cloudy afternoon--
an old lady placing stones
on her bingo card



the neighborhood
playing bingo--
acacia blossoms

chubby moon--
a baby photo album
still empty

again this
routine of dressing up
...morning rain

alone
this moonless night...
a mosquito

sweat...
the water flowing
over rocks



Here's another version:

sweat
rolls down my cheek--
mountain stream

through the woods
in slippers...
sound of wings

starless night...
walking alone
over pressed leaves

painting bamboo leaves...
crumpled rice paper
on the table

tonight
there is no moon
to imitate


past midnight
and it's still raining...
I close the door

midnight rain...
the voice of one
selling balut


"Balut", as described by manalang.com is a fertilized egg with a partially developed duckling, which is eaten boiled. Click on the link to see a close-up of this delicacy, which is a favorite among travellers during stop-over especially at night. A balut vendor is a typical figure in cities and towns in the Philippines and is representative of the Filipino masses, especially the urban poor.

turning
my back on Taal Lake...
a bowl of bulalo


Tagaytay City, located south of Metro Manila, Philippines, is flocked by tourists mainly because of Taal Lake and volcano. It is also famous for a hot dish called "bulalo" which is the main dish served by the roadside eateries overlooking the lake. I've gone to one such eatery thrice since June.

"Bulalo" is described by PinoyCook.Net as "boiled bone-in beef shanks served with a variety of vegetables". The hotness of the dish contrasts with the cool climate of Tagaytay. And while the serene lake gives a sense of inner peace to the viewer, the bulalo dish provides satisfaction to the body, particularly the belly.

pissing on the wall
of a candle-lit house...
a firefly

noontime videoke...
from the roof
chirps of a sparrow

in the pond
my blurred face...
a tadpole