By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

 

THROUGHOUT history, the written word, including poetry, has proven to be a powerful weapon for change. It has been used to “express dissent, inspire action, and preserve the memory of those who have been silenced or forgotten.” Poetry can challenge injustice, encourage reflection, and eventually usher in action.

For this reason, the Asia-Pacific Ecopoetree Festival (EcoPoetree Festival) is launching “Smelling Jasmines”, an effort to enjoin poets and writers to write about the question, “Where to, Philippines?

The title is inspired by the scent of jasmines, which I smell while on a brisk walk, out of nowhere, even when there are no flowers in sight. This mystic experience I consider a divine visitation, a gentle prodding. In some countries, there is a cultural belief that the scent of jasmine is also associated with spiritual energies. Smelling jasmines at this time is a call to action from our forebears and divine guides.

The Tunisian Revolution, popularly called the Jasmine Revolution, sparked the broader Arab Spring uprisings. Named after jasmine, Tunisia’s national flower and symbol, the revolution was a series of protests “against police corruption and was fueled by widespread frustration over unemployment, poverty, and corruption.” These street demonstrations led to the ousting of longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

“Smelling Jasmines” intends to “keep alive” discussions on evolving a collective vision for pro-people development that puts at the center the systemic eradication of corruption and institutionalizing accountability at all levels of government, including a directed effort to curb the greed of dynasties and their tentacles who control our economy and natural resources, especially our basic necessities like water.

Part of the initiative is to repost excerpts from poems and essays by the arts and culture community (composed from 06 August 2025) in various media outlets, including at the EcoPoetree Festival group page, and under my column, G Spot.

Here, I am publishing a poem written by Connie Lopez- Madarang entitled, “In the House We Built (A Three-Part Reflection on Betrayal, Silence and Consequence). On the first part of the poem, the poet poses a question:

“. . . .

What happened, Philippines?/ You were once a song in our marrow,/ a dream cradled in every street corner,/ in every mother’s hope./ Now, you lie cracked,/ your spine, the Constitution,/ trampled by boots/ polished with twisted values./ Now, you wear a mask carved from smoke/ and stolen budgets.”

The poem is long, and the last lines exhorts the readers to act:  . . . . “So rise, you many still unheard,/ prop up the brave who dared — / call power out from its fortress high/ and speak what must be shared./ For silence is no refuge now;/ the reckoning shall come./Speak, even if your voice trembles./ Speak, not just in protest,/ but in purpose./ For the House that we built/ will not stand/ unless rebuilt/ by all those brave enough/ to name the truth/ out loud.”

Please submit your write-ups and/or compositions under the Subject: Smelling Jasmines to:  vjpasalo@gmail.com

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