K-Balen! Talapangulis ning panawun

Talapangulis ning panawun
Neng Joel Pabustan Mallari



“e me alili ing Kapampangan… uling keng dapat na, keng obra na, keng pangatau na atin yang lelaman a pamangilala”

- Gregorio Bautista



Pilan pang Duminggu ing milabas anyang mewala ya bie ing metung karing malugud a gugusal keng marangle ning kalalangang biswal. Iya ing meangubieng I Gregorio Bautista ning Lungsud Angeles. I “Goryu” o “kong Gerry” karing makakilala kaya, metung ya karing asyas ning matwang agumang “Pampanga Arts Guild” na bantug e mu keti Kapampangan nunge pati na kng Menila at abrod. Ketang panawun a mabye ya pa, metung ya karing matalik sinuyu para keng panyulung ning kalalangang-biswal Kapampangan kayabe dng aliwa pang kayanib ning mesabing aguman. Bista man at e pa mikasariling art exhibition, maralas nemang kayabe kanita karing miyaliwang group art shows. Katunayan, maging ketang tawling "Philippine Art Awards" - metung pretihiyosung ligligang pambangsa, metung ya karing menimunang sinuporta at mikyabe kaniti. Deng obra na, meturingan la ketang istilung “junk art” anti la mong babye kapanayan e mu kng mensayi dng balang kalalangan a gewa na nunge papakit na pang masala ing pamangamit na karing bage recycled. Anti itang obra nang “Pekat-pekat”, iti gawa ya karing dakal at miyaliwang pigamitan a paketi at suput a plastik na pigtiagan nang pinekat metung-metung.



Ketang milabas mung banwa, mapilan karing batukan a maglalang biswal deng miparangalan. Deti penimunan da la di tang Rafael B. Maniago bilang “Most Outstanding Kapmpangan” keng adle ning arte at kultura keta kng Kapitolyu Kapampangan, at I G. Willy Layug na tinanggap “Presidential Award of Merit” na pigkalub na pang mismu ning dating Presidenti Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo kaya. I “tang Raf “ o “Mang Paeng”, malambat neng pintor at meging bantug ya bilang oil portraitist nung nu mika-galleriya ya pa kanita kng Fil-Am Friendhip Hi-way ning Lungsud Angeles kng kapamilatan na naman nitang matwang pintor – I tang Frank Arcega. Iya ing meminta karing eganaganang portrait dng gobernador ning Pampanga na pakasabit keng gusali ning Kapitolyu. I kong Willy naman meging bantug yang eskultor lalu na ketang awsan dang ecclesiastical art keta kng distritu ning Betis, Balen Guagua. Dakal ne gewang mangalagung retablo karing miyaliwang pisamban keti Kapampangan at mabilug a bangsa. Katunayan, iya ing ginawa keng malagung central retablo ning Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angel ning Holy Angel University at metung ya karing mendukit at meg-restore ketang matwang relyebi nang Santiago na mayayakit ketang peka-pasbul entrad ning Fort Santiago ning Intramurus.



Metung pa karing bantug a pintor I tang Perfecto Mercado ning Capas, Tarlac. Metung ya karing sikat ngeni keng istilung surreal na paniglon da ring art enthusiast kng Menila. Katunayan, dakal nang galal at parangal ing keyang ikwa. Alimbawa keti ing meging finalist ya karing atlung ligligan a mangaragul ketang milabas pang banwa. Deti deng GSIS Art Competition, 3rd AAP-ECCA Abstract Art Competition, at LRTA Art Competition. Anya makanyan yang metung karing panintunan da karing mangaragul a exhibit keti bangsa anti ketang milabas nang one-man-show kng Cebu anyang Abril 23 anggang Mayu 6 na mipamagatang “Perfect Blossom 2010” na meganap kng SM Cebu Art Center.



Ketang Nobyembri ning banwang 2008 naman makanyan yang mibuung pamisanmetung deng marakal a pintor, eskultor at talagulis a Kapampangan. Iti merapat ya bilang metung a grand exhibit kng Holy Angel University at mikapamagat yang "NASI (National Situation) Art Exhibit." Iti insiponsoran ne kanita ning Advocates for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), ning Pampanga Chamber of Commerce at ning HAU. Iti mitukyanan ya pang dakal kalupa na nitang “Arti y Estilo: A Kapampangan Art Exhibit” anyang Ineru ning banwang 2009. Iti inisponsoran na neman ning Angeles University Foundation at meganap ya kng SM Clark. Kasalungsungan, atin metung pang exibit a magaganap keta kng Marquee Mall ning Lungsud Angeles. Iti katitipunan de parin deng dakal a gugusal para kng panyulung ning kalalangang biswal keti Kapampangan. Iti merapat ya kng kayadwanan ning panawun anya mikapamagat yang “Dalit ning Balen: Art Exhibit for Cause”. Iti mibuklat ya pamu anyang a-5 ning bulan a iti at pulayi ya angga keng a-25 keta kng Marquee Mall, Lungsug Angeles. Kng kasawpan na ning proyektung "Sagip Sapang Balen " na panimunan nang Obispu Ambo David at ning bayung talakad a Arts Association of the Philippines- Angeles City Chapter, ing mesabing eksibit metung ne na namang alimbawa ning pamigulis para kng mayap a kimutan keti Kapampangan.



Ing banwang iti munaman, makanyan yang mibuklat kng publiku ing bayung museo at galeriya na ning melapupuring Vicente S. Manansala na tubung Balen Macabebe. I Manansala o “mang Enteng” karing makakilala kaya ing pekamumunang Kapampangan a meturingan bilang National Artist keng adle ning Kalalangan Biswal. Deng kalupa da ri Galo Ocampo ning Sta.Rita, at Bencab ning Sasmuan na maratun na kng Lungsud Baguio deng tinuki pang Kapampangan a mipagkaluban na kng prestihiyosung pamagat a iti. Uli ning ing banwa iti ing peka-sentenyal nang anibersaryu ning banwang kebaytan nang mang Enteng, ing banwang iti ne ibuklat ning Center for Kapampangan Studies ning HAU ing museo’t galeriya para kaya. Iti maglaman yang dakal a kasangkapan anti deng kayang paleta, easel, pintura, deng kayang award, plake, medalya, deng personal nang memento anti deng mangakamal nang lighter, golf caddies, sapatus, imalan, maging deng kasangkapan na kng matwa nang bale kng Binangonan, Rizal. Keti kayabe la naman deng dakal nang orihinal a obra keng laru, keng lapis, at obrang eskultura.



