Friday, July 25, 2014

Dear Miss or Mister Toby Born Tomorrow, a letter to yet-to-be-born Filipinos

"MANILA, Philippines–By the reckoning of a population expert, the Philippine population will hit 100 million at 12:06 a.m. or thereabouts on Sunday." - 100 millionth Filipino due early Sunday, Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 25, 2014


Dear Miss or Mister Toby Born Tomorrow: 

Sorry. But, be rest assured that things are going to get better in this cunt'ry you'll be born into (and please don't consider your coming-out event tomorrow as your first parental or divine punishment, as it is still coming on Monday in the form of an "address"). I guarantee you that there are still leaders in this cunt'ry, not necessarily residing in MalacaƱang, who will succeed -- along with the rest of the Filipino people -- in making this cunt'ry a much better place (before or when you end up migrating somewhere else). And right now, or when you start feeling certain noble sentiments, be proud to be Filipino -- as you have no other choice yet, legally. And may you be born a "normal" person, whatever that means. Especially as someone out there is currently giving "abnoy" a bad name -- the emphasis on so-called political correctness during these times notwithstanding. And most likely "it" will get worse on Monday.


So, cheer up after your instinctive and initial "WAAAAAAAAAH!!!" immediately upon extraction from the comfort womb. Who knows, you might end up in MalacaƱang as the first president of the Philippine Revolutionary Workers Government! And if and when that time arrives, please remember me as (most probably) the very first to write you a letter. And yes, please consider all of this as my decades-early application as your press secretary. (And please don't consider I'd work on a voluntary basis. Otherwise, F!@# you!)

May you have a blessed life ahead, Toby.

Sincerely yours,

Always Proud to be Pinoy



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Sunday, July 20, 2014

The "ungospel" song of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What Im Looking For"

Whereas a gospel song is characterized by lyrics proclaiming love for God, for Jesus Christ, and/or the longing for salvation and The Answer to that -- among life's many questions and trials -- U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" has an indefinite twist.

One of the legendary rock band's most popular hits, and influenced by America's gospel music, the song begins with the singer proclaiming that he has been traveling and searching "only to be with you" (who may be anybody's guess):

"I have climbed highest mountains/ I have run through the fields...I have run/ I have crawled/ I have scaled these city walls/ Only to be with you."

The singer also experienced intimate moments with a lover (or lovers), and with otherwordly entities of the Light and Dark:

"I have kissed honey lips/ Felt the healing in her finger tips...I have spoke with the tongue of angels/ I have held the hand of the devil." And he felt the "warmth of the night" though he remained "cold as a stone."

But, through it all, he still sings, "But I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

Finally, he acknowledges the sacrifices of Christ Jesus, and His promise of the Kingdom Come, for the liberation and salvation of humanity: 

"I believe in the Kingdom Come...You broke the bonds/ And You loosed the chains/ Carried the cross of my shame...You know I believe it."

Nevertheless, through all his journey, through his most intense and profound personal experiences, and even with his profession of faith in Christ, he still laments repeatedly, "But I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

And he remains looking for what may not be found, thirsting for water that he may never drink, searching for a resting place that he may never reach.

"And yes I'm still running."

* * *





I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you.

I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you.

But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her finger tips
It burned like fire
(I was) burning inside her.

I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone.

But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.

I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one
Bleed into one.
But yes, I'm still running.

You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame
Oh my shame, you know I believe it.

But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.

But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.


This blog is sponsored by Limitado
phone nos. 09167840522/ 023588753


3rd floor JN Building, 657 EDSA corner Monte De Piedad Street, Barangay Immaculate Concepcion, Cubao, Quezon City

Contact Number:             0910-440-8035                  0907-302-0384      ;            0927-703-6912    

Saturday, July 19, 2014

On void and nothingness

A void is an emptiness left by what used to fill a certain space,
and the vessel that used to carry what abandoned it -- if one
listens close enough -- exudes a palpable yearning, sighs
a desperate longing, for what used to give it meaning.

Nothingness, on the other hand, has always been
since the beginning of time, and in perpetuity,
never to be missed by anything
or anyone.

...

Semantics aside, this is really another attempt at concrete poetry: a drawing of a form which I intended to look like the bow of a ship (i.e. "the vessel that used to carry"). I think it already appears that way, doesn't it? Here's my first concrete poem on this blog: Chalice.


This blog is sponsored by Limitado
phone nos. 09167840522/ 023588753


3rd floor JN Building, 657 EDSA corner Monte De Piedad Street, Barangay Immaculate Concepcion, Cubao, Quezon City

Contact Number:             0910-440-8035                  0907-302-0384      ;            0927-703-6912