ANG WALANG BANSA
By Rudy Arizala
In my earlier essay, I pointed out that from a strictly historical and legal point of view, what we celelbrate on 12 June is the anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence and not the achievement of independence.
Be that as it may, one should have a country or a place he or she could consider his / her native land or country. And even those who already embraced other nationality or citizenship should not forget the land of his / her birth or where he / she grew up.
In other words, one should have a country of birth or an adopted one. Why do I say this?
Let me quote to you what Sir Walter Scott wrote in his poem "The Lay of of the Last Minstrel" or commonly referred to as "Man Without a Country" with my translation from English to Tagalog or Filipino.
Man Without a Country
Breathes there the man with soul so dead Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored , and unsung.
(The Lay of the Last Minstrel
By Sir Walter Scott, 1771-1832)
Salin sa Tagalog ni Rudy A. Arizala
10 June 2007, Santiago, Chile
Ng “The Lay of the Last Minstrel by Sir Walter Scott
Buhay nga ngunit walang diwa
Sa sarili di nagpasiya
Ito´y tinubuan kong lupa
Alab sa kanyang puso´y wala
Pagbalik mga yabag niya
Nagbuhat sa bansang banyaga
Tandaan mo ang gaya niya
May puso ngunit walang tuwa
Kahit na anong pagkadakila
Yama´y labis walang kapara
Ang mapagkanya ay ulila
Buhay nga, lahat mawawala
At kapag pumanaw na siya
Balik sa alabok na lupa
Taghoy, dangal ni luha´y wala.
Wakas
(“Ang Huling Taghoy” ni Sir Walter Scott.)