The Sixth Annual Lampara Books Illustrator’s Prize

Lampara Publishing House, Incorporated

To Illustrator:

Please provide ample spaces for the text on the illustrations, according to the
following type specs:
Tagalog text: Century Gothic, 15pt boldface
English translation: Arial, 12pt, boldface
Footnotes: Arial, 10pt, bold-itals
The text block may be reshaped to fit into the illustration.
The footnotes usually appear at the bottom of the page.

Please provide also auxiliary illustrations for the other pages (covers, etc.)
indicated below.

Thank you.

ANG BISITA NI LOLO LINO

LOLO LINO’S VISITOR
Ni / By Mark Raywin S. Tome
(Translated by Becky Bravo)

Grand Prize Winner

The Sixth Annual Lampara Books Children’s Story Writing Contest
Lampara Publishing House, Inc.

FRONT COVER
INSIDE FRONT COVER / BOOKPLATE
P.1 / TITLE PAGE
P.2 / COPYRIGHT DATA
P.3 / NOTES TO PARENTS, TEACHERS AND CAREGIVERS / PARA SA
MGA MAGULANG, GURO AT TAGAPAG-ALAGA NG BATA

4-5
“Magmano ka sa Lolo Lino mo,” malambing na
utos ni Nanay sa akin habang nagtatago ako sa
kaniyang likuran. Nanginginig pa ako sa kaba
dahil unang beses kong makikilala si Lolo.
Pasilip-silip lang ako sa kaniyang mukha… Pero
nang makita kong nakangiti si Lolo sa akin,
nawala na ang takot ko sa kaniya!

1
“Go and kiss your Lolo* Lino’s hand,” my mother coaxed me as I hid
behind her. I was trembling because this was the first time I was meeting
my grandfather. For a while I only kept stealing quick glances at his
face… but when I saw my grandfather smiling at me, I didn’t feel
frightened of him anymore!

* Lolo—Grandfather, Grandpa

6
Sabi nina Nanay, kamukhang-kamukha ko raw si
Lolo Lino noong kasing-edad ko siya. Maliksi
kahit mapayat. Malikot at kung saan-saan
nagsususuot. Pero mahina na raw si Lolo
ngayon. Hindi na pwedeng makipaglaro ng
habulan at taguan. Madalas na nakaupo lang si
Lolo sa tapat ng bintana habang
pinagmamasdan ang paglubog ng araw sa
bukid.

My parents say that I look exactly like Lolo Lino did when he was my
age. He was nimble even if he was skinny. Mischievous, and constantly
wandering off and getting into trouble. But now my grandfather has
grown feeble. He can’t play tag or hide-and-seek anymore. He just sits
by the window all the time and watches the sun go down over the fields.

7
May kakaibang kakayahan daw si Lolo Lino.
Kaya raw niyang kausapin ang mga alitaptap.
Noong bata pa siya, lagi raw nawawala si Lolo
kapag gabi at madalas na nakikita sa kakahuyan
kasama ang maraming umiilaw na insekto.
Pangarap ko ring makakita ng mga
alitaptap! Masaya sigurong makipaglaro sa
kanila. Parang sumasayaw na ilaw sa mga puno!
Iba’t ibang kulay at kinang. Pero takot ako sa
dilim. Tiyak na hindi rin ako papayagan nina
Nanay na lumabas kapag gabi. Kaya lagi na lang
akong nagpapakwento kay Lolo tungkol sa
kaniyang mga kalarong alitaptap.

They say that Lolo Lino has an extraordinary ability. He can talk to
fireflies. When he was a young boy, he kept going off on his own at night

2
and they would often find him in the woods, surrounded by glowing
insects.
I wish I could see fireflies, too! It must be so much fun to play with
them. I imagine that they’re like lights dancing around the trees! In
varying colors and degrees of brightness. But I am frightened of the
dark. I’m sure that my parents won’t let me go out at night either. That’s
why I’ve taken to asking my grandfather very often to tell me about his
playmates, the fireflies.

8-9
Isang hapon, nakita kong umiiyak si Nanay
habang nakatitig kay Lolo Lino. Lumapit ako sa
kaniya at niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit.
“Kawawa naman ang lolo mo. Mahina na at
hindi na kayang bumangon sa higaan,” sabi ni
Nanay habang nakatingin sa natutulog kong
lolo.
“`Nay, malungkot ba si Lolo?” tanong ko.
“Hindi, anak. Masaya siya na nandito tayo.
Kailangan ng lolo mo ng kasama sa pagtanda,”
sagot naman ni Nanay.

One afternoon, I saw my mother crying as she gazed at Lolo Lino. I ran
to her and she hugged me tight.
“Your poor grandfather. He’s grown so weak that he can’t manage
to get out of bed,” my mother said as she watched him sleep.
“Mama, is Lolo sad?” I asked.
“No, son. He’s glad that we’re here. Your grandfather needs
people to accompany him in his old age,” she answered.

