The Old Woman

 

To the world, a gentle face,

A portrait sweet, of quiet grace.

The neighbors saw an innocent heart,

Unaware of the shadow prepared to start.

Behind closed doors, the velvet fell,

And brought her home a taste of hell.

To stepfamily bonds, a monster born—

Greedy, cold, and sharp as thorn.

She tore at threads of blood and line,

Claiming what was never fine,

Leaving fractures, deep and raw,

A ruthless hand, an unwritten law.

Now bone and breath have turned to dust,

Yet memory holds no peace or trust.

Her shadow stretches long and deep,

A haunting promise she still keeps.

I light a candle in the dark, 

Leonaga T.Larena

1995

Bais City Negros Oriental 

Negros Literary Artists

Literary Artist from Bais City and Tanjay City

Literary Artist from Bais City and Tanjay City

 

Halo Halo After Sex

 

 

Sweat drips down, like rain from the sky,

Muscles ache, and bones comply,

Heart beats fast, and lungs inhale,

As the sex ends, we exhale.

 

A cool breeze blows, and the sun shines bright,

A perfect day, for a perfect flight,

We sit and rest, with our feet  crossed high,

As we sip on Halo Halo, let our inner soul recharge again.

 

The sweet taste, of the strawberry ice cream,

The crunch of the halo halo bits, like a dream,

The refreshing taste, of the crushed ice,

Makes us forget the sweet pain, and feel oh-so-nice.

 

We laugh and chat, and share a smile,

Feeling happy, and free from all the bile,

Our spirits lifted, and our hearts full,

As we indulge in Halo Halo, feel so cool.

 

The sun sets low, and the day winds down,

But our spirits remain high, and our smiles don't frown,

For we know that with every sex we do,

There's always a Halo Halo, waiting for me and you.

Halo- Halo after Sex 

Baisanon Poet Penn Tulabing Larena some of his works were influenced by family, relatives and friends. Some of his works include Everlasting love in 2001,Escaño Beach : A Memory to Hold  2011, 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.,The Dark Knight in Sept 2022,

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

A Poet of St. Paul University Dumaguete and a graduate of Silliman University 

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 .

Escaño Beach : A Memory to Hold 2011

 

Escaño Beach : A Memory to Hold

 

Escaño Beach, a memory I hold dear,

The sand was so fine and the waters so clear,

The sky above, so blue and bright,

The sun shone down a glorious sight.

 

The waves crashed onto the shore,

The sound is so soothing,

I can't ignore it,

The sea breeze blowing through my hair,

As I walk along the beach, without care.

 

The Talisay  trees sway in the wind,

A tranquil scene,

I won't rescind,

The memories of that day still remain,

A moment of peace, free from any pain.

 

The laughter and joy shared with friends,

The time we spent, never ends,

Escaño Beach, a memory so sweet,

A place I long to return to and meet.

The memories of that day still bring me bliss,

 A moment of serenity I'll always miss, Escaño Beach,

 a place that stole my heart,

 A memory that will never depart.

Mr. Penn Tulabing Larena 

Baisanon Poet Penn Tulabing Larena some of his works were influenced by family, relatives and friends. Some of his works include Everlasting love in 2001,Escaño Beach : A Memory to Hold  2011, 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.,The Dark Knight in Sept 2022,

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

A Poet of St. Paul University Dumaguete and a graduate of Silliman University 

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 .

Escaño Beach Piapi Dumaguete City 

Stranger of the Midnight Summer Mar 27,2022

 

 

It was a lovely evening

When the sound of the wave touches the ground

The cool breeze and the music play add to the ambiance

The color of the night blends the mood of the evening

 

A stranger from the shores of nearby

Develop a friendship in the summertime by

The conversation was put into place

Comfort and calm were set the night

 

Acacia Trees turn into colors

From blue to the baby pink embrace happiness

From the stars to dark skies

Separated the mood of the night

 

The rain sudden fall into the ground,

I feel abandoned in the middle of the rain

Lonely from afar, Standing in front of a structure

The smell of the falling leaves on the ground

 

I feel cool inside my mind and soul

Craving for a hot chocolate to satisfy me

A stranger of the midnight summer pass by

Who knows one day, we cross our paths once more

 

 

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.Almost Love 2019 ,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 . 

 

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 .

 

Lockdown

 

When the bad luck day came to be

The clouds with darkness cover the skies

It was a bad feeling that  day I cannot harvest my labor.

