GMA TO FG

How can you enjoy life when I mourn?

How can you be in comfort, while Im in pain..?

Our disconnection cries loud.

Union between us is an illusion..

Your wealth spells the difference.

Your crookedness and brilliance shiver me.

Your personality overpowers my soul.

Hope

(June 17, 2011)

I groped around a dark matter,

Shuttled through one dimension to another.

All my eyes could see were shadows of beasts

rummaging their pry’s fragile bodies.

Once cave to another, I explored.

Volcanoes violently roared.

I avoided each molten stone thrown at me.

Nothing to feel but glee.

I braved the elements of violent energies.

Hid my weakness, my courage wont cease

exuded power from within,

as if devoid of original.

Light finally shone

beamed through the dawn

but my memories of gloom shall remain,

till my eyes would back to darkness again..

Sacrifice

Wind

Binaries

(June 13, 2011)

The crescent moon is my solace.

I hung on its precious luster,

cruised on its tips,

explored crater to crater.

Envious stars are saddened.

They blocked each passionate caress,

silenced each soothing lullaby,

pushed this soul to test.

The warmth of the sun is my relief.

Touched my skin.

Blistered my being.

Fueled my energy, forced me to live and beam.

Crooked air cooled me down.

Murdered my desire.

Frozen my libido.

Annihilated my immortality and now I die.

My Bangkok Sojourn (2)

Hoping that my 2nd trip to Bangkok this January 23-28, 2011 be as memorable as the last…The first in 2008 was quite uncomfortable because of the yellow-shirts demonstrations. Upon my arrival at the Suv. Airport, demonstrations were on going…Seconds after i left the airport and took a cab, the airport was seiged, shut down and held hostage by the demonstrators. Nobody was allowed to get out…Good thing that i was able to decide quick..For less than 8 days, the busy airport was closed…I was stranded in Bangkok for more than 10 days…Everybody was damn worried…

 (THe irony was that I was there to speak about PEACE in an international conference….)

 The entire City was peppered with uniformed and armed men…There were commotions every corner….It was such an ordeal trying to get out of Bangkok..The last resort I had was to go to KL, Malaysia.  Which option i did not pursue because of some dangers i considered along the way…

I was informed by my journalist friend that the RP government was already trying to get planes to fetch us from Bangkok.  So i waited.  Philippine Airlines of Lucio Tan chartered a plane to Chang Mai Airport some 10 hours drive from Bangkok Central…PAL prioritized their passengers. And I was not one of them.  Until Cebu Pacific ( my plane) chartered its own flight at a Military Airport some 3 hours drive from the City…We were transported from our hotels to the Military Airport by military and police personnel…It was the longest 3 hours drive i experienced.  We were all very concerned and worried that a group of terrorists, rebels would suddenly barge in or worst ambush the vehicles….

Kinda memorable, isnt? 

A Visit to Manila City Jail

A Visit to Manila City Jail

By Joseph Reylan B. Viray

I will try to bring you friends to the Manila City Jail by just describing what the City Jail looks like and our telling experiences during our visit there.

The Manila City Jail is located in a congested area in Quezon Blvd, Manila, few meters away from the Isetan Department Store and a stone’s throw away from the LRT Recto station. It’s easy to get there. There are several routes going to the place. However, I advise that if you come there to visit a friend or a client, just take public utility vehicles than bring your own car. It’s hard to spot a comfortable parking area. The gates of the City Jail look corroded and rusty. Just by looking at the façade of the place, you can already formulate a depressing picture of its insides.

I was told together with my group mates to leave our mobile phones at the gate’s counter. I and Jonathan were hesitant to give our phones because of some negative prejudices we have of the officers. However, when we started dealing with the jail guards we realized that they look so descent and well-groomed. Most of them are young officers whose idealism exudes from their faces. Or maybe, they are most polite to us because we drop some big names in the Bureau.

