Indarapatra at Sulayman

Indarapatra at Sulayman

Noong araw ay may isang dakilang hari. Siya ay si Indarapatra, hari ng Imperyo Mantapuli. Ang Mantapuli ay matatagpuan sa kanluran ng Mindanao, doon sa ilayong lupain kung saan ang araw ay lumulubog. Si Indarapatra ay nagmamay-ari isang mahiwagang singsing, isang mahiwagang kris, at isang mahiwagang sibat. linagud, aking sibat, magtungo ka sa silangan at lupigin ang aking mga kaaway!" utos I hari. Pagkatapos magdasal, inihagis niya si Hinagud nang malakas. Pagkatapos akarating ni Hinagud sa Bundok Matutun, bumalik ito sa Mantapuli at nag-ulat sa myang panginoon.
Aking panginoon, maawa kayo sa mga taga-Maguindanao. Sila'y pinahihirapan at pinaglalamon ng mga halimaw. Sinira ng mga halimaw ang kanilang mga pananim at ang kanilang mga kabahayan. Binabalot ng mga kalansay ang kalupaan!" ulat ni Hinagud.
Nagalit si Indarapatra sa narinig. "Sino ang mga halimaw na iyon? Sino ang mga valang-awang pumapatay sa walang kalaban-labang mga taga-Maguindanao?" galit w tanong ni Indarapatra.
"Una'y si Kuritang maraming paa at ganid na hayop sapagkat ang pagkaing laan sa limang tao'y kanyang nauubos," sagot ni Hinagud. "Ikalawa'y si Tarabusao. Isa siyang halimaw na mukhang taong nakatatakot pagmasdan. Ang sinumang taong kanyang mahuli'y agad niyang kinakain. Ikatlo'y si Pah, isang ibong malaki. Ang bundok ng Bita ay napadidilim niya sa laki ng kanyang mga pakpak. Ang lahat ng tao'y sa kweba na nananahan upang makaligtas sa salot na itong may matang malinaw at kukor matalas. Ikaapat ay isa pang ibong may pitong ulo, si Balbal. Walang makaligtas sa bagsik ng kanyang matalas na mata pagkat maaari niyang matanaw ang lahat ng too sunud-sunod na paliwanag ng sibat.
Nang marinig ito ni Indarapatra, nagdasal siya at inutusan ang kapatid na Sulayman, ang pinakadakilang mandirigma ng kaharian, "Mahal kong kapatid, huma> ka at tulungan ang mga taga-Maguindanao. Ito ang aking mahiwagang singsing at Juru Pakal, ang aking mahiwagang kris. Makatutulong ang mga ito sa iyong pakikidigmc Kumuha si Indarapatra ng isang batang halaman at ipinakiskis niya ang singsing r ibinigay kay Sulayman sa halaman at kanyang sinabi, "Ang halamang ito ay mananatilir buhay habang ika'y buhay at mamamatay kung ika'y mamatay."
At umalis si Sulayman sakay ng kanyang vinta. Lumipad ang vinta pasilangan c lumapag sa ka-Maguindanaoan. Biglang dumating si Kurita. Biglang tumalon si Jur Pakal, ang mahiwagang kris, at kusang sinaksak si Kurita. Taas-baba. Taas-baba Juru Pakal hanggang namatay si Kurita. Sa pakikidigma ni Sulayman, nawala niya ar kanyang singsing.
Pagkatapos ay kinalaban ni Sulayman si Tarabusao. "Lisanin mo ang lugar r ito... kung hindi, mamamatay ka!" utos ni Sulayman.
"Lisanin ang lugar na ito! Nagkasala ang mga taong ito at dapat magbayad!" sage ni Tarabusao.
"Nandito ako upang alisin ang lagim mo rito sa Maguindanao . . . ang aking Diyos ay mabait sa mga nagdurusa at pinahihirapan ang mga demonyo," sabi ni Sulayman.
"Matalo man ako, mamamatay akong martir!" sagot ni Tarabusao. Naglaban si at duguan si Tarabusao. "Binabati kita sa iyong kagalingan, sa iyong kapangyarihai Paalam," huling sambit ni Tarabusao at tuluyan na siyang namatay.
