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.
Anti Myrna
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
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- “Strength and dignity are her clothing”
It is God’s word in Proverbs quoting
Effeminate by appearance and qualities
But dominates power and fearlessness
- 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
- 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.
