dedicated to my father, Alberto Florentino
(and in tribute to Dr. Seuss, Jose Garcia Villa and Nick Joaquin)
Father's Daughter
I am my father’s daughter
I am
I have his blood, his temperament
I tried my best to change me
but can’t
I am my father’s daughter
Yes I am
I am my father’s history
I am
Same woe, same sentiment
I am my father’s progeny
I am
As he was his own father’s son
I am my father’s journey
I am
His name I carry as best I can
I am my father’s story
I am
My surname: Florentino
© 2011 Sonya Florentino
I would like to inform you that I will be taking a break from poet freak.com.
My father recently turned 80 and I realized my time with him may not be long esp. with his many medical problems. I decided to use my time to make a website in his honor. He is a respected playwright and publisher in the Philippines and although there are many entries on him in the internet, there is no one site to get all the information on his contribution to theatre and literature. Also about 2 years now, he has been encouraging me to publish my poems and I have been resisting and procrastinating . But I’ve now decided to do it not for me but for him in gratitude for giving me the genes to write.
I also dedicate the poem to the memory of Jose Garcia Villa, world-reknowned poet from the Philippines made famous by his "comma" poems. The other writer is Nick Joaquin for his story “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino."
And, with no explanation needed.... to Dr. Seuss (you know who he is…)
I will miss you guys and I hope I’ll be able to drop by once in a while but I just want to let you know I won’t be able to read and comment as much as before. As for posting….well, I’m still having writer’s block but maybe that’s good so I can focus my attention on the two projects I hope I can do at the same time (yikes!)….
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Alberto_Florentino
http://www.palhbooks.com/villa.htm
http://spcmhs1975.homestead.com/files/larawan.html
picture, source: (from the movie of the same title)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55039776@N02/6178255597/
a nice tribute to your father. Good luck and take care.
Nice piece Sonya. sorry to see you have left. I haven't written anything for the Manhattan Lady in quite a while. take care
Babalik ka rin kapatid kong maganda at mahiyain
My pleasure to know you...Hope we'll chat again...You were the first I had conversation with here on PF. Peace! Beautiful tribute to your father Sonetta. Dorothy A Poet Who Loves To Sing
Nice dedication.. I would love to go through the proposed website on your respected father.. You are indeed a father's daughter.. Regards, Abhi..
This is an excellent dedication in honour of your father from such a talented worthy daughter of him.I wish you all the very best in everything you do to preserve your father's glory.Stay well and get back soon.You will be missed.Good luck to you and my best regards to your dad.
This is an excellent dedication in honour of your father from such a talented worthy daughter of him.I wish you all the very best in everything you do to preserve your father's glory.Stay well and get back soon.You will be missed.Good luck to you and my best regards to your dad.
a wonderful poem Sonya and the best of luck with your projects...Maggie :))
I admire your dedication to your Father and realize you need a break from poetfreak to achieve your goals. I wish you all the luck in the world and will miss you heaps Sonya. Yet, family comes first and I am sure you will be welcomed with joy when you return to poetfreak~
This nicely worded poem is a proof of your ardent love and affection towards your father, Sonya...life has always a few more missions to accomplish, every time...wish you all the best...hope to read you in PF soon
Good luck for your future endeavours,we all miss you sad indeed!
nice poem- peace and love to you and family x
Sonya, may I say it has always been a great pleasure and privilege to read your poems and this one is no exception. How wonderful that you identify the nurture and nature which has contributed to your own love of words and your unique talent. I wish you and your dad lots of happy times to come together and I will watch eagerly online for the website you are going to create to honour your dad's work and any publication of your own writing. I do hope you call in and say hallo when opportunity permits. You'll be very much missed and in my thoughts. :) kath xxxxx
A wonderful tribute and gesture to a well-loved father and wishing you every success in your venture dear Sonya - -you will be missed and do drop by when you can. Wishing you and your father much pleasure in working together on these projects.
Well, and truly written. "The acorn never falls far from the oak.” May be a cliché, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
Beautiful tribute to your father. I will miss you! have a safe trip and enjoy your visit with your father...good luck in publishing your book...'till soon!
you can. best of luck... x
Good luck Sonya...we will miss you on PF, but do appreciate the importance of the projects you are about to undertake...
Best of luck in your new projects. You were my first Friend here on poetfreak and I will miss you. I hope some day you will come back to us.