Naglakad si Sulayman sa kabilang bundok upang sagupain si Pah. Ang Bundok Bita ay balot ng mga kalansay at ng mga naaagnas na bangkay. Biglang dumating: Pah. Inilabas ni Sulayman si Juru Pakal at pinunit nito ang isang pakpak ni Pal Namatay si Pah ngunit nahulog ang pakpak nito kay Sulayman. Namatay si Sulaymai
Sa Mantapuli, namatay ang tanim na halaman ni Indarapatra. Agad siyang nagtung sa Maguindanao at hinanap ang kapatid. Nakita niya ito at siya'y nagmakaawa s Diyos na buhay in muli ang kapatid. Tumangis siya nang tumangis at nagdasal kc Allah.
Biglang may bumulwak na tubig sa tabi ng bangkay ni Sulayman. Ipinainom ito ni Indarapatra kay Sulayman na biglang nagising. "Huwag kang umiyak, aking kapatid napatulog lamang ako nang mahimbing," sabi ni Sulayman. Nagdasal sina Indarapatr at Sulayman upang magpasalamat sa Diyos. "Umuwi ka na, aking kapatid. Ako na ar tatapos kay Balbal, ang huling halimaw," utos ni Indarapatra. Umuwi si Sulayman c nagtungo si Indarapatra sa Bundok Suryan at doon nakipaglaban kay Balbal.
sa-isang pinutol ni Indarapatra ang mga ulo ni Balbal hanggang isa na laman ang natira. Matapos ito, lumisan si Balbal na umiiyak. Inakala ni Indarapatra n namatay na si Balbal habang ito'y tumatakas. Ngunit ayon sa mga too ngayon a buhay pa si Balbal... patuloy na lumilipad at humihiyaw tuwing gabi.
Pagkatapos ng labanan, naglakad si Indarapatra at tinawag ang mga taong nagtago sa kuweba ngunit walang sumagot. Naglakad siya nang naglakad hanggang siya'y nagutom at napagod. Gusto na niyang kumain kaya pumulot siya ng isda sa ilog at nagsaing. Kakaiba ang pagsaing ni Indarapatra. Inipit niya ang palayok sa kanyang mga hita at umupo siya sa apoy upang mainitan ang palayok. Nakita ito ng isang matandang babae. Namangha ang matandang babae sa taglay na kagalingan ni Indarapatra. Sinabihan ng matanda na maghintay si Indarapatra sa kinalalagyan sapagkat dumaraan doon ang prinsesa, ang anak ng raha. Umalis ang matandang babae dala ang sinaing ni Indarapatra.
Pagkalipas ng ilang sandali ay dumaan nga ang prinsesa at nakuha ni Indarapatra mga tiwala nito. Itinuro ng prinsesa kung saan nakatago ang ama niya at ang nalalabi sc kaharian nifa. Nang magkita si Indarapatra at ang raha, inialay ng raha ang innyang pag-aari kay Indarapatra. Ngunit tinanggihan ito ni Indarapatra bagkus knyang hiniling ang kamay ng prinsesa.
Nanatili si Indarapatra nang maikfing panahon sa Maguindanao. Tinuruan niya kg mga too kung paano gumawa ng sandata. Tinuruan niya rin sila kung paano maghabi, magsaka, at mangisda. Pagkalipas ng ilang panahon pa, nagpaalam na si Indarapatra. tapos na ang aking pakay rito sa Maguindanao. Ako ay lilisan na. Aking asawa, manganak ka ng dalawa, isang babae at isang lalaki. Sila ang mamumuno rito sa inyong kaharian pagdating ng araw. At kayong mga taga-Maguindanao, sundin ninyo ang aking mga kodigo, batas, at kapangyarihan. Gawin ang aking mga utos hanggang may isang mas dakilang haring dumating at mamuno sa inyo," paalam ni Indarapatra.
Habang kumakain, nakita ni Indarapatra ang kanyang mahiwagang singsing na naiwala ni Sulayman sa isdang ulam. Pagkatapos nito ay bumalik na siya sa kanyang kaharian sa Mantapuli.

