Hagbayon

August seems to be a poetic month for this blogger. Looking at my portfolio, it seems that many of my poems get printed during this month. It is as if we are being prepared for our beerday in September.

Incidentally, my poem “Sa Crime Lab” is printed in the August issue of Home Life Magazine edited by Palanca Hall of Famer Leoncio Deriada. Once again, there seems to be some typo errors but here’s the correct version:

  SA CRIME LAB

  Sinilip sa microscope
  ang silid

  ng batang babae
  na pinid

  na pinto ang bibig
  at patay na ilaw

  ang salita.
  Nakita sa likido
  ang higaan:

  Kinakain ng neutrophils
  ang gonorrhoea–di pa malusaw.

  Bago lumipat sa sunod
  na request, sinulat sa findings:

  Gram negative diplococci.

  –Jose Jason L. Chancoco

Also, my article “The Chanters of Baao” is scheduled for publication on August 7 (Monday) in the Life section of The Daily Tribune.

Meanwhile, more poems:

PASAKALYE KAY KAYE I

1. Baryo mang may piyesta,
    Subalit kung wala ka,
    Parang ibang planeta.

2. Ika’y paralumang di ko man makita
    Sa antok ng gabi’t sigla ng umaga
    Subalit wari ko’y lagi kang kasama
    Tulad ng sampagang ang samyo’y amoy pa.

3. Ako ay buntala, Sinta.
    Masusunog sa haraya
    At babagsak sa tumana:
    Sulyap mo lamang, sapat na.

4. Mainit na sinapna,
    Pagmawuw ika uda,
    Namit itum na raga.

5. Usipun kading buut,
    Mig-anud, migpadagus.
    Maulug man su upus,
    Diri pa matatapus.

6. Pagmata, paturug,
    Pagsapuy, parigus,
    Pagkape, pagnaug–
    Puso ko, naglinug!

7. Karusun man na kinudkud,
    Bagong tigbas man na ubud,
    Dawa tubig man sa nuyug–
    Tam-is mo, Kaye, da kaarug!

DESPEDIDA KI MANOY FRANK

Ika Manoy Frank, Uragun.
Ika liwanag sa diklum,
Dawa bugas na tinutung,
Talagang papuputiun.

Diri sana magpabitik
Sa mga blondieng babaknit
Ta di matapus a thesis
Ta ipasungkat ki misis!

http://www.hagbayon.wordpress.com

Watched a film–no not Superman Returns but something close to it (if trying to blow Iraq’s brains out is Supermanly)–Jarhead. Yes, a witty and magic realistic film on the Gulf War. We are not quite sure if the U.S. Marine Corps will simply say ‘hu haaa!’ to this and dismiss it as just another artsy anti-war flick. Watch it and tell it to the Marines.

Wanna join an essay contest? Here’s your chance. It is sponsored by the Ateneo Human Rights Center in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Thesis question is: Does the universality of human rights require a particular type of democracy?

If you have an answer to this then by all means you are FREE to join.

We watched GMA’s SONA. She was most applauded when she uttered something about empowering the regions and decentralization. This is not surprising because while Filipino life seems to revolve around Metro-Manila, majority of Filipinos are not from Manila.

Federalism will favor regional writers and cultural workers. For one, there would be changes in our language policy in the academe. Perhaps there will be government offices working for and doing research on the various Philippine languages (with much funding). This will empower the regions not only culturally but economically. Decentralization will also more or less make the relationship between government and the people more intimate.

However, this (Cha-Cha) will also favor GMA. And need I explain? Also political dynasties in the provinces will only grow stronger.

We got info from Laurel Peñaranda of Peninsulares Library Cafe that Bikol arts group CEBIKA will have an art exhibit aptly called Monsoon. It will open on July 29, 7PM. Be there.

Also, one of our works got published in Vol XLV Issue 1 July 2006 of The Pillars:

TATSIAN

Ni Jose Jason L. Chancoco

“Uy, tatsian kita!” Inangat ni Ongaw sira Otep saka Utoy.

“Ay, yangna, nguwan diri na ika mingawat. Uda na madyik iton na pambato mo, Domingo nguwan, diri ika nagsisimba saka sige pa ito muda mo.” Simbag ni Utoy. Isi niyang medyo matinik ading si Ongaw alagad inisip niyang uda man maraut kun iintrimisun niya di sa gatikut.

“Masimut! Ika ngani situn pirming naglulusi, haha!” Nang-uuyam man na balus ni Ongaw.

