tabulas.com

Indulto
ni Francisco Arias Monteseña



Hindi ang salansan ng mga kahon
at mga nakahandang maleta

ang nakatawag ng aking pansin
sa aking pag-uwi.

Matagal ko nang nadarama
na dito rin matatapos ang lahat.

Sa pagitan ng iyong mga daing
habang ako ang kasama;

Sa gitna ng mga parinig at pasaring,
nakikinig lamang ako.

Dahil alam kong hindi naman ikaw ito.
Alam kong sadyang puwang

ang mga pagkukulang kong lumalaki
habang tumatagal. Binati ako

ng larawan nating hindi mo ginalaw,
ni hindi mo iniligpit upang isama sa iyong pag-alis.

Bumubulong ang mga kahon ng panlilibak,
ngunit hindi sila ang aking napansin

kundi ang larawan natin noong hindi pa
nilalayasan ng mga ngiti.

Sapagkat ito lamang hindi bumibitaw.
Sana naman ay maisipan mo ring bitbitin.

Ang Nasa Puso
Ni Francisco Arias Montesena 2/04/08


Nasa tibok ang pagmamay-ari ng loob.
Na para bang ang mga pintig
ang humuhugpong sa ating mga sarili;
ang gumagapos sa ating mga puso.
Di man sadya, ito ang badya
ng pagpapasakop, ng pagpapakubkob.
Kaya tayo madalas nasasaktan.
Inaari nating atin, inaangkin
ang bawat itinuturo ng puso: Akin siya!
Ako ay kaniya! Kaya naman
madalas tayong nabubulabog
ng sariling pagtuturing
sa kung ano ang tama, sa kung ano ang nariyan,
sa kung ano ang katotohanan.
Kaya haplos ang sakal, lambing ang pisil,
bulong ang sigaw. Pinananatili natin
ang tali ng pagpapanggap:
may pait na ubod ng tamis.
Walang maaaring magtanong
kung bakit natin ito ginagawa.
Iyan ang tunay na dikta ng puso,
tahimik na pagtatago.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, famous writer from Colombia , and Nobel Peace Prize winner for literature, has retired from public life for reasons of health. He has a form of cancer, which is terminal. He has sent a farewell letter to his friends.

****
According to other net entry:
Friends, this might be a touching piece, but it was not written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, but by Johnny Welch, a Mexican ventriloquist.
****

It is recommended reading because it is moving to see how one of the best and most brilliant of writers expresses himself & with sorrow.
(Even as I'm SURE this would have sounded TWICE as good in Spanish, let us enjoy the English version
nonetheless. ...)


He says: If God, for a second, forgot what I have become and granted me a little bit more of life, I would use it to the best of my
ability.

I wouldn't, possibly, say everything that is in my mind, but I would
be more thoughtful of all I say. I would give merit to things not for
what they are worth, but for what they mean to
express.

I would sleep little, I would dream more, because I know that for
every minute that we close our eyes, we waste 60 seconds of light.

I would walk while others stop; I would awake while others
sleep.

If God would give me a little bit more of life, I would dress in a
simple manner, I would place myself in front of the sun, leaving not
only my body, but my soul naked at its
mercy.


To all men, I would say how mistaken they are when they think that
they stop falling in love when they grow old, without knowing that
they grow old when they stop falling in love.

I would give wings to children, but I would leave it to them to learn
how to fly by themselves.

To old people I would say that death doesn't arrive when they grow
old, but with forgetfulness.


I have learned so much with you all, I have learned that everybody
wants to live on top of the mountain,without knowing that true happiness is obtained in the journey taken & the form used to reach
the top of the hill.

I have learned that when a newborn baby holds, with its little hand,
his father's finger, it has trapped him for the rest of his life.

I have learned that a man has the right and obligation to look down
at another man, only when that man needs help to get up from the
ground.

Say always what you feel, not what you think. If I knew that today is
the last time that that I am going to see you asleep, I would hug you
with all my strength and I would pray to the Lord to let me be the guardian angel of your soul.

If I knew that these are the last moments to see you, I would say 'I
love you'.


There is always tomorrow, and life gives us another opportunity to do
things right, but in case I am wrong, and today is all that is left to me, I would love to tell you how much I love you & that I will never forget you.

Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone, young or old.

Today could be the last time to see your loved ones, which is why you
mustn't wait; do it today, in case tomorrow never arrives. I am sure
you will be sorry you wasted the opportunity today to give a smile, a
hug, a kiss, and that you were too busy to grant them their last wish.

Keep your loved ones near you; tell them in their ears and to their
faces how much you need them and love them. Love them and treat them well; take your time to tell them 'I am sorry';' forgive me','please' 'thank you', and all those loving words you know.

Nobody will know you for your secret thought. Ask the Lord for wisdom and strength to express them.

Show your friends and loved ones how important they are to you.

Send this letter to those you love. If you dont do it today...tomorrow will be like yesterday, and if you never do it, it doesn't matter either, the moment to do it is now.


For you, With much love,

Your Friend,


Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Thanks for your confirmation. Just to give you some details about the event on Monday.

The event is entitled “A Night of Poetry and Music”. This is in celebration of the Teachers’ Club 2nd Anniversary- highlight will be to thank all the members for their support to the BC and the Teachers’ Club. All of the guests will be teachers from universities and schools in Metro Manila. Expected Number of guests will be around 50-60.


The event will take place on 11 Feb 2008 at 6pm at the Kamayan Restaurant-EDSA.

Since February- Valentines, this will be our theme and draft programme will be as follows:


6.30pm Arrival of guests/Dinner

7.30pm Opening

7.15pm Poetry Reading- Yanna

7.30pm “Secrets” Activity (c/o Yanna)

7.45pm Poetry Reading- Vim

8.00pm Poetry Reading/ Singing- members

8.15pm Poetry Reading- Kiko

8.30pm “Insert Song” Activity (c/o Yanna)

9.00pm Awards/ Closing

Send your comments and feedback please.


Thanks,

Digi



Digi Ann C. Castillo
Programme Officer



British Council
10th Floor Taipan Place
F. Ortigas Road, Ortigas Centre
1605 Pasig City, Philippines

Sa Komiks ako natutong magbasa, sa komiks lumabo ang aking mata, sa komiks ako naging malikhain, sana naman ang komiks ay ating buhayin!

---Kiko

The Death and Life of the Komiks
Emil M. Flores

It all began with death. But death was to be denied. On December 11, 2007 the College of Arts and Letters of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, the Likhaan Creative Writing Center and Read or Die convened “Pasko ng Komiks” the first ever gathering of creators, collectors and academe on the “literature of the masses,” the komiks. Amidst the statements that the komiks were dead, the symposium speakers begged to differ. The komiks are alive. The creators may not be properly recognized or compensated, but the komiks are alive. Institutions may not see them worthy to be preserved and archived but the komiks are alive.

The pronouncements began with National Artist and College of Arts and Letters dean Virgilio Almario questioning komiks’ demise and reaffirming the art form’s importance to Philippine culture and society.

While the komiks were alive, all was not well. The first session was moderated by Prof. Michael Chua and Sally Eugenio and it began with a fairly troublesome note.

The first speaker Gerry Alanguilan recalled his early career in komiks. He lamented how the industry itself does not encourage creativity. One publisher he approached in 1992 told him that he didn’t have to make his work look good since it was only for local readers. The low opinion of the publishers for its readers had a way of bouncing back. Eventually the readers developed a low opinion of the komiks. The opinion was so low that according to Alanguilan, the National Library deemed that komiks had no research value and were thus not preserved. Because of this lack of preservation, Alanguilan lamented how many young artists do not know the creators from the 1940s. Ironically, many of the past creators took pride in their work and put their hearts and souls into them. To counter the sad state of komiks, Alanguilan continues to preserve the komiks works from the past in his online museum at komikero.com.

One of the great komiks creators from the 1930s to the 1970s was Francisco Coching. UP Art Studies professor Patrick Flores spoke of the importance of Coching’s work in Philippine society. Coching, who chose to be a komiks artist rather than a painter, influenced many Filipino artists. In fact, according to Flores, many artists in the provinces learned their human anatomy drawing through the Francisco Coching komiks since art books were not available to them. Through his works such as Pedro Penduko, Hagibis and Lapu Lapu, Flores stated that Francisco Coching helped shape the face of the Filipino in the 1950s and 60s.