Female dormitories are located on the left side of the gate just beside the Medical Infirmary, where sick detainees are confined. Male dormitories and cells are situated at the back of the Paralegal Office just across the Administration Office, Rehabilitation Office, and Operations. There are also dormitories located elsewhere in the compound which we were not given the opportunity to see and visit. There are nine towers surrounding the Jail. Walls which enveloped the compound are approximately 25-30 feet high. I imagined that it’s almost next to impossible to escape from the Jail passing through the towers and over the walls. And so I asked one of the guards: “How can a prisoner escape?” He answered: “They usually pass by the gates under the guise that they are visitors”. I laughed….

The first destination of the group was the Female Dorm. .Major Millet Batac is the Deputy Warden for Female Dorm, we interviewed her. She courteously replied to all our queries. The dorm looks so crowded. Detainees stay under the canopy which serves as quarters for some of them. Only 25% of the total number of 921 are staying inside the dorms and cells. I noticed that the area though crowded is free from mess and dirt except that there is a certain stench which surrounds the place. Reason: when 921 people with proximate distance from each other are confined in an area whose capacity is only less than 300, a disgusting odor is surely produced.

The Male Dormitories were visited by my other group mates and they can, with details, describe to you what the dorms look like and smell like. Ms. Viado can give a vivid picture of the dorms. She even fell in love with some of the detainees. We just convinced her that she is no match to them.

At the Rehabilitation Office, I met the Bureau Chaplain Fr. Sagadal. He told us some tales about PUP because he knows much about it since he obtained his doctoral degree in Public Administration at the PUP Graduate School. I overheard him telling the head of the office that they must be strict in screening some NGO which usually solicit plentiful donations outside and share meager amount to the Jail. Profiteering NGOs and other bogus ones earned money in the guise of charity.

Before we set home, I had a chance to observe a young lawyer who is about to enter the vicinity. He has no car along with him. He gives the Jail Guards with some snacks (suman and other kakanin). That made me wonder, may be the lawyer needs somehow to establish friendship and rapport with the guards to be comfortable inside the Manila City Jail. Some prisoners are really mischievous and to make your self safe from them, befriend the Guards. Prisoners are scared to hell of the Jail Guards. One prisoner who approaches the gate was even given a powerful blow on his back by a Guard at my sight.

A Day With Court Employees

A Day With Court Employees

Joseph Reylan B. Viray

The Justice Hall of Quezon City was well lighted in that afternoon of Tuesday, December 6, 2005. This was not the first time I visited the place. I frequented the place because one of my former classmates works there. He was working in this branch as a Court Interpreter. However, this was my first deliberate observation visit.

At approximately 9:00 o’clock in the morning, I was already chatting with the court’s employees including my friend. I was asking them questions like: How much workload do they have? What mechanisms do they employ to counter or bear annoying lawyers and a moody judge? and other questions which they gladly answered.

Acting presiding Judge/Executive Judge Hon. Natividad G. Dizon arrived at 1:30 PM while the parties in the case were already waiting. Judge Natividad only presided in acting capacity because of the absence of Presiding Judge Hon. Luisito G. Cortez, who was out on seminar in Tagaytay City. Hon. Dizon was dignifiedly dress and his mere presence changed the mood of the atmosphere from light to tight. Everybody were all suddenly on their toes. Everyone woke up.

After flipping some pages in the records handed to him by the Branch Clerk Atty. Mary Ann Daytia, he indicated to the employees that they should get to work.

The case involved custody and support of a child between a Filipina wife and a Japanese husband. The background of the case is as follows, as narrated to me by my friend who was an interpreter in the said branch: (a). The wife filed a legal separation case against the foreigner husband because allegedly the latter was having illicit sexual relation with the former’s sister; (b). While the case is pending in the same branch, the foreigner husband failed to give the support which he should have provided as ordered by the court; (c) The foreigner husband refused to give the support because according to him the goods and groceries he delivered were consumed not by the child and his wife but by the relatives of the wife. Further, according to him, the child could not have possibly consumed all the goods in just a week’s time.

