Nang Matapos Kong Basahin at Pakinggan ang Iyong Elehiya

(salamat sa akdang “An Elegy of the Silent Witness” ni Fr. Vlad)

Nang nabasa’t napakinggan ko ang iyong elehiya,
tila punyal itong tumarak sa aking puso
sapagkat nadama ko ang sakit, ang hapdi, at ang kirot
ng mga damdaming nagpupumiglas
at gustong isambulat ang hapis na dinaranas.

Nang nabasa’t napakinggan ko ang iyong elehiya,
nagulantang ang aking espiritu
at kinilabutan ang aking pagkatao
sapagkat malinaw kong natanto
ang isang katotohanan:
Na sa ating kontemporaryong panahon,
buhay na buhay pa din ang Concentration Camp!
Marami ang nakakulong sa rehas ng kamangmangan
at marami ang nakagapos sa kahirapan.
Nag-aapoy at umuusok pa din ang mga gas chambers
ng pagkamakasarili at pagkagahaman sa salapi
na siyang kumikitil sa buhay at ikinabubuhay ng mga api.
Umaalingasaw pa din ang masangsang na amoy
sa mga bodega na kung saan itinambak ang
mga labi ng mga biktima ng karahasan
at ng mga pinagkaitan ng katarungan.
Maririnig mo pa din ang mga hiyaw at sigaw
ng mga nagdaralita’t naghihinagpis.
Nanunuot pa din sa laman
at tumatagos pati sa buto ang lamig
ng pagkadismaya sa abang kalagayan ng ating lipunan.

Nang nabasa’t napakinggan ko ang iyong elehiya,
Nabagabag ang aking konsensiya
at bigla akong napatanong sa aking sarili:
Magsasawalang bahala na lang ba ako
at habang buhay na maging piping saksi?

___________________________________________________

pagpapaliwanag:

Ang tulang nabasa ay naisulat dahil sa inspirasyong nakuha ng awtor mula sa akdang "An Elegy of the Silent Witness" ni Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLT.

Language: a wonderful gift of God

(A reflection I made in our Language Class when I took my Methods of Teaching in Ateneo de Naga University last April 2007)

There is a branch of Philosophy that deals with the study of language and this is called as Philosophy of Language. According to this philosophy, the best way to study the beliefs, ideology and culture of a certain group of people we have to study and learn their language.
It is indeed true that language plays a vital role in the life of human. Through the use of language we are able to communicate, to exchange ideas, to understand other people and of course we are able to unfold the totality of our being. When we communicate we do not only lay down our ideology but open our being to other people.
In the discussion about language, I learned many things especially about the value of language and the proper way of using it in dealing or communicating with others. It is a reality that language is both acquired and learned. It is acquired because when we are still kids we utter words by simply hearing it from other people. On the other hand, it is also learned because language is taught in the school. I also come to realize that language is not just a tool that bridges people of different cultures, beliefs and nationalities but it lets people understand about life.
As regard to the proper way of using the language, I fully understand that language is a way for us to impart values and knowledge to our students and to other people. This can also be an avenue for us to squeeze out ideas from our students by stimulating their minds with the use of questions. Thus, language must be loved and used in a proper way. We have to be thankful to God for this wonderful gift. God must be a real genius! Because through this language we are able to communicate with Him and in the same way He is able to communicate with us through His words in the Sacred Scriptures.

“I’m In Love!”

(living love in its truest sense)

I’m in love!

Yes, I admit that I’m in love as of this moment!

And I love this feeling because it makes my world go round!

Perhaps some of you, while reading this article are wondering, and some are raising their eye brows (just to exaggerate) or maybe some are asking the question:

Why Mr. Del Castillo is telling this to the public?

Well, I have simple reasons why I am doing this:

First, I have nothing to write in this article, so let me talk about my love life (just kidding!)

Second, I believe that it would be a selfish act of mine, if I will not tell the truth that I’m in love.

