pantalan

 pantalan
nanay nagapadede ka unga
mahaba ro pila sa tikitan
***Maeara
June 28, 2022

sunny afternoon

 sunny afternoon
alone drinking coffee
in a coffee shop
***Maeara, June 27, 2022

Sige Eang, Paayawi!

 

Sige Eang, Paayawi!

Ni Maeara

June 26, 2021

 

Tanan nga pispis gahuni

Hasta magpaeaeos ro andang limog

O hasta maubusan it hangin ro andang mga baga.

Ro busay owa’t pahuway ra pagtinubod

Maski owa’t may gasag-ob

O owa’t eanas nga gahigop

Agod ro paeay, mais o baeatong makapabug-at it buesa

Ni Tatay ag ni Nanay.

Ro adlaw owa’t pahuway sa anang pagsinilak

Maski may galipod pa nga gae-um

Katuead sa pagsiniga ku mga bituon ag ku buean

Maski sige ro paghinapay-hapay ku niyog bangod sa bagyyo.

Pareho king pagdinuyan ku atong eabsag

Hasta ra makatueog.

Ag kon tueog eon

Owa man gihapon ro untat king pagpalibog

Kon ano ro ieamhay sa tinuea mo nga tangkong.

Samtang ring Beloved hay sige man ra anang

Pag-inung-ong it Tanduay

Sa binit it karsada kaibahan ka anang mga barkada.

Pero sige eang

Mauntat gid ron

Kon dueaw eon ra kalimutaw;

Kon indi eon imaw kadaea

Ku baso nga andang ginapalibot-libot

Hasta imaw magdupas-dupas

Sa anang pag-uli sa inyong baeay

Luwa in Aklan

 

Luwa in Aklan

Ni

Melchor F. Cichon

 

When I was young, I used to go with my elder sisters and brothers to wakes in Sta. Cruz, Lezo, not only because there were pamahaw after the prayer, but because there were many games.

One of these games was burdon. This game was played by about five or more boys and girls. Of course, the elders would sometimes join them.

 

How is this played?

 

A group of boys and girls would form a circle and someone would stay at the middle as the "It". The participants would join their hands. One of them would hold a "singsing" or ring and pass this ring from one hand to another. The "It" would as much as possible would catch the "singsing". While this is being done, the players would sing. I can recall part of this song: "Singsing papanawa hasta makaabot sa Hari ag Reyna". Whoever is caught holding the singsing would be penalized by reciting a luwa.

 

A luwa is a form of poetry that is usually written in four lines. It used to be the first stanza of corrido, that kind of poetry that relates the exploits of kings and princess. There are also luwa that are longer ones. There are also luwa that are used to get the hands of a lady. This is known as enamoracion.

 

It is said that it is not advisable to recite luwa if one is not in the wake, because it is believed that a member of the family will die if this is done not in its proper place.

 

Because luwa were recited in wakes as part of a punishment to whoever is the loser in a game like konggit, truth or consequence, bordon, it is very much appreciated if the lines have rhymes, rhythms, and humor. This is one reason why there are nonsense luwa. The rhythms are not consistent though, but there are a lot of luwa that have rhymes. These include luwa with aaaa, aabb, abab patterns.

 

There are also some luwa that have abcd endings.

 

Here are examples:

 

Example of a luwa with an aaaa rhyme:

Pag-agto ko sa Ibajay,

May hakita ako nga patay;

Ginbagting ko ra eagay,

Mas mabaskog pa sa lingganay.

Here you will notice that the endings of all lines are in ay.

 

For the aabb example:

 

Pag-agto ko sa bukid

Nakakita ako it ibid;

Paglingot ko sa waea

Gatueok kakon rang nobya.—Melchor F. Cichon (MFC)

Here the first and second lines end in id, while the third and fourth lines end in a.

 

Here is another ending. The abab:

 

Igto sa bukid,

May busay nga naga-ilig;

Kon magpaligos igto si Ismid,

May daeang butong nga binulig. --MFC

 

There are luwa with Spanish and English words.

 

Paris it navagante

Sa tunga it travisya

Kinueabos rang suwerte

Hay gulpi nga nagisgrasya.

***

Igto sa bukid

May kwarta nga nagaligid

Nagaligid-naga roll

Dumiretso sa waterfall.

 

There are other luwa that are bawdy, but full of imagery. Here is an example:

 

Pag-agto ni Inday sa Boracay

Napusa ro anang tuway;

Pagkasayod ka anang nanay,

Ana imaw nga ginminueay.-- MFC

 

For a nonsense luwa here is a classic example:

 

Secut erat en principio

Bisan libat basta gwapo;

En principio secut erat

Gwapo pero libat.

Secut erat is a Latin word that means Glory be, a Catholic prayer.

 

Here are other nonsense luwas:

 

Nag-agto ako sa Navas

May hakita ako nga bayawas;

Akon nga ginpaeas,

May nahueog nga sibuyas.

