Para Kay Alex *

September 8, 2010

by superadmin

Tribute to former IBON staff Alexander Martin Remollino, 33 | “Alex, you have to tone down for the kids,” his editor would admonish him. “Ma’am gusto kong tumula,” he would say.

Pinasulat kita
ng magasing pambata
pasimplehin mo lang ‘kako
nang malaman nila
ang ating rebolusyon,
gawin mong dahan-dahan
hakbang-hakbang,
baytang-baytang
nang matutunan nilang marating
ang kasaysayan.
Subalit pinili mong
maging makata,
at iguhit ang dusa at pasakit,
isabog ang kulay
ng poot at paghihimagsik,
sumungkit ng mga pangarap
at gawing buhay
ang ating pakikibaka.
Lampas man ito
sa pang-unawa ng mga paslit,
nag-iwan ka ng bagong henerasyon
ng mga makata para sa bayan
na patuloy na malikhaing
maglalarawan
ng ating mga hangarin.
Di ka man nagsulat
para sa mga bata
nag-iwan ka ng inspirayon,
at heto ako ngayon,
parang bata uli, gusto kong tumula.

Alexander Martin Remollino worked for a while with IBON Foundation. He was assigned to write journals for social studies for grade school and high school students – Sibika, Hekasi, Philippine Currents, Asian Currents, World Currents, Ekonomiks. He did not pass the evaluation. Alex did not have the pedagogy and writing style for children – he was an angry young man. “Alex, you have to tone down for the kids,” his editor would admonish him. “Ma’am gusto kong tumula,” he would say. Alex thus left IBON after six months – a mutual decision that up to this day IBON does not regret. Alex’s writing had developed so rapidly that only two years after he left IBON, when the institution launched the book “At Home in the World with Jose Ma. Sison” by Ninotchka Rosca, Alex was one of the reputable writers who gave their critical reviews.

Para sa Inyo, Mga Kasamang Kampyon ng Bayan
(Alay kina Alex at Ka Roda)

Kung papaano kayo umanib
Sa sanlaksang kandilang nagsaboy-liwanag,
Kung papaano kayo nakiguhit
Ng pagbabago na pluma ng taumbayan ang gamit,
Kung papaano kayo naghinagpis nang tahimik
Habang kung di nakangiti’t umaawit
ay mithiin ng mamamayan ang buong-tapang na inuusal…
Sa kabila ng pighati sa inyong pagpanaw,
kami’y nagpapasalamat
sa halimbawa, lakas at buhay na inyong ibinahagi
na sana’y aming madugtungan ng katumbas na sigasig.