After seeing this video in Facebook, I was determined to find who wrote this letter.
As luck has it, DZMM’s Faylon and Sanchez radio show did an audio version of this and mentioned who penned this wonderful letter, Fr. Ariel Robles.
Thank God for the internet and I found more information about Fr. Ariel Robles and the poem, “Sa Aking Pagtanda”. I even found an english version!
I’m posting the video version below so that you can read the letter again with music. After the video, I’m posting the letter in Filipino, then in English. If you were touched by this beautiful piece of literature and video, please do share this post.
Let’s share the message and appreciate our parents more — they deserve it.
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Sa Aking Pagtanda
CWL Spiritual Director
St. Augustine Parish
Baliuag, Bulacan
Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensyahan.
Kapag dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan o nakatapon ng sabaw sa hapag kainan, huwag mo sana akong kagagalitan.
Maramdamin ang isang matanda. Nagse-self-pity ako sa tuwing sisigawan mo ako.
Kapag mahina na ang tenga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, huwag mo naman sana akong sabihan ng “binge!” paki-ulit nalang ang sinabi mo o pakisulat nalang.
Pasensya ka na, anak, matanda na talaga ako.
Kapag mahina na tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong tulungang tumayo, katulad ng pag-aalalay ko sa iyo noong nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad.
Pagpasensyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ay nagiging makulit at paulit ulit na parang sirang plaka. Basta pakinggan mo nalang ako. Huwag mo sana akong pagtatawanan o pagsasawaang pakinggan. Natatandaan mo anak noong bata ka pa? kapag gusto mo ng lobo,paulit-ulit mo ‘yong sasabihin, maghapon kang mangungulit hangga’t hindi mo nakukuha ang gusto mo. Pinagtyagaan ko ang kakulitan mo.
Pagpasensyahan mo na rin sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda, amoy lupa. Huwag mo sana akong piliting maligo. Mahina na ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag nalamigan, huwag mo sana akong pandirihan.Natatandaan mo noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kitang habulin sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mong maligo.
Pagpasensyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako’y masungit, dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan mo rin.
Kapag may konti kang panahon, magkwentuhan naman tayo, kahit sandali lang. Inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong nag-iisa. Walang kausap. Alam kong busy ka sa trabaho, subalit nais kong malaman mo na sabik na sabik na akong makakwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong hindi ka interesado sa mga kwento ko. Natatandaan mo anak, noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kong pakinggan at intindihin ang pautal-utal mong kwento tungkol sa iyong teddy bear.
At kapag dumating ang sandali na ako’y magkakasakit at maratay sa banig ng karamdaman, huwag mo sana akong pagsawaan alagaan. Pagpasensyahan mo na sana kung ako man ay maihi o madumi sa higaan, pagtyagaan mo sana akong alagaan sa mga huling sandali ng aking buhay. Tutal hindi na naman ako magtatagal.
Kapag dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo sana ang aking kamay at bigyan mo ako ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang kamatayan.
At huwag kang mag-alala, kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagapalain ka sana … dahil naging mapagmahal ka sa iyong ama’t ina…
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An Aging Parent’s Plea To His Child
English translation by Edecat Manila
As I grow old,
I seek your Patience and Understanding.
Despite Hard-of-Hearing – notwithstanding,
“Love me”. You’re told.
If I spill Soup or break Plate,
My Eyesight could be dimming.
Look upon me with no hate.
Lest, I get a bad feeling.
If I am slow to stand,
My Knees could be weakening.
Quickly give me your Hand,
For I did teach you – Walking.
If I’m slow to understand,
My Hearing could be failing.
Write down or Motion-by-Hand,
So I could get the meaning.
If I sound like a “Broken Record”,
My Memory could be lapsing.
Please do not laugh at me – nor be bored.
Bear with me – just by listening.
If I feel so alone,
My Spirit yearns for your presence.
Although busy at work,
Find time to be with me at home.
If I become hard-to-please,
My Consciousness favors the familiar.
Be careful and not amiss,
I’m exacting on particulars.
If I emit an unpleasant smell,
I could have the Odor-of-Old.
A daily Bath could make me unwell.
My weak Body could get a Cold.
If I urinate and move my bowel in bed,
Persevere still in loving me.
My Life is ending and farewells would soon be said.
Memories last eternally.
And if my Moment-of-Death is near,
Hold my hand and embrace me dearly.
Your love for me brings “God’s Blessings” here.
You and I are truly family!
| Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edecat_Manila |
Russel CPatalinghog
Russel is a full-time technical writer, a multimedia artist and a photographer. In his spare time, he swims away from imaginary sharks and crocodiles in the community lap pool.
super ntouch po ako ang ganda po! lhat po tyo ay ttanda din po pero bgo po mhuli ang lhat dpt po gwin muna ntin s atin mga mgulang! syang d ko po nranasan mksama po ang akin mga mgulang ng mtagal maaga po kc me naulila s mgulang! npkhirap po! sbik po me s pgm2hal ng mgulang! slamat po
totoo yan Susan, lahat tayo ay dapat pahalagaan ang panahon meron tayo kasama ang ating mga magulang.
una ko itong nabasa noong nasa 3rd year HS pa ako. nagustuhan ko po talga ito ng sobra kaya humanap ako ng kopya nito pero wala akong nakita kasi nakalimutan ko ang pamagat. after 3 years ng pag hahanap, nakita ko rin ito sa wakas. salamat sa gumawa ng nito. MAHAL NA MAHAL KO ANG MGA MAGULANG KO.
Hi! I never heard of the existence of the poem “sa aking pagtanda” not until one member of our church named Jack, 80 years old, showed a copy of it to me, and even delivered it orally, with tears running down his face. According to him, he wrote it when he was 18 years old as part of a poetry contest and he got the first prize. From then on, his poem was sent to the United States and obviously, it has become popular even up to this day through the net. I just want to share this story to you because i think the old man, the real author, deserves to be recognized. ^^ you can reach me through my fb account and you can even see the picture of the real author there, my churchmate in Bulacan Bethel Church.
Hi Amadea,
Thank you for that information. If you can let me know of yourfb account so I can add you, or add me up, russel@russelcp.com. I’d be glad to spread the real source of this great poem.
Thank you!
binasa po ito sa amin ng aming rector sa st. alphonsus noong ako ay first student of theology, natouched po ako at naalaala ko ang lola ko kaya pinadalhan ko ng kopya ang aking mga tita at sila man ay natouched din. tnx for this. may you continually touch many of us through this.God bless!
talagang super touched po..sana mabasa ng anak ko..n hindi sa lahat ng oras,araw ay malakas pa kaming magulang niya…at hindi habang buhay nasa tabi nya kami…sana maintindihan nya ang mga nangyayari,…lalo kong minahal ang parents ko since ng buntis ako,at nanganak…ang hirap pala maging isang ina…salamat po sa message…god bless..
na touched tlaga ako grabe!!!honestly po ka mamatay lang po ng aking lolo..kaya nkakarelate po tlaga ako!!But I can proudly say na mahal ko tlaga lolo ko kasi ako ang private nurse nya bago pa man sya namatay…sana i-continue nyo pa ang pag-spread ng poem na to,to inspire a lot of people…Let’s make all our lolo and lola proud of us by doing service to them co’z they deserve to be happy!!!