Komiks writer Gladys Gimena outlined the types of stories that are prominent in the komiks namely: drama (Bituing Walang Ningning), love (Sinasamba Kita), mystery and horror (Bangungot), fantasy (Zuma), hero-oriented (Darna), action (Bad Boy), true-to-life and political propaganda, and children’s educational komiks. From the types of stories given, Gimena showed how diverse the komiks were in terms of content. The komiks were not ruled by a single dominant genre and that demonstrated the medium’s significance to Philippine society.

Legendary creator Pablo Gomez shared his experiences as a komiks creator and as a writer for film. At one pint in his talk he lamented the lack of respect older creators like him get from the creators who came after him. He simply lets his work speak for themselves, a valuable lesson for the future komiks creators.

Collectors Dennis Villegas and Orvy Jundis showed samples of rare komiks and stressed the importance of preserving them for future readers. Jundis, a Filipino American noted how many Filipino artists who worked in the United States such as Nestor Redondo and Alfredo Alcala were highly respected in the American comics scene. American artist such as Al Williamson were even influenced by Francisco Coching.

The afternoon session, with Prof. Vim Nadera and Sally Eugenio acting as moderators, further expanded the scope of discussion.

The first session featured women komiks creators Ofelia Concepcion, Vivian Limpin, Gilda Olivado, Joanah Tinio-Calingo, Elizabeth Chionglo, Syeri Baet and Claire Villacorta. The impressive assembly demonstrated that women despite the challenges they have faced have made an indelible mark in the various forms of komiks: the komiks magasin, newspaper strips, and indie comics.

More creators were featured in the second session. These were Carlo Vergara, Andrew Drilon, Andrew Villar, Randy Valiente, Jonas Diego, Melvin Calingo, Rey Tiempo, Victor Balanon and KC Cordero. While Randy Valiente pointed out the problems that the komiks industry faced such as the monopoly in publishing and the unfair treatment of the creators, the panelist themselves demonstrated that a new breed of komiks creators were looking at alternative venues such as the Internet to present their creativity. Creators such as Melvin Calingo showed that an alternate source of inspiration can come from Japanese manga and anime. Andrew Drilon has created komiks based on video games. Carlo Vergara’s Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah has been made into a live musical production as well as a feature film. Komiks may be struggling but the eclectic group of creators showed that all was not lost.

The final panelists Emil Flores, Romulo Baquiran, Lawrence Mijares and Boboy Yonzon reinstated the importance of komiks in Philippine art, history and culture. The challenges are great the panelists noted but the possibilities are endless and exciting.

Throughout the symposium video presentations of seminal komiks series were presented by Filipiniana.net. The presentations of Carlo J. Caparas’ Ang Panday, Gilda Olivado’s Babangon Ako at Dudurugin Kita, and Carlo Vergara’s Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah provided were wonderful examples of how the komiks reflected Filipino culture through stories filled with action, drama, humor and heroism.

In his closing statement National Artist Bienvinido Lumbera stated that the times have changed for the komiks. The komiks are not as ubiquitous as they once were but they are taking new forms in content, art styles and inspiration. But as the symposium clearly demonstrated, the komiks are not dead. The komiks are changing and they must be preserved so that all of us can experience that the wonder and excitement that they provide.

KUNG DI MAN KUNDIMAN
Ni Francis Arias Montesena 2/13/08


We journey each time we love. Remember: Not to go too slow, arriving late. Not to go too fast, going past the mark.
“Journey”, Joi Barrios


I

Sabihin mo kung paano ako
sasalingin ng pag-ibig
na sa simula’t simula
ay walang simula?
Paano ako mananalig
ng tugon sa mga dalangin
na di naririnig?
Paano maniniwalang may patutunguhan
ang paghahanap ng mamahalin,
sa gitna ng takot na masugatan ang dibdib
ng talim ng walang-katiyakan?
Paano maisasaawit ang damdamin
kung di alam ang ilalapat na himig?
Ibig kong umibig, iyan ang totoo.
Subalit mas buhay ang paniniwala
sa pagbitaw ng puso sa mga pangako,
nag-iiwan ng pamamaalam. Tumatakas ako
upang muli’t muling mabulid sa pag-ibig.
Ito ang haraya ng pusong itinatatwa
ng karuwagan. Narito ang paniniwala
na mas mabuti na ang pag-iisa,
Naililigtas ako sa kabiguan.