How the Angels Built Lake Lanao (Folktale)

How the Angels Built Lake Lanao (Folktale)

Long ago there was no lake in Lanao.  On the place where it is now situated, there flourished a mighty sultanate called Mantapoli.  During the reign of Sultan Abdara Radawi, the greater grandfather of Radia Indarapatra (mythological hero of the Lanao Muslims), this realm expanded by military conquests and by dynastic marriages so that in time its fame spread far and wide.

The population of Mantapoli was numerous and fast increasing.  At that time the world was divided into two regions: Sebangan (East) and Sedpan (West).   The mighty sultanate of Mantapoli belonged to Sebangan.  Because this sultanate rapidly increased in power and population as well, the equilibrium between Sebangan and Sedpan was broken.

This dis-equilibrium soon came to the attention of Archangel Diabarail (Gabriel to the Christians).  Like a flash of sunlight, Diabarail flew to the Eighth heaven and told Allah, "My Lord, why have you permitted the unbalance of the earth?   Because of the power of Mantapoli, Sebangan is now larger than Sedpan."

"Why, Diabarail," replied the Sohara (Voice of Allah), "what is wrong with that?"

"My Lord, Mantapoli has a vast population countless as the particles of dust.  If we will allow this sultanate to remain in Sebangan, I fear that the world would turn upside down, since Sebangan is heavier than Sedpan."

"Your words show great wisdom, Diabarail," commented the Sohara.

"What must we do, my Lord, to avert the impending catastrophe?"

To this query, the Sohara replied, "Go right away to the Seven-Regions-Beneath-the-Earth and to the Seven-Regions-in-the-Sky and gather all the angels.  I will cause a barahana(solar eclipse) and in the darkness let the angels remove Mantapoli and transfer it to the center of the earth."

Upon receiving the mandate of Allah, Archangel Diabarail, traveling faster than lightning, rallied the millions of angels from the Seven-Regions-Beneath-the-Earth and the Seven-Regions-in-the-Sky.  With this formidable army, he presented himself to Allah, saying, "My Lord, we are ready to obey Your command."

The Sohara spoke, "Go to Sebangan, and lift the land of Mantapoli."

Diabarail, leading his army of angels, flew to the east.  In the twinkle of an eye, the sun vanished and a terrible darkness as black as the blackest velvet shrouded the universe.  The angels sped faster than arrows.  They swooped on Mantapoli, lifting it with great care and carried it (including its people, houses, crops and animals) through the air as if it were a carpet.  They brought it down at the center of the earth, in accordance with the command of Allah.  The very spot vacated by the sultanate of Mantapoli became a huge basin of deep, blue water-the present Lanao Lake.

The waters coming from the deep bowels of the earth rose higher and higher.  Archangel Diabarail, seeing the rising tides immediately returned to the Eighth Heaven and reported to Allah, "My Lord, the earth is now balanced.  But the place where we removed Mantapoli is becoming an ocean.  The waters are rising fast, and unless an outlet for them can be found, I fear that they might inundate Sebangan and drown all Your people."

In response, the Sohara said, "You are right, Diabarail.  Go out, then, and summon the Four Winds of the World: Angin Taupan, Angin Besar, Angin Darat, and Angin Sarsar.  Tell them to blow and make an outlet for the overflowing waters."

Obeying the Master's command, the faithful messenger summoned the Four Winds.  "By the Will of Allah," he told them, "blow your best, and make an outlet for the rising waters of the new lake."