The hearing started at exactly 2:30 in the afternoon. The counsels for the wife made their formal appearance. The counsel for the husband was not present, the counsel only sent a representative from their firm to move for the postponement of the case. The Judge inquired the reasons for the failure of the counsel on record to appear. The representative said that the counsel was confined at the Makati Medical Hospital for some infections which reason or justification was proved by a certification of the concerned hospital and the physician attending him. The Judge set another date for the hearing. Then another case was called.

I left immediately the branch inasmuch as I have to catch my morning class at PUP College of Arts.

Batang Pinoy

Kami ang Batang Pinoy

Tapat sa Kaibigan,

Marunong Magmahal,

Malasakit  sa Kapwa

Sa Ugat ko’y buhay…

Kami ang Batang Pinoy

Pagibig sa Diyos, Sarili at Bayan

Tinitibok ng puso

Sa bawat araw…

Kami ay buhangin sa malawak na pangpang

Tungo sa bukas, Kami’y munting Hakbang

Huni sa musika’t simponiya ng lipunan

Butil ng alon sa higanteng karagatan 

Kami ang batang pinoy

Kultura’t sining ang kaluluwa

Kalikasan ang aking hininga

 Kabutihan ang aking giya…

(joseph reylan viray, 2011)

Magkakaugnay

Magkakaugnay tayo,

 Magkabuklod ang diwa, 

Ang Dugo at lahi natin ay iisa…

Pusod ay dinaluyan

Ng sustansyang bayani

Kayang batain anumang saki’t dusa..

Sa ating pagpupunyagi

Dito sa sulok na ‘to

Tagumpay makakamit ng PIlipino

 Damdamin ay iisa

Pintig ng ating puso

 Likas na hindayog ng sonata’t lira 

Tayo ay lilikha ng

Dakilang Kasaysayan

Ipapakita natin ito sa mundo

(Joseph Reylan Viray, 2011)

Small Time, Big Time

Small Time, Big Time

J. Reylan Viray

Isinilang tayong pantay pantay

Walang big time at small time

Ang yaman ay hindi sukatan

Patas sa lahat ng karapatan

Sa pangaabuso, tayo’y lumaban

Pangaalipusta ay wakasan

Pagibig ay bigyan ng daan

Pananakit sa kapwa ay tigilan

Karapatan nati’y nagwawakas

Tuwing ang sa iba’y nagsisimula…

Ang mundo ay mundo ng tungalian

Ngunit mundo rin ito ng ligaya…

Karapatang magpahayag ng nais

At opinyon sa pagmamalabis

Sa ating pagbigkas, at mga sigaw

Sa buong mundo’y aalingawngaw…

(Joseph Reylan Viray, copyright 2011)

Ode to Nanay

Sa  iyong aruga, pagibig at kalinga

Batang paslit nabigyan ng sigla

Sa bawat haplos mo’y ligaya

Mula sa puso’y mahal kita

Tuwing ako’y may sakit

Sa aking tabi’y nakasiksik

Sa karamdaman nais mong pumalit

Dama ko lagi ang lubos mong pagibig

Talino mo’t abilidad,

Pagmamahal na  tapat

Sa asawa’t anak

Di kayang masukat

Lakas ng loob mo’y aking namana

Gintong ugali’t  Dakilang kaluluwa

Nanatiling buhay sa aking diwa

Sa bawat araw inaalala sa twina

(Joseph Reylan Viray, Copyright 2011)

Si DAKILA

Ang Dakila

By: Joseph Reylan Viray

Si Dakila ay isang batang galing sa mayamang pamilya.  Ang kanyang ama ay siyang alkalde ng bayan ng San Clemente.  Ang kanyang ina naman ang namamahala sa isa sa malaking paaralan sa bayan. 

