Triditional Folk lore

A response to the turtle and the shark a Samoan legend.

This is a Karen’s Legend about why the elephants are so smart.

There was a village in the jungle of the land of Karen where the people live peacefully and happily with each other. Their life consist of planting rice, harvesting rice, catching fish and so on. Everyday the villagers would go down to the river to catch fishes for food. They would weave baskets made out of flax to hold the the fishes and fruit or vegetable that they manage to find on the way to the river and back. Someday day the villagers would have success in catching fishes and someday they won’t.

But inside a village there lived a woman who would go the river after the villagers left to do her own fishing. She would go down to the river after everyone left and she would fish. Before fishing she would sing a song.

Ta anaw si su, Ta anaw law se.

After singing that line her nose would become long and she would splash water and fish using her trunk. Using this trick she would get a basket full of fishes everyday. After fishing she would sing a song

Ta anaw si su, Ta anaw gey taw

With this song her trunk would shorten and return back to normal. She would do this everyday and she would come back to the village with a full basket.

One day the villagers notice that every time she went to fish she would come back with basket full of fishes.They talk among themselves.

“How did she catch so many fishes”

“Yea, even we don’t catch fishes everyday like her”

“ So what should we do?” One villager asked

“We should follow her and see what her tricks are”

With that decision made the next day they villagers follow the women without her noticing it and as usual she would sing the song

Ta anaw si su, Ta anaw law se   and her nose will elongated and them after fishing she would sing, Ta anaw si su, Ta anaw gey taw and her nose would shorten and return back to normal.

The villagers saw her tricks and decided among them self that they should do something about this. So the next day they follow her down to the river and after she finished singing the song that would turn her nose into a trunk they jump out of hiding and cut off her trunk.

The women was so shocked she ran off into the jungle to hide away from them. Because her nose was cut off she couldn't turn it back to normal and and she was embarrassed to go back to the village with her nose hanging down.  So she stay in the jungle and as she stay in the jungle her feet got wider and insect bites her ears so it got so swollen and they never return back to normal. Her foots turn into elephant feet, her ears became big like an elephant ears and her trunk turn into an elephant trunk. So she herself turn into an elephant. Therefore because the elephant were once a human that why they are so intelligent.

Migration, a strange but funny thing.

A monologue response to Prem Banfal's "I remember, I remember."

Migration, strange but funny thing. It weighs a lot on those who have experienced the idea of having to leave their beloved country behind, but weighs less on those who have found a better, almost easy-going life. Sometimes you have to leave you comfort zone just to see the bigger picture and when you do, you are left with no choice but to get yourself up from the once comfortable couch, stand straight and walk down the aisle of new and strange challenges. Some are fortunate enough to be able to overcome these obstacles. “Those are the lucky ones”, I used to tell my mother. But she would always tell me that we’re all lucky and that those people just know how to strive to better their situations. I didn’t understand what she meant by it.

To this day, the memories of our last days in the Philippines are still fresh to my mind. That summer was, by far, the most joyous summer of my life.  We spent that hot summer season going for many long drives with friends and relatives, eating sweet mangoes under the Accacia tree every weekend and swimming near the Tay Tay Falls.

Other times when we are at home and the sun blazed down from an almost cloudless sky, my sister, my cousins and I would grab an old mattress from our basement and place it on our house terrace, sit on it and just enjoy the peaceful view of rolling hills and green meadows. We would sit there for hours and play traditional Filipino games, or sing our favourite songs at the time. 

After playing games, we would all lie on our stomachs and put our feet up against the wall; sometimes, I would see small groups of heat waves trickling their way along the manicured lawns below us. Our long-time maid would treat us little orange-flavoured iced candies when she sees that we are behaving. In the afternoons, I would pay my grandfather a visit next door and he would tell me stories and teach me Spanish and how to make little marionettes using only your fingers. I saw life in pink.

Sadly, though, we had too much fun that we didn’t realize that was our last summer in the Philippines. I remember crying because of the idea of leaving my house behind. I didn’t want to leave my beloved country, my friends, my relatives, my old mattress and my grandfather. Saying good bye to everyone was the hardest part but time turned the page to a new chapter in our lives and it was time for us to go. So, we flew to the land of the long white clouds, without ever thinking about the things that may come into our way.

And so began another chapter in my life, which consisted of few ups and downs. Indeed, moving to New Zealand was one crazy roller coaster ride. I was faced with difficult challenges; attending the local intermediate school and trying to interact with my fellow classmates, for me, was such a fearful thing. One day, I remember crying and almost giving up. I wanted to go home and be with my friends. That was the day when I saw that life was no longer in pink. 

But as the days turned into years and with the help of my family and new friends, I managed to overcome those fears. The greatest thing about living in New Zealand was being able to speak English quite fluently and meeting new friends and people who shaped me into the person I am today. However, the memories I have in the Philippines are still with me and they are the ones I will forever cherish. One day, I realized that I’ve already grown, experienced both good and bad things and learned a lot about myself. That was also the day when I finally understood my mother’s response. Life was, once again, in pink.

