Super Blue Blood Moon

super blue blood moon
she smiles
but not at me
**Melchor F. Cichon
January 31, 2018

sa tunga it impeachment trial

sa tunga it impeachment trial
gadaguok ro tiyan ni Juan--
siesta time
Melcichon
Jan 29, 2012

Ili-Ili ni Nanay: Bedtime Rhyme in Akeanon

Ili-Ili ni Nanay: Bedtime Rhyme in Akeanon

Hakita Ko Ro Bituon
ni Melchor F. Cichon

Hakita ko ro bituon
Ag hakita man nana ako.
Gaigpat-igpat imaw kakon.
Gaigpat-igpat man rang mga mata
Para kay Tatay ag Nanay.
***Melchor F. Cichon
January 24, 2016

Sandali Lang, Mahal

Sandali Lang, Mahal
Melchor F. Cichon
January 27, 2018
Sandali lang, Mahal.
Ubusin mo muna itong
Tinimpla kong kape para sa 'yo.
Sayang din naman
Ang perang ginamit ko sa pagbili nito.
Dahil sa TRAIN
Bumibitin-bitin na ang piso natin
Kahit sa asin at sa galonggong.
Sandali lang, Mahal.
Pupunuin ko muna itong knapsack ko
Ng mga baro at kumot
Bago natin iwan
Ang bahay nating ito.
Hindi pa naman daw sasabug ang Bulkan Mayon
Katulad sa pagsabog ng Mt. Pinatubo.
Baka tayo giginawin
At uubuhin si Neneng
Doon sa evacuation center.
Mabuti kung bibigyan tayo ng baro at kumot doon.
Batid kong dinadala sa mga ukay-ukay
Ang mga baro, kumot at mga sapatos
Na relip na mula sa ibang bansa.
Sandali lang, Mahal!
Nagbubuntong hininga na ako.

Low Tide

low tide--
seashells
building themselves a domino tower
Melcichon
Jam 22, 2012

Bayan Ko, Mahal Ko

Bayan Ko, Mahal Ko

ni Melchor F. Cichon
Jan 18, 2018

Ngayon, laging maulap ang kalangitan 

Sa bayan kong mahal, 

Kaya madalas hindi ko nasisilayan 

Ang bilog na buwan 

At ang pagsikat ng araw.

Laging umiiyak ang dalampasigan 

At ang mga alon ay hindi nakakatulog 

Sa bayan kong mahal 

Kaya ang mangingisda kong Tatay 

Ay laging umuuwi ng magaan ang kanyang basket 

At mabigat ang kanyang mga ngiti. 

Ngunit hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. 

Alam kong mahahawi rin ang mga ulap na ito 

At ang dalampasigan ay tatahimik din. 

At hinding-hindi ko tatalikdan ang bayan kong ito 

Dahil mahal ko siya,
Ano pa man ang mangyayari 

Sa buhay niya, sa buhay ko.

Hindi Kasali, revised

Hindi Kasali
Melchor F. Cichon
Jan 7, 2012

Rev. January 11, 2018

Hindi kasali sa paglubog ng araw

Ang pag-ibig ko sa 'yo.
Hindi rin ito natabunan ng naguhong lupa

Ng Campostela Valley

O natangay ito ng agos

Ng bahang dala ni Bagyong Sendong.

At hindi rin ito ginawang pabaon

Sa mga nagretirong heneral

O ibinili ng Obra Maestra ni Juan Luna

O kaya’y ginawang pamasko
Sa mga kaibigan ng PCSO

O ginawang Goodbye Philippines

Ng mga sundalong nabuwal
Nang lusubin ng Mauti

Ang Marawi.