 

When the paper was not process

My world turn upside down

When nothing left in your wallet

Only angry and sorrow appear in you

 

I pray to God, he will bless me that day

A good friend leads her helping hand

Even her whole family was suffering

From a virus of imagination

 

The day full of a bad experience

 laying down in my body of negativity

I feel evil and savage heart

My naked soul and confuse heart bring me to wonder

Thinking of ending my life to end my agony

 

When a woman with a map in her face

Slow doing her job, and I can only think of bad things

I want to slap on her face a million times

 

I lost hope and take a day to day as a challenge

The lockdown made me so sad and lonely

I lost a man who knows me and cares for me

I will be missing  you eternally

Til we meet again in a perfect time 

Lockdown June 15,2021

Penn Tulabing Larena 

Everlasting love 2001- by Penn T. Larena

When a son was born

The family was happy

Every afternoon we walked to shell beach sand

Togetherness is like Everlasting love 

 

The water was so green and cool

The firefly light  in the nipa palm such a beautiful evening

But when God gave us sadness

The struggle in life with a broken heart

A memory of sad and loneliness appear in my shadow

 

When you saw everybody was wearing black and sadness on their face

You feel the smell of the floral scent scratch everywhere

A tear drops with a sense of sadness and feeling the darkness

When the sound of the roaster and the dawn came the morning light

The morning glory appear gracefully with majesty

 

The aroma of green grass spread the surrounding,

feeling the sadness of losing someone at your Tender age

The woman stands in silence holding the two boys and promise to care for them 

 

Growing up I feel the loneliness of a love

I was waiting for a long time

My heart moves from cold to fire

Would that I could walk with you,

Along some distant seashore,

Leaving only footprints,

 

When my time comes in the future

I want  to see your  sweet smile

I want you to wait for me in the old railway

I will hold your hand to the white light

To meet my creator received my everlasting love

Holding you forever and the love I want for eternity

 

 

 By Penn Tulabing Larena,MPA,KCR

Educator,Civic Leader, Rover Scout ,Poet and Historian

Bais City Philippines

 

 

                   Photo by : AMAROMA

Writers and Poets from Bais City Negros Oriental

Simon Anton Diego G. Baena

Penn Tulabing Larena

Rolin Migyuel Cadallo Obina

Fr. Rudy E. Villanueva

The Room

The COVID -19 Poem of Prof. Penn T. Larena March 2020


A dirty white covers the whole space
Feeling so sad, lonely, and broken-hearted
It feels my mind  of  things to do
The sound of the drama, dancing night and day

People are dying of the virus
Here we are praying day and night
Always thinking about money
and life within the day
How would you spend it and the world will stop for nothing
Thinking of our loved one
and Frontlines saving lives every day

Naked in the room
That feel the heart and soul
Looking at the calendar every day
For the days wasted
Your minds were savage

Touching your body with desire in mind
Looking the time to kill
Praying for everyone to stay healthy
Thinking about the next month's things to do

Only God will help
In a tiny room, you are so afraid
Thankful for the blessing you received
Just in the corner bare naked
Holding to yourself, what world the future brings

Negros Oriental Sugar History

Negros Oriental's economy was far from progressive and its rich soil was not utilized to its full capacity. That was in the 1850s. During those years, people in Negros depict a life of content for they tend to produce goods enough only to meet their daily needs. Even before the sugar boom of the 1850s, Negros Oriental was already producing sugar. The transport of most of its products was mainly done in the ports of Iloilo, which will explain the fast-moving pace of development of the sugar industry in Negros Occidental, primarily due to its proximity to Iloilo. This situation was a disadvantage in the movement of sugar from the Oriental plantations. 

CAB -Bais City Sugar Central 

A wide array of difficulties barred the development of the sugar industry in the Oriental part of the island. The pioneer sugar traders and adventurers include José Rodrigo Camilo Rubio, Diego García-Baena & Agustín de Sandes (from Mexico), Aniceto Villanueva (from Amoy Province, China), Don Bruno Gomez ( from Salamanca Spain ) and Vicente-Anunciación Te (later on adapted the surname Teves, from Amoy Province, China). After hearing about the fertility of the flatlands of Bais, these individuals carved the virgin forests of the eastern side of the island. Many came and settled in the area and planted sugarcane, thus producing muscovado sugar (invented by Vicente-Anunciación Teves) from their mills which was then exported to Spain via Iloilo, the principal shipping point in the Visayas. This was loaded in large sailboats called lurchas or Batel built by Aniceto Villanueva and Joaquín Montenegro (Bais Historian Penn T.Villanueva Larena CPS MPA). 

                                        CAB Steel bridges Photo by Nich Port 

Bais City credits much of its progress to the Central Azucarera de Bais, the largest producer of raw sugar in Negros Oriental. Established by the Real Compañía-General de Tabacos de Filipinas, S.A. of Spain in the early 1900s, it is also the pioneer in the sugar industry in the Philippines. This industry reached its peak in the 1930s bringing affluence to the Negrenses and enabling them to build stately homes and to acquire properties all over the province.

Driving through the city's main national highway, sugar plantations can immediately be seen on both sides of the road. These areas are characterized by expansive lowlands that stretch as far as the eyes can see and are ideal for sugar planting because of the city's naturally fertile soil. It is no wonder why 73% of the city's total land area is devoted primarily to agriculture.

The Central Azucarera itself is an old foreboding structure of metal and hardwood. The offices may have seen better days, the dank smell of nostalgia hangs heavy in the air, but are still functional. Nearby is the Casa Grande, an equally old residential compound surrounded by tall acacia trees, which was built for the use of the employees of the Azucarera. The two-story wooden houses are greatly influenced by old Spanish design and architecture. Much of the houses have undergone restoration and continue to be used as homes of the representatives of the executives of the new management.

