by Tristan Buenaflor

Ang Dasal ng Aking Kapwa (Filipino Version)

Ito ang dasal ko para sa aking mga kapwa:
Isang malayang Pilipinas. Isang malayang bansa.

Panginoon, dinggin mo ang dasal ni Aling Rosa, 
Sana’y maubos ang kaniyang paninda.

Pakinggan mo rin si Mang Toma sa dulo ng kalsada: 
na bumaba ang presyo ng gas at siya’y makapasada.

Huwag ring kalilimutan si Ning-ning, ang batang masiyahin, 
ligtas na ihatid sa paaralan, gamiting gabay ang mga bitwin.

Ang akin? Dasal ko ang dasal ng aking kapwa, 
kaawaan kami ng Siya Nawa.

Gusto ko lamang makitang malaya 
ang aking bansa. Malaya at masaya.

The Prayers of My People

This is my prayer for my people:
A free Philippines. A free nation.

Lord, listen to Aling¹ Rosa’s prayer, 
may her crops flourish and be spared.

Hear Mang² Toma at the end of the road as well: 
Lower the price of oil and may this jeepney sell.

Don’t forget our cheerful little neighbor, Ning-ning, 
keep her safe, guided by Your stars twinkling

As for me? My prayer is the prayer of my people, 
have mercy on us, give any kind of miracle.

I just want to really see
my people happy and free.

¹ “Aling” or “ale” is a word of endearment in the Philippines used to refer to old ladies.
² Word of endearment in the Philippines used to refer to old men.

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Tristan Buenaflor is a Christian writer from the province of Batangas, Philippines. He is a current lecturer at the University of the Philippines Baguio, teaching language and literature. It is also where he graduated in 2019. Alongside teaching, he is also taking up his masters in Malikhaing Pagsulat (Creative Writing) at UP Diliman. He has been a fellow of various national writing workshops in the Philippines, like the prestigious Palihang Rogelio Sicat 15 and the Teaching Philippine Queer Literature Workshop. Outside the academe, he spends his time as the Deputy National Spokesperson of the Christian organization, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP). In 2018, he was awarded the Ignite Brave Awards by Amnesty International Philippines for his work regarding human rights. He likes writing about the local gay experience, food literature, epic fantasies, and crime fiction. His first two works can be found on Likhaan.com. He also has a small vlog called “Kwentong Santan” (Santan Stories).

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