O kaya’y natamaan ng bala

Noong  nakaraang taon
Nang tokhangin ng mga militar

Ang mga pugad ng mga durugista.
Bagkos, ito'y buhay na buhay

Katulad ng paruparung lumilipad-lipad

Sa mga talulot ng mapula-pulang  rosas.

haiku, birthday

birthday--
turning the mid-sky of life
into a deeper blue
Melcichon
Jan 10, 2012

Interview Questions from Ancel Marie Bravo Mondia, a Daily Guardian writer

Interview Questions from Ancel Marie Bravo Mondia, a Daily Guardian writer

1.      What are the significant events in your childhood and/or adolescence that have shaped you as a person?

When I failed in Grade 5 at Lezo Elementary School, Lezo, Aklan. As a result, I was not able to graduate along with my former classmates since Grade 1. That failure made me realized the importance of studies. So when I reached high school, I really studied hard. I graduated as First Honorable Mention at Southern Mindanao Regional School of Fisheries, Zamboanga City. That led me to take up fisheries as a course at the then UP College of Fisheries in Diliman, Quezon City (now called UP in the Visayas College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in Miag-ao, Iloilo). While studying at UP College of Fisheries, I worked as a working student at the various units of UP Cafeteria to free my daily meals. Also when I was in my grade school, I could hardly read or spell English words. So when I reached high school, I always stayed in our school library reading books and newspapers. That helped me a lot in my English classes. I also became interested in history and in social studies. That also had helped me a lot me in my writing career. Also, I was a partial scholar at Manuel Luis Quezon University for three consecutive semesters, 1969-1971 when I took my Bachelor of Science in Education degree.

While I was a librarian at the UP in the Visayas, now UP Visayas, I noticed that some of the people, mostly the faculty,  in the university would just take me for granted. With that, I studied the promotion and the recognition policies of the university. With that knowledge, I took up graduate studies. I wrote and published articles and poems in local and national magazines. I also conducted extension works like conducting poetry workshops. I also attended seminar-workshops on various disciplines the results of which I shared to the students when they asked for information. And of course, I tried my best not to be absent from my work, except when I got sick. I introduced some innovations to the Library. I noticed that there was an absence of biographies of fisheries scientists, so I reseached on them and wrote their biographies. I then published them in the internet. I also noticed that there was no comprehensive bibliography on local fisheries and ocean sciences. Silently, I compiled and published them in the internet. These materials are still being used by researchers throughout the world.  Because of my wide range of knowledge many students and even faculty members would come to me to help them in their researches. With this, I was awarded The Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Performance in Professional Academic Service (Non-Teaching Staff), UPV Iloilo City.  The first time that a librarian has received twice such an award.

2.      When and how did you discover your strengths? Name these strengths. How did you deal with them that you are able to achieve a lot because of them?

It was in high school where I discovered my interest in writing. Because of my interest both in English and Tagalog subjects, our school organ adviser selected me as one of the  staff of our school organ. My interest in writing was enhanced when I studied at UP Diliman. Instead of going to the movie houses during my vacant periods, I would stay in the UP Main Library and read newspapers, magazines, books on social sciences, languages and literature. Then I tried writing poems and essays only for my self. Of course, I like reading poems published in the Philippine Collegian, and magazines like Philippines Free Press, Philippines Graphic, Philippine Panorama, and Liwayway. To learn how writers develop their poems, I translated poems written by famous writers like Emily Dickenson, Robert Frost, Teo Baylen, Amado Hernandez, and others  from their original language to Tagalog or Aklanon, my native tongue. I sent some of them to the Philippine Collegian. Later, I wrote my own poems and sent some of them to the Philippines Free Press, Philippines Graphic, Philippine Panorama. Some of them were published, but the majority were rejected. But these rejections did not stop me from writing more poems. Instead I wrote some more.

3.      Do your strengths determine your goals/dreams in life? When and how did you realize what you wanted to become? How did you pursue your goals/dreams?

My strength is in writing. And I wanted to be known as a writer, more particularly as a poet when I was still in high school.  When I was in college, I wished that my name be  included in the Union Catalog of the University of the Philippines Diliman Main Library, Diliman, Quezon City. Now, my works are not only included in this Union Catalog but also in the libraries of the National Library of the Philippines and of the U.S. Library of Congress.

