SANDOSENANG SAPATOS | CHILDREN'S BOOK IN TAGALOG WITH ENGLISH/TAGALOG SUBTITLES SIEBZEHN SCHUHE | KINDERBUCH IN TAGALOG MIT ENGLISCHEN/TAGALOG-UNTERTITELN SEVENTEEN SHOES | CHILDREN'S BOOK IN TAGALOG WITH ENGLISH/TAGALOG SUBTITLES ZEVENTIEN SCHOENEN | KINDERBOEK IN TAGALOG MET ENGELS/TAGALOG ONDERTITELS

Sandosenang Sapatos A Dozen Pair of Shoes

Kuwento ni Luis Gatmaitan Story by Luis Gatmaitan

Guhit ni Beth Parrocha-Doctolero Illustrations by Beth Parrocha-Doctolero

(MUSIC) (MUSIC)

Sapatero si Tatay. My father was a shoemaker.

Kilalang-kilala ang mga likha niyang sapatos dito sa aming bayan. Shoes made by him were really famous in our town.

Marami ang pumupunta sa amin para magpasadya. A lot of people would come to us to have their shoes made.

Ayon sa mga sabi-sabi, tatalunin pa raw ng mga sapatos From what we heard, my father's shoes were so much better than the shoes made in Marikina.

ni Tatay ang mga sapatos na gawang-Marikina. Dad's shoes are made in Marikina.

Matibay, pulido, at malikhain ang mga disenyo ng kanyang mga sapatos. They were durable, the workmanship was really excellent, and their designs, truly creative!

"Paano mo ba naiisip ang ganyang mga istilo? Kay gaganda!" "Where on earth do you get your ideas for those styles? They're sooo pretty!"

"Siguro, dinadalaw ka ng musa ng mga sapatos at suwelas . . ." "Looks like the muse of shoes and soles comes and visits you . . ."

"Parang may madyik ang iyong kamay!" "You must have magic in your hands!"

Sa lahat ng papuri, matipid na ngingiti lamang si Tatay. With all these praises, my Tatay would only half smile.

Tahimik na tao si Tatay. Bihirang magsalita. He was a quiet man. He rarely ever spoke.

Lumaki ako sa piling ng mga sapatos na gawa ni Tatay. I grew up amidst all the many shoes my father made.

Madalas na kinaiinggitan ako ng mga kalaro at kaklase ko. My friends and classmates often wished they were in my shoes.

Buti raw at sapatero ang Tatay ko. They said I was lucky to have a shoemaker for a father.

Lagi tuloy bago ang sapatos ko kapag pasukan, kapag Pasko, kapag bertdey ko, o kung nakatanggap ako ng honors sa klase. Why, I always had a new pair for every occasion school opening, Christmas, my birthday, or when I was awarded class honors in school!

Ginagawan pa ako ng ekstrang sapatos ni Tatay kapag may mga tira-tirang balat at tela. My Tatay even made me extra pairs of shoes from left-over leather and fabric.

"Buti ka pa, Karina, laging bago ang sapatos mo. "I wish I were you, Karina. You always have new shoes.

Ako, lagi na lang pamana ng ate ko. I only wear the shoes that don't fit her anymore," complained one of my classmates.

Sa akin napupunta lahat ng pinagliitan n'ya," himutok ng isang kaklase. Everything that he belittled goes to me," shouted a classmate.

Nasa Grade 2 na ako nang muling magbuntis si Nanay. I was in the second grade when my mother became pregnant again.

Kay tagal naming hinintay na magkaroon ako ng kapatid. We'd waited so long to have another baby in the family.

Sabi ng lola ko, sinagot na raw ang matagal nilang panalangin na masundan ako. My lola said that their prayers for me to have a kid brother or sister had been answered.

"Naku, magkakaroon na pala ako ng kahati sa mga sapatos! "Oh, pretty soon I will have someone to share my shoes with.

Pero di bale, dalawa na kaming igagawa ni Tatay ng sapatos ngayon." But that's okay, I know my father will always do enough shoes for both of us."

