It’s Alex’s poem, her entry to their school’s Linggo ng Wika (National Language Week) poetry contest. Everyone in her class was required to join and they all had three days to write their poems. But Alex waited until the last minute and very honestly said so. The result? Although only three winners were supposed to be declared, a special prize was awarded — the “cutest” poem — and the award went to her.
That’s the prize she got. Just a token, really, but it’s what it symbolizes that counts, isn’t it? She says she had a hard time thinking of a topic knowing how her classmates would write serious poems about serious topics.
Here’s the poem, got it from her MacBook while she was sleeping. I’ve been forgiven and she has granted permission to have it published here. I’d translate but it’ll lose its humor. Besides, it was written as an entry to a Linggo ng Wika poetry contest.
Ang pangalan ko ay Alex
Nasa high school na
susulatin ko itong tula
kahit inaantok na
Nag-aaral ako sa HEdCen
at 3rd year na nga pala
pang-apat ko nang taon dito
hindi parin magaling magpasa ng bola
marami na kaming projects
first trim palang!
pero okay lang
kaya naman yata yan
wow! malapit nang mag-10
hindi ko na yata kaya itong tapusin
bukas baka hindi ako magising
5:30 pa naman ang aking gising
oo nga pala!
may expo pa
adviser na namin si sir Ramil
pero topic namin hindi pa final
tapos trim projects,
next week na!
pano na yan?
kaya pa ba?
wala na akong ma-isip,
paano ba yan?
pigang-piga na utak ko
matatapos ko pa kaya ito?
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Bem 08.27.08 at 8:45 am
napangiti ako ni alex ng maaga
Kotsengkuba 08.27.08 at 9:02 am
hahaha, ayos! i admire the teacher (or whoever) for understanding the poem. the “usual” teachers would react the “usual” way with that poem
susan E. 08.27.08 at 9:44 am
Really cute poem. Keep it up Alex.
Gay 08.27.08 at 10:02 am
That’s really cute!
rolly 08.27.08 at 6:57 pm
pwede! hehe
Karmi 08.27.08 at 9:15 pm
Yeah, it is very cute! It sounds sweet.
JMonreal 08.27.08 at 11:10 pm
Mana yata si Alex sa mother, ano? O mas pa?
ate sienna 08.28.08 at 12:23 am
hehehe.. funny ha!
witsandnuts 08.28.08 at 1:59 am
That’s was real cute. A sincere poem. =)
Connie Veneracion 08.28.08 at 1:12 pm
I won’t comment na about the poem — might show a mother’s bias hehehe
JMonreal 08.29.08 at 12:35 am
Alex reminds me of my favorite Daybreaks meditation writer, Paula D’Arcy. She was a junior in high school when her English teacher asked them to write a paper about the King of England who abdicated his throne for love. A week later when she returned their essays, she laid Paula’s paper in front of her and said, “Your essay made me cry.” She knows she is a writer today because of that moment. She knew that her evaluation meant something.
When you’re good, you’re good. …so, a mother’s bias is out of question.
Connie Veneracion 08.29.08 at 7:13 am
The weird part is that she thinks she doesn’t write well. But this is not the first time she’s won in a literary writing competition. I wish she’d realize what that means.
JMonreal 08.30.08 at 12:02 am
Maybe it’s typical of a young girl or boy not realizing their full potential. However, Alex and Sam are very lucky indeed to have parents like you who knows how to raise and nurture their children. I’m sure when that time comes, she will make the right decision for her future - like mother, like daughter.
mel 08.30.08 at 9:21 pm
ang galing naman ni alex mag sulat. binigyan niya ng kakaibang twist ang tula.
Connie Veneracion 08.31.08 at 9:25 pm
She has a teacher who loves Bob Ong. I think it’s rubbing off on her.