Letter from Father and Mother

In our old age, please understand and be patient with us, child...

If WE should spill soup on the dining table
Or break a plate
We hope you don't get angry at us
It is only because of our poor eyes and stiffening fingers...
If we gor angry at you for the cups and plates you broke when your were little,
It was because we didn't want you to get cut [hurt].

If we don't understand or hear what you say to us
You shouldn't say to us "Deaf!"
Our hearing is not as it used to be
Please repeat it loudly, but no need to shout at us
In order for us to inderstand each other.

If we walk slow and we can't keep up with your fast pace
Please wait and guide- our knees are weak now
Support like when you were an infant just learning to walk
We were very happy watching over you.

If sometimes we annoy you by saying things over and over like a broken record,
We hope you don't laugh at us or become disgusted
You were annouing like that as a child and you even cried--
When you wanted us to buy simething and you would not stop
Until you got what you wanted.

If we show laziness to take a bath and we smell like earth
We hope you don't dread us and force us to take a bath...
It is because our bodies are weak when cold.
Do you remember when you were a child and no matter how dirty you were
We were so happy kissing you
And we were patient chasing you under the bed at bath time?

If we are always moody or shouting
This is probably brought on by being useless at home
And depression that we can't do anything and have no purpose.
Please show us that we still have some importance in your world
Just like we showed you your importance then
And straightened out your mistakes and hard headedness.

If you have a little time we shold have a converstation...
I know you are busy with work but we so much want to talk to you.
I want to you to know that we are interested in what you have to say
Just like when you tell us about your day at school when you were still a child.
Even though you broken speech was hard to understand,
We happily listened to you go on about your play.

If we wet or dirty ourselves in bed because we can't get up
Please don't be angry or disgusted with us.
Just like when we never complained when we woke up at night no matter how tired we were
Just to clean and change your diapers so that you can sleep comfortably
It doesn't matter that we lose sleep.

If we can't get up from bed ill
Please don't tire of taking care of us
Just like we took care of you as a baby.
Every complaint then was painful for us as well
Be patient taking care of us at our last moments
We won't be here for long.

AND when the time comes for us to face the Loving Creator...
I will whisper and request of Him,
To bless you because of your being a loving and caring child to your father and mother.

Original Tagalog

Sa aming pagtanda, unawain at pagpasensyahan mo sana kami, anak. . .

Kung makatapon kami ng sabaw sa hapag kainan
O kaya makabasag ng pinggan
'Wag mo naman sana kaming kagagalitan
Dala lang yun ng kalabuan ng mata at ng namamanhid naming mga daliri. . .
Pinagalitan ka man sa mga baso't pinggang iyong nabasag noon bata ka pa,
Iyon ay dahil ayaw naming masugatan ka.

Kung ang mga sinasabi mo'y 'di maintindihan at madinig
'Wag mo naman sana kaming sabihan ng "Bingi!"
Humihina na talaga ang aming pandinig
Pakiulit lang nang malakas-lakas na 'di naman kailangang sigawan
Upang tayo ay magkaunawaan.

Kung mabagal na kaming maglakad at 'di na makasabay sa mabilis mong paglakad
Pakiantay sana at alalayan—mahihina na ang aming mga tuhod
Alalay na tulad sana nung musmuos ka pa at nag-aaral ka pa lang maglakad
Tuwang tuwa ka naming pinagmamasdan.

Kung minsang makulit at paulit ulit ang aming sinabi na parang sirang plaka,
'Wag mo sana kaming pagtawanan o kainisan
Ganyan ka rin kakulit noong bata ka pa at nag-iiyak pa--
Kapag nagpapabili ng kung anu ano’y di kami tinitigilan
Hangggang ang gusto mo'y di naibibigay.

Kung kinatatamaran namin na maligo at nag-aamoy lupa na
'Wag mo naman sanang pandirihan at piliting maligo. . .
Mahina na kasi ang aming katawan pag nalalamigan.
Natatandaan mo ba noong bata ka pa at kahit anung dungis mo
Ay masayang-masaya ka naming hinahalikan
At mat'yagang hinahabol sa ilalim ng kama upang paliguan?

Kung palagi kaming masungit at nagsisisigaw
Dala na siguro ito ng pagkabagot sa bahay
At pagkadismaya na wala nang magawa at wala nang silbi.
Ipadama mo naman sana na may halaga pa rin kami sa mundo mo
Katulad ng pagpapadama namin noon ng pagpapahalaga
At pagtutuwid sa kamalian at katigasan ng iyong ulo.

Kung may konti ka mang panahon mag kwentuhan naman sana tayo. . .
Alam kong abala ka sa hanapbuhay pero sabik na kaming makausap ka.
Gusto kong malaman mo na interesado pa rin kami sa mga kwento mo
Tulad n'ung pagbibida mo sa eskwela noong bata ka pa.
Na kahit pautal utal pa ang salita mo,
Nakikinig kaming masaya tungkol sa iyong mga laruan.

Kung kami man ay maihi o madumi sa higaaan dahil hindi na makabangon
'Wag mo sanang pagagalitan o pandididrihan.
Katulad ng walang reklamo naming paggising nang kahit anong pagod sa gabi
Upang linisin at palitan ang iyong lampin para maginghawa kang makatulog
Hindi na baling kami ang mapuyat.

Kung kami’y maratay sa banig ng karamdaman
'Wag mo sanan kaming pagsawaang alagaan
Gaya ng mat'yaga naming pag-aalaga noong musmos ka pa.
Bawat daing mo noon ay hirap na dinadala sa aming kalooban
Pagt'yagaan mo naman sana kaming alagaan sa aming mga huling sandali
Kami naman ay di na rin magtatagal.

AT kapag dumating na ang takdang panahon ng aming pagharap sa Dakilang Lumikha. . .
Ibubulong at hihilingin ko sa Kanya.
Na pagpalain ka dahil naging mapagmahal at maalaga kang anak sa iyong ama’t ina.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQAeljsSv2s&feature=related Sulat ni Tatay at Nanay
http://lifetranslated.blogspot.com/2007/11/sulat-ni-nanay-at-tatay.html Written version