Bonifacio@150: His Tagalog translation of Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios as published in 1905.

Today (31 August) is the closing day of the National Language Month, the 16th month-long celebration ever since Pres. F.V. Ramos declared August as the cited month on 15 January 1997.

The 1987 Constitution declares that the national language is Filipino, and that, "[a]s it evolves, is shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages (Art. XIV, Sec. 6)."  Our regional languages like Ilocano, Cebuano, etc. are defined as "the auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein (Art. XIV, Sec. 7)."

Of course, everybody knows that Filipino is Tagalog because this was chosen as the basis of the Tagalog-based national language in 1936.  It was renamed Pilipino in 1959, and restored as Filipino in 1987.  The Abakada alphabet (1940-1976) of 20 letters did not have the letter F.  Then Pilipino alphabet (1976-1987) had 31 letters, and F was one of the 11 new letters.  It stayed with the Modern Filipino alphabet (1987 to-date), which did away with the Spanish digraphs Ch, Ll and Rr.

We will not say anything about the recent language war regarding the move to change Pilipinas to Filipinas as the official version of Philippines.

It's clear that before 1936, there was no national language, no official alphabet, ergo, no writing rules.  In translating the national hero's My Last Farewell, for example, Andres Bonifacio wrote Tagalog words as he would in the Spanish manner: cruz instead of krus and words with ng had the Hispanic ñg. 

Rizal did not have a title for his last poem.  We're not sure who gave Pahimakas as title of the printed translation by Bonifacio in the Kalendaryong Tagalog ni Jose Rizal 1905 [1].

Below are photo-reproductions of the Pahimakas in two segments, followed each by their corresponding modern Filipino versions.

 HULING PAALAM [2]

Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam,
Lupang iniirog ng sikat ng araw,
mutyang mahalaga sa dagat Silangan,
kaluwalhatiang sa ami'y pumanaw.

Masayang sa iyo'y aking idudulot
ang lanta kong buhay na lubhang malungkot;
maging maringal man at labis ang alindog
sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog.

Sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis
ang alay ng iba'y ang buhay na kipkip,
walang agam-agam, maluwag sa dibdib,
matamis sa puso at di ikahahapis.

Saan man mautas ay di kailangan,
cipres o laurel, lirio ma'y patungan
pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan,
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng Bayan.

Ako'y mamamatay, ngayong namamalas
na sa Silanganan ay namamanaag
yaong maligayang araw na sisikat
sa likod ng luksang nagtabing na ulap.

Ang kulay na pula kung kinakailangan
na maitina sa iyong liwayway,
dugo ko'y isaboy at siyang ikikinang
ng kislap ng iyong maningning na ilaw.

Ang aking adhika sapul magkaisip
noong kasalukuyang bata pang maliit,
ay ang tanghaling ka at minsang masilip
sa dagat Silangan hiyas na marikit.

Natuyo ang luhang sa mata'y nunukal,
taas na ang noo't walang kapootan,
walang bakas kunot ng kapighatian
gabahid man dungis niyong kahihiyan.

Sa kabuhayan ko ang laging gunita
maningas na aking ninanasa-nasa
ay guminhawa ka ang hiyas ng diwa
paghingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.

Ikaw'y guminhawa laking kagandahang
akoy malugmok, at ikaw ay matanghal,
hininga'y malagot, mabuhay ka lamang
bangkay ko'y maisilong sa iyong Kalangitan.

Kung sa libingan ko'y tumubong mamalas
sa malagong damo mahinhing bulaklak,
sa mga labi mo'y mangyayaring ilapat,
sa kaluluwa ko halik ay igawad.

At sa aking noo nawa'y iparamdam,
sa lamig ng lupa ng aking libingan,
ang init ng iyong paghingang dalisay
at simoy ng iyong paggiliw na tunay.

Bayaang ang buwan sa aki'y ititig
ang liwanag niyang lamlam at tahimik,
liwayway bayaang sa aki'y ihatid
magalaw na sinag at hanging hagibis.

Kung sakasakaling bumabang humantong
sa krus ko'y dumapo kahit isang ibon,
doon ay bayaan humuning hinahon
at dalitin niya payapang panahon.


Bayaan ang ningas ng sikat ng araw
ula'y pasingawin noong kainitan,
magbalik sa langit ng buong dalisay
kalakip ng aking pagdaing na hiyaw.

Bayaang sino man sa katotong giliw
tangisang maagang sa buhay pagkitil;
kung tungkol sa akin ay may manalangin
idalangin, Bayan, yaring pagkahimbing.