Third, I would consider myself as a hypocrite if I will not admit to myself and confess that I love the feeling of being in love and being loved everyday of my life.

Human as we are, whether we admit it to ourselves or not, I know and I strongly believe that we all wanted to be loved and stay in love.
Love is the most basic need of human. The main reason why God chose us to be in this world is that He wanted us to share the happiness of loving. This is what we were created for, to love God above all things, to love our fellow humans as we love ourselves, and to love the things God created.
If I will put this in a deeper reflection, I would say that love is the reason why we don’t just exist in this world but we live.
So, let me emphasize here that there’s nothing to be ashamed of to tell other people and show to them that you care and love them, as long as it is sincere and coming from your heart. Another thing is that, it is not yet too late to fall in love (in its truest sense) and stay in love.
Before I end this article, let me give you questions to ponder on:

1. (For the children) When was the last time you say to your parents that you love them and you are thankful for all the sacrifices that they have done for you?
2. (For the parents) When was the last time you hug or kiss your children and tell them that you care and love them, that they are the most precious gift you have ever received from God?
3. (For everyone) When was the last time that we say to God that we love Him above all things? Or did we ever prove to God that we love Him by loving our fellow humans, our brothers and sisters, and all the things that He has created?

Pray…and do something!

Let me share to you a story about a man who never experienced to have a girlfriend. Opps! Let me clarify to you that this is not my life story because I had several before; as a matter of fact I cannot count on my finger tips (just kidding!). Actually I heard this story from a priest. So here’s the story:
There was a man who at the age of 39 has not yet experienced to have a girlfriend. He is very depressed because he is not getting any younger. Out of depression he prayed to God.

He said:

“Lord, tomorrow will be my birthday. I’m turning 40 but you see I don’t have any girlfriend and I never experience to have one. Lord, why are you doing this to me? I’ve been good and faithful to you. I’ve been a loving person…but why is it that I never had any girlfriend?”

In the midst of the prayer of this man, a voice was heard.

The voice said:

“Pedro, you want to have a girlfriend but you never courted anyone!”

What is the moral of the story?

Well, sometimes or most of the time we love to pray to God to give us this and that but we never do anything to materialize what we are asking from Him. I remember just last week, I went to confession. I arrived at the church full of enthusiasm, but to my dismay there was no priest available. Imagine, I waited there for several hours waiting for someone to approach me to ask what on earth am I doing there but there was no one who ask that question and so I decided to leave. I told myself that I will just comeback the next day.
The following day, I found myself in the same church and with the same feeling to have a dialogue with God. When I was there, I once again waited for almost one and one half hour gazing and counting the lizards at the ceiling of the church. But again to my dismay no one approached me to ask the same question. Suddenly, an angel perhaps, told me to push the red button near the confessionary box, and then I realized that I have to push the red button (it is a signal for the priest that someone wants to confess.) suddenly, a priest came out with his stole in his hands; looking for the person who pushed that magic button. Finally, I was able to confess.
Just like with the first story, if we want something to happen on the things that we are dreaming or asking God, we have to work for it! You see, it would just take me twenty minutes to confess if I have just pushed that magic button near the confessionary box. Perhaps I did not waste the one hour and ten minutes gazing and counting the lizards inside the church.
My message? If we keep on praying to God but do nothing for the attainment of our prayers, I’m sure God will never listen to our prayers! So next time if we ask God why He seems deaf to our prayers let us ask ourselves first what did we do so that our prayers will come true.

