On growing up
Bayaang tumawa maghapon ang musmos,
Maikli ang araw.
Bayaang pumitas ng bituin ang musmos,
Maikli ang gabi.
Bayaang tumawid ng dagat ang musmos,
Maliit ang lupa.
Bayaang humalik sa langit ang musmos,
Maliit ang pisngi.
Bayaang maglaro mag-isa ang musmos.
Sa kanya ang mundo.
Bago s’ya hutukin ng sanlibong bagyo.
*excerpts from the poem Sa Templo Para Kay Ani Rosa Almario by Rio Alma, National Artist. from rockedphilippines.org
Let the child laugh all day,
The day is short.
Let the child reach for the stars,
The night is short.
Let the child cross the sea,
The earth is small.
Let the child kiss the sky,
The cheek is small.
Let the child play by herself.
The world is hers.
Before a thousand storms bend her.
I was in for a real talk today. More substantial than any I've ever had. It hurt, but it made sense and I understood it.
...like an initiation story. When a boy tries to go for his dream, but in the process, realizes how hard it is. So he settles for less, or for what he has. Or wait until he is capable of doing more.
For once, I'm letting the story speak for itself. It's the mystery that lingers, not the explanation.
Maikli ang araw.
Bayaang pumitas ng bituin ang musmos,
Maikli ang gabi.
Bayaang tumawid ng dagat ang musmos,
Maliit ang lupa.
Bayaang humalik sa langit ang musmos,
Maliit ang pisngi.
Bayaang maglaro mag-isa ang musmos.
Sa kanya ang mundo.
Bago s’ya hutukin ng sanlibong bagyo.
*excerpts from the poem Sa Templo Para Kay Ani Rosa Almario by Rio Alma, National Artist. from rockedphilippines.org
Let the child laugh all day,
The day is short.
Let the child reach for the stars,
The night is short.
Let the child cross the sea,
The earth is small.
Let the child kiss the sky,
The cheek is small.
Let the child play by herself.
The world is hers.
Before a thousand storms bend her.
I was in for a real talk today. More substantial than any I've ever had. It hurt, but it made sense and I understood it.
...like an initiation story. When a boy tries to go for his dream, but in the process, realizes how hard it is. So he settles for less, or for what he has. Or wait until he is capable of doing more.
For once, I'm letting the story speak for itself. It's the mystery that lingers, not the explanation.