II

Iba ang daigdig ng mga mangingibig;
Iyan ang hanggang ngayon ay di ko matuklasan.
Patuloy na hindi maunawaan
kung bakit pula ang kulay ng paligid,
kung bakit langit ang tinatapakang lupa,
kung bakit halik ang bawat dampi ng hangin sa balat,
kung bakit matamis ang bawat buntonghininga,
kung bakit walang lumilisan,
kung bakit walang nakaraan,
kung bakit hindi binibilang ang oras,
kung bakit walang binibitiwan.

Hanggang ngayon, di ko maintindihan
kung bakit masakit ang lahat ng bakit.




III

Kaylawak nga ng langit,
at sadyang nariyan
ang lahat ng nanaising makita.
Ngunit sinasadya ko
na hindi matutong tumitig.
Hindi ako marunong, ang laging pagsisinungaling.
Dahan-dahan, sinusuyod ng tibok
ang lahat ng di mapaglabanan.
Sa bawat angking ugat,
dito nagsisimulang padaluyin,
ang init ng tinatanggihang pag-ibig.
Pabilis ng pabilis ang pulso
ng pagsisimula.



IV

May mga simulang
di pa nag-uumpisa
ay nagnanaknak na.
Minsan mas mainam
ang maglanggas ng sugat
nang nag-iisa. Mahapdi man
ay mas mabilis gamutin
ang lahat ng dapat maghilom
ng walang ibang nakakakita.

Paanyaya Para sa Taunang Palihan ng LIRA


Bukas na pong muli ang LIRA sa mga nais magpatalâ upang lumahok sa taunang klinikang pampanulaan. Ang klinika po ay gaganapin mula 9:00 n.u hanggang 5:00 n.h. tuwing Sabado at Linggo, at magtatagal nang tatlong buwan, mula Hunyo hanggang Agosto.

Tulad po ng mga nakaraang taon, magpadala po ng isang pahinang bio-data na may 1x1 ID picture, kasama ang limang tula sa Filipino, sa liraworkshop@ gmail.com, o ilagay ito sa pigeon hole ni Prof. Vim Nadera sa UP Institute of Creative Writing, 2/F Faculty Center, College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman. Ang huling araw po ng pagpapatalâ ay ang ika-30 ng Abril, 2008.

Ngayong 2008 ay 23 taong gulang na ang LIRA, isang samahan ng mga makatang nagsusulat sa wikang Filipino. Ang LIRA ay itinatag ni Virgilio S. Almario, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining para sa Panitikan, noong 1985, at kinabibilangan ng mga premyadong makata tulad nina Edgar Samar, Jerry Gracio, Michael Coroza, Vim Nadera, Roberto at Rebecca Añonuevo, at Romulo Baquiran Jr.

Applications for the next LIRA Poetry Clinic is now being accepted. Applicants are invited to pass five (5) poems in Filipino along with a short bio-date and one 1x1 ID picture to LIRA Poetry Clinic to liraworkshop@ gmail.com or you can send or drop your applications to Prof. Vim Nadera, UP Institute of Creative Writing, 2/F Faculty Center, UP Diliman, 1101 Quezon City. All applications should be in on or before April 30, 2008.
T
he whole clinic period is from June to August and will be held every Saturday and Sunday from 9: 00 AM until 5:00 PM.

*Napanood ko ang Juno at naaliw talaga ako sa bidang teener. kaya naman pala Oscar nominee agad siya ngayon dahil napakanatural ng pag-arte niya dito. nakakatuwa ang tema ng movie, teen pregnancy at kung paano ang nangyari sa kaniya. panoorin nyo rekomendado ito. napanood ko rin ang Jumper, a high tech movie na ewan kung bakit di ko naappreciate gayung top-grosser ito.

**nag-enjoy ang marami sa performance ko sa British council invitation sa Kamayan. Warm ang mga teacher-audience at maganda naman ang resulta ng gabing iyon at ang pinakamaganda may inipit na sobre nang pauwi na kami hehehehhehehehe.

