[KINATHA KO PO ANG ODANG ITO BILANG PAGSASALIN NG BUOD NG BIOGRAPIKONG-AKLAT NA NAISULAT SA WIKANG INGLES AT PINAMAGATANG:  FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG,NA AKING DING INAKDA. ITONG SERYE PO NG ODA PONG ITO AY BILANG PASASALAMAT SA PAGKAKAHALAL NG AMING ITAY BILANG PANGULO NG PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. (“PVAI”), ISANG SAMAHAN NG MGA BETERANONG LUMAHOK AT LUMABAN PARA SA IKATATAGUMPAY NG DEMOKRASYA NOONG PUMUTOK ANG KOREAN WAR NOONG IKA-25 NG HUNYO 1950. ITO PO AY ISANG MALAKING PASASALAMAT DAHIL BILANG NAKAMULATANG TRADISYON  SA PVAI, ANG PAG-KA-PANGULO PO NG PVAI AY TAGURING INIRERESERBA LAMANG SA MGA OPISYAL NG MILITAR NA LUMAHOK SA KOREAN WAR NA NAG-TAPOS SA PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY. GINAWARAN SI ITAY NG SILVER STAR MEDAL NG PAMAHALAAN NG ESTADOS UNIDOS BILANG PAGKILALA SA KANYANG KABAYANIHAN NOON PANGALAWANG DIGMAANG PANG-DAIGDIG. GINAWARAN DIN SIYA NG GOLD CROSS MEDAL NG ATING BANSA KAUGNAY SA KANYANG PAGKAKALAHOK SA KOREAN WAR LALONG-LALO NA SA KANYANG KABAYANIHANG IPINAKITA SA BATTLE OF MIUDONG. NOONG IKA-27 NG HULYO 2016, IGINAWAD SA KAY ITAY NG PRIME MINISTER NG TIMOG-KOREA  ANG KATAASTAASANG ORDEN NG TAEGEUK (KAWANGKI NG ATING ORDEN NG SIKATUNA) NG BANSANG TIMOG-KOREA BILANG PAGKILALA SA KANYANG KABAYANIHAN SA BATTLE OF MIUDONG AT BATTLE OF YULDONG NOONG KOREAN WAR.]

Sa BATTLE OF  YULDONG mas lalong NAKILALA,

Ang mga PINOY na sundalo na naging BIDANG-BIDA;

Napabigkas tuloy si GENERAL MACARTHUR,

“FILIPINO soldiers are the best, now and HERETOFORE”!

Sa BATTLE OF YULDONG maraming NAPAMANGHA,

Isang libong sundalong, mga PINOY gumawa ng HIMALA;

Apat-na-pung libong kalaban ang sa kanila’y LUMUSOB…

Mga kalabang ito’y nasupil at SUMUBSOB!

Tinawag ng TSINA bilang kanilang “SPRING OFFENSIVE”,

Isip nila marahil ang PINOY ay maduduwag… “would you BELIEVE?”;

Katabi nila’y ang mga “Puerto Rican SOLDIERS”,

Sa kabilang tabi naman ay ang “Turkish Armed FORCES”!

Nang lumitaw na sa abot-tanaw ang 40,000 TSINO…

Ang mga Puerto Rican at Turko halos nag tumba-HILO;

Nadarag marahil sa dami ng KALABAN,

Kamukat-mukatan silang lahat ay NAG-PULASAN!

Naiwang tangi ang ating mga matatapang na SUNDALO,

Napalibutan sila ng mga komunistang TSINO;

Naitanong ko sa aking magiting na TATAY,

Ano ba ang sikreto at maraming TSINO’y NAPATAY!

Ang kabayanihang ipinakita nila TATAY,

Nagbunga ng mainam, mga mithiin at PAKAY;

Dahil sa pagkapanalo sa BATTLE OF YULDONG…

“TRUCE” tuluyang  nakamit, NOKOR forces ay TUMUMBALILONG!

Ibinahagi ni ITAY ang sa BATTLE OF YULDONG ang naging SIKRETO,

Pero sa aking paningin ang Panginoong DIYOS ang naging ULO;

Kulang daw talaga ang mga TSINONG PULAHAN ng ARMAMENTO,

Kaya lahat sila’y halos napadpad sa SEMENTERYO!

Sa unang salpukan daw TSINONG nauuna’y may DALA,

Kapag nalugmok na’y hahalili ang isa PA;

Ang sandata ng una’y hahablutin ng HAHALILI…

Kaya silang lahat kamataya’y PINAGHELE!

Ang sumunod na yugto ng naging BAKBAKAN,

“HAND-TO-HAND combat” na ang syang NATURINGAN;

Mga bayoneta, sundang at matatalas na ISPADA,

Dahil nagkalapit na sila, mistulang parang naging TUPADA!

Saksak dito, saksak DOON…

Tagpas sa leeg, tagpas sa TUMBONG…

Dugong pulang-pula halos ay SUMISIRIT…

Init ng labanan ay walang hintong SUMASAGITSIT!

Marahil maitatanong bakit TSINO ang KALABAN,

Dahil mga KOREANO ang sa una’y NAG-LABAN-LABAN;

Ang PULAHANG TSINA ang syang SUMAKLOLO…

Sa NOKOR FORCES, na malapit na noong MATALO!

Maraming ALLIED FORCES  ang nakakita ng LABANAN,

Mula sa malayo, tulong nila’y sa dasal IDINAAN…

Dapat ang labang ito ay maging isang TANGING MEMORIAL…

Ang TAPANG ng PINOY halos naging “GLADIATORIAL”!

