The Women Aklanon Poets

I am reprinting here my selections of the Women Aklanon Poets which I first published in Bueabod, Thursday, October 26, 2006

The Women Aklanon Poets
Bueabod Vol 1 No. 9 October 2006

The Women Aklanon Poets
Compiled by
Melchor F. Cichon
October 25, 2006


This is a much delayed issue of Bueabod. The last one was in July this year.

It has been noted that the poem production of Aklanon poets in my.akeanon.com has gone down. So this editor thought of putting up an anthology of Aklanon women poets since no such anthology has been done yet. So this is another historical collection.

In the special issue of Ani Aklanon, out of 27 Aklanon poets only five poets were featured namely, Arwena Tamayo, Nita Maypa, Rosela S. Ignacio, Sumra I. de la Cruz, and Mona Lisa T. Tabernilla

In the book, Luwa, Haiku and Other Poems by Aklanons which this editor was the senior editor only six women poets were included: Edna Faral, Losally Navarro, Luchelyn Andres Beltran, Renelyn Beglinger-Vallejo, Ma. Terry Marte, and Ellamae Fernandez.

This shows that a great majority of the Aklanon published poets are men.

To honor our women poets, this editor compiled their works with their short profiles to give a better picture of Aklanon women poets. It should be noted that all of them have not won any national literary award.

This anthology includes haiku, luwa and other poems in English and in Aklanon.

Unfortunately, the works of Prof. Joi Barrios, an Aklanon award-winning poet, are not included in this anthology. As far as this editor has known, she has not written a poem in Aklanon.

In this anthology, one can see the works of Rowena Tamayo, Edna Romulo Laurente Faral, Losally Navarro Endluri, Sumra de la Cruz, Belle Nabor, Luchelyn Andres Beltran, Vanessa Cichon, Monalisa T. Tabernilla, Janice M. Viloria, Renelyn Beglinger-Vallejo, Nita Payba, Ellamae Fernandez, Rosela S. Ignacio, Liezel Macam, and Ma. Terry Marte.

What do Aklanon women poets write?

Like their counterpart, Aklanon women poets also write on the socio-cultural and technological ecologies that beset their countries.



***NYNN ROWENA TAMAYO
Known as the “Big Sister” of the Akeanon writers, Rowena works at the Department of Agrarian Reform in Kalibo, Aklan. She is also one of the best Aklanon contemporary writers.

Haead Kay Arwena

Gindaehan ta ikaw it mga bueak
Nga may kasiga ku adlaw
Ag kainit ku mga hiyom-hiyom
Agud taw-an it kasadya
Ro imong mga mata
Nga nagakasubo.
Mga violeta nga nagakiay-kiay
Sa huyop ku hangin
Pageaom ku mga daeanon
Nga owa maagyi!...
Ag mga rosas, singpuea ku dugo
Apang madali maeaay.
Ah, sayud ako kon paalin
Do mapisang it sanglibong parte
Ag do magbatyag it hapdi
Ku mga napirdi…

Ro Mangingisda sa Punta Villa

Sa kadaeumon ku kagab-ihon
Nga haeos tunlon ka eon
Ku matugnaw nga tubi
It madeag nga suba,
Ginasaeum mo ro idadadaeman
Agud mag-usoy it isda
Nga nagakasipot eon.

Mauli ka baea makarong gabii
Nga owa gid it dakup
Sa nagahueat mo nga asawa
Ag ginagutom nga mga onga?
Makit-an ko ro kasubo ag kapait
Sa imong mga mata, sa kasilaw
Ku mga iwag
Ku mabongga nga swimming pool
It Punta Villa.

Kaabu ro pagkaon namon riya
Samtang ginabinag-binag
Ro imong kaimueon ag
Naduea eon nga pag-eaum
Sa de-aircon nga mga hueot
AG “state of the art” nga mga biswal.
Sa among hilway, aminit ag maeum-ok
Nga mga eugban, samtang ginaduyan
It isaeang ka kanta nga
Pang Paskwa.

