Never measure love with virginity,
true love
is accepting flaws.

Milyun-milyong mga blankong mukha,
pipintahan,  
papahiran ng pintora
ang iba’t ibang kastilyo ng pangarap.

Subalit sa paglipas ng panahon
ang mga kastilyong ito’y rurupok,
at sa isang ihip ng hangin  
ay pwede ‘tong gibain.  

Masasanay kang matalo,
para sa atin ‘tong mundo.
Para sa atin,
hindi para sa kanila,
kailanman hindi ‘to masasakop
ng mga mapapait na luha.  

Nasanay ka na sa panonood
ng mga teleserye o pelikulang
kung ano ang theme song
ay ‘yon din ang pamagat.  

Nasanay ka nang mag-abang
sa paiba-ibang kulay na buhok
ni Vice Ganda, o ni Yeng Constantino,
ang umasa rin sa paiba-ibang desisyon
ng mga tao sa paligid mo.

Nasanay ka nang magmahal ang gasolina,
at iba pang mga bilihin  
ngunit hindi ang magmahal ng totoo,  
dahil takot kang masaktan ulit,
ang iwanan, o umasa ulit,
sa isang relasyong pang-post lang
sa FB, IG o Twitter,
‘yong pang-“#relationshipgoals” lang,
nasanay ka na pero takot ka pa rin.  

Nasanay ka na sa mga surprise quiz.
Sa exams. Sa reporting. Sa thesis.
Sa Singko, INC, Withdraw o Drop.
Sa pag-jaywalking,
dahil late na naman sa 7:30 AM class.  
Sa paulit-ulit na sorry.  
Sa paulit-ulit ding pagpapatawad.
Sa paghahanap ng ka-red string.
Sa paghahanap ng ka-forever.
Sa mabagal na internet.
Sa job interview. Sa gobyerno.    

Masasanay ka ring matalo
dahil ganito ang konsepto ng mundo.
Patitikman ka muna ng pagkabigo,
bago ka ulit maging buo.      

Baka rin bukas-makalawa
maiisipan mo nang mag-aral ng mabuti  
at iwasang ang usapang mabote,
ang bumangon ng maaga
at hindi papatayin ang naka-set na alarm,
ang maging totoo
sa taong nagmamahal sa ‘yo,
o kaya subukang ipa-Photoshop
ang 2x2 picture mo sa resume
para sa paparating na job interview.  

Masasanay ka ring matalo,
masasanay ka rin sa mga peklat mo sa puso.
Dahil hindi ito matatapalan
ng pulga-pulgadang concealer ng Maybelline,
o kahit ubusin mo pa
ang stock sa AVON, sa Watson, sa HBC, o sa Lazada.  

Kaya tanggapin mo na lang  
na ang buhay ay puno ng pagkatalo,
dahil sa huli para sa atin din naman ang mundo,
kaya wala kang dahilan para sumuko,
dahil ang sumusuko lang ang natatalo,
at ang hindi takot sumubok ulit
ang tunay na panalo.

Beautiful sunsets,
make me reminisce the past;
footprints in the sand.

Rejection is a grim reminder,
so I hide my feelings deep within.
If you only knew
I’ve been dying
to grasp just one moment
to talk to you.

I can see you from afar,
I just can’t seem to go near.
My heart is terrified
of irrational thoughts
that might lead me to tears.

You’re waiting for superman,
the one who hurt you.
Thinking,
he can still save you from pain,
yet you never realized
my existence.

I can’t fly you
to distant places
and offer everything
your eyes desires.
But I’m not afraid
of kryptonite,
I’m just afraid of losing you.

They say, to love
is a greatest sacrifice
and to be loved
is a greatest gift.
I guess,
I will be just here
waiting for you too.

I endured the pain in the battlefield as a soldier,
Keeping my promises of returning at any haste.
That day, I would be coming home to marry her:
No moments left to shatter, or time left to waste.

A woman that all eyes of men are worthy to see,
Mona Lisa, a lovely name engraved in my scars.
In the train, I reckoned the memories so silently;
Our love has no ends, it was written in the stars.

An advent of a man’s burning pleasure for love,
I knocked the door, but silence whispered fear.
I entered; I found a painting on the stairs above;
An enticing self-portrait of Mona Lisa, my dear.

The dusk was painted by the colors of her smile,
I… I… I saw her with another man in the dark!
I traveled for miles only to witness that betrayal
Of her and bestfriend Leonardo, making a spark.

Bloodstained walls, caused by my troubled guns;
(She sewed my heart and then rent it into pieces).
I… I… I did **** them with my begrimed hands!
Should I cry for the sullen load of those britches?

Money can buy a house, but not a home,
she can feed one's lust, but not one's love
she can give everything that you wanted
but not everything you need.

Money can't invade all the things in this world;
don't let her control us, for we have better minds,
she might nail you into the zenith of success
but with friends taken away.

Unraveling views emanated from a glaring Light,
Silhouetted rainbows were of colors of black and white;
Trying to dis-remember the past on living in a lonely gray,
And my knees convey all of my solemn apologies.

Take me with you, my Lord, and I shall be healed;
Your every word kisses the pain from afar — I kneel.
You will be a fortress, and I will be safe on your massive walls,
And my knees convey all of my solemn apologies.

In Your undying Arms, I found my refuge and strength,
I will behold — though this ransomed world will be shaken;
I will stay — though mountains will be carried into the sea,
And my knees convey all of my solemn apologies.

Jesus, You ceased the waging war between myself,
I am a sinner; confusions parched the rivers of my beliefs,
Yet I came to you, kneeling, with broken vows and promises,
And my knees convey all of my solemn apologies.

Forgive me my Savior.

I behold no ordinary affection dissembles on your eyes,
And I shall take you, dear, to the paradise;
I once dreamed of you, now you are my reality
For you are every woman in the world to me.

Our language diverged for one word we call, love;
And I love you; always will, and always have.
Never that smile will die on your rosy lips
For everything is perfect when you came.

Time  has no meaning if I do not have you here,
And forever, I will fill the gaps of your fingers,
No reason for us to walk on separate ways
For I will be the wind on your broken wings.

I behold no ordinary affection dissembles on your eyes,
And I shall take you, dear, to the paradise;
You are now a castle built on my brain
For you are every woman in the world to me.

futile words might engrave pains
but
can freeze the flame

Now I’m drawn to looking at her pictures,
whispering words; I do really miss her.
She doesn’t know how much I do,
but I have to hide my feelings then;
I could have told her that I like her this much,
suddenly this heart of mine always refrains.
So crazy as it sounds, so crazy as it seems,
so crazy, yes! I’m crazy falling out for her;
but I want to send her my kisses and hugs,
just in case, she might still be needing my love.
I want her to know how much I treasure her,
with all those memories we spent together;
but there’s no chance at all, indeed
for maybe her feelings for me has already faded.
If only I could bring back the way were before,
if only I had never left her lost in the woods,
if only I was the one who made her smile when she was sad,
if only  I could still be the one she ever loved…
…only if…only if…only if….