TILAMSIK NG MAGPAKAILANMAN: Mga Tulang Inawit sa Katahimikan at Pagtatanghal ng mga Natatanging Larawan

Ito ang una kong aklat at ang ikalawang aklat ni Fr. Vlad. Ipinanganak ang konsepto ng aklat na ito nang akyatin namin ang Bundok ng Bulusan (Mt. Bulusan) sa Sorsogon nang magkaroon kami ng KAPATIRAN 2 (isa itong gawain sa seminaryo na naglalayong makiisa sa kalikasan at mapangalagaan ito).
Ang aklat na ito ay koleksiyon ng mga tula, awit at potograpiya. Ayon kay Fr. Vlad, ang mga tula, awit at at potograpiya ng munting aklat na ito ay nagnanais na maisalarawan ang iba't ibang mga karanasan ng magpakailanman. At para naman sa akin, ang aklat na ito ang siyang pupukaw ng ating mga kamalayan upang maging mulat tayo sa katotohanang lahat tayo ay may kanya-kanyang karanasan ng magpakailanman. Ang mga karansang ito ay maaaring di sapat para makita natin ang ganda ng magpakailanman ngunit ito ay magsisilbing bintana upang masilip natin ang katotohanang tayo ay may kakayanang makita ang magpakilanman sa araw-araw nating karanasan. Nawa'y magsilbi itong salamin upang ating maisip na ang magpakailanman ay ang mabuhay sa Piling ng Diyos Ama.
Nais ko ring ipabasa ang sinulat kong tula na siya ring pamagat ng aklat na ito:

TILAMSIK NG MAGPAKAILANMAN
Owen del Castillo

H'wag mong isasara ang bintana
para sa pagdatal ng umaga.
ang pamamaalam ng kahapon
ay rekwerdong sisilip sa
retrato ng nagaganap...
Maghahanap
Magpipilit.
Igigiit.
Kikilatisin
at pilit na susuriin.

H'wag mong isasara ang mga talukap
ng iyong mga mata
kahit pa nga ito'y namimigat
dahil aabangan mo
ang isang pagsasadula
ng mga nakaraan at ng kaganapan.

Makikita't malalaman mo
na hindi tuldok ang kamatayan.
Hindi katapusan ang paglubog ng araw.
Hindi pagwawakas ang gabi
at hindi pamamaalam ang pagputol ng pusod.

Ang buhay ay misteryo.
Lahat ng bunga ng mga pagpapagod,
lahat ng butil ng luhang
dumalisdis sa iyong pisngi,
lahat ng ngiting parang bahagharing
ipininta sa'yong mga labi,
lahat ng bakas na kumapit
sa lupang humihiyaw,
at lahat ng
pait
tamis,
dagok,
tuwa,
hamon,
tagumpay,
sakit,
ligayaay mga bahagi't tilamsik ng magpakailanman.

Kasama Ako sa mga Finalists sa Ika-Anim na Premio Tomas Arejola Para Sa Literaturang Bikolnon 2009

Inilabas na ang mga pangalan ng mga finalists para ika-anim na Premio Tomas Arejola Para sa Literaturang Bikolnon (PTALB) 2009 isa sa mga kilalang prestiyosong patimpalak dito sa Rehiyon ng Bikol. Apat ang sinalihan kong kategorya sa patimpalak ito ang Osipon na pang-aki (story for children), koleksiyon nin mga rawitdawit (poetry), Salaysay (essay) at Osipon (short story). Sa awa at pagpapala ng Diyos lahat ng sinalihan kong kategorya ay naging finalist ako. Ang resulta ng mga nanalo sa bawat kategorya ay ihahayag sa gagawin na Awarding Ceremony sa lungsod ng Naga sa ika-29 ng Setyembre, 2009.



Ito ang mga finalists sa bawat kategorya ayon sa Blog ni Jose Jason Chancoco na HAGBAYON:



Osipon na Pan-aki (stories for children)



“Kun Tanu Maharang an Lada” by Owen del Castillo of Pilar, Sorsogon and “A-HU-HO, A-HE-HE (o an Kolor kan Buhay ni Koroy Sa Apat na Osipon) by Estelito Jacob of Camaligan, Camarines Sur.


Salaysay (essay)



“Pagiromdum” by Eden Enano-Estopace of P. Ocampo St., Manila, “Buhay Riles” by Eilyn L. Nidea Parocha of Ragay, Camarines Sur and “Seminarista” by Owen del Castillo.