Habang nasa tiyan pa si baby, narinig kong nag-uusap sina Tatay at Nanay. When the baby was still in my mother's tummy, I heard my mother and my father talking.

"Nagpa-check-up ako kanina. Sabi ng doktora, babae raw ang magiging anak natin!" "I just had my check-up. My doctor said our baby is going to be a girl!"

"Talaga! Kung babae nga, pag-aralin natin ng ballet. "That's great! If she's a girl, we'll have her take up ballet lessons.

Gusto kong magkaroon ng anak na ballet dancer! I'd really like to have a ballet dancer in the family!

Ngayon pa lang ay pag-aaralan ko nang gumawa ng mga sapatos na pang-ballet," sabi ni Tatay. From now on, I am going to start learning how to make ballet shoes," Tatay said.

Pero hindi lahat ng pangarap ni Tatay ay natupad. But not all of my father's dreams could come true.

Nagulat kaming lahat nang makita ang bago kong kapatid. When we saw my baby sister for the first time, we were all so shocked.

Wala itong paa! She had no feet!

Ipinanganak na putol ang dalawang paa! It was as though her two feet had been cut off!

Nakarinig kami ng kung anu-anong tsismis dahil sa kapansanan ng kapatid ko. The rumors began to spread. Because my sister was sort of deformed, people were saying a lot of nasty things.

Siguro raw ay binalak na ipalaglag ni Nanay ang kapatid ko kaya kulang-kulang ang parte ng katawan. Some said maybe my mother tried to get rid of her that's why her body parts were incomplete.

Nilusaw raw ng mga mapinsalang gamot ang kanyang mga paa. Or my mother might have taken some harmful pills and those pills melted my sister's feet.

Isinumpa raw ng mga diwata ng sapatos si Tatay dahil mahal na itong sumingil sa mga pasadyang sapatos. Or the shoe spirits cursed my father because he raised the prices for his shoes.

O baka raw ipinaglihi si Susie sa manika. Or maybe my mother had an unusual liking for a doll while pregnant.

"Nanay, bakit po ba walang paa si Susie?" "Nanay, why doesn't Susie have feet?"

"Nagkaroon kasi ako ng impeksyon, anak. "I had this infection, anak . . I caught German measles while your sister was growing in my tummy.

Nahawa ako ng German measles habang ipinagbubuntis ko pa lang ang kapatid mo. I contracted German measles while I was pregnant with your sister.

At . . . iyon ang naging epekto," malungkot na kuwento ni Nanay. And well . . . the effect was that . . ." my mother narrated sadly.

Hindi na magiging ballet dancer ang kapatid ko. My sister will never be a ballet dancer then.

Malulungkot si Tatay. Tatay will be very disappointed.

Araw-araw, ganu'n ang naiisip ko kapag nakikita ko na walang mga paa si Susie. I had this thought every day, every time I'd see Susie without her feet.

Kaya pinilit ko si Nanay na pag-aralin ako sa isang ballet school (dati kasi, ayaw kong mag-ballet). That's why I decided to persuade Nanay to enroll me in a ballet school even if I didn't really like ballet.

Pero ... "Misis, bakit hindi n'yo po subukang i-enrol si Karina sa piano, o sa painting, o sa banduria class? But ... "Wife, why don't you try to enroll Karina in piano, or in painting, or in banduria class?

Hindi yata talagang para sa kanya ang pagsasayaw," sabi ng titser ko sa ballet sa Nanay ko. I guess dancing isn't really for her," my ballet teacher told my Mom.

Nalungkot ako. I really felt very let down.

Hindi para sa akin, kundi para kina Tatay at Susie, at sa mga pangarap na masyadong mailap. Not for myself but for my Tatay and Susie, and for all the elusive dreams that could never come true.

Saksi ako kung paanong minahal si Susie nina Tatay at Nanay. I felt and saw how my father and mother loved Susie.

Walang puwedeng manloko kay Bunso. They were always ready to keep her from harm.

Minsan, habang kami ay nagpipiknik sa parke, may isang mama na nakakita kay Susie. Once while we were on a picnic at the park, there was this guy who saw Susie.

