ERMITA

Tinaguriang “Red Light District”

Lunduan ng mga kaluluwang

Hanap panandaliang tuwa

Kapalit ng wasak na mukha

 

Masikip, maputik, maitim na mga daan

Matataas na gusali, marangyang kainan

Lumang istruktura, karenderya’t tanggapan

Mga manggagawa, pulubi’t batang lansangan

 

Ito ang aking Ermitang kinagisnan

Mukha ng agwat ng tao sa lipunan

Katuparan ng pangarap ng iilan

Libingan ng mga niyurakang katawan

12-03-2024

ESPLANADE’S NIGHTVIEW

By the bank of the famed Pasig River

I sat on a bench

Cup of coffee on hand

Staring at the passing waters

Imagining how it transformed for years

Pristine, crystal-clear in centuries old

Gradually turning into murky molds

Esplanade stretches across the Jones

People from all walks of life wander

As neon lights flood thru the ramps

Turning this dark city’s corner into a party

Of souls struggling to find respite

Out of their grueling daily grinds

 

Gushing lights from the banks

Flirts the blackened waters

Trying to blend, hide the ugly

But no matter how it tries

Reality reigns still

The decadence of the city

12-3-2024