For Monico M. Atienza — activist, writer, and teacher 

On the sickbed he wrestles with Death
mightily, and he is winning thus far.
His again is the breath,
the breath that Death tried to seize –
and his hold this time is surer.

Patriotism is a two-way process. It’s not just you as a citizen. It’s also about the government that should also give you work, or something for yourself, to be able to live a dignified life…
(Back home, the expectation is) that you should become the model Filipino, doing it for your country. I want something for [...]

Sa tamis ng bawat iluwal mong butil ng asukal
ay pait ng luha’t pawis ng sakada’t manggagawa
na nilalamon ng kagutuman.
Sa bawat pakikibaka alang-alang sa buhay
ng mga nagbubungkal ng iyong lupa
ay may paghingang pinuputol ng mga punlo
sa ibabaw ng iyong nabubundat na tiyan.
Hacienda Luisita,
saanman ibaling ang mga mata
ay mukha mong nakangisi ang natatanaw:
nakikita ko sa iyong mga [...]

Sa alaala ni “Manong” Antonio Zumel, peryodista ng sambayanan, Agosto 10, 1932-Agosto 13, 2001
Wala isa mang tuldok, Manong,
sa pahayagan ng iyong buhay.
Hindi kailanman kakainin ng kalawang
ang makinilya mong riple rin,
na ang bawat salitang iniukit sa papel
ay punlong sumagasa
sa matandang tanikala.
Ang nakalipas ng baya’y sagana
sa iyong mga bakas,
ngunit hinding-hindi ka lilipas:
balita kang hindi kailanman kukupas.

She was born a daughter of the Church,
And guided by the hand of a priest.
Her mother gave her the love and faith;
But the priest taught her lies of the Beast.
When the bells make way for silence’s song,
The priest resumes his rhapsody’s dreams.
Her mother’s gone, no help from her now;
All alone with the false priest, she [...]