"Tingnan n'yo o, puwedeng pangkarnabal 'yung bata!" "Look, the kid can be a carnival!"

At itinuro nito si Susie. And it pointed to Susie.

Biglang namula si Tatay sa narinig. My father turned red.

Tumikom ang mga kamao. He clenched his fist.

Noon ko lang nakitang nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Tatay. That was the first time I ever saw his eyebrows meet.

"Ano'ng problema mo, ha?" He almost hit the guy.

Muntik na niyang suntukin ang lalaki. "What's your problem?"

Mabuti't na pigilan siya ni Nanay. A good thing my mother stopped him just in time.

Isang gabi, habang nakahiga kami sa kama, narinig kong kinakausap ni Tatay si Susie. While in bed one night, I heard Tatay talking to Susie.

"Anak, hindi baleng kulang ang mga paa mo. "Anak, feet or no feet, your Nanay and I love you very much.

Mahal na mahal ka namin ng Nanay mo. Your Mom and I love you so much.

Alam naming espesyal ka sa mata ng Diyos. You are special in the eyes of God.

Mas mahalaga sa amin na lumaki kang mabuting tao ... at buo ang tiwala sa sarili." What's important to us is that you grow up to be a good person, believing in yourself."

Masuyo niya itong hinalikan. He kissed her warmly.

Hindi tumigil si Tatay sa paglikha ng sapatos para sa akin. Father never stopped making shoes for me.

Pero napansin ko, kapag sinusukatan niya ang paa ko, napapabuntong-hininga siya. But I could tell that each time he measured my feet, his eyes drifted towards my sister's crib.

Pagkatapos ay titingin sa kuna. Then look at the crib.

"Sayang, Bunso, di mo mararanasang isuot ang magagarang sapatos na gawa ni Tatay ." bulong ko sa kanya. "Too bad, bunso, you have never known how it feels like to wear the beautiful shoes our Tatay makes . " I whispered to her.

Lumaki kami ni Susie na malapit ang loob sa isa't isa. Susie and I were really close as we grew up.

Hindi naging hadlang ang kawalan niya ng paa para makapaglaro kami. It never mattered to me that she had no feet. That never stopped us from playing together.

Marami namang laro na di nangangailangan ng paa. We found a lot of games that didn't need the use of feet, anyway.

Lagi nga niya akong tinatalo sa sungka, jackstone, scrabble, at pitik-bulag. She always beat me in 'sungka', jackstone, scrabble and 'pitik-bulag'.

Ako ang tagapagtanggol niya kapag may nanunukso sa kanya. I took it upon myself to be her defender from all teasers.

Ako ang tagatulak ng wheelchair niya. Her wheelchair pusher.

Ako ang ate na alalay! Her 'ate' assistant!

Noon ko natuklasan na marami kaming pagkakatulad. That was when I realized my sister and I were alike in so many ways.

Parehong mas magaling ang aming mga kamay kaysa aming mga paa. We were both better with our hands than with our feet.

Ako, sa pagpipinta. Siya, sa pagsusulat ng mga kuwento. l was good in painting. And she is good in writing stories.

At oo nga pala, si Tatay, kamay rin ang magaling sa kanya! And oh, our Tatay was also good with his hands!

Minsan, ginising ako ni Susie. Susie once woke me up to tell me about her dream:

Sabi niya, nanaginip siya ng isang pambihirang sapatos. About a most unusual pair of shoes that looked so good on her feet.

Napakaganda raw nito sa kanyang mga paa. It is said to be very beautiful on her feet.

May paa siya sa panaginip? gulat na tanong ko sa sarili. She has feet in her dream? I wondered to myself.

"Maniwala ka, Ate, kay ganda ng sapatos sa panaginip ko. "Believe me, Ate, I dreamed of a beautiful pair of shoes.

Kulay dilaw na tsarol na may dekorasyong sunflower sa harap!" It's made of yellow patent leather adorned with a sunflower up front!"

Magbebertdey siya noon. That was when she was about to celebrate her birthday.

