The Greatest Filipino Poets
Learn More from the Past History of these Great Filipino Poets
Filipino poetry usually speaks about various topics in life, love, friendships and socio-political awareness. It is originally written in a long passages in Spanish and Tagalog (Philippines' national language) and some that are translated into English later on in the history of Philippine literature.
I personally love these kind of poetry because it does expresses a sense of simplicity and appreciation towards a commoner's life in the times of colonial occupation in the Philippines. As well as it depicts the author's deep love for the country and the Filipino culture. This lens is my tribute to these amazing Filipino poets, I've included a sample poem of their work, web resource links and a brief biography.
Photo Courtesy of kahimyang.info
Books about Philippine Poetry
Jose Rizal
One of my Favorite Hero
Mi Ultimo Adios (Spanish Translation)
Jose Rizal y Alonso
Adios, Patria adorada, region del sol querida,
Perla del Mar de Oriente, nuestra perdido Eden!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera mas brillante, mas fresca, mas florida,
Tambien por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien.
En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio
Otros the dan sus vida sin dudas, sin pesar;
El sitio nada importa, cipres, laurel o lirio,
Cadalso o campo abierto, combate o cruel martirio,
Lo mismo es si lo piden La Patria y el hogar.
Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora
Y al fin anuncia el dia tras lobrego capuz;
Si grana necesitas para tenir tu aurora,
Vierte la sangre mia, derramala en buen hora
Y dorela un reflejo de su naciente luz
Mis suenos cuando apenas muchaco adolescente,
Mis suenos cuando joven ya lleno de vigor,
Fueron el verte un dia, joya del Mar de Oriente
Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,
Sin ceno, sin arrugas, sin mancha de rubor.
Ensueno de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,
Salud the grita el alma que pronto va a partir!
Salud! ah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vidda, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir.
Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar un dia
Entre la espesa yerba sencilla, humilde flor,
Acercala a tus labios y besa el alma mia,
Y sienta yo en mi frente bajo la tumba fria
De tu ternura el soplo, de tu halito el calor.
Deja la luna verme con luz tranquila y suave;
Deja que el alba envie su resplandor fugaz,
Deja gemir al viento con su murmullo grave,
Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave
Deja que el ave entone su cantico de paz.
Deja que el sol ardiendo las lluvias evapore
Y al cielo tornen puras con mi clamor en pos,
Deja que un ser amigo mi fin temprano llore
Y en las serenas tardes cuando por mi alguien ore
Ora tambien, Oh Patria, por mi descanso a Dios!
Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura,
Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual,
Por nuestros pobres madres que gimen su amargura;
Por huerfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura
Y ora por ti que veas tu redencion final.
Y cuando en noche oscura se envuelva el cementerio
Y solos solo muertos quedan velando alli
No turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio
Tal vez acordes oigas de citara o salterio,
Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que the canto a ti.
Y cuando ya mi tumba de todos olvidada
No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,
Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,
Y mis cenizas antes que vuelvan a nada,
El polvo de tu alfombra que vayan a formar.
Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido,
Tu atmosfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzare,
Vibrante y limpia nota sere para tu oido,
Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido
Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fe.
Mi Patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,
Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adios.
Ahi, the dejo todo, mis padres, mis amores.
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
Donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios.
Adios, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mia;
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso dia.
Adios, dulce extranjera, mi amiga, mi alegria!
Adios, queridos seres. Morir es descansar.
Artwork by Alvaro Jimenez
Artwork by Alvaro Jimenez
Interesting Book about Jose Rizal
A Tribute to My Town - Jose Rizal
Translated from Spanish by Nick Joaquin
When I remember the days
that saw my early childhood
spent on the green shores
of a murmurous lagoon;
when I remember the coolness,
delicious and refreshing,
that on my face I felt
as I heard Favonius croon;
when I behold the white lily
swell to the wind's impulsion,
and that tempestuous element
meekly asleep on the sand;
when I inhale the dear
intoxicating essence
the flowers exude when dawn
is smiling on the land;
sadly, sadly I recall
your visage, precious childhood,
which an affectionate mother
made beautiful and bright;
I recall a simple town,
my comfort, joy and cradle,
beside a balmy lake,
the seat of my delight.
