HULYO UNO

By Galileo de Guzman Castillo[i]

 

Nang ang itim ay pinalitan ng pula

At nag-iwan nang ‘sang malalim na marka

Na siya namang nagsisilbing alaala

Para sa mga naiwan ni Ka Gloria

 

Sabay na bumuhos ang luha at ulan

Nagtatanong, sinong may pananagutan?

Nagpapalahaw, nasa’n ang katarungan?

Naghihinagpis, ito ba ang hantungan?

 

At sa paglipad ng mga puting lobo

Rinig ang panaghoy at pagsusumamo

Para sa hustisya at sa pagbabago

Harinawa’y matapos na ang kalbaryo!

 

Kahit pilit mang marahas na supilin

At ang mga mamamayan ay sindakin

At ang buhay ng kilusan ay kitilin

Babangong muli ang Barangay Lucanin!

 

Nang ang itim ay napalitan ng pula

At nag-iwan nang ‘sang malalim na marka

Na siya namang magsisilbing alaala

Ng kanilang pagpupunyagi’t pag-asa

 

 

FIRST OF JULY

(English translation[ii])

 

When black turned red,

A deep cut was embedded

In the memory of the beloved

That Ka Gloria had left behind.

 

The tears are rain, and rain are tears.

We ask, who shall be responsible?

We howl, we shall seek justice!

We grieve, should her life end like this?

 

When we release the white balloons,

They shall hear our cries and pleas.

We want change and justness,

And an end to these sacrifices.

 

But they'll continue with violence,

And force fear upon citizens,

To quell the people's struggles.

Yet, Lucanin folks shall always rise!

 

As black turned red,

It left a deep mark in memory,

And thus, we shall be reminded–

That onwards we fight steadfastly!

 


[i] The author would like to thank Maningning Miclat for the inspiration.

[ii] Originally written in Filipino. Translated to English by Clarissa Villasin-Militante.