Ang Guryon

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“Ang Guryon” by Ildefonso Santos is a must-read for any parent. Thanks to my college friend Dyep for posting this as his Facebook status.

Ang guryon
Credit: Guryon by Sedricke c/o Flickr

Read the poem here:

Ang Guryon
ni Ildefonso Santos

Tanggapin mo, anak, itong munting guryon
na yari sa patpat at papel de Hapon;
magandang laruang pula, puti, asul,
na may pangalan mong sa gitna naroon.
Ang hiling ko lamang, bago paliparin
ang guryon mong ito ay pakatimbangin;
ang solo’t paulo’y sukating magaling
nang hindi mag-ikit o kaya’y magkiling.
Saka pag sumimoy ang hangin , ilabas
at sa papawiri’y bayaang lumipad;
datapwa’t ang pisi’y tibayan mo, anak,
at baka lagutin ng hanging malakas.
Ibigin mo’t hindi, balang araw ikaw
ay mapapabuyong makipagdagitan;
makipaglaban ka, subali’t tandaan
na ang nagwawagi’y ang pusong marangal.
At kung ang guryon mo’y sakaling madaig,
matangay ng iba o kaya’y mapatid;
kung saka-sakaling di na mapabalik,
maawaing kamay nawa ang magkamit!
Ang buhay ay guryon: marupok, malikot,
dagiti’t dumagit, saanman sumuot…
O, paliparin mo’t ihalik sa Diyos,
bago pa tuluyang sa lupa’y sumubsob!

“Ang Guryon”: A Mom’s Perspective

“Guryon” in English is a big kite. This is my interpretation of this poem.

The kite symbolizes a person’s life. The one holding the kite’s string is, well, that person’s guardian or pillar in his life. I view the speaker as a parent giving life lessons to his child. This is why it resonated with me so much.

If I were to tell this to Timmy, it’d go something like:

“Dearest son, you can be anything you want to be for as long as you remember these things. Work smart, work hard. Never compromise your integrity. Stay true to yourself. Trust your gut, but make informed decisions. (Okay I know that sounds a bit conflicting, but over time you’ll understand how that balances out.) When you get to the top, remember that other people will be looking up to you. Keep moving forward, but always, always keep a humble heart. Remember that no matter how many storms come your way, no matter how many times you seem like your life is losing direction, there is that someone who will always be here to guide you no matter what. Fly high, my son!”

It would be lovely to see an English translation of this poem, but I won’t even attempt to do that. Keeping it in its original form seems sacred. Nothing captures emotion so well as the Filipino language. There’s so much emotion and intensity in the words that weave this particular poem.

What do you think of “Ang Guryon”?

6 Comments on Ang Guryon

  1. Faye
    August 2, 2013 at 1:52 pm (11 years ago)

    This is a beautiful poem! And I love your version of it too!

    Reply
    • Toni
      August 5, 2013 at 1:00 am (11 years ago)

      Thanks Faye. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a poem that I resonated with. :)

      Reply
  2. Hurley aisha Macamay
    February 3, 2015 at 3:25 pm (9 years ago)

    This is very beautiful poem but sana hindi masyadong mahaba di ko kaya kabisaduhin 4th quarter poem ko yan hah Sana makapasa and because of that I love the version and the end of the story thank you ilove you babe kyle anjelo ereño love yah so much ingat bye lav yah babe

    Reply

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