This is for you, Young Lad

I'm still thinking if I'm gonna pass this as a requirement in my application in the Thomasian Writer's Guild. But anyways...

DRUMBEATS OF INNOCENCE

“Kami po ay mga Badjao.
Hingi kami tulong.
Salamat po.”

A plea, written on a
Crumpled envelope. He sats
Down on the jeepney stair.

Accompanied by a tin can
He chants. Taps
With both hands.

Pale. Sullen eyes. He keeps
On singing with own
Native language.

His sound. A boy who conquers
Every ride just to be
Heard by anyone.

Honk. Thug. Broom. Chug.
Peep! Thug. Peep!
Hopeful drumbeats amidst deafening noise.

He took the envelopes. Bowed
Head in disappointment
And goes down the jeepney.

He crosses the street
And heads to nowhere…

I’m glad I’m going home.

(Alay ko sayo musmos na nakasabay ko sa jeep.)

LRT station

Ako'y nagmasid-masid. Siksikan na naman. Sa sampung kataong nasa LRT, isa dito ang may earphones na nakasalampak sa tenga.

...at isa na ako sa isa sa sampung yun.

Hindi ko namalayang muntikan na akong lumagpas sa UN station dahil 'di ko nadinig ang boses na dapat nagsabing "UN station, united nations" Bagama't dalawang linggo pa lang akongpatuloy na sumasakay ng tren, memoryado ko na ang nga istasyong dinadaanan ko. Pero bakit ganun. Lalagpas na sana ako.

Sa saliw ng PASUBALI (spongecola), aking kinukubli na ako ay nagkamali. Iyon ay dahil sa hindi ko ito nadinig.

Nasa jeep nako. At alam kong alas-otso na.

"Wala pa nung myx, wala pa nung mtv...wala pa nung internet, wala pa nung iPod, o mp3..."

Oo, dati wala pa nun. Kaya naririnig ang bawat tao. Walang nagkakamali. Walang sagabal.

Marahil ang gobyerno natin ay naka-iPod na rin...

Kelangan muna magkasigawan bago magkarinigan. Walang kaayusan, halos pulos pagkakamali.

Ang Pilipinas ay lumagpas na sa kanyang bababaang istasyon. Naligaw na...

Late na'ko. Kean kaya ako magbabago? Lagi na lang akong napag-iiwanan. Parang kakambal ko ang kaplaran ng ating bansa. Laging huli.

"...Pitong araw lang, hindi natikman ang liwanag..."

Filipinos in Need of XL Belts

"Kung maliit ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot."

And there's more to that.

On the way home from UST, and entering the gates of FTI terminal, I've noticed a "blockbusterly-like" line which starts from the gate and ends to the NFA office.

And this is what really bothered me...

A young boy, at age five or six i think, carries a bag of two-kilo rice on the way home.

Recent rumors said that president GMA or his allies in the goverment made this issue SO large and public to cover Lozada's cry to ZTE. When the issue about NFA rice consumed all the time in evening and late night news, Engr. Lozada's cry became unheard and vanished amidst the rice crisis.

This issue even made people, particularly those who are in the lower class, to panic-buy. The young boy, a mere evidence of the situation, was a victim. NFA was only allowing two-kilos of rice for every person. A strategy I've learned to some was to make all the members of your family line up, give each P40, and voila! RICE FOR EVERYONE.

People now are forced to "tighten up their belts" because of low salary and high-priced neccesities. Unlike those who are in the hgih class who can afford to buy extra large belts.

The little monkey in the palace doesn't even seem to care. Maybe she eats enough or even a plate-full of rice everyday.

And our hero? Where is Jun Lozada? Where's the people's cry and rallies here and there?

The old spirit spark begins to lose its light.

Worst is, maybe rumors had it that PGMA would be lucky end her term.

So, care for some XL belts, anyone?