tatlumpu’t walong milyong piso
presyo ng kabayo
ng babaing anak ng asendero
nuwebe pesos at singkuwenta sentimos
pawis na idinilig ng sakada’t magsasaka
sa tubuhan at kabyawan ng asyenda
nuwebe pesos at singkuwenta sentimos
dugo ng brasong naging katas
ng talatalaksang tubo sa asukarera
sabi nga ni antonio jacinto ng angola:
“sa malawak na lupaing iyon
“ay bihirang umulan
“pawis ng aming noo
“ang nagdidilig sa tubuhan…
“sa malawak na lupaing iyon
“matataas na ang mga tubo
“dugo ng aming katawan
“ang katas ng mga tubong iyan”
nuwebe pesos at singkuwenta sentimos
lamang iyon kada araw
at milagrong maragdagan pa
sa kabila ng nag-aalab na protesta.

marinig pa kaya ng kanilang patron
sa altar ng dusa ang laksang nobena?
maulinigan pa kaya ng diyos ni abraham
inusal nilang mga decenario
para sa namayapang kapwa sakada
na halos hangin lamang at dusa
ang nagkarambola sa bituka?
milyong ulit na rin silang nagrosaryo
pero di narinig maging ng kabayo
kyrie eleyson, kristi eleyson
kristo pakinggan mo po kami
diyos ama sa langit
diyos anak na tumubos sa sanglibutan
diyos espiritu santo
santa maria
santang birheng puno ng mga birhenes
ina ng grasya ng diyos
tone-toneladang asukal
nalilikha namin para sa asendero
gabutil lamang ng hamog ang asukal
ng namumutla naming tabo ng kape
sa giniginaw at nananangis na umaga
sinong diyos ang tatawagin pa
maisabaw man lamang sa kanin
at malasahan ng gilagid at dila
pulot na espesyal at may gatas pa yata
para sa kabayo ng babaing pinagpala?

tatlumpu’t walong milyong piso
halaga ng kabayo
ng babaing anak ng asendero
kabayong tinuruang magilas na lumakad
magmartsang parang heneral ng hukbo
sintulin ng kotseng porsche at ferrari
ng asendero kung tumakbo
habang uugud-ugod sa tubuhan
at kabyawan ang sakadang si pedro
kabayong tinuruang lundagin
hilera ng mataas na barandilya
sa larong pangmilyonaryo’t elitista
equestrian ng mga nakapasak
sa nakatatakam na puwit
at mapang-akit na bungangang pinakikipot
gintong tenidor, kutsara’t kopita…
sa takipsilim pag-uwi ng sakada
halos gumagapang na kung umakyat
sa nakadipa’t mababali nang mga baytang
ng binubukbok na hagdang kawayan
ng nakaluhod, nagdarasal na dampang kugon…
sumisigaw utak ng sakadang si pedro
paano nga ba siya mangangabayo
sa bagong ligo sa posong bukid ng kasuyo?

tatlumpu’t walong milyong piso
presyo ng kabayo
ng babaing anak ng asendero
kabayong kapag medyo matigas ang ulo
umaalma’t tinatamad sumunod sa amo
agad na magiliw na hihimasin
susuyui’t hahalikan pati nguso
kapag bahagyang bumahin-bahin
natutuliro’t nagkukumahog ang beterinaryo
kung anu-anong bitamina’t gamot
isasaksak agad at isusupalpal sa kabayo.
nuwebe pesos at singkuwenta sentimos
presyo ng sakada’t magsasaka sa asyenda
kapag umalma’t nagprotesta
dudukutin, bubugbugin, lalatiguhin
kung minsa’y pauulanan pa ng bala
nang malagutan na ng hininga
di maibili ng kahit ataul na palotsina…
mabuhay man sa kadadasal ng mga kasama
o sa paghihilamos ng agua bendita
di naman makatikim ng kahit decolgen at aspirina…