[THIS ODE  (PRESENTED IN A SERIES OF INSTALLMENTS) IS  A SUMMARIZED VERSION OF DADDY MAX’S BIOGRAPHICAL BOOK ENTITLED FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG;  IN CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR HIS ELECTION THIS YEAR  AS PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION INC. (“PVAI”), A POSITION IN THE PVAI WHICH HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY RESERVED (SINCE PVAI’S INCEPTION) TO PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY GRADUATES. DADDY MAX IS RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL CONFERRED ON HIM BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BY REASON OF HIS HEROIC FEATS IN WORLD WAR 2. HE WAS ALSO CONFERRED THE GOLD CROSS MEDAL BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AS HE EMERGED AS HERO AT THE BATTLE OF MIUDONG, THE FIRST  BATTLE ENGAGED BY FILIPINO SOLDIERS IN FOREIGN SOIL DURING THE KOREAN WAR. ON JULY 27, 2016 THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT CONFERRED UPON HIM THE HIGHEST ORDER OF THE TAEGEUK MERIT MEDAL IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC FEATS DURING THE KOREAN WAR IN BOTH THE BATTLES OF MIUDONG AND YULDONG. ]

When Dad Max first met in NEGROS ISLE the THOMASES,

As they were left by their Papa whom the Japs SEIZED;

They felt secured to be seen with a town HERO,

As earlier said, Dad Max slew the rapist-villain with a BOLO!  

But it was CARRIE, the youngest whom Dad Max truly LOVED,

But the Thomases’ Mom was sort of thinking like KEBAB;

She wanted to reserve the most tender meat for LAST,

Being BLOOD SISTERS, the eldest Daisy was made as Dad Max’s MATCH! 

Dad Max said Daisy was somewhat a COQUETTE,

Daisy was much in love with Dad who had an exciting VIGNETTE…

‘Twas even Daisy who proposed the ELOPEMENT,

But indeed, it was not a very good DEVELOPMENT! 

After they got married in martial STYLE,

They stayed for a while in the hills, so far, more than a MILE…

And Daisy’s mom ordered Daisy to be back in their ARMS,

Did not want Daisy to bear any FIREARMS! 

And when the Japs were ultimately DEFEATED,

US servicemen abundantly & copiously CELEBRATED;

Drinking bars became the trend in Negros PROVINCE,

The Thomas family thought of earning much more CENTS!  

And the Thomases put up a bar of their OWN;

Lots of GI Joes started coming in like a BATTALION…

The daughters including Daisy were made to become HOSTESSES,

That’s the edict of their Mama, to jack up customers to its MOSTEST! 

And those GI Joes came drinking, cavorting & COURTING…

 Daisy was not spared as that life-style was then TRENDING;

Daddy Max was still doing intelligence OPERATION,

Far away from the bar, as it was a superior’s COMMISSION!

 Word of this trending-courting reached Dad Max’s EARS,

And Dad Max did send a bunch of his PEERS;

At the bar they espied those jolly GI JOES,

Indeed the Thomases’ sisters have become those GI Joes’ JOS!

One morning at the dreary town PLAZA,

Two US servicemen laid dead like PIZZA;

Flat still on the ground with blood OOZING,

A lot of rumors went then A-BUZZING!

One of the dead US servicemen was Daisy’s LOVER,

And the suspicion rose up as high as a TOWER;

But Dad Max was not in that very PLACE,

Col. Ernesto Mata, Dad’s chief, vouched for his far-off assignment, as he FIRMLY ordered: “STOP THE CHASE”!

[KINATHA KO PO ANG ODANG ITO BILANG PAGSASALIN NG BUOD NG BIOGRAPIKONG-AKLAT NA NAISULAT SA WIKANG INGLES AT PINAMAGATANG:  FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG,NA AKING DING INAKDA. ITONG SERYE PO NG ODA PONG ITO AY BILANG PASASALAMAT SA PAGKAKAHALAL NG AMING ITAY BILANG PANGULO NG PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. (“PVAI”), ISANG SAMAHAN NG MGA BETERANONG LUMAHOK AT LUMABAN PARA SA IKATATAGUMPAY NG DEMOKRASYA NOONG PUMUTOK ANG KOREAN WAR NOONG IKA-25 NG HUNYO 1950. ITO PO AY ISANG MALAKING PASASALAMAT DAHIL BILANG NAKAMULATANG TRADISYON  SA PVAI, ANG PAG-KA-PANGULO PO NG PVAI AY TAGURING INIRERESERBA LAMANG SA MGA OPISYAL NG MILITAR NA LUMAHOK SA KOREAN WAR NA NAG-TAPOS SA PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY.]

Dumating sa Korea subalit napakalamig dahil sa YELO;

Winter clothing sa kanila’y,  mukhang ‘di naisama sa PLANO!

Kaya silang lahat ay nanginginig pati BUTO—

Sinipingan pati sila sa TENT ng mga AHAS, haba’y isang METRO!

Ang Commander nilang Col. Azurin ang NGALAN,

Talagang sila’y pinrotektahan at  IPINAGLABAN…

Inaway halos ang U.S. Commanding GENERAL…

Kailangan ng mga sundalong Pinoy ang clothing na THERMAL!

Dahil sa pakikipag-away ni Col. Azurin sa Heneral na KANO,

Nireklamong “insubordination” ang away KUNO…

Na-relieve tuloy itong si Col. AZURIN,

Pumalit si Col. Ojeda na PMAYEER DIN!