At napansin ko, tuwing nalalapit na ang kanyang kaarawan, nananaginip siya ng mga sapatos. What I noticed was, whenever --her birthday was drawing near, she would always dream of shoes.

"Ate, nanaginip na naman ako ng sapatos. "Ate, I dreamed of another pair of shoes.

Kulay pula ito na velvet at may malaking buckle sa tagiliran." It's made of red velvet with a big side buckle!"

Binanggit din niya sa akin ang sapatos na kulay asul na bukas ang dulo at litaw ang mga daliri ng paa niya. She also told me about the open-toed blue shoes with her own toes peeping through.

Ang sapatos na puti na may kaunting takong at may ribbon na pula. The white shoes with tiny heels and red bow.

Ang sapatos na yari sa maong na may burdang buwan at mga bituin. The denim shoes embroidered with the moon and stars.

Ang sandalyas na parang lambat. The sandals that looked like a fishnet.

Ang kulay-lilang sapatos na may nakadikit na bilog na kristal sa harap. The purple shoes with a round crystal attached near the toe.

Manghang-mangha ako sa kung paanong natatandaan niya maski ang pinakamaliliit na detalye ng mga sapatos — It never ceased to amaze me at how she could remember even the tiniest detail of the shoes in her dreams

ang disenyong bulaklak, ribbon, butones, sequins, beads, o buckle. the flowers, ribbons, buttons, sequins, beads, or buckles.

Inaangkin niya ang mga sapatos na 'yon. And she thought of these shoes like they were her very own.

"Ate, paglaki ko, susulat ako ng mga kuwento tungkol sa mga sapatos na napapanaginipan ko. "Ate, when I grow up, I am going to write a story about all the shoes in my dreams.

Ikaw ang magdo-drawing, ha?" And you'll draw them for me, okay?"

Paglipas pa ng ilang taon, namahinga na si Tatay sa paggawa ng mga sapatos. After a few years, my father retired from making shoes,

Gumagawa na lamang siya ng sapatos para sa mga suking di matanggihan. except for the orders from his loyal customers he simply couldn't refuse.

Noong nagdaos siya ng kaarawan, niregaluhan ko siya ng isa kong painting na may When he celebrated his birthday, my gift to him was one of my paintings

nakapintang isang pares ng maugat na kamay na lumilikha ng sapatos. a pair of heavily veined hands making shoes.

Binigyan naman siya ni Susie ng isang music box na may sumasayaw na ballet dancer. Susie gave him a small music box with a ballerina.

"Pinasaya n'yo ang Tatay n'yo," sabi ni Nanay. "You made your father very happy," Nanay said.

Pagkatapos noon, naging sakitin na si Tatay. Shortly after that, Tatay became sickly.

Labindalawang taon si Susie nang pumanaw si Tatay. Susie was twelve when finally he left us all for good.

Isang araw, hindi sinasadya'y napagawi ako sa bodega. One day, I happened to wander to the "bodega",

Naghahalungkat ako ng mga lumang sapatos na puwedeng ipamigay sa mga bata sa bahay-ampunan. looking for old shoes that I could donate to the orphanage.

Sa pagha-halughog, nabuksan ko ang isang kahong mukhang matagal nang hindi nagagalaw. While searching, I found a box that looked as though it hadn't been touched for sometime.

Naglalaman ito ng maliliit na kahon. Opening it, I found several small shoe boxes neatly piled on top of each other!

Mga kahon ng sapatos na maingat na nakasalansan! Carefully stacked shoe boxes!

Para kanino ang mga sapatos? May umorder ba na hindi nai-deliver? tanong ko sa sarili. Who owns these shoes? Are they undelivered orders? I asked myself.

Pero nang masdan ko ang mga pares ng sapatos na 'yon, nagulat ako. But when I looked closely at all the shoes, I was startled.

Taglay ng mga sapatos ang pinakamahuhusay na disenyo ni Tatay. They were my father's best creations in wonderful designs.

Iba-iba ang sukat ng mga ito. And they came in different sizes.

May sapatos na pang-baby. There was a pair of baby shoes.

May sapatos na pambinyag. Baptismal shoes.

