Ang Ningning at Ang Liwanag/ The Lustre and The Light (Philosophical Essay)

Emilio Jacinto 1875 - 1899

Ang Ningning ay nakasisilaw at nakasisira sa paningin!

---Things that shines are blinding and harmful to the eyes!

Ang liwanag ay kinakailangan ng mata, upang mapagwari ang buong katunayan ng mga bagay-bagay.

---But the Light is a necessity to the eyes, inorder for us to perceive the reality of things!

Ang bubog kung tinatamaan ng nag-aapoy na sikat ng araw ay nagniningning, ngunit sumusugat sa kamay ng nagaganyak na dumampot.

---Whence if the broken piece of glass ever stricken by the radiance of the sunlight, It will shine but prove scathing when touched by one who are tempted by its mischieving sparkles!

Ang ningning ay nakakapandaraya!

---Lustres are mischievous!

Ating hanapin ang Liwanag, tayo'y huwag mabighani sa ningning. Sa katunayan ng masamang kaugalian; nagdaraan ang isang karuwahen maningning na hinihila ng kabayong matulin. Tayo’y magpupugay at ang isasaloob ay mahal na tao na nakalulan. Datapuuwa’y marahil naman isang magnanakaw, marahil sa ilalim ng kaniyang ipinatatanghal na kamahalan at mga hiyas na tinataglay ay nagtatago ng pusong sukaban!

---We need to quest for the Light, and not be lured by the Sparks! In the reality of this ill attitude; a couch for example who in all fervor being dressed with all radiance and splendour and pulled by shining horses... the very action of us is to pay tribute and shall love the one aboard! Datapuwa'y The one inside was a mischievous thief, hiding under his alluring sparkles! Whereas underneath the gold, the fame, the power it shows, are the greedy heart that it hides!

Nagdaraan ang isang maralita na nagkakanghihirap sa pinapasan. Tayo’y mapapangiti at isasaloob: "Saan niya ninakaw?" Datapwa’y Maliwanag nating makikita sa pawis ng kaniyang noo at sa hapo ng kaniyang katawan na siya’y nabubuhay sa sipag at kapagalang tunay!

---On the other hand; a poor man passed. A poor man who, in all his effort, carried a very heavy load! We make scornful smiles and laughs, "Where did he steal that heavy thing he is carrying?" Datapwa'y In the light beyond what we see, a heavy perspiration flowing from his face and the deep exhaustion of his body shall ever tell to us... that this man had lived with all his effort and perseverance!

Ay! Sa atin ngang ugali ay lubhang nangapit sa pagsamba sa ningning at pagtakwil sa liwanag.

---Ah... Deep in our selves is an attitude of worshipping things that sparks and rejects the true light!

Ito na nga ang dahilang isa pa na kung kaya ang tao at ang mga bayan ay namumuhay sa hinagpis at dalita!

---This is maybe the very reason why people and every nation are living in agony and pain...

Ito na nga ang dahilan na kung kaya ang mga loob ay inaakay na kapalaluan at ng kasakiman ay nagpupumilit na lumitaw na maningning, lalung lalo na nga ang mga Hari at mga Pinuno na pinagkakatiwalaan ng sa ikagiginhawa ng kanilang mga kampon, ay walang ibang nasa kundi ang mamalagi sa kapangyarihan sukdang ikainis at ikamatay ng Bayan na nagbigay sa kanila ng kapangyarihang ito.

---This is maybe the very reason why persons who are embraced by conceit and greediness are being encouraged to stand shining amidst of others, especially those who are "rulers" and "kings", whom we confide our trust for the common good, have desired nothing but to stay in power. Thing that would plant a seed of hate to everybody and would cause a destruction to one's nation!

Tayo’y mapagsampalataya sa ningning, huwag nating pagtakahang ang ibig mabuhay sa dugo ng ating mga ugat ay magbalatkayong maningning!

---People love to worship Lustres! We need not to ask why in our veins also lies this mischievous sparks!

Ay! Kung ating dinudulugan at hinahayinan ng puspos ng galang ay ang maliwanag at magandang asal at matapat na loob, ang kahit sino ay walang magpapaningning pagkat hindi natin pahahalagahan, at ang mga isip at akalang anupaman ay hindi hihiwalay sa maliwanag na banal na landas ng katuwiran.

---Ah... if only we could let to this tribute and reverence... to the Light of Truth, Values and Honesty; Anyone... shall never ever shed its sparks for we will not recognize it nor our opened minds shall never leave this Light of Reason.

Ang kaliluhan at ang katampalasan ay humahanap ng ningning upang huwag mapagmalas ng mga matang tumatanghal ang kanilang kapangitan; nguni’t ang kagalingan at ang pag-ibig na dalisay ay hubad, mahinhin at maliwanag na napatatanaw sa paningin.

---Treachery and traitorousness seek the sparks in order for our eyes be blinded by their deformity. But the greatness of the heart and the Love that is honest such as the real Light is very honest are naked, sweet, and beneficial for the eyes.

Ang lumipas na pinanginoon ng Tagalog ay labis na nagpapatunay ng katotohanan nito.

---Those old free beautiful days of us, Filipinos,can prove to all of this.

Mapalad ang araw ng liwanag!

---Blessed is the Sun of Light!

Ay! Ang anak ng bayan, ang kapatid ko, ay matututo kaya na kumuhang halimbawa at lakas sa pinagdaanang mga hirap at binatang kaapihan?

---Ah... Sons and daughters of this onced brave land, my brethrens. When will you learn to get enough strength and example from the agonies and pains that longed you've been suffering?!

Copyright © 2009 by J. Estoque
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