Kay Gat

Gat Andres Bonifacio

tunay na Pilipino

tubong Tondo

sa sariling sikap natuto

Katipunan ay binuo

unang rebolusyonaryo

unang Katipunero

trinaydor ni Aguinaldo

pinagkanulong ng mga kabaro

ipinagkait ng mga kano

kinalimutan ng mga katutubo

atapang atao

hindi atakbo

dakilang Supremo

Untitled 29

The sick hierophant calls out
on a sworn friend busy with his craft
the first yelling with subtle insults
as the latter turns the worn-out shaft
With a laughter in disguise
the enlightened man describes the universe
as it was revealed to him my the birds and floating voices
in a way that seemed anti-intellectually perverse
This man of religious and prophetic visions
speaks of contrived truths to the mason
on a level above a common citizen's grasp
but in a manner that actually neglected reason
To which the weary worker replied,
"so, how can you prove the truths of your claims?"
a tall and honest inquiry
to somebody who likes to boldly proclaim
But the eternally wise old soul fell silent
as leaves do in their proper season
the empty gaze and the silent song
of somebody who thought he knew what he thought he knew
The man who builds things to feed a dozen mouths
asking questions to a man drunk with revelations
and never a dull moment, it seems
awaiting the sunset on the windy village of Franche-Comté



The syllable gu means shadows
The syllable ru, he who disperses them,
Because of the power to disperse darkness
the guru is thus named.

— Advayataraka Upanishad 14—18, verse 5

Untitled 28

A wise man once asked
"where are we all headed?
to which a child offered a reply
"unto a state before we were born"
the wise man pondered
face slowly forming a scorn
"But death can be very different
as night is different from morn"
and the child muttered
"how do we know? we won't
because life is a big secret
simple yet complex
the more we assume knowledge
the more the gap widens"
Wise man exclaimed,
"I see your point
and I believe your honesty.
Now how about a cup of tea?"

Untitled 27

Gravity taught me well
and now the sky is the limit
for whatever I perceive of myself
was always finite
and lacking
and wanting
but when you try to fly
you only get up so high
and you're better off because you tried
instead of breaking down to cry

People taught me well
with their apathetic expressions
like they are on a mountaintop
oblivious to life's aberrations
and they were always lacking
and wanting
but when they try to smile
I feel the presence of life
a pulse and a grasp of air
laughing out this immaculate affair
taunting death with their own grin
sharing wealth through their skin

Sleep taught me well
even though I try to subdue it everyday
every night I imagine what I could be
even back then when I still used to pray
and I'm still lacking
and wanting
but when I wake up the next day
the very first thing I used to say
is I'm going to make the most of it
come what may
and bid the rain to go away
so the little children can come out and play

Untitled 26

Oscillating between dream and reality
the herd walking face down
awaiting slaughter at the end of the road
led by a vicious evil clown
who shouts insults all day long
as he led the procession to town
scowl was in his face
as well as this unmistakable frown
with a stick on one hand
and in his head a wooden crown

And the herd walks with misplaced adulation
with a painful snap here and there
whenever on of them loses formation
using the stick that also serves as a scepter
and when one of them gets lost
the whole crowd will have to stop
as the clown recovers the renegade
and return it to its rightful place
and never a dull moment
nor anyone granted solace

Everyone has to conform to the herd
for it wasn't a battle nor a race
it was a way of life
never to be questioned nor analyzed
for if they do, suppose they can,
they will be greatly criticized
possibly ridiculed, possibly ignored
even pushed to the side
consequently facing the stick
or even stoned to death
by the rest of the herd, suppose they can

As no one questions the clown
nor the judgment of the group
the relationship gives a sense of equality
that everyone works for everybody's good

That is, until they get to the slaughterhouse
where the screams of their kind saturate the air
and the smell of violence fill their senses
in which they start to panic, sensing danger
and conjure plans of escape, suppose they can
but all of them knows it is too late
as the clown delivers them
to their new and usually lifelong masters
and then the cycle simply starts again

