A Glimpse Of Laoag: The Sunshine City Of The Philippines Poem by Rose Marie Juan-austin

The gentle wind blows to the North,
against the knotted rope like
Cordillera Mountain Ranges.
It whispers and kisses
through the green trees.
The leaves shake and rustle.
Together, they weave a melody,
for the beautiful Laoag City.

The wind strengthens!
It flows toward the mighty
and dazzling Philippine Sea,
adorned by white cap waves
and lined by sea foams,
as white as cotton candy.
Its wild and snake like waves,
dance and sing a lullaby!
So enchanting and lovely,
for the beautiful Laoag City.

Ah, beautiful Laoag!
You are the Sunshine City
of the Pearl of the Orient Seas.
A place of bliss and peace.
Your bright, blue and clear sky,
is a taste of Heaven.
Your remarkable beauty,
dazzles everybody.

The wind passes the Marcos Bridge
that traverses the Padsan River.
Its edge is hewn from the granite
of ancient mountains of Ilocandia.
The nine rays of the Sun,
rose high upon its head.
A marvel of engineering!
A gateway to the Sunshine City.

At the foot of the Marcos Bridge,
the wind moves at its gentlest,
like a mother's warm embrace.
It circles the heart of the city.
a gridiron pattern
of Greco - Roman origin,
where the local government sits.
Oh, beautiful Laoag City,
you touches the heart of everybody.

The wind continues its gentle sway.
It blows toward the oldest and largest Bell Tower in the country.
A silent witness to Laoag's history.
Ding Dong! Ding Dong! Ding Dong!
The largest musical instrument,
stirs the wind!
It chimes the hours of the past,
when the Augustinian Friars,
ruled the life of the Ilocanos.
Oh, beautiful Laoag City,
you are now free!

Yes, you are free as the Maya birds
that roam the vast sky.
You can sing Pamulinawen,
with your own rhyme and rhythm
and dance the song, Manang Biday
on the isles and curves of streets
to your heart's content.
You can till your precious lands,
from sunrise to sunset,
without fear of monopoly.
Oh! beautiful Laoag City,
you are so free!

The gentle wind swirls around
the Statue of Pamulinawen,
that glistens under the scorching
rays of the summer sun,
and brushes against the face
of the Mayor while speaking
before the people of Laoag City,
as he says;
'Yes, yes, allow the gentle wind
to fuel our senses,
and let our dreams,
flow freely in the Laoag Rivers,
roll along with the tides
of the mighty Philippine Sea,
glide through the Cordillera Mountains,
fly to its blue, clear and bright sky,
until they reach and merge
with the angels in heaven.'

The Laoagenos cry at the top
of their voices;
' Yes, yes, we are true Laoagenos.
The gentle wind is embedded
in our entire being;
kind, flexible and so free!
Oh, beautiful Laoag City,
you are so free! '


Copyright 2024, Rose Marie Juan-Austin, All Rights Reserved