Book
Review by Jophen Baui
Tagalog book of poems
review - reads poetry by Filipino poets, highlighting their celebration of the
Filipino language. Here, we take a second look at the "songs" these
writers sing when their muses visit them.
MGA TALA AT PANAGINIP
(c) 2012 Mesandel
Virtusio Arguelles
MGA
TALA AT PANAGINIP compiles
anecdotes, dreams, nostalgia, fantasies, and longings that commuters may have
in their minds and hearts while on a long bus or jeepney ride. Some take the
train and travel with a crowd of people pushing and shoving their way in for a
fast but joyless commute. Each day is the same, commuters stand shoulder to
shoulder with other harried souls and hold fast onto the rails from the start
of their journey to its end. Each journey follows a linear path, but each
moment of travel defies a beginning and doesn't end.
Two hours
is all it takes to commute from Dasmarinas, Cavite to the University
where Professor Mesandel Arguelles teaches literature and art appreciation. But
traffic is always slow during rush hours. Sitting inside the bus he turns
to his muses who inspire him to "[pay] attention to everything, even the
insignificant details". He records all that he sees inside and outside the
jam-packed vehicle into poetry that refuses to downplay the battle out there
for every soul who is impatient to reach a destination.
Oktobre 1
"Parang
mga langgam na nag-uunahan ang mga tao pasalubong sa pagdating ng bus na
biyahe palabas ng lungsod tungo sa kalapit-lalawigan. Wari ay walang takot
masagi o maaksidenteng kung paano. Lahat gusto nang makauwi habang papalakas pa
lang ang ambon. Bagama't kailangan ko na ring makauwi, hindi ako sumabak sa mga
siksikan, tulakan, gitgitan para lang makakuha ng espasyong tatayuan. Gusto
kong isiping malaya ako sa ganitong pangangailangan, sa ganitong kalagayan
araw-araw." MVA
Daily
anecdotes that are snippets of life's energy and resilience break a commuter's
monotonous ride; their longings anchor them in hope; fantasies provide them an
escape, and nostalgia make their trip tolerable.
Oktobre 8
"Dumating
ang tatay ko galing Bicol. May uwi siyang mga abakang tsinelas para sa aming
magkakapatid at sa nanay ko. Kulay-kape ang sa aming mga lalaki at iba't ibang
kulay naman ang dahon ng sa mga babae, kadalasa'y berde, dilaw, at pula.
Pambahay lang ang mga tsinelas, gayunman. Hindi ko magagamit na pamato sa
tumbang-preso." MVA
The
dreary ride is crammed with nostalgia, giving rest to the poet who is happy to
return to his dreams, to memories of unresolved "what-ifs".
Oktobre 12
"May mga talang di-nasulat
"Minsan nang nasulat: isang tala ang
sinundan ng tatlong haring naglakbay upang matagpuan ang kanilang pakay.
Kataka-takang hindi sila nawala o naligaw.
"Hanggang ngayon, waring nananatiling
iisang tala ang sinusundan sa bawat paglalakbay patungo sa anumang hinahanap at
kay raming talang hindi nabubuklat." MVA
But all
these understate the value of the jotted insights, since every prose poem is a
spark, a wisdom that shows us how we may number our days.
Oktobre 15
"Hindi ko pa nakikita ang hangin,
ngunit sa sandaling nakakuwadro ang aking mukha sa bukas na bintana ng humahagibis
na bus, alam kong hindi kailangang makita upang maniwala: may naghihintay sa
aking hantungan." MVA
Mesandel
Virtusio Arguelles is a professor of the Humanities and Literature at the De La
Salle University. Aside from MGA TALA AT PANAGINIP, he also authored the
following books: Mal, Alinsunurang Awit, Antares, Alingaw, Parang,
Hindi man lang nakita, Ilahas, Menos Kuwarto.
MGA TALA AT PANAGINIP is published by High Chair.
See www.highchair.com.ph
Aside from Tagalog-book-of-poems-review page, other pages
at english-to-tagalog.com recommends novels in Filipino
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