NaNoPoblano 2022 (Ext.): I Joined a Video-Poem Marathon

#NaNoPoblano Day 10

Last December, I read a call for poets:

It sounded like a really relevant project. Naturally, I decided to join. I wanted to be a part of something this special, and I wanted to represent my country! Good thing that I already had a poem in mind, something that I also translated already. All I had to do was record.

Fast-forward to today. Well, actually, I posted about it on my Facebook writer’s page right before midnight here. I’ll just copy-paste, I hope you won’t mind.

HERE IT IS!!! I honestly did not expect to be included. Hoped, but did not expect.

For one, they already received so many entries when I submitted ON THE LAST DAY. I really forgot about recording it! So in the wee hours of the morning, I combed my hair well and let it down, powdered my face and put on a little lipstick (that’s my idea of wearing makeup), and prayed to God I looked decent enough.

I’m not into poetry-reading (and might never do it again), but this was required. I had to write down the poem because I hadn’t memorized it perfectly. Tried so hard not to be that obvious that I was reading it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t record using the preferred sizes but was told my output was okay.

So fast-forward to today. I followed/subscribed to them because I do want to check out the other entries. Most importantly, I wanted to see in case I got included. Guess what? After a few weeks, I FORGOT to check! I also wasn’t checking my notifications in my private account. I just happened to NOW. Guess what again–somebody ACTUALLY tagged me 2 days ago!

So yeah, here is my entry. Sorry in case it seems the voice is not in sync with my lip movements. Some may remember this poem. I’d like to say “Enjoy” but I don’t Know if you will, HA HA HAAA!!! That said, I’m really just glad to represent! I dunno yet if there are more Pinoys there (I won’t be surprised). Oh, and special thanks to Sir Santiago Villafania

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY!

HAPPY WORLD POETRY DAY!

MyPoem #FloresDeMayo #FlowersOfMay #Filipino #Tagalog #Poetry #SpokenWord #VideoPoem #TLRC #TranslationandLinguistic #PENInternational #InternationalMotherLanguageDay #WorldPoetryDay #IMLD2023

 

 

 

First Time Published: “SI DR. JOSE RIZAL”

Day 25 of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge, now a.k.a. “NaDePoblano” (heee….) . Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. New sub-theme: “First Published”. Related post: My Evolution as a Writer. Related page: Poetry Nook.

From Wikipedia

Before December 30 ends for everyone, I am sharing this poem for the first time ever. This was written, I believe, in June 2016, a tribute to our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. I know that he is well-known in other parts of the world, particularly in Europe. This was, actually, a school requirement when the eldest kid was in fourth grade, I think. I helped him write it….Okay, I wrote it. Writing is not the kid’s forte and he was too lazy to do it. So, yeah, Bad Mama. I have my own poem that I have been trying to finish for years, to be honest. I’ve promised myself to finish it in 2022.

Anyway, today is the death anniversary of Rizal. So this is quite timely. I will translate in English, but don’t take it as the official translation yet.

SI DR. JOSE RIZAL                                  

Si Dr. Jose Rizal                                        
Magiting na bayani                                  
Isang  tagapagligtas                                   
Ng ating lahi.                                           
Ibinuwis ang buhay                                   
Alay sa Inang Bayan                                 
Halimbawang tunay                                  
Katangi-tanging mamamayan.                  
Nais kong matulad                                   
Kay Dr. Jose Rizal                                      
Sinisimulan ko                                           
Sa mabuting pag-aaral.                              

DR. JOSE RIZAL

Dr. Jose Rizal
Was a brave hero
He was a Savior  
To the Filipinos.
He sacrificed his life
For the Motherland
A great example of
A model citizen.
I want to be like
Dr. Jose Rizal
From here on I focus
On lessons and good morals. 

Copyright © J.Gi Federizo

First Time It was Published: HULING SIGAW

Day 24 of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge, now a.k.a. “NaDePoblano” (heee….) . Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. New sub-theme: “First Published”. Related post: My Evolution as a Writer. Related page: Poetry Nook.