Ah, yes, my awkward foot
explored your sombre woodlands,
and on the banks of your rivers
in frolic I took part.
I prayed in your rustic temple,
a child, with a child's devotion;
and your unsullied breeze
exhilarated my heart.
The Creator I saw in the grandeur
of your age-old forests;
upon your bosom, sorrows
were ever unknown to me;
while at your azure skies
I gazed, neither love nor tenderness
failed me, for in nature
lay my felicity.
Tender childhood, beautiful town,
rich fountain of rejoicing
and of harmonious music
that drove away all pain:
return to this heart of mine,
return my gracious hours,
return as the birds return
when flowers spring again!
But O goodbye! May the Spirit
of Good, a loving gift-giver,
keep watch eternally over
your peace, your joy, your sleep!
For you, my fervent pryers;
for you, my constant desire
to learn; and I pray heaven
your innocence to keep!
Jose Rizal Links
- Jose Rizal Website
Information about the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal. - Jose Rizal - Biography and Works of the Philippine Hero
A comprehensive online reference on Dr. Jose Rizal, national hero of the Philippines. Includes biography, life, works, photos, and other related resources. - Filipino Online - The Filipinos Online Community is a webring to gather all websites made by Filipin
Filipino Online,The Filipinos Online Community is a webring to gather all websites made by Filipino. You don't have to be in the Philippines as long as you are a Filipino. Personal and Commercial websites are Welcome
Jose Garcia Villa Links
- National Artist - Jose Garcia Villa
Jose Garcia Villa is considered as one of the finest contemporary poets regardless of race or language. - Jose Garcia Villa: Filipino writers, their lives, their work (PinoyLit)
Write-up on filipino poet Jose Garcia Villa. - Interview with Jose Garcia Villa
Students read the interview with Garcia Villa and answer questions.
Interesting Book about Jose Garcia Villa
Jose Garcia Villa
Lyrics 18
from Jose Garcia Villa 55 Poems
Be beautiful, noble, like the antique ant,
Who bore the storms as he bore the sun,
Wearing neither gown nor helmet,
Though he was archbishop and soldier:
Wore only his own flesh.
Salute characters with gracious dignity:
Though what these are is left to
Your own terms. Exact: the universe is
Not so small but these will be found
Somewhere: Exact: they will be found.
.
Speak with great moderation: but think
With great fierceness, burning passion:
Though what the ant thought
No annals reveal, nor his descendants
Break the seal.
Trace the tracelessness of the ant,
Every ant has reached this perfection.
As he comes, so he goes,
Flowing as water flows,
Essential but secret like a rose.
Bienvenido Lumbera
Sadness
Sweet little songs I make,
Tunes so pure and full of love.
When lovers are timid and mute,
I give them voice, I make them bold.
Once I bid a word to come
And help me put together a poem.
From far and near, from wherever,
The word brought the poem warmth.
Each word I painstakingly refine,
And I wash the impoverished tongue.
I soothe and salve the cry of pain,
I banish any trace of tears.
But sadness I cannot send away—
Its little waves lap and leave,
Lap and leave the shore of the heart,
This moment a whisper, next a storm.
Servant - by Bienvenido Lumbera
On the shut door of the mind
We knock, we of soul and body torn;
We who serve and are ignored,
Broken into pieces to be of use.
Our heads nod, our arms lift,
Our feet are quick, our faces turn:
We scatter our parts to the beck
And call of those higher than us.
Deep within, we have a name,
A story to tell. Against a harsh life
We've put up a fight, only
To end up with a servant's life.
We serve the strong, we are
Feet and arms wanting to climb,
Heads and faces used to fool the law,
Will we be whole again tomorrow?
Up ahead the new day shines,
The change-of-fate we seek-
Then we shall rise again,
With our names and bodies back.
