Jay M. Pascual

This poem was written by my friend George T. Calaor.  George is the current Secretary General of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance)in Aklan. George has a very colorful life, and not all of them are bright.  We shared many glooms and dark moments. I am reprinting this poem coz I find it lyrically beautiful. I'm going to translate this to English and post it later.  I hope you enjoy this poem: Sa mukha ng kawalang ngalang pag-ibig Ni: George T. Calaor Makiulayaw ka sa tibok ng puso     ng mga tagapaglikha ng kasaysayan... naroon lang ako’t naghihintay sa init ng iyong pag-anib Usalin mo ang bawat pintig sa dibdib     na kay laon nang iginapos sa tanikala ng pagkadukha     ako’y naro’n lang... dasal ay kalayaan Isatinig mo ang mga hiyaw ng damdaming     hitik sa pag-asam lubusang maangkin     ang dalisay-na-laya ng pagkatimawa ...

Today is the 106th birthday of my favorite Lola, Lola Nena.  I am posting here a reprint from our Martin Clan Book about Lola Nena. Lola Nena died when I was in 4th grade, that was way back in 1984.  But I always have vivid memories of her (Lola Nena always cooked sweet delights for us)  Here's the reprint I'm talking about.  I think this was written by my cousin Mayo Uno and his Tatay, my favorite Tito Boy. (Excerpts from the Martin-Teodoro Aklat Angkan...): NENA Jesusa was born on January 19, 1903 in Tondo, Manila . Like Dominador, she was the youngest of two children by Santiago Naguit Teodoro ("Iliong") of Bulacan and Elena dela Cruz ("Enang") of Tondo. The eldest was Sergio ("Ikong"). Jesusa was only six when her mother passed away so her aunt Petra ("Pitang"), sister of her father, brought up the two children up. Santiago 's second wife, Leonora Pantanilla ("Nena"), produced six more children:...