***
Itay

Maalaala ko pa nang huli kong
Ibinigay sa’yo ang aking mga tula.
Ninais kong namnamin mo
Ang kanilang tamis, pait
At tarukin kung gaano kalalim,
Abutin ang aking mga pighati at saya
At muli mo akong tuklasin.
Mula sa batang musmos na hinimok mong
Humabi ng mga tulang yari
Sa mga bulaklak at ulan, awit ng ibon
At sinag ng buwan.

Tahimik kitang pinagmasdan
Habang unti-unting lumilinaw
Sa bawat naghuhumiyaw
Na linya at salita, ng aking
Malungkot na tula
Ang aking buhay…
At ikaw ay namangha,
Napangiti, napaluha.


***EDNA ROMULO LAURENTE FARAL

She is from Batan. Edna is not only a fine haiku writer, but she is a dancer par excellence. She now lives in the U.S.A. with her husband, Conrad, and son, Concon.

The Rose

the rose
whispers I love you
I smile

***

Reaching For A Friend

twilight –
sunflower reaches heaven
where tulip sleeps

***

Bukas

bukas
ro eangit
sa gustong magsueod

***

Hugom

hugom
it agahon
sa bag-ong eangit

***

1st of May

just before sunrise –
1st of May's cooling breeze
kisses my wan face

***

Together
lovers
embrace together
in bended knees

***
Biernes Santo

Biernes Santo—
ginabisita pitong simbahan
kada Biernes Santo

***
The Rose

the rose
whispers I love you
I smile

***

Dahon

dahon –
madahang nahueog
pagtugpa sa sanga it pispis

***

Trabaho Ni Tatay

Pagbugtaw si nanay
owa sa a euyo si tatay
idto gali sa may takas
ginahimas si Texas.

***
Si Nanay Ag Si Tatay

hambae ni nanay
mayad pa ro manok
kada agahon
ginahimas ni tatay.

***

Reaching For A Friend
twilight –
sunflower reaches heaven
where tulip sleeps

***
Yelo sa Florida

yelo
sa punta
it mahabang daean

***

Rosas Nga Buskad

rosas nga buskad
daea mo –
sakit ko naduea

***

Makusog Nga Hilamon

hilamon sa kurae
indi pagdutlan
maski talibong

***

First Blush

under a candle light –
lips snatch a kiss
the rose blushes

***

Hutik It Tagipusuon

sa tunga it gabii
ginabayo it kahidlaw
ro tagipusuon

***
Euha

gabii
euha gatueo
halin sa dughan

***

Ikaw Ag Ako

huo—
ikaw ag ako
sa tulay nga butong gaeatay

***

Sueat

sueat
halin kimo
nakatago sa dughan

***

Haru

ginpaagi sa rosas
ro matam-is nga haru
kang bibig

***

Ginpahipos

ginpahipos
it rosas
rang bibig

***
Anwang ni Tata_Goloy

pagtunod it adlaw –
ro anwang ni Tata_Goloy
nagpahuway sa eunang

***

Nagatangis

nagatangis
dughan ko
sa pamisaea mo

***

Aching Heart

as the sun sets –
a tear falls
from my heart

***

Christmas

Christmas –
children gather
in God's presence

***

Pain In My Heart

agony howling behind hospital nooks
piercing thousands needles
in my heart
(during Concon's freak accident)


Singhana Ako

ihutik?
isinggit ko?
sige, singhana ako

***

Inanod

inanod it
mabaskog nga humbak
ro handumanan naton

***

May Sueat Pa?

may sueat pa baea
nga maabot
sa gahapay nga mailbox?

