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Home Lifestyle

I am Woman, Hear me Roar!

Baguio Chronicle by Baguio Chronicle
March 17, 2021
in Lifestyle
Reading Time: 13 mins read
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MARCH is the start of Spring, to those who have four seasons. It is also the month when vernal equinox occurs, this year it will be on March 20, when night and day are on equal terms. Just like men and women. So we bring you these poems on women in a collection we call “I am Woman, Hear me Roar” in honor of Australian singer Helen Reddy, whose 1972 song, “I am Woman” became the anthem of feminism since then. Reddy died last year on September 29. 

 

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Baguio City

You, Woman!

 

You, woman, are more than a lioness. 

You are the entire forest that harbors life within.  

And the forest is sacred, 

and ancient, 

and liberating, 

and abundant. 

Man enters the forest and walks out 

either hungry or nurtured. 

 

Your tongue be razor-sharp, ready to shred 

any man who will violate your holy. 

You be a sorceress, a priestess, 

an enchantress, a witch, a heretic, 

an iconoclast. 

 

You be Joan of arc, Cleopatra, 

Jezebel, Vashti or anything that 

challenges male dominance. 

You be tragic enough to earthquake 

and shatter these gender-based 

social constructs. 

 

Woman did not emerge from Adam’s rib.

She came out of the bamboo trunk

together with the first man. 

 

You, woman, don’t need to be Virgin Mary 

to feel holy. You are and will always be 

divine in your own right regardless.

 

Gelen Davac

22

Baguio City

Siklo ng Pagsilang

 

  1. Pagluwal

 

Madalas maikwento ni ina

Kung gaano katagal at kahirap

Ang proseso ng pagsilang sa akin—

Alas tres nang hapon, katamtamang taas ang sikat ng araw sa kanluran

Nang sumabog ang panubigan

Bawat hilab ay may dalang sakit.

Alas sinco nang umaga, bukang-liwayway

Nang ako’y mula sa sinapupunan ng tao tungo sa sinapupunan ng mundo.

 

  1. Pagkabata

 

Madalas kong yakapin ang mga pinaghubarang damit ni ina—

Nasasamyo ko ang amoy n’ya sa bawat artikulo ng damit.

Tila ba naaaninag ko ang kanyang ngiti

At inip ng yakap na nagpapatahan sa bawat hikbi.

S’ya ang aking mundo.

Payapa at banayad.

 

III. Pagkamulat

 

Sa pagdaan ng taon,

Dahan-dahan ang pagkamulat

Kasabay nang pagkamulat ang pagkagising.

Ako’y hindi lamang anak ng aking ina.

Ako’y anak ng lupa, ng bayan, ng masa

Ang mundo ay hindi payapa, hindi banayad.

Isinilang akong hubad sa huwad na lipunan

Puno ng tunggalian sa kahit anong larangan

 

  1. Parangal at Pagtindig

 

Tanging ang pagsalungat sa mga kontradiksyon ang magsisilbing parangal

Sa mga inang patuloy ang paghubog sa aking katauhan.

 

Patuloy na titindig at lalaban

Sa lipunang nagluluwal ng sandamakmak na takot at agresyon sa kababaihan;

Sa mga eskinitang madilim at tila ba palaging may aninong nag-aabang;

Sa mga tahanang kung saan ang ilaw ng tahana’y nagatatago ng pasá sa ilalim ng mahahabang kasuotan

Sa estadong patuloy ang pag-alipusta sa ating

 

Ang mga paa’y nakatindig sa lupa habang kahawak-kamay ang masang pinagmulan.

 

Ito’y para sa walang katapusang siklo pagluwal at pagsilang sa ating katauhan habang nabuhuhay.

 

Patuloy ang pagtindig at paglaban.

 

Jansen C. Daguio

26

Apayao Province

I AM A WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR

 

I am a woman, hear me roar

And my roar ain’t delimited to a mere lion’s roar.

For I am not a predator.

I am a Significant Being made by the Creator.

History reveals how much you boxed me

Yet I’ll rise to break prejudiced norms; watch me.