Further on are the stately plantation houses owned by sugar planters, mostly standing on one of the lots in the family hacienda. Inside the haciendas are chapels whose altar and icons dating back to 1917. Educational visits to these places may be arranged at the Bais City Tourism Office. What is most interesting is you get to tour via the old railroad trams used by the milling companies to hasten sugarcane transport ( Bais Historian Mr. Penn T. Villanueva Larena,CPS MPA). 

Pioneer People  

Early Europeans and Latin American settlers in Dumaguete and around Oriental Negros were Don Joaquin Montenegro y Mascato, Tomasa( Baena, Burgos,Abilla, Gonzales Hermanos ), Brigida ( Baena, Burgos,Abilla, Gonzales Hermanos) & Nicolasa Elena Gomez (Vicente Hermanos) of Avila Spain the pioneer Haciendera in the place, Don Diego-Garcia-Baena, Don Agustin de Sandes of Mexico, Ramon Telesforo Belloso of Extremadura Spain, Don Anecito Villianueva (Chinese merchant) Don Pedro Gustavo Furbeyre ( Frenchman),Camilo Rodrigo Antonio Rubio ( Italian merchant) Don Demetrio Larena and Don Juan Saavedra who would subsequently lead the Negros Oriental Republic in 1898 (Bais Historian Penn T.Villanueva Larena CPS, MPA).

Photograph ( 2014)

The end of a hot summer
When you fell off missing someone
I set down and take a breath
An uncomfortable feeling and looking at the horizon
I saw the vintage Aparador with full of good memories

I open it, i saw the family album
When I open it, I saw an old photograph
A flashback feeling  the horizon
A boy and the adult lady
Showing the everlasting love and care for each other arms
A memories lane appear in so many colors

Summer of the 1980s
The place is so white and pure
The local Cherry blossom was flowing all over the place
The love of a mother to her son

The joy of togetherness
A son  hold her so tight
The smell of her perfume content the place
No worrying of problems for the future
Just me and the world of happiness

I love you son
I love you Ma
You are my life
Celebrating the joy and sorrow in life
The clock stop and moment can speak a thousand words
They will tell you how the tragedy of family and love can be

Holding a piece of History
The memories will just
be part of the past
The future will be holding our desires
The love will be everlasting in our hearts
The relationship of a mother and son forever

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 , Love like Spanish Bread of Jose Rafael Mar 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 .

Love like Spanish bread from Jose Rafael

Feeling good after eating  Spanish Bread,
It is like being in love with Jose Rafael 
A simple comfort food used to compare,
The man must think it’s unfair.

Alone it feels lonely and sapless,
But with a pair it becomes different.
Combining with any good intent,
It becomes the best kind of commitment.

You may believe you are paired like many,
But to the one and only man you are the best.
He’ll always choose you,
Even if both of your lives are rightful,
For together,
Perfection you turn into.

Simple and boring as the first  time,
Hidden within are the secrets of a queen,
Together a Spanish bread becomes the perfect snack.
Two become one,

Now be amazed at what you have became.
Doubt then shrouds your mind,
Because love’s not so kind,
Fearing to be denied,
You stop without having tried,
Now you can wait and let the feeling subside.

Endless like Spanish Bread,
Never gave up our great man.
For he made you realize,
That giving up is the greatest downfall.
For what was only a fantasy,
Has now become a flavourful inspiration. 



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 , Love like Spanish Bread of Jose Rafael Mar 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 .

The Open Sea

The waves whispering calling me to the shores
The water touches my feet where I stand
The eyes wandering to the deep blue ocean
My heart missing and calling out to you
Memories of you keep on coming back
Like waves on the shore crashing and crashing

When I met a stranger under the dark hall
I told my self this is the person I going to love
Were probably not each other first love
But we had our moment walking under the Acacia trees
Going to church together and praise God
Think of us as starting from now onwards

Since compared to the number of days when we didn’t know each other
You are my everything   to Love and cherish
Forever I hope well be like this
If you’re willing to make this promise with me
I love you, No words can describe it

We both made a vision of our tomorrow, but why did you have to leave me far away
You promise that every sunrise and sunset on the beach you will be on my side
You took the wind right out of my skin and you turned out to be just a fairy tale

As I envision you like the sea, Tears fell from my eyes to my lips kissing the sand
I craved love so deep from you to the sea
I want to give you everything, let make a promise to walk till the next life
Love first and loving someone should not be passionate

The Open Sea 2007

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 .

My Hometown

As I travel around my hometown
I remember all the good memories I found
The people and every moment I remembered
To cherish those moments those times I spent

The breeze that touches my skin
Sweet and aroma of the sugar cane fields
from the cold breeze, I inhale
Which at the dawn I exhale

I remember the beauty of the sights
of a sweet place of mine
Besides the perfect bay
of abandoned of seafood.

I remember a simple old world cham
My cradle of love and family
that filled my heart and soul
that I found and embellish

My Hometown 2015

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 .

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 .