Asthma

Also a few days back, I had a fit of asthma. I wrote the first 3 lines while having a bout. As usual, I didn’t take any medicine and I just waited for the attack to subside naturally.

During my past asthma attacks, I discovered these things 1. that pressing on my certain points on my palm and the soles feet and also certain portions of my back gives me great relief (I think I’ve mastered the art of self healing with regards to asthma); and 2. that writing poems while suffering can also bring a certain degree of comfort.

Here is the finished poem. I’ve added the last line just a few moments ago. It is another tanaga poem on the topic of asthma:

Hanging hindi mabuga
Inaasam ihinga
Kamalaya’y tulala
Aking baga’y nagsawa

11:01 PM 7/31/2006

Sa Sinehan

A few days back I went to see M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water. I was quite early and I had 30 minutes in my hands. I observed the people coming out of the movies and also those in anticipation like myself. Then, I decided to take out my notebook to write this short poem.

Sa Sinehan

Iniluwal mo ang mga tao mula sa
panandaliang panaginip:

Humahalakhak, humahagulhol
umaawit, nauulol.

May pagkilos kahit nakapiit.
Ang anak ng liwanag sa
kadilima’y gumuguhit.

Kathang-isip, gawa-gawaan
o tunay na nangyari:

Napanood mo ang aking isipan.

11:39 PM 7/21/2006

The Producers

I watched “The Producers” last night after my usually hectic day. It was refreshing to watch all those bouncing and singing bodies prancing around and about. There is something in these musical-based movies that makes me want to watch them again and again. I watched “Rent” earlier this year four times in the cinemas. The songs sounded spectacular in dolby (and the viewers were allowed to sing).

Going back to “The Producers”, if you enjoy musicals and are aching for a feel-good movie then this comedy will make your day. I’ll definitely see it again.

Here are some trivia for the producers (excerpted from IMDb and annotated with my comments):

• This is a movie based on a play based on a movie about a play.

• Uma Thurman was doubled during portions of the dances by Angie L. Schworer who was playing the part of Ulla in the Broadway version of “The Producers” during production of this film. (Comment: I really thought she was the one dancing! Edit: I think she did most of the dancing except for the split.)
• Mel Brooks originally wrote the music by humming the melodies to the songs into a tape recorder and having a friend who was musically literate write it down on staff paper. (Comment: This comes to show that we can “write” music without actually being musically literate. I think music comes natural in us. I play a game with my nephew where I ask him to sing and invent tones when he communicate with me. You will be surprised how kids can be so creative.)
• Gary Beach was playing the same character on both stage and screen at the same time; when the movie premiered, he was also starring as Roger De Bris on Broadway.

Habang Nilalagnat at Bumabagyo

I wrote this Tagalog poem while having a fever yesterday. I thought that the contradicting pain brought about by the warm and cold feeling made for an excellent backdrop. Add to this fact that it was raining hard because of the typhoon. The fever was giving me chills and making my head was heavy and dizzy but I opted not to take any medicine. It was a restless sleep but the fever was gone in the morning.

It’s all about a recent activity that I made. If you can guess *exactly* what it is, I’ll treat you to any coffee or a tea of your choice. I hope you’ll like this:

Anim na oras
Masamang tsinelas
Balat na napilas
Tinagpi, lumipas

Pantas hinanap
Mga alapaap
Araw kaharap
Sunog kung yumakap

Lingap tinangi
Karaniwa’y kinubli
Dumaloy, humabi
Wala sa sarili

Sabi’y lumuhod
Ako’y naglingkod
Malay inanod
Panaginip sinugod

Puntod pinigil
Mulat na nadapil
Hininga’y siningil
Sa tarik humimpil

Siniil, tiniis
Tagaktak ng pawis
Isa ang nais
Lunas sa tangis

Inimpis na ala-ala
Kinipkip, lumaya
Aking himala
Hiniling, tumalima

Talima’y sinambit
Sa poong malapit
Dulo’y nakamit
Anim na oras sinapit

11:43 PM 7/25/2006

 

Howie Severino’s Lukayo: Hindi Ito Bastos (This is Not Obscene)

I’m a fan of Howie Severino’s documentaries. They are always insightful and entertaining. Luckily, I found the following links to his latest controversial documentary on YouTube. Here’s Howie Severino’s Lukayo: Hindi Ito Bastos:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6

On a side note, “Lukayo” was aired on I-Witness, a public affairs program on GMA 7. The show was suspended for two weeks by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Do you think it is a good call? Was the documentary obscene? You judge for yourself.

Read more about Howie Severino’s work in his blog here.

Writer’s Block

I have been waiting for it to happen and it came to like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I’ve experienced the so-called writer’s block. Depression and distress does take toll on productivity.

And so to end this nothingness, I present to you this poem on the topic of writer’s block albeit with a bit of revenge.

Sinabi ng papel sa panulat:
walang kathang mabubuo;
salita’y kalat kalat;
isipa’y buhol buhol;
kawala’y itatakwil.

Sinabi ng panulat sa papel:
Tinta’t guhit ay kathang
kalat kalat na salita.
Buhol buhol na isipa’y
itinatakwil na kawalan.

2:04 AM 7/14/2006

Mrs. Byrne’s Dictionary

If you believe that you have a deep vocabulary (and if you are ready for a humbling experience), then I urge you to try to define at least 5 of the 26 words contained here. According to Mrs. Bryne, “…English isn’t much of a language for swearing.” This is quite intriguing. Can languages really offer accurate accounts on the characteristics of its collective users?

Another insight, this time on the Filipino language, can be found in the latest Lonely Planet Philippines book. Chris Rowthorn describes the Filipinos based on the absence of English-word equivalents in Philippine dialects:

“Filipinos speak some 70 dialects, yet in none of them are the words for depression, anxiety, anguish or even boredom.”–”The Happiest People on Earth.”

Can this be accurate or even be possible? Isn’t it that depression, anxiety, anguish and boredom are universal experiences of humanity? Could it be that Filipinos just avoid talking about these experiences?

All in all, Mrs. Bryne’s Dictionary is a good find and it would make a fine addition to my home library. I’m adding this to my wish list.

Tirang Adobo (Revision 1)

Many thanks to Jenn’s comments, I present to you my first revision of “Tirang Adobo”:

Akin na lang ang tirang
adobo at supot ng
kaning bahaw. Ang limang
anak ay nag-aabang.

2:47 AM 7/4/2006

English translation:

Spare me this left-over
adobo and parcel of
stale rice. My five
children are waiting.