Wise education, vital breath
Inspires an enchanting virtue;
She puts the Country in the lofty seat
Of endless glory, of dazzling glow,
And just as the gentle aura’s puff
Do brighten the perfumed flower’s hue:
So education with a wise, guiding hand,
A benefactress, exalts the human band.

Man’s placid repose and earthly life
To education he dedicates
Because of her, art and science are born
Man; and as from the high mount above
The pure rivulet flows, undulates,
So education beyond measure
Gives the Country tranquility secure.

Where wise education raises a throne
Sprightly youth are invigorated,
Who with firm stand error they subdue
And with noble ideas are exalted;
It breaks immortality’s neck,
Contemptible crime before it is halted:
It humbles barbarous nations
And it makes of savages champions.
And like the spring that nourishes
The plants, the bushes of the meads,
She goes on spilling her placid wealth,
And with kind eagerness she constantly feeds,
The river banks through which she slips,
And to beautiful nature all she concedes,
So whoever procures education wise
Until the height of honor may rise.

From her lips the waters crystalline
Gush forth without end, of divine virtue,
And prudent doctrines of her faith
The forces weak of evil subdue,
That break apart like the whitish waves
That lash upon the motionless shoreline:
And to climb the heavenly ways the people
Do learn with her noble example.

In the wretched human beings’ breast
The living flame of good she lights
The hands of criminal fierce she ties,
And fill the faithful hearts with delights,
Which seeks her secrets beneficent
And in the love for the good her breast she incites,
And it’s th’ education noble and pure
Of human life the balsam sure.

And like a rock that rises with pride
In the middle of the turbulent waves
When hurricane and fierce Notus roar
She disregards their fury and raves,
That weary of the horror great
So frightened calmly off they stave;
Such is one by wise education steered
He holds the Country’s reins unconquered.
His achievements on sapphires are engraved;
The Country pays him a thousand honors;
For in the noble breasts of her sons
Virtue transplanted luxuriant flow’rs;
And in the love of good e’er disposed
Will see the lords and governors
The noble people with loyal venture
Christian education always procure.

And like the golden sun of the morn
Whose rays resplendent shedding gold,
And like fair aurora of gold and red
She overspreads her colors bold;
Such true education proudly gives
The pleasure of virtue to young and old
And she enlightens out Motherland dear
As she offers endless glow and luster.

1.

Love can be killed
so easily,
nick after
painful nick.
Marveling at each drop of blood
as it clusters round
some blade of grass,
adding color
to the greenery,
you fail to see
the paling of the victim,
until the nicks become
one great big wound
surpassing healing.
And then the love,
it goes so easily.

2.

Love’s not
some substance
you can manufacture.
Nor a person that can be
repaired.
It flows,
like blood
in veins and arteries
and capillaries

intertwined.
That is why
a cut can make it
flow out so
and a thousand cuts
can waste it.
I speak not only
of strange, personal loves,
you hear,
but the greater love
of men and women
for the things they hold
most dear.

Ang bilin sa akin ng ina’t ama ko

Maging magalangin mamumupo ako

‘Pag kinakausap ng matandang tao

Sa lahat ng lugar sa lahat ng dako.

“Pag ang kausap ko’y matanda sa akin

Na dapat igalang at dapat pupuin

Natutuwa ako na bigkas-bigkasin

Ang “po” at ang “opo” ng buong paggiliw.

And di-marunong mag-ipon
walang hinayang magtapon

Ang kawayan kung tumubo
langit na matayog ang itinuturo;
Ngunit kung masunod na ang anyo,
Sa lupa rin ang yuko

Sinimulang gawain ay tapusin mo
bago gumawa ng panibago

Ubos-ubos biyaya
bukas ay nakatunganga

Daig ng taong maagap
ang taong masipag

Ang totoong paanyaya
may kasamang hila

Walang masamang pluma
sa taong mabuting lumetra

Ang pagsasabi nang tapat
ay pagsasama nang maluwag

Ang bayaning nasusugatan
nag-iibayo ang tapang

Sa may tunay na hiya
ang salita ay panunumpa

Madali ang maging tao
ang mahirap ay ang magpakatao

Maaring pigilin ang baha
ngunit hindi ang dila

Kapag may isinuksok
may madudukot

Ang taong di nasisiyahan
mailap ang kaligayahan

Ang bahay mo man ay bato kung ang nakatira ay kuwago
Mabuti pa ang isang kubo na ang nakatira ay tao