***Natapos ko na rin sa wakas ang isa kong kuwentong pambata sa kabila ng pagluloko ng laptop ko. nasa mood yata ako ngayon kaya pipilitin ko ring tapusin ang isa ko pang kuwento na nasimulan na.

****Nagtataka ako kung bakit biglaang may miting kami sa office ni Sir Rio sa Feb 23.

*****maganda sanang proyekto ang pagtula sa publiko sa LRT at MRT. invited ako ng Kamakatahan sa FEb 20. eh may pasok kaya naiturn-down ko. Sayang bakit kasi may pasok?

*dalaw naman kayo sa site na wikipilipinas.org.ph

** maganda ang site para malaman natin ang maraming bagay tungkol sa ating pagka-Pilipino.

***dumalaw din kayo sa dakilapinoy.wordpress.com ni sir bob Anonuevo.

****Sa Feb 29 na ang launching ng Montage, kungsaan nakasama ang 2 kong tula, kasabay ang Varsitarian at isa pang di ko matandaan.

*Dahil sa gusto ko talaga ng mga proyektong pampubliko, sinubukan kong magpaalam sa boss ko kahapon para makadalo sa isang performance sa LRT2 Cubao station. At pinayagan ako, kaya dali-dali akong tumungo sa lugar. Proyekto ito ng NCCA ( Ani sa Sining, Fiestahan) sa pakikipagtulungan ng UE at ng LRT/ MRT management. Medyo nostalgic din sa kin dahil habang pinanonood ko ang mga umaawit na UE Chorale, kungsaan ay sila ang Grand Champion sa Busan noong 2006 at 2007, ay bumabalik ang mga alaala ko noong nasa UE din ako at nagtatanghal sa teatro dahil sa subject na Pilipino. Ang huhusay ng mga bata. Pati na rin ang mga sumayaw ng mga katutubong sayaw ay ang gagaling. Sabi ay paningit lang daw ang pagtula sa programa, ngunit marahil ay naibigan ng mga taga UE kaya may posibilidad na isama na raw ang grupo sa mga susunod pang pagtatanghal na may kontrata na. Sa una ay nagalala ako na walang manonood ngunit ang dami pala na may interes sa sining nang masaksihan nila ang mga pagtatanghal.

Napakagandang teknolohiya ang pagkakaimbento ng wiki. Ang wiki ay isang software na maaaring gamitin sa pagsusulat at paghubog ng mga akda o disenyo. Magagamit din ito bilang tulay ng komunikasyon, sa pag-iimbak ng impormasyon, sa pagbubuo ng pamayanang may kulob na pook, at sa paghikayat ng bayanihan ng mga kasapi. Malayang magagamit ang teknolohiyang wiki, at ang maganda, malaya ang sinumang paunlarin ang nasabing teknolohiya upang makatulong sa mga tao.

Hango sa salitang Hawai’ian, ang “wiki” ay pinangatawan ang pagiging “mabilis,” at gaya ng kidlat ay kisapmatang makapaghahatid ng magandang balita o sakuna.

Makapangyarihan ang wiki kung gagamitin ng isang kompanya, na ang mga kawani nito ay may batayang diskurso, layon, at bisyon para sa ikalalago ng nasabing kompanya sa kabuuan at ng bawat tao na kabilang doon. Magiging malaya ang daloy ng usapan, at batay sa patakaran ng nasabing kompanya ay maitatakda ang usapan, programa, at proyektong katanggap-tanggap sa buong organisasyon.

Ngunit may panganib din ang wiki kung gagamitin sa pandaigdigang antas. Halimbawa, ang Wikipedia ay kakatawan sa pandaigdigang imbakan ng impormasyong ensiklopediko ng bawat bansa. May pamayanan ito ng mga manunulat at editor, na bagaman hindi lantarang kilala, ay makapagpapasok ng lahok ng nais nila. Inaasahan na ang bawat mamamayan ng daigdig ay malayang makapag-aambag sa wikang Ingles o kaya’y sa Tagalog o Espanyol o Mandarin. Sinuman ay may karapatang sumulat o mag-edit, hangga’t kaya ng sikmura at malalim ang bulsa, bukod sa pagkakaroon ng kompiyuter, akses sa internet, at kaalaman sa wika.

