Manggagawa by Huseng Batute

Bawat palo ng martilyo sa bakal mong pinapanday alipatong nagtilamsik, alitaptap sa karimlan; mga apoy ng pawis mong sa Bakal ay kumikinang tandang ikaw ang may gawa nitong buong Santinakpan. Nang tipakin mo ang bato ay natayo ang katedral nang pukpukin mo ang tanso ay umugong ang batingaw, nang lutuin mo ang pilak ang salapi ay lumitaw, si Puhunan ay gawa mo, kaya ngayon’y nagyayabang. Kung may ilaw na kumisap ay ilaw ng iyong tadyang, kung may gusaling naangat, tandang ikaw ang pumasan mula sa duyan ng bata ay kamao mo ang gumalaw hanggang hukay ay gawa mo ang krus na nakalagay. Kaya ikaw ay marapat dakilain at itanghal pagkat ikaw ang yumari nitong buong Kabihasnan….. Bawat patak ng pawis mo’y yumayari ka ng dangal, dinadala mo ang lahi sa luklukan ng tagumpay. Mabuhay ka nang buhay na walang wakas, walang hanggan, at hihinto ang pag-ikot nitong mundo pag namatay.

Worker (literal translation of Huseng Batute’s poem)

Every stroke of the hammer on the steel you forge fireflies splashed, fireflies in the dark; the flames of your sweat on the Iron are glowing you are the one who made this whole Santinakpan [firmament]. When you hit the rock the cathedral was built when you struck the brass the bell sounded, when you cooked the silver the money appeared, Puhunan [principal, capital] is your work, so now you are boasting. If there is a light that flickers, it is the light of your rib, if there is a building that is lifted, remember that you are the one who passed from the cradle of the child, your fist is the widening pit and you make the cross that is placed. That’s why you deserve to be exalted and spread. Live life without end, forever, and this world will stop spinning when you die.