Deng talagulis, pintor, mandukit at miyaliwa pang maglalang biswal deng atin mangsikan a armas nung suryan. Ila deng atin upaya ban makasawup e mu para palagwan ya ing metung a obrang karelang apiling gawan o lalangan. Nunge ila deng metung karing atin masanting a panalalwe, deng atin masanting a paralan ban ipasyag ing bili ning panawun. Ila deng kayabe at map mung kayantabe ning malda ban misulung ing bili ning tau. Kalupa da namu detang “tree huggers” na paka-pintura karing dakal a dutung akasya keng makabang dane ning Mac Arthur Highway mula Lungsud Angeles anggang Lungsud San Fernando dng memye masikan a gulisak anting duldul karing dakal a mangaintulid kalupa na ning DENR at ning DPWH ketang milabas a banwa. Iti merapat anyang mipasyag ya ing mapaling pamanutul da ring lilingap keng bili ning kalikasan na kuturan la reng mesabing mangatwang karutungan.



Makalungkut mu pin isipan, na ing metung karing maglalang biswal antimo I kong Gerry makanyan neng peynawa. Deng obra na magsilbi lang paganaka karing tau lalu na karing kayanakan na dapat yang lingapan ing daratang. I tang Perfecto, bista man at magkasakit neng lalakad dala ning panga-ataki na kanita ing alang patugut pa murin kng pamangumpas na kng keyang brotsa, kayabe di tang Paeng na mamanyambut mu naman karing ligligan kng Amerika at I kong Willy na babye makabayung inspirasyun ban lalu lang sumipag deng mandukit keti Kapampangan. Deng mag-bobonsai ketang dane ning Mabalacat-Bamban deng metung mu naman dapat pibagutan inspirasyun nung makanu yang dapat pikwanan kapagmaragulan at kabyayan ing milabas a pamanakbung ning Bunduk Pinatubu. Uling e la mu magaling keng pamananaman, mayap la namang mandukit karing batung buga at makapanubug lang miyaliwang pigura na babage karing garden at mula da ring bale at pasyalan keti Kapampangan.



Karing balang maglalang biswal keti Kapampangan, lwid ko pu!

Aldo mayaslag pu kabalen!

Aldo ning Amanung Siswan

Agkatan da ko pung tumagun keng Sabadu bilang panyara keng pamagmasusi kng
Aldo ning Amanung Siswan.

Iti pu ing booklaunching da ring 2 librung Kapampangan (Kasapuggul a Sampaga 2 at Kawatasan). Iti mitukyanan ya pung programa para karing tanggap pamangilala karing bayung laureado (Anac ning Arenas, Doc Tec Sanchez-Tolosa, Gng. Marites Magtuloy-Evangelista, Dalagang Baryo at G. Guding Sagum). Ing pung mesabing pamagmasusi maganap ya kng Plaza San Jose, Holy Angel University kng kasawpan ning Parnasong Kapampangan (PK), Kolehiyo dng Poeta Laureado (KPL), Provincial Language Council (PLC) at ning Kapamalan ning Lalawigan Kapampangan nung nu i Kgg. Lilia G. Pineda (ing gobernadora) ing magsilbing Dalong Pandangal. Ing kadwang volyum ning librung "Kasapunggul" pelimbag ne ning Parnasong Kapampangan kng kasawpan na ning Center for Kapampangan Studies, kabang ing "Kawatasan" pelimbag naneman ning Holy Angel University.

K-Balen! Kapagmasusyan balang Junyu

Kapagmasusyan balang Junyu
Neng Joel Pabustan Mallari

Dakal karing petsa ning milabas ing ena mapapansin o makikilala ngeni. Dakal pamo kareti dng atin mangaulagang aldo ning milabas. Deti pamo dng atin mayap kabaldugan na magsilbing guyabnan karing balang daratang a bukas anti ing panawun ta ngeni.

Dakal la ring alimbawa kareti. Ing milabas a Ineru 22 ning banwang iti iyang peka-sentinaryu ning aldo kebaytan na ning metung karing meturingang Pambangsang Alagad ning Kalalangan – I Vicente Manansala ning Balen Macabebe. Iti makanyan ya naman kang Ex-Presidenti Diosdado P. Macapagal, ing daratang a Siptyembri 28 neman ing kayang sentinaryu ning keyang aldo kebaytan. Dng adwang areti meumpisan lang mipagmasusyan kng kapanimunan na ning Center for Kapampangan Studies (CKS) ning Holy Angel University . Anyang a-22 ning Junyu mikamisa kanita kng puntud nang Apung Enteng Manansala keta kng Loyola Memorial kayabe dng pamilya ning meangubieng pintor pati nung nu kayabe keti deng kng Friends of Manansala at representanti ning NHI, NCCA, at tanggapan nang Presidenti GMA. Kabang ing pamuklat ning pamagmasusi ning pamigaganaka kng dating presidenti Diosdado ing meturingang “Poor Boy” ning Lubao meganap ya anyang Abril 20 keta kng matwang Pisamban San Agustin ning Balen Lubao at Kapitolyung Kapampangan, Lungsud San Fernando. Iti kng kasawpan na ning Tanggapan ning Turismu ning mesabing kapitolyu kayabe dng pamilya na ning melapupuring Apung Dadung anti di dating bise-gobernadora Cielo Macapagal-Salgado at Arturo Macapagal.

Ing banwang iti murin ing pang-350 banwang anibersaryu na ning pamag-aklas dng Kapampangan kng pamanimuna na kanita ning matapang a Francisco Maniago ning Balen Mexico . Iti ing pekamumunang maragul a pamag-aklas da ring memalen laban kanita kng gubyernung Espanya. Pwera kng CKS ninu mo dng makaganaka pa ban pagselebran ya ing maulangang petsang iti? Map namu atin malating grupu dng kayanakan kng Mexico dng bisang maikadwangan kaniti.

