Buhayin ang Tanaga!

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Tanaga Reflections

Here is one of many voices that speak of the motherland. It's a refreshing note that while in the past the Tanaga is used to speak of visions within a limited horizon of cultural ideas - now it can be used to talk about a more expansive set of views; views that include even the negative, the mundane, the hapless states, even a reflective concept on culture.

While I do not prefer to call upon negative cultural traits, as they may be all subject to historicity, there are many things that are often adjudged or misunderstood as negative traits of the Filipino Culture that cannot be discounted nor denied. Perhaps that sentiment is that which prompted Ruel Tan to write this piece:

I.

Sa dayuhang lupain
Lahat tayo’y magaling
Sa sariling sinaing
Halos walang makain

II.

Ga’no mo man kamahal
Ang lupaing tinamnan
Sa ibang lupang banal
Tingin duo’y putikan

III.

Ihambing mo sa hangin
Ang sipol mong mumunti
Lapatan man ng awit
Masahol pa sa pipit

IV.

Sa lupang pinagmulan
Masukal at magubat
Saan man ang hantungan
Dito ang tanging himlayan

- Ruel Tan, Philippines.

Some words from the Author:

Sa isang huntahan dito mahirap ipaglaban at ibahin ang tingin sa ating mga Pilipino ng mga dayuhan at mga kapatid natin sa SEA. Gaano man tayo kagaling sa ating trabaho, nakakapanghina ng loob kapag hindi mo maipaglaban ang sarili mong bayan. Minsan kasi totoo ang impressions nila.
posted by Jardine Davies @ 6:51 AM

1 Comments:

this blog is so god's gift to me... i need tanaga for my fil101..hehehe salamat! thankyou so much!
Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:02 PM  

Post a Comment