Babae Akong Namumuhay Nang Mag-isa by Joi Barrios Babae akong namumuhay nang mag-isa, hiwalay sa asawa, matandang dalaga, kerida, puta. Ang aking pag-iisa’y batik na itinuring, latay na pabaon ng nakaraan, pilat na taglay habambuhay. May pagsusulit na di ko nakayanan, may timbangan sumukat sa aking pagkukulang, May pagsusuring kumilatis sa pagkatanso ng aking pagkatao. Lagi’y may paghuhusga saaking pag-iisa. Ang di nila nakita’y Akin ang pasya. Maliit na kalayaang Hinahamak ng iba pang Pagkapiit at pagkaalipin Sa akiing lipunan. Ang pag-iisa’y di pagtalikod sa pag-ibig, o pagnanasa o pananagutan. Hindi ito pagsuko Sa katuparan ng mga pangako O pagkakatutuo ng mga pangarap. Hindi pagtanaw sa buhay Nang hubad sa pag-asa. Paghangad ko lamang Na kamay ko ang magpatakbo sa aking orasan; Puso at isipan and sumulat ng aking kasaysayan, Sarili ko ang humubog sa aking kabuuan. Hayaan akong mabuhay nang payapa, nang hindi ikinakabit sa aking pangalan
ang mga tawag na pagkutya: puta, kerida matandang dalaga, hiwalay sa asawa, babae man akong namumuhay nang mag-isa. ANALYSIS The woman in the story had a troubled past that had her scarred for life. this incident wrote a false impression on her. she was treated unfairly by the people around her because of her solitude. despite what people call her, she is undaunted that her dreams will be fulfilled and that it will all come true...even if she's separated, an oldmaid, a mistress and a whore. (Don Gaoiran) The poem speaks of the past of an old woman. Binansagan siya ng sari saring pangalan. And the past still haunts her but that doesn't stop her from proving her worth in the society. Lahat ng mga napagdaanan niya ay may mga dahilan na kapag ibinahagi niya sa lipunan mali pa rin o masama para sa kanila. Maaaring sa hirap ng buhay napilitan siyang pumasok sa isang trabahong kinailangang walang malisya o pakikiapid sa iba. Gumamit ng tao para sa kanyang kaginhawahan. Hindi naging maganda ang propesyon o ibang aspeto ng kanyang pamumuhay. Pinili niya ang landas na ito maaari dahil sa kagipitan o kawalan na ng paraan. Inisip niya na kinailangan niyang makasurvive sa hamon ng buhay. Pero kapalit nun ay ang tingin ng tao sa kanya. Gusto niyang pabayaan na siya ng tao at wag ng pagisipan pa ng ibang bagay dahil buhay naman niya ito at siya ang pangunahing aktor ng bawat kabanata. Para sa kanya anong alam ng tao sa totoong istorya ng naging buhay niya. Ipaliwanag man niya may posibilidad ba na mabago ang pagtingin sa kanya? Nakadikit sa kanya ang kanyang prinsipyo. maaring ito ay ang prinsipyo ng pakikipagsapalaran sa buhay na hindi malinaw ang direksyon. (Ballesteros, Josephine A. 4H4) "ang pag iisa ay di ibig sabihin ng pagtalikod sa mga responsibilidad tulad ng pagibig, pagnanasa o pananagutan, hindi ito pagsuko "kundi ang nais lamang nya ay siya ang humubog ng kanyang buong pag katao at mamuhay ng payapa na walang ikinakabit sa kanyang pagkatao tulad ng kerida, puta, matandang dalaga at hiwalay sa asawa. Hiling sa lipunan ay sanay unawain ang kanyang pamumuhay na mag-isa. (Sandy Rose Arabia)
Pagkat Lalaki Ka by Michael Coroza I Pagkat lalaki ka, Anak, Matuto kang umiyak. Mapait langgasin ng luha ang gunita O ang bagong sugat ng huling pagkadapa Subalit malinis at subok ang bisa Ng luha sa pagtanggal ng mga mikrobyo Sa isip, puso at buong pagkatao. Pagkat ikaw ay lalaki, Matuto kang magsisi, Dagok sa danal ang pag-amin sa kasalanan Ngunit sadyang walang may monopolyo ng katwiran Hayaan mo na ikaw ay usigin, husgahan, Sa ganyan mo mahahanap ang angkop na sangkap Upang ang iyong pagkatao'y maganap. II Minana mo, Anak, Ang laksang pribilehiyo Na pinagpasasaan Ng mga nagtindig ng torre ng Babel, Piramide, Koliseo, Ziggurat, Templo, Ang mga imperyo. Iyo rin ang luwalhating Tinatamasa nila Sa mga maskuladong Pahina ng istorya. Ngunit, Anak, dumadaloy rin Sa iyong katauhan Ang mapagmalupit Nilang lohika't pangalan Na nandarahas, gumagahis, Nagpipiit sa iyong ina't Sa lahat ng ina't babae sa daigdig. Iluha mo, Anak, Ang kanilang nakaraan. Pagsisihan mo, Anak, Ang kanilang kamalian. III Ang babaeng kakambal
At altar ng lupang Nagluwal, kumandili't Nagpalaki sa lahat At siya ring hantungan, Aangkin sa labi Ng lahat sa wakas Ay bina-bahagi,Inari, inararo, Ginawang pundasyon Ng lahat ng edipisyo Subalit nasadlak Sa mantsa ng dugo Sa kumot ng halaga, Ang silbi sa kasaysaya'y Winalang-saysay at binura. Tayo ngayo'y nabubuhay Na may huwad na malay Na moral, lohikal, at legal Na napapairal ng lisyang katarungan: Sa pedestal ng ating Mga pagpapahalaga, Walang gantimpala Sa sakit ng panganganak, Wala ring pabuya Sa pagod ng pagmumulat Ang babaeng matapos Magbigay ng sarili Sa anak ay naiiwang Basyong walang silbi. IV Pagkat ikaw ay lalaki, Matutuo kang pumatay. Kitlin mo sa iyong sugat Ang huwad na malay. Sa akademya mo na lang Ipatistis ang laman At dugo ng huwad Na malay mong pinaslang. Durugin mo't ilibing Ang mga kalansay Pagkat lalaki kang Magbabago ng kulay.