Ing purmerung aldo ning bulan ning Junyu, iyang aldo kematayan nang Senador Jose Alejandrino na mete anyang banwang 1951. Iya ing metung karing bayani ning 1896 Philippine Revolution at ning 1898 Philippine-American War. Iya ing metung karing matalik nang kakaluguran Dr. Jose Rizal na mekasali kng manuskritu ning tawli – ing El Filibusterismo at makanyan neng pepalimbag iti. Pero ninu mong makaganaka pa kaniti? Ing mismung balen na kng Arayat, nanu mo rugu ing gewa rang pamagmasusi kng kadakilan na ning budning bayaning iti?

Karetang banwang mamilatan ketang 1823 angang 1824 megsilbi yang panawun ning mapaling pamipate da ring mesabing indios kanita. Metung a kapitan a Filipino-Mexican (ibat Mejico, Central America ) kng lagyu nang Andres Novales ing menimuna karing kawal a sinakup kng Palasyu Malacañang ketang purmerung aldo na naman ning bulan a iti banwang 1823. Keti, metung a batalyun dng kawal opisyalis a Kapampangan dng linaban at sinambut kng rebelyun a mesabi. Ing banwang 1824 a iti murin karin milyari inyang sakorwan dala ring Kapampangan ing pwersang Español anyang atakyan de ing Jolo. Deti e no rugu mibalikdan man kng kasalungsungang memorya.

Ing purmerung aldo ning Junyung iti munaman ing petsa ning pamagbayu ning sikanang rebolusyun kng balen ning Mexico . Keti de gigisak ing “Viva Filipinas Libre!” at ing mabilis a pamagbakting karing kumpana. Iti ing petsang penimunana nang Hen. Maximino Hizon ing panyambut da ring Kapampangan karing kawala a Español at megsilbing pasimunu ning panibayung pamakipaglaban da pa dng aliwang balen Kapampangan.

Ing mung bulan ning Junyu dakal nang tutu ing dapat ganakan at pagmasusyan anting pamagbalikid kng ulaga da reting petsang keti. Alimbawang kayabe keti ing anyang I Francisco Laksamana meging maestre-de-campo ya ketang panawun nang Gobernador-Heneral Sabiniano Manrique de Lara.. Iti ban panimunan no kanita dng pekamaragul a kawal dng Español at 4,000 a kawal a Kapampangan kng pamagbante kng Fort Bonifacio ketang Junyu ning 1662. Metung a maragul a dangalan kanita na metung yang katutubu ing pagtiwalan ning gubyernung dayu ban ipaglaban nemu naman iti karing sasalake pang aliwang pwersang dayu – dng mandirigmang Dutch. Iti e meman akit pakapastil man kabud kng Fort Bonifacio ning Intramuros ngeni.

Makanyan munaman anyang a-10 ning Junyu 1647 deng pwersang Dutch na panimunan nang Admiral Gertzen minataki la kng Buyuk Menila (Manila Bay), at 13 mung aldo ing milabas kanita minasaker da la dng 400 a Kapampangan - dng mangatapang a linaban kng Abukay, Bataan. Ninu mong makaganaka kareti, nunge ing metung namung marker a pakapakat ketang dalig ning matwang pisamban ning Abucay?

Ketang banwang 1898 naman, ing kapat ning Junyu yang metung karing maulagang aldo keti emu ken Kapampangan nunge pati na kng kabilugan dng kaplulwan kanita. Iti ing migmarka kng mumunang gulisak ning rebolusyun keti. Keta kng Escuela de Artes y Oficios de Bacolor (ing DHVTSU ngeni) nung nu I Felix “Flauxgialer” Galura, Alvaro Panopio, at Paulino Lirag deng menimuna karing Voluntarios Locales de Bacolor ing linaban karing Español at karing papanig kareti a Cazadores at Macabebes.

Ing a-5 na naman ning Junyu 1899 iyang aldo ning kontrobersyal a kematayan nang Hen. Antonio Luna kng gamat dng tropa nang heneral at presidenti kanitang I Emilio Aguinaldo. Iti ing aldo na ing Cabanatuan ing lalto kapitolyu ning bangsa. At makanyan neman mong milipat iti kng Bamban kabukasan – ing a-6 ning Junyu. Keting balen a iti no man mo migdatun dng pilan dalan a rebolusyonaryu ning gubyernung militari ning mesabing presidenti at heneral. Kng kasalungsungan, ninu mo dng mag-masusi kng dangalan a iti ning balen keti? Mapilan mu dng makaganaka nung nu kayabe mu keti dng keng Bamban Historical Society na panimunan nang Rhonie dela Cruz at ning kimutan a Balikatan Balen Bamban. Karing mengapapalabas, misan nang mika-ordinansa para kng pamagmasusi kaniti anting “Bamban Day” mupin makanyan ya munaman mipa-alang bisa kng kapamilatan na munaman ning Sangguniang Bayan ning mesabing balen.

Ing bulan mu naman a iti pabanwa bayu ya meging kapitolyu ing Bamban, mi-tuldwan ya I Makabulos bilang metung karing brigadier-generals ning rebolusyun kng lalam nang Aguinaldo. Iya ing megsilbing talapagtanggul kng pwersa da ri Heneral Ricardo Monet na manimuna kanita kng maragul a ataki dng Español keti Kapampangan (Pampanga at Tarlac ngeni). Makanyan mu naman I Makabulos ing megsilbing talapagtanggul ning kalayan ning Pangasinan kanita.

