Press Release
March 7, 2010

Villar waxes poetic on richness of Filipino culture

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar took time out from his hectic campaign schedule to participate in poetry-reading program aired on DWBR on Saturday.

According to Villar, he has been looking forward to take part in something creative and artistic such as reading poems, one of his interests in his younger years.

"I like reading poems, especially in Filipino. I find reading poems relaxing. Of course, you feel good when you can compose or create a beautiful poem," said Villar. According to Villar, if he is elected President, he would consider reviving the cultural heritage of the country.

"We need to highlight our literary and artistic prowess. We have to revive, kailangang ibalik natin ang kultura natin. Kaya ako naman ay kung papalarin talagang yun ang aking balak. Maganda ang ating mga tula, ang ating mga awitin. Dapat yun ay mailabas natin, mapalawak natin," added Villar.

Villar encourages the youth to try their hand in writing poems, letters, short stories, and novels even in the highly digital age. He said he would particularly renew focus and attention on Filipino literature.

"Noong kami'y bata kasi puro kami Tagalog. May mga nag-i-English din naman sa Tondo at Divisoria...pero nakakalungkot lamang na kapag tumatagal bagama't binalik na sa Filipino ang medium of instruction...hindi pinag-uusapan ng mga tao ang pagbasa ng tula ngayon. Puro sa English na, sa Filipino wala," said Villar.

Villar recited several poems, in Filipino and English, on the radio program. Below was one of them:

No'ng isang hapon

Ikaw ay nakadungaw

At waring inip na lagay ng araw

Ang ayos mo noon ay nakalarawan

Sa puso kong ito tigib kalumbayan

Anumang gawin ko'y di na mapawi

Ang naging anyo mong pagkayumi-yumi

Itong aking pusong nagdadalamhati'y

Tinuruan mo pang umibig na tangi

Kung nung unang dako 'di ko nasabi sa iyo

Ang aking tunay na pagkasi ay pagka't aking puso

Ay napipi sa harap na dikit na kawili-wili

Sa ngayo'y narito at yung busabos

Ang aking panulat at aking pag-irog

Ang aking panitik walang pagkapagod

Ang aking pag-ibig walang pagkatapos

Kung pangarapin ko ang lamlam ng araw

At naging anyo mo sa pagkadungaw ay minsa'y sumagi

Sa aking isipan ikaw kaya ang aking maging Paraluman.

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