03 June 2009
Transitting Dardanelles strait, Turkey
Tagal ko ring walang di nakapagsulat ah hehehe. Anyway after namin mangaling sa Petit- Courone sa France bumalik kami sa Mohammedia, Morocco para mag discharge. After discharging eh eto pabalik na naman kami sa Midia.
Kabababa ko lang after magduty kanina. Transitting kasi kami sa Dardanelles strait sa Turkey. Ito yung unang strait bago mag Istanbul Strait na ang labas na nga ay sa Black Sea. Babalik kasi kami sa Romania para mag loading na naman.
Habang duty ko eh nagkuwentuhan kami nung piloto at sabi nga nya, ang Dardanelles area pala ang isa sa pinaghihinalaan ng mga historians and geographers na site ng ancient city of Troy. Siguro naman alam ng marami ang kahit kunting istorya sa Greek Epic na yun na sinulat ni Homer. Kung di nyo pa rin maalala o di nyo napanood yung pelikula starring Brad Pitt, malamang narinig nyo na rin yung expression na “the face that launched a thousand ships”? Yung expression na yun eh nagpapatungkol kay Helen of Troy, na inabduct ni Paris na isang prinsipe ng Troy mula sa isa sa mga hari ng Greek States. To defend his honor eh nagdemand siya ng giyera laban sa Troy, na since kinaiingitan ng mga Greek at mayaman nga at malakas na city state din, pinasya nilang pag tulung tulungan. Ayun sa mythology ni Homer, si Helen ang pinakamagandang babae sa kapanahunan nya. Pero in a historian’s point of view, hindi lang kagandahan niya ang dahilan kaya nagpasyang umatake ang mga Griyego. Naging scapegoat na rin sya para sa napipintong giyerang Greek-Trojan, dahil nga threatened na rin ang mga Greek sa asenso at “military might” ng mga Trojan. Tsaka gusto na rin siguro nilang ransackin ang mayaman ngang syudad na yun. Kaya yun na nga, a fleet of at least a thousand small ships went to war against Troy.
Pero at the end, kahit pa napatay na ni Achilles (Greek Champion) si Hector (Trojan Champion), di pa rin matalo talo ng mga Griyego ang mga Trojan. Dumating sa puntong ang tagal na ng giyera eh wala pa ring nakikitang end in sight dahil nga ang Troy ay isang “walled city,” napapaligiran ng matataas at makapal na pader gawa sa solidong bato. Siguro din wala pang epektibong siege engines that time na kayang magpabagsak sa pader ng Troy. Kaya nag think outside the box na ang mga Greek, naisipan nilang lokohin ang mga Trojan, they devised this elaborate plan, na magiiwan sila ng isang wooden horse na malaki at hollow ang loob, kunyari din lalayag na sila palayo pero ilan pala sa select warriors nila kasama na si Achilles ay nasa loob lang ng Wooden horse na may secret exit way. Sa oras din na ipasok ang “gift of peace” na yun ng mga Trojan, saka sila lalabas ng gabi para buksan ang “mighty gates” ng Troy from the inside. Para di rin sirain ng mga Trojan ang regalong yun, iniwanan ng mga Greeks ng message na peace offering yun kay Diana na isa sa mga main patron gods ng siyudad na Troy. 
Nagbunyi ngayon ang mga Trojan. Siyempre ngarag ngarag at so sick and tired na rin sila sa napakatagal na giyera. For all they know, baka magkaapo na sila Helen at Paris ay di pa rin tapos ang gyera kaya nung nakita nila yung regalo, kahit may ilan ding nag warn na wag ngang ipasok o di kaya’y sunugin na lang sa labas ng Troy, the majority still threw caution to the wind and brought the gift inside. That very night, matapos ang Victory party nila sa The Fort, este sa The Troy pala, the Greek Soldiers opened and held the gate until makabalik na yung fleet na di naman lumayag malayo kundi nagtago lang sa gilid ng mainland. And so the great and mighty city of Troy fell from Greek trickery and cunning. Kaya nagkarun na rin ng saying na “don’t trust a greek bearing gift.” Na mention ni Sean Connery yun sa movie na “The Rock.” Generally it means to be suspicious of an enemy or an antagonist suddenly turning nice at may dala pang regalo. Pero ang pinakatimeless na phrase mula sa istorya na yun: “TROJAN HORSE.” It means a harmless thing pag nasa labas pero pag nakapasok na in any system, its main purpose is to destroy. Dun nagsimula yang terminong yan, sa napa ka ancient at historical na giyerang yun. Isa pa pala eh yung “Achilles heel,” which means “sole weakness.” Kasi di ba si Achilles sikat bilang indestructible fighter and warrior, a champion without fear, pero ang katapat nya lang pala ay one shot of arrow to his heels. Kaya yun ang tawag di lang sa anatomical part kundi pati na rin sa kahinaan ng isang tao. 
