Our Exgirls, Astronauts and Herpes

Our Exgirls

Rodelen Paccial

In the long run,
Our ex-girlfriends will marry the astronauts,
While we wonder,
Which part of “I promise you the stars”,
They didn’t understand.

They will run happily, skimpily naked,
On the white, private beaches
Probably with their kids,
All set to be honor-dressed
At some mere Ivy League school.

In the meantime,
Let us toast with the drinking buddies,
In some pub which mice have long abandoned
All set to be honor-dressed
At some merry Ivy’s Legs.

I mean, run happily, skimpily naked,
With private, white bitches
Probably with herpes,
Who understand that “I promise you the stars”,
Meant astronauts in the long run.

Our exgirlfriends will marry the astronauts
While we wonder, where we got the herpes.

ano ang kinain ni Bobby Vilassis sa umaga na papunta siya ng Bacolod para maging panelist sa Iyas?
Rodelen Paccial

Pansit.

Kumain siya ng pansit;
mahaba, nakakabwisit.

nasa kanyang isip,
maiiwan niyang mag-isa
ang bote ng san mig,
sa dumagueteng
lupang hinirang
ng mga magigilyong
bayani sa wikang Ingles.

kanyang sinipsip ang pansit,
na bwisit na bwisit
dahil ito'y di maputol
ng kanyang huna-huna.

tapos sopdrinks.
iyon, kanyang ininom,
at ang itim na likidong
nakakasunog kung laplapin
ng mabilisan
ay nagkasundo
sa modo
ni Bobby Vilassis
ng papunta siya ng Bacolod.

Siguro, maayo din doon.
sa isip niya
at inisip niya
ang mahabang sakay
ang amoy ng asukal
sa loob ng mga puno ng tubo
na tumubo
sa lupang hinirang
bayang magilyong
land of the morning,
child of the sun returning,
dumaguete.

at nabwisit ulit siya.
bwisit na bwisit,
na parang pansit
na niluto pa nung isang araw
at di maputol-maputol
sa kanyang isip
ang mga huna-huna
ng gabing naiwan siyang mag-isa
sa bahay nila
nung bata pa siya
at wala ang kanyang mga magulang.

at siya'y gutom na gutom.
at ang naiwang ulam lamang
ay ang dilaw na pansit
na nung isang araw pa niluto
ng ama niyang mandirigma
sa ikalawang digmaang pandaigdig,
bilang guerilla,
isang english-spokening type,
who fought the damn Japs,
through the forests of actual trees
and mountains of metaphor,
in my dear beloved,
land of the lovely beach,
dumaguete.

at di niya maputol-putol
ang pansit,
naalala niya ulit
kaninang umaga
at pagbaba niya sa bacolod,
bumili siya ng sopdrinks,
green at malamig.

at iyon ay di sumang-ayon sa modo
ni Bobby Vilassis at lumabas
siya ng carinderiang
naghahanap
ng yosi, at kanyang nakilala
si Maria
na taga-La Salle.

at ito'y sumag-ayon sa kanyang modo.
at naging mahinahon ang panahon
at mga pangyayari,
pumasok siya ng La Salle,
nakangiting may baong pakete ng yosi
at lipstick ni Maria
sa kanyang leeg
sa ilalim ng kuwelyo
ng orange at dilaw
niyang polo;
parehong hindi nakita ng guard,
na okyupado sa pagkain
ng pansit
sa huling gabi niya sa bacolod
bago siya umuwi ng dumaguete,
kung saan dumuduyan
ang mga magigiting
na heroes.

the poem tells of a fictional Bobby Vilassis and a reference to the Dumaguete Workshop's preference for English works only. I personally think that they have their reasons. Anyways, the paralellism of English/Dumaguete/Nation in the poem was a reflection of what the writers in Filipino thought of the workshop. But beyond this it is a tribute to Bobby Vilassis who in my opinion was one of the better panelists to Iyas.

gay day
Rodelen Paccial

If you were gay,
and we met on the street,
near the park,
where there are green trees,
and the breeze is cool,
and you said "Hi", and asked me how i was,
i'd tell you "I'm fine, and thank you",
and if i have some money,
i'd ask you to join me at the outdoor cafe
and have coffee,
where maybe,
on the street,
near the park,
where the green leaves can be seen,
sweeping the sky of its memories of rain,
you'll tell me about your summers,
and me, you, my research on sleeping disorders,
we'd part maybe,
after fifteen minutes,
after a handshake,
and a thought
of how pleasant this day has been.


this poem was a part of the intense discusion me and my friends had over the issues raised in the Isagani Cruz/ Manolo Quezon columns. It was a heated one to say the least and this poem didn't do its job with its message of tolerance towards those in the group who were for homosexuality. Oh well, the poem isn't half-bad i think.