BASIC SPANISH LESSONS

INTRODUCTION TO SPANISH LANGUAGE

Spanish is a member of the Indo-European linguistic family. It is a language that is widely dispersed because of the extent of the Spanish conquest during the age of exploration and discovery. It is widely spoken in North America especially Mexico and the Caribbean islands, Central America and most of the continent of South America. It is also spoken in Africa in Equatorial Guinea, and in the Philippines before the Americans introduced English as the language of government and academe.

I used to think that Spanish is the only native language of Spain. However, I later on learned that this language was based on Castillan, the language of Castille and that there are many different kind of languages in Spain. The other native languages spoken there are: Basque that is mainly spoken in north-eastern Spain, Catalan that is spoken in south-eastern Spain, Galician spoken in northwestern part of the country, Aragonese spoken in the highlands of Aragon and Asturian spoken in Asturias. 

After Mandarin Chinese, Spanish is next in line in terms of the number of native speakers. However, with regards to the area of dispersion, it is the worlds most widely dispersed as it can be found spoken in many different areas in the world, especially in Latin America. Even in the Philippines, which used to be a Spanish outpost in Asia before they were taken over by Americans, there are still some people who can speak the language fluently.

Now I am inviting you to join me in learning this language. We will begin it on my next blog.

A spanish inspired villa in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

VISAYAN POETRY No. 1 (Balak Binisaya)

ANG KAKULIAN SA GUGMA
Ni: Al Ponciano R. Datu



Ang matahum mong panagway
gihanduraw ko sa kanunay
nga sa matam-is mong pahiyom
gipadayag ang imong katahum
nga sa kanunay ginalantaw
matag higayon gitan-aw
gipangandoy'ng maangkon sa kanunay
ug sa mga bukton masapnay

Apan pagkaalaut ko inday
way katumanan ang kalipay
kay gigapus sa kakuliang
kamatayon lamang ang makatangtang
ug makawala sa tanang kasakit
sa pagpalandong sa kapait
ning talikalang migapos kanako
ug sa kasing-kasing nakapasubo
ug mibabag sa atong gugmang
ang kakulian maoy miuwang.

THE HINDRANCE OF LOVE
By: Al Ponciano R. Datu

Your beautiful face
in my mind ca't be erased
that with your smile that's honeyed
your beauty is conveyed
that is always gazed
every time stared
yearned to be forever owned
and in my arms cradled

But how unfortunate I am my dear

there's no fulfillment for my cheer
for I'm stopped by this obstruction
that only death can expunge
and all the pains will be effaced
in musing for the bitterness
of this chain that for me shackled
and my heart it mangled
and for our love that it barred

that this impediment had marred.

THE WRATH OF SENDONG

THE WRATH OF SENDONG (WASHI)

A WEDDING AND MANY FUNERALS
By: Al Ponciano R. Datu




It was one bleak December night
and its 16th day was wrought with fright
winds howl, rain pours with all its might
and such thing drive out my delight.

I was standing on a mall
staring blankly at a wall
as I tried to find my way
from the nearby grocery
to the restaurant that stood
on the other side of road
were some good food to take home
to partake in dining room.

Inside that hotel restaurant
were some persons all known to me
to be in plenty, not in want
going there for Christmas party
while the heaven's about to fall
sending shock waves to my soul.

For the heavy rains had poured
and the storm winds all but roared
and my vehicle won't start
doesn't want to take a part
in my escape from raging storm
that had drenched up all my form.

Lucky me I made a deal
in a high fee have to seal
with a scared jeepney driver
who lived beside a river
who brought me home in hurry
and was gone without a tarry
as I was then so happy
at home with my family
and partake with that good food
in a homey pleasant mood
as it was my daughter's birthday
though I can't afford a party.

That night there was no good sleep though
as I saw into my window
the blurred wet silhouette of the night
that wrought all but my soul with fright
and distant memories of flood
shot up the pressure of my blood
then there I lost my consciousness
and drove away my sleeplessness.

