Seattle’s Forgotten Filipino Poets—and the Prejudice They Turned into Verse

DEC. 15, 1928 FILIPINO POETS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

(This is the first of a series of articles about Filipino poets in English who are, or have lived, in the Pacific Northwest. Other articles will follow in following issues of the Forum. The author of these articles is himself a recognized wielder of the pen and a promising poet who has been educated in the public schools of the State of Washington, and has lived for a good number of years in this region.—Editor)

Whether we are aware of it or not, the Pacific Northwest claims a good share of “budding” Filipino poets who, under unfavorable circumstances in this country, are neither encouraged nor appreciated. They go their way “unheralded and unsung” by their fellowmen. Fate has destined them to face the humdrum and commonplace routine of making a living and at the same time to try to imbibe as much as they could from the fountain of American learning. It is rather an accommodating existence, the life that they live, and it is not conducive to writing beautiful thoughts. Nevertheless, these lovers of the Muses in our locality find in their sundry moments of solitude occasions to record some of their reactions to the conditions here and their precious memories of the homeland in verse.

If the dictum that poets are made and not born is true, it finds special application to several of our Northwest versifiers, for the life here, which is fraught with vicissitudes, besmired with drabness, and visited only casually by real moments of thrills, has tended to create a rare incentive for recording emotions, pleasant and otherwise. The pulsating Oriental temperament which suffers here from the pangs of prejudice, the ridicule of conventionalism, and the fear arising from the insecurity of decent living, endures with a rare strength and vitality. It is under these circumstances that the “poets” here labor, and one should not wonder that their works are not as finished as they should be. There is truth in the belief that life is the product of environment.

The business of writing rhymes finds no adequate compensation in measures of cents and dollars, and it is more so when the writer only writes for self-amusement. The body cannot feed on memories and sentiments, but the soul of the poet wants no sweeter morsel. So our local rhymesters, although, perhaps, sometimes underfeed their bodies, satiate their souls with longings, memories, and sentiments. Nothing else is more worthwhile for them to do when they are restricted from doing greater things.

The writer is presenting in this issue one of our own poets, and in later editions he shall present others. By these articles he shall attempt to encourage Filipinos in writing poetry and to point out the correlation of their works to the environment. Most of the verses discussed here are undergraduate work, but one should not for that reason suppress his appreciation and good judgment. Many of the works of renowned poets have been written during college days.

In presenting the works of our poets, the writer frankly confesses a distaste for any sort of symposium. Suggestions, yes, he will always welcome, of course. It should also be remembered that it is impossible to do justice to these writers whose sojourn here lasts no longer than a few years, and whose works in hand are incomplete. With these obstacles, the writer will proceed in his attempt.

Narciso Ines is our first poet to be discussed. Space does not permit lengthy discussions; therefore, brevity will be the rule, and the reader is asked to fill in the gaps, of which there will be many. Ines has gone home and is now teaching in Ilagan High School. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1926 with English as his major. A study of more than twenty poems which he left with the writer points to the fact that he is possessed of a lyrical vein which, if developed well, would earn for him a great name. In all his works he attempts to sing and forget the boredom of life here, but his soul could not be beguiled by life singing. His soul is sensitive especially to anything that is unjust and finds his poems a ready medium for criticism and for admonition. Roughly speaking, the majority of his poems belong to what is called meditative, although love dominates his fancy. As the writer reads his works, he finds echoes of great English poets of the eighteenth century. A fondness for “Pindaric” forms is also apparent in his poems. Like the other “budding” poets, he would sacrifice a thought for form at times.

Here are samples of his poems, which are taken in full or in part. Read them and draw your conclusions. There is not much picking for taste, but there is no lack of poetic value. There is not much color in them, but then life is not all color.

FOREIGNERS

A foreigner is like the humble grass; He is treated more like it than like a man; He is pushed aside—alas! Spurned by high and low alike.

MONUMENTS

We ourselves are our own architects... Our deeds are the stones and cement With which each one of us erects To himself a fitting monument. Who does notorious, wicked deeds, Erects a monument that weighs Of him and proves a living curse; Whoever in this universe Does naught, deserves no stone or praise; But who, in noble deeds, succeeds Where others fail and lose their faith, Builds a monument that knows no death.

LOST

What fickleness! What faithlessness We find in some of the feminine heart! Some women love...feign faithfulness? Yet as years pass their love departs.

MI VERDADERO

Love, to be love, must find its dwelling place Among two hearts that beat harmoniously; Come what may—be it misfortune or disgrace— Love conquers still—it is the victory. Divorce two hearts in love and love is gone Like echo—never to be seen again; Add a third heart, and there’s skeleton Springs in the cupboard—life’s eternal stain. Give love life’s every bitter dose or pill, And still, despite the test, it would survive, The tomb may try to steal its every thrill, Yet love remains and will forever thrive.