Karamihan sa mga batang nakakalaro ni Dakila ay malimit na naiinis sa kanya dahil sa kanyang taglay na kayabangan .   Kung kaya’t wala na ang nagtitiyagang makipaglaro sa kanya maliban na lamang kay Meliton at Sarah.  Si Meliton ay anak ng hardinero ng pamilya ni Dakila. Samantalang si Sarah naman ay lumaki sa isang bahay ampunan na pinatayo ng ama ni Dakila. 

Minsan, habang naglalaro sila Dakila, Meliton at Sarah ng piko, si Meliton ay sinadyang pinatid ni Dakila.  Si Meliton ay lubos na nasaktan.  Dumugo ang ilong.  Maraming gasgas ang kanyang binti at braso.  Si Sarah ay iyak ng iyak ng makita ang pangyayari.  Hinarap siya ni Dakila.  “  Huwag kang maarte.  Huwag kang maawa sa kanya.  Dapat ako ang iyong kampihan.  Kung hindi sa Ama ko, patay kana sa gutom.”  Patuloy parin sa pagiyak si Sarah.  

Si Meliton ay hirap na hirap na tumayo habang unti-unting tumutulo ang manipis na luha sa kanyang pisngi.  Nakita ito ni Dakila at sinabi:  “ Isa ka pa.  Pagka- nagsumbong ka sa tatay mo.  Patatangal ko sa trabaho ang tamad mong ama.”  At umalis na si Dakila.

Ang pangyayari ay hindi na bago sa dalawa.  Hindi na lamang libong beses na sinumbat ni Dakila ang lahat ng itinutulong sa kanila ng pamilya ni Dakila.  Sanay na sila.  Palagi pa rin nila itong kinakasama at kinakalaro.

Si Dakila,: “ yan ang tulay na yan ay pinagawa ng aking mahal na Ama.  Ang lahat ng nakikita ninyong lupain ay pagmamayari ng aking Lolong si Don Juanito.  Ang magarang bahay na yan ay isa lamang sa bahay naming.  Wala kayo sa yaman namin.  Ang ospital na pagkatayogtayog na yan ay pinatayo ng aking ama.”

Wala kang maririnig kay Dakila kundi yabang.  Yabang.  Yabang.

Ang ugaling ito ni Dakila ay nakarating sa kaalaman ni Alkalde Mayor Pepito, ang kanyang ama.  Lubos ang pagkabahala ng kanyang ama.  Ngunit hindi niya tinangkang kausapin si Dakila.  Nagmamasid na lamang. 

Isang hapon, si Dakila ay magisang tumungo sa lugar na palaging pinaglalaruan nila ni Meliton at Sarah.  Wala ni isa mang bata na naroon.  Walang Meliton. Walang Sarah.  Si Dakila ay umupo sa ilalim ng puno ng mangga.  Nagisip.  “Eh ano ngayon kung ako lamang magisa.  Pwede naman akong maglarong magisa. Di ko kailangan ang kalaro.”

Tumakbo.  Umakyat.  Tumawa.  Pagod na si Dakila. Dumidilim na ng unti-unti ang paligid.  Nakatulog si Dakila sa ilalim ng mangga.

Si Dakila ay nasa madilim na gubat.  Sa kanyang kinauupuan nagkalat ang pera, ginto, masasarap na pagkain at magagarang damit.

Maingay.  Iba’t ibang mabangis na hayop ang nakatitig sa kanya.  Umiiyak si Dakila.  Hinahanap niya ang kanyang Ama.  Ang kanyang Ina.  Si Don Juanito, ang kanyang lolo.  Wala rin si Meliton at Sarah.  Takot na takot si Dakila.  Isang malaking tigre at sakdal itim na baboy ramo ang papalapit sa kanya.  Tuloy ang bagsak ng luha ni Dakila.  Sinubukan niyang kausapin ang Tigre:  “Bibigay ko sayo ang mga gintong ito.  Wag mo kong sasaktan.  Marami pa ako nito.  Alkalde ang ama ko.  Mayaman ang lolo ko.”  Parang walang narinig ang tigre.  Tuloy sa paglapit.  Tinuon ni Dakila ang kanyang pansin sa baboy ramo:  “Ito..Itong mga pagkain na ito sa iyo na lahat… Marami pa akong ibibigay sa iyo.. Wala kang makakaing ganito dito sa gubat…” Ang dalawang hayop ay patuloy sa pagsugod kay dakila.  Nanikip ang dibdib ni Dakila.  Hinimatay. 

