eksena. Agasasagannad a saludsod agingga a maibuksilan ti amin a kinapudno…

Nabileg ditoy ti risiris a tao kontra iti bagina, kas ti napinget nga ublag a dina armen ni Merci ken uyot nga armenna laengen ti anak ti prinsipalda, no kasano ti pannakaam-ammona iti ‘lalaki a pakaikamanganna’, ti kaadu dagiti nasken a mangngeddeng tapno saan nga agbalin a ‘torpe ken tanga.’

Adu pay dagiti nairamen a risiris a nasken a mangeddeng ni Joven.

Tao kontra iti gimong. Adda ni Joven iti gimong wenno sosiedad dagiti nalaing a dumurog ken umublag, iti lubong dagiti bumaddek iti ulo ti sabali tapno makuna nga isuda ti katayagan iti amin.

Ngem dagitoy a risiris ti nangtubay ti nasiken a karakterisasion ti bida.

KARAKTER ken KARAKTERISASION:

1. Ti lalaki a pakaikamangan ni Joven. Nagsiken a karakter ta naipakita ti kinaasinona wenno character’s appearance: “Natundiris ti agongna. Tsinito. Mestiso Itneg. Naamo ti rupana. Dakkel ti pammagina…” ken adu pay;

Ti aksion a nakasabbikel pay iti paltog wenno displaying the character’s action. Nalawag unay a naagapad. Saan pay nga agpakada a pumanaw iti kasarsaritana.

Ti panagsasaona a kunam la no alunosennan ni Joven gapu ta ‘awan as-asinna’ no agdamag, kas iti daytoy a binatog: “Maestroka nga agpayso. Ngem agkurang ti sursurom.”

Kasla dinandanog ni Pacman ti ngiwngiwmo no dayta ti mangngegam iti lalaki a pakaikamangam.

Amin dagitoy yebkasna laeng met ti riknana a kas ama:

“Nobiam gayamen a nabayag ti putotko… Ngem diak pay nakita ti anniniwanmo a nagparang ditoy balay…” Wen met ketdi a. Adda rason no apay a nadang-as nga agsao wenno revealing the character’s thoughts.

Ngem adda met gagar ti lalaki a pakaikamangan ni Joven nga agsao daytoy wenno letting the character speak:

“Dimonsa kayat a maam-ammo ti pamilia a pakaikamangam?” Ken daytoy pay: “Apay a ti anakko ti agpannuray? Awan lategmo? Dika pay naikamang, ander de sayakan!”

Ababa dagiti saona ngem namsek. Ket no sika ni Joven, napalalo ngatan a rikna no dika pay kasla narunaw nga ice cream a naibilag iti kainaran.

Ngem balensiado ta ammona met ti agala iti opinion ken kapanunotan ken agobserbar iti aglawlawna: “Uminumta ngarud a pagpatpatanganta…”

Iti getting reactions of others, “Nalaing met gayam a tao daytoy nobiom! …Nadayaw. Ken mannakiangaw!” Ngem naibusen ti lapayagan a pundador. Nakailad payen ni Joven iti bartekna.

Makapaisem met daytoy nga eksena a pannakaam-ammo ni Joven iti lalaki a pakaikamanganna. Uray la nagpalakpak dagiti lapayagko a nakabasa!

Makuna a round character ti karakterisasion ti “lalaki a pakaikamanganna”. Agbaliwbaliw ken saan daydiay takderna idi damo a ti tigre ket tigre iti agnanayon no di ket agbalin met a karnero. Naamo a karnero. No nadang-as idi damo, iti udina makaay-ayo met a tao.

Isu a dita ti nakaadawan ti paulo a “Ti lalaki a Pakaikamangak.”

2. Nasiken ti karakter ni Joven. Ammona a takderan ti saona, aramid ken kapanunotanna. Saan nga agatras iti pannubok, a kastay kunakon, uray isullatmo iti bunganga ti kanion irupirna latta ti ayatna. Dayta ti namagbalin a flat character wenno saan a pulos nga agbaliw ti takderna, iti laksid dagiti nangngegna a sao ken ti panangbartek ti lalaki a pakaikamanganna nga uray la nakasarwa ken nagbayyuot. Adda lategna a saan a kimsen. Napintas ti naikawes kenkuana a karakterisasion, makapatik-ab. Makapaisem, agraraay nga isem kabayatan ti panaganalisar iti sarita.
Nasurat daytoy a naplano a nasayaat ti balabala (plot) isu a makaay-ayo dagiti eksena ken parang a naidatag.

