Ani 33 Book Launch at CCP

I read the following poem and its English translation last night at the launching of the 20th anniversary issue of Ani. Other readers were CCP artistic director Fernando "Nanding" Josef, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan and Nestor Lucena of the CCP Library Division.

The Mumbaki (Say Mumbaki), Sons of Sisyphus (sonito 23), Swansong of the Sea (sonito 249), Caboloan and Bonsaic Verses were included in the said anthology.

Say Mumbaki

sinmayaw na tagam
ya akaarap ed taoen
akadepa ira’y lima ton singa payak na agila
ibabalikas to ira’y bando ed lingguahi
da’ra’y anito

say patok na gandang to
say padyak na sali to
agiing ira’y palandey

siopa’y oadman ya ondengel?
siopa’y oadman ya onnengneng?
saray ismiraldan pognel
ya akaalagey ed Pay-yo
a singa masubeg a hukbo’y Ifugao?

anganyaw ya alioan singa si arin Solomon
a sinmayaw ya angiter-dayew ed dyus to
anganyaw ya alioan singa pangolo da’ra’y Zulu
a sinmayaw ya angiter-galang ed inpanalo

anganyaw
ta pian napansiansia to ‘ra’y daan ya pugaro
ed pangamkam na onaaliguas iran baley

alageyan to’y dilin dalin
ibelyaw to’y dilin bakal
ed saray anghilis na panguman
tan say diablon manngara’y

aliguas


The Mumbaki

the beat of his gong
the stomp of his feet
stirred the mountains

who’s there to listen?
and who’s there to see?
the emerald stalks
standing still on the terraces
like a corps of Ifugao braves?

he dances not as King Solomon
had danced to praise his God
he dances not as a Zulu chieftain
had danced to celebrate his triumphs

he dances
to keep these ancient hills
from the conquering metropolis

he will hold his ground
he will wage his own wars
against the angels of change
against the devil named

progress