Maganda ang Wikipedia para sa mga establisadong bansa, gaya ng Estados Unidos o Japan o United Kingdom. Ngunit mapanganib ito sa gaya ng Filipinas, dahil ang Wikipedia na magiging imbakan ng impormasyon hinggil sa Filipinas ay hindi lamang impormasyon ang maaaring iluwal bagkus ang tone-toneladang basurang maaaring sulatin ng mga nasa pamayanan ng manunulat o editor. Ang Wikipedia Tagalog, halimbawa, ay hindi lamang hinggil sa “Katagalugan” ang nilalaman; naroroon din ang mga kahanga-hangang hilaw na halaw at saling ikalilito ng karaniwang tao kung hindi man intelektuwal.

Maaaring walang tuwirang programa ang Wikipedia Tagalog na bilugin ang isip o pagkatao ng karaniwang Filipino alinsunod sa pananaw ng banyaga, gaya ng Amerika. Gayunman, ang mga nalilikha nitong basura ay tuwirang makaaapekto sa isip, kamalayan, at kalooban ng bagong henerasyon ng mga Filipino hindi lamang ngayon kundi maging sa susunod na panahon.

Maikakatwirang malaya namang baguhin o iedit iyon ng sinumang Filipino ang Wikipedia. Subalit hindi iyon sapat na katwiran. Hindi lahat ng 97 milyong Filipino ay may taglay na kompiyuter at akses sa internet. Hindi pa rin buo ang pagkabansa ng Filipinas, at ang gayong kalagayan ay napakadaling kasangkapanin ng alinmang makapangyarihang korporasyon o estado upang hatiin ang naturang bansa at panatilihing sakop ito sa pandaigdigang antas.

May tugon ang mga Filipino kung ayaw nila sa Wikipedia. At ang tugon na ito ay hindi tahas, gaya ng sa Kanluranin. Ang pagsasawalang-bahala o pananahimik ng mga Filipino ay hindi nangangahulugan ng pagtanggap, kundi maaaring pagtutol na rin sa gayong kalakarang mabilis na iginigiit sa kanila ng nagbabagong simoy.

Hinihimok ko ang sinumang Filipino na gamitin natin ang bagong teknolohiya para sa ikagagaling ng mga Filipino. Ang teknolohiya ng wiki ay hindi magiging matagumpay kung hindi mauunawaan ito ng nakararaming Filipino at gagamitin sa kapaki-pakinabang na paraan. Kailangang maipaliwanag ito nang maayos sa mga Filipino, at ipaliwanag hindi sa wikang Ingles, bagkus sa wikang Filipino.

Panahon na upang mag-usap na ang mga Filipino sa wikang Filipino. Sa ganitong pagkakataon lamang natin mahihikayat ang tunay na ubod ng pagbabayanihan para sa Lupang Tinubuan.

*kapag nagkakaroon ng problema, nagkakaroon din ng pampasaya. Kahapon nagalsa balutan ako sa office. Hindi na talga ako nakatiis at nilayasan ko sila lahat dala ang mga gamit ko. Pero babalik pa rin ako kapag wala na ang haighblood ko sa boss ko.

**Natuwa naman ako sa consideration na ipinadala sa akin ng British Council through an e-mail para sa isang mahabang pagtatanghal sa England. Yes, sa England. May pinasagutang mga questions sa akin para sa panel of judges na susuri sa mga ipapadala para sa isang mahabang performance poetry workshop. Sana, makalusot ako at nang magkaroon ako ng dahilan na mag-resign

*** Sunday ay pinanood ko ang " There will be blood" at kinabukasan ay nanalo si Daniel Day Lewis sa Oscars. Ang masasabi ko lang powerful kasi ang performance niya sa movie kahit di masyadong maganda ang story line. Its basically about a father and son relationship with a backdraft in oil mining. Maganda ang eksena kung saan siya binabaptize at doon sa eksena sa bowling range kungsaan napatay niya ang pastor. Sus , sorry at na pre-empt ko sa mga nais manood ng movie. Nanghinayang ako kay Cate Blanchett na nominado sa Supporting at lead actress pero umuwing talunan. Napanood ko siya sa Elizabeth at mahusay siya, minsan nga lang ay nagiging over-acting.