For a toddler, it is just an excitement
For a student, it is like a burden
For a researcher, it is divine as God
For a job seeker, it is like a weapon
For a teacher, it is like a holy book
For a writer, it is a passion to thrive
For a parent, it is everything with a diverse experience
For a job holder, it is his rewards for his education
and proud moment for his parents

And current scenario
is the most
blessed era,
Where
women and men
are provided
equal education,
Even though
some narrow mindsets
are still living,
Who never
accept
women as working
for many reasons,
But let’s
challenge those
and work
for the betterment of
Yourself,
Your family and
Your nation
To attain the
impossibilities
with your
limited situations
To change the world
with your
best knowledge
To brighten
the paths of
all pathfinders
To live with
dignity
And self esteem
By making it a
fruitful tree of
every education
That you received
for which
every parent
struggled a lot
Even when
surrounded with
the chain of
thousands of
commitment
of day today life.

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yesterday i bought a long distance calling card to talk to myself
there, not here, my body straddles two nations
yesterday i rubbed my fading purple stretch marks
i don’t know which language I dream in any more  
yesterday i sat in cold bathwater scrubbing until the purpura bleed
my mothers’ mothers’ mother died in a red river
my mothers mother’s mother birthed a nation
between her bleeding legs
most days I am still, her water’s edge, algae between teakwood toes
yesterday i bought a long distance calling card to tell myself

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Magsasampung taon na kitang mahal, mahal.
(I've been in love with you for almost ten years, love)
Ang tigas na siguro ng mga binti mo kakatakbo mo sa isipan ko.
(You're thigh muscles toughened bec you always run on my mind)
Pero mas masaya sana kung alam mo, mahal, na mahal kita.
(But I could be happier, love, if you just know that i love you.)
Pero di pa, di ko pa kayang sabihin sayo, baka siguro balang araw, kapag lahat ay huli na.
(But no, i still cant tell you, maybe someday, someday when its all too late.)

Born in a place that I don't call home
Raised in a country foreign to Mom
Stained with the colors of different flags
My soul and my heart: in different lands

"Where are you from?" So simple a question
Yet always I answer with such hesitation
For how do I choose from different parts
Of the whole that is me and my colorful heart?

The answer is simple, not complex at all
It's simply a matter of wearing them all
So I'll show them all proudly: my beautiful hues
For I've finally realized I don't have to choose

All of my best
(And worst) thoughts
Can be traced
Back to a foreign city
Where I walked the streets
Alone, at night

We're here now,
and theres more than the two of us.
But there's one feeling, and the same ache
yet different struggles
- * -
We all think the same things,
yet in different tongues.
The histories do not include us.
Our taste buds have had to adapt to the wind here,
we have learnt from the best of the chameleons.
- * -
It's the same stage set up and the curtains were never drawn,
but our eyes see a completely different story being played out.
Collective whispers greater than a shout.
Peace of mind has been a while, it'll take long...
Home isn't where the heart is, when the heart keeps moving around.

I watched her muscle pace with confidence,
her brain slip her tongue
and her skin glow.

She was much more pretty
intelligent
stronger, smarter
better in any way I was.

In her presence,
my flaws started to pile
Insecurities started to rile
fear started to snare
and jealousy started to flare
as self-doubt enwrapped me in its flames.

But my dear,
there was no good in tearing her down.
For prying on her weakness,
was not going to paint you into completeness.
Picking out her flaws,
wasn't going to bring about any applause.
Spreading rumors about her,
wasn't going to make you any popular.
Labeling her with names,
wasn't going to bring peace to your flames.

No, my dear
the answer lied
in your flesh
your tongue
your story
your lines
your curves
your passions.
The answer lied in the very acceptance of yourself.

For that's when you will find intimidation
to be wiped with inspiration.
That's when you'll realize your rivals were never your rivals
but your allies, tribe, and companions.

So compliment,
encourage,
nurture,
love
and support yourself
and the woman around you.

Enflame hearts of others,
build one another
embrace them with understanding
and enchant their soul with compassion.

Unshackle yourself and unshackle them.
Learn from them,
applaud them,
bring out the best in them
and surround yourself with women who do the same.

Because my dear,
this is the time you'll realize how blessed you are to be surrounded by such strong, resilient and inspiring woman
who help you move forward.

if you are a man
or a person
who still thinks women aren’t as capable
or as competent or intelligent
as men
tell me why every right men have been handed
women have had to fight for
while men did nothing but sit on their thrones of entitlement
and tell us we look pretty
we did not protest and yell and petition and fight and speak up no matter the cost
to be called pretty
don’t sell me your anti-wrinkle cream
your diet plan
your shapewear
sell me your CEO position
your equal pay
your paid maternity leave
we will not open our mouths to please you
while you tell us to shut them when it matters
i can, i will, and i am,
not despite being a woman
but because of it