At noon lamang sila nakatikim ng THERMAL,

Dati’y gabi-gabi silang giniginaw at NANGANGATAL…

Mabuti na lamang at sila’y PINAGLABAN…

Kung hindi talaga’y sakit ang dudulot sa TANAN!

Paggising sa umaga’y may kasiping pang AHAS,

Dahil galit pa rin ang Kano, sa open area sila muna INILIKAS!

Marami-rami din sa kanilang nakagat ng ULUPONG,

Buti na lang ay may alam sa first aid si DONG;

Kaya’t pangkaraniwang tanawin sa umaga sa area NILA,

Naghahagisan ng ahas, pati mga cobra TILA;

Kung siguro’y tiyak nilang “edible” ang mga ahas na BUMABALANDRA…

Malamang ito’y iluluto nilang parang TINOLA!

At ang unang labanang naging sikat ang 10th BCT,

Ay sa Battle of MIUDONG, kung saan sila’y RUMEPEKE;

Inambush sila ng mga NORTH KOREAN FORCES,

Na-sorpresa sila, habang mga KOREANONG PULA, humihiyaw ang BOSES!

Sinilip ni ITAY mula sa kanyang PERISCOPE LENS,

Lugar ng mga NOKOR forces na patuloy ang OFFENSE;

At mula sa loob na kinalulunanan nyang tangke de GIYERA,

Lumabas si ITAY , nagdasal KAPAGDAKA!

Hinalbot niya ang “machine gun” sa ibabaw ng TANGKE,

Pinaulanan ng bala ang mga kalabang DOBLE-DOBLE;

Sa lakas ng putok ng machine gun, ramdam ni ITAY na sila’y NAHINTAKUTAN…

Ang mga kalabang komunista dagling NAGTAKBUHAN!

Patuloy pa ring rumatatat ang MACHINE GUN,

Sa kaliwa, sa dulo; pati sa KANAN;

Matapos humupa ang alikabok At PULBURA…

Apat na po’t dalawang NOKOR soldiers ay patay, takbuhan ang NATIRA!

[THIS ODE  (PRESENTED IN A SERIES OF INSTALLMENTS) IS  A SUMMARIZED VERSION OF DADDY MAX’S BIOGRAPHICAL BOOK ENTITLED FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG;  IN CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR HIS ELECTION THIS YEAR  AS PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION INC. (“PVAI”), A POSITION IN THE PVAI WHICH HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY RESERVED (SINCE PVAI’S INCEPTION) TO PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY GRADUATES. DADDY MAX IS RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL CONFERRED ON HIM BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BY REASON OF HIS HEROIC FEATS IN WORLD WAR 2. HE WAS ALSO CONFERRED THE GOLD CROSS MEDAL BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AS HE EMERGED AS HERO AT THE BATTLE OF MIUDONG, THE FIRST  BATTLE ENGAGED BY FILIPINO SOLDIERS IN FOREIGN SOIL DURING THE KOREAN WAR. ON JULY 27, 2016 THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT CONFERRED UPON HIM THE HIGHEST ORDER OF THE TAEGEUK MERIT MEDAL IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC FEATS DURING THE KOREAN WAR IN BOTH THE BATTLES OF MIUDONG AND YULDONG. ]

During the War, Dad Max was adored by a pretty DAME;

Dames, looking like stars, would try to snatch him from that FRIEND,

 As Dad Max was generous and  ACCOMMODATING…

Obliged himself to do quick trysting, in some kind of FLING!

It indeed looked as though the love  affair of an AMERICAN GENERAL…

Such LOVE AFFAIR with virtual ending that’s akin to a FUNERAL;

It was truly sort, well…a BIT of a mawkish TRAGEDY,

 But I will not further dwell on it as this FUN RHYME loves COMEDY!

 The pretty dame swayed Dad Max to ELOPE,

A crude military wedding was held in the HILLS…

The feasting was done with fruits such as a CANTALOUPE…

It was attended by bosses from the former FORT MILLS!

As the whole of the Visayas was under Jap RULE…

Dad Max turned guerrilla as though riding a MULE;

And an abusive Filipino guerrilla who had turned rapist and  boorish MAULER,

Became Dad Max’s villain and he brought that thug  6 feet down UNDER!

Dad Max’s popularity zoomed to its SUMMIT,

More women got captivated as they’d sort of SOLICIT;

For Dad Max became sort of a town HERO…

The rapist was gone, got killed by a BOLO!

Lines and queues would come to Dad Max’s DOORS,

They’re all happy and joyfully jumping on their FLOORS…

Bringing gifts to Dad Max , PIGS even goats & HENS;

As though they were giving Dad Max their respective STIPENDS!

For the villain has already passed AWAY…

It was a top American officer who told Dad Max to locate the PREY;

And on the jungle fastness with Dad Max’s TROOPS…

A fight to the end with the villain’s gang was witnessed by young bamboo SHOOTS!

The name of the pretty dame is Daisy THOMAS…

She’s not my Mom as their union came to PASS,

As there was a divorce law then in our COUNTRY,

Dad Max was able to win back his marital LIBERTY!

Daisy was a daughter of a quaint FILIPINA,

And her Dad is American from South CAROLINA;

Her Dad was incarcerated at the U.S.T. by the JAPANESE,

Eventually got sick, and soon Daisy’s dad PERISHED!

