Devoted Mother

An extraordinary individual

Never afraid to risk,
True to your word and
Out of the ordinary pal.
Naive.
It is your childlike disposition
Everyone loves.
Teach me,
Tell me your story,
Experience loving you.

Friend

Natural and simple
Idealistic and impartial,
Notably gorgeous and
Innately good hearted
A real person and friend.

Sister, sister

Reaching
Out
Sets you
Apart from everyone else,
Remarkable
Idiosyncracy you have,
Only you.

Everyone's Angel

Zealous in any endeavor in life
Yearning to learn everything
Rapt with glee, you will always be you
An angel on earth.

Pure Heart

Each moment with you calms me
Uniquely tranquil yet persuasive
Noble in your deeds and words
It sometimes put me in a thought
Catching up on whatever you said or did
Echoing your pure heart.

Dear Papa,

Why did you leave so soon?
You could have answered my questions.
You could have explained what happened.

I know I will never find
those answers I need now.

If only you could come home.

Ice Cream

I shared a gallon of ice cream with you
Something that we seldom do
It was raining that Saturday
And we were home alone

The marsmallow tidbits got the good of me
Because I could not keep my eyes off you
Your smile, your eyes
The ice cream dripping from
The plastic spoon

You tasted like chocolate.

Kaibigan

Nandito ako bilang kaibigan mo
Inakala ko nuong una na mataray ka, pero
Natuwa ako nung nagsalita ka na
Inglesira ka din pala
At totoong tao.

Happy Me

God is good.
Each day He goes on loving us through
Modest and unassuming people,
Memories treasured are countless.
Alive I will be.

Paldo

He was without shoes and had crumpled shirt on. He was a stranger, same as the many others that came before him. Paldo, as I would call him one day, caught my attention the first time I saw him. He could have been my father. Except, my father died thirteen years ago in a hospital bed.

Paldo had a frightening face when he asked if the mayor was in. I wanted to tell him that he need not be afraid and could very well enter the room as he pleased. If I woke up at the wrong side of the bed that day, I could have treated him coldly. But, I didn't. I only had pity for the man who wanted to eat one meal that Thursday afternoon.

He came at a wrong time, too, for me. I had enough change for the jeepney trip back home. I, too, had an empty stomach. But Paldo's hunger was different. He told me he hadn't eaten for two days. I knew his hunger was longer than two days.

His presence in my life that day was heartbreaking. Paldo reminded me of my father. Tito, as friends would call him, was a very simple man. Often, he would work on an empty stomach just so he could save some food for the children and my mother. I could very well remember how he used to look like when I knew he wasn't eating much. Yet, he didn't complain. He never complained.

Paldo, too, did not complain. Despite the hunger, he smiled when I told him he looked like my father. I should have hugged him that very moment. Hugged him the way I hugged my father everytime he made me sit on his lap after the usual scolding I get from him. But, I got scared. Scared because I knew his visit was only temporary, he would still go somewhere far and leave me. Like the way my father left me.

I handed Paldo my last twenty pesos and kidded him that he better get a good meal rather than use the money for something else. How he laughed when he heard it from me. Paldo told me he used to get the same kind of scolding from his late daughter Maria.

He bid goodbye and wished to see me again someday, in a better place and time.

Maybe.

Taking A Leap

You seem to have all the good things God has
And somehow, I am at a loss on what I want to say to you
Never did I hear you complain about work and people, an
Individual who stands out by simply being down to earth
Everyday, I thank the Lord for having met you.