How did I pursue my goal/dream as a writer? I stayed more often in the library reading periodicals and books, mostly on social sciences, humanities and literature to strengthen my knowledge on these areas. I also spent most of my vacant time writing. I attended creative writing workshops. I participated in poetry and essay writing contests. I listened to lectures on creative writing techniques.  I talked to people who are also interested in poetry writing. And I joined writers’ groups. I get so much ideas from the homilies of priests, and from gossips of passengers while riding on public vehicles.

4.      When one is enhancing his strengths, he faces obstacles. When one achieves, he still faces obstacles. In your case, what are these obstacles? When did you face them and how did you pass them?  One of the biggest obstacles that I encountered in my writing strength was grammar. To counter act it, I read books on English grammar. The book that greatly helped me was English for Filipinos by Jean Edades. The next problem was how to write poems the right way. So I read book reviews, and critical analysis of literary works. But the most influencial person on my writing career was Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada. It was really he who taught me how to write poems and had encouraged me to write more in Aklanon.  When I was studying in U.P. Diliman, one of the obstacles that I faced, which greatly affected my health, was the lack of nutritional foods. To solve it, I approached the supervisor of the UP Cafeteria and asked her if I could work as a working student in the UP Cafeteria. Immediately, she hired me. I was assigned at the Narra Residence Hall Canteen. My assignment was to serve rice to the dining students and do some mapping on the dining hall for two hours a day, from Monday to Friday. With that, I had free breakfast, merienda, lunch, merienda, and supper from Monday to Sunday.

5.      During college, what course/s did you take? Why did you choose such course/s? How do you relate your strengths to your course/s?

I have the following degrees:
Certificate in Fisheries, UP Diliman
Bachelor of Science in Education, major in library science; minor in English, MLQU
Certificate in Governmental Management, UP in the Visayas, now UP Visayas
Master in Management (Public Management), UP in the Visayas
Master in Library Science, UP Diliman

I took up fisheries because my high school diploma is in fisheries.

I took BSE major in Library Science and Minor in English because, I was already working in the library for promotion purposes, and English to improve my communication skills and to enhance my dream to become a writer.

Writing, especially poetry and essay writing, needs strong foundations on sciences and humanities. These courses have a lot of subjects on these disciplines.

6.      So far, what are the significant events in your adulthood/work life that have greatly influenced your personality/­thinking?  When I studied in UP, I was exposed to people who are radical and critical thinkers on the many aspects of our society and our environment. I was also exposed to various reading materials that may not be available in other libraries.

7.      What do you think is your greatest achievement? When did this happen?

My greatest achievement is when all my children have finished their respective degrees. This took place in the early 2000s. The other is when my first book of poems, Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabii, was published in 1999. Because of this, the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) gave me The 2001 Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas Award, and the Aklan Province gave me The Outstanding Aklanon Award for Culture and the Arts in 2011.  But I did not stop there. I continued writing articles, essays, poems, and short stories  until today. As I said, I am a librarian by day, and a writer by night. I always find time to write even while riding on a jeep or a bus because if I don’t write the ideas that come into my mind, I will surely forget them when I reach home.

What do you think that is in you that enabled you to become that person? I am persistent in my desire to get what I wanted to become.  I tried my best to find ways to solve any obstacle that comes my way. I have this idea: Find a new way to solve an old problem.

8.      How are you now as a person?

I am still a nobody. A simple person.

9.      People consider you successful. When did you personally consider yourself successful? If not yet, why? When do you think you are able to say you're successful? Somehow, I feel successful as a poet when some of poems were included in anthologies like Sa Atong Dila,   Sanlibong Mahigit ng Makabagong Tula sa Filipinas,  Ani and others. But there are still things that I wish to accomplish—to publish some more books of poems, short stories, biographies, dictionaries, and articles on Aklanon history and culture.

