Ilokano Verses

Puris ken Salugsog (Thorn and Splinter)
By Abe V Rotor

Biag ti hustisia, no saan nga pabor kenka,
Ad-adu’t agin-awa.
Justice, if not in your favor, likely favors others more.

Idardarirag, laplapusanan,
Akurkurang.
Exaggerated stories are wanting and false.

Naulimek, ulep nangisit, nataray,
Bagyo umay.
Calm and swift passing dark clouds,
prelude of a storm

Agringringngat, umang-anges,
Matmaturog.
The parched earth actually is sleeping.
(This is called fallowing.)

Agkakabsat, maymaysa iti ama,
Panagkasangay.
Siblings, same birthday, one father, how is that?
(Applies to insects and other lower
organisms)

Sanga’t ngato, silo nga agbibitin.
Mayang-angin.

Noose up on a tree sways in the wind.
(It's a reminder of the consequence of a crime.)

Aggidyat to dagiti agpapada.
Kalpasanna.
Things that are the same end up differently.

Sakbay nga natay, umul-uli idiay bantay.
Nakadadunen.
If he died reaching for the summit, surely he is there now.

Ag-riing manen dagiti ruru-ot,
Sagut gurruod.
Lightning and thunder wakes the weeds.

x x x

Self-Administered Test on Plato’s Republic and Passion of Saints (True or False, 25 Items)

Self-Administered Test on Plato’s Republic and Passion of Saints (True or False, 25 Items)

By Dr Abe V Rotor

1. Plato is the greatest student of Socrates so that philosophers would quip, Plato is Socrates, and Socrates is Plato.

2. Plato’s Republic is a Utopia which means a perfect society that does not actually exist.

3. Singapore is the closest society of the Republic.

4. Hitler’s Germany can be compared with Plato’s Republic.

5. Darwinism – survival of the fittest – is also applied in human society, but touches ethico-moral issues.

6. “Christianity is Plato for the people,” says German philosopher Nitche.

7. “Everything is just a footnote of Plato,” says philosopher Alfred North Whitehead.

8. Socrates – one of the most respected citizens of Athens was condemned to die by no less than the leaders of this greatest city state of the world at that time.

9. A candidate for sainthood is well studied by the Church for miracles for which he or she is attributed. One miracle is sufficient for canonization.

10. Joan of Arc, the patron saint of France was canonized 100 years after her burning at the stake.

11. Joan of Arc was condemned to die of witchcraft by one arm of the Church and canonized by the other arm, so to speak.

12. The choice for the Nobel Prize for peace was narrowed down between Pope John Paul II, and an Iranian woman lawyer Ebadi. Easily the Pope got the much coveted prize.

13. All saints really existed in flesh and lived with the people.

14. San Claus is a contemporary mythological character whose origin is said to be the North Pole.

15. The catacombs in Rome were hideouts of the early Christians. They were underground villages.

16. Kings never became saints.

17. Pagan literary mean people living on the countryside.

18. The canonization of Maximilian Kolby who offered to be executed in place of a fellow prisoner who pleaded for his life because he had a wife and children, marked the new concept of sainthood – that of charity.

19. We will never know who and how many saints there are in the world. Somewhere, sometime, someone is a saint as lonely and obscure as the unknown soldier.

20. Apparently, as portrayed on media, there were more people who mourned for Princess Diana than Mother Teresa who died and were buried almost at the same time.

21. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, when she died automatically became saint by virtue of having been long regarded as a living saint.

22. St. Paul witnessed the stoning to death of St. Stephen when he was already an apostle.

23. There are very few people who turn completely around from their wicked ways; one of them who became said was St. Thomas Moore.

24. Christ tells us, “Carry your cross,” which is the best way to imitate him.

25. The fastest growing religion today is Christianity.

ANSWERS: 1t, 2t, 3t. 4f, 5t, 6t, 7t, 8t, 9f, 10f, 11f, 12f, 13f(St. Christopher and Santa Claus, 14t(St. Christopher and Santa Claus), 15f(cemetery) , 16f(King Wenceslas of Bohemia and King Oswald of the British Isles, King Louis Anglia against the Vikings), 17t(Paganus), 18t, 19t, 20t, 21f, 22f(as a young Saul), 23f(St. Paul the Apostle), 24f (...and follow me), 25f (Muslim)
x x x

References: Lesson on Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid, and lecture on Philosophy opf Man, St. Paul University QC, Summer 2008, by AVR

You can actually measure the distance you have walked by knowing your pace factor.

By Abe V Rotor

The idea is to count the number of steps you make and multiply it with your pace factor, which is determined by this simple method.

On a concrete pavement, take ten (10) steps at normal stride, marking the starting point and end. Measure and record the distance you made with a meter stick or tape. This is Trial 1. Now repeat the same procedure for Trials 2, 3 and 4. This formula will give you your pace factor.

Trials 1+ 2 + 3 +4
Pace Factor (m) = ------------------------- divided by 10
4

By knowing your pace factor, all you need to do is to jot down the total steps you made for a certain distance and multiply it with your pace factor. Compute for the number of kilometers you walk during the whole day. You may not need to exercise. One thing though to remember is that, the topography, kind of road surface, and kind of shoes you wear are likely to affect your pace factor. It is then necessary to re-compute it as the condition requires.

Reference: Living with Folk Wisdom, by AV Rotor, UST Press 2008

A Job Amidst Us

By Abe V Rotor

Eternity it seemed through the years,
Until the clock stopped,
Dark clouds hid the tears,
Heads bowed, uncapped.

To many patients grown and young,
Her short life she gave,
Her healing hands unsung -
Countless at her grave.

In Job's shadow she found peace,
For victory isn't only for the fit,
The spirit soars, the pain to ease...
Only Heaven's the limit

Make haste while the essence
Of Job is fresh memory trove;
She lives with urgent sense -
In suffering, sweeter is love.

x x x

Emptiness

Painting and Verse by Abe V Rotor


A piece of rock,
a patch of green
the mountains mock;

A waterfall
by thunderstorm
in summer dies;

Memories old
on benches live
in sun and rain;

Waves rush and die
against a cliff
or plain shore;

Breeze passing by
bids in its sound
of rustling leaves;

Without the chill,
and sound of sea
the shore is still.

x x x

Return

Painting and Verse by Abe V Rotor

I seek not the Tree of Knowledge, oh God,
To whose fruits man had fallen;
Neither would I ask for another Flood,
To put him back to Eden.

x x x

Music Bridge

By Abe V Rotor

You’re silent while the soloist takes the stand,
When the flute shrills and stills the air;
In unison you play your part with the band,
Li’l known, unassuming, without flair.

When the crowd goes home, bare is the ground,
Save footprints, trash and the chilly air;
You record the event before it is gone,
Keeping its memory in your lair.

Years after, children in some lonely place
Come to hear you play the tune of old;
Music of war and of peace, music of grace,
Of thunder and the gods all told.

Music not words, the tongue of all nations,
The band is now gone and you’re alone,
The bridge you built links the generations.
To bring back heritage to its throne.
x x x