[KINATHA  KO  PO  ANG  ODANG  ITO  BILANG  PAGSASALIN  NG  BUOD  NG BIOGRAPIKONG – AKLAT NA NAISULAT SA WIKANG INGLES AT PINAMAGATANG:  FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG,NA AKING   DING   INAKDA.   ITONG   SERYE   PO  NG  ODA  PONG  ITO  AY  BILANG PASASALAMAT  SA  PAGKAKAHALAL  NG  AMING  ITAY  BILANG  PANGULO  NG PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. (“PVAI”), ISANG SAMAHAN NG MGA BETERANONG LUMAHOK AT LUMABAN PARA SA IKATATAGUMPAY NG DEMOKRASYA NOONG PUMUTOK ANG KOREAN WAR NOONG IKA-25 NG HUNYO 1950. ITO PO AY ISANG MALAKING PASASALAMAT DAHIL BILANG NAKAMULATANG TRADISYON  SA PVAI, ANG PAG-KA-PANGULO PO NG PVAI AY TAGURING INIRERESERBA LAMANG SA MGA OPISYAL NG MILITAR NA LUMAHOK SA KOREAN WAR NA NAG-TAPOS SA PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY.]

Noon namang sumiklab ang Digmaan sa BANSANG KOREA,

Ay katatapos lang ni Tatay maglakbay upang aral ay UMARYA;

Sa FORT KNOX sa Estados Unidos siya’y NAPADPAD,

Pinagaralan ng husto ang tangke de giyera, para ‘di ito SUMADSAD!

Nanguna siya sa isang EKSAMINASYON,

Pero mga katunggali nya’y naghain ng PETISYON;

Di daw dapat si Maximo’y IPADALA,

Mas may pinag-aralan daw po SILA!

Pinulong sila ng isang matikas at iginagalang na KORONEL,

Dahil lahat sila’y pumirma sa isinulat na liham, PETITION ang “LABEL”;

Second year high school lang daw kasi ang  si ITAY ay TINAPOS,

Dapat daw ang paglalakbay ni ITAY ay mistulang IGAPOS!

Nagwawala na halos, at tunay na mga reklamador SILA,

Gusto ng bawat isa’y makapunta ng AMERIKA;

Dapat ay isang “high school grad” daw ang MAIPADALA,

Mas maigi daw kung “college graduate” PA!

Nagsalita sa pinatawag na pulong si Koronel MARCOS SOLIMAN,

Pinagsabihang silang lahat ay di dapat MAKIALAM;

Ang resulta ng eksaminasyon ay dapat na IGALANG…

Sabi nya’y: “Lahat kayong reklamador, mukhang mga KULANG-KULANG!”

Sa FORT KNOX ay nakilala ni Tatay isang Kanong OPISYAL,

Tutulungan daw syang sa COLLEGE ay  makapag-ARAL,

Dangkasi’y meron sila sa U.S. ng natatanging “SPECIAL TEST”,

Kapag naipasa’y pwede nang sa COLLEGE ay mag-ENLIST!

At naipasa nga po ang SPECIAL TEST  ng aking TATAY,

Aba’y nang malaman, Inang ko’y halos HINIMATAY;

Ang pangarap ni ITAY na maging “COLLEGE GRAD”,

Mukhang ito’y, sa wakas ay tunay na MATUTUPAD!

Subalit ang pangarap  ni ITAY ay NAUNSYAMI,

Kulang daw ang eksaminasyon na syang NAPILI;

Wala daw kasing Philippine HISTORY at GEOGRAPHY,

Sabi ng ating Director of Public Schools, sya’y “VERY SORRY”!

±¹°¡±â·Ï¿ø, 6¡¤25 Èñ±Í ±â·Ï¹° °ø°³-1950³â ÅÍÅ°±º (¼­¿ï=¿¬ÇÕ´º½º) ±¹°¡±â·Ï¿øÀº 6¡¤25ÀüÀï 62ÁÖ³âÀ» ¸Â¾Æ À¯¿£°ú ¿µ±¹¡¤¸ù°ñ ±¹¸³¹®¼­º¸Á¸¼Ò¿¡¼­ ¼öÁýÇÑ 6¡¤25ÀüÀï °ü·Ã Èñ±Í ±â·Ï¹°À» 24ÀÏ °ø°³Çß´Ù. »çÁøÀº 1950³â Æĺ´¾ÕµÐ ÅÍÅ°±º. 2012.6.24 <> ±¹°¡±â·Ï¿ø, 6¡¤25 Èñ±Í ±â·Ï¹° °ø°³-1951³â º§±â¿¡±º ±¹°¡±â·Ï¿ø, 6¡¤25 Èñ±Í ±â·Ï¹° °ø°³-1950³â ÅÍÅ°±º (¼­¿ï=¿¬ÇÕ´º½º) ±¹°¡±â·Ï¿øÀº 6¡¤25ÀüÀï 62ÁÖ³âÀ» ¸Â¾Æ À¯¿£°ú ¿µ±¹¡¤¸ù°ñ ±¹¸³¹®¼­º¸Á¸¼Ò¿¡¼­ ¼öÁýÇÑ 6¡¤25ÀüÀï °ü·Ã Èñ±Í ±â·Ï¹°À» 24ÀÏ °ø°³Çß´Ù. »çÁøÀº 1950³â Æĺ´¾ÕµÐ ÅÍÅ°±º. 2012.6.24 <> jobo@yna.co.kr/2012-06-24 13:45:39/

Kaya’t sa pagdating ni Tatay sa PINAS, balita ukol sa KOREAN WAR ay LUMABAS—

Naghanda sa paglalakbay agad, kailangang tumulong…bilis at PAGASPAS…

Ang UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ay nagkaroon ng PULONG,

Ang 10^th BCT, ay dapat SUMULONG upang ito’y MAKATULONG!