10.  What do you think is the greatest lesson of your life?  Be persistent in finding a new way to solve an old problem.

What do you want to tell to the world? Let peace be with us always. And let us be innovative to improve our lives.

Haiku, Library

library--
the spaces
between our smiles
Melcichon
Jan 7, 2012

Hindi Kasali

Hindi Kasali
Melchor F. Cichon
Jan 7, 2012

Hindi kasali sa paglubog ng araw ang pag-ibig ko sa 'yo.
Hindi rin natabunan ng lupa ng Campostela Valley ang pag-ibig ko sa 'yo.
O natangay ng agos ng bahang dala ni Bagyong Sendong ang pag-ibig ko sa 'yo.
At hindi rin ito ginawang pabaon sa mga nagretirong heneral ang pag-ibig ko sa 'yo!
O ginawang Goodbye Philippines noong nakaraang Bagong Taon.
Bagkos, ito'y buhay na buhay.

Melcichon
Jan 7, 2012

Poems, Mayad-ayad nga mga Butang

Mayad-ayad nga mga Butang
ni Lynne Gibbs
Gin-eubad ni Melchor F. Cichon
December 14, 2017

Pag-eaum ko hay ro mayad-ayad nga butang hay makit-an
Sa mahayag nga adlaw it tigsililak, ukon sa matam-is nga kanta it pispis.

Ro pinakamaanyag nga mga butang hay mga bueak nga gatubo,
Apang makaron hasayran ko nga bukon gali it matuod.

Ro nagakaeahueog nga dahon sa tig-eamig, ro baeangaw sa ibabaw,
Hay pila eang sa mga butang nga nailaan ko.
Pero ro pinakamaanyag nga butang sa kalibutan,
Ro pagsalig ag putli nga pagtuo nga gintao mo kakon.

haiku, Ugsad

ugsad--
gin-eakbangan ko ro handong
kang nobya
**Melchor F. Cichon
December 13, 2017

haiga, April Ann Benban

Haiku, a rainbow

a rainbow
she walks
towards me
**Melchor F. Cichon
December 6, 2017

You Speak of Truth

You Speak of Truth
Melcichon

you speak
of truth
of justice
of equality
of human rights

you dream
and tell us
to dream
of breaking dawn
of shinning morning
where bees
and beasts
altogether will sip
the nectar
of sunflower
of sampaguita
in a summer day
but you
forget
your wife
who labors
in a provincial hospital
alone
you forget
your weeping mother
in your ancestral home
who misses
your warm embraces
perhaps, perhaps
someday
we will
grasp
the rays
of a summer morning sun
perhaps
perhaps
***
August 9, 2008

She Loves Me

she loves me alone
before
now
she loves my ex
     alone

Ham-at Mag-uyang Ka Gid King Euha?

Ham-at Mag-uyang Ka Gid King Euha?
ni Melchor F. Cichon.
Nov. 12, 2017

Ham-at mag-uyang ka gid king euha
Kon may natumba sa pagtokhang?
Bukon abi't para man don sa kamaeayran it tanan?
Bukon abi't ginpangwarningan eon don sanda tanan
Nga untaton eon ro pagbinaligya o pagginamit it druga?
Bukon abi't una pa sanda nagpaeupok ku andang mga baril
Sa mga raiding team bag-o sanda pinatumba?
Salf defense man lang kuno ro andang ginhimo.
Ugaling maski nakabaklid eon ro andang mga alima sa andang likod
Samtang nagaeuhod hay binaril man gihapon ro andang dughan.
O basi kanugon ro premyo kon owa sanda't matiklo
Sa andang misyon? Kanukon man ron!
Pabay-e ro mga nagapangwakae nga mga puti
Sa mga paglampaso ku atong tawhanon nga kinamatarong.
Mas sobra pa gid ngani kuno ro andang gin-obra sa Vietnam,
Sa Syria, sa Iran. Bomba gid ngani ro andang gingamit
Agod mag-euhod tanan ro nagasukoe sa andang handum.
Ham-at mag-uyang ka gid king euha
Kon magsaeampukan ro atong mga senador sa kongreso
Samtang sanda hay nagakaealhitan it mga eutay?
Bukon abi't ginpangbutang man naton don sanda
Bangod sa andang pangaku nga batakon kita tanan
Sa kaimueon, sa kalisdanan?
A, siguro haeubong eon nanda
Ro andang pasalig katon tanan.
Ham-at magpin-ot gid ring paginhawa
Sa mga moro-moro ku atong mga haeangdon
Sa Malacanyang, sa kongreso
Total tanan sanda hay mga Filipino man.
Bukon abi't hambae sa bibliya
Higugmaon mo ring isigkatawo
Maski ro atong dungog hay ginaeapak-eapakan eon nanda?
Maski ro kaban ku atong banwa hay ginakinaw-it nanda?

