"I am" by Dan Christian Avila

I am a philomath. I never cease to learn. I believe learning is a lifetime process. Precious. Eternal. No ending at all. If I do otherwise, I won’t be a human anymore. I can’t tell you what I would look like. But one sure thing is that I would be an ignoramus. There’s no cure for ignorance. No panacea. Nothing.

I am a bibliophile. I value books. Every page is a reflection of mirrors in life. As another chapter ends, a new exordium unfolds---much like of what I experience--- I smile. I say Hi! I bid goodbye. I cry. But memories will always be there.

I am a kin of God. But people would still despise and laugh at me ---alone at this crossroad. They say I’m a tragic flaw of this society. I admit that I’m hurt. But I shouldn't cry. No tears. No frailty. No abuse. No more being butt of all jokes. This has been my life. This is how a gay lives.

I am a silent river that runs deep. Everything in me may not actually be what it seems. My smile can be a hatred. My cry, my happiness. My silence, a fury. It’s only me and God who knows what's within.

I am an imperfect person. Therefore, I lead an erroneous life. But I find it a rewarding experience. I find it worth living.

"I am" by Lovelyn Mante

I am a happy person. The journey I traverse isn't that blissful but I choose laughter over blues. Life is given once and I choose to be happy.

I laugh out loud, for many reasons. Perhaps happiness and sadness are worth expressing. And because I pretend at times, you may find it hard to figure the real deal.

I hide pain. I resolve things solo. I seldom listen to people’s words.

I listen to myself.

I play safe with life. Controversy kills. I love to cry so someone will console me. Tears from joy are always a delight. I love to love people. I experiment on simple things to give simple happiness to others.

I love healthy competitions. I love to perform things that are beyond me. I get self-worth from winning; it makes me feel more of a person. It makes me cling to whatever else life has to offer. As always I ask myself, how far could I go?

I do not close my eyes. I care about how the world turns. I recognize the painful truths in life. I do things with purpose. I’m addicted to being productive. I do not prioritize those that are waste of energies. God is the closest to my heart.

I dream of becoming rich one day. I view world as a bucket of material things to own. I find boredom in perfection. I love being able to turn scratch to something beautiful.

I hate fake people just as I hate animation. Cartoon entertainment sucks! I love showbiz. I easily admire pretty faces that carry a playful fashion statement. I love pink. I’m so girly at heart. My biggest frustration is volleyball. My greatest achievement is being a wife.

I do things when I want to, and I believe that doing things against your heart weakens you.

I do not beg for acceptance. I exist as I am.

"I am" by Jayson Salida

I am simple. Simplicity in its deepest sense is perfection.

I am not extraordinary. What I possess, others do too. I don’t see rareness within me. God created us equally, imperfect yet wonderful.

I am a dreamer. I always dream of a beautiful horizon and for the sunset to pause, but life has no pause. It goes up. It goes down. Life is balance. There is yin to every yang. 

I dream of utopia on Earth.  No worries. No tears. No drawbacks. I guess the life that I dream, despite its simplicity, is too much of a dream.

I am a romantic. I am loved and hated. Sometimes I care. Many times I don’t.

I am invictus. Negative criticisms never drag me down. They push me up.

I am no best. I am no worst. I don’t excel in many things but I strive to be better. I don’t need to prove myself to anyone, for someday I know I could be someone.

I am a sinner. Sometimes, I misjudge and hurt people. But who hasn’t?

I am a pretender. Pretending is the best way of escaping life’s crushing tides without turning our backs from it.

I am no poet, nor a playwright. I don’t write my life story, I just play my drama. I am a marionette. My faith is the string and God’s hands move me. I don’t make my destiny, I just embrace His providence.

What you see is just a part of me. I am a very real thing. I am a never-ending cliché.

"I am" by Christine Faith Cabanes

I am opinionated. I believe only in myself. I fight for what I believe is right. I hate anyone like me. I give advice to people. I don't want to receive any. 

I oppose them but I hate to be opposed. I argue. I just want them to listen. I get pissed when they are noisy but I am noisy. I stir dissension. I manipulate minds.

I test how persuasive I am. I present an argument. I let them embrace it.

My words are sharp and even my jokes hurt. But one thing is for sure I have a soft movable heart that celebrates for someone who comes and cries for someone who goes. I see things differently. I say things openly. I care for my loved ones.

I'll die for them.

My father fears the way I think but he loves how I understand things. My mother appreciates how I deal with problems but hates how I take them for granted.

Inside this beast is a jar of hearts filled with love and acceptance by my friends, family and my God who sees more of the light than of the shade that prevents the light to penetrate causing a shadow that darkens that part of me. But still, I love to live.

I love to learn. I love to laugh. I love who I am.

'Walay Permit' ni Danilo Padao II

Natapos na naman ang isang magulong araw.

Pag-uwi ng boarding house, hihiga sabay hiyaw

Sa isang matigas na kama kasama ang mga lamok,

Sabay isip at maghihimutok.

Exam na bukas, wala pa akong permit.

Walang pambayad ng tuition dahil nagkagipit-gipit

Mag-text ka sa ate mao gihapon itubag,

Na wala pa'y kwarta ug walay maihatag.

Mubangon kadali ug moadto sa kusina

Manghugas ug kaldero, human manlaba

Tutunganga sa labada at mag-iisip-isip,

Makakakuha kaya nang exam ang katulad kong paslit.

Nganong sa ako pa man ni nahitabo.

Nga nagtarong unta nga mahimong magtutudlo,

Kadaghang estudyante nga wa nagtarong sa klase,

Nganong di sila ang mahimong basle.

Ning abot na gyud ang adlaw'ng gihulat

Ang lahat nang problema'y natipong lahat.

Problema na naman ang pagkuha nang pagsusulit,

Hindi dahil hindi nag-aral, kundi dahil walang permit.