29 april 2012

Tanaga: A Filipino Treasure

As a Filipino poet, it is my responsibility be familiar with the Philippine culture. It is a prerogative to me to know the hidden treasures and precious heritages of my own country (especially the special features of its literature), to treasure them, to be proud of them, and to show the world their beauty and worth. And so as to accomplish this responsibility, let me introduce to you an example of Filipino literary heritage called tanaga.

Also called luwa in *Ilonggo, a tanaga is a **pre-colonial Filipino short poem that traditionally contains philosophical ideas and views about the world, events, people, etc. It consists of four ***heptasyllabic lines and traditionally follows an AAAA rhyme scheme (that is, the lines should end with same rhyme). It was probably used by pre-Filipino elderly people as proverbs that teach morals to their young ones along with stories and myths. It was about to become a dying form of literary feature but is undergoing through a revival by Cultural Center of the Philippines and National Commission of the Arts, by some Filipino literary movements/groups, such as PinoyPoets.com, and by some individual poets such as Angelo Suarez (http://tanaga.blogspot.com/), Eladio Abquina (http://www.emanilapoetry.com/writersgroup/index.php/tanaga-revival/), and, of course, me (http://www.poemhunter.com/yehoshua-ben-peleh-shimy-onay/poems/page-3/?a=a&l=1&y=)

Example:
AAAA Rhyme Scheme:
Pagbuhay Ng Tanaga (Tanaga Revival)
Written and translated by Eladio Abquina

Sarili nating sining
Na kilanli’y nalibing.
Kaya’t akin nang hiling
Ibig dito’y, magturing!

(I point this to our own art
Where repute was took apart
So now this wish, I impart,
May it be fond to your heart!)

AABB Rhyme Scheme:
Tanaga 13: Bagong Buhay (New Life)
Written and translated by Yehoshua ben Peleh Shimy'onay

Ang buhay na kay Cristo
Ay 'sang buhay na bago;
'Di na tulad ng dati
Ang inalay sa Hari.

(A life to Christ is given
Is a life that is diff'rent;
No more same as the old things
What is offered to the King.)

ABAB Rhyme Scheme:
Luha sa Labi (Tears in Lips)
Written by Rogelio Mangahas; English translation by Shimy'onay

Bakit ako may luha
Sa aking mga labi?
May lihim ang makata
At musa yaong susi

(Why have these joyless tears been
On both of my lips so blue?
Poet has something hidden
And a muse must be the clue.)

AABA Rhyme Scheme:
Tanaga 3 & 4 - Tagumpay (Victory)
Written and translated by Shimy'onay

Hindi sa kalakasan
Ni sa kapangyarihan
Kundi sa Espiritu
Ng Dios ng kabanalan.

'Pagkat lama'y papanaw
At mundo'y magugunaw
Ngunit ang 'Spiritu Santo'y
Ating wagas na ilaw!

(It's not by human flesh's might
Nor by its power to fight
But by the Holy Spirit
Of the Holy God of light.

For human flesh will falter
And universe will flicker
But the Spirit of Jesus'
Our Shekinah forever!)

Traditional tanagas were not given titles as they are to speak for themselves. However, modern tanaga writers may opt to give titles for them. Traditionally written in Tagalog, tanaga restorers promotes this poetry in foreign languages. A modern tanaga may also follow other rhyme scheme such as AABB, ABAB, ABBA,ABBB, ABAA, AABA, AAAB, ABCD, etc.

Yehoshua ben Peleh Shimy'onay's Tanaga:
Here are the common features of my tanagas:
-They follow four rhyme schemes: AAAA, AABB, ABAB or AABA
-They all contain Hebrew parallelism (a must for my poems).
-They are written in Tagalog, having English translations and still retaining their syllabication and rhyme scheme.



*A Philippine dialect spoken in Iloilo.
**That is, before the Spanish Colonial Period of the Philippines
***Meaning, seven syllables

(Please like my FB page for this: http://www.facebook.com/tanaganiyehoshua)

- Yehoshua ben Peleh Shimy'onay :D



other prose: A Sunday Night Note: A Warning Against Worldliness and Exhortation for Godliness, The Folly of Seeking Satisfaction in Sin, Why Would a Loving God Condemn People to Hell?, A Friday Night Prayer, How Do I Know That I Am Saved, Four Things About Jesus A Story of Miracles Reminded Me Of, God's Saving Grace for the Infants, If You Hear His Voice, Do Not Harden Your Heart!, Two Major Misconceptions About Salvation in Today's Christianity, About the Doctrine of Trinity, Why Study Theology If You're Not a Even Pastor?, About Christian Perfection, You Only See Me When You Need Me!, A Personal Reflection on Father's Day, Why Gamble?, When a King Sheds Blood, a Kingdom Is Established, Faith and Common Sense, The Love of Money, Does God Want Us to be Perfect?, In Dealing with the "Lucky" Chain Messages, A Mother's Day Lesson from a Sermon and a Song, Can a person be saved from his sins by the prayers of others?, Brainwashed Blind Follower?, I Hate to Be Single, but I Still Have to Wait!, Another Suggestion for NYers Who Want to Ban Balut in NY, Why Can't the Rich Be Satisfied with Their Money?, To The New Yorkers Who Hate Our Street Delicacy Called 'Balut', About Repentance - My Own Renewed View of It, Should We Fear Death?, The Value of Life, A Sudden Thought About God, Idolatry, & Atheism, Faith In Humanity?, Heart Vs. Mind: Which One Should You Really Trust?, Something More Important Than Pentecostalism, My Personal Problem with Piety & Servitude, Why Porn is NOT For Real Men, Grace and Truth: A Side of the Truth You Probably Don't Want to be True, Should Christians really listen to rock music?, A Friendly Reminder Regarding Literary Evangelism, FOR PROTESTANTS ONLY, No Religion is Above the Truth!, I Do Not Despise Haters But I Despise Their Hatred, Gracious Truthfulness, Born Poor To Make Us Rich, Philosophy Of Man & His Depravity, A Note On Women's History Month, MY LOVE LETTER TO ALL LADIES, The Poem "In Our Own Eden: A Prince's Song To His Young Wife" - The Author's Commentary Notes, I Guess The Good Old School Days Are Gone Forever, WAS IT REALLY CURIOSITY THAT KILLED THE DOG?, Insights from Acts 12 (III), Insights from Acts 12 (II), Insights from Acts 12 (I), Effects of Sin (Insights from Genesis 3-5), BAYANI, Man: The Most Special Creation of God, Sovereign Yet Restraining, A Dream by Yehudah (Jhuart Dizon), Attitude Check!, Words of Wisdom, Pisiya: Little Gems Yet to be Discovered, Tanaga: A Filipino Treasure,

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