The four winds of the world blew, and a turbulence swept the whole eastern half of the earth.  The surging waters rolled swiftly towards the shores of Tilok Bay to the southeastern direction.  But the towering ranges impeded their onrush.   The Four Winds blew, hurling the waves against the rocky slopes but in vain; no outlet could be cut through the mountain barrier.

Changing direction, this time eastward, the Four Winds blew harder driving the raging waters towards the shores of Sugud Bay (situated east of Dansalan, now Marawi City).  Once again, the attempt to create an outlet failed because the bay was too far from the sea.

For the third time, the Four Winds changed direction and blew their hardest.  The waves, plunging with ferocity, rolled towards Marawi.  Day and night, the Winds blew as the waters lashed against the shoreline of Marawi.  This time the attempt succeeded.  An outlet now called Agus River was made, and through the outlet, that water of Lake Lanao poured out to the sea, thereby saving Sebangan from a deluge.

It came to past that there was a high cliff at the outlet, and over the cliff the waters cascaded in majestic volume.  Thus, arose the beautiful falls which, aeons later, was named Maria Cristina, after a famous queen of Spain.

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/folktales/Maranao/how_the_angels_built_lake_lanao.htm

Ang Langgam at ang Tipaklong (the Ant and the Grasshopper) (FOLKTALE)

Ang Langgam at ang Tipaklong (the Ant and the Grasshopper) (FOLKTALE)

The story started in a harvest time in the countryside. The grasshopper was very happy singing and jumping and went on celebrating the whole day because of the abundance of food that day, while the ant was busy collecting and keeping foods in its house. The grasshopper asked the ant why it needs to work hard to collect and keep foods with the fact that they have lots of supply because its harvest time. The ant said that it is a preparation for the rainy season. The grasshopper thought that it was a stupid thing to do so it went on dancing and singing while the ant went on gathering foods to be saved...
Rainy season came and the grasshopper has nothing to eat and can not go out to look for food because everything is wet. The ant, on the other hand, has no problem at all because everything is fine in its house and it has lots of food supplies saved even before the rainy season.
The grasshopper wanted to ask for food fom the ant but it can not go to the ants house so the grasshopper died wishing..."if only i had listened to the ant."
The lesson is that, we should not waste our resources today. We should save for the future. The present generation, political leaders and all leaders of the world, please do not exploit the resources of the earth for our children and our children''s children...i beg you, please listen to the ant.


http://www.shvoong.com/books/children-and-youth/1777530-ang-langgam-ang-tipaklong-ant/ 

The Strong and The Beautiful

The Strong and The Beautiful

This is a very popular folk tale in the country and has varied details in different provinces all over the Philipines. Nevertheless, i would like to share the essence of the story to all those who want to read and go back to the stories of our yesteryears. This story was made by ancient filipinos in order to explain the mystery of the origin of humankind. According to this folk tale, there was nothing in the world but the sea, the sky, a piece of land, a bamboo tree, and a bird. The bird was on the bamboo and heard sounds in a couple of bamboo trees so it tried to break the bamboo trees through its beak. After sometime, the bamboo trees broke and a man and a woman came out. The man was called Malakas, and the woman, Maganda. They then started a family and produced children who filled the archipelago.The name Malakas and Maganda also denote a deeper meaning and truth about Filipino culture. Filipinos consider women to be maganda or beautiful,sweet, and soft; while men as malakas or strong and sturdy human being to whom the family can depend on at all times especially in times of trouble and disasters in life...

http://www.shvoong.com/books/mythology-ancient-literature/1777503-si-malakas-si-maganda-strong/

AMERICAN COLONIZATION




          American colonization is very important in our lives. Not because they gives us the chance to rise from the downfall from the spanish government. But because they teach us how to heal the wound made by the spaniards. They also teach us good education, moral education, etc. The most important is the literature that they give. Because it enlightens our life, colors our life and to teach us how to value every little things. American thought Filipino's how to stand with their own feet without the help of other people. American help Filipino's to stand out over the cruelness, greediness, and animalistic doings of spaniards in the Philippines that time. American heal the scars in the heart of Filipino's made by the cruel spaniards. American's gives us Filipino, good education here in the Philippines because they want to the Filipino's be a civilized and aducated persons like them. 

