Literary and Culture

Tagu-taguan

Nakakasabik, mukhang sumali na naman yata si Papa/Masaya naman siyang kalaro, kakaiba rin ang paraan niya ng pagbibilang/May kasamang kalabog/At kung minsan kasama ang hinugot na sinturong paulit-ulit niyang pinapatunog.

‘Poetry is an encounter with the enemy’

Kindred to “aha!” epiphany poetry is Chou En-lai’s historical meditation, poetry is Mao Tse-Tung’s keen repartee, poetry is Ho Chi Minh’s tough resolution and, at Panay Island, poetry is an encounter with the enemy.

Hudlum sa Toga

Ang nakalulungkot sa ngayon,/Sindikato ngayon ang timon,/Bakit pa nga ba madidismaya,/Sa simula pa lang ay halata na.

Kasama…

Ikaw din ay ilog/ng ragasang/hindi masasagkaan…/daluyong ng pakikibakang/himagsik ay/hindi mapipigilan

On boycotting the Frankfurt Book Fair

Frankfurt Book Fair boycotters are right to boycott the Frankfurt Book Fair. The fair is not “the world capital of ideas” that just happens to accommodate Zionists by chance; its programming and actions have demonstrated that it is, in fact, a platform for propagating Zionism, deodorizing genocide, and normalizing the US-backed colonization of Palestine by Israel.

Kung tutuusin

Mga kinawawang manggagawang ni hindi mapangalanan/“Compliant” ang depensang maagap sa kanilang kamatayan/Kung tutuusin, sa ganang kapitalista, sa ganang pamahalaan/Pakikipagtuos na lang ang dapat nitong hantungan.

Paul Galang’s ‘Eleksyon na, Mag-isip Ka!’

Paul Galang has been composing music for decades and touring in Europe, Japan and much of Asia to disseminate a message of hope for a benighted country, its wealth plundered by politicians, its people subjected to an irrational and bloody inquisition.

Nang namaalam si Papa Kiko

Ang pagbabago ay ‘di bagay na inireregalo,/At lalong hindi nakukuha sa pagluhod,/Siya mismo ang nagpakita ng halimbawa,/Kailangan kumibo, kumilos nang lumaya.