May pampasyal. May pampasok sa eskuwelahan. Leisure shoes. School shoes.

May pansimba. May sapatos na pang-dalagita. Church shoes. Party shoes.

Lalo akong nagulat nang mabasa ang kanyang dedication sa nakasabit na papel: I was even more startled when I read the dedication written on a small tag.

Para sa pinakamamahal kong Susie, Alay sa kanyang unang kaarawan. For my dearest Susie, On her first birthday

Inisa-isa ko ang mga kahon. I peered inside the boxes one at a time.

Lahat ng sapatos na nandoon ay para kay Susie. Every single pair of shoes was for Susie.

Diyata't iginagawa ni Tatay si Susie ng mga sapatos? My father had been making shoes for Susie all this time!

Para kay Susie, lugod ng aking buhay, Sa pagsapit niya ng ikapitong kaarawan. For Susie, joy of my life, As she celebrates her seventh birthday

Taon-taon, hindi pumalya si Tatay sa paglikha ng sapatos sa tuwing magdaraos ng kaarawan si Susie. Year after year, my father never missed making a pair of shoes for Susie on her birthday.

Sandosenang sapatos lahat-lahat!! One dozen shoes all in all!

Handog sa mahal kong bunso, Sa kanyang ika-12 kaarawan. Specially for my dearest bunso, On the occasion of her twelfth birthday.

Napaiyak ako nang makita ko ang mga sapatos. I burst out crying when I saw the shoes.

Hindi ko akalaing ganu'n pala kalalim magmahal si Tatay. I hadn't realized till then how deep Tatay's love was.

Binitbit ko ang sandosenang sapatos at ipinakita ko kina Nanay at Susie. I brought the twelve pairs of shoes to my mother and Susie.

"H-Hindi ko alam na may ginawa siyang sapatos para sa 'yo, Susie." Namuo ang luha sa mga mata ni Nanay. "I-I had no idea that your father had been making shoes for you, Susie," tears formed in my mother's eyes.

"Inilihim niya sa akin ang mga sapatos ..." "He kept it a secret from me .

"A-Ate, ito ang mga sapatos na napanaginipan ko ..." "A-Ate, these are the shoes I dreamed about . . ."

Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Susie habang isa-isang hinahaplos ang mga sapatos. Susie couldn't believe her eyes as she caressed each shoe.

"Ha?" Noon ko lang naalala ang mga sapatos na ikinukuwento ni Susie. "Oh?!" Suddenly, I remembered all the shoes that Susie had described to me in the past.

Dilaw na tsarol na may dekorasyong sunflower sa harap. Yellow patent leather shoes with sunflower up front.

Kulay pulang velvet na may malaking buckle sa tagiliran. Red velvet shoes with a big side buckle.

Asul na sapatos na bukas ang dulo at litaw ang mga daliri. Blue open-toed shoes with her own toes peeping through.

Kulay puti na may kaunting takong at may ribbon na pula. White shoes with tiny heels and a red bow.

Sapatos na yari sa maong na may burdang buwan at mga bituin. Denim shoes embroidered with the moon and stars.

Sandalyas na parang lambat. Sandals that looked like a fish net.

Kulay lilang sapatos na may nakadikit na bilog na kristal sa harap. Purple shoes with a round crystal near the toe.

Naisip ko, tinawid kaya ng pag-ibig ni Tatay ang mga panaginip ni Susie pare maipasuot sa kanya ang mga sapatos? In my mind I thought, did my father's love cross over, reaching out to Susie's dreams so she could wear the shoes he made for her?

Hindi ko tiyak. I am not sure.

Ang tiyak ko lang, hindi perpekto ang buhay na ito. What I'm sure about is that, life isn't perfect.

Gaya ng hindi perpekto ang pagkakalikha sa kapatid ko. Just look at the way my sister was created.

Pero may mga perpektong sandali. But there are perfect moments.

Gaya ng mga sandaling nililikha ni Tatay ang mga pinakamagagarang sapatos.... Like the moments when my father created the most beautiful shoes....

..para kay Susie. ....for Susie.