kyrie eleyson, kristi eleyson
kristo pakinggan mo po kami
diyos ama sa langit
diyos anak na tumubos sa sanglibutan
diyos espiritu santo
santa maria
santang birheng puno ng mga birhenes
ina ng grasya ng diyos
tubusin mo na po kami sa dusa
iligtas mo po kami sa mga disgrasya
nang di alayan ng decenario ng mga kasama…
o, diyos ni abraham
hahawakan na namin espada ni san miguel
upang di tubuhan lamang ang tabasin at putulin
kailan bubutasin ng punglo ang ulo
ng tatlumpu’t walong milyong pisong kabayo
ng babaing anak ng asendero
para ang espesyal na pulot naman nito
isaksak sa lalamunan ng bunso
at magliwaliw sa wakas sa bituka
ng dayukdok naming pamilya?

THE LANDLORD’S HORSE

(English version)

thirty-eight million pesos
the price of the horse
of the landlord’s daughter
nine pesos and fifty centavos
the worth of the peasant’s sweat
toiling on the vast sugarcane field
nine pesos and fifty centavos
the arms blood turned to sweet juice
of milled tons and tons of canes.
the angolan antonio jacinto once said:
“in that vast land
“rare is the rain
“our forehead’s sweat
“is watering the sugarcanes…
“in that vast land
“tall now are the sugarcanes
“the blood of our bodies
“is their delicious juice”
yes, nine pesos and fifty centavos daily
the price of the sweat and blood
of the sacadas toiling on the land
and miracles of all miracles
if the price would be right
despite their simmering minds
and persistent flaming protests.

can their patron saint hear their novenas
before the altar of grief and sufferings?
can the god of abraham discern
their decenarios for fellow peasants
who succumbed to hunger and grief
because only air and sorrows
then often dwelled in their bellies?
so many million times
they recited the rosaries
but it’s not understood
even by the blessed horse
kyrie eleyson, kristi eleyson
christ please hear our cries
god the father in heaven
god the son the savior
god the holy spirit
virgin mary mother of god
divine head of all virgins
we’re producing tons and tons
of sugar for our demigods
yet a few granules of it
swim in our rice coffee
on greyish and chilly mornings
to whatever god shall we turn to
so our cooked rice
has a teaspoon of sugar
to satisfy our tongue
while on the other hand
the horse of the rich lady
is savoring milk and honey.

thirty-eight million pesos
the price of the horse
of the landlord’s daughter
a horse taught how to walk arrogantly
like a marching general of the army
running as fast as the landlord’s cars
the coveted porsche and ferrari
while dead-tired is the peasant pedro
in the sugarmill and canefield
yes, a horse trained to jump over obstacles
in the game of the rich and the elite
the equestrian of those with gold spoons
in their lovely mouths and desirable butts
almost crawling in climbing up is pedro
on the creaking bamboo stairs
of the kneeling-praying cogon hut
everytime he goes home at dusks
how can he still make love
with his newly-bathed wife?

thirty-eight million pesos
the price of the horse
of the landlord’s daughter
a horse when hardheaded
and refused to obey his master
is at once being caressed
kissed and cajoled
and when that blessed horse sneezes
the veterinarian is so patient
in giving him lots and lots
of costly medicines and vitamins.
nine pesos and fifty centavos
the price of the peasant’s sweat and blood
who when disgusted and protesting
is being dragged, mauled and lashed
or showered with bullets
to keep his mouth shut
so pathetic and revolting
his family could not afford
to buy a cheap wooden coffin…
and if fortunate enough to survive
through the prayers of fellow peasants
or through drops of holy water on his face
he could not even take
such common palliatives
like cheap decolgen or aspirin.

kyrie eleyson, kristi eleyson
christ please hear our cries
god the father in heaven
god the son the savior
god the holy spirit
virgin mary mother of god
divine head of all virgins
mother of the graces of god
save us from sufferings and sorrows
save us from unbearable tragedies
so our folks will not utter the decenarios
oh, god of abraham
we might be forced to firmly grasp
saint michael’s sharp sword
and slash and cut
not only the sugarcanes…
when will the hot bullets
pierce and crack the head
of the thirty-eight million peso-horse
of the landlord’s daughter
so we can finally feed our emaciated kids
the blessed horse’s honey and milk?