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The mask - Ang maskara



ANG MASKARA - THE MASK

by Victor P. Gendrano


Pagka't kailangan
o nais na gawin
iba't ibang maskara
ang isinusuot ko.
Pang tago ng sariling kirot
pang aliw sa pusong malungkot
pang bigay ng lakas at tibay
sa lalong nangangailangan.

Iba't ibang maskara
sa iba't ibang pagkakataon;
Dapat matapang
at hindi pansinin
di nakikitang luha
sa likod ng maskara.

Kaya lang pag minsan
paglakad ng panahon
hindi na malaman
kung sino nga ako:
Ang naka maskara
o nasa likod nito,
Ang aktor ba o tutuong ako?

By choice
or through necessity
various masks
I wear.
To hide a pain
cheer somebody
provide strength and stability
to those needing them more.

Different masks
for different occasions;
Have to be brave
and ignore
the unseen tears
behind the mask.

Yet at times
in days passing
I don't know anymore
who I really am:
The masquerader or
the one behind the mask,
The actor or the real me?

Reprinted from Heritage magazine, Vol. XI, No. 3, Fall 1997



For comments, email me at vgendrano@yahoo.com

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Copyright © 2002 Victor P. Gendrano. All rights reserved.
Uploaded 24 April 2002