Kng Balen Macabebe, pigmasusyan da neman mo ing aldong a-3 ning bulan mu naman a iti. Iti ing aldo kematayan ning matapang a "baintau ning Makabebe" na mipamansagang “Tarik Soliman”, ing Bambalito agpang na mu naman kang Prof. Victor Torres na dating opisyalis ning Intramuros Administration. I Bambalito na agpang kng amlat, tau ya kng matwang Masantol na sakup na ning Macabebe kanita ing menimuna karing mangatapang a 2,000 a kawal Kapampangan na ibat kanita keti Macabebe at Hagonoy (balen na na ning Bulacan ngeni) bang labanan dng pwersang Español at Pintados (kawal a Bisaya) na magumpisa na kanitang manyakup keti bangsa. I Bambalito ing lalto pekamumunang “Pilipinu” na linaban at meteng bayani para kng kalayan na meganap kng matwang kailugan ning Bangcusay na sakup ning upaya ning Kapampangan a Lakandula ning Tondo kanita. Ing pangamate na yang megsilbing kulayit ning pangasakup ning Luzon kng dane ning mawling Kapampangan (ing Pampanga, Bulacan at Menila ngeni). Anya ing a-24 niti ning Junyu yang meging opisyal a petsa ning pangatatag ning Menila bilang kapitolyu ning labwad a kolonyal. Ing mesabing pamagmasusi misan pang penimunan ne ning CKS kng kasawpan ning Kapitolyu na makanyan dang pikyabayan dng lokal a gubyernu ning Macabebe, Masantol at Hagonoy.

Ing bulan a iti aldo 21 naman ning banwang 1948 anyang tangu yang sumuku na ing supremo ning Huk – I Ka Luis Taruc. Iti ing panawun a midala ya Menila keta kng Malacañang ing mesabing supremo ban arapan ing presidenti kanitang I Elpidio Quirino. Kabang ing a-20 ning bulan a iti banwang 1957 naman anyang ma-enact ya ing Republika Acto Bilang. 1700 na mipamansagang “Anti- Subversion Act” nung nu meturingan la ring kimutan a CPP, HMB at “kalupa dang organisasyun” bilang “outlaws”.

Kasalungsungan, 19 banwa na murin ing milalabas, petsang a-15 naman anyang mamaltuk ya ing manaimik nang bili ning Bunduk Pinatubu. Iti naman ing maging senyalis kanita ning maragul a kalamidad a tinakap kng maragul a dake ning Kalibudtwang Luzon .

Dakal karing kayanakan ngeni ing e na mekayabut kng maka-pangilabut a milyaring iti.
Kanita pa muring milabas, ing pangatatag na naman ning Republika ning Pilipinas iya mong pekapanyara ning Rebolusyun laban kng pamanyakup ning España. Keti ya medeklara ing a-12 ning Julyu bilang Aldo ning Kalayan. Ketang panawung nang Presidenti Diosdado Macapagal naman karin ya milipat ing aldong iti ning kapagmasusyan. Mula Julyu 12 milipat yang Junyu 4 pauli ning kautusan na niti kayagnan na ning pamangilala na kang J.P.Laurel bilang metung mu naman a lehitimung presidenti na e mekilala ketang panawun milabas.

Kng daratang a mapupus naman, misan pang metung a dake ning amlat ing miyabe kng petsa ning bulan. Iti ing aldo na opisyal neng lukluk ing panibayung presidenti ning bangsa. Iti metung ne nana namang Kapampangan - I Benigno Aquino III.

Aldo mayaslag pu kabalen!

Tarik Soliman

Celebrating the 439th Death Anniversary
of a brave young Macabebe datu


T A R I K S O L I M A N
(a.k.a. BAMBALITO)

The First Filipino Martyr for Freedom who died in the Battle of Bangkusay on June 3, 1571.

A Holy Mass will be offered at San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish and a wreath laying ceremony will follow at the Tarik Soliman marker on June 3, 2010,
9:00 AM in front of Macabebe Municipal Hall, Macabebe, Pampanga

Sponsored by the Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University









Tarik Soliman
(a.k.a. BAMBALITO)
The First Filipino Martyr for Freedom who died in the Battle of Bangkusay on June 3, 1571.

Hundreds, maybe thousands, of years before the Spaniards came, the central plain in Luzon Island was already populated with Kapampangans and Tagalogs, as well as with dark-skinned Aetas who lived mostly in the forests of the surrounding mountains. The pre-Hispanic Kapampangans were landtillers and seafarers who traded with China and sailed to neighboring kingdoms. They were partly anito-worshippers, partly Muslim converts. “Their houses are filled with wooden and stone idols… for they had no temples,” wrote a Spanish chronicler in 1590, while another reported that “(Pampanga) had two rivers, one called Bitis and the other Lubao, along whose banks dwell three thousand five hundred Moros.” (Islam had overthrown the Hindu Madjapahit Empire in 1478 and reached the archipelago shortly thereafter.)

Tarik Soliman (or Sulaiman) was a Kapampangan datu (chieftain) in 1571, most likely from a barangay in Macabebe now known as Sagrada, Masantol, located at the mouth of the Pampanga River. As datu, Tarik Soliman held executive, judicial and military powers, determining planting and harvesting dates, trying cases not involving himself (otherwise a group of datus from neighboring villages tried him), and ruling over the timawa (freemen) and the slaves (those who had failed to settle debts). Apparently, the Pampanga of Tarik Soliman was a fully functioning civilization because every man, woman and child could read and write, and it had a government system, an agricultural system that produced food in surplus, a trading network with other Southeast Asian kingdoms, a class structure, religion, laws, taxes and festivals.

It was into this quiet, developing world of Tarik Soliman that a Spanish armada from Cebu gate-crashed one summer day in 1571. The sight of huge, fully armed ships sailing past the tiny caracoas set the natives into panic. The Kapampangan tribal chieftains in Manila, Rajah Matanda and his nephew, Rajah Soliman (despite initial misgivings), as well as the king of Tondo, Lakan Dula, welcomed the European visitors led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who assured them that he had come mainly “to teach them the true law of the one, all-powerful God, creator of heaven and earth.” After he made them swear allegiance to the King of Spain, Legazpi quickly dropped all niceties and ordered his hosts to build a large house for him to live in during his stay, a chapel for the friar, and 150 medium-sized houses for the rest of the Spanish soldiers.