“Oke oke, tama na kamo ta puunan ta na.” Pinapakaray ni Otep su mga taya. Sa tatsian ana mga nagngangayamun nagbubutang sa mga bariya na pare-pareho ana kantidad. Nguwan, tigpi-Piso sira. Sa gilid sana sira sa agiyan migngayamun ta kadakul na mga awtong naglalabus.

“Uy, guy, nabayad ninyo su mga agta subagu? Nagbarabaan na naman galin sadtu bukid Asog, naka-isputing!” Istorya ni Ongaw habang pigkikiskis sa kamut su gagamitun na pambato.

“Talagang nag-iiyan sira sadi centro pag arug kading alduw. Sabi ngani ni papa, ku buway pa su sinehan na Allan sagkud Jack, nagsisine sira kun Christmas. O, tira na Ongaw!” Rugang pa ni Utoy.

“Mga baluga unu? Sabi nagkakaun kunu yan sira sa Opon saka inilulubung ana mga guraan nira sa bitnga kana pinagbangang poon sa kawuy. Diri man pati namamarung! Palugi ki Filgon, hahaha!” Istorya pa ni Ongaw habang pinupunggit su mga bariya na nasa bitnga ku pigkurit na bilog sa semento. Biniliwan niya su pambato. Saka bagana baga agku di birtud sa puso sa batag, nasugat su mga bariyang nakaatado, nakaluwas ngamin sadtu kurit.

“Yehey! Uda na kanaku migdaug, hasler talaga ko!” Orag-orag ni Ongaw habang nagkukuyung-kuyung sira Otep saka Utoy.

Sadtu sana arani, agku nagpundung Honda CRV. Nagluwas su usad na Amerikano saka pigkukuwan sa video su tulong igin na nasa kabitngaan sa pagngangayamun. Nagsirang sadtu bintana ku awto su usad na kayumangging babayi saka nag-unga: “Hon, why are you taking footages of them?”

Nagsimbag su Amerikano: "How exotic!”

–27 Pebrero 2006

Iriga City

It has been raining lately here in Naga City, prolonging our stay in our beds and making our dreams wet and interesting. We remember our years in Imus, Cavite when heavy rains served as ‘matatamis na rehas ng ulan’. It was a stormy night when coming from a book launch in UP-Diliman, we took a jeep from Baclaran to Imus. A fellow passenger was carrying an evening edition of a tabloid that said: "Abu Sabaya, Dedo!"

Now here in Bicol we hear of a series of robberies and thefts. Signs of the times, as Carlo Arejola would say. We can only agree. Yes, it tells us of the current political climate–with an upcoming elections and unstable administration.

But on a happier note, we hear of book launchings.

Venerable poet Cirilo F. Bautista is coming up with a new book of poetry. It will be launched on July 29, 10am at the Gaerlan Conservatory right there in De La Salle University-Taft. Everybody is welcome to attend. Also here in Bicol, Frank Peñones will release his own title next month. This is something to look forward to since there’s a new publishing firm in town–Agnus Press.

Also we got a copy of Burak 171-175 from Gode Calleja in Canada. Again, one of our Bikol-Naga poems is printed there. Here’s the poem:

SAKYADA

Mapula an saldang
duman sa may saran:

Ining mga bayong
natadyok na tarom

sa piad kan duros
na mayo nang libog.

Napara an saldang
duman sa may saran:

Gabos nag-aaso
pati tindahan ko.

–Jose Jason L. Chancoco

http://www.hagbayon.wordpress.com

How surreal it seems that just this morning we were at ultra-modern Makati. The FNF Blogging and Podcasting Workshop finished off well. We were given certificates right after we were asked to evaluate the workshop design and all other pertinent things about the workshop.

This blogger never before attended a fellowship with the same level of generosity. The food and accommodations were great. Travel allowance was more than enough. And the equipments and lecturers were exemplary. It is also of note that the participants were of diverse backgrounds although most came from the Liberal family.

We also did not miss to meet some friends in the area. That is why we were saying that Makati is so surreal for us, because as Mimi Lacambra remarked, it is an ‘illusion’. And it seems that in this City, one will never feel that ‘Naghihirap ang Pilipinas’, as Mimi said. We can only agree with her. The standard living of the city is of the high-end. Coming from the NAIA, we took an expensive taxi to Makati. While coming from Naga Airport going to our Sta Cruz apartment, we only took a pedicab and a mini-bus.

We sorted out the stuffs in our baggage and found a keepsake from the Foundation. It’s a CD containing our pictures, lectures, podcasts and softwares. We posted our pictures in Hagbayon 2. Please check it out.

Also we might upload our podcast sometime soon.