A requiem for Raul Roco (1941-2005)
NOTE: kimosabe27 posted this moving requiem for the the late Raul Sagarbarria Roco, a great Nagueño, at the PCIJ blogsite last August 9, 2005. I have taken the liberty to post it here, as it captures the grief of the Bikolano people for whom he served as an enduring icon and source of inspiration.
A requiem for you Raul
A mournful prayer
Set aloft
The gossamer wings
Of a fading Amihan
Black as spade
The future forebodes
Emptiness
A lull before the storm
The horizon beckoning thunderclouds
Pillars of despair
The balinsasayaw heralding the evil tempest
In a country where legends and war cries
Erode from collective memory
And greatness
Drain in rivulets
Like fading bloodstains
Of fallen warriors
We cry for solace
From this constant deluge
Of wanton wickedness
We wish you were here Raul
Your presence is Isarog
Solitary in a plain of green
Yet lofty and formidable
Forever sheltering fair Naga
From the terrible, terrible claws
Of shredding Habagat
It will be missed…
That keen mind of yours
As sharp as a newly forged Sundang
That penchant for justice
Like Magayon’s slopes
Everything should be equal, proportionate
That bravura, yes that bravura
When everyone else cowered
In the fusillade of lies and deception
You stood up in the defense of Truth
Like the victors of Tancong Vaca
You are relentless
Even though you are outnumbered and outgunned
Still you will be missed…
While the halls of Gugurang
Will rejoice in your presence
And the heroes of Ibalon:
Handiong, Baltog, Bantong
Ola, Vinzons, Escandor
Will welcome you as brethren
We who are left behind
Can only wail in despair
A requiem for you Raul
A mournful prayer
Set aloft
The gossamer wings
Of a dying Amihan
2 comments:
Very moving poem.
I felt very sad and kept crying the whole day. In the evening, I stood beside his coffin in silence. I couldn't even tell him that he took away my dreams. Then I went to one corner and cried. Mrs. Roco tried to console me. That was quite awakward--Sonia stroking my head and telling me that he has just gone ahead when I should have been the one giving her some solace.
I am very, very grateful that I worked with him. I remember that I was the last person he saw before he delivered his address to the FOCAP. I gave him a short briefing on economic issues that he should address. I also gave him a face---at the risk of incurring the ire of GMA--I went publicly on TV explaining his policies.
I am truly privileged to have reached a high level of idealism through his inspiration and influence.
Nene Guevara
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