Isa kang manunula na karapat-dapat
magmahal at maging masaya.
Isa kang tula
Na may angking ganda
Na minsan ay hindi maintindihan
Kung hindi nilalaan ang oras upang pag-isipan

Minsan pinupuna ng iba
Dahil hindi sila nito pinapasaya
Hindi nila alam
Paano mahalin ang tula
Tanggapin ang lahat ng tayutay at salita nito
Na hindi na kailangan ng kapalit o salitang panibago

Wag kang makinig sa kanila
Ikaw ang tula at manunula
Ikaw ang may hawak ng sarili **** istorya
Ikaw ang magdedesisyon sa bawat salita, linya o stanza
Yakapin mo ang sarili **** ganda
Hindi mo kailangang patunayan ang sarili mo sa iba

Ako’y tanging nagbabasa lamang
Nagmamahal at nagsusuporta
Kung kakailanganin **** humiram ng ilang salita mula sa akin
Wag kang magdalawang-isip na ako’y kausapin
Alam kong balang-araw, malayo ang iyong mararating
Kung hindi ka naniniwala, magtiwala ka lamang sa akin

It took so long
For my house to be built
I lay the foundation
Of course I couldn't do it
If I was alone
I sought help from others
Called my entire neighborhood
To lend a hand
To put up the pillars
As well as the walls
To strengthen my home
Make it my own
I put up a roof
To protect me from the rain

But some days just come
When the droplets penetrate
The roof is not enough
To shelter me
Some days just come
When a match can set my home on fire
A careless remark
A hateful comment
Swiftly burning
The home I carefully built

It will take some time
To mend what is broken
Or rebuild my home
From the ground to the top
But I never abandon it
I never give up

Words at the tip of my tongue
At the nib of my pen
Refusing to step outside
And see the light of day
I nudge them a little
Encourage them to see the world
They don't have to be perfect,
They just need to be my vessel
My messenger
To contain and carry my thoughts
I just need someone
Or even something else to know

I don't force them outside
If they refuse to obey
I just **** them gently
Day by day
A scribble at a time
Until the words tumble out
Ready to come outside
Each step easier than the last
Tripping less often than they used to

Maybe on some days
The words become more stubborn
Revert back to their old ways
Refusing to be written
But it's alright
They just need a break
Give them some time
And they'll get back to their groove
Words dancing on paper
In perfect harmony
In sync with the rhythm
Of what my heart
Wants the world to read

They said the world would end in the year 2012
And called it doomsday
They said that the sky would collapse on itself
That humankind’s existence would end
But 2012 came and life went on
I don’t know if mankind is cursed or blessed to have lived this long
Cursed to have seen man’s demise
Cursed to have witnessed the beauty of nature
As it fades away, one forest at a time
Or blessed to have received many chances
To right past wrongs
Blessed to always receive forgiveness
Without constant improvement
Sometimes I wonder
Will 2012 come 8 years later?

Inihahalintulad nila ang katawan ng tao
Sa templo
Sagrado
Dapat ingatan
Sang-ayon ako
Hindi ba iyon ang dahilan
Kung bakit ika’y niluluhuran
Sinasamba
Kung makasalanan man ang gawin ito
Kusa ko nang iaalay
Ipagpapaubaya
Ang kaluluwa
Sa kaibuturan ng impyerno

Kapag sinabi ko ang panghalip na “siya”
Hindi malalaman kung babae o lalaki ang tinutukoy
Mahal kong wika
Tanging panangga
Ang nagtatago ng sikreto

Kaya kitang gawan ng tula
Walang makaaalam ng lihim na tinatago

I always hated the scorching heat
Summer always brought
I could never escape it

The undesirable feeling
That came along
Was the kind of warmth

That was too warm
And uncomfortable
As the heat engulfed my body

In an embrace
I could not free myself from
Not allowing me to function

Travelling the span of my entire body
Like critters all over my skin
Leaving me soaked in sweat

You were the cool breeze
That pressed against my forehead
An angel passing through

In this free trial of hell
I don’t know if you’ll leave
Seconds after arrival

But I thank you
All the same
For the comfort you bring

At least
For a little while
I had a taste of heaven