Untitled 25

Here alone sipping my coffee
and instant noodles from granny goose
the wind tried to slip my me
running out of breath made me lose
my temper over cold water
ice cubes meant for the summer
a recommended dose of pain killer
enough to put me through dinner

It's been quiet in this part of town
beside the bay where fishermen spend their day
listening to the babble of a religious clown
over radio, forcing me to pray
as I wait for the storm to start
for the birds stopped their chirping
and cockroaches all over the place
putting its tight grip over my heart

It was darker than it used to be
mist everywhere I can barely see
couple of days running without electricity
drained but all of the charged batteries
and my coffee started getting cold
annoyed by the cup I refuse to hold
the wind reminded me of tomorrow's work
while salsa began to drip from my fork

Still I felt good being with myself
and accomplishing life without any outside help
for they say a man is meant to be with society
sounded meaningless when all that is left is me
and the thought of having nobody around
at least for a day is a beautiful sound
as I spill cold coffee on the ground
while mocking the wind for the peace I found

Untitled 24

Waiting for the movie to begin
on the theater people came pouring in
then MC said his introductions
and gave the signal to the band
to play the national anthem
where everybody was required to stand
to which everybody obliged
some with their right hands on their chest
as is the custom we learned way back
on flag ceremonies and soldiers laid to their rest
Now as the song slowly played
I noticed the genuine lack of interest
from people about to sing
the tune of their motherland
I heard the recording but heard no music
like an altar call without a show of hands
It was depressing to say the least
to see my people lack any form of pride
from their history and their heroes
as we watch a foreign film on the side
as we eat American junk food
and wear clothing made in China
and bastardize our native tongue for good
and keep losing jobs to India
It was demotivating to say the least
because it seems we have difficulties moving on
from past failures and being ruled by a beast
a shattered self-image and self-respect gone
Like there is nothing great to read
from our rather short and biased history books
taking great care to nurture bad seed
that we inherited from religious crooks
It was heart breaking, most of all
to see a people hating their identity
and never be able to recover from the fall
of having been and still being part of the slave hierarchy
And as the song went to its conclusion
I saw my people hurry to their sitting positions
and I stood there wondering
how we ended up in this situation
maybe some bad education
maybe due to the guilt-centric religion
but then it dawned to me, the reason
for the lifelessness that has long been in season
that it was simply a lack of vision
of future glory in store for a humble nation
once it forgets the horrors of subjugation
and strive to accomplish the mission
entrusted to the current generation
which is to lift ourselves out of
this self-imposed depression
and wash our faces and comb our hairs
and wear new clothing, smiling
for as long as there is life and breathing
there is also hope; never stop dreaming
of a day when people would sing loud
and stand tall, fearless and proud
as the national anthem is being played
after the MC's introductions has been said
before the films start to roll
to entertain my people in this movie hall

Untitled 23

A game like any other
in a day like any other
we play until we finally see
that there are shadows on the wall
but they were only there because
we allow the light to define us
as we animate the shadows on the wall
we look at each other and wonder
what's the big deal with skin color
that we judge a man by such standards
and get ridiculed in return
but looking at the shadows on the wall
we realize they were all black

Untitled 22

Every fading memory gives justice
to the longing of a child
stripped of his home and family
banished, forgotten, gone wild

Playful colors adorn the tapestry
the fresh smell of milk and flowers
grace recited before every meal
in perfect intonation and meter
A warm embrace from a mother
a loving rebuke from a father
the frightening thought of school
ending the night with a dip at the pool

All of a sudden consumed by fire
a cleansing flood sent by the powers that be
shell-shocked but not wanting to retire
the good life gone and now just a memory

Uphill climb on a slippery trail
to a mountain top hidden by the clouds
the empowering thought of a holy grail
keeping faith amidst the secretive shroud
hiding promised fame and fortune
by modern charlatans and holy men
playing their carefully picked tune
to get you to part with your wealth again

Tales of a great treasure
awaits the weary adventurer
such is the legends of old
about this great mountain, we were told

So I climb and climb without tiring
hoping for salvation and glory and gold
never minding the hunger and the cold
keeping the spark of hope and smiling

