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HUWAG MONG ISIPING ANG IYONG PAGYAO'Y DI PAGLISAN NG ISANG BAYANI
Alexander Martin Remollino
Sa alaala ni Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran,
lider-manggagawa, 1933-2008
Maramot sa liwanag ang araw
at siya'y nagtatago sa likod ng mga abuhing ulap
nang ikaw ay iwan ng huli mong hininga.
Hindi ka nasawi sa larangan,
di-gaya ng siya mong nais.
Ngunit huwag mo sanang isiping ang iyong pagyao
ay hindi paglisan ng isang bayani,
sapagkat hanggang sa huli mong hininga,
may ligtas na pahingahan sa iyong puso't isip
silang nagpapagal
upang bigyan ang bansa't ang buong daigdig
ng bubong na masisilungan, kalasag
laban sa dahas ng unos at lupit ng araw.
Hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang sandali,
ang bawat tibok ng iyong puso ay laan
sa kanilang nagbabaon ng mga pako sa kahoy at kongkreto
upang itindig sa lupa ang mga tahanan.
Ikaw ay bayani,
kaya't nauukol na mabuhay nang walang hanggan
sa pambansang alaala
upang maging tanglaw sa umagang makulimlim
at sa gabing walang buwan at bituin.
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NEVER THINK YOUR PASSING WAS NOT THAT OF A HERO
Alexander Martin Remollino
To the memory of Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran
Leader of the working class, 1933-2008
The sun was stingy with its light
and it was hiding behind ashen clouds
when your last breath left you.
You did not die "in battle,"
contrary to your wishes.
But never think that your passing
was not that of a hero,
for up to your last breath,
you had in your heart and mind
a safe resting place
for those who court weariness
to give their countrymen and the whole human race
roofs above their heads, shields
against the violence of the storms and the harshness of the heat.
Up to the very last moment,
every beat of your heart was devoted
to those who drive nails into wood and concrete
that homes may rise from the soil.
You are a hero,
and thus deserve to eternally live
in the nation's memory
so as to be a guiding light
on cloudy mornings and moonless, starless nights
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