When the Kapampangans saw this, they derided their Tagalog neighbors for sleeping with the enemy. More than 200 warriors on 40 caracoas sailed from Pampanga, “the most warlike and brave nation,” led by “a brave youth” who was “the bravest on the island”—Tarik Soliman (often confused with Rajah Soliman of Manila, who later succeeded his uncle Rajah Matanda; the name Tarik Soliman is just for purposes of differentiating him from these two rajahs since the records do not mention his name). An early Spanish chronicler wrote: “They entered the town of Tondo through an estuary they called Bancusay without being seen by the Spaniards, where they stayed for a few days discussing with Lakan Dula the best way to start the battle.”
Legazpi sent two emissaries to Tondo to win Tarik Soliman over to their side. Tarik, wrote the Spanish chronicler, “replied excitedly that neither he nor his followers wanted to see (Legazpi) nor have his friendship, nor that of the Castillians…. Having said this, he stood up and with audacity and ferocity unsheathed his sword. Brandishing it, he said, ‘May the sun strike me in twain, and may I fall in disgrace before the women for them to hate me, if I ever became for a moment friend to the Castillians.’ (H)e left and without going down the stairs, to show his bravery, jumped out a window to the street then went directly to his caracoa. He told the Spaniards to inform their captain that he was waiting at the mouth of the estuary, where he had entered, to fight. After saying this, he began sailing, amid hurrahs, to the place he mentioned.”

In response, Legazpi sent 80 Spaniards to Bancusay led by his master-of-camp, Martin de Goiti. “Ahead of them,” wrote the chronicler, “was the caracoa of the Moor leader (Tarik Soliman)” who “courageously fired some shots (and) fought animatedly and without showing any weakness or disarray, until he died from a rifle shot by one of our soldiers. With his death… they began to fade away. They quickly scattered and fled.”

More than 300 Kapampangans died in that Battle of Bancusay on June 3, 1571, and the Spaniards proceeded to conquer the rest of the “widely spread province,” meeting resistance only in Betis, “the most fortified throughout the island of Luzon.” Thus, the prehistoric Kapampangan Nation became La Pampanga, Spain’s first province in Luzon, on December 11, 1571. (RPT)

References: Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas 1565-1615 by Gaspar de San Agustin, OSA. Manila: San Agustin Museum; Blair & Robertson, IV, and XXXIV, p. 378;

Macapagal and our national regret

Macapagal and our national regret
Robby Tantingco, SunStar Pampanga

As the May 10 elections draw near, let us remember and learn from the life and presidency of Diosdado Macapagal, whose 100th birth anniversary we celebrate this year.

He was not a minor president as many would think. He was, in fact, a great president, “one of the best presidents ever,” as Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco would say. Kapampangans who are disappointed in Gloria Arroyo should take comfort and pride in the legacy of the first Kapampangan President, Diosdado Macapagal, the most honest president the Philippines has ever had.

Cory Aquino once said that Macapagal was, indeed, “a great President,” but that being a great President was his lesser achievement. He was, above all, “a good man.” Even more remarkable, Cory said, he “remained a good man during his presidency, which is a very difficult thing to do, considering the potential of the office for the commission of crimes.”

Macapagal was a poor man when he became president, and continued to be a poor man during and after his presidency. In this country, it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a poor man to win an election, and to stay poor while in office, any office, but especially the Office of the President.

Who would have thought that a poor man could break from the mold, conquer all the political windmills and actually win a presidential election? And who would have thought that this usually cynical nation would actually go out of its way to put a poor man in Malacañang?

It would never happen today. The highest office a poor man can aspire for, I think, would be municipal councilor or vice mayor. The Constitution tried to correct the situation by creating the party-list system, but now that even Sec. Angelo Reyes, Bro. Mike Velarde, Mikey Arroyo, Dennis Pineda and practically every rich politician can claim to represent the marginalized and underrepresented sectors and run under the party-list system, the poor have lost the only route to Congress available to them.

“If a poor man is elected, it’s proof that democracy is working,” Macapagal himself once said. Unfortunately, Macapagal was the last one. We will never again benefit from the brilliance of poor but deserving candidates.

“The poor boy from Lubao” made the eradication of poverty the central theme of his administration—the very same thing billionaire Manny Villar says he will do, but which we all know is an empty promise masquerading as a nice ad jingle.

Macapagal fired all the crooks he could find (because keeping them in office was like appointing arsonists to the fire control brigade); held a Common Man’s Day, where the gates of Malacañang were regularly opened so that folks could sit down for a one-on-one with him; relocated slum dwellers to multi-storey housing tenements; and vetoed the scandalously fat congressional allowances (today’s pork barrel).

Above all, he enacted land reform, which ended feudalism and gave the masses a taste of social justice.

Big landowners, influential politicians and even party mates (who were landowners themselves) had aggressively resisted land reform, the same way the Republicans, drug companies and other interest groups tried to block Obama’s health care, but like Obama, Macapagal risked his presidency to seize the historic moment.

I’m surprised he wasn’t assassinated for it. With that singular act of emancipating our farmers from centuries of shackles, Macapagal became a great president, bigger than life itself.

But he went on to achieve more. In his first two years in office, he invigorated the economy with a 13% increase in the gross national product and a 12% in the national income. The Philippines became the most progressive country in the Far East, next only to Japan .

Although corruption persisted, at least Filipinos were sure there was none in Malacañang (unlike today when it’s the Palace that’s setting the tenor for the rapacity of corruption throughout the country and the impunity with which it is committed), and were confident that crime and punishment always went hand in hand (unlike today when Filipinos have grown so tired of seeing corruption everywhere and everyday that it’s become the rule rather than the exception).

Macapagal also taught his country how to regain its sense of dignity by treating the United States not as superior but co-equal. He moved Independence Day from July 4 (the same day the Americans celebrate their own Independence Day) to June 12 (the day Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain), and initiated the creation of MAPHILINDO (for Malaya, Philippines and Indonesia), the forerunner of the ASEAN, which sought to assert the Malayan race and form a regional alliance to neutralize the growing influence of the United States.

When the United States Congress failed to pass a bill providing for war damage payments to Filipino veterans, Macapagal cancelled a scheduled US trip—a bold and potentially dangerous thing to do for a Philippine president. He also strengthened relations with the anti-US Sukarno government of Indonesia and pursued claims to Sabah , which the Americans interpreted as a sign of growing Filipino nationalism.

And so when Macapagal ran for re-election against Ferdinand Marcos in 1965, it was clear whom Uncle Sam wanted to win.