Nabara a kablaaw iti author!

“Maestro Teody”

Sarita ni Jobert Pacnis iti Ballesteros, Cagayan, Umuna a
Gunggona, SABALI Awards 2009-2010.

PAKAUNA: Ti sarita ket maipapan iti binalitungeg a sistema iti edukasion. Nabayagen daytoy a naglalaeg ken kasla awan ti mangdillaw wenno mangagas koma. Numona ta iti benneg ti Edukasion pay met ngarud. Ngem saan a nagbuteng ti author a nangirakurak ti agal-alingasaw a kinabangsitna. Inakemna ti annongenna a kas mannurat ken mannursuro.

Daytoy ti nagpintasan ti sarita.

Kastoy kadi ti isuro kadagiti adalan? Sadino ti pagturongan
ni agtutubo kadaytoy a sistema? Narikut a sirmataen.

Ket immapay iti lagiptayo dagiti mannurat a di nagbuteng a nangilamina iti Literatura Ilokana dagiti buyok ken makasael a sistema ti edukasion.

Kas ken ni manang Maestra Cresing (Cresencia Alcantara ti San Fernando City, La Union), ni manong Maestro Dioning (Dionisio Dacanay ti Bacnotan, La Union), ni manong Maestro Nanding (Fernando Sanchez ti San Nicolas, Pangasinan), sa ita, ni ading Jobert Pacnis ti Ballesteros, Cagayan. Dagitoy dagiti mannurat a situtured a nangirakurak iti inanay a sistema ti edukasion. Saanda a nagbuteng a nangdupir iti agrakrakaya a sistema babaen kadagiti sinursuratda a sarita. Isuda dagiti pudpudno a mannursuro a takiag ti puli. Isuda ti silaw dagiti ubbing iti masakbayan.

Ngem mabilbilang met iti ramay ti kas kadakuada!
Rumbeng a taliawen ken agasan ti sakit iti ikub ti edukasion.

Bueno, intay taldiapan ti sarita…

TI PAULO

“Maestro Teody.” Kas paulo ti sarita, maipapan iti maestro ti masarsarita. Ti eksperiensana a kas kabarbaro a mannursuro iti Northern Quezon High School, dagiti paliiwna nga aramid dagiti katitseranna, dagiti madi nga aramid dagiti estudiante, ti saan nga umiso a pananggundaway kadagiti estudiante nangruna kadagiti nagannak, ti kinaawan timek ti prinsipal, ken dadduma pay…

Nabaked unay a paulo. Modelo a mannursuro.

TI TEMA:

Maipapan iti nasayaat nga edukasion ti tema ti sarita. Adda pay dagiti dadduma ngem daytoy ti tratarek iti daytoy a sinurat.

Iti nasayaat nga edukasion, saan a mental ability ti kaskenan no di kasano a mulien ti maysa nga ubing tapno agbalin a produktibo ken nasayaat nga umili ken lider iti masakbayan – panangmuli kadagiti ubbing, saan laeng nga iti mental a kinasirib, no di pay kas ekselente nga indibidual, espiritual man ken sosial. Maysa a responsible nga umili. Saan laeng nga intellectually excellent, no di pay ikutna dagiti tagipatgen (values) nga agserbi a mangitakder kenkuana a kas tao.

Makuna nga ikut ti maysa nga estudiante ti nasayaat nga edukasion babaen no “kasano” nga akmen ken ipatungpalna dagiti naimbag a sursuro ken tagipatgen, no kasano nga akmenna ti responsiblidadna iti gimong a kas umili ken iti eskuelaan a kas estudiante (social responsibility) ken no kasano nga akmenna ti akemna para iti spiritual a banag.

Ta nakaad-adun ti tao iti lubong, ngem nagrigat met ti agpakatao…

TI PANGRUGIAN:

Iti damo a parang, agmaymaysa ni Maestro Teody a mangur-urnos ti siled a pangisuruanna. Pasimudaag daytoy nga agmaymaysa a mangilinteg ti saan nga umno nga aramid iti Northern Quezon High School (NQHS) a kas nadamdamagnan sakbay a nakastrek a mangisuro ditoy.

Ania dagiti sumarsaruno nga eksena? Dayta ti dakkel a kawit wenno sibbol tapno basaen, imutektekan ken paliiwen ti pakabuklan ti sarita.

