Ang Guryon

I came in the church and found the teachers in search for a poem to present during the school's Linggo ng Wika. As I sat down on one of the chairs at the round table and was thinking of what poem to suggest, I was reminded of Pahina, an local educational show which discussed Filipino literary classics through the point of view of a teenager.

Probably the only episode I could remember was when Balt (Carlo Aquino) was running for vice president of the student council and was up against a classmate who whacked up gimmicks but had really no concrete platforms. As Balt was accepting his defeat, he was given a copy of the poem Ang Guryon.

Ang Guryon was written by Ildefenso Santos, a writer of the American colonial period. Santos saw the kite as an image of weakness against the strong breeze, stating that life may knock us down and hit us hard but this should not stop us from pursuing our dreams and seeing ourselves fly.

"Ang Guryon"

ni Ildefonso Santos

Tanggapin mo, anak, itong munting guryon

na yari sa patpat at papel de Hapon;

magandang laruang pula, puti, asul,

na may pangalan mong sa gitna naroon.

Ang hiling ko lamang, bago paliparin

ang guryon mong ito ay pakatimbangin;

ang solo't paulo'y sukating magaling

nang hindi mag-ikit o kaya'y magkiling.

Saka pag sumimoy ang hangin , ilabas

at sa papawiri'y bayaang lumipad;

datapwa't ang pisi'y tibayan mo, anak,

at baka lagutin ng hanging malakas.

Ibigin mo't hindi, balang araw ikaw

ay mapapabuyong makipagdagitan;

makipaglaban ka, subali't tandaan

na ang nagwawagi'y ang pusong marangal.

At kung ang guryon mo'y sakaling madaig,

matangay ng iba o kaya'y mapatid;

kung saka-sakaling di na mapabalik,

maawaing kamay nawa ang magkamit!

Ang buhay ay guryon: marupok, malikot,

dagiti't dumagit, saanman sumuot...

O, paliparin mo't ihalik sa Diyos,

 bago pa tuluyang sa lupa'y sumubsob.

selfish decisions

A friend asked me recently, "What if I save some money to visit her and tell her how I feel?" I answered, "What's the point? She has a boyfriend and they have been together for quite some time now."

Call me a dream killer but allow me to defend myself on the argument. I do feel his need to express his feelings or he will forever have his "what ifs". But freedom of expression is not absolute, as my mass media law professor used to say. My friend had all the right to say what he feels, that I agree. But is this enough reason for him to actually do something? There is just a part of me that cannot find justice to the consequence his actions may be to the girl (who is a friend and a sister in faith), much more to her boyfriend.

ministry video

Thought of sharing a little something I did for the church when my mom requested for a presentation on the church ministries.

Music: Grace Flows Down - Passion: One Day Live (2000)
Photo credits: dad and Angela
Dance: Tina