Koleksiyon nin mga Rawitdawit (collections of poetry)



“Parokyano kan Tinampo” by Jerome M. Hipolito of Calabanga, Camarines Sur; “Insomya” by Owen del Castillo of Pilar, Sorsogon; “Sa Lugar na Dinakulaan” by Alex Michael S. Boribor of Pioduran, Albay; “Muklat” by Rodel Delera Añosa of Aroroy, Masbate; “Pisaran asin Iba pang mga Rawitdawit” by Leopoldo C. Brizuela, Jr. of Ligao City; “An mga Para-lagaylay asin pang mga Rawitdawit” by Irvin Parco Sto Tomas of Canaman, Camarines Sur; “Sa hubasan, nagprobar akong magsurat” by Eduardo Endraca Uy, Jr. of Gubat, Sorsogon; “Naglakaw ako” by Welbert Cipria of Tabaco City; “Apat na Tigsik sa Tabaco Buda Iba Pang mga Rawitdawit” by Richard Madrilejos of Tabaco City; “Paglabto sa Pagtubod” by Honesto M. Pesimo, Jr. of Naga City; and “Hamot kan Narumdon” by Jaime Jesus U. Borlagdan of Tabaco City.


Osipon (short story)



“Ligñon Hill” by Rodel Delera Añosa of Aroroy, Masbate; “Kaldero-Kawali, Buhay an Nahale” by Alex Michael S. Boribor of Pioduran, Albay; “Dolores” by Owen del Castillo of Pilar, Sorsogon; and “Pagsarado” by Jaime Jesus U. Borlagdan of Tabaco City.

An Aldaw na Biyernes asin An Uran

(elihiya kan babaying nabalo an puso)

Habu kong nag-uuran sa aldaw na Biyernes
huli ta pag sakuyang pigmamasdan an uran
sa aldaw na ini, nahihiling ko na garu ining mga luha,
luha na minabulos sa pisngi kan langit
pasiring sa daga na nag-aagrangay.
Garo kaidtong sarong Biyernes na nagbulos
an luha kan sarong ina pasiring sa daga
na kun saen pinatindog an dahilan kan saiyang
kagadanan asin kan satuyang pagkamundag
sa panibagong buhay.

Habu kong nag-uuran sa aldaw na Biyernes
huli ta pag sakuyang pigmamasdan an uran
sa aldaw na ini, garu ining mga suntok asin sampilong
na nagwawalat ki lata asin ludog sa sakuyang pandok
kun Biyernes na banggi
na an demonyo na natutungtungan ni San Miguel
duman sa Ginebra na iniinom kan sakuyang agom
minabuhat asin minasanib sa sa saiya.

Habu kong nag-uuran sa aldaw na Biyernes
huli ta pag sakuyang pigmamasdan an uran,
garu ining mga pana asin kutsilyo
na minatusok sa sakuyang puso
kaagid duman sa babaying nakagubing nin itom
na pigpuprusisyon kun Biyernes Santo
na may tusok na kutsilyo an saiyang puso
huli ta idto tanda na siya nagsasakit asin nagmumundo
Sa pagkagadan kan saiyang pinakanamumutan.
Siring man sa sakuya na labi-labi an pagsakit asin pagmundo
Sa pagkagadan kan lalaking sakuyang pinakasalan.

Tula ng Isang Kaibigan

Bakit kaya mahirap maghabi ng tula
Kapag ganitong ayaw sumulat ang pluma
At ayaw maglakbay nitong abang diwa
Upang maglaro sa pantasya?

Marahil may bahagi nitong aking pagkatao
Na pilit hinahagilap ang kasagutan
Sa mga “bakit” na sa aki’y ibinato
Ng tadhanang ako ang napiling paglaruan.