Mailintegna ngata dagiti killo? Maitakderna ngata ti kinaindaklan ken kinadayaw ti propesionna nga edukasion? Maawisna ngata ti respeto dagiti adalanna? Kasano? Ania dagiti addangna?

Dagita ti agaon a saludsod iti asino man a mangbasa. Masungbatan dagita kabayatan a mawarwar ti basbasaen agingga iti gibusna.

DAGITI RISIRIS

Tao kontra iti gimong wenno sosiedad. Maysa nga institution ti NQHS wenno sosiedad a naisabali wenno kasungani ti mission vision koma ti napudpudno nga agserserbi iti edukasion. Ditoy nga agsungani ti prinsipio ni Maestro Teody ken ti nadatnganna a gimong dagiti mannursuro.

Tao kontra tao. Babaen ti panaginnala ti sao da Maestro Teody ken maysa a maestra nga agur-uray iti ‘padulas’ sananto ruk-atan dagiti grado dagiti adalan. Naammuan ti maestro daytoy a banag iti mismo a bibig dagiti estudiante.

Tao kontra iti bagina met laeng. Nasken a paluklokan pay ni Maestro Teody ti kurdonna tapno maakemna ti naisangsangayan nga idudupirna iti pader ti agrakrakaya a sistema. Ken nasken a mangeddeng para iti paggibusan – ti naisangsangayan a paggibusan ti sarita. The leading character struggles with himself/herself; with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, urges, fear, etc. Karinnisiris a mismo ti karakter ti bagina.

Dayta ni Maestro Teody.

TI BALABALA:

Inakem ni Meatro Teody ti rumbeng nga aramidna tapno isu ti pagwadan a tuladen dagiti adalan. Naggunay ken nagtrabaho, indauluanna dagiti adalanna. Inaramidna ti bagina a kas modelo a tuladen dagiti adalanna. Daytoy ti nangited iti respeto ken panagdayaw ken panangilala dagiti adalanna. Naisubli kenkuana ti ayat nga intedna kadagiti estudiante.

Adu dagiti kapaliiwan ni Maestro Teody: kas iti kinaawan ti naurnos a sistema iti eskuelaan lalo iti sakbay ken kalpasan ti flag ceremony, ti saan a madaldalusan nga school ground, ti saan nga umiso a panagserrek dagiti mangisursuro, ti kinaawan ti teacher of the day, ti kinaadda ti bukod a lubong ken impluensia dagiti managbaybay-a ken di mangisuro iti naimbag a kamaestraanna, ti test paper a pagkuartaan dagiti mangisursuro, ti kinaawan aksion ti prinsipal kadagiti maidanon kenkuana a parikut, dagiti saan nga agited a titser iti grado gapu ta agurayda iti ‘padulas’ wenno kantidad a takup ti buttaw a grado ken mabayadan a bakante a quiz, ti sistema ti panangisuro dagiti padana a mannursuro, dagiti maibulsa a koleksion, dagiti pagkuartaan dagiti mannursuro nga uniporme iti intrams. Ken adu pay.

Amin dagitoy ket pilit a sinuba ni Maestro Teody nga isu met ti nangipategan dagiti estudiante kenkuana. Isu a damdamagen dagiti estudiante no mangisuro pay iti sumaruno a tawen. Saan a kayat dagiti adalan a pumanaw gapu iti dakkel nga ayat, pannursuro, tagipatgen (values) a nasursuroda kenkuana.

Nasken a mangeddeng ni Maestro Teody para iti paggibusan…

TI PAGGIBUSAN:

“Nangeddeng. Wen, inton bigat a damagen manen dagiti adalanna ti desisionna, ammonanton ti isungbatna. Ita pay ta ammonan dagiti mapaspasamak iti uneg ti pagadalan?
Malagipna ita ti sangkasao ti amana idi agbasbasa pay laeng iti haiskul a ti la makibarbarkada ti ammona: Ti nadadael ti masapul a tarimaanen. Dinto tarimaanen ti karpintero ti di naperdi a paset ti balayna.”

Kastoy a naggibus ti sarita.

Imbati ti author a dakkel a pagpanunotan dagiti agbasbasa no umikkaten a mangisuro wenno saan. Posible a maawaten iti immuna a nagaplayanna ta papaayabandan. Bassit ti sueldona kadaytoy a pagadalan.

Di naibaga ti paggibusan. Open ending. Aggibus ti sarita a di nalawag ti solusion ti parikut nga indatag ti author, ngem ketdi, adda dagiti sumagmamano nga imparangna a suhestion no kasano nga aggibus dayta sarita babaen ti bukod a keddeng ti nagbasa. No ania dayta a keddeng, marespeto la unay.

