Press Release

Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Poetry Reading in Celebration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa

2020-08-25

24 August 2020, Toronto, Ontario – Continuing its celebration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, Sentro Rizal Toronto held a Poetry Reading activity for the Philippine Consulate General personnel on 19 August 2020. Consul General Orontes Castro organized the activity to coincide with the commemoration of the 142nd birth anniversary of the second Philippine president Manuel Luis Quezon (1935-1944), after Emilio Aguinaldo (1899-1901). President Quezon was also regarded as the Ama ng Wikang Pambansa (Father of the National Language), hence the Buwan ng Wika being celebrated in August, his birth month.

Mas Matalino ang Tubig, a poem by National Artist and former Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), was chosen as the literacy piece to be read during the Poetry Reading activity for the Consulate General personnel.

Mr. John Dan Elijah S. Fajardo, Post’s Protocol & Security Officer and Consular Assistant in-charge of Dual Citizenship, read the original Filipino version of the poem. On the other hand, the English version entitled “Water is Wiser” was read by Ms. Mildred Decena, Consular Assistant in-charge of Civil Registry.

The literary activity is one of the projects by Post, under the Sentro Rizal program, to promote appreciation for Philippine culture, heritage, and arts among the Consulate personnel, as well as for their self-development. END

Mas Matalino ang Tubig	Water is Wiser
Mas matalino ang tubig; Bumababa ito nang tahimik Mulang bukal sa bundok Para di magising ang mga hayop. Lumilihis ito sa marahas na bato Para agnasin nang marahan at sekreto; Nagtatago ito kapag galit ang araw Para bumalik na masayang ulan. Marunong din itong matakot sa talon, Magtiwala sa lilim ng kahoy, Magsuspetsa sa talampakang maputik, At mamahinga kapag nag-iisip. Ang tubig na matalino’y Dumadaloy nang yuko ang ulo Ngunit nag-iiwan ng mayamang bakas Bago sumanib sa dagat.	Water is wiser; Silently it descends From its spring in the mountains So as not wake the beasts. It avoids harsh rocks, only To wear them away slowly, in secret; It hides when the sun is furious Only to come back as cheerful rain. It knows how to fear heights, It can trust the shade of trees, Or distrust mud-caked feet, And take a few moments to think. Wise, clear-minded water Flows humbly, with bowed head; But it leaves richness in its wake Before it joins the sea.

Mas Matalino ang Tubig

Water is Wiser

Mas matalino ang tubig;
Bumababa ito nang tahimik
Mulang bukal sa bundok
Para di magising ang mga hayop.

Lumilihis ito sa marahas na bato
Para agnasin nang marahan at sekreto;
Nagtatago ito kapag galit ang araw
Para bumalik na masayang ulan.

Marunong din itong matakot sa talon,
Magtiwala sa lilim ng kahoy,
Magsuspetsa sa talampakang maputik,
At mamahinga kapag nag-iisip.

Ang tubig na matalino’y
Dumadaloy nang yuko ang ulo
Ngunit nag-iiwan ng mayamang bakas
Bago sumanib sa dagat.

Water is wiser;
Silently it descends
From its spring in the mountains
So as not wake the beasts.

It avoids harsh rocks, only
To wear them away slowly, in secret;
It hides when the sun is furious
Only to come back as cheerful rain.

It knows how to fear heights,
It can trust the shade of trees,
Or distrust mud-caked feet,
And take a few moments to think.

Wise, clear-minded water
Flows humbly, with bowed head;
But it leaves richness in its wake
Before it joins the sea.

The 2 poems by Rio Alma, National Artist Virgilio Almario’s poetry byline, which were the literary pieces read during the Poetry Reading.

bramptonmeeting — Consul General Orontes V. Castro welcoming the Philippine Consulate General Toronto officers and staff to the Poetry Reading event held on 19 August 2020, commemorating the 142nd Birth Anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon, who was regarded as the Ama ng Wikang Pambansa, and continuing the celebration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.

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