Idalanging lahat yaong nangamatay,
Nangag-tiis hirap na walang kapantay;
mga ina naming walang kapalaran
na inihihibik ay kapighatian.

Ang mga balo't pinapangulila,
ang mga bilanggong nagsisipagdusa;
dalanginin namang kanilang makita
ang kalayaan mong ikagiginhawa.

At kung ang madilim na gabing mapanglaw
ay lumaganap na doon sa libinga't
tanging mga patay ang nangaglalamay,
huwag bagabagin ang katahimikan.

Ang kanyang hiwaga’y huwag gambalain;
kaipala'y marinig doon ang taginting,
tunog ng gitara't salterio'y magsaliw,
ako, Bayan yao't kita'y aawitan.

Kung ang libingan ko'y limot na ng lahat
at wala ng kurus at batong mabakas,
bayaang linangin ng taong masipag,
lupa'y asarolin at kahuya’y ikalat.


Ang mga buto ko ay bago matunaw,
mauwi sa wala at kusang maparam,
alabok na iyong latag ay bayaang
siya ang babalang doo'y makipisan.

Kung magkagayon ma'y, alintanahin
na ako sa limot iyong ihabilin,
pagka't himpapawid at ang panganorin,
mga lansangan mo'y aking lilibutin.

Matining na tunog ako sa dinig mo,
ilaw, mga kulay, masamyong pabango,
ang ugong at awit, paghibik ko sa iyo,
pag-asang dalisay ng pananalig ko.

Bayang iniirog, sakit niyaring hirap,
Katagalugan kong pinakaliliyag,
dinggin mo ang aking pagpapahimakas;
diya'y iiwan ko sa iyo ang lahat.

Ako'y patutungo sa walang busabos,
walang umiinis at berdugong hayop;
pananalig doo'y di nakasasalot,
si Bathala lamang doo’y haring lubos.

Paalam, magulang at mga kapatid
kapilas ng aking kaluluwa't dibdib
mga kaibigan, bata pang maliit,
sa aking tahanan di na masisilip.

Pag-papasalamat at napahinga rin,
paalam estranherang kasuyo ko't aliw,
paalam sa inyo, mga ginigiliw;
mamatay ay siyang pagkakagupiling!

References:

[1]  Pahimakas ni Dr Jose Rizal (Tinagalog ni Andres Bonifacio). Kalendariong Tagalog ni Jose Rizal 1905. Published by A.W. Prautch, 235 Sulumbayan Manila. 1-4. Retrieved from Biblioteca Digital Hispanica of the Biblioteca Nacional de Espana at  http://catalogo.bne.es/uhtbin/cgisirsi/0/x/0/05?searchdata1=bimo0001059016

[2]  Huling Paalam. Tagalog Lang at http://tagaloglang.com/Philippine-Literature/Tagalog-Poems/huling-paalam-ni-rizal.html

Social Media Power: The Revolt of the Filipino Netizens

This story and most of the accompanying pictures appeared as 'Filipino netizens revolt' in the 30Aug-05Sep 2013 issue of the FilAm Star, a news weekly in the Bay Area.

In an early evening TV newscast, I got the man's name as Dino Guevarra in an interview by a reporter. They are one of many families that joined the Million People March sa Luneta. This appeared in the front page of the cited FilAm Star issue.

It only took 10 days to mobilize Filipinos in the world wide web to march in protest against the misuse and abuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), popularly called pork barrel. This came in the wake of the exposé of a Php10-billion scam allegedly perpetrated by the company of Janet Lim-Napoles over the past 10 years involving the use of pork barrel funds for ghost projects.

Ito Rapadas, music production manager and a musical artist himself, started in all with his Facebook posting of August 16. 

“Nakakasawa na,” he said. “What we need is a MILLION PEOPLE MARCH by struggling Filipino taxpayers--a day of protest by the silent majority that would demand all politicians and gov[ernment] officials (whatever the political stripes, color they may carry) to stop pocketing our taxes borne out from our hard work by means of these pork barrel scams and other creative criminal acts. They don't want to investigate themselves, they remain relaxed and unperturbed because they believe it will die down in time. Let's make them feel that this time is different [be]cause we are all sick and tired of it! Pls. share if you agree!”

Peachy Rallonza-Bretaña picked it up immediately and suggested it be at the Luneta on August 26, Araw ng Mga Bayani (National Heroes Day), a national holiday in the Philippines, “[b]ecause we the taxpayers who pay our full taxes from our wages are the real heroes who should be heard by these Mafia senators and congressmen. We need this outrage, anger to reach critical mass. Spread the word. Repost.”