Bienvenido Lumbera Book on Amazon
Bienvenido Lumbera Links
- Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation - Awardees
Few cultures in Asia have been so profoundly affected by contact with the West as that of Filipinos. Spaniards and Americans brought to the islands, among other things, their own languages and literary forms. While Filipinos rejected some foreign ele
Jose Corazon de Jesus
Itanong Mo Sa Bituin (Ask the Stars)
Isang gabi'y manungaw ka. Sa bunton ng panganorin
ay tanawin ang ulila't naglalamay na bituin;
Sa bitui'y itanong mo ang ngalan ng aking giliw
at kung siya'y magtatapat, ngalan mo ang sasabihin.
Ang bitui'y kapatid mo. Kung siya ma'y nasa langit,
ikaw'y ditong nasa lupa't bituin ka ng pag-ibig;
dahil diya'y itanong mo sa bituin mong kapatid
kundi ikaw ang dalagang minamahal ko nang labis.
Itanong mo sa bitui't bituin ang nakakita
nang ako ay umagahin sa piling ng mga dusa;
minagdamag ang palad ko sa pagtawag ng Amada,
ngunit ikaw na tinawag, lumayo na't nagtago pa.
Jose Corazon de Jesus Links
- Himig | Features
- Jose Corazon de Jesus Biography
A Brief Biography of Jose Corazon de Jesus also known as Huseng Batute. - Jose Corazon de Jesus | Filipino Poets | Philippine Literature
Tagalog poems by acclaimed Filipino poet Jose Corazon de Jesus, whose pen name was Huseng Batute. His most famous poem is Bayan Ko.
Jose Corazon de Jesus Books
Cirilo Bautista
Pedagogic
Cirilo Bautista
I walked towards the falling woods
to teach the trees all that I could
of time and birth, the language of men,
the virtues of hate and loving.
They stood with their fingers flaming,
Listened to me with a serious mien:
I knew the footnotes, all the text,
my words were precise and correct-
I was sure that they were learning-
till one tree spoke, speaking in dolor,
to ask why I never changed color.
Cirilo Bautista Links
- National Artist - Cirilo F. Bautista
Cirilo F. Bautista is a poet, fictionist and essayist with exceptional achievements and significant contributions to the development of PH literary arts. - Cirilo F. Bautista
Lovers of literature, welcome to the website of Cirilo F. Bautista! - About Dr. Cirilo Bautista
About Dr. Cirilo Bautista Biography..
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© 2011 NAIZA LM
The Greatest Filipino Poets Comments
Charito Maranan-Montecillo from Manila, Philippines on December 03, 2013:
Mabuhay! I'm Ms. Charito from Manila, Philippines! Thanks for posting this lens about our Filipino writers! Let the world know more about them.
Diva2Mom on December 30, 2012:
Great job! IThank you so much for fabulously putting this lens together for any pinoy or pinay like me who may need to brush up on knowledge about the Filipino Poets. I honestly only knew Jose Rizal prior to reading your lens, so thank you so much for introducing them to me. Fabulously-BLESSED by a little Squid Angel. God bless you dear Naiza! Advance happy new year! Huge hug and muah!
kcsantos on December 27, 2012:
Thanks for sharing this lens. I'm really proud of the Philippine literary scene, and I really admire these Filipino poets.
Aunt-Mollie on December 25, 2012:
I very much enjoyed reading the poems that you selected. I haven't read these before. Liked!
RandySturridge on December 05, 2012:
Greatly enjoyed these poems...wonderfully crafted. I just started on squidoo and have just one lens "my poetry corner" If you ever have a second do drop by I would love to hear what you think of my poetry so far and any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Again great poems
TACTCI LM on October 26, 2012:
Philippines has produced so many talented people that are ever increasingly getting recognized. Great lens.
GeekGirl1 on October 18, 2012:
wow, never knew that there were so many interesting Filipino poems! very informative lens!!
SquidCrew1 on October 05, 2012:
Mabuhay!
Hearty Cindy Penaranda from Ormoc City on July 23, 2012:
another great lens by you Naiza!
