Man Of Earth
MAN OF EARTH
Amador T. Daguio (January 8, 1912-1967) obtained his M.A. in English at Stanford U. as a Fulbright scholar. In 1954, he obtained his Law degree from Romualdez Law College in Leyte. Daguio was editor and public relations officer in various offices in government and the military. He also taught for twenty-six years at the University of the East, U.P., and Philippine Women’s University. In 1973, six years after his death, Daguio was conferred the Republic Cultural Heritage Award.
The poem speaks of courage and strength. Philippines have suffered a great deal from countries that had colonized us. They treated the Filipinos as inferiors and were cruel to them especially tha Japanese and Spaniards. Filipinos have no choice but be submissive and accept their situation. But then in their weakness, they were able to find strength. The bamboo plant bends when a strong wind passes by. This is not a manifestation of weakness but rather, it proves how smart and resilient tha bamboo plant is. If it did not bend than it will die because the wind is too strong. It tells us that we must choose our fights. Bending does not mean surrendering. Even if we lost our freedom, we did not gave up. There were lots of revolts and protests. The KKK was one of the most active organizations that fought against the Spaniards. In the end, their efforts paid off. Philippines was able to free itself from 333 years of Spanish colonization.
reena chua
Man of Earth
by: Louis Daguio
Pliant is the bamboo;
I am man of earth;
They say that from the bamboo
We had our first birth.
Am I of the body,
Or of the green leaf?
Do I have to whisper
My every sin and grief?
If the wind passes by,
Must I stoop and try
To measure fully
My flexibility?
I might have been the bamboo,
But I will be a man.
Bend me then, O Lord,
Bend me if you can.
Amador T. Daguio (January 8, 1912-1967) obtained his M.A. in English at Stanford U. as a Fulbright scholar. In 1954, he obtained his Law degree from Romualdez Law College in Leyte. Daguio was editor and public relations officer in various offices in government and the military. He also taught for twenty-six years at the University of the East, U.P., and Philippine Women’s University. In 1973, six years after his death, Daguio was conferred the Republic Cultural Heritage Award.
The poem speaks of courage and strength. Philippines have suffered a great deal from countries that had colonized us. They treated the Filipinos as inferiors and were cruel to them especially tha Japanese and Spaniards. Filipinos have no choice but be submissive and accept their situation. But then in their weakness, they were able to find strength. The bamboo plant bends when a strong wind passes by. This is not a manifestation of weakness but rather, it proves how smart and resilient tha bamboo plant is. If it did not bend than it will die because the wind is too strong. It tells us that we must choose our fights. Bending does not mean surrendering. Even if we lost our freedom, we did not gave up. There were lots of revolts and protests. The KKK was one of the most active organizations that fought against the Spaniards. In the end, their efforts paid off. Philippines was able to free itself from 333 years of Spanish colonization.
reena chua
Man of Earth
by: Louis Daguio
Pliant is the bamboo;
I am man of earth;
They say that from the bamboo
We had our first birth.
Am I of the body,
Or of the green leaf?
Do I have to whisper
My every sin and grief?
If the wind passes by,
Must I stoop and try
To measure fully
My flexibility?
I might have been the bamboo,
But I will be a man.
Bend me then, O Lord,
Bend me if you can.