Another giant that Macapagal was not afraid to displease was the Iglesia ni Cristo. He refused to meet its leader in his own church just to solicit the critical Iglesia vote, arguing that by doing so, he would diminish the dignity of his office.
“I would rather do right than be elected” was what he often said.
Well, he did lose his reelection bid.

The ambitious, charismatic Marcos, with the alluring Imelda beside him, mesmerized voters across the archipelago. They picked the lesser candidate, and put the country on the road to perdition.

Years later, as Cory Aquino surveyed the ruin she had inherited from Marcos, she asked, “Why did Macapagal have to lose to Marcos? His loss was our calamity.”
Of course this is all in hindsight now, but it should give us fair warning about how important electing the right candidate is. Not the most popular, not the most likeable, not even the most qualified—but the right candidate.

Unfortunately, we will not know who the right candidate is until many years after election.

(Last tuesday afternoon of April 20, a Mass and wreath-laying ceremonies will be held at the Lubao parish church and Capitol grounds, respectively, to mark the eve of Diosdado Macapagal’s death anniversary and start the celebration of his birth centenary.)

Diosdado Macapagal
Capampangan, Presidenti, Poeta
(Sept 28, 1910 - April 21, 1997)
Neng Anac Ning Arenas

Cabang ing eleksyun, Mayo palapit na
ganacan taya sa, maging gabe taya
ing milabas nang bie mig-presidenti ya
ing mayap nang anak ning Lubao, Pampanga.

Ing kebaitan nang kadinalang-banua
pagmasusian tane mapilang bulan pa
at bukas 'tang aldo nang pamagpainawa
ngeni, keti't Lubao dian tang panalala.

E ya basta-basta meging presidenti
anti ning palage ding aliwa keti
ing tutu, metung yang presidenting grandi
metung ding kayapan kanita ma't ngeni.

Ya'itang Presidenti Dadong Macapagal
karing presidenti yang pekamarangal
a'ipagkapuri ding Kapampangang sacdal
uli ning dangal nang tapat pepairal.

Nganing Presidenti Corazon Aquino
karing presidenti mayap ya'y Diosdado
dapot e pa iti'ing kepuri nang mismu
nune'ing pamagi nang kayapan a tau.

Uling ing pepakit nang tune kayapan
bilang presidenti mitmu yang dangalan
a tune kasulit agyung imantinian
cakbe ning poder nang aldoldo tatalnan.

Calulu yang limput meging presidenti
calulu pa murin anggang meyalili
at balu ta naman keng gubyernu keti
alang mangalulu, lalu't presidenti.

Ni'ng lubus-misip ing anak kakaluluan
bigla neng apakli ing akasanayan
salba ding pampulitikang kalakaran
at sumambut pam-presidenting alalan.

At ninu ping misip, lubusang manwala
a'iting dati-rati a cynikung bansa
lumuwal ya keng sadyang gawi na at gawa
ban king Malacaniang ipuk ya'ing maluca?

E ya kapilanman marapat na ngeni
yang calulu agyu na pang gawan iti
mekad mag-konsejal o keng mayor-bisi
keng pala-palague tutu neng masuwerti.

Yaping constitution ing buring yustu na
atulid ne iting situasyun pin sana
kapamilatan na ning pamaglalang da
king lista-partidung botuanang sistema.

Dapot ngening maski deting puliticu
di Dennis Pineda at Mikey Arroyo
arepresenta da la ring taung calulu
sera da no cabud dalan pa-congresu.

Uling ing kalulu istung mialal ya
patune mamandar ya ing demokrasya
dapot y Diosdado yang kakatulian na
e ta no kamtan ding kalulung mayap pa.

Ing kalulung anak ning Lubao sipuak na
"lako'ing kakaluluan" yang centrung misyun na
a ing bilionaryung Villar pangaya na
bista't basyu ya mung pangakung balu ta.

'nyang y Macapagal, leko no ding lilu
(anti ding manyilab, gawan mong bumberu?)
karen ngang memalen biklat neing palasyu
dinian nong tuknangan deng tau esteru.

Sigka ne'ing maka-scandalung para-gastus
a ding congresista buri maging utus
babo nita, linsad neing actung manatbus
para dake'ing gabun karing palad-kapus.

Hacinderu at maimpluensiyang puliticu
keng pamamie gabun matni lang tinerku
anti nang Obama, sigal neng Diosdadu
ing presidencia queng historicung tiempu.

At queting cabud nang actung pamilaya
caring magsasacang siglu tenikala
meging presidenti yang mipadambana
keng degulan ning bie migit ya pang misna.

Dapot sinulung pa ding keyang pirusta
tinas ne keng bansa ing economiya
peka-progresibung bansa ya king Asia
kadua mu keng Hapon kabyayan ding masa.

At ing katiwalian nung man menatili
balu ra ding tau, Malacaniang ali
(e na anti ngeni alang pasubali
karin pa palasyu manibat ing api).

Ding tau compiansa lang ing katiwalian
kayagnan ne't kakbe ing kaparusahan
(e kalupa ngeni, sinawa ne y Juan
aldoldo nu maski marap garapalan).

Mabilug a bansa murin tiru ne ya
ing pasibayung abawi'ing dignidad na
anti mo, turing king bansang America
e bilang superior nune kapante ra.

Linipat neng aldo adose ning Junio
ning Independence Day pagmasusian tamu
sadya kagnan tala ding Americanu
pagsilebran tayang acuatru de Julio.

Itang MAPHILINDO ya ring megumpisa
MAlyasia, PHILippines ampon INDOnesia
bilang aliansa da ding lahing Malaya
pangontra king poder na ning America.

Iniang e re pesar ding Americanu
ing pondu ring beteranung Pilipinu
qng takdang punta nang Amer'ca Diosdadu
bigla neng binuerta, bilang contra-actu.

Pepatibe nya rin ing pamakisanga
kang Sukarnu na ning bansang Indonesia
at pirsigian ne ing ankamin keng Sabah
iti e milingad karin America.

Nganing America, senyales ne canu
ning nationalismu caring Pilipinu
nya'ing alalan banua ning sisenta'y singcu
tula nang simbut neng Marcos y Diosdado.

