SUNDAY OF SILENCE

PAYAPAIN ANG LIGALIG NG MAGHAPON

Hayaang salaminin ng banayad na hampas ng alon
ang papalamig na ningas ng araw;
ang tilamsik nito ay hahagod, bibigkis
sa magkadikit nating balikat.

Dakila ang payapang pagtindig.
Bughaw ang kulay ng pansamantalang pananahimik.

Silang mga namanhid, hindi nakinig
ay mabibingi sa kawalang-tinig;
at magbubunga, babangon kinabukasan
ang ningning ng sinag na naging hiyaw.

-Axel Pinpin*

*Sometime in October last year, poet Axel Pinpin found himself writing a poem for a political prisoner captured in the Southern Luzon province of Batangas; only to find out several months later that he would become a political prisoner himself. Axel or Antoy to his many friends is now detained in Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Laguna. He and his group called the “Tagaytay 5” were arrested by the Philippine National Police for rebellion charges. Axel and his companions were but victims of repressive tactics of the Arroyo administration against progressive organizations
A BS Agriculture graduate, Pinpin is currently serving as consultant of the peasant organization Kalipunan ng mga Magsasaka sa Kabite (Kasama-Ka). He was abducted by elements of the PNP in Tagaytay City on April 28, 2006. Abducted together with Pinpin were other Kasama-Ka members Riel Custodio and Aristedes Sarmiento and drivers Enrico Ybanez and Michael Masayes. It took the PNP three days before presenting the Tagaytay 5 to the media in a press conference on May 1. On this occasion, there were visible signs that the detainees had suffered in the hands of their captors: Custodio for one, had his legs wrapped with bandages; Sarmiento on the other hand could not walk properly; and Pinpin looked as if he just had an asthma attack. (source: panitikan.com.ph)

Pinpin sent this poem to express solidarity for our SUNDAY of SILENCE. Obviously, he can't join us. 11 Nov. 2007. @4pm until the sun sets. Roxas Blvd stretch by Baywalk. Sit down, side by side in silence. Walang imik. Dahil WALA NA TAYONG MASABI SA MGA NANGYAYARI SA BAYAN. Come in blue.
Silent majority, have your silence felt.