Journalists reveal their angsts through poetry

IF journalists were given a license to write in verses and rhymes, it seems they are likely to type out their angst and oh, there were many. Such was the harvest in the first poetry-writing contest for information technology reporters sponsored by the press relations firm ArdentComm and Brother Philippines at the Conspiracy Bar recently.

The thirteen journalists who joined the contest wrote about the lifestyle they cannot yet afford but cover everyday; the attention showered on them by “good-looking” press relations people, the “rakets” and “tabo” or jobs on the side they take to make both ends meet; the temptation “envelopes” pose to one whose pay is never enough; and one’s loss of a lover who leaves for a better paying job abroad. Still another took the light-hearted path and language in looking at the Manila Peninsula incident. The journalists mostly poked fun at situations — theirs and those of others — as only journalists could.

First prize went to Roderick dela Cruz of the Manila Standard Today for his poem “Business Reporter.” Melvin Calimag of The Manila Bulletin won second prize for his piece “Meron ba diyan?” Edgar Hilario also of Bulletin was third for “Manila ‘Pen’…hehehe.” Raul Virtudazo of radio station dzBB was fourth for his poem “Reporter.” At fifth place was Marlon Magtira of PC Buyer’s Guide for his poem “I.T.nakda ng tadhana.”

The winners received printers from Brother Philippines and cash from ArdentComm.

Poet-musicians Gary Granada and Bayang Barrios, and poet Kris Lacaba were the judges in the competition.

Below are the winning entries:

“Business Reporter”
Roderick dela Cruz, Manila Standard Today

Ang business reporter ay tagasulat
tungkol sa mga industriyang kapakipakinabang;
Nagsusulat ng GDP, kahit kapos ang take-home pay;
Nagsusulat ng exports at imports, pero ni walang pamalengke.
Nagsusulat tungkol sa World Bank, pero walang bank deposit;
Nire-report and motor vehicle sales, pero walang kotse;
Nag-uulat ng hotel occupancy rates, pero wala man lang pang Sogo;
Nagsusulat ng medical tourism, kahit pa nilayasan
ng syotang nurse na nasa London.
Nagsusulat ng insurance, pero paltos ang SSS contribution;
Sinusuri ang fiscal deficit, habang may personal crisis;
Tinatalakay ang real estate, pero di makabayad ng rent sa apartment;
Binubuo ang istorya tungkol sa airline industry,
habang nakikipagsiksikan sa MRT.
Nagsusulat ng telecommunication, pero pre-paid ang cell phone;
Nagre-report tungkol sa BPO, kahit na binasted ng call center agent;
Nagre-review ng computer at Internet, pero ang software ay pirated;
Nagsusulat ng IT, kahit walang DSL connection.
Araw-araw nagsusulat tungkol sa sales, investment at profit,
Ng mga tycoons, multinational firms at publicly listed companies.
Dahil ang business reporter ay tagasulat lamang
Ng mga pangyayaring, wala siyang pakinabang.

“Meron ba dyan?”
Melvin Calimag, Manila Bulletin

Noong maliit pa ako,
gusto ko nang magsulat
Nang nag-aral na sumaling,
pilit sa mga skul paper
Grumadweyt sa kolehiyo,
lahat ng dyaryo sinipat
Napasok at natupad, pangarap
na makita ang pangalan
Nag-cover at nakilala, dumami
ang mga raket
Ngayon laging may giveaway, at
Madalas may bitbit
Kung minsan nanalo sa raffle, o may byahe
Sa abroad
Eto na nga! Isang dyarista na nga ba akong talaga?

“Ang Manila ‘Pen’…hehehe”
Edgard Hilario, Manila Bulletin

Wow naman, how grabe the news nung kelan lang!
Mga soldiers ni Trillanes, umatake kahit kulang-kulang
How sosyal naman, ayun, Makati Pen napuntahan
These media people naman, sumabit kahit saan
Gosh, talaga, ang buhay ng media kahit kailan
Nakabuntot sa balita, wala talaga kinakampihan
This Trillanes naman, found the courage to stand
Kasi these media people, nagbigay print and air time
Oh, Oh, the government siyempre it reacted
Gave Trillanes a strong deadline, or else they’re dead
Ayaw ni Trillanes, coz daw they’re unjustly prosecuted
So they made statement, give us liberty or give us death
Oh my God, the assault tank crashed the Manila Pen front
Fired tear gas, hundred soldiers made a grabe assault
Thank God, Trillanes et al chose not to be kaput
Ay, look, ‘yung mga media, naipit pala sa loob
What is this, Trillanes et al nakaposas lumalabas
Pero kasunod, ‘yung mga media crying dahil sa teargas
Ooooh, ‘di pala. Military said, everybody iposas
Becoz nga raw, baka lahat kasama sa palabas
Why we chose this poem to dramatize media’s plight?
Kasi po nakakatawa talaga the coincidence that night
They say, the pen is mightier than the sword, right?
Eh in here, the Manila “Pen,” got a big, deadly fright

“Reporter”
Raul Virtudazo, dzBB

Ako ay isang reporter
Balita sa akin ay murder
Kahit may peligro, aber
Tuloy ako sa pagkober
Istorya kong isinulat
Sa laman ay hindi salat
Lihim aking binulatlat
Anggulo ko ay may kagat
Pero bakit ba ganito
Masira man ang aking ulo
Hindi magkasya ang sweldo
Kelangan may tabo pa ko
Naghahabol rin ng presscon
Baka kahit pano’y meron
Konting barya ay maipon
Pantawid rin sa maghapon
Masisisi mo ba ako ‘dre
Kung tumatanggap man ng sobre?
Wala man sa ‘king kostumbre
Taga pamilya ko pare

“I.T. inakda ng Tadhana”
Marlon Magtira, PC Buyers Guide

Kung’di ako napadpad sa mundo ng I.T. media,
Siguro ‘di ako nabalot ng gagambang walang sapot
‘Di gaanong exciting pero masalimuot.
Kung ‘di ako napadpad sa mundo ng I.T. media,
‘Di sana ako lumubog sa malalalim na terminolohiya
Sa malawak at kabit-kabit na teknolohiya
Kung ‘di ako napadpad sa mundo ng I.T. media,
Siguro walang magaganda at poging nagpapadala
Ng PR sa email ko sa tuwina.
Kung di’ ako napadpad sa mundo ng I.T. media,
Wala sanang junket sa Japan, sa Korea at Phuket.
‘Di ko sana nakasama ang mga writer na malupet.
Kung ‘di ako napadpad sa mundo ng I.T. media
Siguro wala ako ngayon dito para makapiling kayo
Upang maibahagi ang tulang ito.
Kung ‘di ako napadpad sa mundo ng I.T. media
“di ko sana na-meet si Gary Granada, Bayang Barrios at Kris Lacaba
Sana manalo ako parang awa nyo na.
‘Di ako magaling sumayaw, di ako magaslaw
‘Di naman ako kaguwapuhan, kulang din ako sa kakayahan
Para maging sikat na artista,
Para mag-compose at kumanta.
Ito na yata ang itinakda ng tila di-makulay kong tadhana
Di ko man ito ninais pero karanasa’y walang kaparis
Na ako’y mapadpad sa industriya ng masayang mundo ng I.T. media.