ANALYSIS
Humility is when you are humbled by others and you bear it for something greater
Literary Theory -
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The poem shows a feminist criticism. There are lines which provide patriarchal ideology. Patriarchal ideology provides sets of ideas or beliefs that emphasize man’s aptitude to do something better than of women. Despite of that, there is also male-female equality presented in the poem. The poem also focuses on the relationships between the genders. If the poem is going to be interpreted, man will be the first to be given emphasis. Female capacity might always be compared to men. Those things are proof that the poem provides feminist criticism.
This poem is a male persona’s tribute to femininity and womanhood because the writer (Michael Coroza) aims to bring into light the different responsibilities of man to make up for the mistakes of the past generations when it comes to male-female equality (Iluha mo anak ang kanilang nakaraan, Pagsisihan mo anak ang kanilang kamalian), despite having privileges just for being a man (Iyo din ang luwalhating tinatamasa nila sa mga maskuladong pahina ng istorya). This is because assumptions from the past have always credited women to be inferior to men. The poem shows what women are capable of doing and that men should be considerate of the abilities women possess as well, like giving birth and taking care of a child, and that present perceptions on equality can be changed with the right attitude, that being a woman is not a hindrance to participating in activities where men “excel better”. Instead of saying, “I can do that because I’m a man and you can’t because you’re a woman.”, why not “We can do this together because we are both capable of getting the job done.”? If male supremacists tried to be empathic of women, like what the poem is trying to impart, the females wouldn’t have a very hard time trying to prove their worth to men because the male populace would know what the women are trying to show and would respect the actions done by these women. Men and women are, in truth, on level grounds. “Pagka’t Lalaki Ka” encourages men to have a paradigm shift from the “Me Tarzan, You Jane” notion to the acceptance of women as men’s capable counterpart. I.A • •
Men should be true to themselves. They should show their true emotions and accept the fact that being vulnerable sometimes isn’t a bad thing. In the process of accepting weakness, men will learn to become stronger.• Letting out emotions is an effective way of telling people that Viriliter Agite, “Be a Man!”
I. B •
As men of integrity, there will be times that your point in argument is against you.• Humility is not measured when you humble yourself.
II.A • •
Men, from the beginning of time have been established as the superior being in the sexes. Michael M. Coroza tries to explain that men has had the privilege of being the social foundation in terms of being granted favors.
II.B •
This explains that back in the past, men are always perceived as the protagonist in society: the one who should earn for a living, the protector of the family. It tries to establish the good reputation that men has gained over the past generations.
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The advantageous past that man had in society is always reminded to the men of present as feminism tries to make it equal for them what they were not able to gain centuries ago.
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We should be remorseful at the fact that, let us admit it, men had it going easier for them. That back in the past, women were the oppressed ones. But the point being, past is past. Women should not go prancing around telling the men of today what the men of yesterday did wrong.
II.C
II.D •
III.A-B • Here, Coroza explains the side of the women. That they too had responsibilities that are the same, if not graver, as that of men. That they also have obligations that most of the time we took for granted, not knowing that women still needed the dignity that they longed for and deserve. III.C • It shows the painful process of childbirth, showing that women sacrifice time and their being just so to continue the circle of life. That even though we are in the midst of a world that has somehow diminished social ignorance, women still choose to go through these tribulations for no credit. IV.A • We should remove the notion that men are ignorant and unappreciative of the things that women do. We should learn to involve ourselves and sometimes put ourselves in their situation.• Coroza refers here to end the ignorance once and for all. IV.B-C • The basis of manliness should not be determined on physical strength alone, but rather it is a synergistic effort between a man’s struggle to succeed in his interior life, in his intellectuality and his being in general. • The men of present should not leave the strength the men of past possessed, but should consider the efforts that women put as well.