I am a woman, here me roar—

I am a woman; I can do more.

 

I am a mother, hear me roar

Nurturing children and supporting my man

When troubles come to challenge the calm,

I wear new hats to equally uphold my fam.

I can be a vendor, a guidance counselor

A farmer, a carpenter, or even as a driver

I can be anything else in between

To fill the gaps that need a win!

A man created rockets, but I do “rakets”—

Because Jack is not the only one

Who can do all trades and take-home buckets!

 

I am a woman, hear me roar

Even if someone leaves me

To raise a baby in resiliency.

Do you see me on TV?

Or hear me on the news?

I can survive any storm.

I can outshine the darkness.

For did I not tell you; I am the sun?

I CAN cause growth and abundance

With my mere radiance

In fact, nurturing a child on my own

Never makes me less of a person.

 

I am a woman, hear me roar

Did you notice I did NOT say moan?

For I am not delimited to just spreading my legs

I spread my wings in strength; I don’t beg.

I can impact the economy with my competency

Or uplift a nation with my empathy.

 

I am a woman, hear me roar

Despite my inability to birth children.

I’d rather claim to be a productive barren.

People may view as me as mere “leg-a-see”

But I can lovingly leave a luxurious LEGACY.

I will cry for a night, yet rise up to win a Fight:

To fight for what’s right, to uphold my right

And to keep on shining bright.

 

I am a woman, hear me roar

I am more than your stereotyped expectations

And your limited definitions.

My roar are my accomplishments

That radically changed the society.

My roars are my phenomenal roles

That are turning the tables of misogyny.

My roar is my Silent, Sagacious, Sacrifice

Causing Hope in the society to Arise.

 

I am flawed but I’m not useless.

I am vulnerable but not defenseless.

I make mistakes—

But I’ll fix what’s broken, whatever it takes.

You can’t box me.

You can’t silence me.

And, you should not stop me

Contributing to our society.

I deserve Recognition.

I deserve Respect.

I am a woman.

Hear me roar.

I am a not just woman.

I can do more.

 

Jerilyn G. Malado

31

Baguio City

She’s Just Her

She speaks her mind,

Yet she does not mean to be wild.

She just keeps mum,

Yet she is not numb.

 

She laughs a lot,

Yet she does not mean to be a snot.

She stoops and cry,

Yet she still wants to try.

 

She says no more,

Yet she still gives some more.

She is in pain,

Yet she will remain.

 

She is not Superwoman,

Yet she is a superwoman.

She tends to err,

Besides, she is just her.

 

Ivee Bongosia

32

Baguio City

Blinking Lights

For every whistle

For every ogle

For every holler

Think she’s your friend

Or your sister

Or your mother.

 

For every NO you cross

Resistance you may coax

Or times you’re insistent

Tiny drops of water

Fill a drum overtime

There’s no size for consent.

 

For every remark

You think is harmless,

Aren’t jokes half-meant?

For every slight grope

You pass as sweetness

Know that…you just can’t.

 

For every drink you impose

In between charming banter

Because you’re a gentleman?

Well, thank you for the drink, sir

That is, if I asked for it.

Oh that’s right. “She asked for it.”

 

I wonder how they’re sure

If someone asked for it.

So here I am, asking:

Do I have stark lights blinking

That flicker a Yes, a No?

Tell me; I really don’t know.

 

Are my blinking lights

Flamboyant or mute

A ten, seven, or two?

Do my blinking lights tell you:

“Tease me” “harass me” “try it”

Should I tone it down a bit?

 

Will blinking lights subside

Once you’ve borrowed some shine

Rubbed off yourself on mine?

For every blinking light

That captivates your eyes,

Don’t you ever think twice?

 

My lights are reminders

For you to close your eyes

Keep your hands tucked in there.

Because for every bright light

You wish to hover over

Ogle, touch, spike her liquor

 

Remember the moth mother

Remember your sister

Your friend, or your daughter.