          But we are thankful for the spaniards because without them, we won't have a catholic religion here in the Philippines. Spaniards made many events here in the Philippines.  Like fiesta, Dinagyang festival, Aswang festival, etc. They also gave color in our lives. But when the American's arrived from the Philippines, Filipino's celebrating for their comming. Because American's left a big part in the heart of the Filipino's, and that's education. They teach us also democracy in that time and to be an independent person , not only for our self, but also to our family. I read this very famous line from one of the most novel made by Dr. Jose P. Rizal, " Together we stand, divided we fall. " In that line, i realized, we, as a Filipino, do our best for the beautification in our country, but still, be humble always. But when the whole world are against you, be strong, don't be too selfish to share your problems to your relatives, friends, advisers, etc.. because sometimes, they're all you've got. That's why Americans thought us be a civilized person.

          American Literature teach us how to live our life to the fullest. It illuminates our soul, coloring our lives, enlightens our life and to teach how to value every little things. It depends on how the people or person appreciate the literature. It brings joyful and happiness to each and every person specially to the kids who started to go to school, because they like listening to the stories, myths, folk tales, folksongs, and many more, because kids are very curious to what happened in the story, so they want to know the real topic of that story to know them the moral lessons based on the story that they read. They also like folksongs, it brings communication and enjoyment to them that makes unity and cooperation to have more friends in the school. The global future teachers must know the literature better, because they handling many persons. So, they must teach fluently and very well-organized the literature to the students. Knowing the history of literature was very important, because everytime we read stories our comprehension and vocabulary would be wider and wider. Through the simple analogies, students know the real meaning of the story and the mysterious, hidden part of it. So, aapreciate LITERATURE as part of our lives, love LITERATURE as own yours, be part of it, as one community, because LITERATURE IS LIFE.   

Another work of Jose viLLa

Another work of Jose viLLa

Footnote to Youth  bY: Jose Garcia Villa

The sun was salmon and hazy in the west. Dodong thought to himself he would tell his father about Teang when he got home, after he had unhitched the carabao from the plow, and let it to its shed and fed it. He was hesitant about saying it, but he wanted his father to know. What he had to say was of serious import as it would mark a climacteric in his life. Dodong finally decided to tell it, at a thought came to him his father might refuse to consider it. His father was silent hard-working farmer who chewed areca nut, which he had learned to do from his mother, Dodong's grandmother.

I will tell it to him. I will tell it to him.

The ground was broken up into many fresh wounds and fragrant with a sweetish earthy smell. Many slender soft worms emerged from the furrows and then burrowed again deeper into the soil. A short colorless worm marched blindly to Dodong's foot and crawled calmly over it. Dodong go tickled and jerked his foot, flinging the worm into the air. Dodong did not bother to look where it fell, but thought of his age, seventeen, and he said to himself he was not young any more.

Dodong unhitched the carabao leisurely and gave it a healthy tap on the hip. The beast turned its head to look at him with dumb faithful eyes. Dodong gave it a slight push and the animal walked alongside him to its shed. He placed bundles of grass before it land the carabao began to eat. Dodong looked at it without interests.

Dodong started homeward, thinking how he would break his news to his father. He wanted to marry, Dodong did. He was seventeen, he had pimples on his face, the down on his upper lip already was dark--these meant he was no longer a boy. He was growing into a man--he was a man. Dodong felt insolent and big at the thought of it although he was by nature low in statue. Thinking himself a man grown, Dodong felt he could do anything.