Ang sakit ng kalingkingan
ay dama ng buong katawan

Ang batang magalang
ay dangal ng magulang

Anak na di paluhain
magulang ang paiiyakin

Hindi man magmana ng salapi
magmana man lang ng mabuting ugali

Kung sino ang nangangako
ay siyang napapako

Ang taong walang kibo
nasa loob ang kulo

Walang sumisira sa bakal
kundi ang sariling kalawang

Ang kagandahang asal
ay kaban ng yaman

Kapag iniamba, kailangang itaga
kapag itinutok, kailangang iputok

Magbiro ka na sa lasing
wag lang sa bagong gising

Lahat ng iyong kakainin
sa sariling pawis mo manggagaling

Ang lihim ay hindi na lihim
kapag may dalawa o higit nakakaalam

Ang walang pagod magtipon
walang hinayang magtapon

Marami ang matapang sa bilang
ngunit ang buong-buo ay iilan

Ang anak kayang tiisin ang magulang
ngunit ang magulang ay hindi kayang tiisin ang anak

Kapag may isinuksok
may madudukot

Paghaba-haba man saw ng prusisyon
sa simbahan din ang tuloy

Ang taong sa mabuti nanggaling
sumama man ay sadyang bubuti pa rin

Walang matimtimang birhen
sa matiyagang manalangin

Kapag nagbukas ang kaban
natutukso kahit ang banal

Ang hiram na wika
ay saksi sa hiram na kalayaan

Ang nagtanim ng hangin
bagyo ang aanihin

Ikinatatalo sa alinmang digmaan
ay ang guni-guning takot sa kalaban

Ang tunay na kaibigan
nasusubok sa kagipitan

Sa mabait na bata,
marami ang natutuwa.

Lumilipas ang kagandahan,
ngunit hindi ang kabaitan.

Kung ibig ng karunungan,
habang bata ay mag-aral;
Kung tumanda, mag-aral man,
mahirap nang makaalam.

Mabigat man ang dalahin,
pag naatang susunungin.

Mabuti pa ang nag-iisa
Kaysa may masamang kasama

Ang anumang agwat ay di mararating,
kung titingnan lamang at di lalakarin.

Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang umiibig

Sa kanyang salitang kaloob ng langit,

Sanglang kalayaan nasa ring masapit

Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid.

Pagka’t ang salita’y isang kahatulan

Sa bayan, sa nayo’t mga kaharian,

At ang isang tao’y katulad, kabagay

Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.

Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita

Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda,

Kaya ang marapat pagyamaning kusa

Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala.

Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin

Sa Ingles, Kastila at salitang anghel,

Sapagka’t ang Poong maalam tumingin

Ang siyang naggawad, nagbigay sa atin.

Ang salita nati’y huwad din sa iba

Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,

Na kaya nawala’y dinatnan ng sigwa

Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una.

Isinalin sa Pilipino di kilala

To My Fellow Children

translated by Frank C. Laubach

Whenever people of a country truly love

The language which by heav’n they were taught to use

That country also surely liberty pursue

As does the bird which soars to freer space above.

For language is the final judge and referee

Upon the people in the land where it holds sway;

In truth our human race resembles in this way

The other living beings born in liberty.

Whoever knows not how to love his native tongue

Is worse than any best or evil smelling fish.

To make our language richer ought to be our wish

The same as any mother loves to feed her young.

Tagalog and the Latin language are the same

And English and Castilian and the angels’ tongue;

And God, whose watchful care o’er all is flung,

Has given us His blessing in the speech we calim,

Our mother tongue, like all the highest tht we know

Had alphabet and letters of its very own;

But these were lost — by furious waves were overthrown

Like bancas in the stormy sea, long years ago.

Now, Asuang had no fire in his abode inside Mount Malinao (to the north of Albay). He wanted to be as powerful as Gugurang, at least. If the people aroused his wrath, he wanted to subdue them by a fire or rumbling in Mount Malinao (this was still whole then). He entreated Gugurang to give him some fire but Gugurang emphatically refused.

“How dare you ask for my fire!” Gugurang thundered. The earth trembled. “Don’t you know that when the fire in my seat is carried by hands such as yours the whole world will be set on fire?” “But I will be very careful,” replied Asuang. “Be careful! I myself with all my power cannot handle it.” “But how can you threaten the people with it?” “It is not my will that does it. It is someone else’s that you or I do not know nor will ever know.” “But the rainy days are coming and I need fire to make me warm in Mount Malinao.” “Why,” answered Gugurang, “you have lived there for many years and this is
the first time that you have asked me for it, what will you use the fire for? Look at your people; they can live without it.” “Well, it is time for you to give them fire now.”