A repeating routine for a weary soul
a great sacrifice in assuming the role
of the great world-bearer; Atlas his name
for when time comes he decides to shrug
the world will never be the same

Untitled 21

There was a time
when rainy days felt nice
like it was the best thing
that ever happened in life
It was cool and relaxed
troubles do not exist
umbrellas eagerly unfolded
friends are abound
smell of wet grass and mist
and the sun eagerly expected
Now rainy days remind me
of the deluge
even with the rainbow
even with the ark as refuge
Now rainy days steal my hopes
it cleanses not just dirt
but also my will and fire
simply makes my gut hurt
I wish it to go away
to come again another day
but what I really wish
is to see the old rainy days
when life was still OK
I know they will come again, someday
where we can go out and play
and only have beautiful words to say

Untitled 20

Delusions of grandeur
an exaggerated sense of importance
was all that is needed to go on
and bear any sort of encumbrance

The hungry looks
of an audience entertained
the lavish praise
of fanatics unrestrained
makes the load go lighter
the passage of time unfelt
trapped in the small space in the aether
suddenly expanding into forever

As they sing a hymn
as they recite a prayer
as they bring their sacrifices
and burn them with adoration
wounds begin to heal
sins are forgotten
worlds are created
raising the dead
feeding the hungry
punishing the wicked

Underneath the religious ecstasy
is an existence defined by agony
the faces mask a horrid expression
a poor disguise in place
for an unbearable condition

A threat of punishment
a reward for obedience
passed down from parent to children
a never ending cycle
of love and hate
of genuine concern
of resignation and success
of living through duress
of ignorance and apathy
of a battle for survival
and resources, and supremacy

A short whisper of longing
a cry for help
thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest
a plentiful life, a new born
was all that is needed to realize
how we truly walk in the dark
trying our best not to stumble and fall
holding each other's hands
we felt strong together
bearing the same name
marching under the same banner

A burst of lightning
followed by thunder
suddenly exposed the shadows
and the trail to the outside world
but it wasn't enough
for us to see
for even light can deprive us
of what it feels to be free
that we would rather hide from the sky
than flap our wings and fly
we would rather agree
than risk a confrontation
and we would rather nod
than ask the important question

A ghost from the past
a dreadful prophecy
was all that is needed to remind
our feeble minds of the destiny
that we accepted as ours
that we accepted as divine
that we took as our truth

Guilt and blame
from sin and shame
a naked existence
after succumbing to the flame
blood in our hands
an empty stomach
lust in our minds
burden on our backs
was all it takes
for our unconditional surrender

Though we may never truly understand
the triviality of the matter
we may not even remember
the things we sought after
so in the silence of our hearts
we offer a simple prayer
to someone out there
hoping for an answer

And any seemingly related event
is all that is needed
to reassure our convictions
to confirm our assumptions
A conniving thought
is all that we expected to find
as we ignore how good we are
in deceiving ourselves with our minds

Untitled 19

A bus represented our inadequacies
our nation's shortcomings
people we look up to
failed us miserably
The victims themselves
were of kin to the elites
and the powerful
and the beautiful
The defenders of peace
had to take cover
had to pray for a miss
from a deranged shooter
they had to cower
and stick together
But I cannot blame them
for their enemy is their own
representing their hatred towards the system
and all the crimes that was sown
The media is supposed to show the truth
was actually the one who aggravated
him who was striped of honor and youth
him who violated and, in turn, was violated
At the end of the day
I simply saw my taxes wasted
made my beloved country
a laughing stock of the whole world
our technologies outdated
failing to get emancipated
It is a shame to us all
who were fighting tooth and nail
everyday to keep this nation going
who kept on standing tall
who were struggling not to fall
common people who bear everything
And yet our best efforts
came to nothing
and one of us made the last resort
and went hostage taking
What good is our tools
that Uncle Sam provided
if our minds are too immature
too late a year and a hundred
I realize we're just a bunch of fools
who never truly understood our fate
until we make up our own minds
until we meditate, calculate, contemplate
and we move forward united
and we get there liberated

