This poem was written by Sen. Ninoy Aquino at Fort Santiago on October 11, 1973 for their 19th wedding anniversary.
I first came across this poem when my student (in my other FB account) tagged me in a note containing the whole poem. I skimmed over it first, thinking that I would be able to find more of it in other places on the internet. When I remembered about it mainly because of Jose Mari Chan's song, I went online, but to my dismay, I found only the lyrics to the song and not to the original poem. I then went back to my second FB account and tracked down the note from my student. I then read it as a whole this time, and the feelings that had been born from listening to the Jose Mari Chan version overwhelmed and overpowered me.
As a self-proclaimed abysmal poet, essayist and a person who has done nothing but to love, I find the poem as a perfect example of what love is. True, as what Paulo Coelho said, love indeed does not hinder a man from pursuing his Personal Legend. Ninoy Aquino knew his calling lies in the people he yearned to serve, and he did just that without ever abandoning nor denying his love for the one woman he loved the most. This is a perfect tribute to a woman who was a manifestation of what love should be - patient, kind, humble, and most of all, true.
Rest in peace, Tita Cory. Though I have been politically-apathetic all my life because of the fact that I was not raised to be fully aware of politics, I acknowledge the role you have played in our lives. I acknowledge your biggest contribution to our country. And most of all, I salute you for being the empowered woman we Filipinas should be.
Let this be a lesson to those who aspire to be leaders in their own simple way, and to those who want nothing but to support those whom they love without having to venture into complicated things. Let this be a lesson to both men and women alike; young and old; apathetic or empowered. Let this be a lesson to love despite who and what the loved one is; and let us bear in mind that only our hearts can dictate to us how much love we can give to others and to ourselves; and that by loving, we are fulfilling our own Personal Legend.
I join in the mourning of the Filipinos here and across the world. Pardon my pathetic words and my lack of expression, but rest assured I love you as much as the rest of them do. You are not my biological mother, but I found myself crying buckets and buckets for hours on end. You have been a epitome of service and passion, and I wish we would be like you.
from: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=114379958513&ref=nfI Have Fallen In Love With The Same Woman Three Timesby
Senator Ninoy AquinoI have fallen in love
With the same woman three times
In a day spanning nineteen years
Of tearful joys and joyful tears
I loved her first when she was young
Enchanting, brilliant, middle-strung
Vibrant, fragrant, eternally new
Cool, invigorating as the morning dew.
Desperate, she shared, quieted my despairs
Hopeful, she fanned the fires of my hopes
Lavished me with days of bliss and peace,
Endless, perpetual days of fond memories.
She is my hope; I do not wish to realize
Hence my hope; forever green, eternal prize
My life transcending life, my ultimate quest
Dream of my life for whom I’ll spare no rest.
I fell in love again
With the same woman the second time
When first she bore her child and mine
The first fruit of our union and our love.
The pains and anguish of motherhood she braved
Loved her children, their love she deservedly craved
Times were she hung on the very brink of death,
Unflinchingly fulfilling her mission to procreate.
In politics I plunged, she was always by my side,
Steadfast, uncomplaining, helping to turn the tide,
Amidst hardship, her rare courage would not relent
She was my secret weapon, the source of my strength.
The world was my concern, our home her domain,
The people mine, the children hers to maintain,
So it was in those eighteen years and a day
Till I was detained, forced in prison to stay.
Suddenly she became our sole support
Wellspring of hope, source of comfort
On her shoulders fell the burden of life
She emerged our captain in the sea of strife.
I fell in love again
With the same woman the third time
Looming from the battle, undaunted, unafraid,
Calm composed, she is God’s lovely maid.
It has been a year of many disappointments
Endless dark nights, long days of sad lament,
Of grave doubts, frustrations, bitter desolations,
Of privations, untold indignities, humiliations.
Dreams became nightmares; hopes, despair.
Rally to freedoms call, no one will dare.
Future is obscured, life has lost its meaning,
The tunnel is long, were only at the beginning.
Leaders I admired, whose advice I sought
Became fallen idols, their souls were bought,
Their conscience they bartered for soft convenience,
Due to despicable cowardice, theyve lost their patience.
Leaders became dealers, begging for part of the spoils,
Forgetting the value, the essence of the hottest toil,
Paralyzed be fear, they joined the amoral dictator,
Defending, waving the bloody flag of the new oppressor.
The pillars of society became the props of tyranny,
Be realistic, they urged, if not for safety, for money.
It is useless to resist, the tyrant is too strong,
Yet aware, with their help the tyranny will prolong.
Mother Pilipinas weeps, her noble sons are gone,
Her land of the morning, is now of the setting sun,
Back to her dungeon in chains shes been returned;
For all her sacrifices, this is what she earned.
The night is cold and dark, there are no stars,
Our prisons are full, our souls wrinkled with scars,
Afflicted, persecuted, struck down but not crushed,
How soon will this blight be erased by Allahs brush?
My only escape is to cling to the woman of my dreams
Who gave me a life full of love, a love full of life,
She is my urge to live, my sole motivation to survive,
She taught me not only to dream, but to make dreams alive.
Fight on! She says: Let not the guiltless ghost depart.
Your pains, our people know are caused by a thousand darts,
But be assuaged, remember the Filipino, his story, his past,
Soon, very soon, the tyrant will choke in his greedy power lust!
NINOY'S LETTER FOR CORY
My Dearest Cory,
In a few hours I shall be embarking on an uncertain fate, which may well be the end of a long struggle. I slept well last night for the first time since I left Boston — maybe because I’m just plain tired or I’m really at peace with myself. I want to tell you many things but time is running out and I do not have any machine. After a few more paragraphs, my penmanship will be illegible.
All the things I want to tell you may be capsulized in one line - - I love you! You’ve stood by me in my most trying moments and there were times I was very hard on you. But if anyone will ever understand me, it is you, and I know you will always find it in your heart to forgive — and unfair and ironic as it is — it is because of this thought and belief that I often took you for granted.
Early on I knew I was not meant to make money — so I won’t be able to leave anything to the children. I did what I thought I could do best, which is public service, and I hope our people in time will appreciate my sacrifices. This would be my legacy to the children. I may not bequeath them material wealth but I leave them a tradition which can be priceless.
I realize I’ve been very stingy with praise and appreciation for all your efforts — but though unsaid — you know that as far I’m concerned, you are the best. That’s why we’ve lasted this long. There will only be one thing in the world I will never accept — that you love me more than I love you — because my love for you though unarticulated will never be equaled.
If all goes well I should be back in my cell before sundown. Should I be detained do not rush to get home. Take your time and enjoy a side trip to Europe with the girls.
I’ll try to call you tonight if the authorities will allow me. Otherwise just remember me in your dreams.
Love,
Ninoy
P.S. I offered a special rosary for Papa and I asked for his intercession. You know he never failed me. (Ninoy here is referring to Cory’s father, Jose Cojuangco, who died on August 21, 1976)
A LOVE CLOSER TO PERFECTION.... REST IN PEACE!
for President Maria Corazon Cojuangco Aquino
January 25, 1933 - August 1, 2009
.jpg)
.jpg)
