sabik (15.04.29)

i long
to hear their voices again
ninuno
diwata
anito

and sometimes i envy
those who can cherish kapwa
"the self in the other"
but ignore kapwa
"the self in all others"

choose-
class
gender
skin

ignore-
class
gender
skin

and sometimes i envy
those with the hearts of
mandirigma
maharlika
kasama
fighting for
today's
alipin
ignoring
inapo
ninuno
diwata
anito

i wish i could choose one or the other
tanglad
sandata

i wish all cries become unmuffled
without waiting

     post-mortem eulogies
     status updates
     throwback photos
     photo-opportunism
         majestic landscapes
         resistance cityscapes
 
i wish
and i envy
and i long
to hear their voices again
ninuno
diwata
anito