Samantala, si Don Pepito at ang kanyang kapulisan ay balisa sa paghahanap kay Dakila.  Hindi nila ito makita.  Pumunta sila sa parke, sa hardin, sa plaza….. May narinig silang malakas na hagulgol ng bata sa ilalim ng mangga…. Si Dakila.   

“ Utang na loob, huwag kayong lalapit. Sarah….Meliton….Ama ko…. Tulungan nyo ako….. Kapitbahay…….”  Iyak ng iyak si Dakila……Hinawakan ni Don Pepito ang malambot na kamay ni Dakila…. Si Dakila ay nagising..  Yakap kay Don Pepito.  Umiiyak parin….

Kinaumagahan, maagang naligo si Dakila.  Pumunta kay Meliton at Sarah na nooy naglalaro sa kanilang hardin…. Niyakap niya ng maigpit ang dalawa…Nagulat ang mga kaibigan….  Lumuha na lamang si Dakila. 

Nagmamasid mula sa kalayuhan ang kanyang amang si Don Pepito, may konting ngiti sa mukha. 

Nagbago si Dakila.  Marami ang nagulat.  Naging magalang, magpakumbaba, at di na mayabang…. Dumami ang kalaro… Marami na rin ang natutuwa sa kanya….

Yan si Dakila….                  

This Poem

This Poem

J. Reylan B. Viray, 2/7/07

This poem is not me….

Outside me this poem.

This poem speaks nothing.

Nothing is spoken of this poem.

This poem is present.

Future never comes in this poem.

This poem is a spirit.

Outside me this spirit.

This poem reflects not me.

This poem is not me.

Bandi Ko

Bandi Ko
J. Reylan Viray

Yng Ynda na nyang tau
Atiyung-atiyo keng lele na;
King kesayan at lungkot manantabe ya;
Angga na king ika maging abu na.

Yng Ynda na nyang tau
Lubos ing malasakit,Lugud alang para;
Reng anak nang binayit,sakit keyang dela;
Balang oras a lilipas king panemanman atila.

Yng Ynda na ning tau
Kareng sisi binye na manyamang pangisnawa.
Ing balang agud, lambing katumbas ala na.
Ing balang kandut, lugud a mapwersa.

Yng yndu na ning tau
Balang anak, bandi na….

Sa Ilog

King Ilog

J. Reylan B. Viray

Iniyang Labing-metung banwa ing Edad,

Keting marimlang ilog maglungad-lungad.

Manene agos, mapwersa yang tutulak,

O’ Kening katawan kong papayat-payat.

Lundag, tampiso, at mipapamasibas,

Abe kakyalung, reng salo mikiburak.

Bitis at gamat keng damum makababad

Sasagikgik keng mailing alang puknat.

Deng mapangaya, misusulo lang kawe.

Abang deng aliwa, maswelong manalbe,

Kukulayit, manasar, lubos lang mangye.

Ing mesambut, kursisilyo na lukas de.

O’ Dening malulunod, alto-lumbog la

Manenayang sagip kareng dalubhasa.

Inya nung ika, keng kawe mangmang ka,

Yang sapwang saging , kapitan’t kawlan muya. 

Kaibat meng mepagal, sisingap-singap,

Keting pangpang ke ngan mangan at migkalat

‘Ting suman, gatas damulag a inuman,

 bayabas, atis, papayang manyaman.