Untitled 18

One day I discovered the reason
why life felt so out of season
and the wind touches like
a long lost friend
that I took for granted
and now I miss it again

Everyday we say
we'll make it through
but before I agree
I had to say a thing or two
about why are we doing this for
nobody's ever satisfied anymore
going through all this pain
just for a bit of gain
over one another; it's insane
primitive, unnecessary, mundane

Which is why I chose
to live a simple life
break bread, earn my wages
pay the bills, make love to my wife
because deep down all the things
the world has to offer
felt rubbish, artificial
wasteful, breaks the day after

For all material things
are meant to break down
like everything else
it wasn't meant to stay sound
for all eternity
even though it escapes me
how people love to reason
without even grasping infinity
Do you clowns even know what it means
how dare you offer something you can't give
how you lure the hopeless, the sick,
the fragile, those in need

Isn't everyday enough to be thankful
that we are alive and kicking
breathing and eating a mouthful
of the work we offered
to those that trust us
why do we seek ever more
and never settle with what they pay us

Even though I know
we are always worth more
but life does not revolve
around me; you see, we're lucky
for there isn't always an open door
it's not always like this
not so in other places in the world
something we should all be glad for

And all that really matters
at the end of the day
is your family and friends
and to whomever we care to pray
It was proven that we are too small
compared to the rest of existence
that thought gives me strength
nothing ever felt better than insignificance
And just to understand
how this world really behaves
and what useless part we play
against all the particles and waves

So please don't fret
we're all in this together
together we stand, together we fall
together we go deep, together we stand tall
No matter how much we earn
No matter how much we lost
No matter how much we hope
we all came from the same cosmic dust

And it's been going on forever
may repeat itself, may stop never
but then we don't really care
as long as we can find meaning
for our lot and our destiny
that we ourselves fulfill
so it seems if we dare
to make sense of it all
we just can't hold still
It's a toil taxing and draining
we may end up with wasted effort
or it could all just be meaningless
or it could also be profound and sound
and a suitable an explanation
we can find at the end
as long as there is inspiration, motivation
as long as we push ourselves
as long we don't pretend

So the next time I see
someone staring at me
I know in my heart, it was I
who was staring back at me
and that I'm meeting God
the first and the last time
and all I can offer in exchange
is thanks in my heart and a warm smile
it's all worthwhile
to make love to yourself
it's not masturbation
nor vanity nor selfishness
better than altercation
and all the wars that's so useless

You owe it to the world
to be a person of peace
for in the symphony of life
we all play the same piece

Untitled 17

Feeling the door wasn't easy
truth is always laid bare the last minute
voices and hands pulling you back
afraid yet willing to take the heat
Stubbornness is especially useful
when one wishes to let go of the hand
when every breath no longer counts
when it feels like a lifetime
just trying to take one step
fear and unease quickly mounts
reactions felt like rehearsed mimes
the image taunts, ridicules, haunts
Smelling the outside air was heavy
felt like ammonia and smelled like regret
keeping up makes one weary
past the doorknob, mat, wood and rivets
But right here is where I want to be
because the longer I stay
the less I'll be able to see
what I wish to know and wish to say
to roam, be in danger, be free
As I step outside the front door
the rustling of leaves signal my departure
hard as it is but necessary to do
hard and devastating for me and you
I look away and start walking
every piece of my soul withering
I couldn't help but start thinking
another time, another place
would have rendered us a different ending

Untitled 16

Delicate as a flower
steady as an archer
beautiful as a rainbow
heavy as one's sorrow

Delinquent as a tempest
seductive as a matron
perverse as a hidden desire
ruthless as a thunderstorm

Delirious as an orphan
hopeless as a captive
fierce as a roaring lion
gentle as a breeze

I saw you sing that day
everything in you is deliberate
and your memory held sway
with what decency sought to eradicate
stepping back to meditate
trying my best to mediate
over an infinite idealistic debate
of what an ambitious mind sought to create

