Poldet writes children’s stories from prison

We usually hear about poldets (a portmanteau of ‘political detainees’) producing a corpus of prose or poetry while in prison. Political exile Jose Ma. Sison came up with his book “Prison and Beyond,” which won him a Southeast Asia WRITE Award in 1986. Former political prisoner Axel Pinpin's poetry collection “Tugmaang Matatabil: Mga Akdang Isinulat sa Libingan ng mga Buhay” was a finalist at the 2010 Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award. Meanwhile, political activist and cultural activist Ericson Acosta, who was arrested and detained for two years on the suspicion that he was a New People's Army member, has a forthcoming book: “Mula Tarima Hanggang at Iba Pang Mga Tula at Awit.”

Eduardo Sarmiento, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant, has also just joined their ranks. He finished “Susmatanon: Mga Kwentong Pambata,” a compilation of children’s fiction, while in detention at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame. (“Susmatanon” is Waray for “fiction.”)

Turbulent background

On February 24, 2009, Sarmiento was arrested without warrant by the PNP and military agents in Alabang, Metro Manila. He was presented to the media as a high-ranking leader of the revolutionary movement in Eastern Visayas. His camp asserts he was then attending consultations related to the peace process between the NDFP and the Government of the Philippines (GPH).

Sarmiento was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment on December 11, 2013 on the criminal charge of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

A native of Catarman, Northern Samar, Sarmiento represented Eastern Visayas in the NDFP peace panel in 1986. He is one of 13 NDFP consultants currently detained under the Aquino administration.

Written, illustrated, and designed

Sarmiento started working on his collection on March 24, 2011. He selected six children’s stories for his book, which were written on a sketch pad.

Some of his stories are set in his native Samar (“Baryo Maligaya at ang Halimaw,” “Si Pagong at si Gamaw,” and “Ang Uwak”). Some take place in the fictional Baryo Maligaya and Mount Mabaysay (mabaysay is the Waray word for “beautiful”), to Mount Huraw.

“Ang Dalawang Puno ng Abokado,” “Si Pagong at si Gamaw,” (“gamaw” is Waray for the species of bird called grebe) and “Ang Batang Sinungaling” pay tribute to Aesop’s fables.

Aside from writing the stories, he also did the illustration and book design. Sarmiento also writes poems and composes progressive songs.

In his introduction, Sarmiento said, “Kay tagal ko nang pinangarap na makapagkwento ng mga kwentong pambata sa harap ng paslit kong mga anak. Nanatili itong isang pangarap lamang hanggang sa kasalukuyan. At kung ang katuparan nito ay sadyang magiging mailap sa akin, ang librong ito na lamang ang makukwento sa kanila.”

In my opinion, it's a good collection, especially for those who can relate to the National Democratic Movement. The three-headed dragon, reminiscent of Ghidorah and Chimera, in the story “Baryo Maligaya at ang Halimaw,” means the Maoist overthrow of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism. The story “Ang Palaka sa Balon” is a homage to the ‘frog in the well’ analogy mentioned in Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book.

Some of the stories and illustrations can be found here. — VC, GMA News