This is a poem written in Filipino by Nemie G. Villanueva, the sixth child of Emilia G. Villanueva. It is a posthumous birthday gift for a beloved mother -- the kindest, most caring, most loving and greatest mother in the whole world! She would have been 93. She passed away in 2003 at the age of 87 after being bedridden for 4 years and 8 months due to a heart attack.
Of all her children she used to say Nemie was the quietest and was never precocious during his growing years. As an adult Nemie usually kept to himself and was rarely verbally expressive of his thoughts and feelings and characteristically avoids "drama" and "corny" stuff. This poem? Our family consider it BIG DEAL! And we rejoice with him as we remember and celebrate the life of our everdearest Nanay on her 93rd birthday on May 30th.
To the rest of the Villanueva family, may the power of Nanay's memory and love bind us closer together as she would have wished!
"NANAY"
Sa iyong kaarawan
Aking iaalay
Isang ala-alang
Aking naranasan
Mula nang ako'y isilang sa mundong ibabaw
Isang espesyal na pagmamahal aking naramdaman
Sa aming payak na inang pinakamamahal
Buong buhay nya'y kanyang inialay
Sa twing aking maiisip panahong nagdaan
Bagama't salat at hirap sa buhay
Naroon ang ligayang aming naramdaman
Sa piling ni nanay na aming minamahal
Bukid at kaingin kanyang pinuntahan
Upang manganihan ng palay na yaman
Di nya alintana ang hirap at pagal
Makapag-uwi lang ng aming sa pamilya'y bubuhay
Sa bawat problemang aming naranasan
Lagi syang nandoon at handang dumamay
Hindi sya titigil, hanggang malampasan
Problemang sa ami'y nagdulot ng lumbay
Dumating ang sandaling kami'y nagkawalay
Nagkaroon ng pamilya mga anak na mahal
Ang lahat ng suporta'y kanyang ibinigay
Maging moral man o mahalagang bagay
Mula sa kanya, nakita ko't naramdaman
Ang pagmamahal, kailanma'y di kayang pantayan
Ng kahit na sino at ilan man
Ang inang aming minahal sa mundong ibabaw
Maligayang bati sa iyong kaarawan
Aming inang laging minamahal
Kailanma'y di mawawala, aming natutunan
Sa iyo nanay, na pumatnubay.
"Happy Birthday!"
As I read this poem I feel genuine love and great admiration of a son for his mother. I sense openness and vulnerability that probably only a mother can uncover in a man.
ReplyDeleteI wish more men will be as expressive of their thoughts and emotions as the writer, at least starting with their mothers.