He walked faster, prodded by the thought of his virility. A small angled stone bled his foot, but he dismissed it cursorily. He lifted his leg and looked at the hurt toe and then went on walking. In the cool sundown he thought wild you dreams of himself and Teang. Teang, his girl. She had a small brown face and small black eyes and straight glossy hair. How desirable she was to him. She made him dream even during the day.

Dodong tensed with desire and looked at the muscles of his arms. Dirty. This field
work was healthy, invigorating but it begrimed you, smudged you terribly. He turned back the way he had come, then he marched obliquely to a creek.

Dodong stripped himself and laid his clothes, a gray undershirt and red kundiman shorts, on the grass. The he went into the water, wet his body over, and rubbed at it vigorously. He was not long in bathing, then he marched homeward again. The bath made him feel cool.

It was dusk when he reached home. The petroleum lamp on the ceiling already was lighted and the low unvarnished square table was set for supper. His parents and he sat down on the floor around the table to eat. They had fried fresh-water fish, rice, bananas, and caked sugar.

Dodong ate fish and rice, but did not partake of the fruit. The bananas were overripe and when one held them they felt more fluid than solid. Dodong broke off a piece of the cakes sugar, dipped it in his glass of water and ate it. He got another piece and wanted some more, but he thought of leaving the remainder for his parents.

Dodong's mother removed the dishes when they were through and went out to the batalan to wash them. She walked with slow careful steps and Dodong wanted to help her carry the dishes out, but he was tired and now felt lazy. He wished as he looked at her that he had a sister who could help his mother in the housework. He pitied her, doing all the housework alone.

His father remained in the room, sucking a diseased tooth. It was paining him again, Dodong knew. Dodong had told him often and again to let the town dentist pull it out, but he was afraid, his father was. He did not tell that to Dodong, but Dodong guessed it. Afterward Dodong himself thought that if he had a decayed tooth he would be afraid to go to the dentist; he would not be any bolder than his father.

Dodong said while his mother was out that he was going to marry Teang. There it was out, what he had to say, and over which he had done so much thinking. He had said it without any effort at all and without self-consciousness. Dodong felt relieved and looked at his father expectantly. A decrescent moon outside shed its feeble light into the window, graying the still black temples of his father. His father looked old now.

"I am going to marry Teang," Dodong said.

His father looked at him silently and stopped sucking the broken tooth. The silence became intense and cruel, and Dodong wished his father would suck that troublous tooth again. Dodong was uncomfortable and then became angry because his father kept looking at him without uttering anything.

"I will marry Teang," Dodong repeated. "I will marry Teang."

His father kept gazing at him in inflexible silence and Dodong fidgeted on his seat.

"I asked her last night to marry me and she said...yes. I want your permission. I... want... it...." There was impatient clamor in his voice, an exacting protest at this coldness, this indifference. Dodong looked at his father sourly. He cracked his knuckles one by one, and the little sounds it made broke dully the night stillness.

"Must you marry, Dodong?"

Dodong resented his father's questions; his father himself had married. Dodong made a quick impassioned easy in his mind about selfishness, but later he got confused.

"You are very young, Dodong."

"I'm... seventeen."

"That's very young to get married at."

"I... I want to marry...Teang's a good girl."

"Tell your mother," his father said.

"You tell her, tatay."

"Dodong, you tell your inay."

"You tell her."

"All right, Dodong."

"You will let me marry Teang?"

"Son, if that is your wish... of course..." There was a strange helpless light in his father's eyes. Dodong did not read it, so absorbed was he in himself.

Dodong was immensely glad he had asserted himself. He lost his resentment for his father. For a while he even felt sorry for him about the diseased tooth. Then he confined his mind to dreaming of Teang and himself. Sweet young dream....

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Dodong stood in the sweltering noon heat, sweating profusely, so that his camiseta was damp. He was still as a tree and his thoughts were confused. His mother had told him not to leave the house, but he had left. He had wanted to get out of it without clear reason at all. He was afraid, he felt. Afraid of the house. It had seemed to cage him, to compares his thoughts with severe tyranny. Afraid also of Teang. Teang was giving birth in the house; she gave screams that chilled his blood. He did not want her to scream like that, he seemed to be rebuking him. He began to wonder madly if the process of childbirth was really painful. Some women, when they gave birth, did not cry.

