by Mila Bongco-Philipzig

The Philippines is the only country that has “the rule of love” included in its constitution.
– Former Chief Justice Sereno

Gagawa at gagawa ako ng resibo
At hindi hihinto sa Mayo.
Lampas na ang panahon ng pananahimik
Ng panonood o paghihintay lamang
Ngayon ay panahon ng aksyon
Panahon ng pagkilos sa mahahalagang desisyon
Bawat galaw at bawat pasya
Sana’y resibo ang ibunga.

Tara, magtulungan tayong gumawa ng mga resibo
At huwag tayong huminto sa Mayo.
Magkakasama
Natutunan nating muling umasa
At naaatasan tayong
Magmahal
Makinig sa isa’t isa
Magpakita ng respeto
Maging mahinahon kahit anong hirap ng laban
Magsilbi
Magbibigay ng ayuda sa nangangailangan.

Ang mga hangaring ito ay hindi pang-minsanan
Hindi pang eleksyon lamang
Kundi pang matagalan
Ang pumanig sa liwanag at kabutihab
At piliing magmahal
Ay hindi lamang para makakamit ng mga boto
O laan lamang para sa mga kakampi
Kung kalagitnaan at katuturan mismo ng ating pagkatao.

Kaya sadyain nating lahat gumalaw
Nang may tamang hangarin at puso
Para palaguin ang ating mga resibo
Hindi lang hanggang Mayo
Gawi at paraan na ng pamumuhay ito
Ang paggawa at pagpakita ng resibo.

About the author:
Mila Bongco-Philipzig was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to Edmonton in 1984 to pursue her PhD from the Department of Comparative Studies and Modern Languages at the University of Alberta. Her doctoral thesis is entitled “Reading Comics: Analysing Language, Culture and the Concept of Superheroes in Comicbooks.” She relocated to Munich, Germany where she did additional graduate studies and also started a family. She has since moved back to Edmonton, Alberta. She is also an advocate for inclusion and diversity. Bongco-Philipzig is also a published children’s author. She wrote the following poem after hearing former Justice CJ Sereno talk about elections and the role of history.