“Give them fire!” burst Gugurang. The earth shook and the people were more afraid. But soon Gugurang quelled the commotion. Asuang himself was frightened. He never saw him that way before. “They are not fit to have it yet! They must make themselves worthy.” “Well, am I not worthy?” “You! you lay god! Look at your ragged mountain and compare it to Mayon which is the most beautiful in the world.”

Asuang argued with him for a long time but Gugurang would not budge an inch. Asuang suddenly discovered, which before he had not, that Gugurang was all-powerful. Asuang narrowed his eyes and smiled with sinister import. He decided to oppose him from now on.

“You want to be the omnipotent power,” Asuang cried. “But between us two there is not much difference. Why must I live in a humble place like Mount Malinao while you sit here gloating over your power unlimited and unchecked?” “Stop!” The earth shivered as Gugurang stamped his feet on the ground. Asuang only smiled this time. That made Gugurang angry all the more. He struck out but before his blow could land, Asuang had vanished already. Gugurang was greatly amazed at this-the new power of Asuang in making himself invisible.

Then from a short distance in the room came the voice of the evil one,
“If I cannot get fire in good will, I will in bad-I will steal it.”

“Try-and before you can do that I will cut your mountain in twain.”

“Then let there be war between us,” countered Asuang. Thus the good and the evil became enemies from that time on. Motives were many to prove that Asuang was ambitious. It could not be doubted that the power to rule intrigued him. He determined to oppose every move of Gugurang. He gathered around him evil counselors and evil spirits whom he sent to the earth to turn the people to evil ways. After that, there was much immorality, lawlessness and crime. Gugurang in no time found out that it was Asuang who was causing all these things.

He sent pestilence to the barrios and for a moment the people turned to the omnipotent for protection. Gugurang asked them for another atang or sacrifice and warned them to follow his commandments strictly or be exterminated by floods or eruption. Against Asuang himself Gugurang was powerless to do anything. It seemed that in the twinkle of an eye Asuang came to possess hidden powers hitherto de0nied him.

Gugurang particularly guarded his fire lest his enemy make good his threat of stealing it. He assigned his trusted helpers (catambang) to guard the symbol of his power. He was afraid, besides, that if the fire were to go out of its confines the world would be consumed in a mighty conflagration.

But in spite of the precaution taken, Asuang was able to enter and locate the guarded object, and with many guiles and wiles, he bribed the guards with gold (bolauan). The temptation (sogot) was too sweet to be denied. Hence Asuang obtained possession of Gugurang’s fire. Putting it inside a coconut shell he started with it.

Gugurang in his throne suddenly noticed that everything around him turned black, and that there were cries in the bowels of the volcano. But outside, the world was u fire. Every barrio that Asuang passed caught fire. Asuang!” Gugurang cried. And with this he flew into the air pursuing the thief. While’terror reigned among the people who were powerless against the conflagration, Gugurang and Asuang raced for supremacy. Gugurang must get the fire back, or else M would be left without any power at all. All the air around grew hot but still they t madly on. Asuang was nearing his seat and if he could get there before Gugurang, * would be lost for the good god who would then be under the spell of the devil.

Asuang braced up for the last stride and just as he was about to descend Mount Malinao, Gugurang caught up with him, snatched the fire in the coconut shell, and vanished with it. Asuang was greatly surprised. He could not make himself invisible, it as he would.

Gugurang on reaching Mount Mayon returned the fire to its place, and everything as bright again inside. Now before doing anything else he set about stopping the conflagration. He bade the heavens (calangitan) to rain continuously. And there was in. And the
big fire was under control. The people at once offered atangs, because they were convinced it was Gugurang who had caused the fire because of their wickedness.

Then Gugurang punished the guards by chaining them to the precipices. Then for is revenge on Asuang-he ordered Lightning (Linti) and Thunder (Dalogdog) to strike hard against Mount Malinao that was defying him. Asuang attempted to bribe pi and Dalogdog. What is the use of your serving a master when you don’t even receive any reward?” Asuang asked. “Why don’t you join me? Here you can have what you want. You can e your master.”

Linti, quite taken, asked, “You mean what you said?” Sure,” the wily Asuang answered. It is true we are driven like slaves,” said the thunder.

At this Gugurang sent his thunderbolt. Boom! Crash! For several minutes the world sank and bobbed and sank again. All the mountains creaked. Then a mighty crashing was made amid the din. Gugurang then ordered the lightning and the thunder to stop. All was over in a few minutes.
Then the people noticed that what was once Mount Malinao was but half now. They thanked the omnipotent for destroying the abode of the devil. (To this day one ho sails the Tabaco Bay will still see that Mount Malinao seems to have been cut while Mayon stands majestically unimpaired.)