This is the first time I am sharing the poem here. However, the FIRST TIME IT WAS PUBLISHED was, of all things, in the official publication of the tertiary school I worked for. I don’t remember to whom I submitted it, but I know I asked if I could share a poem. The truth was I was not sure of my choice. I don’t remember why I chose it among all my poems. I think it was because it had not been published anywhere yet. My worry was the sensitive topic of the poem.

This is HULING SIGAW or LAST CRY (“cry” here means scream). If anyone tries to understand it enough, this person will realize it is related to suicide. Related, but not about the act of committing suicide itself. I was referring to the act of writing the suicide note, one’s final goodbye, her feelings of hopelessness and personal grief…I was worried because the publication was to be distributed to the staff, faculty and alumni. I didn’t want them to think that sharing it was my own cry for help.

I was not suicidal when I wrote it. In fact, on the contrary. I was SMILING when I wrote it. I don’t remember what inspired me to do so. But I remember my excitement when I was creating it. Let me make it clear, though. I was/am NOT advocating suicide, I was/am NOT suicidal. I guess it’s similar to a screenwriter who gets inspired writing a horror movie. He doesn’t necessarily like horrific things. See the point?

Anyway, I’m glad I pushed through with it. It made me proud because Mrs. Consolacion P. Sauco, the Filipino Department Head, loved it! She told me so when she saw me. I was so happy because she happened to be a well-respected author who’s an expert in the Filipino language. I can’t find an actual biography of hers, but Googling her shows the various stuff she wrote or translated. For her to give me praise for what I wrote was really something!

For anyone who understands Filipino, here it is. I have been trying to translate it in English for years but I never get to finish because I never get satisfied. I promise to share the English version once I actually translate it completely….By the way, to be more specific, I was the Public Relations and Advertising Assistant. They most times never got that right.

Two-in-One Firsts: SA AKING PAGLISAN

Busy days!!! I’m going to have to post several times here to finish the challenge before the new year starts!

Day 23 of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge, now a.k.a. “NaDePoblano” (heee….) . Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. New sub-theme: “First Published”. Related post: My Evolution as a Writer. Related page: Poetry Nook.

From Clipart Library

Here’s the background: A friend’s brother was failing his Filipino subject. He was asked to make up for it. I’m not sure if it was the teacher’s idea, or my friend’s, or mine. But I helped create a special newsletter that he was to submit. Since I had creative control over it, I decided there ought to be a poetry section. Self-serving, of course, ha ha!

The thing was, the newsletter was in Filipino and I didn’t have a short-enough Filipino poem that had not been published anywhere. Therefore, I decided to complete the translation of a poem that I had been trying to do. The poem below was the product.  This was the FIRST TIME I TRANSLATED a poem, which happened to be mine. And tt was probably only the three of us and the teacher who saw the newsletter. So this is technically the FIRST TIME I AM PUBLISHING THIS.

The good thing is I don’t have to translate this for you. This is the Tagalog version of WHEN I’M GONE, which I already shared here.

First Time to Publish: “FAREWELL, ANGEL”

I know I said the other day that it was my anniversary at work. Sorry but I meant the next day, December 20. I forgot that most of you were still experiencing December 19. That said, I’ve been going through a lot of things and have been finding stuff that I can share here. Don’t be surprised if I post more than once in a day. Now on to the challenge!

Day 22 of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge, now a.k.a. “NaDePoblano” (heee….) . Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. New sub-theme: “First Published”. Related post: My Evolution as a Writer. Related page: Poetry Nook.

Back when I worked for a tertiary school, I met new people, my first friends out of college. One of them included me as one of her baby’s godmothers. Unfortunately, the baby was born with a Complex Heart Disease. She needed surgery, but it had to wait until she was a year old. It was very risky operating on Baby Pauline at such a young age, even at one.

During her young life, I saw her only once, maybe a day or two before her surgery. Her mother brought her to the office so we could see her. I remember her smiling. Her eyes were a-glow. It gave us a sense of hope that things were going to be alright…

After surgery, however, the results were not good. Our friends (mostly her godmothers, too) and I went to visit her at the hospital and we found out she was in critical condition. Pauline’s mother tried to let us visit the baby one by one, let us inside the room. I delayed my turn. I wasn’t ready yet. But after two or three people had their turns, we were not allowed by the hospital staff to see her anymore. Visitation hours were over. At that moment, I was, to be truthful, relieved. I dreaded seeing her frail little body stuck with various needles. I didn’t want to see her like that…I don’t remember anymore if she survived a few more days after that, or if it was just hours after. I just remember we were sad that a little one had to go so soon.