Maaari rin namang na ayaw lang bumaha
Ng mga letra at metapora
O sadya lang napipi ang makata
At ‘di makapagsulat ng tula—

Ano man ang dahilan ng paghinto
Ng pag-ikot ng mundo
Iisa lang naman ang tunay at totoo
May kulang dito sa aking pagkatao

Sapagkat tayo’y pinaglayo
Sa pangarap na ating minutya’t ginusto.
Ngunit gano’n pa man batid ng ating mga puso
Na ang pagkakaibigay di maglalaho.

Tulad ni Jonathan

(Salamat kay Richard Bach)

Kung ang aking pangarap ay langit
at langit ang pangarap
aabutin ko ito kahit pa mahirap.

Mabagal mang umusad ang araw
maghihintay akong di mamanglaw
‘pagkat tulad ni Jonathan, ang bukas ay tanaw.

Mabigo man ako sa aking sa‘king pinaglalaban
mabubuhay akong patuloy na lalaban
hanggang sa’king kamatayan.

Kung dumatal man ang panahon
na mag-isang lilipad tungo sa’king layon
magpapakatatag ako’t haharapin ang hamon.

Sapagkat tulad ni Jonathan
ako’y naniniwalang ang pangarap ay yaman
at marapat lamang na paghirapan.

Kung ang aking pangarap ay langit
at langit ang pangarap
magsisikap ako nang ito ay matupad.

Nakasama Ako sa mga Nanalo sa Gawad Komisyon 2008

Noong Disyembre 17, 2008 ay isinagawa sa Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, Bicol University, Legazpi City ang pagpaparangal sa mga mapapalad na nagwagi sa Gawad Komisyon 2008. Ang Gawad komisyon 2008 ay isang patimpalak sa pagsulat ng tula at maikling kuwento sa sampung wika sa Pilipinas ----Tagalog, Ilokano, Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Bikol, Samar-Leyte, Sugbuanong Binisaya, Hiligaynon, Maranao, at Tausug. Ang mga sumusunod ay ang mga nanalo:

Pagsulat ng Tula (Poetry)

Unang Gantimpala (1st Prize) – Mr. Owen L. Del Castillo (Pilar, Sorsogon)

Ikalawang Gantimpala (2nd Prize) – Mr. Sonny C. Sendon (San Nicolas, Iriga City)Ikatlong Gantimpala (3rd Prize) - Mr. Adrian V. Remodo (Pacol, Naga City)

Pampalubag-loob (Consolation Prizes):
Mr. Jovert R. Balunsay (Sto. Domingo, Albay)

Mr. H.Francisco V. Peñones (Sta. Cruz, Iriga City)

Mr. Eduardo E. Uy (Ariman, Gubat, Sorsogon)

Pagsulat ng Maikling Kuwento (Fiction)

Unang Gantimpala (1st Prize) – Mr. Estelito B. Jacob (Camaligan, Camarines Sur)

Ikalawang Gantimpala (2nd Prizes) – Mr. Rodel D. Añosa (Sawang, Aroroy, Masbate)

Mr. Jaime J. Borlagdan (Bombon, Tabaco City)
Ikatlong Gantimpala (3rd Prize) - Mr. Owen L. Del Castillo (Pilar, Sorsogon)

Pampalubag-loob (Consolation Prizes):
Dr. Eden K. Nasayao (Arimbay, Legazpi City)

Mr. Xavier L. Zamora (Sagpon, Albay)

Mr. Alex Michael S. Boribor (Pioduran, Albay)

Congratulations po sa lahat ng mga nanalo!
Patuloy po nating ipakita at ipagmalaki ang ganda at yaman ng Wikang Bikol.
Dios Mabalos!

Isa Kang Tula

Isa kang tula

tahimik ngunit nangungusap,

may pagkapipi ngunit nanunumbat.

Isa kang tula

malalim ngunit tumatagos sa puso,

hango sa pantasya ngunit totoo.

Isa kang tula

payak ngunit ganap,

nagpapahayag ngunit taimtim na nagmamatyag.