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