Bahay Kubo in Calo

 Beside the river, on the farm so green,

Stands a humble home, a Bahay Kubo serene. Built with bamboo and nipa, a simple abode, With nature as its backdrop, a peaceful abode.

The gentle breeze that blows, brings a sweet scent, Of flowers and crops, so rich and abundant. The flowing river, a soothing lullaby, As the farmers work hard, beneath the bright blue sky.

Inside the Bahay Kubo, a cozy retreat, Where families gather, to rest and to eat. Simple pleasures in life, they embrace with joy, Content with the Calo farm, and its bountiful employ.

The Bahay Kubo stands as a symbol so pure, Of life that's simple, and values that endure. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the world outside, In this humble abode, there's peace to abide.

Beside the river, on the farm so green, The Bahay Kubo stands, a sight to be seen. A haven of tranquility, amidst nature's charm, A place to call home, with open arms.

Leonaga T. Larena in 1991

Sra. Acion ,San Jose ,Negros Oriental

Perfection 1985

 

As I'm going through life, a scenario pops into my head.

 A created disorder that scoffs at the idea of a future.

 A stumble while I was entering a throng

I kept my posture straight and worked hard to keep quiet.

mouth making such whispers and high-pitched giggles:

Stunningly evil eyes look at the large window

 stepping into the path of onlookers who may have differing opinions

 I keep second-guessing if I came out as too commonplace.

 

 

Everywhere there was style and sophistication

On their face is engraved the desire for perfection.

Snakes nest on their neck.

Consider me as a small speck in your eyes.

You must stride straight.

And keep it light.

formally attired as they say,

Every day, you are being handled like a machine.

 

 

 

I think my best option is to whimper.

 But all of a sudden, reality hits me in the face.

 All of their expectations were crushed, and I'm still improving.

 for an unacceptable letdown.

 The desire for perfection is universal.

 And everybody wants to be noticed.

 They desire to possess everything.

They are fixated on perfection. 

Perfection  Luca Tanjay City 

Leonaga Tulabing Larena 

Memoir of Calle Tavera

Walking on the evening of December Avenue

The memories flashback of joy and happiness

Parties and funerals got the family together

 

Love of my old man always share with laugher and ever ending stories

A woman in the corner deep inside full of anger and vengeance

 

New memories will always be a family betrayal and pain deep down in my heart.

My heart is so savage that my blood flow to the ring of the joy of hell

 

Someday, all the painful realities that caused my pain

It will make me realize how God blessed me as a strong man in the end 

April 16,2021

Mr. Penn Tulabing Larena 

Baisanon Poet Penn Tulabing Larena some of his works influenced by family,relatives and friends. Some of his works include Everlasting love in 2001, Hacienda in 2013, Hometown 2015,Rizal 2016,  The space between us in 2018 ,Spanish Bread of Jose Rafael  2018  Pretty Girl  2018.,Lockdown 2021 and Stranger of the midnight summer 2022.

Larena is regular travel, historical and lifestyle writer of Negros now daily and Negros Weekly and New York  based The Negros Times.

He is a nephew of  Literary icons in the Philippines like Fr. Rudy Villanueva aka in literature Renato Madrid, Dr. Elsa Martinez – Coscolluela,Atty .David C. Martinez, Lilius Pinili,Dr. Tichie Saycon E. Baena ,Atty Arturo Valencia Umbac,  Simon Anton Niño Diego Galera Baena and his mother Leonaga Tulabing Larena .

 

Literary Development of Negros Oriental in Bais and Tanjay

 Women in Literature in Negros Oriental  

Men  in Literature in Negros Oriental  

The River 1973

The river is a human being of pleasure
From the valley to the lowlands showing clear water
Carefree that she turns out at her best
And swans that cover her love’s measure
Flowing under the bridges showing her life of Free
Surrounding the trees seen its day and night
Hang around her naked to hear the sound of music and dance to please her self
Toughing the water so kisses her pleasure



The River is like spring the source of life on earth
Flashing in the wide green glade,
Hidden worlds kept from human being watchful eyes
Disaster to Sunshine appear with Grace and Beauty
Tempered with the lightning’s aid and charity,
To  touch the crystal clear water and endless connection
Witness to my endless love to the man I love
For life, I hope to see you end again flowing
From the mountain to show his precious treasures



A 1973  Poem by Baisanon Poet Leonaga H.Tulabing Larena a lover of World Literature and a member of Dumaguete Reading Club from 1971 to 1985. In  Summer of 1965 and 1966  she was sent to Manila thru a government scholarship to study Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo at the University of the Philippines Diliman. 