Ngem ti responsibilidad ket responsibilidad. Ti aramid a naimpusuan ket ubbog ti ragsak. Adda sungbat iti naisangsangayan a paggibusan: ti nadadael ti masapul a tarimaanen. Dinto tarimaanen ti karpintero ti di naperdi a paset ti balayna.

Ammon ni nagbasa ti umiso a paggibusan…

Nabara a kablaaw iti author!#

(Naadaw iti Tawid Newsmag)

FOR GRADE SCHOOL STUDENTS (Gr.4-7)

1st Prize: P15, 000.00, 2nd Prize: P10, 000.00, 3rd Prize: P5,000.00

- Write a 200-word essay answering the following question: What did you learn about OFWs in the movie, EMIR?

- The winning student’s principal/headmaster or their duly appointed representative(s) will also get 10,000.00 for the 1st prize, 5,000.00 for the 2nd prize and 2,500.00 for the 3rd prize.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

1st Prize: P20, 000.00, 2nd Prize: P15, 000.00, 3rd Prize: P10,000.00

- Write a 700-word paper on how the movie, EMIR, helps promote the heroism and dignity of our OFWs, thereby giving them a better, more positive image.

- The winning student’s principal/headmaster or their duly appointed representative(s) will also get 10,000.00 for the 1st prize, 5,000.00 for the 2nd prize and 2,500.00 for the 3rd prize.

GS & HS Rules and Regulations:

1. The competition is open to all public and private school students.

2. Essays can either be in Filipino or English. FORMAT: 12pt Times New Roman, 1.5 Spacing, Justified.

3. Each school joining the contest, through the principal/headmaster or his duly appointed representative/s, must narrow down their students’ entries to the TOP FIVE (5). Only these five (5), or less, can be submitted to the FDCP electronically. One (1) email per student.

4. A contestant must submit, along with his/her entry, scanned copies of his student’s ID, and his signed endorsement letter from the principal/headmaster. Only the 1st five (5) entries from each school, with accompanying endorsement letters, will be recognized.

5. Entries are to be submitted via email to

fdcpemirgshs@yahoo.com. Please put in the subject line the ff: “ENTRY [school] [last name] [first name] [middle name]”. An automatic reply will be sent once your entry has been received.

6. Employees of the FDCP and CCP as well as their relatives by blood or law up until the 2nd degree of consanguinity are disqualified from joining the contest.

7. Winners will need a valid school ID to claim their prizes at the FDCP office. 20/F The Centerpoint Building, Julia Vargas Ave. cor. Garnet Road, Pasig City, MM. Proxy’s will need a Letter of Authority from the winning student, the student’s valid school ID, and his own valid ID with picture to claim a student’s prize.

FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

1st Prize: P30, 000.00, 2nd Prize: P20, 000.00, 3rd Prize: P15, 000.00

- Write a 1000-word critique focusing on how the movie, EMIR, relates to the adage, the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world. What implications about Filipino society does the movie present?

Collegiate Rules & Regulations:

1. The competition is open to all public and private school students.

2. Essays can either be in Filipino or English. FORMAT: 12pt Times New Roman, 1.5 Spacing, Justified.

3. Each school joining the contest, through the dean/s or his duly appointed representative/s must narrow down their students’ entries to the TOP FIVE (5). Only these five (5), or less, can be submitted to the FDCP electronically. One (1) email per student.

4. A contestant must submit, along with his/her entry, scanned copies of his student’s ID, and his signed endorsement letter from the dean. Only the 1st five (5) entries from each school, with accompanying endorsement letters, will be recognized.

5. Entries are to be submitted via email to fdcpemircollege@yahoo.com. Please put in the subject line the ff: “ENTRY [school] [last name] [first name] [middle name]”. An automatic reply will be sent once your entry has been received.

6. Employees of the FDCP and CCP as well as their relatives by blood or law up until the 2nd degree of consanguinity are disqualified from joining the contest.

7. Winners will need a valid school ID to claim their prizes at the FDCP office. 20/F Centerpoint Building, Julia Vargas Ave. cor. Garnet Road, Pasig City, MM. Proxy’s will need a Letter of Authority from the winning student, the student’s valid school ID, and his own valid ID with picture to claim a student’s prize.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS ON JUNE 25, 2010. WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JULY 16, 2010 via the FDCP website, e-mail and the Press.