"Of 'Goons' rather than 'Ghosts': Halloween over Manila"
As the night grows near over 'tis I recall dear
The time old folks remember the day both liked and feared
Calling upon the ancestors whose stories told
That end as legends old books as called
Strange as one may think as the bonfire lit
Followed by spells, incantations for this sacred meet
O'er the sacred fire, feast and celebrate
The new dawn as everyone awaits
With kids enjoying sweets after trick or treats
And jack o' lanterns glowing outside after a backyard feat
The moon glows so full as the owls hoot
If not seeing trees bearing ripening fruit
The magic of love resonates as couples together
Once creating sparks now casts a single power
Triumphs over fear and that of sorrow
As from this eve make way to a once-tomorrow
However the actual horror is not of ghosts
But rather of the order and its ghastly hosts
Exploiting thy home and those of the others
Reminiscent of nightmares that our sleeps bother
The attack dogs in uniforms and thieves in garb
Hamletted our villages with walls barb'd
The nation at hell- for sure the order can't tell
For it's hidden behind the beauty steered by their spell
If not the thieves this time in suit
Stealing every fruit, work, and leaving us like shit
Distorting the law by circumventing the article
To justify their trick as if making them unstoppable
As if they're concerned when in fact they are not
Even invoking the almighty even their hearts rot
Especially in facing the folk this time had enough of their spell
As their hearts hardened wiling to rebel
If not the thieves this time in suit
Stealing every fruit, work, and leaving us like shit
Distorting the law by circumventing the article
To justify their trick as if making them unstoppable
As if they're concerned when in fact they are not
Even invoking the almighty even their hearts rot
Especially in facing the folk this time had enough of their spell
As their hearts hardened wiling to rebel
Quite true those horrors as seen in the newspapers
All made by ghouls whose reality they're attack dogs of the order
Some years ago we heard news about a young lad Kian
Who died accused of a crime, shot as he ran
Followed by another- this time about collateral damages
Justified by those uniformed living garbage
If not in the countryside whose just calls end silenced
By the bullets, and statements of the order's violence
But I know that the curse goons presented cannot last
For the folk now risen wanted to break the enforced past
Neither "hell" nor their "heaven" will vanquish the oppressed
Folks had enough of being subjugated, minds repressed
Expect fire and blood to exorcise the nation's soul
As the folk uprise till the rotten order’s fall
Like the old who said "there be dragons"
Yes, but this time of armed masses with cannons!
Pardon if my poem sounds political
Despite celebrating the day that's macabre and mystical
Especially as the moon shines so bright
Shattering the darkness that made the day blight
Perhaps the anger of the folk is what the order feared
Especially after decades being repressed, subjugated, or sneered
Not surprised as they all rise with torches, pitchforks, guns
Willing to burn tyrants at the stake till their souls gone!
No matter what most belittle this
Some if not few would surely miss
For on this day lies joy, and strength renew
'gainst the times of disquiet quite so true
I hope folks who passed, fallen guide my way
In every trials set day by day
For through their wisdom it gives enough light
In a time when darkness prevails, and tyrants fright.