Shaila Nathalie C.

Dagoc
Name:________________________ 11
Grade Level:_____________________
Autonne
Section: _______________________ Date: ___________________________
November 23, 2020

21st Century Literature (Enrichment Activities)

Week 7

Mayon
Kristian Sendon Cordero
Camarines Sur

Ayon sa Alamat, lason ng pana ni Pagtuga,

ang lumikha ng bulkan—libingan ito
ng dalagang namatay sa digmaan.

Ngayon, ano ang tutubo sa paanan ng Mayon

gayong naging malawak na itong sementeryo
ng abo, ng tao. Manganganak pa kaya ito?
Tinitigan ko ang nakangangang bulkan—binabalot
ng ulap at ng sariling usok ang tuktok, gatas sa labi.
Baka sakali, magpakita, nang may silbi ang kamera.

Sa ilang retrato na ibinebenta ng mga bata sa Cagsawa

lusaw na tae ang nagliliyab na lava, dumadaloy pababa.
Matandang nag-nganganga ayon naman sa isang makata.

Sa isang lumang postcard na nakita ko sa Antigo Merkado—

Kapag sa malayo, isa siyang magandang sikyung nakatanod,
Handa sa pagkapkap, naghihintay sa iyong pagpasok.

Navigate
Respond critically to the following questions.
1. According to the poem, what led to the creation of the volcano?
a. The arrow used by Pagtuga
b. A war which led to Magayon’s death
c. The poison of the arrow of Pagtuga
d. The legend of Daragang Magayon
2. In the second stanza, the area around Mayon’s foot is described as
a. a graveyard
b. a farm
c. a disaster zone
d. a myth

3. what is the persona in the poem waiting for in the third stanza?
a. For the volcano to erupt
b. For the volcano to show its peak
c. For the volcano to blow more smoke
d. For the volcano to be covered in clouds

4. The fourth stanza presents an image of the poem which was viewed differently
by two different people—the persona and an unnamed poet, or makata—who
gave a very different interpretation of the image. Defend the choices of both
poets in light of how Mount Mayon is seen in the poem.

The persona described the oozing lava from the Mayon volcano
resembles liquefied poop or human waste. The unnamed poet or the “makata”
associated it to an old person who chews areca nut or a betel nut. The flowing
lava was described literally or how it was seen in the postcard by the persona.
The unnamed poet depicted it in a figurative way. The poets used light poetry or
verses that is humorous or puns.

5. Discuss why the author used a security guard as the final image of the poem.
What does seem to imply about how security personnel are viewed?

The Mayon volcano in the poem was portrayed as a guard because the
peak of it is a location where one can see everything in Albay. Due to its high
altitude, the locals in the province can be seen from there making it a perfect spot
to observe the all residents.
The Mayon volcano guards her people that is watching or staring her. It
seems like an invitation to people because of her beauty that attracts them and it
can be associated to securities when they greet visitors as they enter a building
or establishment. But the Mayon volcano also symbolizes a warning for the
dangerous disaster it can bring when it erupts, causing its people to suffer and
die.
This can be compared to a security when they warn an individual for the reason
that one violated the rules and regulation of that certain place they are guarding.
Lizada Snachez and Cuartero Agustin, 21 st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World. Quezon City:Vibal Group, Inc., 5-7