21 ST

Rogelio Lunasco Ordoñez (September 24, 1940 – May 19, 2016) also
known as “Ka Roger”, was a multi-awarded Filipino fiction writer, poet,

activist, journalist and educator. He was one of the authors of the
iconic Tagalog literature anthology Mga Agos sa Disyerto in the 1960s.
He was a contributor to Liwayway Magazine, Pilipino Free Press, Asia-
Philippines Leader, Pilosopong Tasyo, Diario Uno and Pinoy Weekly.
Writing fiction, articles and literary criticisms in Filipino, Ordoñez

works were anthologized in the following: Readings in Contemporary
Bilingual Literature (Ateneo de Manila University), Parnasong Tagalog
of Alejandro G. Abadilla (selected poems in Filipino), Hiyas (Vols. 2 & 3,
textbooks in Public High Schools), Bantayog (selected essays in Filipino,
Philippine Normal University), Nationalist Literature and Likhaan
(University of the Philippines), Subverso (ACT), Kilates (UP) and the
landmark Mga Agos sa Disyerto (1964). His novels include Apoy sa Madaling Araw (1964), co-authored
with Dominador B. Mirasol, and Limang Suwail (1963), co-authored with Efren Abueg, Rogelio Sicat,
Edgardo M. Reyes and Eduardo Bautista Reyes. In 1998. The University of the Philippines published in
book form some of his selected writings Saan Papunta ang mga Putok?. In 1997, his short-story, Si Anto,
was translated to English and anthologized in Stories From Southeast Asia (Malaysia) and considered as
one of the best short-stories in Southeast Asia for the past 30 years, according to Muhammad Haji
Salleh, editor of the said anthology. In 2004, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines published in
book form his columns Pluma at Papel from Diario Uno and in 2007, Prometheus Publishing Corp. also
published his columns and editorials Pluma at Papel (Sa Panahon ni Gloria) from Pinoy Weekly. Some of
his poems were also anthologized in Ipuipo sa Piging (2010), selected poems of some 32 poets in
Filipino. Last March 15, 2011, his collection of poems, HIJO Y HIJA DE PUTA at iba pang mga tula was
launched by Grandwater Publishing at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. On November 2013,
one of his poems, the Alay sa Bayaning Mandirigma was anthologized in Salita ng Sandata (Bonifacio’s
Legacies to the People’s Struggle); his poem Maita (Ka Dolor) Gomez was also anthologized in Maita
(Remembering Ka Dolor). Last October, 2014, the Center for Creative Writing of the Polytechnic
University of the Philippines launched his new anthology of poems Sa Pamumulaklak ng mga Talahib,
with English version (The Talahib’s Blooming). Two of his poems, the To The Writers and Will Search for
You Always were anthologized in Feelings International Book of Poetry, 2 nd Edition, a collection of poems
by poets from Asia, Africa, Europe and USA edited by a respected literati Dr. Armeli Quezon of
Charleston, SC, USA.
Published Works:
Ang Mahabang Daan Pauwi: Mga tula na hinugot sa buhay na karanasan ng mga kababayan sa
Gitnang Silangan, Mga Agos sa Disyerto (which is my favorite work of him), Saan Papunta ang mga
Putok?, Hijo y Hija de Puta, Pluma at Papel sa Panahon ni Gloria, Ipuipo sa Piging, Pluma at Papel sa
Panahon ni Erap, and Sa Pamumukadkad ng mga Talahib
The Legend of Hari sa Bukid by Al Perez
(Southern Luzon)
Many years ago, in the high mountains of Southern Luzon, there was a beautiful place where
the people were happy. They produced much tobacco. The people were governed by a certain
king named Hari sa Bukid, who was very good. He had a very wide plantation in their domain,
the mountain that was very beautiful. His people were happy.
One day he called all his men and said that he was going to a far-away land to visit his friends,
who were kings. He bade them to be industrious and to continue planting. He told them to be
diligent and to the slopes of the mountains with tobacco, if he was delayed in his return
journey.
During his first ten years, the people of Hari sa Bukid faithfully fulfilled their vow to the king and
the slopes of the mountains were virtually flower gardens full of beautifully cultivated tobacco
plants. The whole tribe of Hari sa Bukid were happy and prosperous. Their tobacco trade was so
large that even the people of the nearby lands flocked to barter their goods with them. All were
happy and prosperous. Everyone tended his share of the land carefully. More and more
tobacco was produced. The fame of the people in raising tobacco in Hari sa Bukid’s tribe
became well-known.
Then they started to abandon the care and the cultivation of the field. Their harvests
diminished greatly and their business with other people was discredited because of the small
quantity that they could raise. Almont of the friends were abandoned. When they were already
in want because of lack of goods and other things that they needed in their livelihood, they felt
a strong earthquake that shook the foundation of the earth and the volcano started throwing
out fire and smoke. They were frightened and ran in all directions towards the sea.
To their astonishment Hari sa Bukid appeared in a terrible rage. Calling all his men together, he
rebuked them for their disobedience to his order and advice. He scolded them severely for their
improper and unbecoming conduct, ordering them in a thundering voice to answer him. All his
men were speechless. They knew they were guilty of the serious crimes of disobedience and
laziness. Upon seeing the guilt of his people, he punished them by gathering the scanty produce
of tobacco in the fields and carried it to the top of the mountain. With a terrific blow of his fist,
he bore a hole on top of the mountain and carried all the tobacco with him down to the center
of the earth. He smokes in there when he is in good mood. Thus when we see the volcano
smoking and sending out fire, it is Hari sa Bukid smoking his tobacco.
Unless his people will come again and show their industry and work hard, Hari sa Bukid will
never return; the tobacco which he is still smoking in the center of the earth will continue.

21 ST

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

21 ST

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

21 ST

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rogelio Lunasco Ordoñez (September 24, 1940 – May 19, 2016) also

known as “Ka Roger”, was a multi-awarded Filipino fiction writer, poet,

Writing fiction, articles and literary criticisms in Filipino, Ordoñez

You might also like