Ako lang naman yaong hamak na kapuluan
Sa kontinenteng Asya bandang timog-silangan
Na minsan mo nang dinayo at pinagkanlungan.

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

‘Di ba’t hindi ako ang marapat na sadyain?
Ika’y nagkamali sa dinaungang lupain!
Subalit bakit ka pa nagpumilit sa akin?

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

Ano bang nasilayan at ako’y binihag mo?
Ikaw pa ang naghandog sa akin ng ngalan ko
Bininyagan na maging Romano Katoliko.

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

Langis ng Kristiyanismo ako ay binuhusan
‘Di nga lang lubos dumaloy hanggang talampakan
Na kay Allah ay tali na noon pa man.

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

Tatlong daan, tatlumpu’t taong alipin
Dugo’t laman ko’y pinagpumilitang bigkisin
Sa kultura’t kamalayang dayuhan sa akin.

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

Ano bang taglay mo’t nagtiis din sa’yo?
Mga dantao’y inabot bago napagtanto
Pag-alpas na marapat mula paniniil mo!

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

Ginang ng karagatan kung ikaw ay turingan
Ako’y isa lang pala sa’yong anak-anakan
Na sa kapangyarihan mo’y nakipagkumpulan.

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

Ngayon ay isandaan at sampung taon narin
Ang nakalipas nang ako ay iyong lisanin
Pero siguradong ikaw ay nandito parin.

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

Bayani kong si Rizal sa’yo ay nagtungo
Upang ipabatid ang aking panlulumo
Wika mo’y inaral ngunit balewala sa’yo.

España, me todavia en tu memoria?

Ngayon ako naman kung nais maunawaan
Ang tulang ito na sa’yo ang patukuyan
Ang wika kong ito naman ang ‘yong pag-aralan.

España, me todavia en tu memoria?
España, ako ba’y nasa iyo pang gunita?

-08/01/2008
(Miagao)
*for PI 100 under Sir Sansait

Sa Agri. ko lang naranasan ang makumbidahan
Sa piging ng isang dating mag-aaral dahil kanyang napasahan
Ang Board Exam na pinaghandaan

Sa Vet. Med. ko lang naranasan na balikan
Ang UPV Miagao na dati kong pinag-aralan
Nang ako’y sumama sa field trip nila sa pook na naturan

Sa mga taga-Computer ko lang naranasan pamalagian
Ang isang silid na dati nilang pinagkaklasehan
Parang Etheria na nasa gitna at ako ay isang Heran.

-10/24/2017
(Dumarao)
*a tribute to Agri., Vet. Med. & Computer of CapSU-Dumarao

Got thee at toe high
While newly arrived
Ornamental plant
Small and violet
This one I don’t know!

Owned by academe
UP Visayas
Of town of Miagao
I’m still with students
Who are on field trip

Just been oriented
Then picture-taking
About nine-fifty
Day twenty-seventh
Of month September

At the very front
Of the Oblation
At the New Admin.
Of UP Miagao
A landscaped area

This I must get too
‘Coz it’s a token
From where I was once
Everyday in life
I feel very glad!

-09/27/2013
(Dumarao)
*My Toladas Collection

Got thee at breast high
While newly arrived
A flowering plant
But has no odor
It’s a “yellow bell”!

Owned by religious
The Catholic Church
Of town of Miagao
I’m with Vet. Med. II
And BEEd II

Just finished raining
A cloudy morning
About nine-fifteen
Day twenty-seventh
Of month September

Right facing the front
Of quaint Miagao Church
A landscaped area
Near the tall pillar
With yellow flowers

Of course I must get
A leaf from a place
Where I was once part
When I’m in college
Oh how my heart jumps?!

-09/27/2013
(Dumarao)
*My Toladas Collection

Ako’y napatingin
Sa aming salamin
Aking naaninagan
Isang bihis kanluranin…

Ako’y napadako
Sa isang museo
Si Rizal sa larawan
Naka-bihis kanluranin…

Ako’y napatanong
Sa isang may dunong
Ba’t Pilipinong turingan
Nakabihis kanluranin…

Ako’y agad tinugunan:
“Bakit? ‘Di niyo ba feel?”

-07/30/2008
(Miagao)
*for Darren Abenes in PI 100

Ako’y isang Pilipina
Na nagtungo sa Tsina
Upang bumisita
Sa maysakit kong lola.

