Mr. Antonio M. Peña is a trilingual writer: in English, Pilipino and Kapampangan. Literary Awards accorded to him: a) First Place in the Tagisan King Poesia at the Bayview Park Hotel, Roxas Blvd., Manila hosted by Gawad Komisyon 2007, Republika Ng Pilipinas. where he introduced a couple of poetic genres: Tanka and Haiku in the vernacular literature; b) Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award 2007 (MOKA) – Culture & the Arts at San Fernando City, (Pampanga, Philippines).
The redeeming literary significance of his pen is to resuscitate back to life his dying language. His K-poetry is a galvanizing medium, a mighty weapon battling the lingual windmills creeping fast the Kapampangan nation.
Metamorphosis
some parts of me i lost and shed
when i plucked you a thornless rosebud
and listening from what you have left unsaid
our communion was a mistake sanctified!
let this delicate secret settle and die
calmly to its terrestrial repose then i
to the next eternity will bravely seek
to forgive myself including yourself!
very soon i will be free enough
for these fast growing wings to flap
and fly me to a higher interlude
of space and time: the flesh is made Word!
“Metamorphosis” expresses a transition, a transitus between two eternities: from man’s terrestrial tenure as the alpha to his final celestial abode as the omega. The poem likewise impresses a translation from the mortal, physical and superficial to the eternal, ethereal and supernatural. Ultimately, the poem elevates man’s mortality (the flesh) to a higher level of being, to divinity (the Word).
Pampango translation:
Pamibayung Anyo
kakung kalamanan wa mitalabu ya
kanitang nagtal ke ing buku ning rosa
matining dimdam ku ing piping-usal mu
pamisanmetung ta meging kasalanan
dapot kakambal ne ing kapatawaran!
paburyan mu ining maselan tang lihim
keti sulip magkera’t paynawang t’yimtim
kaybat angga king tutuking alang-anggan
masinup keng panintunan at tuntunan
patawad kanaku at keka mu naman!
e binang maglambat, lubus nakung m’kabyus
mabilis no sigpo malutub kung bagyus
king karinan matas sulapo da naku
king lawig at labwad: Katawan kung tau
……………………… magi yang Amanu!
BAYUNG PARADISO
Busni me ing pasbul
mulugud a Pastul
kening kaladwa kung
sasyo’t magbitawul
manintun salilung
at mapaling kalung
bale a tuknangan
kanakung payntunan.
Dinan mukung katubale
tanggap kaku masalese
makabusni pusu
k’ning karinan kalulu’
malwalas pamisip
makabuklat gamat
pati kule balat
luguran ne salat.
King bayung Paradiso ibulus muku
na alang mansanas ampo nang ubingan
hubad a marine e dapat tabingan
ala nang tuksu, ala nang manuksu.
King bayung Paradiso
ala nang luwal prodigai
king bakud ning kural
makasulsi ne’ing busbus
makasalbag ne’ing basbas
ning tukud ning Pastul ning Guino!
THE NEW PARADISE
(ArtDax Translation)
Open the door
Oh loving Shepherd
for my lost and forlorn soul
It moans and cries
looking for shelter
Your abode will make it whole
Give me new friends
Who will take me in
Who have goodness in their heart
And strenght to love
all their fellow men
and make each Sheep of Yours a part
Set me free in the new paradise
devoid of an evil serpent
though bare I’ll be
all my days there
will forever in goodness spent
In the new paradise
The fence is secure
So only goodness will be stored
and the holly staff
will spread the blessings
of the Shepherd of the Lord.
BULUNG
tinggal tunggal
telangan tengalan
alang kapatad-patad
aldo’t benging mengalagas
malambat nang mitabugan ambun!
kaybat alang kampamun-pamun
tebiling banayad ing maskup
at maluwat nang kawat king
sangang keya masinup kinupkup
king napun nng meyampun!
miduyan-duyan yang
inatad labul ning angin
menibat ulap babo
angga lalam impun
mau king uma
e ya mipakaling gagagad
manenaya king mapaling
kaul ning gabung ibatan!
uling karin ya magpiyak
at magkerang tayimik
balabalan ne’t dasayan
ing malwalas a kandungan
anggang manusbung pasibayu
ing menabung abung bulung!
(The English title is “Leaves.” We have no English translation at this time)