 

There are luwa that have double meanings. These are the luwa that belong to the adults, if they can decipher the meaning. Here is an example:

 

Maligos ako kunta

Sa maisot mo nga sapa

Ugaling ro kinasaea

May guardia civil sa tunga.--MFC

 

There are luwas that are really metaphysical. Here is one:

 

Ako mangunguma nga taga-Lezo

Maagto sa eanas agod mag-arado

Rang saeaburan puno’t bungot-bungot

Rang mabuot nga arado, indi magdueot kon indi magtindog.-- MFC

***

Ako si Haring Marikudo

Manugtanum it amamakoe

Pero ro gusto-gusto gid ni Inday kuno

Amamakoe nga sukoe.-- MFC

***

Kon gusto mo gid man ako

Nga mangin nobya mo;

Ro adlaw imo nga tukuran

Agud indi kita madueman.

 

Some of the topics being touched in luwa are love, death, courtship, sorrows, happiness, desires. disasters, anything and everything under and above the sun.

 

What is the difference between the old and the new luwa? In terms of subject matter, number of lines, number of syllables per line, the same.

 

Perhaps, until proven otherwise, the contemporary luwa have wider scopes like tsunami, and politics, and snows since some of the poets are college trained and have gone to different countries like Canada, America, Switzerland and Germany.

 

From the luwa that I heard and gathered, I noticed that politics is not given so much importance.

This is one aspect of luwa that should be looked into. I know that luwa like any other poetry can be used to dissect our society, including our politics.

 

Luwa is dying in Aklan. In fact many of our martial law babies have not heard of luwa.

 

But luwa is not only confined in Aklan. This was also common in Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Guimaras.

Because of this, I wrote luwa. These can now be read in my website: http://aklanonlitarchive.blogspot.com/.../mga-luwa-ni-tay....

 

Luwa writing is easy. Just remember this:

 

Focus on one subject.

If possible, inject humor in your luwa.

Try to use rhyme and meter if possible.

Maximize the use of the various figures of speech. But avoid using mixed metaphor.

Be careful with your spelling. Prefixes should be attached to the root words, like pagbakae, ginsueat, etc. Remember the rule on the use ko and ku.

Read and write luwa. There is no other way to learn how to write luwa but to write it yourself.

 

aklanonlitarchive.blogspot.com

Aklanon Literature Archive: Mga Luwa ni Tay Itsong

Iwagayway Ro Bandera

 

Iwagayway Ro Bandera

Ni Melchor F. Cichon

June 12, 2019

 

Iwagayway

Ro atong bandera

Maski may gaeum

O gabunok ro uean.

Mas eabi pa gid kon gasilak.

Iwagayway

Ro atong bandera

Maski mabug-at

Sa tagipusuon mo.

Nadumduman mo

Si Andres Bonifacio,

Si Emilio Aguinaldo

Ag si Catriona Gray

Nga naghambae nga "Raise your flag"?

May Sangka Magueang nga Baye nga Nagtueon it Eangaw

May Sangka Magueang nga Baye nga Nagtueon it Eangaw

Unknown Author

Gin-Inakeanon ni Melchor F. Cichon
June 11, 2022

 

May sangka magueang nga baye nga nagtueon it eangaw.

Owa ako kasayod kon ham-at nagtueon imaw it eangaw,

Basi mamatay imaw.

 

May sangka magueang nga baye nga nagtueon it eamang

Nga nagahinueag ag nagahinalik-ik sa sueod.

Gintueon nana ro eamang agod dakpon ro eangaw,

Pero owa ako kasayod  kon ham-at gintueon nana ro eangaw,

Basi mamatay imaw.

 

May sangka magueang nga baye nga nagtueon it pispis!

Abaw ka bueo-bueo nga magtueon imaw it pispis!

Gintueon nana ro pispis agod dakpon ro eamang.

Gintueon nana ro eamang agod dakpon ro eangaw.

Tao kon ham-at gintueon nana ro eangaw,

Basi mamatay imaw.

 

May sangka magueang nga baye nga nagtueon it kuring.

Tan-awa baea nga nagtueon imaw it kuring.

Gintueon nana ro kuring agod dakpon ro pispis.

Gintueon nana ro pispis agod dakpon ro eamang.

Gintueon nana ro eamang agod dakpon ro eangaw.

Pero owa kasayod kon ham-at gintueon nana ro eangaw,

Basi mamatay imaw.

 

May sangka magueang nga baye nga nagtueon it ayam.

Anong baboya nga magtueon it ayam?

Gintueon nana ro ayam agod dakpon ro kuring.

Gintueon nana ro kuring agod dakpon ro pispis.

Gintueon nana ro pispis agod dakpon ro eamang.

Gintueon nana ro eamang agod dakpon ro eangaw.

Pero owa ako kasayod kon ham-at gintueon nana ro eangaw,

Basi mamatay imaw.

 

May sangka magueang nga baye nga nagtueon it baka.

Owa ako kasayod kon paano nana gintueon ro baka.

Gintueon nana ro baka agod dakpon ro ayam.

Gintueon nana ro ayam agod dakpon ro kuring.

