On certain nights, in the far away barrios

Or even those near the población, 

One can hear the Perdon, the chant

Of suppliant devotees entreating the Almighty

For forgiveness, as their sins or shortcomings

Might have caused the recent deaths,

The sudden pestilence, the flooded field

Ready for harvest, the frequent typhoons.

       An debotos mo sorogon, sa mga sakit agawon.

Those who are unmindful, nodding in the unholy hour,

In the guttering light of the katipong[i] and kerosene fumes,

Catch the echoes of the chanting of grandmothers long dead,

A stray memory, a visitation under the volcano,

In the faint backlight of midnight or a hint dawn,

The women raise and wave their hands as if waving

Stems of Takay, the purple lotus of the lake,

And all memory is suppliant, in procession:

       An debotos mo sorogon, sa mga sakit agawon!

       Kami minaluhod, minaduko, Perdon, Perdon! 

       Sagkod na may hinangos, padagos an Prosesiyon![ii]

       Haliya, Haliya! Pano ka nin Karahayan! 

       Basbasan mo kami sa gigidom ni Búlan

       Haliya! Haliya! Ngonyan asin sagkod pa man!

       An debotos mo sorogon, sa mga sakit agawon!

       Kami minaluhod, minaduko, Perdon, Perdon!

       Sagkod na may hinangos, padagos an Prosesiyon!

​

Marne Kilates

(12 June 2016; 16 March 2017;  7 November 2019; 5 October 2020)