Nasaan Ka Bayan Ko (Where art thou my native land?)
28th October 2006
www.sentidokomon.com ‘Life is common sense’ is giving way to a poem composed in Filipino language which termed ‘tula’ by contributor Carmen Dolores Brazan B. Llauderes. It speaks of someone who have decided to leave the Philippines to work abroad bringing the promise of a good future but instead ended up in a foreign jail. The poem cries out in pain for help from the Philippine government. With my recent rounds to Nicosia and Limassol jails, I saw lots of supposed OFWs there, and I know this runs true too in other countries where some Filipino nationals have aspired to get a better life but unfortunately they have landed in prisons. Indeed, such is reality. Lots of different criminal cases these OFWs are facing and I know from their hearts they are asking the same question: Nasaan ka bayan ko? (Where art thou my native land?) – By Joy B. Miranda
Nasaan ka bayan ko ako ngayo’y lumuluha
Dito sa piitan na aking kinahantungan;
Sa maling hinala ako’y kinasuhan
Nagnakaw daw ngunit kasinungalingan.
Nasaan ka bayan ko ako ngayo’y nagmamakaawa
Nawa’y iyong matulungan mabigyan ng katarungan
Upang makalaya at malinis ang pangalan
Nasaan ka bayan ko ako’y iyong kaawaan.
Ako’y pumalaot sa pangingibang-bayan
Dala-dala ang pangarap gumanda ang kinabukasan
Sapagkat sa lugar na aking pinanggalingan
Pagkasyahin ang kinikita ay may kahirapan.
Ngunit ano ngayon itong naganap?
Malaking bangungot na aking hinaharap
Bigyan mo ng pag asa na ako’y makakahanap
Ng tamang hustisya para maipagpatuloy naudlot na pangarap.
Heto ako ngayon taimtim na nananalig
Nawa’y itong tinig ay iyong marinig
At iyong patunayan ang iyong sinabi;
Filipino Overseas Worker ang Bagong Bayani!
Nasaan ka bayan ko, AKSYON ang kailangan,
Isipin mo ang aming kapakanan!
At alalahanin kami’y yaman ng bayan;
Nasaan ka bayan ko kami’y iyong DAMAYAN!
(By Carmen Dolores Brazan B. Llauderes)
Charismatic Renewal Family- Nicosia