In hindsight, I don’t regret not seeing her at the hospital. Not at all. I thank the Lord that I have that memory of her smiling face to remember her by. In all honesty, it was a good, final memory.

That’s her in the photo above. The message was something I penned (not the song on the right, though), as requested by her parents. It was a kind of thank you card/letter for those who helped raise funds for the baby’s surgery. When Baby Pauline passed away, I created another piece, talking about her brief journey. They printed it out on another card, which they gave away to people at her wake.

The poem I am sharing was written for her months after. I don’t think I’ve ever published it anywhere. I Googled it verbatim, it didn’t come out. Checked my other blog, I did not see it either. So maybe it’s safe to say that today is the first time I am publishing this.

For Baby Pauline, in memoriam.

NOTE: Free use of flower image from Pixabay.com

“SANG-FROID”

Day 9 (for November 9) of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge, here we go! Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. Sub-theme: “10 of My Earliest Poems”. You can find more of my poems (written from high school up to, well, now) at the POETRY NOOK.

I decided to reblog this because I really like it. I’ve shared this in past blogs already and it’s been published somewhere else once or twice. I wrote this for the first ever writing group I was a part of.

The End Justifies the Journey

Copyright © J.Gi Federizo

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“REQUIESCAT IN PACE”

Day 8 (for November 8) of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge, here we go! Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. Sub-theme: “10 of My Earliest Poems”. You can find more of my poems (written from high school up to, well, now) at the POETRY NOOK.

I edited some parts of this. I deleted unnecessary commas, corrected grammar (although when it comes to poems, grammar is not a priority), and changed a line from Latin to English because I’m not confident my Latin was correct in the first place. I’ve published this several times before, in its original form. The only reason it took me this long to share it here was that probably-erroneous line.  This is the final version, I promise.

“AMBROSIA”

Day 7 (for November 7) of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge, here we go! Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. Sub-theme: “10 of My Earliest Poems”. You can find more of my poems (written from high school up to, well, now) at the POETRY NOOK.

I’ve decided to skip a poem or two, which topics is/are somewhat similar to the most recent ones. The Filipino/Tagalog ones, I will share some other time. This poem I am sharing, I especially like. I can definitely tell how much I grew as a poetry writer. I do realize that I write best when I am going through something. Full dislosure: I shared this before along with a “sequel” for another challenge. It’s also been published online before.

“FAR”

Day 6 (for November 6) of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge, here we go! Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. Sub-theme: “10 of My Earliest Poems”. You can find more of my poems (written from high school up to, well, now) at the POETRY NOOK.

I haven’t had time to translate my Filipino poems. I’m a bit disappointed because I think they are much better than my English ones. Anyway, until I am able to translate, I will post the English ones. Like this one.

“LOVE NOTES”

I said “no prob for NanoPob” the last time yet here I am, several days late. Nope, not about to give excuses. I’d rather concentrate on completing my promised output. Forgive me for I’ll post several times today to make up for lost days. Again, more page edits later. I’ve also visited only one blogger so far.  I’m late but it doesn’t mean I won’t do it. I like reading other people’s stuff.

So now, we’re at Day 5 of the #NaNoPoblano2021 challenge. Major Theme: “A Few of My Earliest Things”. Sub-theme: “10 of My Earliest Poems”.  This poem was my attempt at “explaining” what love notes are. I was fresh out of  high school and, honestly, not the type guys would send love notes to. But for some reason, I found writing about love the easiest thing to do when it came to poetry. I guess I still do that’s why I hardly write them anymore. I value more substace now in my writing as an adult. A little trivia: I had crushes and infatuations before, but again, to be honest, it would take me more than half of my lifetime before I ever fell in love, for real.

That said, for more samples of my more adult poetry (hey, it’s not what it sounds like!), you can find them at the POETRY NOOK.