The people for a time believed that Asuang was killed, but later his influence was 11 doing havoc with the populace. Incidentally, the people got fire, for the enterprising few kept some embers to keep themselves warm during the rain that followed the conflagration.

from the BaguioPhoria Community

Barom-Mai asked his advisers to help him win his bride’s love, and Matigam (the wisest of advisers) told him about Impit Purok, a hermit who lived in a cave in Mt. Apo.

They went to the hermit and he asked for three things: the egg of the black tabon bird, twelve ladles of fresh milk from a white carabao without blemish, and the nectar from the flower of the tree-of-make-believe.
The egg will be used to soften the bride’s heart; the milk, to make her kind; and, the nectar, to make her see Barom-Mai as a young and handsome king.

The king finds the egg through the help of Pawikan, the king of the sea turtles. He luckily gets milk from a white carabao the following breakfast, thanks to his cook. Hangin-Bai, the nymph of the air, leads him to her sister, the wood nymph who had the magic flower in her hair.
Barom-Mai gives the three things to Impit Purok, who asked him to prepare a big feast after Barom-Mai wins his queen back, and to invite Impit Purok as the king’s guest of honor.

Impit Purok mixes the three ingredients and instructs Barom-Mai to plant the mixture in the royal garden. The morning after it was planted, a tree grew. It had a sweet smell and tasted good. When Madayaw-Bayho was given the fruit, she fell in love with Barom-Mai.

The king throws a big feast but forgets to invite Impit Purok. In retaliation, Impit casts a curse upon the fruit: The sweet smell was replaced with a foul odor while the smooth skin of the fruit was covered with thorns, which is how the durian smells and looks today.

photo from wikipedia

After years of this kind of life, the maharlika finally felt it was time to settle down and marry the woman of his choice. “But who is the woman to choose?” he asked himself as he sat in the rich splendour of his home, “All the women I know are beautiful and charming, but I am tired of the glitter of their jewels and the richness of their clothes!” He wanted a woman different from all the women he saw day and night, and found this in a simple village lass. She was charming in her own unaffected ways, and her
name was Dama.

They married and lived contentedly. She loved him and took care of him. She pampered him with the most delicious dishes, and kept his home and his clothes in order. But soon, the newness wore off for the maharlika. He started to long for the company of his friends. He took a good look at his wife and thought, she is not beautiful and she does not have the air of nobility abouther, she does not talk with wisdom. And so the maharlika returned to his own world of glitter and splendor. He spent his evenings sitting around with his friends in their noble homes , drank and talked till the first rays of the sun peeped from the iron grills of their ornate windows.

Poor Dama felt that she was losing her husband. She wept in the silence of their bedroom. “I cannot give my husband anything but the delights of my kitchen and the warmth of my bed. He is tired of me.” She looked to the heavens. “Oh, friendly spirits! Help me. Give me a magic charm. Just one little magic charm to make my husband come home again, that he will never want to leave my side, forever!”

It was midnight when the maharlika came home. He opened the door of their bedroom and called for Dama to tell her to prepare his nightclothes. “Dama! Dama, where are you?” he called. He shouted all around the bedroom. He sarched the whole house. Still the nobleman could not find his simple wife. Finally the nobleman returned to their bedroom, tired and cross. But, as he opened the door, he stopped.

A are scent, sweet and fragrant, drifted to him. It was a scent he had never smelled before. He entered the room and crossed to the window where the scent seemed to be floating from. A strange bush was growing outside the window. Some of its thin branches had aleady reached the iron grills and were twisting around. And all over the bush were thousands of tiny starlike, white flowers, from which burst forth a heavenly, enchanting scent!

He stood there, completely enraptured by the glorious smell. “Dama…” he whispered softly, onderingly, could this be Dama? The rich maharlika sat by the window, and waited for the return of his loving simple wife. But she did not come back. She never returned to him again. Only the
fragrance of the flowers stayed with him, casting a spell over his whole being.

In the moonlight, Dama of the night, or Dama de Noche would be in full bloom, capturing the rich maharlika, making him never want to leave her side, forever.

Lahat ay nagsasayaw. Lahat ay kumakanta. Masayang-masaya ang kagubatan. Bukod tanging ang buto ng kasoy ang lungkut na lungkot.

“Mabuti pa sila, nakikita ang masayang paligid. Heto ako, nakakarinig ng awit at tawanan pero hindi naman nakikita ang katuwaan.”

Naulinigan ng makapangyarihang Ada himutok ng Buto.

“Gusto kong maging maligaya ka. May kahilingan ka ba?”

