Kamayo in Spirit

N.B. - The Kamayo poem after this article was written in 2008.


One thing I share in common with my father is our growing interest in writing Kamayo poetry.  Two years ago, when I asked him to write a poem for the Balik-Marihatag newsletter, I saw his face lit up with excitement. He grabbed his pen at once and wrote a series of metrical writing in Kamayo – a poem he entitled “Layat-layatan”. It was an amusing poem of two parts, uniquely Marihatagnon for it contained names like Pisaw, Tarin, Puwahan, Mantika, Liswit, Kagwang – all twit names we use to call someone instead of their first names, sometimes a collective “layat” for a certain clan.

The eternal Omagon spirit has been witness to the unfolding 
of generations.

The first part of his poem tells of the cheerfulness of Marihatagnons, lighthearted and placid even at the mundanity of rural, commonplace life.

                                Sa una na panahon

                                Ang kanatu mga ginikanan

                                Kalipay ang mag layat-layatan

                                Abu da haw magkatipon da gani siran

The last lines in the second part were pieces of  imagination, a fictitious product of a Marihatagnon’s mind who remains unflustered by layat-layatan.

                                Gapabuto ng Bulog

                                Kinargahan ng pulbura

                                Adto pasingud sa tubig

                                Yangabungog ang mga Pisaw, 

                                Boriring, ug Latab

                                Yangahug ang mga Bayabas

                                Itangag ng Kwahaw

                                Ihuwesan ng Buwakaw

I remember writing an entry to a Kamayo-poem writing competition sponsored by the hosts of the 2002 Pakighimamat. The competition received a good number of entries and we were made to read our works on stage.

I take pride in that first literary piece I wrote in Kamayo, and I’m sure the many others who wrote their works must have felt the same – a sense of ownership of each word in every line, for we speak the language that represents the heart and soul of a Kamayo. 

Writing in the vernacular is marked by profound insight, as one is able to go deep into each word and its meaning. The fluidity in expressing the ideas is lucid for the language is embedded deep in the person.

Indeed, there is “there is truth in spirit”. And that spirit of the language that we speak defines us, creating an embodiment of what Marihatagnons are truly like.  
                           

                                                               

                                Hain Da Kaw? 

                                Pira pa ka tuig ang yalabay

                                Sukad pagbiya mo

                                Ani sa lang ako… gatagad, yanghamay

                                Basin kadi mabalik pa kaw

                                Kay amo say gisaad mo

                               Yauso ra lang and cellphone ug text

                               Wara sa gayud lagbong mo na yabalik

                               Basin matahay da lang ang suba sa Tugbungan

                               Diri mo gayud ako kadumduman

                               Dayaw pa ang hinangkan

                               Mauli haw mahapon sa punoan

                              Haw diri da kaw gayud kanako

                               Pagpatigam lang…

                              Sarig kay ang buhok ko sa alipudhan

                               Maihap da kuman