Dumarao – teen and adult abode
Where memories are both good and bad
My gratefulness when I received from thee
School honor garnered unexpectedly
But in exchange I got few friends only
Who later dwindled ‘til I was lonely
Our improved house resembling a prison
My routine changed, I was in derision
The field not ours was developed further
Without buying it from the landowner
Father’s money were quickly exhausted
Everynight’s like party – glasses toasted
Foods that we should eat – to animals fed
Chickens, pigs, pigeons, goats…later were dead
So there emerged our sari-sari store
Which I needed also to take care for
Time for fun, highschool gimmicks – missed a lot
To redeem my lost school honor I plot
Yet, all in vain, worse, my batch had fallen
In school competitions where we should win
After all, tragic OLSI memory
Taught me never again to be bossy
And when I was already in UP
My vow in life was full humility
On class days, I learned a lot in Miagao
On weekends, I went back to Dumarao
Where life was still and moving in slow pace
So when I thought I was behind the race
Worked even before I marched from college
On government office even low wage
Not disappointed, but discontented
To Metro Manila I bravely fled
Tutor in Korean Academy
Not fired, not resigned, left job abruptly
At those times of blatant stupidity
To home once again with my family
Maybe fate wants me to be here
Dumarao’s love for me may be sincere
And I think I’m also loving thee now
If our love fails again, there’s broken vow
Now, your weakness I slowly understand
My test of faith I patiently withstand.
-11/27/2011
(Dumarao)
*First Incubus Collection
My Poem No. 70