The next day was a wedding day
to there, attend my family
as I was with my vehicle
to shoot up all last night's trouble
from there came all the news I heard
that lives and houses disappeared
there in the river's raging flood
that bring not water pure, but mud
that drowned many a populace
took away that tranquil solace
with the flowers arranged in wreath
that then smelled the fumes of death.

And the passing of the few days
brought the loud cries of miseries
as the stench of death had spread
to our dear cities flooded fields
and there the somber mood of gloom
blanketed my hearts inner room
as I counted the passing hearse
a sign that end their passing years
in that night time of tragedy
while others held their last party
not knowing that the foll'wing day
the light of morn, they'll never see.

HUBAD BINISAYA

KASAL UG DAGHANG PAGPATLOD

By: Al Ponciano R. Datu

Usa kadto ka nagdagtom nga Disyembreng kagabhion
Ug ang ika-napulog unom nga adlaw sa kalisang nahupongnagtaol nga hangin, nagabundak nga ulang hugop sa kakusog
Ug kanang mga butanga mihingilin sa akong kalipay.

Sa usa ka mall nagbarog ako
sa mga bungbong naglantaw nga blangko
Samtang ako nangita sa agianan
gikan sa silingang grocering tindahan
ngadto sa nagbarog nga kan-anan
diha sa laing bahin sa dalan
diin diha ang pagkaong pagadalhon
nga sa talad-kan-anan bahin-bahinon.

Sulod sa kan-anan sa balay-abutanan
ang pipila ka tawong akong nailhan
nga anaa sa kabuhong ug wala sa kawad-on
nga anaa sa kumbirang paskohanon
samtang ang langit paghugno maoy hulga
ang kakulba milimin ning akong diwa.

kay ang makusog nga ulan nagabundak
ug ang hangin sa unos sa tanan nagangulob
ug wa' moandar ang akong sakyanan
walay gusto nga makiglambigit
sa akong pagtakas sa naglasong nga unos
Nga mibasa sa tibuok kong kaumolan.

Palaran akong nakahimo'g pakigsabot
sa hataas nga bayronon nakig-uyon
sa drayber sa jeepney'ng may kalisang
nga nagpuyo tapad sa suba
nga nagdaling mihatod kanako sa among panimalay
ug mibiya sa walay langan
Samatang ako malipayon kaayo
sa pinuy-anan sa akong banay
ug sa maayong pagkaon nagsalo
sa maayong kabubut-on sa panimalay
tungod kay kadto adlaw'ng natawhan sa akong anak
Bisa'g di ko makab-ot ang usa ka salu-salo.

Walay maayong tulog hinuong ning gabhiona
dihang namatyagan ko sa tamboan
ang nagmugang basang gantong sa kagabhion
nga milimin sa kahadlonk sa tibuok kong diwa
ug ang halayong pagdumdom sa lunop
mipataas sa presyon ning dugo ko
dayon nawagtang ang akong panimuot
ug miabog sa pagka-wa'y tulog.

Sa pagkasunod adlaw, adlaw sa kasal
nga gitambungan sa akong banay
samtang ako didto sa sayanan
aron ayuhon ang mga bikil sa miaging kagabhion
ug didto miabot ang tanang balitang nadungog
nga mga kabalayan ug kinabuhi nawagtang
diha nianang naglasong nga baha sa suba
nga wa magdala sa tin-awng tubig, hinuon lapok
nga milumos sa daghang katawhan
nga misakmit nianang malinawong kadait
inubanan sa mga pinungpong hinapnig nga mga bulak
nga dayon nangalimyon sa baho sa kamatayon.

Ug ang paglakat sa pipila ka adlaw
midala sa makusog nga tiyabaw sa kaalaot
samtang ang kabang-og sa kamatayon mikaylap
sa gilunopang kayutaan sa pinanggang dakbayan
ug diha ang masub-anong buot sa kaguol
mibukot sa kinauyokang lawak sa akong kasing-kasing
samtang giihap ko ang naglabayng karo sa minatay
usa ka timaan sa pagtapos ilang nanglabayng katuigan
nianang trahedya sa kagabhiong panahon
samtang ang uban mitambong sa ilang katapusang kumbira
wa' masayod nga sa pagkasunod adlaw
ang kahayag sa kabuntagon, dili na hikit-an.