Verses and music for National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – During rallies and other political gatherings, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera usually performs his poems. For a change, on his 80th birthday, the literary giant just listened and savored the verses sang and recited for him.

In the evening of April 11, loved ones and dearest friends celebrated Lumbera’s birthday in the garden of the Executive House of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus.

First to perform were members of the UP Singing Ambassadors with their versions of Filipino folk songs. The award-winning chorale later rendered a song written by Lumbera himself, with music by another National Artist Lucio San Pedro.

Marili Fernandez-Ilagan and other members of Tag-Ani Performing Arts performed indigenous music and dance.

Jesse Santiago’s performance, a witty composition about getting old, elicited laughter from the audience.

Dessa Rizalina Ilagan serenaded Lumbera with her version of Ugoy ng Duyan and Lukso ng Dugo, a theme song of the movie Sigwa, a political film written by her father Bonifacio Ilagan.

Ed Maranan, who won several Palanca awards, recited excerpts from his poem Sa Araw na ito, mga Larawan ng Luksa’t Lunggati. Maranan and Lumbera met in the 70s, working together in Panulat para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (Paksa).

“He is a pillar of Philippine literature, especially the literature of involvement,” Maranan said in Filipino.

Dr. Ed Clemente, one of the Board of Directors of the Center for People Empowerment and Governance (CenPeg), recalled that he first met Lumbera when he watched a play written by Lumbera during martial law. “The play was about the Philippine revolution but everybody who watched it knew it was also against the Marcos dictatorship,” Clemente said.

Aristotle Pollisco, popularly known as Gloc-9, performed his signature songs Upuan and Walang Natira. Lumbera’s grandchildren sang along with the rapper. Both songs depict poverty and social inequality.

Gloc-9 said he met Lumbera during one of his autograph signing sessions at the Eastwood. “It is heartwarming and very humbling to have met Tatay Bien,” Gloc-9 said.

The highlight of all the performances was the poem recited and written by Lumbera’s two grandsons.

Lumbera’s wife Cynthia or Shayne to close friends said the gathering is a dream-come-true for Lumbera who had wanted to celebrate his 80th birthday with his closest friends and colleagues from Paksa, Indiana University, UP and from the national democratic movement.

Smiling, Lumbera thanked his family and his guests.