***

Hin-uno pa?

ginahuyap ko
ro adlaw
sa paghueat kimo

***

Euha

gabii –
euha gatueo
halin sa dughan

***

Handom

handom
ginhorma pagkaunga
inapok it hangin

***

Christmas

Christmas –
unga masadya
kaibahan si Jesus


***LOSALLY NAVARRO-ENDLURI Born in Banga but grew up in Malinao, Aklan, Losally is one of the finest Aklanon haiku writers. She now lives in Canada. She is married to an Indian.

fear nothing
even if our taj mahal
is made of bamboo

***

Flames’ fans mourn—
the red mile
is dead!
(CALGARY FLAMES lost 3-0 to ANAHIEM DUCKS)

***

semana santa---
ro tuba sa kawit
nahimong eanggaw

***

Ako, Ikaw

ako, ikaw---
masadya sa pag-abot ko,
masubo kat pagpanaw.

***

Ikaw

ikaw, iwag---
gatao it hayag
sa akong kabuhi.

***

maeapad nga eawod
gapatunga
sa atong paghigugma
(para sa mga akeanon sa panawan ag sa andang pamilyang inaywanan sa Akean)

***

ginahandum ko—
binakoe nga manok
sa Noche Buena

***

Shelahanie

siyam nga buean
naghueat ing nanay
sa pag-abot mo


***

kasikaeom-
pagtunod it adlaw
nag bye bye si tatay sa anwang

***
adlaw-gabi-i
gahaboe
it pamisaea si nanay.
(for mom sally, my grade 2 ma'am)

***
eomamig ro kape
samtang ginahaboe kita
sa akong painu-ino

***
ham-an it maila
ikaw kakon
ag bukon kay Basho?

***

ro squirrel
gustong magpabukot
sa akong haboe

***
hakatueog ro beaver
sa paghinueat
it summer

***
icicle---
pareho sa damang
gakapyot sa bubong

***

bituon---
nagaidlap-idlap
sa puno it eangka.

***

gakatueog pa ro adlaw
pagbugtaw ko
para mag-usoy it dolyar

***

ikaw~

ikaw
ro kueang nga nota
para mahuman rang composo

***

India

India—
a kaleidoscope
of spices!

***

Adlaw it Paskwa

Adlaw it Paskwa---
mabaskog pa sa bagting
ro tunog ku anang tyan

***

Kangga ni Tata Goloy

ro kangga
ni Tata Goloy
suki it mga Akeanon.

***

Malieon

Malieon, masakay
sa kangga
matukad kita sa Manduyog

***

Pilipinas

Pilipinas---
bueawang
ginaeugmok sa eonang

***

Katapusan It Buean

katapusan it buean—
suea nana
bukon eon it ibis

***

Gustong Higtan

gusto kitang
dakpon ag higtan
ugaling utod ro eobid

***

Maputing Eaki

kada Byernes
ginaduaw imaw
it eaking maputi

***

Geisha

Geisha---
kaparis it cherry blossom
ginasuy-aw it alibangbang

***

Mailbox

gin-eumot
sa paghinueat it sueat
ro mailbox

***

Maeapad Nga Eawod

maeapad nga eawod
gapatunga
sa atong paghigugma

***

Maestra

adlaw-gabi-i
gahabi it pamisea
si nanay
(for mom sally,my grade 2 ma'am)

***


Aninipot

bituon---
nagaidlap-idlap
sa puno it eangka

***

fear nothing
even if our taj mahal
is made of bamboo
(you'll always be my sathruvu)

***

innocent children swallowed by the great tsunami.
(the whole world is mourning for all of you, little angels of God)

***
a giant tsunami
from indian ocean
no more sandcastles. (earthquake 2005)

***
eanas ro opisina
ni tatay
kaibahan nana ro anwang.
(para kay Tatay Lolly)


***

ginbaril sa Luneta
it mga Espanyol
sa anang kaaeam.

***
si Winnie ag si Yoyong
nagbisita sa Pilipinas
nagkagulo ro tawo.

***
si Maria Clara
nag-agto sa Amerika
pag-uli naka-minis-skirt eot-a

***
si nanay, sa Saudi
pag-uli ginsuoed
sa karton nga kahoy.


***

nalipong ro galunggong
sa tubing maitum
it Manila Bay.