‘Di ko na ipinagtaka
Kung ako’y ‘di nakilala
Sapagkat siya’y ulyanin na.

Ang ‘di ko lang malimutan
Nang ako’y pagkamalan
Na isang taga-Kanluran.

‘Pagkat ang sinabi ba naman
“Hey, what are you doing here, woman?
Do I know any American?”

My gosh! Sa laking gulat ko
Mga mata ko’y nanlobo
At nawalan ng malay-tao.

Nang ako’y magising
Mga ilaw nakaduduling
And everybody’s dancing.

Ako’y nasa diskuhan nga pala
Nalasing at naidlip tuwina
Gayak panggala, pusturang pang-Kana.

Buhok na kinulayan
Labing nilipstikan
Mukha nga akong American.

Para sa mga di-makaunawa
At mga Maria Clarang Pilipina
‘Wag niyo akong itatwa.

Kung si Rizal nga’y naka-Americana
Ako pa kaya? – Modernang Pilipina!

-07/30/2008
(Miagao)
*for Kim Carlm Jagorin in PI 100

Harry old farmer in his field under morning brightness
“Kalabaw, dali!” commanded he in bearing highness
Helpful, burdened is the black beast
Exasperated not at least
“Kalabaw, sandali lang!” driver shouts in strong weakness.

-01/11/2007
(Miagao)
*Topsy-Turvy Limerick Ironic

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

Bossy Jessy bought a dish of chicken curry
Comes out he from fastfood in an unknown hurry
Steady stony head and chin up he goes
Spare not from dog **** neatly gleamed shoe toes
Intended coincidence bursts funny fury.

-01/06/2007
(Miagao)
*Topsy-Turvy Limerick Ironic

Found Mr. Al Gator guilty human killer
Law impartial show must him in railing teeter
Croc tears flow icy eyes
Gloom mark blooms purring mice
Jail possessed by him – independent prisoner.

-01/09/2007
(Miagao)
*Topsy-Turvy Limerick Ironic

For Royal Reyes’ food so chef they urgent dire
Another time, another maiden fast new hire
Spoiled children now happy they
Stuff tender hope everyday
But cook, her Excellency, finds crisis – cold fire!

-01/07/2007
(Miagao)
*Topsy-Turvy Limerick Ironic

Look! Here’s Me! It’s my body
May be pretty, may be ugly
Care I? It’s not anybody
It’s me. It’s mine. Me’s mine only!

My body, the devil, is he
Glutton, sloth, selfishness all dear
My body, the angel, is thee
Abide law, goodness try adhere!

Protrude long horns of lust & dirt
Delight the world, hate discipline
Glow halo of heavenly mirth
Morality makes soul serene!

I am born with halo and horns
I am half-angel, half-demon!
My heart and mind: roses with thorns
Bees and worms, lo, behold, anon!

I’m growing with conscience and id
They come together within me!
Good and bad, each other they rid
Makes me bright and makes me gloomy!

Yet, however detest them both
They dwell together in one roof
Day butterfly and evening moth
I’m either they, there’s no need proof.

I’m one of two – the good and bad
This thing I can’t honestly lie!
The irony my body had
Have and will have, I can’t deny!

Testament:
The eyes that
read the Bible vast
are the same eyes that
watches lust!

The lips to Lord that
sings praises
are the same lips that
cast curses!

The limbs that
toil for survival
are the same limbs that
do brutal!

The brain that
thinks to help people
is the same brain that
plans evil!

The heart that
so loves everyone
is the same heart that
cares no one!

The body that
does good things
is the same body that
does bad things!

Whatever my body is?
-It’s only angel and devil
Whatever my body does?
-It’s only good and bad.

-02/18/2007
(Miagao)
*for Philosophy 1 under Sir Abila

Where classroom colleagues and I come, sit, wait & stay
For teacher not yet is there on time must, not may
‘Til minutes come to thirty
Opt us all forsake pretty
Professor absent will not history today.

-01/10/2007
(Miagao)
*Topsy-Turvy Limerick Ironic

River yonder bathe Danica baby subtle
Shampoo and soap ye by Mother Lily gentle
Far from across mom’s eyes see
Running reptile must clumsy
Huge, unusual blue-green **** rush gone fast turtle.

-01/08/2007
(Miagao)
*Topsy-Turvy Limerick Ironic