In a few moments he would be a father. "Father, father," he whispered the word with awe, with strangeness. He was young, he realized now, contradicting himself of nine months comfortable... "Your son," people would soon be telling him. "Your son, Dodong."

Dodong felt tired standing. He sat down on a saw-horse with his feet close together. He looked at his callused toes. Suppose he had ten children... What made him think that? What was the matter with him? God!

He heard his mother's voice from the house:

"Come up, Dodong. It is over."

Suddenly he felt terribly embarrassed as he looked at her. Somehow he was ashamed to his mother of his youthful paternity. It made him feel guilty, as if he had taken something no properly his. He dropped his eyes and pretended to dust dirt off his kundiman shorts.

"Dodong," his mother called again. "Dodong."

He turned to look again and this time saw his father beside his mother.

"It is a boy," his father said. He beckoned Dodong to come up.

Dodong felt more embarrassed and did not move. What a moment for him. His parents' eyes seemed to pierce him through and he felt limp.

He wanted to hide from them, to run away.

"Dodong, you come up. You come up," he mother said.

Dodong did not want to come up and stayed in the sun.

"Dodong. Dodong."

"I'll... come up."

Dodong traced tremulous steps on the dry parched yard. He ascended the bamboo steps slowly. His heart pounded mercilessly in him. Within, he avoided his parents eyes. He walked ahead of them so that they should not see his face. He felt guilty and untrue. He felt like crying. His eyes smarted and his chest wanted to burst. He wanted to turn back, to go back to the yard. He wanted somebody to punish him.

His father thrust his hand in his and gripped it gently.

"Son," his father said.

And his mother: "Dodong..."

How kind were their voices. They flowed into him, making him strong.

"Teang?" Dodong said.

"She's sleeping. But you go on..."

His father led him into the small sawali room. Dodong saw Teang, his girl-wife, asleep on the papag with her black hair soft around her face. He did not want her to look that pale.

Dodong wanted to touch her, to push away that stray wisp of hair that touched her lips, but again that feeling of embarrassment came over him and before his parents he did not want to be demonstrative.

The hilot was wrapping the child, Dodong heard it cry. The thin voice pierced him queerly. He could not control the swelling of happiness in him.

“You give him to me. You give him to me," Dodong said.

-------------------------------------------

Blas was not Dodong's only child. Many more children came. For six successive years a new child came along. Dodong did not want any more children, but they came. It seemed the coming of children could not be helped. Dodong got angry with himself sometimes.

Teang did not complain, but the bearing of children told on her. She was shapeless and thin now, even if she was young. There was interminable work to be done. Cooking. Laundering. The house. The children. She cried sometimes, wishing she had not married. She did not tell Dodong this, not wishing him to dislike her. Yet she wished she had not married. Not even Dodong, whom she loved. There has been another suitor, Lucio, older than Dodong by nine years, and that was why she had chosen Dodong. Young Dodong. Seventeen. Lucio had married another after her marriage to Dodong, but he was childless until now. She wondered if she had married Lucio, would she have borne him children. Maybe not, either. That was a better lot. But she loved Dodong...

Dodong whom life had made ugly.

One night, as he lay beside his wife, he rose and went out of the house. He stood in the moonlight, tired and querulous. He wanted to ask questions and somebody to answer him. He w anted to be wise about many things.

One of them was why life did not fulfill all of Youth's dreams. Why it must be so. Why one was forsaken... after Love.

Dodong would not find the answer. Maybe the question was not to be answered. It must be so to make youth Youth. Youth must be dreamfully sweet. Dreamfully sweet. Dodong returned to the house humiliated by himself. He had wanted to know a little wisdom but was denied it.