He may be innocent of what was going on around him.  Will pork barrel still be a hot issue in his time? I took this photo at the Gabriela group's area.

The digital ball started rolling/flying to all corners of the web, and pretty soon, memes, posters, slogans and calls for collective action sprouted in social media accounts of netizens: Facebook, Twitter, blogs and emails. Permit not needed, declared Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Overseas Pinoy netizens all over the world staged their versions of the Luneta Million People March in front of Philippine embassies and consulates (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London), and even in their work places (Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong), and shared them in real time via the social media with their fellow protesters in the homeland.  

A few of the many 'fashion'able protest statements on t-shirts.

There may not have been a million people who gathered in Luneta; about a 100,000, police authorities said.  But there were also marchers in towns and cities in Luzon (Olongapo, Baguio, Vigan), Visayas (Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo) and Mindanao (Davao, Zamboanga), and those who participated virtually through text links to their marcher friends and relatives.    

People gathered in front of the Quirino Grandstand, around the iconic Rizal monument, on the steps flanked by the carabao and tamaraw sculptures.

What mattered was that there was collective action by diverse groups even if there was no formal organizing party at all.  They came just the same to the historic Luneta passing by the giant statue of Lapu-Lapu, the busts of revolutionary heroes lining the parallel lanes leading to the iconic monument of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and gathered at designated places in front of the grandstand: individuals and families, young and old, Christians and Muslims, people with handicaps, students and teachers, workers, professionals and businessmen, priests and nuns, artists and celebrities, retired and current public servants, unaffiliated groups and, as expected, activist organizations. Someone called this the gathering of the new middle class.

'Makibaka, Huwag MagBaboy! Oink! Oink!' with clenched fists, thumbs down.

Many veterans of the EDSA revolts were around like Prof. Andy David, who, in an interview later in the evening, recalled that his 12-year old granddaughter inspired him to go to the March.  She asked if he's going, and that she would be going with him.  He remarked that he was astonished to find so many politically conscious young men and women at the Luneta event.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle joined the march and, according to reports, called the participants to be “guided by their conscience” and later led them sing “Pananagutan.”  We saw former Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona arriving with his family but we heard, he did not stay long because his presence was not exactly welcome. We listened to the venerable Sister Mary John Mananzan, OSB, calling also for the abolition of the president’s own pork barrel, the Php310-billion Special Purpose Funds.

Banners said it all, in words and graphics.

It was a peaceful gathering, more like a picnic of groups and individuals predominantly dressed in white or tee-shirts printed with anti-pork symbols or slogans.  Everyone was free to move around to read protest banners and manifestos, to sign petitions, to hop from one forum to another and listen to views of different speakers, to listen to various musical expressions accompanying calls for better governance—the sound of ram horns from a religious group, a reminder of the fall of Jericho; the buzz of butakas, bamboo clappers from the Cordilleras; the rhythm of kulintangs and gongs; a vintage Hagibis song transformed by singer Jograd dela Torre into the day’s theme song; and patriotic songs from activist groups.

More slogans.  I like the 'Porktang*na Nyo!' in the bottom picture.

 

Vendors also said their piece.

The Luneta event had shades of earlier people power movements.  Texts, tweets, blogs, Facebook messages replaced the Xeroxed protest papers; and the digital memes, slogans and posters were reminiscent of peryodikit clandestinely posted on walls during the repressive martial law years.

The venerable Sister Mary John Mananzan, OSB, veteran of the EDSA revolts, was in her usual well-known fighting mood. In another forum (right), an Atenean and a La Sallian took time for some jesting before they gave their anti-pork views.

The battle cry Makibaka, Huwag Matakot at the activist front during the First Quarter Storm became Makibaka, Huwag Magbaboy, at the Luneta mass rally.

Instead of Ibagsak!, the protesters shouted, Oink, Oink!, with clenched fists and thumbs down.

Going as far back as 1896, the day was when Andres Bonifacio and his fellow katipuneros cried in rebellion against the Spanish authorities.  The late noted historian Teodoro Agoncillo called that struggle the revolt of the masses.  

August 26, 2013 may be the beginning of the revolt of the netizens. They will keep vigilant watch on Malacañang and the lawmakers, on what they do and what they say in response to the demands voiced out in Luneta: abolition of the pork, and transparency and accountability in the investigation of the pork scam.

The President's Special Fund was not spared. These caricatures provided colorful political commentaries.

As we write this, a new call has appeared in Facebook: “Ituloy ang laban: MARTSA ULIT SA SEPTEMBER 21!” [Continue the fight: Let’s march again on September 21!”].  That’s the date when Marcos declared martial law.

