DAS WE COMMEMORATED the 114 th birth anniversary of Carlos Polestico Garcia last Thursday, November 4, we, Boholanos, all seemed to be set aflame by a certain sense of pride. A distinct Boholano pride brought about even just by the mere mention of the name of this illustrious son of Bohol who once had the mandate of the Filipinos to be the President. But then, is it reason enough to be proud just because we too are Boholanos; that he is one of us; that we are of his breed? Is it reason enough just because we know the good qualities that made him great? Is it reason enough just because we know how well he was a president? Moreover, is it reason enough to be proud just because there are a few of us who had achieved greatness in various fields of endeavor just as he did?
Surely, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, even during the last days of his life, remained hopeful that someday, not just Boholanos but all Filipinos would see the difference and live their lives as leaders by example just as he did, be it in governance, public service or even in the community and our homes. Now then, after annually commemorating the goodness of the man — his traits and virtues — for a good number of years now, where have we gone? By this time, we should already be living those qualities. Not just because we are Boholanos just like him, but because we know that those qualities made a difference, not just for himself and his family, but for our countrymen.
I am quite sure that in each one of us, there is a CPGarcia. There is, in each of us, the educator, the statesman, the nationalist, the poet, the sportsman, the artist. No matter what your status is in the society; no matter what your career or profession is; no matter what your belief and creed; no matter what your political color is, there are always the virtues which CPGarcia let shine. All we have to do is find it and let it out of its shell just as he did. I may not be a privy to your hearts and minds but let me ask you, have you found the CPGarcia in you? Are you living it? For the CPGarcia awardees this year, I would like to convey my congratulations for their exemplary achievements. You are living proofs of the virtues Pres. Garcia dreamed for us all to attain. Let your tribes increase! I would like to share with you a “balak” I wrote for CPGarcia. This is part of the collection of poems which won me the Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Award for Literature in 2003.
ANG TABANOG NI CALOY
(Halad alang kang Pres. Carlos P. Garcia)
Ang tabanog ni Caloy, tinugotan sa pagpakabana, / Gawasnong naglupad sa abli nga panghunahuna. / Ang iyang hugong way hunong nga nagpahinumdum: /Angay gyung unahon ang mga Pilipinhon. / Gidayeg sa kanasuran ang iyang pagpangawaykaway – / Garbo ug bahandi niining yutang kinampay! Nagkadaiya ang bulok sa iyang taptap: / Lunhaw alang sa mga mag-uuma, / Sa katamnan nag-amoma; / Bughaw alang sa mga mananagat, / Adlaw'g gabii nanimpalad. / Pula sa tumang kaisog, / Dugokan sa pagpakigbisog; / Lunsay nga bulawanon / Sa hinikawan tang mga igsoon. / Bangaw nga puno sa Bol-anong garbo; / Sumbanan sa ligdong nga pagpangulo, / Ang tabanog ni Caloy, uban sa dulot nga kaayohan, / Pabiling naglawig sulod sa atong mga dughan. / Hangtud kanus-a ang talikala sa iyang mga hiyas ug mithi / Pabilin tang pakaylapon ning kinabuhi, / Ang iyang bantog nga tabanog padayong maglupad / kuyog sa adlaw-adlaw tang pagpanimpalad.
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