Ambet

Hi Ambet

(Ifugao Tuwali version)

Hi Ambet munbubuyya

La’lato na hi kaungana

Hi habal di malutlutabbong an latung

Itab, aba, ya balatung

Ninomnom nay alyon inana

“Ipiphod mun muntudo’ ya munbaha

Te naligligat di munbalballangya”

Naunud di intugun inana

Nipapto’ met peman di adalna

Mu adwani ya abu ot ahi hiya umanamut

Te hi siyudad di awadan di ngunu an ningamut

Napnuan hi amamlong hi inana

Te nadngol di intugutuguna

Mu nan habal ya kumanoga

Te maid moy Ambet an mamallangya

Ambet

(A  translation in English)

Ambet was viewing memories

Pictures from her childhood

On the farm that thrives with beans

Beans, yam and mongoes

She  remembered what her mother told her

“Do well with your writing and reading

For it is more difficult to hold the trowel”

What her mother told her was followed

She finished her degree in college

But it is only now that she came home

For it is only in the city where she could work

Her mother was filled with joy

For what she dreamt came true

But the farm keeps on crying

For there is no Ambet to till the soil

Nakkayang din eta nunhapitan...

This is the cover page of the anthology from the regions of the country, published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).  The writings from Northern Luzon, in which some Ifugao words were included, is edited by Dr. Priscilla Macansantos and Francis Macansantos.  The book was launched at UP Baguio on July 1, 2016.

When I was informed that some Ifugao words I have written were included in an anthology, I looked forward to be at the book's launch.  I thought that what was included was among those I submitted to one of the editors of this anthology some for years ago.  But at the launch, I was a little bit surprised that it was some work I have posted in this blog that was included:

Ifugao Word: Impuhuwa’, Taynan daa man (Sweetheart, am leaving you)

After scanning the page where this work was placed, a song I heard from my childhood came to mind as this has actually inspired the above mentioned poem.  I actually like the song because of its humor. Many attribute the lyrics to Mr. Ramon Dulnuan who happens to be the uncle of my wife.

The presumed title was Nakkayang din eta nunhapitan.  The lyric goes this way:

Nakkayang din eta nunhapitan
An alyon tan eta punadduman
Mu nakayyang da da amam i inam
An paukat day naha'gudan

(Refrain: Yahahahaha! Yihihihhihi!
Anakkyang tuwali din paukat da amam!)

Ot ngadan moy atonta
Ya ten nilun numpohhodanta
Bumtik tamod Manila
Ot agge da aya inila
Te maid ha adalda

Diet' waday imbabaleta
Ya ahita aya numplesenta
Ida amata ya hi inata
Ot pohdopohdon dabo aya

This is my rough English translation:

Oh, that which we've agreed on
Our supposed plant to get married
But Oh! the demand of your parents
For me to bring in some hoofed animals

(Refrain: Yahahahaha! Yihihihihi!
Oh wow the demand of your parents)

What will we do now
Since we're in love with each other
Let's elope to Manila
A place they don't know
For they never went to school

When we have a child
That's the time we present ourselves
To our father and mother
And for sure they will like it

Tulu an Buhi

What follows is a rough translation in Tagalog of the Ifugao poem contained in the above jar shapes.  Tulu an Buhi means "The Three Jars".  This was my first attempt on shaped poetry.  The poem appeared on the first Ubbog Journal of the Ubbog Cordillera based in Baguio City.

  Salin ng “Tulu an Buhi”

I

Kaligayahan

Palaganapin

Ilabas na ang pamahan

Upang gamitin natin buhusan

Ng alak, na noon pa iginaralgal

Ating pagharapharapan, pagkilalanan

Ating pagsasaluhan, pagbibigaybigayan

Saan na ang mga mahimig kung kumanta

Umpisahan na ang pag-awit at ang liwliwa

Saan na ang mga marunong sa paggansa

At kami ay sasabay sa mga pagsasayaw

Ating pahabain ang pag-uusap-usap

At maraming laman ang gusi

Upang kung may naihain na

Maging mabuti ang ating panlasa

Ng mga lamang loob at nilagang buto

Lasahan na ang alak bago ang pag-uwi

Mas matamis pa sa tinimplang asukal

Ligaya ang sanhi n gating pagkarito

Ngunit itong alak ang magpapasarap pa nito

II

Baya, Baya (Alak, Alak)

Agos ng kalangitan

Nagmula sa malagong ani ng palay

Biyaya ni Maknongan sa mga mga pamayanan

Lebadura na galing sa laya at halamang onwad

Kapag dumating sa takdang panahon, naging malasa

Pampalipas ng pagkapagod sa pag-alaga ng mga bukirin

Pampalimot ng kapaguran at mga sari-saring hinaing

Siya ring pambuklod ng naglaganap na mga kaanak

Mga mismong kadugo at kaanak ng kabiyak

Dahilang tawagin ang kapitbahay at kabyan

Sanhi ng pakikipagngiti ta pakikipagkilanlan

Dahilan ng pagkatay ng baboy o kalabaw

Upang lasahan ang bunga ng pinagpawisan

Sige, bayuhin niyo ng husto ang palay

Upang maging maganda ang magiging bubud

Pagbutihin ang paghurno

Lagyan ng lebadura at pangbutihang takpan

Malapit na ang mga kasla, gotad, at ahitulu

Upang ating ilabas at mapagsaluhan

III

Nakalasing

Ang mata hindi na nakakalayo

Ang tindig ay hindi na deretso

Pagbuhat sa sarili ay hindi na rin tuwid

Kapag tuyo na ang mga pamhan at gusi

Malakas na ang pananalita, may mga sigaw at tili

Ngitngit ang naiibunga na ng mga usapan at kantyawan

Nailalabas na mga itak, mga inasa pati na rin mga inamag na

Nakalimutan ang kaligayahan at pagkakapatiran

Naipalit ang poot at lumang nagkakagalitan

Dahil ang hinog na na alak ay kumagat

Sa mga musmos pang buto at ugat

Ang matipunong katawan kapag nakarami

Hindi mapigilan ang galit mula sa budhi

Hindi nito kilala ang kaputol ng pusod

Wala nang hangganan ang pakikitalo at poot

Mas mabuti pa ang mga nakauwi na

Dahil tulog na, nakakumot pa

Ngunit ang mga naiwan at siyang naghuling lagok

Mga sugat, gasgas, bukol ang nariyan at narito