September 16, 2009
(Ang mosunod nga prosa-balak orihinal nga sinuwat sa Ingles ni Max Ehrmann. Kini mao ang akong suway nga paghubad niini sa Binisaya.)
Lakaw nga kalma taliwa sa kagahob ug kaguliyang
Ug hinumdumi ang kalinaw nga naa sa kahilom.
Ug hinumdumi ang kalinaw nga naa sa kahilom.
Kutob sa mahimo ug sa way pagkaluya,
Tagda pag-ayo ang tanang mga tawo.
Isulti ang matuod sa paaging hinay ug tin-aw,
Ug paminawa ang uban,
Bisan ang bogo ug way hibangkaagan
Sila usab dunay ikasugilon.
Tagda pag-ayo ang tanang mga tawo.
Isulti ang matuod sa paaging hinay ug tin-aw,
Ug paminawa ang uban,
Bisan ang bogo ug way hibangkaagan
Sila usab dunay ikasugilon.
Likayi ang mga tawong saba ug mapangahason
Kay sila maghatag og kahasol sa kalag;
Kun itandi nimo ang kaugalingon sa uban
Basin mahimo kang mapagarbohon o magul-anon
Kay kanunay, dunay tawong labaw o ubos kanimo.
Kay sila maghatag og kahasol sa kalag;
Kun itandi nimo ang kaugalingon sa uban
Basin mahimo kang mapagarbohon o magul-anon
Kay kanunay, dunay tawong labaw o ubos kanimo.
Kahimut-i ang imong mga kalampusan ingon man mga plano;
Pagmadasigon sa imong trabaho, bisag unsa kini kaubos
Usa kini ka bahandi taliwa sa nag-usab-usab nga panahon.
Pagmadasigon sa imong trabaho, bisag unsa kini kaubos
Usa kini ka bahandi taliwa sa nag-usab-usab nga panahon.
Magmainampingon sa imong mga negosyo
Kay ang kalibutan puno sa lingla.
Apan dili ka angayang mabuta sa mga maayong gawi;
Daghang mga tawo buot mokab-ot sa hataas nga mithi
Ug bisan asa ang kinabuhi puno sa kamabayanihon.
Kay ang kalibutan puno sa lingla.
Apan dili ka angayang mabuta sa mga maayong gawi;
Daghang mga tawo buot mokab-ot sa hataas nga mithi
Ug bisan asa ang kinabuhi puno sa kamabayanihon.
Pagmatinud-anon sa imong kaugalingon.
Ayaw pagpakaaron-ingnon sa imong gibati;
Ingon man, ayaw katahapi ang gugma
Kay atubangan sa kauga ug kawalay paglaum
Sama kini ka makanunayon sa sagbot.
Ayaw pagpakaaron-ingnon sa imong gibati;
Ingon man, ayaw katahapi ang gugma
Kay atubangan sa kauga ug kawalay paglaum
Sama kini ka makanunayon sa sagbot.
Dawata ang tambag sa katuigan,
Samtang andam nga gitahan ang mga butang sa kabatan-on.
Himoang lig-on ang kalag nga maoy manalipod sa kalit nga dimalas
Samtang andam nga gitahan ang mga butang sa kabatan-on.
Himoang lig-on ang kalag nga maoy manalipod sa kalit nga dimalas
Apan ayaw pagpasamok sa itom nga panghunahuna
Sagad sa mga kahadlok natawo diha sa kakapoy ug pag-inusara.
Sagad sa mga kahadlok natawo diha sa kakapoy ug pag-inusara.
Labaw sa maanindot nga disiplina
Magmaaghop sa imong kaugalingon.
Magmaaghop sa imong kaugalingon.
Ikaw anak sa uniberso
Sama sa kahoy ug mga bituon
May katungod ka nga magpakabuhi.
Ug bisan kun dili kini tin-aw kanimo,
Way pagduda nga ang uniberso nibuklad sama sa naandan.
Sama sa kahoy ug mga bituon
May katungod ka nga magpakabuhi.
Ug bisan kun dili kini tin-aw kanimo,
Way pagduda nga ang uniberso nibuklad sama sa naandan.
Mao nga hinumdomi ang Ginoo
Bisan unsa man ang imong paghulagway kaniya,
Bisan unsa man ang imong paghulagway kaniya,
Ug bisan unsa man ang imong gihimo ug gidamgo
Taliwa sa saba nga kalibog sa kinabuhi, atimana ang imong kalag.
Taliwa sa saba nga kalibog sa kinabuhi, atimana ang imong kalag.
Bisan sa mga pagpakaaron-ingnon, kalisdanan ug pakyas nga damgo
Ang kalibutan nagpabiling matahom.
Ang kalibutan nagpabiling matahom.
Mag-amping.
Paninguha nga magmalipayon.
Paninguha nga magmalipayon.
November 12, 2008
This feeling, friend
Is etched by the constancy of surf
Upon the solidity of rocks.
This, being in the heart
Mocks the moments
And defies time’s rigid rule.
Think not, therefore, of my intention
As mere scribbling on the sand
Of life’s shifting shores.
It is, I assure
As enduring as the outpouring of wonder
Painted in the caves
Of an innocent age.
(I found this in my folder for the Palanca Writers Workshop I attended in June 1996. I wrote this for a girl, obviously, that I courted at that time. Sadly, I never kept that promise.)
July 1, 2008
When it’s your turn, you wait
Until the morning star
Is close to the moon.
You sit
Tap the trigger guard
Slap the mosquitoes
Squint in the dark
At the vast expanse
Of rugged land, gloomy air
That is Bocawe.
The eyelids droop
At times.
