Makulimlim ang langit
‘Di tumitigil ang buhos ng ulan 
Pahinto-hinto ang mga sasakyan
Malamig na ang kapeng naiwan mo sa mesa 
Buti’t naubos naman ang pandesal na may mantikilya
Walang oras magkwento sa hapag-kainan
Lahat nagmamadali; Bakit? para ba ‘di maiwanan? 
Napapagod ka na ba?
Nais mong saglit magpahinga?
Maaari naman–tumigil saglit, huminga 
Ngunit tandaan na magpatuloy ka lamang. 
(Author’s Note:
I wrote this poem one rainy day in September 2022, on my way to work early in the morning. I was contemplating my life and work and how, although I was eager to go to work and see my team, I was tired physically and was sometimes thinking of the meaning for the things I was doing. I recall that in the months that followed, I consciously countered this by using the words “Padagos” and “Onwards” plus number and character combinations as my computer passwords. This method worked somehow.
Prior to the declaration of Alert level 1 in Manila, our working arrangements onsite were either alternate or three days in a week (work from home). But just a day after that, further to the declaration and the emergency meeting in the Dept., it was decided that employees in the government should report onsite everyday. I believe that there should have been a transition period even for a day or two.
The featured photos are the actual ones I took during the ride.)
Beyond Routes 