***
children singing carols---
the baby wakes up
from its crib.

***
christmas songs
playing in the radio---
my tears falling.

***
a baby squirrel
feasting on nuts
a christmas buffet.

***
snowflakes falling
down the evergreen tree
a white christmas eve.

***

christmas eve---
sipping Dom Perignon
by the fire, A-L-O-N-E!

***
haiku
a painting
the writer, a painter.

***

the red tulips
deep in slumber
after a long summer.

***
a lonely coconut
standing proudly
after the storm.

***
a huge mango tree
the witness
of our childhood's follies.

***

the monkey is playing
hide and seek
with a hunter.

***
the black stallion
galloping in the sunset
leaving the prairies behind.

***

lemon grass scent-
I smell lola's tinolang manok
in the thai's soup.

***

fire dancing
in the fireplace
warming my shivering body.

***

your love
like fireworks
on New Year's Eve!

***

oil and gas
flowing freely
from Calgary's soil.

***

the chinook wind
blowing from the rockies
my snowman melt!

***

children playing hockey
in a frozen lake---
postcard from CANADA.

***

gone are the Canadian geese
leaving me behind
in the harsh winter.

***

you unveil to me
the beauty
of haiku.
(sir cichon, thank you for rekindling my passion in writing)

***

strong as a bamboo
dancing gracefully
to the wind's lullaby.
(for momskie, nang edz)

***

you are the potter
that molded me
into a perfect jar.
(to my alma mater, aklan college;
to mam rose yunzal, my high school teacher,
to mam anita tuayon, my college mentor)

***

above the hills
I see Calgary's lights
blinking, like stars.
(a homage to my adopted city)

***

thunder and lightning
creating a joyous symphony---
announcing your arrival.
(november 10, 2004,
in memory of yasser arafat)

***

build me an igloo
from the alaskan glaciers
a birthday present.
(happy bday to me, january 3)



***SUMRA DE LA CRUZ. Sumra is not only a poet, but a painter as well. She was born in Kalibo from a family of writers.

Pag-abot

Nagabanaag ro siga it adlaw
Sa katunggan ag nagadali-dali it hathat
ku anang madueom nga belo ro kaeangitan.

Mahipos masyado ag akon eamang
Hidadakop it pamati ro mga kapispisang nagaeueupad eon pauli
Matsa owa't katapusang kamingaw.

Ro hangin nga maeamig
Nagapuepamasyar eon sa mga manipis nga tudlo it paeay
Hasta nagapaeayo ro nagakaduea nga kahayag.

Mahipos eon ag malinong do palibot sa pag-abot ku gabii
Sa akong pag-uli sa baeay.


***BELLE NABOR. She first studied at Kalalake Elementary School in Olongapo City, then transferred to Bulwang Elementary School in Numancia, Aklan. She finished her secondary and tertiary education in Aklan College, Kalibo, Aklan. Now she works as a University Research Associate at the University of the Philippines in Diliman (UPD). At the same time, she is working for her master’s degree in education majoring in guidance and counseling at UPD where she is also studying French language. Her haiku have been published the Mainichi Daily News, a world famous newspaper that prints haiku. . Her other haiku were included in Sakura Anthology of Haiku published in Sweden along with other world famous haijin like Robert D. Wilson, Michael Rehling, an’ya, and 27 other poets, The Makata, Short Stuff, and in Poetry Country Mouse. Her popular blog, http://Short.Poems.blogspot.com, that features her short poems: haiku, tanka, and cinquain, has been instrumental in her introduction to world haiku.

Here are some of her works:

Haiku Selections

inside a train
the city
moves faster too

canoe-shaped moon
tonight, your beauty
floats

tired of seeing
the world, the snail—
a recluse again

drooping eyelids
the moon
looks smaller now

Tanka Selections

Burying

the box from the attic
was full of letters, faded ink
those soulless papers — haunting
it wasn't that easy
putting him to rest.


Poet in Love

for you, I'll begin to write
this poem, a new set
of words with my heart
full of yearning
I could not speak.


Forgetting Time

we sit side by side
under the graceful stars
our hands entwined
dawn has arrived
too soon.