The legend of the City of Bais

The legend of the City of Bais   1980

Writer: Josefa Baena Villanueva –Perez 

Translated from Cebuano to English: 

Leonaga Tulabing Larena,RN,MPM 

Bais before was already the center of trade in the island of Negros Oriental. The Chinese were already coming here to trade their magnificent silk and porcelain with lumber for building houses and sugar coming from sugar cane plant ( Tubo).

The natives of Bais idolizes the spirit ( Anitos ) and God and Goddesses that lived in the forest. They make the forests a sacred place to pray. They sometimes do not during moonlight nights and they sing native songs in their language for their beloved Anitas due to their greediness and weaknesses. They denuded the forests, they cut down all trees and build their houses there and celebrated fiestas.The sacredness of the place was forgotten.

Bais City Sunset by : Photographer Kenzo G. Laxina

The Anitos got very angry and famine resulted, their harvests failed and the natives were hungry. Despite what happened the anitos stile pitied the native. They created rivers and seas were numerous fish appeared which the natives were gathering freshwater eel called “Bais” caught in the fish traps. The natives were given fish to eat by the anitos. 

The total Stranger

The stranger is now ready to  be  with a  fine lady,
Understands the dusty to act like as divine justice
Now ready to enter in a materialize society,
To a total stranger bringing happiness to my life

The freedom I lost to the man I love
My mind is mine
But my life be with him forever
To hunt is to be hunted
To live is to die
Our thoughts, love, belongs  are our own

People are all eager to associate with his great man,
The stranger  look back and recognize her
Yet he does not reveal his identity to anyone.

Instead of love and disappointment came
To fight  for love and adoration for the man I loved
To support all his endeavors and achievements
For I am the lost identity, soul, mind, and spirit

The man I love is gone too soon
Standing alone in front of your grave
He gives me laughter and Caderousse happiness
A total stranger will always be the love of my life

A 1982 Poem by Baisanon Poet Leonaga Hermoso.Tulabing Larena was a lover of World Literature and a member of Dumaguete Reading Club from 1971 to 1985. In the Summer of 1965 and 1966  she was sent to Manila thru a government scholarship to study Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo at the University of the Philippines Diliman.She was born in Bais City and grow up in Vallehermoso Negros Oriental ,Tanjay City and Daro Dumaguete City.

Educational Background

Vallehermoso Central School,Foundation University, Southwestern University ,Arellano University  

Katacgahan

By : Leonaga Hermoso Tulabing Larena in 2005

The Sky was crystal blue and mountains so dry

The sun kisses my skin

Dark surface and the volcanic fertile the Land

Smell the aroma of sweet green grass

Tamarind sweet and sour stand for ages

The land ruled by King and Queen

Duke and Baroness

Draw to angry, principle and greed

The family is torn apart

When the wind blows from North to South

East and West to touch your skin

Remembering the glorious  past with pride and honor

Giant’s men rule the land

The surface became dark

People suffering from a feudal system

From famine to War

Make the field very dry

The thirst, no food and the search for clean water for ages

I lay down to the empty land

My heart bleeding so fast

I feel like I’m drowning in shallow water

Giant men thumb my back, destroy my soul and took my identity

I saw my reflection in the crystal creek

After the rain, a beautiful rainbow appeared

My self was restored

The green grows blowing  into the wind from side and side

The little boy became a King

Everything so happy and endless peace 

Hacienda Katacgahan Bais City

A 2005 Poem by Baisanon Poet Leonaga H.Tulabing Larena a lover of World Literature and a member of Dumaguete Reading Club from 1971 to 1985. In  Summer of 1965 and 1966  she was sent to Manila thru a government scholarship to study Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo at the University of the Philippines Diliman.Her another poems are the following, River, Total Stranger ,Rizal 

Editor 

Baisanon Poet Penn Tulabing Larena  some of his works influenced by family ,relatives and friends. Some of his works including Hacienda in 2013, Hometown 2015,Rizal 2016, Katacgahan 2005 , The space between us 2018 ,Spanish Bread of Jose Rafael  2018 and Pretty Girl  2018. He is a nephew of  Literary icons in the Philippines like Fr. Rudy Villanueva aka in literature Renato Madrid, Dr. Elsa Martinez – Coscolluela,Atty .David C. Martinez, Lilius Pinili,Dr. Tichie Saycon E. Baena ,Atty Arturo Valencia Umbac,  Simon Anton Niño Diego Galera Baena and his mother Leonaga Tulabing Larena .