14/03/2026
Today's the 140th birth anniversary of Eduardo Makabenta, Sr. (1885-1973). Makabenta is considered one of the best writers of Eastern Visayas. He was born in Carigara, Leyte to Catalino Macabenta and Eustaquia Arintok. He earned his college degree from Liceo de Manila and his law degree from Leyte Colleges. He was one of the founding members of the Sanghiran san Binisaya, the organization of writers during the early 20th century that pushed for the use of Binisaya in literary production. He was commissioned by the Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission to translate into Binisaya the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. He also published the Binisaya-English, English-Binisaya Dictionary (1979, 2004).
Here's one of his masterfully-written poems published in 1940:
DESPEDIDA KAN KIRIKAY
Lakat na la, lakat na la kun malakat ka.
Saho ko man, saho ko man bis’ ka ngain.
Lakat na la, di ak’ ha im’ mababaraka,
Ngan di ha imo magbibiling.
An budo ayaw pagdad-a,
An bahaw ngan luwag,
Layas na kun malayas ka,
Diri matangis an ak’ kalag.
Kapara na, kapara na ha ak’ paniplat.
Pahirayo, di ak’ ha im’ mag-aawil,
Pakadto na, gikan na ngan lurop ha dagat,
Bis’ bugkoton ka hin bukawil.
Diri gad ha im’ mahawid,
Paturon han paglakat—
Ibilin kalayo, tubig,
Di ak’ ha im’ maglalanat.
FAREWELL TO KIRIKAY
(translation by Merlie M. Alunan)
Go, go, if that’s what you want!
I don’t care, don’t care where.
Just go, go, I don’t care!
And I’ll never go looking for you!
Don’t bring the salted fish,
The leftover rice, the ladle.
Go, go if you must,
I won’t grieve about it, for sure.
Get out, out of my sight.
Go away, I’m not going to miss you,
Leave, leave, jump in the sea
If the conch swallows you, that’s okay.
Well, I won’t stop you,
Go on, get going,
Leave the fire behind, the water,
I’ll never go after you.
