ANG AKONG SUGILANON

Ako usa lamang ka batang linghod og panuigon   

Nga dili pa makabarog sa akong kaugalingon.

Apan gusto kong sukton akong Mama ug Papa

Kon mao g yud kini ang papel nga akong gidala--

Ang kanunayng magadawat og pang-abuso—

Mga dagmal sa pulong ug mga dagmal sa kusog

Unsa ba ang  dalan nga angay kong pagalaktan?

Dalan ba kaha nga sa kaayohan gisabwagan?

O dalan ba nga dulom sama kaitom sa alkitran?

Unsa ba ang  angay kong subayon nga agianan?

Sa akong pagkahimugso dinhi ning kalibotan

Gilatid na ba ninyo ang damhon kong kaugmaon ?

Nakita na ba ninyo ang kalahian sa akong pagkatawo

Nga dapat andamag kinabuhing puno sa pang-abuso?

Kinabuhi ba kining resulta sa kinaiya sa katilingban

O kinabuhingl gigahjin isip badlis sa kapalaran?

Ang disiplina ba dapat ipaagi sa mga bunal ug kasaba?

O malumong hapuhap sa gugma ug pagpangga?

Ginalantaw ko sa unahan ang dalan sa akong mama  

Nga may mga dekorasyon sa kaluoy ug pag-amoma

Apan kon sama sa kagahapon lang kini gihapon

Walay kahayag ug kalipay nga akong paabuton!

-Quennie, April 2018 (Adolescent Girl on the Street, 16 years old)

Translation:

My story

I am just a young adult

That never stood by myself

I want to ask Mom and Dad

If this is the story that I should have

Always receiving abuse

Words that hurt, Words too strong

Where will this path take me to?

Is this the road that could benefit me in the long run?

Or is this the road that could only lead me to darkness?

What should I go along with?

In my existence here in the world

Have you set my own future?

 Have you seen the difference in my existence?

Where I have to prepare for a life full of abuses

Is this a reflection of society's character?

Or is this just a life of fate?

Is discipline supposed to pass through battles and noise?

Or a gentle feel of love and affection?

I look forward to a road that could take me to my mum

Where pity and care welcomes me

But if it still feels like a road of yesterday

There’s no light nor joy waiting for me.

-Quennie, April 2018 (Adolescent Girl on the Street16 years old)

About the poem:

The poem was written by Queenie, a partner child of Tambayan Center for Children’s Rights and the former president of NAKAMATA, a child-led advocacy group. It shares the story of her experiences on physical and humiliating punishment. The poem aims to promote positive discipline in all settings through the art of words. This poem was one of the outputs of children for Tambayan Center’s activity last April 2018 entitled #BAROG: BATA TALENTO IPAKITA, KATUNGOD IMANTALA. Child poets were trained by Don Pagusara to create poems known as “Balak”, poems in deep Visayan language. There were about 40 participants who advocated for disaster preparedness, child protection in emergencies, and mental health through various art forms like music, dance, theatre, and visual arts in three barangays: Brgy 21-C, Brgy 22-C, and Brgy 23-C.