10-11
Tinitigan ko si Lolo. Siguro malungkot siya dahil
hindi na niya kayang makipaglaro sa mga
kaibigan niyang alitaptap. Alam ko na!
Kakausapin ko sila na bisitahin si Lolo sa bahay.
Gusto ko siyang sorpresahin para hindi na siya
malungkot.
Buo na ang plano ko. Kapag tulog na silang
lahat sa bahay, lalabas ako at hahanapin ko ang
mga kaibigang alitaptap ni Lolo. Sana
magpakita sila sa akin. Sana makinig silang
lahat sa hiling ko.

3
I stared at my grandfather. Maybe he was sad because he couldn’t play
with his firefly friends anymore. Now I know! I will talk to them and ask
them to come and visit my grandfather at home. I wanted to surprise him
so that he won't feel sad anymore.
I got it all figured out. When everyone at home is asleep, I would
go out and look for my grandfather’s firefly friends. I hoped they’d show
themselves to me. I hoped they will all listen to my request.

12-13
Dahan-dahan akong lumabas ng pinto at
iniwasang gumawa ng ingay. Nakakatakot ang
dilim. Pero para kay Lolo, lalakasan ko ang loob
ko. Malayo-layo na rin ang nalalakad ko sa
kakahuyan, pero wala pa ring alitaptap na
nagpapakita. Siguro natatakot sila sa dala kong
gasera na pampailaw. Kaya pinatay ko ang
liwanag mula sa apoy. Dumilim bigla at umihip
ang banayad na hangin.

I sneaked silently outdoors and took care not to make a noise. The
darkness was frightening. But I was going to try to be brave, for Lolo’s
sake. I had walked quite a distance into the woods, but there wasn’t a
firefly to be seen. Maybe they were afraid of the kerosene lamp I brought
to light my way. So I put it out. Darkness fell around me in an instant,
and a soft breeze blew by.

14-15
“Lino! Lino!” narinig ko ang matitinis na boses
mula sa mga puno.
“Si Lino na ba `yan?” tanong ng isang maliit
na boses mula sa damuhan.
“Hindi po ako si Lino,” sagot ko naman
kahit wala akong nakikitang kahit ano. “Mga
kaibigang alitaptap magpakita kayo sa akin. Apo
ako ni Lolo Lino!” masayang pakilala ko sa
kanila.

“Lino! Lino!” I heard small, high-pitched voices calling from the trees.
“Is that you, Lino?” asked one small voice from the bushes.
“No, I’m not Lino,” I answered though I could see nothing at all.
“Dear firefly friends, please show yourselves to me. I am Lolo Lino’s
grandson!” I happily introduced myself.
4
16-17
Isa-isang lumutang ang mga butil ng liwanag.
Dahan-dahang umangat ang malalamig na apoy
mula sa mga puno. Nagliparan ang maraming
alitaptap papunta sa akin. Iba-iba ang kanilang
kulay. May asul, pula, dilaw at ginto! Namangha
ako sa kakaibang liwanag na nanggagaling sa
kanilang buntot.
“Kamukha mo si Lino!” sigaw ng isang asul
na alitaptap.
“Kumusta na ang kabigan namin?” tanong
naman ng tila palutang-lutang na apoy.

One by one, little pinpricks of light floated into view. Pinpoints of cold
light rose slowly from within the trees. A throng of fireflies took wing
and came flitting towards me. In a variety of colors. Some were blue,
some were red, some were yellow, and some were gold! I stared in
wonder at the extraordinary lights that glowed from the ends of their
tails.
“You look like Lino!” cried one blue firefly.
“How is our friend doing?” asked another flicker bobbing in the
air.

18-19
“Nagpunta po ako rito para humiling sa inyo.
Alam kong gusto kayong makita ni Lolo. Pero
matanda na po siya. Hindi na niya kayang
maglakad nang malayo. Sana makadalaw kayo
sa bahay at mapasaya si Lolo,” pakiusap ko sa
kanila.
“Hindi na kami pwedeng umalis ng
kakahuyan. Masyadong maliwanag sa inyong
baryo,” sagot ng dilaw na ilaw.
“Gusto rin naming makalaro uli si Lino. Pero
mawawalan kami ng liwanag kapag umalis kami
rito,” malungkot na bulong ng makintab na
insekto.
Nakatitig ako sa mga alitaptap. Ang ganda-
ganda talaga ng liwanag nila! Ngayon ay alam
ko na kung bakit gustong-gustong ni Lolo na
5
pumunta rito sa kakahuyan kapag gabi. Sayang
dahil hindi na muling makikita ni Lolo ang
kanilang kinang.