[THIS ODE  (PRESENTED IN A SERIES OF INSTALLMENTS) IS  A SUMMARIZED VERSION OF DADDY MAX’S BIOGRAPHICAL BOOK ENTITLED FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG;  IN CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR HIS ELECTION THIS YEAR  AS PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION INC. (“PVAI”), A POSITION IN THE PVAI WHICH HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY RESERVED (SINCE PVAI’S INCEPTION) TO PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY GRADUATES. DADDY MAX IS RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL CONFERRED ON HIM BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BY REASON OF HIS HEROIC FEATS IN WORLD WAR 2. HE WAS ALSO CONFERRED THE GOLD CROSS MEDAL BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AS HE EMERGED AS HERO AT THE BATTLE OF MIUDONG, THE FIRST  BATTLE ENGAGED BY FILIPINO SOLDIERS IN FOREIGN SOIL DURING THE KOREAN WAR. ON JULY 27, 2016 THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT CONFERRED UPON HIM THE HIGHEST ORDER OF THE TAEGEUK MERIT MEDAL IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC FEATS DURING THE KOREAN WAR IN BOTH THE BATTLES OF MIUDONG AND YULDONG. ]

 We will now go back to Dad Max’s war EXPLOITS,

As I don’t want your mind to wander as well as your THOUGHTS…

Let’s get back to Dad Max’s colorful life STORY,

Read it all by heart, but please don’t be in a HURRY!

Following the surrender of the Japanese ARMY,

Peace then reigned as Dad Max reunited with his foster FAMILY;

And Dad Max topped a scholarship EXAMINATION,

To Fort Knox Armored Force School for further military EDUCATION!

But the other examinees who tried and FAILED,

Wrote a petition as though they have been JAILED;

They questioned the decision of sending Dad Max to Ft. Knox SCHOOL…

Even pictured Dad Max as some nincompoop and FOOL!

They wrote and pleaded that Dad Max was UNQUALIFIED,

Even deprecated his schooling, and they’re not SATISFIED…

They supplicated that a high school grad must be the one SENT,

They even said a college grad is better as choice for it has the better TALENT.

But the Filipino Colonel who was then IN CHARGE,

Summoned the petitioners and assigned a loyal SARGE;

To tell these examinees that the decision won’t be CHANGED,

But the examinees got unruly and some even went DERANGED!

And so the Colonel named MARCOS SOLIMAN was compelled to SPEAK,

And his speech was quite brief and even mischievously  UNIQUE…

He told the bunch of unruly examinees massed in a large ROOM…

“Can’t understand why you college and high grads act like MORON!”

And so Dad Max flew  to the UNITED STATES,

He got further education, sort of raising his STAKES;

It was at the Armored Force School in Louisville, KENTUCKY;

Mastered an armored tank’s  operation and got a glimpse of the GOLD DEPOSITORY!

[KINATHA KO PO ANG ODANG ITO BILANG PAGSASALIN NG BUOD NG BIOGRAPIKONG-AKLAT NA NAISULAT SA WIKANG INGLES AT PINAMAGATANG:  FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG,NA AKING DING INAKDA. ITONG SERYE PO NG ODA PONG ITO AY BILANG PASASALAMAT SA PAGKAKAHALAL NG AMING ITAY BILANG PANGULO NG PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. (“PVAI”), ISANG SAMAHAN NG MGA BETERANONG LUMAHOK AT LUMABAN PARA SA IKATATAGUMPAY NG DEMOKRASYA NOONG PUMUTOK ANG KOREAN WAR NOONG IKA-25 NG HUNYO 1950. ITO PO AY ISANG MALAKING PASASALAMAT DAHIL BILANG NAKAMULATANG TRADISYON  SA PVAI, ANG PAG-KA-PANGULO PO NG PVAI AY TAGURING INIRERESERBA LAMANG SA MGA OPISYAL NG MILITAR NA LUMAHOK SA KOREAN WAR NA NAG-TAPOS SA PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY.]

Nagkataong kay Tatay ay may nagpaswit ng TSISMIS,

Binigay ang pangalan pati ang naturang ADDRESS;

Hinanap ni Tatay ang sinasabing TIRAHAN,

Tagumpay nyang nakita, naku nagka-DRAMAHAN!

Niyapos agad ni Tatay ang AMA nyang TUMAMBAD,

Naging prangka si Lolo William, “and it was very SAD”;

Takot pala itong si Lolo William sa ASAWA…

Kaya’t ang sabi nya: “it’s time to go, so sorry my KIDDAH!”

At tuluyang naglayas na nga si TATAY,

Hindi na bumalik kay Lola GENIA sa kanilang BAHAY;

Kung saan saan si Tatay SIMO ay NAPADPAD …

Isip at gunita nya’y para bagang LUMILIPAD!

Matapos mamuhay na parang BAGABONDO,

Halos ayaw nang mabuhay pa sa’ting MUNDO…

Mabuti nga at may mabuting taong NAGHIKAYAT,

Naging shipping clerk siya sa barkong NAGLALAYAG!

Sa MV Legaspi nga sya ay NANUNGKULAN,

Kumikita na sya ng sahod na tingin nya’y MAINAM…

Di na naisip pang magsunog ng kilay sa PAG-AARAL…

Buong akala nya’y trabaho nya’y pangmatagalang BALABAL!

