Filipino Poet, Writer and Educator
by Luis G. Dato Within their lake-hushed silence the rocks speak,On their reflections in the water pour,Under a spell inscrutable they seekEnchantments of the dead, lost yester-year. What voices long since hushed these rocks could toll,If inarticulate they cease awhile?But…
by Luis G. Dato I think it is a great honor this evening to proclaimThe queens of Antipolo, the glory of their name,Not gems and precious jewel we’ll place upon their brows,Such as by usual custom an all queens love…
(with the collaboration of Taciano Rey) Beside the Gulf of LagonoyAmong the hillocks hiddenA hamlet greets the rising sunsAlike a view of EdenAnd heaven is that charmed standWhere woods and waves come blendingAbide a people in delightThat never knows as…
by Luis G. Dato For once again we saw them, figured, no requestOf those like us enchanted, their eyes to charm and rest,And those from San Fernando, Ingkoy-Ingkoy danced well,They moved in faultless rhythm, and wove round us a spell.…
by Luis G. Dato We asked on debarkation; ”Where are the fair Indays,For which Visayan Islands to all the land are known?”The few we chanced upon were not hard upon the eyes,But not exactly hour is earth lend-leased from the…
by Luis G. Dato We come from Camarines, Masbate, SorsogonAlbay, Catanduanes, to form the Bikol band,With Mindanao, together with North and South Luzon,To join Eaşt-west Visayas in friendly feasts of brawn,With brothers widely scattered of one fair motherland. In fair…
by Luis G. Dato Dear Alma Mater, in whose pleasant hallDeeply we crank of knowledge, heard the callFrom realms of Truth that beckon evermore,And tarried by the founts of wisdom’s lore;Your memories like bells at vespers tollTheir golden benediction to…
by Luis G. Dato Translated from the Spanish by Mr. Luis G. Dato Hail, Temple Great of Science dear,Where youth forever seeks the lureOf light beyond the years obscureThat saw it first on earth,Thou fountain from the springs whereofIs quenched…
by Luis G. Dato IHow blessed the barrio life of ease,Where man is with the world at peace!Those pristine days, those sunny hoursWhen field and tree are gemmed with flowers,Khaki and blue or yellow-hued,To deck each marsh and bank and…
by Luis G. Dato Hail, Philippine, O my dear native land,Where sampaguitas, ylang-ylang bloom,Let thy sweet music sound from every strand,Which knew for centuries the tyrant’s doom;As pearl of orient seas the bards have sungThy beauty rare, thy scenic charm…
by Luis G. Dato How like Elysium were the prewar times,When Freedom reigned and life seemed free from care,Then was our Naga gay, with houses filledHer nights turned day, her flowers suffused the air. Where’er went, turn wheresoe’er our eyesWere…
By Luis G. Dato At Mount Mariveles, twilight lazily lingers, And the sun descending, almost out of sight, Into the hills and the seas beyond the hills, Goes down hesitating, slowly, While the night of music and mystery waits, And…