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Wheew! Sensya na kung makuwento, sana na lang may mainspire ako kahit ilan sa mga interesting stories na yan. Sana may maengganyong magbasa ng Greek mythology, napakagandang libangan ng pagbabasa kasi it broadens and sharpens the mind. I strongly recommend yung sinulat ni Edith Hamilton, title “Mythology.” Dyan lang sa Recto marami na eh. DI rin nauubusan ang National Bookstore ng stock nito. It was a phase in highschool kasi, this Mythology addiction. Dalawa kami ni Christian O. na classmate ko sa Olongapo sci high nun na laging nagkukuwentuhan at nakakatawa nga kasi siyempre pasikatan kaya kahit di ko pa nababasa yung parteng kinukuwento nya sinasabi ko na alam ko na hehehe.
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Tsaka di lang naman naman diyan sa kuwento na yan nagtatapos eh. Kumbaga eh pinapasarap ko pa muna ang blog para sa mga main entry. Naaalala nyo ba yung ginamit na Trojan horse sa mismong pelikulang Troy? Dito pala sa Dardanelles na shoot yung karamihan sa mga scene dun to lend it, ika nga, “a touch of reality” dahil nga dito ang possible historical site ng city of Troy. And the best part eh nandun pa pala yung Trojan horse na yun sa isang area dito at DADAANAN nga ng barko namin sa transit nga na to!!!!
Dahil natuwa yata sa pagiging good listener ko yung piloto (technique: kahit alam mo na karamihan sa sinasabi ng kausap mo, sabihin mo pa rin hindi pa. You will really be surprised dahil sooner or later meron pang sasabihin sa yo yung tao na interesting din at HINDI mo pa alam), nilapit nya ang passing ng barko sa dock area kung nasan nakalagay yung Hollywood version. Thank you ser!!! 
TADAH!!! Ayan may picture na ako na yun ang nasa background. Di man to ang original na Trojan horse, at least hawig naman kay Brad Pitt yung nasa background na opisyal! (Ang komontra may regalo sa kin, isang email na may Trojan Horse virus hehehe)
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I also composed this poem mga 2 years ago with matching pencil artwork hehehe (one of those boring night watches na walang magawa at open sea pa hehehe). Dedicated to my MarSe.
TROJAN HEART
George Anos
Could you be the Trojan horse,
To bypass the defences of my heart?
Let harmless acts of kindness, run a course,
Break all barriers, to the tiniest part
For once there was, a fancy conqueror,
With soldiers and horses, and tall banners,
In the stomping ground, there was such tremor,
She was fearful and bold, in all manners
She battered my strong gates, scaled my wall,
Rained upon me rocks, and fiery arrows,
My good soldiers, one by one came to fall,
There was much sorrow, on their death throes
Woe be my army, vanquished and beaten,
Torn apart in the blitz, of sudden attack,
All of them stood, until thoroughly smitten,
True warriors’ courage, they never did lack
So alas for me, I did surrender,
My forts and castle, and kingdom whole,
Lest all that remains, be torn asunder,
I gave her my all, from King to Fool
She took it all, and claimed as her own,
I played the Jester, upon her feet,
Settled herself, on my sorry throne,
Never did knew, my heart’s dead meat
At first it was easy, to her bend my knees,
For she was radiant, and beyond compare,
My woeful sorrows, she banished with a kiss
An empress divine, she was my lady fair
It came to pass, she turned a bad leaf,
Here acts were no more, of a fair sovereign,
She became hard, and wearyingly stiff
Upon us both settled, a palpable strain
I never realized, she had her sights,
To another domain, richer than mine,
Her inflamed passion, ebbed to dim lights
In her mind formed, a betrayer’s design
Then she announced, in my once great hall,
How she intends, to march once more,
To another conquest, ripe for the fall,
Greater things she said, lies for her in store
She assembled once more, her great army,
Mightier ever, than the one who came,
Her ranks has swelled, strengthened by the bounty,
Of my kingdom conquered, that she made tame
The dust she stirred, with abrupt departure,
Took the longest time, to finally settle,
A bitter-sweet moment, my life’s great torture,
But stand up I did, with my hard won mettle
Before her I thought, I’m consigned to be alone,
Live only for myself, without for others- care,
Never imagined, to foolish love I’d be prone
Now cruel melancholy, upon my face- stare
So it was that tragedy, which lead me finally,
Have another invasion, upon my lands-never,
To guard my boundaries, and bolster my army,
Let the pain in my heart, with cold fury- wither
The petty palisades of wood, are now of stone,
Upon ramparts are erected, many cannons strong,
Mighty swords sharpened, arrow-heads honed,
Wishing anger to sustain me, keep my vigil long
Much has been done, and more has been sought,
I promised to be mighty, not conquered futilely,
Often I be dismal, when I stare down my moat,
Need I be strong always, but eternally lonely?