At pumutok nga po ang Pangalawang Guerra MUNDIAL,

Lahat ng barko sa bansa’y na DIDAL;

Kinumander po ng Estados UNIDOS…

Naging sundalong USAFFE si ITAY, sa gulo’y NADALUSDOS!

At ang mithiing-misyon na sa kanila’y INIATANG,

Maghatid ng supplies, pagkain at SANDATAHAN…

Para kapabilidad ng mga sundalong LUMALABAN…

Sa mga Hapones, ay lalong MATIBAYAN!

Nasukol isang araw ang barko NILA,

Habang mga Hapones binobomba ang MAYNILA;

Napilitan silang tuluyang SUMUKO,

Barko nila’y nasunog, nahagip ng bomba bago MAKALIKO!

Sa kanyang kabayanihang ipinakita sa DIGMAAN…

Si ITAY ay ginawaran ng medalyang parang PANG-MAYAMAN;

Aba’y SILVER STAR MEDAL ang iginawad sa kay ITAY,

Gawad sa kanya, pagkilala sa pakikipaglabang halos kanyang IKINAMATAY!

[THIS ODE  (PRESENTED IN A SERIES OF INSTALLMENTS) IS  A SUMMARIZED VERSION OF DADDY MAX’S BIOGRAPHICAL BOOK ENTITLED FOREVER YOUNG: A WALK THROUGH THE LIFE OF MAXIMO PURISIMA YOUNG;  IN CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR HIS ELECTION THIS YEAR  AS PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION INC. (“PVAI”), A POSITION IN THE PVAI WHICH HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY RESERVED (SINCE PVAI’S INCEPTION) TO PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY GRADUATES. DADDY MAX IS RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL CONFERRED ON HIM BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BY REASON OF HIS HEROIC FEATS IN WORLD WAR 2. HE WAS ALSO CONFERRED THE GOLD CROSS MEDAL BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AS HE EMERGED AS HERO AT THE BATTLE OF MIUDONG, THE FIRST  BATTLE ENGAGED BY FILIPINO SOLDIERS IN FOREIGN SOIL DURING THE KOREAN WAR. ON JULY 27, 2016 THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT CONFERRED UPON HIM THE HIGHEST ORDER OF THE TAEGEUK MERIT MEDAL IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC FEATS DURING THE KOREAN WAR IN BOTH THE BATTLES OF MIUDONG AND YULDONG. ]

]

And the Japs one day espied and bombarded their VESSEL,

Their ship got hit and it capsized near a TUNNEL;

Outgunned and outnumbered, they frantically SCAMPERED…

With the thought of fighting another day, they willingly SURRENDERED!

And they all eventually became PRISONERS OF WAR,

Forced to do menial jobs even painting the Japs’ camp’s fence with TAR;

Even cleaning the latrine and bathing the Japs CLEAN…

But they successfully escaped after crafting a good SCHEME!

And the SILVER STAR medal was awarded unto our DAD,

Disregarding dangers through the supply route they TROD;

The citation which accompanied the award of the MEDAL,

Is written in the bio book as though inscribed on a PETAL!

The biographical book which I wrote for my DAD,

In fact was not planned,  started scribbling on a mere PAD;

My niece who’s name is Gabby, sent a request to DADDY,

She has a school project, and she does not want to be TARDY!

A bunch of questions in a seeming QUESTIONNAIRE,

Was sent by my niece to Dad Max, thru EMAIL;

I was then tasked by Dad Max to answer & REPLY,

It was a work assignment that I must COMPLY!

It was a project at Gabby’s school in SINGAPORE,

 As her Mom is an expat who truly earns MORE;

At that international school, a story about DAD…

Must be submitted, as all of them was tasked to write a story of their own GRANDDAD!

 It was a gift which we gave Dad MAX,

On his 90th natal day, gee…the book cover was shiny as WAX;

Since I accumulated a lot of materials as I did interviews with DADDY,

Writing a bio book came as an idea which was so nice and DANDY!

 Sorry for this brief & unwanted DIVERSION…

I need to tell this as you might be swayed to ask a QUESTION,

Why was the book written so late INDEED?

If I only knew earlier Dad’s feats, the book would’ve been surely earlier PRINTED!

[Kinatha ko po ang ODANG ito bilang pagsasalin ng buod ng biograpikong-aklat na naisulat sa wikang ingles at pinamagatang:  FOREVER YOUNG: A Walk through the Life of Maximo Purisima Young, na aking ding inakda. Itong serye po ng ODA pong ito ay bilang pasasalamat sa pagkakahalal ng aming ITAY bilang PANGULO ng PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. (“PVAI”), isang samahan ng mga beteranong lumahok at lumaban para sa ikatatagumpay ng demokrasya noong pumutok ang KOREAN WAR noong ika-25 ng Hunyo 1950. Ito po ay isang malaking pasasalamat dahil bilang nakamulatang tradisyon  sa PVAI, ang pag-ka-PANGULO po ng PVAI ay taguring inirereserba lamang sa mga opisyal ng militar na lumahok sa KOREAN WAR na nag-tapos sa PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY.]

Nang aking gawin ang biograpiko ni TATAY,

Panahon at tinta ang aking NILUSTAY;

Bansag sa kanya noon ay mestisong BANGUS…

Yan ang tawag sa kanya sa bayan ng SANTA CRUZ!