But Do Peryong’s hut
Is filled with a dozen snores
And the blackboard
Leans undisturbed
On the bamboo wall.
Then you remember you’re god
At least for the night.
And gods should stay awake.
–Candido O. Wencesla
August 25, 2007
Call me corny, but I do like this Max Ehrmann prose-poem, Desiderata (roughly, “desired things”). It’s probably because the message reflects my attitude or what I want to be attitude in life. It’s a good guide in dealing with people, the world and adversities.
Don’t laugh, but I am serious. There are people who have taken Desiderata as a passing fancy, even scoff at its pretensions to being a poem. I don’t. I have a copy of Desiderata pasted on the wall of my cubicle to remind me of its message, or more appropriately to guide me. Why? Read on.
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
I often am in a noisy environment, in work and sometimes at home. In the office, deadlines dictate our pace. That’s why I cherish the peace provided by silence.
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
I often am in a noisy environment, in work and sometimes at home. In the office, deadlines dictate our pace. That’s why I cherish the peace provided by silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Being on good terms with some people, we can do that, but with all persons, and without surrender? A mighty task, but good for the spirit.
be on good terms with all persons.
Being on good terms with some people, we can do that, but with all persons, and without surrender? A mighty task, but good for the spirit.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Yeah, right. That is why I hate people who believe they have a monopoly of knowledge and look down on the less educated. Living with the peasants for some seven years, I have learned many things abnout life from them. And they don’t have doctorates in philosophy.
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Yeah, right. That is why I hate people who believe they have a monopoly of knowledge and look down on the less educated. Living with the peasants for some seven years, I have learned many things abnout life from them. And they don’t have doctorates in philosophy.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
There you go. If you find me steering clear of opinionated people, blame Desiderata. No, even before I read this poem, I have long detested the loud and the too aggressive.
they are vexations to the spirit.
There you go. If you find me steering clear of opinionated people, blame Desiderata. No, even before I read this poem, I have long detested the loud and the too aggressive.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
This takes away the stress of being overly-competitive. I know people who believe they are superior than others, then cry a river when they end up second best. Only God is all superior. So we just have to accept that while we are sometimes better than others, in other times others could be better than us, too.
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
This takes away the stress of being overly-competitive. I know people who believe they are superior than others, then cry a river when they end up second best. Only God is all superior. So we just have to accept that while we are sometimes better than others, in other times others could be better than us, too.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
This is especially true in the Philippines where jobs are hard to come by. I may just have been fortunate that I am in a work that I love. So I am trying not to squander the opportunity.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
This is especially true in the Philippines where jobs are hard to come by. I may just have been fortunate that I am in a work that I love. So I am trying not to squander the opportunity.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Have faith in people, that is important. But be wary too. Its a difficult balancing act, but it can be done.
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Have faith in people, that is important. But be wary too. Its a difficult balancing act, but it can be done.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
If there is any attitude one should watch out, it is being pretentious. If I don’t like somebody, I steer clear of him. And I am always confident I can find love everywhere.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
If there is any attitude one should watch out, it is being pretentious. If I don’t like somebody, I steer clear of him. And I am always confident I can find love everywhere.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
It’s accepting that we are but mortals. Age gracefully.
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
It’s accepting that we are but mortals. Age gracefully.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
I have always been a worrier. That’s why I always find this a timely reminder.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
I have always been a worrier. That’s why I always find this a timely reminder.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Wallow in the belief that we have a purpose in being here, that we play a role in this world we have.
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Wallow in the belief that we have a purpose in being here, that we play a role in this world we have.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
Yes, don’t forget God. I did when I was younger. Since then I have realized that we need God for our guide, someone to hold on to.
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
Yes, don’t forget God. I did when I was younger. Since then I have realized that we need God for our guide, someone to hold on to.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
July 19, 2006
I
Sing the songs of they
Of the sun-burnt skin.
Of the rough fingers tender upon fragile stems
And calloused soles caressing muddy terrains,
I pay homage.
I
Sing the songs of the mute
For the deaf to savor.
–Candido O. Wenceslao
Sun.Star Weekend
January 20, 1991
Cebuano poem: Burger Steak
June 3, 2006Abi ba to nakog lami
Ang burger steak.
Naunsa ba nga nausab man ang timplada
Dihang nakit-an tika sa sidewalk
Nga ikaw rang usa.
Ang sip-on sa imong simod
Mimakra sa samin
Nga pwerte pang sinawa.
Pero wa kang kabantay
Kay ang imong mata nagtutok man
Sa plastic nakong tinidor
Ug kutsara.
Kun ako pay imong Papa
Gikaligo na tika
Ug gipalitag maong nga jumper
Sa Ayala.
Daghan untang masuya
Nga duna koy liwat
Nga morag si Lady Lee
Kagwapa.
Paeskwelahon tika
Og kinder sa Evanfree
Kay mao ra may kaya
Sa akong bulsa.
Unya sa elementary
Sa City Central lang tingali
Kay duol ra sa amoa.
Kun makaya sa high school
Nindot untag sa Santa Theresa.
Pero fight ra gihapon sa Abellana
Kay dinha man mi
Kasagarang mangeskwela.
Unya sa college magpili na ta
Sa Southwestern ba, sa UC
Sa San Jose ug bisan sa UV.
Basta kay maninguha lagi ko
Nga makatapos ka’g kurso
Aron sab dayon
Makatrabaho.
Pero taym pa
Morag nanobra na man
Ning akong arangkada.
Nakalimot ko nga
Hapit na mahurot ang burger steak
Nga wa ko ka pangagda.
Wa gani ko kabantay
Nga ikaw nakalakaw na
Unya kusmod
Ug huyhoy ang abaga.
–By Candido O. Wenceslao
