I first thought of posting this poem a few years ago because of a wrongly remembered first line, which I thought was "Pinag-aaralan na naman nila kami" (They're studying us again), an appropriate reminder for PhD students like me and other researchers that conducting research involving real people is very different from working with test tubes and mice.
The actual first line is a bit different, evoking both academic and colloquial readings. But the fact that the text is laid out on the page in the shape of a microscope in Albert Alejo's Sanayan Lang ang Pagpatay (1993) suggests that what I remembered was not too far off the mark. I cannot, unfortunately, reproduce the poem's format in this blog.
Anyway, I've been getting requests for pieces that can be used in group oratorical contests (or timpalak sabayang bigkas, in Tagalog) usually held during Buwan ng Wika, so here's a poem whose title is difficult to translate literally, but may be understood as the "complaint of the masses."
Buntong-hibik ng Anakpawis
Albert E. Alejo, SJ
Pinag-uusapan na naman nila kami.
Pinagpupulungan. Pinapupurihan. Pinagpapasyahan.
Pinag-aaralan. Pinagkakakitaan. Pinararangalan.
Inuunawa. Iniluluha. Iniluluwa.
Ipinipinta. Ikinakanta. Pinakakasta.
Isinusulat. Iniuulat. Pinagbubulatlat.
Itinutula. Idinudula. Pinatitihaya.
Ibinabalita. Binabata. Pinagbababatuta.
Ginagabayan. Binabagayan. Binabayagan.
Inaaliw. Ginigiliw. Binabaliw.
Pinag-aalayan ng sanlaksang pananaliksik.
Pinaglalakuan ng sanrekwang mga gimik.
Pinangangakuan. Pinaaasam. Pinaghihintay.
Pinaaasa. Pinag-aalsa.
Pinalalaban.
Pinagigising.
Pinasusugod.
Pinasisigaw.
Pinapapatay.
Pinapatay.
Pinaglalamayan.
Inililibing.
Nilalambing.
Nililimot.
Pagkatapos—
Pag-iisipan na naman nila kami.
Tambakan ng pinagsawaang mga gamit.
Sanayan ng pana-panahong pagpapakabait.
Sangkalan ng kung anu-anong mga project.
Basurahan ng pulang aklat, banal na aklat, lihim na aklat.
Ideolohiya. Liturhiya. Propaganda.
Artista. Aktibista. Rekrutista.
Armalayt. Chokolait. Johnny Midnight.
Propesor. Tomador. Kolektor.
CO. OXO. SPARROW.
Pusher. Holdaper. Illegal logger.
Lay-off. Jaywalk. Cut throat.
Saudi. IUD. White Slavery.
Gala. Opera. Gonorrhea.
Fertilizer. Bulldozer. Land grabber.
IMF. CHDF. MNLF.
Puting bakod. Parada sa airport. Ahas at gamot.
Eskirol. Suhol. Ataul.
POPCOM. METROCOM. AVSECOM.
Demolisyon. Demonstrasyon. Rebolusyon.
Maghalal. Magdasal. Magsalsal.
Ave Maria. Makibaka. Potang-ina!
Pinagtutulung-tulungan lang kami nila.
Mga mapagpaimbabaw.
At Ikaw,
Takbuhan-Timbulan-Silungan
Daan-Buhay-Katotohanan
Ilaw-Araw-Tanglaw
Ligaya-Pag-asa
Bathala-Allah-Ama-Abbah—
Isa ka pa rin ba sa kanila?
The Tagalog used is not only difficult to pronounce, it is also not easily understood. Some terms will not not be found in dictionaries or the Internet, and may require students to consult a history book or someone who lived in Manila during the 70s and 80s.
The speech is reproduced here, with the author's permission, so that it may be used by students. The speech, however, may not be reproduced, whether in print or online, without the author's consent.