Ang INAY kong taga-Laguna ay mukhang tomboyin DAW,

Kaya’t aking AMA kung kumilos noon ay KWIDAW;

Subalit nang ang mga mata nila’y NAGSALPUKAN…

Nauwi itong tunay sa ligawan at KANTAHAN!

Bumalik tayo sa pagsilang ng aking AMA,

Hulyo a treinta ito’y simula ng SEMANA;

Taong isang libo dalawampu’t DALAWA,

Umaabang na noon sina Lolo JULIO at Lola GENIA!

Ang Lola naming tunay na si Lola EMILIA,

Takot magkaanak dahil bata pa SIYA;

Subalit kinausap sya ni Lola GENIA,

“Ako ang aampon, dyaskeng bata KA!”

At ipinanganak na nga po si MAKSIMONG MESTIZO,

Yan ang tawag ni Lola sa Tatay kong GWAPO;

Ang naging apelyido nyang una ay MARIÑAS,

Bilang anak-anakan ni LOLO JULIO, yaon ang PINALABAS!

Nang lumaki-laki na si TATAY sa Opon, CEBU;

Yan ang tawag noon sa siyudad LAPU-LAPU;

Nagtataka si Tatay bakit mga utol nya DAW…

Kakaiba ang kulay, sa balat niyang MAPUSYAW!

Nang ang alinlangan nga kay LOLA’y I-TINANONG,

Kung bakit kulay daw ng mga utol ay TALONG;

Si LOLA’y paangil na nagpaliwanag kay Tatay KO,

Paglilihi daw nya’y kakaiba, dapat na MATANTO!

Ang sabi ni LOLA GENIA sa Tatay kong si SIMO,

“Pinaglihi kita sa gata ng niyog, dapat malaman MO”;

Pinagbawalan din ang Tatay SIMO KO,

Huwag makinig sa tsismis, basahin ay PERYODIKO!

Noong kabataan ng Tatay SIMO,

SIMO ang palayaw, dahil sya ay MAXIMO;

Nakawilihan nilang mag-BOKSIDOR kasama ang mga UTOL…

Kahit na malaki sa kanya, sya’y PUMAPATOL!

Galit na galit si LOLA GENIA,

Nanggalaiti sa galit ang namumulang hasang NYA;

Ni ayaw niyang madapuan ng lamok man LAMANG…

Si SIMO ngayo’y naging punching bag ang TIYAN!

Si Lolo JULIO nama’y tuwang tuwa at MASAYANG-MASAYA,

Sa mga panalong ipinagwagi  ni SIMONG nag-ala CEFERINO GARCIA;

Yong ang MANNY  PACQUIAO nila noong mga taong YON…

Bolo punch ang sikat para ika’y maging KAMPIYON!

Pati sa awitan lumahok din si TATAY,

Sa Purico Singing Contest siya ay BUMALATAY…

Lalong nakilala at naging POPULAR,

Kaya’t naging “in demand” si ITAY, halos parang STAR!

[This ODE  (presented in a series of installments) is  a summarized version of Daddy Max’s biographical book entitled FOREVER YOUNG: A Walk through the Life of Maximo Purisima Young;  in celebration and thanksgiving for his election this year  as President of the PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA Veterans’ Association Inc. (“PVAI”), a position in the PVAI which has been traditionally reserved (since PVAI’s inception) to Philippine Military Academy graduates. Daddy Max is recipient of the SILVER STAR MEDAL conferred on him by the U.S. government by reason of his heroic feats in World War 2. He was also conferred the GOLD CROSS MEDAL by the Philippine government as he emerged as hero at the BATTLE OF MIUDONG, the first  battle engaged by Filipino soldiers in foreign soil during the KOREAN WAR. On July 27, 2016 the SOUTH KOREAN government conferred upon him the HIGHEST ORDER OF THE TAEGEUK MERIT MEDAL in recognition of his heroic feats during the KOREAN WAR in both the battles of MIUDONG and YULDONG. ]

The life story of my Daddy MAX is truly UNIQUE,

I hope as I narrate it, no one will get PIQUED;

Daddy MAX is a son of a US SERVICEMAN,

Who by fate impregnated a 16 year old WOMAN.

He was given up for an informal ADOPTION,

As our real grandma feared she could not pay for Dad’s TUITION;

Dad MAX was then raised by a mid-class FAMILY,

He never ever saw our grandma EMILY!

But as rumors persisted that he was a BASTARD,

He thought all the while that it was just a CANARD;

But when he asked Lola GENIA why he is FAIR-COLORED,

He got castigated as our Lola GENIA BELABORED!

But as the rumors did not actually DIE,

Dad MAX located & met his Papa thru a seeming SPY;

And as Dad MAX embraced his Papa, Dad MAX got sort of a virtual REBUFF,

His Papa said, “my wife will get angry” with a very harsh GRUFF!

And so Dad MAX ran away from his foster PARENT…

And lived for a while in some ramshackle TENT;

He thereafter got employed as a clerk aboard a SHIP,

He did a lot of sails, it was for him a joyful TRIP!

And so Dad MAX got employed with MV LEGASPI,

As a shipping clerk, he was contented with his FEE;

So, he never thought anymore of his SCHOOLING,

As a 2nd year high stude, he felt his wage was enough for LIVING!

And the SECOND WORLD WAR  broke OUT,

The ship  was commandeered by the US, as it had the CLOUT;

Dad MAX was conscripted with the USAFFE…

He became a soldier fighting for FREEDOM and LIBERTY!