“Ayoko pong nakakulong sa madilim na lugar na kinalalagyan ko. Naiinggit ako sa ibang hayop at halaman na tuwang-tuwa kapag may handaan sa kagubatan. Nakakasama sila sa pagsasaya. Hindi lang nila naririnig kundi nakikita pa ang katuwaan ng lahat. Maawa kayo, mahal na Ada. Gawan ninyo ng paraang makalabas po sana ako sa pagkakakulong ko sa loob ng prutas na ito.”

Naantig ang maawaing damdamin ng mahal na Ada. Iwinasiwas nito ang nagniningning na pananglaw. Sa isang iglap ay nakalabas sa madilim na kulungan ang Buto.”

Masayang-masayang napanood ng Buto ng Kasoy ang sayawan, kantahan, at pagkakatuwaan ng mga hayop at halaman.

Ang malakas na pagkokak ng mga Palaka at paghuni ng mga Kuliglig ay sumaliw sa awit ng mga Maya. Sa tuwa ng Elepanteay kumembut-kembot ito sa pag-indak. Napapasabay din sa pagimbay ang mahagway na Kawayan kasama ang Pagong na nagbababa at nagtataas ng bahay-bahayan.

Hatinggabi na nang iwasiwas na muli ng butihing Ada ang kaniyang makinang na pananglaw. Hudyat iyon ng pamamahinga. Pinatay na ng mga Alitaptap ang parol nila.

Nalungkot ang Buto nang dumilim na ang paligid. Nahahalinhan ng takot at lungkot nang kumulog at kumidlat. Napansin ng Buto na nagsipagtago ang mga hayop sa mga kuweba. Mahigpit namang ikinabit ng mga halaman ang mga ugat sa ilalim ng lupa.

Tulad ng dapat asahan, bumuhos na ang malakas na ulan. Takot at kinakaliglig sa lamig ang Buto.
“Ga…Ganito pala sa labas. Ma…Mamamatay ka sa sobrang ginaw. Mabibingi ka sa ingay ng kulog. Malamang na tamaan ka pa ng kidlat. A…Ayoko na sa labas.”

Hindi pinakinggan ng Ada ang abuhing Buto ng Kasoy. Bilang panghabambuhay na parusa ay pinamalagi ng Adang manatili sa labas ng Kasoy ang abuhing Buto nito.

Iyan ang Alamat ng Kasoy at ng di nito makuntentong Buto.

Dahil sa sampu ang kanyang anak, talagang nahihirapan siya sa pag-aaruga sa mga batang ito.

Isang araw, nagkasakit ang ina at bigla na lamang namatay. Ang kaawa-awang mga bata ay nag-iyakan at ang sabi nila ay ganito: “Sino na ang magapakain sa amin?” tanong ng pinakamatandang anak.

“Sino na ang mag-aalaga sa amin?” tanong ng ikalawang anak.

“Sino na ang maglalaba n gating damit?” tanong ng ikatlong anak.

Habang sila ay nag-iiyakan, may dumating na isang babae na di nila kilala. Siya’y maganda at maputi.
“Huwag na kayong umiyak,” sabi niya. “Di kayo pababayaan ng inyong ina. Ilibing ninyo siya at maghintay kayo sa kanyang libingan. Makikita ninyo na may tutubo roon na puno. Ang punong iyon ay pagkukunan ninyo ng makakain araw-araw.

Biglang nawala ang maputi at magandang babae. Akala ng mga bata ay nananaginip lang sila.

Sumunod sampung mababait na mga bata. Pagkalibing sa ina nila, binantayan nila ang libing araw at gabi at pagkatapos ng sandaling panahon ay may nakita na nga silang isang halaman na tumubo.

Mabilis ang paglaki nito at kaagad naging isang mataas na puno. Nagtaka ang mga bata dahil sa taas ng puno at sa dami ng bunga nito.

“Marahil aakyatin ko na lamang itong puno,” sabi ng pinakamatanda at dali-dali siyang umakyak at pumitas ng bunga.

“Mga ulo ninyo,” ang sigaw niyang babala sa itaas. “Ibabagsak ko ito at buksan ninyo.”

Nang biyakin ng ikalawang anak ang bunga, nakita nilang may tubig ito.

“Naku! Ang puti at ang tamis ng tubig,” sabi nila. Tinikman nila ang laman at ang nasabi ay: “Ang puti at kay sarap naman ng lasa ng bungang ito,” ang wika ng ikaapat na anak.

Naghulog pa ng maraming bunga ang batang umakyak sa itaas ng puno.

Nagkainan at nag-inuman at ngayon nakita nila na di nga sila magugutom pang muli. Ang mga bungang iyon ay kauna-unahang niyog dito sa daigdig.