I saw you stand that day
head held up high
arms reaching for the sky
hands pretending to fly
and being with the crowd
you didn't see me at all
which is great enough
for somebody on the other side
of an infinite and invisible wall

I saw you come to life
alive as the sun
engulfing as the sea
mesmerizing as the night
until you came to me
with all your beauty
war torn and lust heavy

With that I began to see
ever so clearly
hopes shattered
illusion broken
sanity reinstated
and then it happened
coming back to my senses
lunacy vanquished by reality
the arrow of truth
popping the dream chute
I realized I was all alone
just as it is when I was born

Untitled 15

Deep within your mind
is a place austere
full of nothing and silence
without ghosts of the past
Sometimes you go there
when you dream
but most of the time it is neglected
The truth is that
the place provides you power
and inspiration
without it you are almost dead
Yet the place is empty
and most of the time ignored
until an angel came
with broken wings seeking solace

Untitled 14

You remind me of the sunset
How it paints the sky with colors
orange, blue, yellow, violet
emotions swirling on a mirror
inspiration for every noble soul
How it relieves us of the day heat
and ushers the beginning of the night
passes by short and sweet
as we prepare to sleep tight
How it connects us to our ancestors
as they gaze in the same magnificent sight
surely they were also moved to tears
and afterwards made everything right
taking away all doubts and fears
taking away the burden of the years
How it tells of the beauty of existence
and why we should strive to live fully
that wasting a precious moment is a crime
and why we should always be pure and true
for life is short as a sunset
which is why I chose to spend it with you

Untitled 13

Birds awoken the dreamer
still clinging to his slumber
chasing a ghost of a woman
who was in another plane, another land
He created worlds for her
in hopes of a life of them together
wars were fought and sacrifices brought
only to see her lost forever

The dreamer was uneasy
for he had long accepted the dream as reality
being used to the dark and cold
surrendered and doing as he is told
by his passions and desires
pursuing her shadow with ire
letting himself be consumed by fire
caught in dark pits of mire

And so the birds heralded the morning
to which he tried to resist
but as he came to his senses, remembering
how beautiful this world that really exists
Sunshine and people starting their day
no longer did the dream held sway
for the dreamer finally free of strife
after awakening to a bird's song of life

Untitled 12

First time to see the emperor
as he walks by the town
Everybody is in the uproar
fear, hatred, awe unto the crown

For it was said
that he sported new attire
To my surprise he was naked
as his attendants seemed to conspire

I shouted to get his attention
And everybody else was laughing
and hysterical; also confusion
But he seemed to haven't notice a thing

The emperor simply ignored everybody
must've thought of us just ignorant brutes
Heading the procession wearing nothing
his pride won't let him see the truth

Untitled 11

Robots falling from the sky
torches lifted up high
Prayers cited to the one above
speaking of distress and hurt
reminders of promises of love

Robots ascending into town
we need the village clown
For we have but minutes
to escape our realities with day dreams
to think of that far pretty place
with roses and girls and sunbeams

Robots firing in an efficient rate
we have made our fast as of late
read the holy book and broke bread
reminded our children to go to bed
Hope and dread in flashing lights
Pain, suffering on poisonous brew
anything that can deliver us will do
a hero, an angel, a soldier too
whoever we can put our faith to
doesn't matter, that I knew
As long as we are breathing
do we keep on praying
do we keep on dreaming
and hoping and weeping
just to end the screaming and gnashing
of teeth and bones
over steel and stones

Robots capturing survivors for study
somehow I remember my family
and friends and neighbors
we used to smile together
trade food and clothing
help each other
compete with each other
share with each other
Now just body bags
scattered all over
I can almost hear their
sighs of relief
being dead and cold
free from further grief
while I am here
awaiting my captor
hurting and breathing
in pain and stupor

Robots bringing specimens
to the lab table
they spread the body
made sure it's observable
healthy people like me
improving their knowledge
sane people like me
an object of study

Robot placing subject on wheel
to run without end
taking notes, making amends
Robot closing lights and machines
says will continue tomorrow
then I saw him, too, is in chains
just making most of life borrowed