A response to The Turtle and the Shark

This legend has been told many times before in various ways. However, it originated from the indigenous people of the Philippines.

The Legend of Mayon Volcano.

                Mount Mayon is an active volcano located in Albay, Bicol, south eastern of the Luzon Island.

                Once upon a time, there lived a gorgeous maiden called Daragang Magayon (beautiful lady), who was the only daughter of Datu Makusog (strong king), the chief of the Rawis tribe. Magayon was renowned for her charms and beauty that suitors from far-off villages would come pay her a visit just to get a glimpse of her elegance.  One day, her father decided that Magayon is in the right age to marry. However, to win Magayon’s heart, suitors or admirers must offer her expensive gifts. Thus, all Magayon’s admirers started to offer her gifts. But none prevailed into winning her heart. One of her admirers is the arrogant and pompous hunter Pagtuga (gift giver).

                When Panginorin (the heavens), a poor, young chief of the Karilaga tribe, learned about this news, he decided to come to the village of Rawis. When Panginorin saw Magayon, he was instantly infatuated by her beauty.

                “I am a poor chief who comes from the village of Karilaga. As of now, I don’t have anything to offer you but my affection and kindness,” said Panginorin.

Magayon, who was stirred by his sudden fondness, fell in love with him too. Panginorin asked Magayon to marry him.

                When the wedding was just days away, Pagtuga heard about this news. Enraged and jealous, he tried to threaten Magayon.

                “Leave that man alone and marry me instead. Or else I will kill your father,” Pagtuga declared.

Since Magayon loves her father dearly, she was left with no choice but to obey Pagtuga’s commands. However, before Magayon could even make a final decision, Panginorin came to learn of this and he fought Pagtuga. As a result, a war broke out between the two villages.

When Panginorin was able to defeat Pagtuga, a happy Magayon ran to Panginorin’s side to hug him. Unfortunately, just as she reached her husband-to-be, Panginorin and Magayon were both struck by a fishing spear.

Sadness and hopelessness engulfed the whole village. Devastated, Datu Makusog decided to place Panginorin and Magayon in a grave and bury the two lovers next to each other; he knew how much they loved each other.

Weeks after their death, villagers noticed that the land where Magayon and Panginorin were buried was starting to grow up high in the sky, forming what is now known as Mount Mayon. 

To this day, villagers believe that Magayon now lives in the mountain and Panginorin in the clouds. It is believed that when the peak of the mountain touches the sky, the two lovers are kissing. Sometimes, the volcano grumbles and people believe that the grumbling is for people to remember the two lovers' tragic death.

Thinking about Samoan and Chinese immigrants' children and their futures (Children of migration)

 Children of migration (review)

Samoans come to New Zealand with the hope of good education and better life. Most of them come to New Zealand with their children and later have more children. Deep in their heart, they always want to go back to their home town after they get rich, for they worship their homeland for ever.

However, the lives in New Zealand are not always the same as they expected. Before they come, they dream very positively about the lives ahead, but after coming, they begin to find that they are bond to the hard work and have very little time for their children. The only time for them to be together is on Sunday, when, parents go to the church together with their children, and then enjoy a moment of peace.

In real life, Samoans respect their family life, no matter how much success they have got, they want to share with their families; no matter how far they are away from their families, they always think that their families are their soul. Samoans’ parents could do all kinds things for their children, and the children are taught to be kind towards their parents, which are very same habits like Asian.

Actually, after many years in New Zealand, the children have grown up and they slowly find New Zealand is their real hometown, and eventually, the parents could not return back to Samoa anymore, for the sake of their children. Generation after generation, Samoan become New Zealand’s kiwi, their life have been blended with the local. Only one thing has not been changed, their culture, their original culture, passing down mouth to mouth, they still keep their own customs and habits within their circles. They are half Samoans and half New Zealanders in their hearts still. This may be the results of all immigrants.

This reminds me of Chinese immigrants in New Zealand. Chinese belongs to a very small minority in New Zealand, and they have very different culture and habits with local people, so they also feel very boring and lonely in New Zealand. The motivation for their immigration to New Zealand is children’s education and future. China is developing very quickly, but its basic facilities are still needed to be improved, so, many parents want to try more advanced western education system in New Zealand. Same as Samoans’, Chinese children develop more and more Kiwi styles and choose to stay, so, their parents may have to stay in New Zealand forever, which is out of their own original perception.

I once ask some Chinese, whose grandparents immigrated to New Zealand from Old China, what did they think about China. They shake their heads and said they did not have any ideas about their roots, for no one told them anymore, their parents may remember some, but with the development of China, they totally did not know what and what, so, at last, they would not ask anymore, the only thing they could relate to China is Chinese Lantern Festival and old family photos, that is all. They are different from Chinese internally.

Time could change everything, no matter you want to accept or not, immigrants’ minds are changing. As long as they live in a peaceful country, they generally think everything is same; they live in the place, then the place belongs  to them, and they worship it as their hometown. The history of immigrants is like the history of human beings, there is no right or wrong, only recognition.

