To a Faithful Shopper

SA MAMIMILI NG NESTLE (TO A FAITHFUL SHOPPER)


Ang kape sa iyong tasa,
Ang gatas sa iyong kape,
Ang tubig sa pagtimpla,
Ay gawa ng manggagawa
sa pabrika ng Nestle.

Ang cereal sa almusal
Ang sampalok sa sinigang
Ang noodles na pangminindal
Ay tinda ng kapitalista
Ng kumpanya ng Nestle.

Sa pagitan ng manggagawa
At kapitalista,
Nariyan ka, butihing mamimili, nariyan ka.
May piketlayn na tinatawid nang walang malay
Sa bawat produktong binabayaran.

Kaya’t sa paghigop ng sabaw,
Paanong matutunawan?
Sa bawat pagsubo at pagnguya
Paanong di tatablan ng pagkutya?
Patatamisin ba ang bawat sakit ng pulis-batuta
ng tsokolateng panghimagas?
Lulunukin ba natin ang bawat pandarahas?

Tandaan. Kahit ang Alpo Dry Dog Food
Para sa minamahal mong si Bantay
Ay may dugo ng lider-manggagawang pinaslang.
Ay may dugo ng lider-manggagawang pinaslang.


TO A FAITHFUL SHOPPER*

The coffee in your cup,
The milk in your coffee,
The water your drink,
All these are made by the workers
Of Nestle factory.

The cereal you have for breakfast,
The tamarind paste for your Asian-style soup,
The instant noodles you snack on,
Are all sold by the capitalists
Of Nestle company.

Between the workers and the capitalists,
You stand, faithful shopper, you stand.
Each time you purchase a product,
Unknowingly crossing the picket lines.

So as you slurp your soup,
Does your stomach not growl?
As you munch and chew,
Does sarcasm not bite?
For how can truncheon beatings of workers
Make chocolates semi-sweet?

Remember. Even Alpo Dry Dog Food
For your beloved Spot
Is poisoned by the blood of the union leader slain.
Is poisoned by the blood of the union leader slain.


*This poem is for Diosdado Fortuno, president of the Nestle Workers’ Union in the Philippines, who was slain on September 22, 2005. Meliton Roxas, former union president, was similarly gunned down in 1988.

Joi Barrios, BAYAN Women’s Desk and the National Council for the Protection of Workers’ Rights (NCPWR)
27 Setyembre 2005

The photo is from Arkibong Bayan.