When Blas was eighteen he came home one night very flustered and happy. It was late at night and Teang and the other children were asleep. Dodong heard Blas's steps, for he could not sleep well of nights. He watched Blas undress in the dark and lie down softly. Blas was restless on his mat and could not sleep. Dodong called him name and asked why he did not sleep. Blas said he could not sleep.

"You better go to sleep. It is late," Dodong said.

Blas raised himself on his elbow and muttered something in a low fluttering voice.

Dodong did not answer and tried to sleep.

"Itay ...," Blas called softly.

Dodong stirred and asked him what it was.

"I am going to marry Tona. She accepted me tonight."

Dodong lay on the red pillow without moving.

"Itay, you think it over."

Dodong lay silent.

"I love Tona and... I want her."

Dodong rose from his mat and told Blas to follow him. They descended to the yard, where everything was still and quiet. The moonlight was cold and white.

"You want to marry Tona," Dodong said. He did not want Blas to marry yet. Blas was very young. The life that would follow marriage would be hard...

"Yes."

"Must you marry?"

Blas's voice stilled with resentment. "I will marry Tona."

Dodong kept silent, hurt.

"You have objections, Itay?" Blas asked acridly.

"Son... n-none..." (But truly, God, I don't want Blas to marry yet... not yet. I don't want Blas to marry yet....)

But he was helpless. He could not do anything. Youth must triumph... now. Love must triumph... now. Afterwards... it will be life.

As long ago Youth and Love did triumph for Dodong... and then Life.

Dodong looked wistfully at his young son in the moonlight. He felt extremely sad and sorry for him.

♦. Isang Dipang Langit ni Amando V. Hernandez .♦.

♦. Isang Dipang Langit ni Amando V. Hernandez .♦.

Akoy ipiniit ng linsil na langi
hangad palibhasang diwa koy pilitin,
katawang marupo, aniya’y pagsuko,
damdami’y supil na;t maihiin ay supil

Ikinulong ako sa kutang malupit;
bato bakal punlo, balasik ng bantay:
lubos na tiwalag sa buong daigdig
at inaring kahit buhay man ay patay

Sa munting dungawan, tanging abot-malas
ay sandipang langit na puno ng luha ,
maramot na birang ng pusong may sugat
watawat ng aking pagkapariwara.

Sintalim ng kidlat ang mata ng tanod,
sa pintong may susi’y walang makalapit
sigaw ng bilanggo sa katabing muog,
anaki’y atungal ng hayop sa yungib.

Ang maghapo’y tila isang tanikala
na kalakaladkad ng paanang madugo,
ang buong magdamag ay kulambong luksa
ng kabaong waring lungga ng bilanggo.

Kung minsa’y magdaan ang payak na yabag,
kawil ng kadena ang kumakalanding;
sa maputlang araw saglit ibibilad,
sanlibong aninong inilwa ng dilim.

Kung minsan, ang gabi’y biglang magulantang
sa hudyat--may takas!--at asod ng punlo;
kung minsa’y tumangis ang limang batingaw,
sa bitayang muog, may naghihingalo

At ito ang tanging daigdig ko ngayon--
bilangguang mandi’y libingan ng buhay;
sampu, dalawampu, at lahat ng taon
ng buong buhay ko’y dito mapipigtal.

Nguni’t yaring diwa’y walang takot-hirap
at batitis pa rin itong aking puso:
piita’y bahagi ng pakikilamas,
mapiit ay tanda ng hindi pagsuko.

Ang tao’t Bathala ay di natutulog
at di habang araw ang api ay api,
tanang paniniil ay may pagtutuos,
habang may Bastilya’y may bayang gaganti.

At bukas, diyan din, aking matatanaw
sa sandipang langit na wala nang luha,
sisikat ang gintong araw ng tagumpay . . .
layang sasalubong ako sa paglaya!

http://sangangdila.blogspot.com/2008/08/isang-dipang-langit-ni-amado-v.html