Keng pamanyuli mi kareng bale-bale,

Maneneya la reng muwa ming pengare.

Tatalnan ing bulo, pilming mikalate.

Keyang paldu, ing buldit y adya mu ne. 

Sa Ilog

J. Reylan B. Viray

Noong lalabing-isang taon ang edad,

Sa malamig na ilog ay naglulungad.

Banayad na agos, mapwersang tumutulak

O’ sa katawan kong papayat-payat.

Lundag, tampisaw, nagbabatuhan,

Mga kalaro, puno ng putik ang dibdib,

Paa’t kamay nakababad sa tubig,

Walang tigil kami sa pagtatawanan.

Ang mayayabang, sa langoy unahan,

Habang ang iba’y masayang nakatunghay,

Sumisigaw, nang-aasar, lubos na maingay,

Ang talo, kursisilyo ay mahuhubadan.

O’ itong mga nalulunod, lulubog-lilitaw

Sa mga dalubhasa, sagip ang hinihintay.

Kung ika’y sa langoy mang-mang ka.

Puno ng saging, kapita’t yakapin muna.

Matapos mapagod at sisinghap-singhap,

Dito sa pangpang, kami’y kumain at nagkalat

May gatas ng kalabaw na inumin, suman,

Bayabas, atis at papayang malinamnam.

Sa pag-uwi namin sa bahay-bahay,

Naghihintay ang galit nang magulang,

Tangan ang kawayan, tiyak na magkakalatay

Sa kanyang palo, ihanda na ang puwitan. 

Dagang Simbahan

Dagis Pisamban

J. Reylan B. Viray, 2/07/07

(Pampango)

Dagis pisamban yang aus kekami.

Keng altar lagi kayabe ya ing pari.

Ining maputing kapa ing susulod mi.

Deng magsimbang anak mainggit lang pilmi.

Nanumang kanan ning kaluguran a kura,

prutas, gatas, puto, pati na yang pinya,

a takman mi ngan istung kayabe miya.

Kaylangan mi mung sunod kareng utos na.

Balang misa, bente lador itapat ya

kening kura parokong mipapawas na

at nung mig –brown out naman, tune malas ka

presko ya ing kura,  abaniko’ing  dala.   

Nung namang ganingaldo yang santa misa,

ikaming altar boys swerte mi talaga

mikarason kami banang maglakwatsa

kumbento ing tudturan, piyalong alang para.

Nung domingo mitapat iting serbisyo

masa kang simba ya ing kaluguran mu.

yayos ing kilos, dalit kang mikatono,

lalo na nung deng pengare na atilu.

Dagang Simbahan

J. Reylan B. Viray, 2/7/07

(Filipino)

Dagang simbahan kung kami ay ituring.

Sa altar lagi, si Father ang kapiling.

Ang puting kapa ang suot-suot namin

Nagsisimbang bata ay inggit sa amin. 

Anumang kainin ng mahal na kura,

prutas, gatas, puto, pati na yang piña,

aming matitikman kung siya’ y kasama.

Kailangan lamang tupdin utos niya.

Tuwing misa, bente lador ay itapat

sa aming kurang naiinitang sukat.

At kung malas-malas inabot ng brown out

kleriko’y presko abaniko  ang hawak.

Tuwing madaling araw yang santa misa

kaming altar boys ay swerte ngang talaga.

May dahilan para kami’y maglakwatsa,

tuluga’y kumbento, larong walang para.

Kung lingo naman natapat ang serbisyo,

asahan mong nagsisimba ang irog mo.

Kilos iayos, umawit ng may tono,

lalo na’t kung kasama magulang nito.

Dagang Simbahan

Dagis Pisamban

J. Reylan B. Viray, 2/07/07

(Pampango)

Dagis pisamban yang aus kekami.

Keng altar lagi kayabe ya ing pari.

Ining maputing kapa ing susulod mi.

