Long Tagalog Poems

Running on a few hours of sleep,
I decide that this is a good time as any
to empty out my thoughts

tilt my head to the right
and let everything flow out of my ear
into a bucket
*whoosh* just...

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Remembering the Past
 
Tito is Tagalog of Uncle
Tito David Rodriguez and Tito Willie Totanes are very good friends
Up rising Star-Ms. Jacqueline R. Mendoza

Tito David recruited me to Filipino American Multimedia Entertainment (FAME) 
on the 90’s
Tito...

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I may never know what exactly happened,
but I think I know the why of it

Tadhana…Fate…Destiny…Kismet…

Put it in so many words,
but it all boils down to that.

Tadhana…

shivers down my spine,
tears prickling my eyes,
as I hear once...

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The morning sun’s oppressive; a nasty b*tch in heat on Rizal Avenue,
Where vendors hawk their cigarettes, baloot, and dog meat barbecue.
The jeepneys buzz the intersection like a hornet’s nest,
But it’s quiet down the mountain once...

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Hi today I woke up a few minutes before 8am stood up to go pi at 8am 

then went to the kitchen to have breakfast, I prayed, did the Rosary then left 

to go to...

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"Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, 
hindi makakarating sa paroroonan".
(A person who does not remember where he came from 
will never reach his destination).
Filipino proverb.

Gift me wings so I can fly to a blessed land
of emerald...

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They say
?There are a million ways?
To say I love you

In this day and age?
I could only find
?In my computer’s brain?
The words 
to say I love you?
In 53 languages 
of the 10,000 languages
?Spoken on this planet

Someday...

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The priest who wants to rest
went fishing with his dear cousin Nora
A very nice lady, ginger and intrepid.
Today she adopted a Turkish Angora

The priest who wants to rest
took a shower early which he enjoyed
The water...

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I have an internet education 
I graduate everyday
I have an internet education
I bookmark my favorite page

I know about civil war
In Bosnia and the Sudan 
and that one in the United States
that forged "American"
Water rights in...

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"Black Diamonds and the Benefits of Ylang Ylang"



The prescription
was to write

black diamonds
against the pale 
antidote

cutting glass
precisely, words
gargled slowly

she bled

diagnosis
Jung
and the benefits 

of Ylang Ylang

Feeling all the colours 
inside of 
Black

A body of work

Arms arrested 
legs...

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*Paghuli ng Bulalakaw*

Minsan ako'y nakahuli ng isang bulalakaw,
at sa aking mga kamay inilagay
Ako'y lubhang napaso, nasaktan ng lubusan
kaya't aking itong pinakawalan...

Isang gabi, natanaw ko ang isang tala
na nagliyab sa himpapawirin
Akin lamang tinignan, at aking pinagmithian
Wari...

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Where I was born -
Gumaca, Quezon
a significant place,
a town suffused with history.

  It’s almost at the tail-end
  that long stretch of Quezon.
  A lot of coconut trees
  the source of many...

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Tried to clear my throat, though you
didn't look at me; may be you
assumed it is infection;
aimed to get your attention.
~X~X~X~

**********************************************************
Poetic Form :: The Tanaga
The Tanaga is an indigenous type of Filipino poem,
that is used traditionally...

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A friend advised "Cheer up, buddy, and don't be blue",
strange of him to say that just when I was feeling low.
I was thinking, what was so colorful about being sad,
only showed his English vocabulary was...

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In God’s ministry
where love does prevail
her life-impact shines
since grace does not fail.

Though she’s senior now
still she’s young at heart
vibrant and active 
to fulfill her part.

With cheerful spirit
she keeps reaching-out
as strengthened by Christ
her smile smites child’s...

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You’re hailed as “Pearl of the Orient Seas”
The Creator* has blessed you with rich bounty
Including a peculiar history, indeed great…
Making me thankful for making you the land of my birth. 

In Southeast Asia is where...

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Strands of satiny pineapple fibers
From the superbly prickly pieces of leaves
Refined by the nifty naked hands
Of the great sophisticated artisans
Beyond this unequaled plant
Is a peculiar product exist
Only native Filipinos - Tagalogs can procreate
An art of...

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Ancestors had fore-planned 
My whole being in Spanish
Yet, my concerned parents wrote 
My rhesus A-plus blood in Tagalog

I was born, they said 
To enjoy my own life, not theirs
That I took slowly my first steps...

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Things to do:

AM: 
Don’t wake up early!
Spend an hour for breakfast, sip coffee , savor the flavor
Open the TV, look for TFC   (The Filipino Channel)
Inspect Tori  (my dog)  for any fleas.
Haul...

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On a cloudy Wednesday,
While listening to my favourite Tagalog playlist,
I scribbled a love note. 

Dear Love,
I don't know you yet, but I want to do life with you.
I can already feel how random meeting you...

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And suddenly understand you're underwater
Flapping, snap-coral beneath someone's paradise
Bung-lusting rope towards parallax sunslick
then smacking the sole of your swollen left foot
with an empty Coke bottle, the driver's advice
While cursing the urchins in firstling jerk Tagalog....

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Sa kanilang mga anino,
Kami’y kanilang itinago
Lagi kami ang sinusuyo
Na manatili lang sarado

Na dating walang pumapanig
Noong kami ay nalulupig
Ngunit ngayon, kami’y titindig
At sana’y kami ay marinig

At bakit naman kami matitinag?
Dahil ba kami ay babae lamang?
At bakit...

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BAHAY KUBO II

Bahay Kubo Part II
Built exclusively for us
A place and time to go
Destined to share happiness 
With you!

This Bahay Kubo
Simply small for two
Made of native and light materials
Everything practically installed
For a living full of...

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AALIS KA PALA
PLalakaw Kabs

Elementary Grade Ballad Song

TAGALOG

Aalis ka pala,
at ako'y iiwanan,
Ang pupuntahanmo,
sa malayong lugar.
Hindi ba'tnoong una,
ako ay iyongmahal.
Kahit sa pagtulog,
binabantayankita.
Ang hilingko lamang,
kung may mahal ka na.
Kung may mahal ka na,
limutinmo ako ...

MARANAO

P'lalakaw ka bs,
p'lipatan akungka.
Aya...

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Kathang-isip na mapagkunwari
Ginto'y sa dulo raw ng bahag-hari
Sa huling hininga bumabawi
Nasanay lang sa suwail na gawi.

Araw-araw sumasapit ang gabi
Mga tala'y lumayo sa tabi
Ang hangin lang ang madalas bumati
Tadhana'y sadyang mapaghiganti

Kung maari'y sayo ay lumagi
Giliw huwag...

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