Therefore, as a country of immigration, New Zealand has great cultural diversity, and needs to face many challenges in the future. In order to have a peaceful and prosperous society, all immigrants are responsible for the acceptance of other people’s culture, so, people of different diversity could understand and respect each other. In the future, they may care about the same thing, attend the same festivals, and discuss about the same topic of the country, they are kiwi, at least they think by themselves. Just like the present Kiwi, most of them are of English offspring, but they now call them Kiwi, no one call themselves English anymore, for they have already belonged to this country, these Samoan and Chinese are the same as well.

A letter to the author.

A letter to the author as a response to Grace Taylor's spoken word poem, "Navigating Space."

Dear Ms Taylor,

            Hi. How’s it going? I hope all is well with you. I am writing this letter to state my thoughts, opinions and own experiences relating to your poem, “Navigating Spaces.” First of all, I really love how your poem portrays a message that almost everyone can relate to, especially those who are passionate about their own culture, origins and heritage despite any challenges. Secondly, I like how proud you are of being an Afakasi and how you are not afraid of what you perceive yourself as. My favourite line in the poem would be, “Where I’m from, I’m always half, but half for me is full. I’m a race within a race.” I think this line is a strong symbol of patriotism and love to your own country. Finally, I love it when you said that the people in your country “survived” during the colonising period, “adapted” to the new environment, but still “remembered” their old land.

As a girl who comes from a place that was colonised by many countries, I understand what it is like to have different bloods. The Philippines was first settled by the people from Malaysia. After that, we were colonised by the Spanish and Mexican for almost four centuries and then ruled by the Americans for forty years. Just like stated in your poem, we fought, survived and adapted to new way of living. But we still remember to this day our own originality. Furthermore, although I have Malaysian and Spanish bloods in my bloodline, I still define myself as a proud Filipino. I’m proud of my culture and how far my country has gone through. This is the reason why I agree and relate to your viewpoints about being an Afakasi.

Now living in the land of the long white clouds, I’ve gone through many things. Yet, seven years of living in a foreign country did not stop me from thinking and reflecting back to my home country, my culture, my roots and colours. Every day, I think about the things me and my family used to do in the Philippines. I also think about the things I’ve learned back home. I would never forget about my culture because it is what made me the individual I am today.

Yours Sincerely, 

Jodealyn Cadacio

a book and a pen

“A Book and a Pen” is a poem written by Jon Jonassen (1980). It is a very nice poem. It describes the confused feeling of the author. He found that he actually did not know who he was and why he lived, with 'a book and a pen', which he used for the whole life. He finished high education and got a job, but the job was not related with his study. When he got old and returned back to his hometown, he eventually found that he couldn't interpret the meaning with the knowledge he learned from schools, and he was disappointed.

The hero repeats the" book and pen "three times, that means he has read many things, and written a lot, which are thought to be necessary for the ruling class and for his future. However, all his learning is proven to be useless in his job- “trash” he explains it as. His people still live in the very primitive life and style, they do not need it.

Moreover, the "book and pen" is again proven to be unfitted for his original life after he retires to his hometown, for people communicate to each other with their own indigenous languages and songs, which seem very different from what he received from his "book and pen" education.

He seems understand that he has just learned according to what "they " asked him to study. He is forced to accept all kinds of 'new thing', for 'they' thought that he needs to give up his backward culture and language.

But as a human being, one thing is with him the whole life: his original culture, his source of living; he may forget it for a period of times for some reasons, he eventually would remember who he is, and, what he longs for, in his deepest heart. Just as the author wrote, the old songs and legends about his ancestors linger when he getting old, and he regrets for his not knowing them earlier, maybe he should have learned them younger, for this brings him life in the end.

This poem calls out that colonization can conquer a person's outer action and even his knowledge, while can not conquer a person's internal spirit. Human traditions and cultures can pass down generation to generation, even not by written communication, for they flow from  people's heart.

Poem for saved

 A response to Saved by Jon Jonassen


You have come into our country
You have come for your own country
You have let us keep our custom
You have let us keep our language
You haven't changed us much

You have taught us your ways
You have taught us your customs
You have taught us your language
You haven't changed us much

You have promised us our freedom
You have loved us
You have made us loved you
You have our loyalty
You have our soldiers to help you fight the Japanese
You haven't changed us that much

We believed in you
We died for you
We fought for you
We loved you unconditionally
But you turned your back on us
You have betrayed us
You have ruined our friendship

You have given our freedom to another
You gave up on us
You let us suffer when you left
You let our people died
Now you have blood of my people in your hand
You haven't changed us that much

You have given the power to another
They treat us like animals
They take away our land
They take away our homes
They take our children and women
They then rape and kill our women
They also take our men
They take us to be porters
They turn us into slavery
They beat me and my people
Our people keep dying
You haven't changed us that much

You have come into our country
You have come for your own country
You let us keep our custom
You let us keep our language
When you left us with another
You have changed us in the most unimaginable way

So on behalf of my people
I have a message to you
When you were in our country
You promised my people
That you will give us freedom
You taught us your ways
We have loved you
We fought for you
We died for you
But we curse you when you left
For you have caused us to cry tears
For our women and our people