And the mission which was announced unto THEM,

Which was principally aimed at avoiding much MAYHEM;

Was to supply and transport reinforcements and FOOD,

From Visayas to Luzon, sailing to and fro aboard a vessel that’s CRUDE!

[His EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR HAN DONG MAN was the GUEST OF HONOR and SPEAKER during the COMMEMORATION of the 69th ANNIVERSARY of the KOREAN WAR at RITES held at the LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI particularly at the KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL PYLON yesterday, June 24, 2019.]

Masayang-masaya ang EMBAHADOR ng SOUTH KOREA…

Dahil siya ang itinanghal na GUEST OF HONOR sa PASINAYA;

Ang unang napiling PANGUNAHING PANG-DANGAL KASI,

Ay ang CHIEF OF STAFF o CS, ng AFP!

Subalit ang CS ay may gampaning takda sa labas ng BANSA…

Kaya nagkaroon sa PROGRAMA nang pag-BALASA;

Kaya tuloy noong bigkasin ng butihin EMBAHADOR ang TALUMPATI.

Aba’y abot hanggang tainga ang kanya pong NGITI!

At nang siya nga po ay NAGSALITA…

Lahat halos ay tunay na NAPAMANGHA;

Hindi lang isang salita ang binigkas na TAGALOG,

Dibdib ko tuloy ay KUMABOG-KABOG!

Ako po’y talagang NAHINTAKUTAN…

Baka magkamali sa pagbigkas si Sir HAN DONG MAN;

Naalala ko kasi sa isang malaking PARTY NOON,

May isang estranghero po ang hindi nag-ATUBILI DOON!

Ang hindi pag-ATUBILI nung yaon pong ESTRANGHERO…

Ay ukol sa pagbigkas ng PAGBATI nating TOTOO;

“MABUHAY kayong lahat”, ang dapat na SABIHIN,

Subalit nawala ang “Y”, at nagkaroon ng DIIN!

Nabaligtad pa din ang “A” at “U”…

Kaya noong binaybay  ay naging “MABAHU”;

Nakangiti pang binanggit ang nasabing PAGBATI,

Naku… “MABAHU KAYONG LAHAT” ang kanyang NA-ISULTI!

Pero, si EMBAHADOR ay tunay na MAINGAT…

Bigkas nya sa salitang-Tagalog ay sadyang LEKAT;

Tunay na siya’y INGAT na INGAT…

Ang galing ng dating, palakpakan ang LAHAT!

At nang dumating na po sa punto nang KAINAN…

Aba si SIR HAN DONG MAN, ay masaya na NAMAN;

Narinig niya kasi ang paborito nyang AWITIN,

Ang “ANAK” ni FLORANTE, tunay na awiting ANGKIN!

Nabanggit ng iba bakit ang GALING ni SIR…

Sa pagbigkas ng Tagalog animo’y FILIPINO TEACHER,

Aking tuloy biniro si Sir HAN DONG MAN, THRU A WHISPER—

“Do you have a PINAY GF as your Tagalog TUTOR?”

AND THE AMBASSADOR TURNED RED, AND JUST SMILED INSTEAD!

Gandang umaga  po sa inyong LAHAT!

Upang iwas sakit dapat tayo’y MAGPAPAYAT;

Laro tayo ng BADMINTON, tayong MAGKAKASAPAKAT—

Para DIABETES po ay tuluyan nating MAWARAT!

Akin pong nawawari, upang may PASAKALYE…

Magkaroon kaya tayo ng BADMINTON TOURNEY;

Preliminary po ito sa ating GRAND REUNION…

Meron tayong VENUE, at ito’y FREE TUITION!

Kasi nga ang sabi nitong si Bossing  DANTE…

Ang REUNION ang sya pong talagang IMPORTANTE;

O, di magkakaroon tayo ng PALIGSAHAN MUNA;

Sa BADMINTON COURT namin  tayo unang MAGKIKITA!

Paguusapan naming itong aking PLANO…

Naku, baka si DANTE mag-book na ng EROPLANO;

Sa GROUP OF TEN MEETING dito sa OFFICE KO,

Magpapakain ako TOKWA’T ARROZ CALDO!

BADMINTON po’y tunay na PAMPAGANDA…

Kikinis ang kutis pati ang mukha mo PA;

Tunay na kapag palagiang NAGPAPAWIS;

Pimples at toxins sa katawa’y tuluyang MAWAWALIS!

Pampahaba po ng buhay  ang BADMINTON, at TOTOO;

Yan po ang sabi ng GOOGLE kahit yan ay i-search MO;

Tingnan po nyo ang poging Daddy MAX KO…

Chicharon bulaklak pa nga ang syang PAGKAING GUSTO!

Kaya everyday dapat ay magpapawis at MAGLARO…

At kung hindi talagang maalam na kayo ay PUMALO…

Ako po sa inyo’y handang MAGTUTURO,

DROP SHOT ang the BEST para kalaba’y MATULIRO!

Kung malapit po kayo sa CUBAO AREA,

Hala sige dating kayo at pwedeng UMARYA…

Ang BADMINTON COURT namin ay OPEN sa INYO,

Walang pong rental fees, may free water pa KAYO!

Ang kelangan nga namin ay may MAKAKALABAN,

Dahil may mga araw na QUORUM ay “INDIAN”;

Kulang ang kalaro, kaya wala pong FUN at PLAYING BINGE…

Pwede rin pong mag-SINGLES, pero madali pong HINGALIN!