Monday, June 27, 2011

HAIL SABTANG!

HAIL SABTANG!

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

For a year Batanes was second home to me

In the early 80s upon the ascent of my first job

Building communities and spurring livelihoods

Packaging northern Cagayan & Batanes into one

Of Human Settlements ministry fame twas

So on one of my stays in idyllic Batanes

In a popular inn in Basco near my diva Love

Made usual rounds of Basco and Mahatao

Of Uyugan and Ivana round the highway built

So picturesque and grand is view of sea and hills

Of cows and carabaos going by their chores

Lush vegetation and farms spruced to charm

Till one day I decided to leave Batan for awhile

Waiting for a boat to cross the channel to Sabtang

Treacherous a channel ‘tis the world’s most dangerous

Quaffed half a small gin bottle to booze my fears down

As rivers seem to cross by the seas in both directions

And then upon arrival of the boat my knees still jerked

Motoring fast yet tricky a route we climbed waves

Upon waves as tall as seven feet each twas hard to see

The destination of this unholy sojourn till we arrived

I almost kissed this soil in Sabtang town

Privileged a young man I felt so great to be there

Hail Sabtang! Be thou challenge to the enthused souls

To marvel in thy land cross tough channel without repose

Hail Sabtang! Scion land of Mother Mu!

[Philippines, 24 March 2011]

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Monday, June 20, 2011

SAGADA

SAGADA

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

Scheduled to fly to fly to California in due time

I decided to do holiday in Sagada before that

On a day in Summer 2000 passed by Ifugao first

To stay the night in picturesque Banawe

A return visit it was in this town d’gourmet

Till the following day I motored to Sagada

There to be greeted by Bulol the Silent Watcher

Spent couples of days to relaxingly walk

Visited the underground caves where ancestors lay

Awed at the marks of sea levels in cavernous walls

Visited bars and on a night sang along with acoustics

Bearing along with me theosophy books to read

And meditating too for so many an hour schedules

Cleansing myself with drinks of local herbal tea

And communicating with the Hierarchs for counsel

Whether shall I leave Filipinas for overseas calls

Snap shots and memories filling my memory bank

I left thereafter and passed by Banawe again for a night

To take stock of the future days awaiting me

And thank Bulol the Silent Watcher for the holy stay

[Philippines, 17 March 2011]

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

NEVADA

NEVADA

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

Driving along freeway 10 towards the borders of Nevada

Way back late June ’01 to spend the July 4 holiday there

A truly hot sultry space twas upon crossing the borders

Where temp stood at 115 Fahrenheit exacerbating

The dreary looks of backward small towns on the borders

Yet we went on to pass along the famed Las Vegas

And onwards passed by a native American site

To quench our thirst and buy some ethnic stuff

Drove onwards again till we reached Lake Hoover

Spending thus almost six days on flat bottom big boats

We almost a hundred peoples all a family circle

Swam, did boat-ride, snorkel & dived, barbecued

Beers after beers to quench amid sultry days

Yet at night star-gazed the wondrous cloudless sky

Sang the blues & country & rock the day too

There was no boredom at all across the many days

Fun with our circle from babes and kids to adults

Spiced our moments with tons of stories

At times blended with arguments on social issues

Till it was time to go and cruise the same hot freeways

Temp now climbing up to 120 Fahrenheit like stove

Yet we drove on back and passed by Las Vegas again

Hit we were by sand dunes gushed by gales

But we survived and went on motoring back to California

Till finally resting we were all to exhilarate the wonderment

Of the Nevada trail so pregnant with frills and funs

[Philippines, 11 March 2011]

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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

CALIFORNIA BEAMING

CALIFORNIA BEAMING

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

In November 2000 and again from ‘01 till ‘02

Did I visit and make home of southern California

Amazed at the prosperity and near-perfected planning

Did I sing along many times ‘California Dreaming’

Making rounds of over fifty of its cities big and small

From Los Angeles and eastern coasts to Nevada’s borders

And downwards to San Diego couples of times spent

Visiting the border to Mexico viewable from the state

So did I come to love someone too

A noble lady from San Bernardino clue

Who treasured me so much she made me speak

Before university students eager for Light

Lake Mead, wild boar hunting, San Pedro tour

Huntington offshore speed boating & fishing too

Sta Monica tour with beers, swims & slot machines

Venice cooling by the coast & buyin’ crafts along

Partying with family circle & grassroots workers

Drinking tequila and Mexican beers to company

And when the opportune moment came

I did grab grassroots work via church work

Counsel & listen to young adults and singles

And making rounds of seminars in diverse parishes

Residing in Ramona’s apartments with dad & sibs

On weekends to party and visit Ontario Mills sometimes

A few times post-party to star gaze for shooting stars

Do gym work right inside our home village

California beaming is what I made of it

The warm peoples of the state to stay in my bosom

A second home truly it was beyond dreaming

[Philippines, 04 March 2011]

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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

CALAMBA SHRINE & HOT SPRINGS

CALAMBA SHRINE & HOT SPRINGS

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

A privilege it was to visit Calamba many times

From 80s through early 2000s did I come to strut

The glorious home of noblest Asian hero Jose Rizal

A resource speaker for educational tour companies

Accompanied by fellow patriotic professors

We who once served club Education Forum

Ennobling tasks as teachers were thereafter tapped

To showcase Rizal Shrine and Rizal cults to listeners

Enthused students and adults from diverse schools

So did I visit Calamba many times to bath

In its famed hot springs shaped by tour resorts

Into swimming pools warm waters flowed like lake

Bathing in the waters burnt down germs and fungi

In the company of social activists and pals

From among university professors of UP fame

Shrine & hot springs will always be in my heart

To treasure moments of thought sharing and baths

Beacon of Rizal staying in my psyche till old age

[Philippines, 28 February 2011]

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