“I’ve come here with a small request. I know that my grandfather longs
to see all of you. But he is old. He can’t walk very far anymore. I hope
you can come to our house and visit him,” I asked them.
“We cannot leave the woods anymore. It is far too bright in your
barrio,” answered a yellow fleck of light.
“We also want to play with Lino again. But our brightness will be
lost if we leave this place,” a gleaming insect whispered sadly.
I stood there staring at the fireflies. The glow of their lights was
such a beautiful sight. Now I knew why my grandfather loved to come to
the woods at night. What a pity that Lolo would never see the bright
lights of the fireflies again.

20-21
Naglalakad na ako pabalik sa bahay nang
biglang dumapo ang isang matandang alitaptap
sa aking balikat.
“Sasama ako sa iyo, bata,” sabi ng
matandang alitaptap. “Gustong-gusto kong
makita si Lino para magpasalamat sa kaniya.
Matalik kaming magkaibigan noon. Iniligtas pa
nga niya ako sa garapon ng makulit niyang
kalaro.”

I was already walking on the way back home when an old firefly
suddenly perched on my shoulder.
“I’m coming with you, little boy,” said the old firefly. “I would
really like to see Lino so I can thank him. We were very good friends
back then. He even rescued me from a jar kept by one of his naughty
playmates.”

22-23
Agad kong ginising si Lolo Lino para
sorpresahin. Pero habang lumilipad ang
matandang alitaptap sa silid, unti-unti namang
nawawala ang liwanag sa kaniyang buntot.
Nagpatay-sindi ang kaniyang ilaw. Bumagal din
ang kaniyang lipad. Huli na nang dumilat si Lolo

6
Lino, tuluyan nang nawala ang liwanag ng
alitaptap!

I awakened Lolo Lino right away to show him my surprise. But as the old
firefly flitted around the room, the glow of his tail began to fade little by
little. It began to flicker on and off. His wings also began to falter. When
Lolo Lino finally opened his eyes, it was too late. The glow of the firefly
was lost!

24-25
Mula sa kinatatayuan ko, nakita kong lumipad
ang matandang alitaptap papunta sa gasera ni
Lolo. “Wooosssh!” Buong lakas na hinihipan
niya ang apoy hanggang sa mamatay ang ilaw.
Nagdilim bigla ang silid! Saka dahan-dahang
nagningning ang buntot ng matandang
alitaptap. Lumipad siya papunta sa amin.

From where I stood I saw the old firefly flutter towards my grandfather’s
lamp. “Wooosssh!” He blew on the flame with all his might until it blew
out. The room was thrown instantly into darkness! And then the old
firefly’s tail slowly began to light up. He came flying towards us.

26-27
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Lolo sa paglapit ng
kaniyang bisita! Napabangon siya bigla at tila
nanumbalik ang kaniyang lakas. Masayang
kinawayan niya ang alitaptap. Dumapo ito sa
kaniyang noo at binigyan siya ng isang matamis
na halik.
“Alitaptap! Alitaptap! Dinalaw ako ng
kaibigan kong alitaptap!” masiglang sigaw ni
Lolo Lino.

My grandfather’s eyes grew wide when his visitor approached! He sat up

in
his bed in an instant, as though he had gained back all his strength. He
waved happily at the firefly. It alighted on his forehead and gave him a
tender kiss.
A firefly! A firefly! A firefly friend has come to see me!” Lolo Lino
cried in excitement.

7
28-29
Lumipad na paalis ang tila palutang-lutang na
apoy. Tumakbo naman si Lolo papunta sa
bintana. Kinawayan niya ang papalayong
alitaptap. Masaya siyang nagpaalam sa dating
kalaro.
Ngayon ko lang nakita uli si Lolo na maliksi
at masigla. Parang naging bata uli na tulad ko.
Salamat sa dalang liwanag ng munting
alitaptap. May mga ilaw pala na hindi basta-
basta kumukupas. May kabutihan na hindi
basta-basta nakakalimutan. At may
pagkakaibigan na hindi basta-basta tumatanda!

The hovering speck of flame turned to fly away, and my grandfather ran
to the window. He waved good-bye to the departing firefly. Joyfully, he
bid his old playmate farewell.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my grandfather this lively and
spry. It’s almost as if he has become a little boy again, like me. Thanks
to the light of that tiny firefly. There are lights, after all, that do not
simply fade with time. Kind deeds that are not simply forgotten. And
there are friendships that do not simply grow old!

30-31
Nang gabing iyon, magkatabi kaming natulog ni
Lolo Lino. Magkasama rin kami sa panaginip.
Yakap-yakap siya ng libo-libong alitaptap.
Umiilaw si Lolo! Kumikinang paakyat sa langit.
Kumikislap na parang bituin sa gabi.

That night, I slept next to Lolo Lino in his bed. We dreamt the same
dream together. He was in the embrace of thousands upon thousands of
fireflies. My grandfather was all aglow! Shining brightly on his way to
heaven. Glittering just like an evening star.

8
9