Edible mushrooms and other macroscopic fungi in an urban housing village

Edible mushrooms growing on termite hills in an urban subdivision.

Folklore says that edible mushrooms sprout as soon as thunder and lightning start bringing in the rains in late May.  From our experience, they do start growing by the latter part of July, and the early morning rise to hunt for them continues till August.

We're speaking of mushroom hunting in an urban setting--our subdivision in Quezon City--where there are still plenty of vacant lots with termite hills. Time will come though when these hills would all be gone, and our edible mushrooms will just be part of our own urban culinary folklore.  Every now and then, new houses go up and these small hills are paved away. 

Our friend, Dr. Edwin R. Tadiosa of the Philippine National Herbarium, National Museum, an expert on macroscopic fungi, says they used to eat these mushrooms in his hometown province Quezon, which they call kabuteng punso (Tag.), scientifically known as Termitomyces albuminosa. The first name/genus is associated with termite nests. 

The edible mushrooms we savored in our hometown in Zambales were gathered from bamboo groves.  We Ilocanos simply call them oong. Their caps are not as firm as those of the kabute.  

Small mushrooms can be found everywhere.  Variety at left cling to dry stalks of grass.

These days, edible mushrooms are cultured.  Our cousin in the province grows the imported species, the oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) and button (Agaricus bisporus) mushrooms, in our yard, and we've allowed him to use our unoccupied house as his laboratory.  We buy fresh imported Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) from our favorite veggie vendor in the Sunday market, which we grill and mix with our Ilocano version of the ratatouille, the pinakbet.

There are other mushrooms we've found growing around. We don't gather them even if they look edible since they are not "odorous and colorful", reported qualities of poisonous species.  We also read that "metallic silver articles turn black in contact with the poisonous mushrooms," and "one can examine that the mushroom is poisonous or edible with the help of snails" because snails"do not eat poisonous mushrooms even by mistake." Until we know any better, we'd just stick to kabuteng punso.

Species found under the trees in Zambales.

There are other macroscopic fungi that we saw growing on tree trunks in our neighborhood.  Pretty soon too these would all vanish as old decaying tree stumps are hauled away or mature trees cut to give way to new houses. 

We are aware of the Ganoderma species because they are blended in one coffee product we tried selling years ago.  Another scientist friend says he is using this fungus in a research project.  Thus we went around our village to photograph species growing around for him to tell us which is his research subject.

Soon-to-vanish species clinging on tree trunks in the Quezon City subdivision.

On the other hand, Dr. Tadiosa and his teams had been studying fungal species around the country. So far, they have found, among others, --

• relatively high fungal species diversity at the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape in Batangas: 75 species belonging to 36 genera and 23 families;  
• new record fungal species, and one possible new species of the genus Hexagon among the 38 families, 68 genera, and 107 species with a total of 684 individuals in Bazal-Baubo Watershed, Aurora Province;
• twenty-seven species of macroscopic fungi belonging to fifteen genera associated with the decay of dipterocarps at Mt. Makiling, Laguna.

"Nowadays, fungal diversity in the Philippines is estimated as 3956 species and 818 genera ... [while] "[t]he estimated number of fungi in the world is 1.5 million and with only 120,000 so far reported," he says. 

He fears that many unreported fungal species in the country may vanish or become extinct because natural areas are being converted to housing subdivisions or commercial complexes.

References:

Ghosh, D. (2004, May).  Search for Future Viands.Algae and Fungi as Food. Resonance. Retrieved from http://www.ias.ac.in/resonance/May2004/pdf/May2004p33-40.pdf 

Tadiosa, E.R. (2012, Apr).  The Growth and Development of Mycology in the Philippines. Fungal Conservation issue 2. 

Tadiosa, E.R. & Briones, R. U. (2013). Fungi of Taal Volcano Protected Landscape, Southern Luzon, Philippines. Asian Journal of Biodiversity. 4(1).

Tadiosa, E.R., Militante, E.P., & Pampolina, N.M. (2012). Fungi Associated with Decay of Some Philippine Dipterocarps and Its Ecological Functions and Significance at Mt. Makiling, Laguna, Philippines. IAMURE: International Journal of Ecology and Conservation. 3(1).

Tadiosa, E.R., Agbayani, E.S., & Agustin N.T. (2011). Preliminary Study on the Macrofungi of Bazal-Baubo Watershed, Aurora Province, Central Luzon, Philippines. Asian Journal of Biodiversity. 2(1). 

Eid'l Fitr Festival 2013: understanding Filipino Muslim cultural heritage

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