The quest of every heart — for a measure of happiness and security in the noisy confusion and pressure of today’s world, against the great canvass of economics and politics and far-reaching world affairs — makes us long for warmth, tenderness, understanding, kindness, love and affection.
For all these seem to be strangely out of time in this jambled age in which we live.
However, on a recent weekend at the Philippine Consulate, a unique event came — a delightful treasure of verses, mingled in poems of love and friendship, home and family, youth and age, faith, reflections and contemplation (even humor) to suit out every taste and mood!
There were poems which evoked wonderful memories (inspiration, solace, hope and cheer) to a hundred or so audience of Hasaan ng Tulaan — a brainchild of Vics Magsaysay and four fellow artists: Jess Espanola, Matt Relox, Raffy Maniago, Tony Berango, and directed by Bernardo Bernardo.
The audience’s overwhelming response to poetry and its power to soothe, comfort, uplift and gain a better understanding of the value of life was the night’s essence.
Jess Espanola: Ang Hindi Lumingon sa Pinanggalingan, Hindi Makararating sa Paroroonan
For Jess Espanola, it is about his conviction. He believes that there is an urgent need for people to find something to believe in — something that would sustain them in times of trial and crisis; something that would take a person out of himself and make him identify with a life larger and beyond himself, as well as make him trace his roots.
Vics Magsaysay: Sakit ng Kalingkingan, Sakit ng Kabuuan
Magsaysay’s poetry looks into the heart of things, strengthens our interest in human nature, elevates the drooping spirit, intensifies our aspirations toward the good and the beautiful and raises the beautiful level of our lives by being able to see the essentials of life more clearly.
“Pain of the little finger, pain of the whole body,” said it all.
Rafael Maniago: Yesterday and Today
Maniago’s Yesterday and Today speaks about the lure of distant shores and how saddening it is.
Machinery has been developed to give us abundance, but it has also left us wanting.
Knowledge has made us more cynical; cleverness has made us hard and unkind.
What humanity needs, more than machinery, is kindness and gentleness — far more than cleverness.
Matt Relox: Riches and Venom
In life, the quest of every heart is for a measure of happiness and security.
But the great secret is in finding some philosophy to sustain us, in times of trouble and disappointment. Not losing a real sense of the meaning and purpose of life; having faith in life’s essential worthiness. In these days of general worldly unrest and economic stress, patience and strength of mind, tenderness and consideration are crucial.
Tony Berango: Loving relationships have a cycle
Over the years, Berango’s love poems have expanded to encompass nearly every kind of relationship, at every level of intimacy — not only lovers and sweethearts, friends and family (his favorite is his mother–in-law).
He acknowledges and celebrates the bond of love and affection with one another.
What is there to prevent me, from admiring these five makatas (poets)?
They have this in common: they rendered perfectly and completely that aspect which they set out to render; and each expressed what he wishes to explain — with exactness and nothing else beyond.
Mabuhay at maraming salamat po!
