PANGARAP NG ISANG DILAG..

isang mapait na nakaraan ang bumubuhos sa bawat luha

tuwing naalala ang isang dagok sa buhay na puno ng pagdurusa

wala man lang nagawa ang mistulang mayuming prinsesa

sapagkat tanging armas ay ang kanyang malinis na konsensiya

lingid pa rin sa kaalaman ng karamihan sa kanilang bayan

 anim na buwan na ang nakakalipas ng siya'y bumalik sa kanyang tahanan

isang krimen ang nangyari sa harap mismo ng kanyang mga mata

ang kanyang ama'y pinaslang ng mga taong walang awa

hustisiya ang laman ng kanyang mga panalangin

ngunit ang mismong hukom ay nakukuha sa mga bayarin

galit at paghihinagpis ang namuo sa kanyang mukha

dahil ang hustisiya na pangarap ay animo'y mawawala na

sa bawat araw na lumipas, di pa rin matahimik ang dalaga

lumabas siya sa katauhang tahimik at muli'y magpapakita na

naging matapang ang prinsesa at siya'y tumayo sa harapan nila

na wari'y ibabagsak ang mga taong kumitil sa kanyang ama

ang mayuming dilag kasama ang mga manunulat

ay nagsalita na para mga mata ng mga tao'y mamulat

sa mga pagdadamit ng kabaitan ng mga nakaupo

at sa wakas, sa araw na iyon mga pangarap na ri'y natamo

- sana'y mabuksan ang mga mata ng mga mamayan at mga taong may kapangyarihan, ako man ay walang maipagmamalaki, ngunit sa pamamagitan ng tulang ito, sana mga tao nama'y wag masilaw sa perang binibigay ng mga taong gusto lamang ay isang trono, wag maging pipi at bulag sa mga nakikita at naririnig, ngunit sana'y magsalita na, hindi para sa sarili ngunit para sa mga tataong mga mabibiktima pa ng mga taong makasarili at mapanlumo sa pera.

-michelle alcantara-

tiny voices of the children..

I was walking along this known street in town where this group of 5 children caught my attention. They are holding a garbage bag full of cans and bottles.  Wondering where they will go, I got the risk of following them. Until they end up to this junk shop and sold all those cans and bottles. Almost a minute as they walked away from the junk shop, I went to the man who runs the shop and asked about the money that he gave to the children.

"I gave them 50 pesos in return", the old man uttered while still fixing the children's cans and bottles.

I hurriedly run to catch those children and saw them go beside a tree together with a creepy man with a long beard. They were shouted all through the top of the bearded man's voice. Suddenly, the creepy man grabbed one of the child's shirt when he heard him sobbing. That was the first time that I became strong to face my fears, and finally hear the thoughts of what my heart believes in. I didn't even hesitate to go beyond the scene and shouted the bearded man to stop. He gave me a very fierce look, my feet was shaking but I tried to remain calm in front of him.

"I saw what these children did, they gave you the full money that they have, are you not even satisfied?", I asked, while my fists are grasping the force of my madness.
"Who the hell are you?", the creepy man asked.
"Let's just say that I'm a girl who knows how to listen to these children".  I paused for a while.
"These children caught my attention because of the hardship that they possess, they're trying to shout to all the people about their condition, but what are you doing? You're punishing them with the wrong reason", I continued as I try to stop my tears to fall from my eyes.

The children hid at my back as I finished my words.  I called the police station after that, while the bearded man tried to escape. I shouted as loud as I could pretending that he got my wallet , so that the people around will catch him, . There was a man dressed with a military attire who had a caring heart to catch this silly man. He caught the guy and walked to me.

"Can you give this girl her wallet?", the military man said.
"I'm sorry, He did not get  my wallet, but he did something bad with these group of kids here, how do you call that, hm.. human trafficking", I said, as the kids grabbed my arm and tried to embrace me.

The police arrived and caught the bearded man. The kids were subjected to a government institution. I tried to visit them every sunday to at least have a day with them and God.





-I made this story, to at least remind us about the tiny voices of those children who are asking for help. The problem is that it's already obvious.  These children are shouting in front of us and yet we pretend that we don't know anything at all. What happened with camaraderie? What happened with Christianity? You may only be one person but you can save many people. Think about it...

HIM AND HER..

Washed from the ocean of tears

Went to an island full of bliss

She was confused with the place

Then walked to find grace

Turning her head all around

Lies a man, she finally found

Happiness was seen in her face

But his was too hard to trace

They walked within the sands

And talked about great lands

She was full of smiles

He was full of lies

Lifted from her spirits

She grabbed his hand

Asked if he was alright

But she only got a nod

She was still wondering

He was slowly coping

Then she figured out

He’s still trapped in the past

Here comes the moon

And he’s still waiting for “soon”

Here she is waiting for him

Trying to get him out from dim

They shared words for many days

He’s lips was finally raised

He finally got her hand

Asked for acceptance while knees were bent

She felt happiness

Answered his forgiveness

With the sweetest yes

Then here he is again, felt so blessed!

 -michelle alcantara-