Metung pang iganting amun kang Diosdado
e na ketakutan, Iglesia ni Cristo
tinggiyan nang makikit king pisamban mismu
nung para akua ne ing karelang botu.

Ngana, micompromisu ya opisina
at anti'ing madalas pane sasabyan na
mas gawan naing ustu kesa mialal ya
oita mesambut ya keng re-eleksyun na.

Ing Ferdinand naman a charismaticu
siping na'y Imelda ning ma-ambisyosu
amesmera dala ding sablang magbotu
king kelaparan na ning archipelagu.

Ding kulang-king- miguit ilang binotu ra
at kebit deing bansa keng ikalugma na
nganang Tita Cory mapilan pang banua
'ot y Macapagal, simbut neng Marcos pa!

Ing keyang kasambut calamidad te ngan
siyempre iti ngan ken nang pamibalikdan
dapot dapat maging pabala ya mu man
kaimportanti ning ibotung pilinan.

E ing pekasikat yang dapat ibotu
aliwa ing peka-sibuburyan tamu
e pin ing pinaka-qualipikadu
nune nung ninu ing ustung candidatu.

Keng malas e taya abalu nung ninu
karing kandidatu nung ninu ing ustu
anggang e la miras palabasan tamu
ding dakal a banua 'bat ning pamagbotu.

Likas ya pu keng masanting a articulu nang Ca Robby bilang papugue pu ning malucang,Anac Ning Arenas

Poor Boy from Lubao/ Chant D’Amour

“ ‘D’ POOR BOY FROM LUBAO”
DIOSDADO PANGAN MACAPAGAL

Neng P. L. Frank M. Guinto
Sta. Maria Macabebe,Pamp.
April 19, 2010

1
Tigtig ding kumpana,
Ginising deng diwang maluat nang manikal
Ing diwang malyasa,
King sigalot ning bie pilit makipagkal,
Laksang-libung kutang,
Ing lihim memale, king isip migbusal
Ba’t kayaplegaria,
Agunyas ing kabling, kablas ding dupikal?
King Bundok Alaya,
Dening panimanman, layu kung pinasyal
Ba’t kule lang paldas,
Ding yata ning aldong malale nang lalual?
Maglawiwing batis,
Matamle’t malumbe ing danum ng kristal
Baket iting bage,
Giluan ne’ng diwang suko na king pagal?
Inia pala’ng sabla,
Magmalun - tatangis king lumbe a sakdal
Iti pala’ng aldo,
Yang kematayan ng DADONG MACAPAGAL!

2
Ibat pa king mula,
Iniang mikaisip, manalbe zarzuela
“Bayung Jerusalem”,
Alang makayanti king pangasulat na
Y Apong Urbano,
Maluat nang lemayan, a obra maestra
Pane reng pamitan,
Ding sablang manalbe kareng balang fiesta;
Gaganap kanita,
Matikding artista bilang peka-bida
Yapin y Cong Dadong,
“Partner” ne’y Purita, y Roger yang kontra;
Lalo pang milusuk,
Respeto ding malda pati na’y Ventura
Iniang mag-“exam” ya,
“Topnotcher” ya keng “Bar”, kursung Abogasya;
Iti aliwa mu,
Iniang luban na ya itang pulitika
Meging Congressman ya,
Kaibat, meging Bise’t- meg Presidenti ya!!
King kematayan na,
Ala kung ayampang king budning poeta
Nune mu ing bukud
Lamak kung pitagning, malukang poesia!
Kagum ning pakamal,
Lugud a dalise, gintung panalala
Keng “poor boy” ning Lubao,
A mipuk king puri’t dangal ning Pampanga!

3
Budning Macapagal:
Ing kekong tagumpe, nung kakung sambitlan
Musmus kung paniulat,
Eya makabage king kekong kamalan,
Ing “Pluma ning Dios”,
Nung pagkalub Niya sa, kaku Ne iparam
Gulis keng manene,
Ing bie yung dakilang mitmung kabayanyan,
Dapot makanyan man,
King abot ning diwa, kakung pagpilitan
Saglawe mapilan,
King bie yung tinindag busal ning kalukan,
Ing pangapantas yu,
Pepatilip yu na, iniang kayanakan
Pane kong mumuna,
Kareng kaklase yung anac mayakayan!
Inia, uliniti,
Y Honorio Ventura, a pilantropong nuan
Pegaral na kayu,
Keng kursung mamingwa kaniang katuliran,
Pepalto ye kinang
Ing literature, ning Indung Balayan
Iniang keng kampanya
Ding kekong diskurso, makarima la ngan!
Ngeni ku menuala
Busal ding kalulu, atin matenakan,
Pigkalaman ning Dios,
King ban manibabo kagiwa’t kabiasnan
Kaustan na niti
Pamanungkulan na, alang dusing ditman
Liguran nong lubus
“Lupa ng kalulung mitmung katapatan!”
Inia Apong Dadong,
King kematayan yu, ‘kulio ming masikan
Mapuri yung lagyu,
MANA YANG LIKUAN YU…KEKENG KAPAMPANGAN!


Chant D’Amour
Mapilan a kayagtalan ibat ketang poesyang “Sintang Cayanacan” nang Diosdado “Cong Dadong” Macapagal

E cu balu a nung baquit tutu ra nacang palsintan
Nung ala ca anti uaring saui nacu capalaran;
E raca buring micauani quening cacung panimanman,
Magcang mabigu cu palad at e mu nacu datangan;
Pangalaluan co ring balang taung quecang paquisabian,
At detang caluguran mu tutu cu lang caluguran;
Quening dalise lugud cu buri cung salpantayanan
Melalang ing pamalsinta ba'ra ca mung pacamalan.