Their lights may be blinking

Much to others’ liking,

For them to holler, stare

 

And you are not there

To cover their eyes

To turn off the lights.

Lights blink, regardless

It doesn’t make me

Or her any less.

 

Jessa P. Elias

20

Baguio City

SHE is a Woman

SHE is Nobody,

But SHE’s the Princess in her own story.

SHE might sometimes seem like an evil lady,

But SHE’s got a heart so soft. 

 

SHE might treat you badly,

And can’t take things seriously,

SHE just doesn’t want to get hurt in any way,

But you always make her happy. 

 

SHE is thankful for every part of you,

And SHE keeps smiling like she always does. 

You can’t see the pain in her eyes,

SHE just wants to feel safe at all times. 

 

SHE has a lot of stories,

That SHE can share so willingly,

SHE is just afraid for you to judge her quickly,

But SHE will always be the Princess until infinity. 

Jenny Babe A. Diaz

22

La Trinidad, Benguet

UNDISPUTED 

  1. “Strength and dignity are her clothing”

It is God’s word in Proverbs quoting

Effeminate by appearance and qualities

But dominates power and fearlessness

 

  1. Often criticized and condemned

They are reprehended and exhausted

Yet they remain strong and irrefragable

     Incontestable by faith and eligible

 

III. Emaciations mirrors their sacrifice

  They always hide their pain in disguise

  Sorrows and past may have them occupied

  But God will heal them and will abide

 

  1. Hail each and every woman out there

  Stand and roar ‘till everyone will hear

  From all generations you’ll be remembered

  For you are all genuine and undisputed.

 

Maybel Abuan Langbayan

21 

Baguio City 

W.O.M.A.N

Woman, whom people decry

despite bearing child and giving life

hauling all the negative labelling 

amassing ineptitude, the society is throwing them 

 

Overcomer, that is certainly real woman  

stunning for all hostile shrouding them 

fierce on every page life hath to bring

and surge for the depth of trials to win

 

Meaningful, is how they take every uncertainty 

gracefully sways against said incapability 

divulge the real essence of a woman 

to break the chain of affront in their dignity 

 

Astute in every maze being a woman has to take 

tenacious to achieve what people think they couldn’t seize

robustness, that’s how they face cruelness 

relinquishing is not their goal for the game 

 

Nifty, that is how women are 

open blinded eyes and discern real power women have

slacken your grip on the opportunity they will take 

they are women and hear them roar

 

Cyrille Zoe T. Fernandez

20

Baguio City

“LOLLAPALOOZA” 

 

 Radiant indeed 

A mighty valor 

The only rose amongst lilies  

A lollapalooza, outstanding; non-compared to all  

Beloved woman, at your affection  

Jewels lose value, it shatters and crankles  

Amidst dire moments  

Those arms cling firm; it will never let go  

And so you must know, that less is not for you  

How can such precious being accept it? 

Beloved women, tremendous things await you  

Even the heavens commend you as someone deeply  

cherished 

Chin up, lollapalooza woman. 

 

Kara Patricia Go Agbayani

25

Baguio City

PLANTING SEEDS

Now I see

How difficult it is

To carry me in your womb

While you walk, you bend

And when you get hungry

You eat much for the two of us

But avoid anything bad for me

You skip your favorites so I am okay

Now I see it Mommy

In every Mother I meet

How amazing your gift is

How you nurtured me

How you embraced me when I cry

How you carry me all throughout

Even if you are tired

Even if I keep you are up all night

You plaster a smile nonetheless

And love me even more

Taught me the how to’s,

Guided me

Until it’s finally time to let me go–

To wander in this crazy world

And just remind me to keep my feet on the ground

That adulting is a nag

But patience should be practiced

And wherever I go

You always pray that I am well

I see it now

Every piece of you in my entirety

Every organ that was built inside me

Plus all the added sugar and spice

I see it now

Keeping me alive, healthy, and safe

I see it now

In all the mothers I meet

And always in you

Sorry it took so long

– planting seeds and love; the gift of motherhood

 

Here’s to all the women, our mothers whom we owe our life.

 

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