Remembering Angel Lizardo Baltazar, on the first anniversary of his passing (10.02.04)

hi friends, the memory of my dad is strongly present to me these days. How time flies! On the 10th of February, our family will celebrate our "babang luksa" for my dad's passing. As the week begins, let me share with you this poem dedicated to St. Joseph. My dad was no St. Joseph, but he too was sooo quiet. Only God knows what thoughts streamed through my dad's mind every day that he lived.

Tanong sa Tahimik na Tatay
(o kung magdarasal kay San Jose ang magpapari)

Bakit kay tahimik
mong lalaki at kay maginoong
tinanggap ang gayong
alanganing sitwasyong
nasuungan ng katipan?

Bakit kay tahimik mong
asawa at tiyak maasikasong
umalaga sa buntis mong
kabiyak; buong-sabik sa 'yong
panganay ng kabanalan?

Bakit kay tahimik mong
tatay at pagsaksi mong
pipi at tiyak-tatag ng 'yong
puso ang naman n'yong
Loob na babata sa kahirapan?

Ginoong kay tahimik
ituro mo sa akin,
lakas ng payapang pananalig
na may katarungang kakabit.

Kabiyak na kaytahimik
ituro mo sa akin,
bisa ng pipi mong pag-ibig
ng 'di masalitang pagmamalasakit.

Tatay na kaytahimik,
ipakita mo sa akin,
loob na nililima't pinakisig
ng Salitang umaakit sa pagpapakasakit.

Ako man, Tata Jose,
sa 'ming mundong maingay at mahalay,
gusto ko ring maging tatay
ng mapagpala mong Panganay.

Bulagang, Heto Ako!

"bulagang, heto ako!," to steal from Apo Roque Ferriols' first philo class.
Posted by Hello

My last photo with my dad on his bday, 01.10.2003
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birth of a blog

hey, am new at "blogging," so bear with me. this is the birth of a new blog and with it a new blogger. just a way to channel some creative juices into some corner of the world wide web, and hopefully share something sensible and helpful to another person out there. let's hope this new baby reaches a ripe old age