Deng magsimbang anak mainggit lang pilmi.

Nanumang kanan ning kaluguran a kura,

prutas, gatas, puto, pati na yang pinya,

a takman mi ngan istung kayabe miya.

Kaylangan mi mung sunod kareng utos na.

Balang misa, bente lador itapat ya

kening kura parokong mipapawas na

at nung mig –brown out naman, tune malas ka

presko ya ing kura,  abaniko’ing  dala.   

Nung namang ganingaldo yang santa misa,

ikaming altar boys swerte mi talaga

mikarason kami banang maglakwatsa

kumbento ing tudturan, piyalong alang para.

Nung domingo mitapat iting serbisyo

masa kang simba ya ing kaluguran mu.

yayos ing kilos, dalit kang mikatono,

lalo na nung deng pengare na atilu.

Dagang Simbahan

J. Reylan B. Viray, 2/7/07

(Filipino)

Dagang simbahan kung kami ay ituring.

Sa altar lagi, si Father ang kapiling.

Ang puting kapa ang suot-suot namin

Nagsisimbang bata ay inggit sa amin. 

Anumang kainin ng mahal na kura,

prutas, gatas, puto, pati na yang piña,

aming matitikman kung siya’ y kasama.

Kailangan lamang tupdin utos niya.

Tuwing misa, bente lador ay itapat

sa aming kurang naiinitang sukat.

At kung malas-malas inabot ng brown out

kleriko’y presko abaniko  ang hawak.

Tuwing madaling araw yang santa misa

kaming altar boys ay swerte ngang talaga.

May dahilan para kami’y maglakwatsa,

tuluga’y kumbento, larong walang para.

Kung lingo naman natapat ang serbisyo,

asahan mong nagsisimba ang irog mo.

Kilos iayos, umawit ng may tono,

lalo na’t kung kasama magulang nito.

Umaalagwang Pluma

Umaalagwang Pluma

Maliswas a Pluma

J.Reylan B. Viray

Marami ng peryodiko at mga lumang gaseta,

Dakal nung peryodiku at Matwang gaseta

ang nalapatan ng titik ng luma kung pluma.

Deng lepatan amanu niting kakong pluma.

Pangyayari’y binigyan ng iba’t ibang kulay,

Miyayaliwang kaganapan dininanlang kule,

nariyan ding ibinuwis ang buhay.

Anggang memiligro ing mal kong bie.

Itinago ang pluma sa nagdaang mga taon,

Selikot ke ing pluma keng melabas a panaun,

sa paniniwalang pamilya’y mababaon.

Keng kapanwalang ing pamilya ing midaun.

Ngunit sumisigaw ang kawawang pluma,

Dapot kukulisak ya ing kalunuslunus a pluma,

nagpupumiglas at pilit sa pag-aalagwa.

Migpilit, migpumiglas ya’t maliswas ya..

Minsan pa’y pinagbigyan ang nasa ng tinta,

Minsan pa pegbigyan ing kaburiyan ning tinta,

bigyan ng labi mamutawi ang salita.

Dinan yang asbuk, migkas yang amanu.

Itayo muli sa pagitan ng daliri,

Talakad ya keng pilatan deng daliri,

ang plumang busilak ang puri.

Ining plumang makinang keng puri.

Agony of A Buddhist Monk

Agony of A Buddhist Monk

J.Reylan B. Viray

The mountain is steep and everything in it gleams.

Sunlight penetrates across the spreading leaves.

Trees cloud the entire forest like a guard.

Tigers growl.  Beasts mate. Frogs shout.

I see them mate, doing it wildly and passionately,

In a fashion they most like, envying me.

I would like to go out of this solitude.

Imitate the beasts, my eyes are glued.

I ‘ll gather my strengths.  Force my way out.

Break the bondage.  Cry so loud.

Until the entity gives in, his ears pierce.

Escaping in summer like a morning breeze.