Mga sangkap ng langis
ni Armineonila M.
Mga sahog sa pagluto:
Isang ginagad na diploma
Walong sakong ari-arian
Pitong tasang tinimping luha
Tatlong basong pangarap (dinikdik)
Limang pirasong dignidad (tinadtad)
Sampung kilong pawis (sinala)
Isang kurot ng pagkutya
Mga hakbang sa paggawa:
Tunawin ang galon-galong
kaluluwang nagsakripisyo
para sa pamilya’t bayan,
kaluluwang ikinahon
ng globalisasyon
at nanlilisik na pangil
ng kapitalismo
sa kawaling disyerto;
Tustahin ang dating musmos
na hele ng Nanay at Tatay
na nagsibak pa ng panggatong
pangmatrikulang niluto
sa palasyong de-kalawang;
Tunawin, haluin, kayurin
hanggang sa lumapot
ang ‘di makatarungan,
ang pag-aalipusta
upang maitayo ang gusali
na’ng siyang hugis ay ganid;
Timplahin, lunurin
ang pangakong hindi na
lalayag pa at tatatakan
ang pagkatao ng alyas,
yaong tunog “bayani”
upang hindi malasap
ang pag-alingasaw
ng amoy pang-aalipin;
Paulit-ulit na timplahin,
haluin ng kalyuhing palad
ang pagkauhaw ng iba
sa likidong-yaman at parangal
kahit salat sa bayad
na ginhawang pasalubong;
Sundin ang patakarang ito
nang walang pag-alma
o pagkuwestiyon man lang,
bente-kwatro oras.
~o~
Translation:
The Recipe for Oil
by Armineonila M.
The ingredients:
1 forged diploma
8 sacks of property
7 cups of whimper
3 glasses of ambition (chopped)
5 pcs. Of dignity (shredded)
10 kilos of sweat (filtered)
A pinch of nepotism
The procedure:
Slowly melt a gallon of sacrificed souls
Of family and country
Souls inside the box
Of globalisation
And the piercing fangs
Of capitalism
In the desert pan.
Cook until brownish
The infantile lullaby
Of Mama and Papa
Who chopped a forest
Of tuition fees from
The palace of rust.
Melt, stir, scrape
Until condensed
The unjust, the vilification
Built in a fortress
Of which shape is greed.
Mix and drown
The promise of immobility
That’s impressed in the self
An alias that sounds like “hero”
To cover up the stench
Of subjugation.
Mix over and again
With calloused palm
The thirst of the other
On liquefied riches and recognition
Even by poor earnings
That take home a dream.
Simply follow these steps
Without objection
Nary a question
24 hours a day.
________________
*The original text in Filipino first appeared in the chapbook published by KM64 (Kilometers 64 Writers Collective) titled Ped Xing: Tula’y Tawiran (First Issue: Labourers), ed. Stum Casia. May 2014, pp. 23-24, Philippines.
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