Akean

Aklan*
Melchor F. Cichon
November 5, 2017
revised

Mabangon kita tanan, Akean
Ag dungan-dungan naton nga usoyon
Ro adlaw nga owa gatunod
Ag ro buean nga sa anang pag-ugsad
Hay owa’t katapusan.
Pero kon ueanon gid man kita
O bahaan
Samtang kita gatikang-tikang,
Magbueoytan kita sa pag-usoy
Ku atong pandong o baesa
Agod owa kato’t mabasa o maaywan.
Pero indi gid kita magsungka.
Padayunon ta ra
Hasta kita magdinaeag-on.
Magbueoligan kita tanan sa paghukas
Ku mga tunok sa atong mga dughan,
Ag was-agon naton ro mga alambre
Nga nagairas-iras ku atong kaeangitan.

Akean, dungan-dungan kitang magbangon
Agod aton tanan nga mabuytan
Ro silak it atong adlaw
Ag ro kasiga ku atong buean.
*After listening to the song, Marawi.

****
Akean*
Melchor F. Cichon
November 5, 2017

Mabangon kita tanan, Akean
Ag dungan-dungan naton nga usoyon
Ro adlaw nga owa gatunod
Ag ro buean nga sa anang pag-ugsad
Hay owa’t katapusan.
Pero kon ueanon gid man kita
O bahaan
Samtang kita gatikang-tikang,
Magbueoytan kita sa pag-usoy
Ku atong pandong o baesa
Agod owa kato’t mabasa o maaywan.
Magbueoligan kita tanan sa paghukas
Ku mga tunok sa atong mga dughan,
Ag was-agon naton ro mga alambre
Nga nagairas-iras ku atong kaeangitan.

Akean, dungan-dungan kitang magbangon
Agod aton tanan nga mabuytan
Ro silak it atong adlaw
Ag ro kasiga ku atong buean.
*After listening to the song, Marawi.

Pasko Na!

Pasko Na!
ni Melchor F. Cichon
revised, Nov 4, 2017

Malamig ang simoy ng hangin
Subalit biglang lumakas ito
At biglang ginuhitan ng kidlat ang kalangitan,
Na may kasamang kulog.
Katulad ng mga putok na mula sa mga riders in tandem
At sa mga taong tumutumba sa umano'y mga durogista.
Hindi ko tuloy mapapakinggan
Ang kalimbang ng mga batingaw sa simbahan.
Hindi katulad noong wala pang climate change.
Malalakas noon ang putukan ng mga kanyong kawayan
Ngunit kami’y napapasigaw pa sa tuwa.
Naawa tuloy ako sa mga palakang
Binabala namin sa kanyong kawayan.
At sa araw ng Pasko
Linalakad ko sa bayan ang bahay ng ninong ko
Upang magmano,
Ngunit kadalasa’y sinasabihan ako
Ng asawa niya na ang ninong ko’y may pinuntahan.
Pero natutuwa pa rin ako
Dahil sa pag-uwi ko sa aming bahay
Ay nagkakalaman na ang medyas ko
Ng mga kende at bola na mula raw kay Santa Claus.