Banner ng TFDP

BANNER NG TFDP

nakasakay akong dyip puntang pagamutan

tinatakang banner sa Kamias nadaanan

TFDP iyon, agad kong kinodakan

naghahanda na sa Araw ng Karapatan

lampas isang buwan na kami sa ospital

di ko sukat akalaing gayon katagal

na nagbabantay sa aking asawang mahal

ay, ramdam ko pa rin ang pagkakatigagal

ngunit nang makita ang banner ay sumigla

nabuhay ang loob mula pagkatulala

biglang lumakas ang katawan, puso't diwa

tila naalpasan ko ang kaytinding sigwa

kaya sa Araw ng Karapatang Pantao

sa pagkilos nila'y sasama muli ako

panata sa sarili'y magsilbing totoo

sa masa, sa maralita't uring obrero

- gregoriovbituinjr.

12.04.2024

* TFDP - Task Force Detainees of the Philippines 

Nilay

NILAY

nakikibaka pa rin

kahit ako'y gabihin

kahit dito'y ginawin

kahit walang makain

tibak kaming Spartan

ay patuloy sa laban

nais naming makamtan

pangarap na lipunan

at dapat ding isipin

ang kalusugan natin

habang papag-alabin

ang puso't diwa pa rin

para sa masa't uri

obrero'y ipagwagi

mga pag-aaglahi'y

di dapat manatili

- gregoriovbituinjr.

12.02.2024

The artistry and activism in me

THE ARTISTRY AND ACTIVISM IN ME

when painter Marcel Duchamp died

that was the day I was born

when massacre of students in

Tlatelolco, Mexico happened

that was the day I was born

a painter died, a future poet 

was conceived from her mother's womb

protesting students were massacred

a future student and activist

was conceived from her mother's womb

in my blood is the shaper of words in Filipino

who's father is a Batangueno

who's mother is a Karay-a from Antique

who inculcated in me words that is deep

even if I was raised as a Manilenyo

also in my blood were Spartan activists

who fight for equality, justice and truth

Duchamp and the Tlatelolco students

have died the day I was born

their memory and legacy will be

in my blood, brain, heart and bone

I will continue the artist in me

I will continue the activist in me

I don't usually believe

in what they call reincarnation

I just thought that the date of their 

death is the same as my birth

I was born probably to become artist of words,

as a poet, and as an Spartan activist

and that I will continue to be

to serve the people and the working class

to be one in changing the rotten system

to make a heart in a heartless world

- gregoriovbituinjr.

12.01.2024

* written while contemplating in a hospital with my wife who is still recuperating

Disyembre na naman

DISYEMBRE NA NAMAN

ramdam ang simoy ng hanging amihan

na tanda ba ng parating na ulan?

Disyembre na, marahil kaya ganyan

o climate change, klima'y nag-iba naman

unang araw ng Disyembre, World AIDS Day

a-syete, Political Prisoners Day

sa ikasiyam, Anti-Corruption Day

sa petsa sampu naman, Human Rights Day

may sanlinggo pang ang dukha'y hihibik

yaong Urban Poor Solidarity Week

na baka gawing Urban Poor Protest Week

pagkat sa hirap pa rin nakasiksik

tatlong linggo na lamang at Pasko na

paulit-ulit, wala bang pag-asa?

kayrami pang palaboy sa kalsada

kayrami pa ring hanap ay hustisya!

- gregoriovbituinjr.

12.01.2024