E cu lalon ing bili mu at ing pamicandayu ta,
Ing sarili mung lalon cu ing acu palsintan daca;
Aguiang metung cu pang ari at sacup daca mung mura'
Ibuat daca qng calucan at samban anti mong reina;
O acu itang pulubi, ica metung cang princesa,
Cailian mucu nung buri mu, malsinta cu murin queca'
Anting ambun ibat babo a milapit qng sampaga,
Macanian dacang luguran aguiang nanu cu't nanu ca'

Milalablab ya ing bulan, macauili ing sala na,
Quilapquilap la ring batuin anting magayut a mata;
Ding ayup biasa lang dalit, ding pipit babo saresa,
Ding denas babo ring luyus atin lang yampang a canta;
Ding sampagang mangabanglu ing carelang pangisnaua
Bisa yang pali ing ambun qng candunga'na ning rosa;
Deti ila ring amanu ning tapat cung sinta queca.

Canita ba'mung abalu icang bie cu at caladua.
Palsintan daca, irug cu, yang quecang pacayasajan,
Anggang marnagus 1a danum ding sapa at cailugan;
E mapaui ing sinta cu anggang atin cung babaluan
Cayanacan a pailupig, paimate qng capalsintan:
Anggang atin mung sampagang tutubu caring tanaman,
Anggang atin mung maniale ayup caring cabunducan,
Anggang ining pali ning bie mamagus quening catauan,
Bucud mung ining sinta cu e manaquit camatayan.



Ing poesyang “ ‘D’ POOR BOY FROM LUBAO” ginale ne mu naman ning kinudtang I P. L. Frank M. Guinto, kabang dng kayagtalan a estropa ning poesyang “Sintang Cayanacan” ginale da neman di Poetisa Maria Teresa M. Evangelista at Prinsipi ning Parnasu Romy Rodriguez ketang bisperas ning aldo (a-10 ning Abril 2010) nang kematayan ning melapupuring Ex-Presidenti Diosdado Pangan Macapagal keta kng Kapitolyu Kapampangan.

DM@100

DM@100

Ing 2010, iya mong kadinalan nang banwang kebaytan ning melapupuring Diosdado Pangan Macapagal. Ing dating presidenti ning Republika ning Pilipinas. Ing a-21 ing aldo kebaytan ning dakilang presidenting ya kabud ibat kng pakakalulung pamilya. Ing pakatuking talambie sinulat neng G. Lord Francis Musni na megamit keting mesabing pamagmasusi na meganap kng Balen Lubao at Kapitolyu Kapampangan anyang a-20 ning bulan a iti kng pamanimuna na ning Center for Kapampangan Studies ning Holy Angel University kng kasawpan na ning Tanggapan ning Turismu ning kapitolyu.


MAKUYAD A TALAMBIE NANG DIOSDADO P. MACAPAGAL
(1910-1997)
(Sinulat at binasa neng Lord Francis Musni king makuyad a programa king kapitolyu, anyang bisperas ning aldo ng kamatayan Diosdado P. Macapagal, a-20 ning Abril 2010)

Mibait ya Lubao aniang a-28 ning Septyembri 1910 kari Urbano Macapagal at Romana Pangan. Meyari yang Valedictorian king Lubao Elementary School at minari yang sekundarya antimong kaduang diling matas king klase na Karin king Pampanga High School.

Megobra ya saugli king Bureau of Lands kabang papagaral na ing sarili na king kursong Associate in Arts karing king University of the Philippines. Mituknang yang magobra at magaral pauli ning meina ya katawan. Kaibat nang meyari king Associate in Arts, megaral yang pasibayu at kinanguang abugasya king Philippine Law School. Mituknang yang pasibayu pauli ning dimut a kwalta, a nu kaibat sinaupan ne ning kabaluan a pilantropo, Don Honorio Ventura. Inari ne ing kursung abugasya king UST inyang 1936 at mipasar ya at migbabo ya antimong topnotcher ning Bar Examination ita murin banuang ayta.

Kaibat ning giyerang hapon, migsilbi ya king Department of Foreign Affairs
Antimong kaduang sekretarya king embajada ning Pilipinas Karin king Washington, Estados Unidos. Inyang 1949, pepaulian neng Presidenti Quirino ban tagal konggresista salang king matalik nang kaluguran at kayabe poeta, Amado Yuzon, anu Karin sinambut neman.

King kekaba ning pamanungkulan na antimong konggresista, minupul yang dakal a pamagkilalal at parangal antimong metung karing pekamagaling at pekamasigasig a diputado.

Aniang 1957, tinagal ya naman at sinambut bise-presidenti lalam ning bandera ning Partido Liberal, bista man dakal a sunggabal king keyang pamangandidatu.

Sinambut yang presidenti anyang 1961, a nukarin dakal ya likwan a pamana king bansa:

1)Ing pamaglako king pamakisamak kapamilatan ning pamipasar king Agricultural Land Reform inyang 1963;

2)Pamaglipat king Aldo ning Kasarinlan o Independence Day ibat Hulyo 4 king Junio 12;


3)Ing MAPHILINDO o ing aguman da ring Asyanung bansa dane mauli a penibatan ning ASEAN ngeni;

4)Ing Decontrol Policy o ing malayang galo ning kwaltang Pilipino salang king Dolar Amerkanu;

5)Misubung king Pamakipaglualu king karapatan ning Pilipinas king Sabah Karin king Malaysia.

Dapot simbut neng Ferdinand E. Marcos king halalan ning 1965. Inyang 1971, kaibat ning makuyad a pamagpainawa, tinagal ya at sinambut assemblyman ning Batasang Pambansa. Dapot migsalita yang masikan salalng king gubyerno anyang alilan da ne inyang 1973 ing Saligang Batas ning Pilipinas ban mayun king pansarili nang capagnasan ning makalukluk a kapamahalaan. E mu nanu ing peligro binie na niti ning bie na at ning keyang pamilya.

Meangu ya bie anyang a 20 ning Abril 1997 at mikutkut king Libingan ng Mga Bayani.

Uyni pu ing makuyad a meapsi king sarili nang talambie sinulat aniang 1987:

Ing pekamaragul kung pagl\kalungkutan ing eku la man mo asaupan ring masang pakakalulu ban mitigko ka la ibat king malambat da nang pangatimawa king kasakitan bista man yang pekapun a kapagnasan ning kakung karera king pulitika. Linabas king lub ku, aku ing mumunang diling kalulu a milukluk Presidenti dapot eku mikwalta, aku na sana ing pekamasikan dang palad king karelang kanawan.