Thence once these lonesome times, I look at you,
Saw a princess lovely, aloof and shy,
Could such beauty hold, a heart pure and true?
“No” I told myself, knowing full well I lie
Every moment then, are filled with longing,
For I knew you were special, a fragile innocence,
Could my night watch finally, see it’s morning?
But I won’t give up easy, what I built so far hence
To harsh self-flagellation, this denial has turned,
Fiercer heart-rending than, being left for a fool,
More formidable even, than all the days I mourned,
For rejection of affection, is now my first rule
Behind my quiet hard eyes, I ask you fervently,
Underneath my grim and dark façade, lies a question,
Hoping against hope, you will hear this mute plea,
Allow me once again, to breath Love’s desperation
Hear this entreaty, asked in silent despondency,
Words are not needed, Just feel my agony……
Could you be the Trojan horse,
To capture surreptitiously my heart?
Free me from this maddening curse,
Shatter this misery to the tiniest parts
George Anos
Could you be the Trojan horse,
To bypass the defences of my heart?
Let harmless acts of kindness, run a course,
Break all barriers, to the tiniest part
For once there was, a fancy conqueror,
With soldiers and horses, and tall banners,
In the stomping ground, there was such tremor,
She was fearful and bold, in all manners
She battered my strong gates, scaled my wall,
Rained upon me rocks, and fiery arrows,
My good soldiers, one by one came to fall,
There was much sorrow, on their death throes
Woe be my army, vanquished and beaten,
Torn apart in the blitz, of sudden attack,
All of them stood, until thoroughly smitten,
True warriors’ courage, they never did lack
So alas for me, I did surrender,
My forts and castle, and kingdom whole,
Lest all that remains, be torn asunder,
I gave her my all, from King to Fool
She took it all, and claimed as her own,
I played the Jester, upon her feet,
Settled herself, on my sorry throne,
Never did knew, my heart’s dead meat
At first it was easy, to her bend my knees,
For she was radiant, and beyond compare,
My woeful sorrows, she banished with a kiss
An empress divine, she was my lady fair
It came to pass, she turned a bad leaf,
Here acts were no more, of a fair sovereign,
She became hard, and wearyingly stiff
Upon us both settled, a palpable strain
I never realized, she had her sights,
To another domain, richer than mine,
Her inflamed passion, ebbed to dim lights
In her mind formed, a betrayer’s design
Then she announced, in my once great hall,
How she intends, to march once more,
To another conquest, ripe for the fall,
Greater things she said, lies for her in store
She assembled once more, her great army,
Mightier ever, than the one who came,
Her ranks has swelled, strengthened by the bounty,
Of my kingdom conquered, that she made tame
The dust she stirred, with abrupt departure,
Took the longest time, to finally settle,
A bitter-sweet moment, my life’s great torture,
But stand up I did, with my hard won mettle
Before her I thought, I’m consigned to be alone,
Live only for myself, without for others- care,
Never imagined, to foolish love I’d be prone
Now cruel melancholy, upon my face- stare
So it was that tragedy, which lead me finally,
Have another invasion, upon my lands-never,
To guard my boundaries, and bolster my army,
Let the pain in my heart, with cold fury- wither
The petty palisades of wood, are now of stone,
Upon ramparts are erected, many cannons strong,
Mighty swords sharpened, arrow-heads honed,
Wishing anger to sustain me, keep my vigil long
Much has been done, and more has been sought,
I promised to be mighty, not conquered futilely,
Often I be dismal, when I stare down my moat,
Need I be strong always, but eternally lonely?
Thence once these lonesome times, I look at you,
Saw a princess lovely, aloof and shy,
Could such beauty hold, a heart pure and true?
“No” I told myself, knowing full well I lie
Every moment then, are filled with longing,
For I knew you were special, a fragile innocence,
Could my night watch finally, see it’s morning?
But I won’t give up easy, what I built so far hence
To harsh self-flagellation, this denial has turned,
Fiercer heart-rending than, being left for a fool,
More formidable even, than all the days I mourned,
For rejection of affection, is now my first rule
Behind my quiet hard eyes, I ask you fervently,
Underneath my grim and dark façade, lies a question,
Hoping against hope, you will hear this mute plea,
Allow me once again, to breath Love’s desperation
Hear this entreaty, asked in silent despondency,
Words are not needed, Just feel my agony……
Could you be the Trojan horse,
To capture surreptitiously my heart?
Free me from this maddening curse,
Shatter this misery to the tiniest parts
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