Gintueon nana ro kuring agod dakpon  ro pispis.

Gintueon nana ro pispis agod dakpon  to eamang.

Gintueon nana ro eamang agod dakpon ro eangaw.

Pero owa ako kasayod kon ham-at gintueon nana ro eangaw,

Basi mamatay imaw.

 

May sangka magueang nga baye nga nagtueon it kabayo,

Ag syempre namatay imaw.

 

 **I like this poem about an old woman who swallowed a fly. I translated it into Aklanon. Here is my translation.

Jigger S. Latoza

 Jigger S. Latoza
by Melchor F. Cichon

When your sun suddenly set
With the rising of Covid-19,
I shed more tears than ever
For I had no chance to bid you goodbye.
When you could still smile,
You helped build a creative garden
Where eager and young minds were cultured
By the Father of Western Visayas Literature
And his sons and daughters.
Everything has an end
But the energy of your footsteps will be perpetuated
And will continue to be immortalized.

Kon ako ro pangutan-on

 

Kon ako ro pangutan-on

Kon ano gid rang ginadayaw--

Gusto ko gid ro nagadungok nga mga uhay

Kon matimgas ro anang mga paeay.

***Melchor F. Cichon.

June 9, 2015

 

I Do Not Mind

 

I Do Not Mind
***Melchor F. Cichon
May 16, 2014

I do not mind if nobody reads my poem.

What is important is that I have written it.

I do not mind if my poem is simple.

What is important is that the readers understand it.

I do not mind if my poem does not moralize.

What is important is that the readers' behavior is changed after reading it.

I do not mind if someone grinds me for writing a poem.

It was meant to be!

Ay abaw

 

Ay abaw

Ro ay Inday nga ampaw,

Ra kadamoe

Sobra gid it sang dangaw.

--Maeara, December 31, 2007

paghueaw it uean

 

paghueaw it uean--

ro gatueotueo nga tubi

sa sinipad it Sampaguita

***Melcichon

May 21, 2013

gabunok ro uean

 

gabunok ro uean--
gahapay-hapay
ro sanga it Sampaguita
***Melcichon
May 21, 2013

between bamboos

 

between bamboos

a young lady breaks

the silence of the fallen leaves

***Melcichon

May 21, 2014

(For Aivee Kim)

passing clouds

 

passing clouds--

Boracay sunset

still in my mind

***Melchor F. Cichon

May 20, 2022

Short Time

 

Short Time

Nag-agto sa motel si Pedring agod magpangalipay. Igto imaw sa Room 69.

“Sir, may kaibahan ka?”

“Owa ngani.”

“Gusto mo?”

“May mga picture ka’t mga baye nga pwede ko makaibahan?”

“Hara, Sir, pili eang.”

“Pwede raya?”

“Sige, Sir. Hueata eang. After 15 to 30 minutes, may manoktok ron kimo.”

Pagkataliwan it 20 minutos, may nanuktok sa room ni Pedring. Binuksan na.

“Tay!” hambae ku baye.

 

Melchor F. Cichon

May 6, 2017

 

The Whisper

 THE WHISPER
Melchor F. Cichon

 

Aboy-aboy, batya and patadyong,

Listen to my heartbeats.

The chain I have with you

Is a cross to my calvary.

My parents told me

To just wipe away my biting tears

And put ice on my swollen lips,

A gift from my husband’s quick fists.

I have become his tail, my parents say,

After I have pressed my thumb

On our marriage contract.

Aboy-aboy, batya and patadyong,

It’s not a sin, isn’t it

To put off my chain from you

And march in the streets

With closed fists?

my new journey

my new journey
I see only one pair of foot prints
from home and back
***Melchor F. Cichon
April 17, 2022

Dahil Kay Covid-19

 

Dahil Kay Covid-19

Ni Melchor F. Cichon

Dahil kay covid-19

 

Napilitan akong mag-self quarantine.

Kaya ito nagsusulat na lang ako

Ng tula para sa mga frontliner

Na nag-aalay ng kanilang serbisyo

Makatulong lang sa ating bayan

Kahit ang buhay nila ay nasa panganib.

Sana yaong taong nagsimula nitong dilobyo

Ay itatali sa bahay ng tagasaw*

Mula ngayon

Hanggang matapos ang self-quarantine ko.

***

*Aklanon term for red biting ants.

new moon

 

new moon--

a new journey

hoping to see one pair of footprints

***Melchor F. Cichon

March 26, 2022

Don’t Shed Your Tears, Beloved

 

Don’t Shed Your Tears, Beloved

by Melchor F. Cichon.

March 26, 2022

 

Don’t shed your tears, Beloved.

I know it’s difficult to accept

That we are no longer one.

The joyful hours we have spent together

While watching the rising moon

Along the Iloilo River

Will induce you to sleep.

The afternoons we shared together

While biking along the Iloilo Esplanade

Will surely make you smile.

And although we are no longer together

As a happy couple,

We can still be friends

Forever

Although we are an ocean apart.