Ascent to Kabugao

Hours on the rugged mountain road to Kabugao,
I cling like a monkey on a jeepney's cargo rack;
seeing slopes of ten thousand trees, I sigh,
thinking of one with a hundred yellow blossoms.


Kabugao is the capital of Apayao, a mountainous province in the North. I went there sometime in 1999. I can't forget that trip: I was practically hanging on one side of the fully-loaded jeepney for hours.

Hot Springs of Sadanga

Clouds glow in the full moon's light
cool wind from east smells of rice wine
steaming water awaits the bathers:
who will come out first from the mountain village?



Sadanga is one of the highland municipalities in Mt. Province, north of the Philippines. Sometime in 1998, we held a peace workshop there. The hot springs is one of its attractions. There's a common bath for men, and another for women.

Lao Tzu

a spoonful of vinegar:
is it bitter, sweet or sour?
the bearded philosopher
throws a smile for an answer

This is my first English tanaga, inspired by the story of the three vinegar tasters: Confucius, Buddha and Lao Tzu. For details on this story and the accompanying painting, click here.

What is a tanaga. This is a Filipino form of poetry, consisting of four lines that rhyme, with seven syllables for each line. I would say that it is the counterpart of the Japanese tanka. Members of the Pinoy Poets e-group, of which I am one, join hands in promoting said indigenous poetry form. I have created a new blog featuring the tanaga that I've written, all in Tagalog except the one above.

World's Forgotten Crises

The facts about Reuter Foundation AlertNet's top 10 forgotten crises are mind-boggling, shocking. What a killing planet we are in! How could they have been forgotten or ignored by media?

How terrible it must really be particularly for the affected children.

Who am I in my past life?

Your creativty and craftsmenship doesn't come from
nowhere. You used to be an artisan in your past
life, painting murals, sculpting statues, and
crafting wood for more noble people.


Who were you in your past life?
brought to you by Quizilla

women: in haiku and senryu

It's Women's Month! Here are haiku and senryu on women I have composed. You can read them, and my other compositions, in Along a Calm and Clear River.

ice and fish
n a bucket--
mother's reflection


two mothers
talk of wedding
over ricecakes


gray-haired woman
curled on a folding bed
... crescent moon


barbecue stand--
thin smoke veils a woman's face
her musing eyes


breakfast...
mother waters her plants
with a teapot


videoke night--
on the screen, a background
of bare breasts