the grating voices of neighbors unsuccessfully singing Celine Dion ballads
the monotonous mechanical humming of the metal factory
the squealing of housewives watching an afternoon soap opera
the blaring siren of a firetruck racing with tragedy
the clunks and clangs of a nearby construction site
the roaring of the engine of an overloaded jeepney
the chiming of laughter from kids playing in the streets
the calls of the street vendor peddling sugary cotton candy
the whining of the dog begging to run around outside
*this is the music of life in the outskirts of the city

baka hindi niya na nakayanan
ang init at hirap ng araw-araw na buhay,
o baka nalason na siya sa usok
na binibuga ng mga mabahong mekanismo.
baka siya'y basta lang nalulumbay.
kung magdamag mo ba namang
panoorin ang mundo at ang mga tao
tiyak,
malulungkot ka rin.
'di kaya nasaktan siya kasi
hindi mo na raw siya pinapansin?
siya'y nagpaayos at nagpaganda;
nakapustura pa naman siya sa isang
kumikinang na bughaw na bistida
pero hindi pa rin iyon sapat
para mabihag ang iyong tingin,
kahit man lang isang silip.

umiyak si Langit maghapon
at 'di ko mapigilang itanong kung bakit.
sinamahan ko siya at
baka sakaling siya'y tumahan na.
hinandugan ko rin siya ng isang munting ngiti.
naisip ko lang na
baka makatulong iyon
sa pagbalik ng kanyang liwanag muli.
binulungan ko siya ng isang sikreto,
isang sigaw ng aking puso
"anuman ang iyong kulay
ang dilag mo ay kabighabighani
kaya lubos kitang minamahal,
aking panghabangbuhay na kaibigan,
Langit"

the disease has already spread to your eyes
where its innocent twinkles have now been replaced
by a blazing fire of passion.
   it has reached your hands and feet
and has caused them to be horrified of inactivity.
   it has gotten so worse that the disease has also spread to your
lungs, where every breath
heart, where every beat and
mind, where every neuron is
for your dream and
by the hope that you have.
  
   i think that the virus is highly contagious
because now
i too am infected.
    it consumed my body
and has caused me to be
so sick
of the selfish and superficial
life that i once was living.
  
we are diagnosed with the dreamers disease and
no dosage of discouragement can cure us.
it has conquered our lives and together
we will start a pandemic
and conquer society.