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.

This is for all the girls
Who think they aren’t skinny enough
This is for all the girls
Who think they aren’t pretty enough
This is for all the guys
Who think they have to act a little more “tough”,
As if mere kindness isn’t enough.
This, my friends, is for you.

Our society today
Has painted its own little picture
Of how we should look
So that guy’ll wanna “get wit cha”
Of how to live and how to dream
Of what to do and who to be

Today it seems the only way to be “cool”
Is to smoke a little and drink a few
To stay out until all hours of the night
Partying, getting higher than a kite

See, what gets me confused is this

The things we are told are right
Are much different than what we see on TV
If there is one thing I hate more than lying,
It’s hypocrisy.
We are told to exercise
To get fit, and eat right
Then what do we see?
Models throwing up at night
Scared
Because the pressure is too much
To eat is too pricy
So food, they don’t touch.
What is a model?
Someone or something used as an example
I don’t know about you, but
When I shop, I grab up ALL the samples
Starving isn’t realistic
Nor is it “right”
Regardless of your pant size,
Regardless of your height.

We are told that beauty is only skin deep
That what really matters is all underneath
I have yet to see one person at the VMAs
With less than 5 makeup products on their face
Why is that?
There’s a simple Answer.
Thanks to Maybelline and L’Oreal
It costs 6 dollars for a beauty enhancer.

Girls talk all the time
About how there are no good guys out there.
I hate to burst your bubble
But saying that isn’t fair
There are plenty of guys
Who are respectful and kind
But you push them away
Without a care in your mind
You want one thing
Then it changes to another
Because movies make you think
You don’t have to really care for one another
They show relationships as prideful,
Full of lust and lies
So when it comes to the real world,
Kind guys are despised.
So they mask their emotions with
Hardness and Vulgarity
Showing love on occasional,
Rarely, and sparingly.
See According to society,
Men have to be “tough”
Or else they are judged and pushed aside
Left waiting for the one to call their bluff.

This is for all the girls
Who think they aren’t skinny enough
This is for all the girls
Who think they aren’t pretty enough
This is for all the guys
Who think they have to act a little more “tough”,
You’re beautiful, you are loved.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you
You aren’t enough.

Look at how I've controlled your little mind
I find humor in when you think that without me you won’t please yours or any other eye
I can manipulate you into believing that in my absence that word pretty you will never define
Chanel, L’Oreal, Maybelline
what else of me have you  prioritized
of what I offer, you own a collection so wide
from your dresser
to your pocket
or in that bag you carry by your side
contouring so you can attain that distinct jaw line
or black winged liner to change the shape of your eye
why haven't you realized?
that you're gradually making me a necessity in your lives
though
of this you have no clue
due to your false judgment which has convinced you to assume
that your flaws should be hidden because they don’t make you, you
The richness of the colors I offer
will keep you satisfied
The cherry red on your lips that feels every breath
you take in
one smudge and you’re ready to reapply
why
do you act as if nature has done some sort of crime?
Let face it if there’s anyone who should be fined
it is I
for deluding you to ignore the innocence of your face
whose beauty you've chose not to embrace
and have resorted to me as your only escape
leaving  with what’s beneath to suffocate
making you confident
like fulfilling some need
only for a period of time
I succeed
so on me don’t be too dependent
for I’m just a temporary lie
step outside
keeping in mind
that true beauty radiates from what’s inside
don't take to heart on what they criticize
do not get used to me
because dear
I do not define

our suns were the fluorescent lightbulbs that lined those ceilings in little rows
clouds known as ceiling tiles
and days passed under that sun
we grew up and we grew up fast
the girls told secrets by the lockers
the desks
the water fountains
and the boys left marks on Susie’s neck that we could all see
despite her mother’s Maybelline
and Tom started smoking Marlboros
so I smoked them too
and that night on the rooftop near Main
you told me I had talisman eyes
and we made choices we could never take back
and thats okay
and that hurts
and we all hurt
k.s.

Everybody in this would just hates and hates and hates,
leaving no room for love,
leaving no room to be myself,
leaving no room for a smile.

Reality is calling and I can no longer send it to voicemail,
reality is here to show me that i'm beautiful,
reality is not always fitting in but reality is finding my place to fit in.

I watch teenage girls flipping through magazines filled with society's image of "normal" and "beautiful",
pictures of girls so small that they are ghostly.
This is the reason why girls are getting smaller each year.

Maybe shes born with it, maybe its Maybelline?
I'm definitely sure we are all born with it,
being lied to so they cover up their faces with a mask of insecurity.