Ni SAM PO
Hindi naisulat sa museo
Ang ‘yong ngalan,
Walang tropeo
Na maigagawad
Maaring walang magmamartsang
banda
Ang sayo’y maghahatid
Upang mamaalam
Maaring mapanglaw
Ang ilaw ngayong gabi.
Sa kabila ng kasalatan
sa lahat ng yan
Itong tiyak,
Para sa tulad mong anak ng bayan.
Isang taas kamao
Ang sayo’y igagawad
Ang ‘yong ngalan
Ay idadakila,
Gaya ng sayo’y nauna
Laksang masa
ang mapasahuling hininga’y
iyong minahal.
Pinakamamahal.
Ang maghahatid sa’yo
Sa patutunguhan.
Sing ningning ng bagong sikat
Na araw sa mapulang silangan
Ang sa’yo,
Sa ami’y gagabay
Ang tugma’t sukat na ‘yong alay
Ang patuloy na mabubuhay
Itatanghal.
Isusulat.
Ilalathala.
Siyang butil na magsisibol.
Magmumulat
Ng marami pang
Manlilikha ng kasaysayan
Pagkat gaya ng kanilang
Tinuran,
Simbigat ng bundok tay
Ang ‘yong buhay.
Mabuhay ka, Alex
I always open my Bulatlat emails very late. And today I was shocked to learn that Alexander Martin Remollino is dead.
I never knew him–only through Bulatlat pages. When I started to become a Bulatlat subscriber in 2004 or 2005, the first thing to catch my attention was his very name–Alexander Martin Remollino. Maybe because his name was strikingly impressive enough and to think that his work predominated the Bulatlat pages then. His insights were so rich and his writing style revealed a lot about his prowess.
I could only say to myself then: "Ang galing siguro ng taong ito, kahanga-hanga." And to think that he belonged to the alternative press and he was that courageous enough to stick to this kind of work without, I guess, any qualms on the very danger it always posed to him and his family.
And now I saw his pictures and I said to myself: "Pamilyar mukha nya…"
Alexander was so young to die, but on hindsight, it was all worth it–all for the people he had patriotically chosen to serve.
Mabuhay ka!