Belated Cousin my Younger Cake gives
Forgive my Busy Bee to Greet you well
Since both we in Tune to the Yorker's, lives
Are what a few Dollars which I can sell
Now, how was your Day? Special as it seems
That the Early History our Links blur
Perhaps I was Young to sort out the Reams
Forgetting that Paper, Pink would occur
Overall, such a Worry-Wart I am
To think that you have Stones in my Basket
Realising that our Blood's Strength it can
Revive my Love's Story in your Pocket.
Greatly wish, Manang, my missed Uncle bears
Take his Candle; And put it in your hair.

Unom ka itom nga tuldok,
Nipilit sa lain laing parte sa akong lawas.
Dala ni ini atung mga kalipay,
Og mga kaguol para ingnung patas.

Ikaw ang itom nga tuldok,
Nga nagunitan sa akong kamot.
Usahay mubuhi kay nabatyag
Nimo akong dala nga kaalimoot.

Ikaw ang itom nga tuldok,
Nga uban permi sa akong kumagko.
Nagpamatood nga bisan asa ko maabot,
Ikaw ra gyud ako kuyug.

Ikaw ang itom nga tuldok,
Nga anaa dapit sa akong ilong.
Agi anan sa akong mga luha,
Ug magkaboang atung relasyon.

Ikaw ang itom nga tuldok,
Nga nagdumili mu biya.
Apan plinastik manang imoha,
Di ka kahibaw ug kanus-a ka mupahawa.

Ikaw ang itom nga tuldok,
Naglaroy laroy sa akong utok.
Manaog ka usahay sa liog,
Para ako matuok.

Ikaw ra gyud unta ang itom nga tuldok,
Nga grabeg pilit sa akong dughan.
Apan karon, gamay nalang nga tulod,
Para ikaw akong buhian.

UWIAN:
Unang hakbang pagpasok sa tarangkahan.
Pangalawa, at tumingin sa daan.
Pangatlo, at tumingala sa kalawakan.

Saka naglakad pa ng isang daan at tatlumpung hakbang,
Sa apat, hanggang lima narinig ko ang andar ng jeep ni Ama
Sa anim hanggang pito narinig ko ang pagkukwenta ni Ana.

Sa walo hanggang siyam nakita ko ang tongitsan ni Manang.
Sa sampu hanggang labing-isa umiwas sa konstrukyon ni Saavedra.
Sa labing-dalawa at hanggang labing- tatlo ay narinig ang sigawan nina Agnes at Cito.

Sa bawat bahay, at taong nadadaanan
Tanging pagkaway at ngiti lang ang nadadatnan.
At ilan lang ito sa mga bagay na inuuwian.

Nagpatuloy sa paglalakad hanggang umabot sa abandonadong bahay,
Madilim man, at magulo sa loob. Ngunit amoy na amoy pa rin
Ang buhay na puno ng sampaguita.

Pumitas ako, inamoy pa ito, at nagbaon ng ilan nito.
Ipinikit ang mata ko, at saka linanghap ang mabangong amoy nito.
Saka naglakad pa at pumapasok sa aking tahanan.

🐍 To the Favoritism Queen (Grandma)

Hi, Grandma. I know you can’t read this.
That’s fine—your silence always screamed the loudest.
You only missed me when I vanished,
But never enough to look twice when I was near.
Still, I held your hand. Still, I stayed.
You gave me scraps, I served you care.
You played favorites—I played nurse.
And though I bore the wound,
I never let the poison touch my tongue.


🎭 To the Storyteller (Manang)

Hi, Manang.
Thanks for the respect… in our absence, at least.
What a talent—to act kind when the audience is gone.
Keep performing. Applause is overrated anyway.
Your storylines are fiction dressed in guilt,
But don’t worry—
We know the truth behind the curtain call.


🐀 To the Emotional Parasite

Hi, *****. That’s you.
Rich—yes. Rich in overthinking.
Rich in words you never learned how to use right.
But money? Nah. You only invest in drama.
You unveiled yourself without warning.
Didn’t even let us hold the masks longer.
So thank you—for exposing the betrayal
We suspected all along.
God saw it all.
And me? I won’t forgive you.
But I’ll let time wear the crown for justice.


👀 To the Human CCTV (Cousin)

Hi, cousin.
I blocked you—digitally and emotionally.
You’ve always had sharp eyes and dull morals.
Broadcasting my life to your mom
Like a live episode on channel gossip.
I see now…
You wanted to look clean, so you painted us *****.
Newsflash:
Everyone’s already seen your reruns.
And you’re not the hero in them.


🙄 To the College Dropout ****

Hi, ****.
Yes, I said it—with the elegance of a truth bomb.
So when you sold grandma’s table,
Was that a bargain… or a betrayal?
Funny, you worked in Customer Service—
But lacked the grace to serve without insults.
No, I never hurt you.
You mistook my curiosity for interrogation
Because you’ve only known relationships made of daggers.
You cling to that aunt abroad like she’s an exit plan.
But be careful, darling—
She’s molding you into her mirror.
And mirrors crack too.