1st birthday surprise...

i holler at them...
much as i hate to admit...
sometimes, they become my outlet...
and they don't deserve it...

i insult them even...
mocking their very existence...
judging the reason for their creation...
oh and yes, at times, i make them feel i look down on them...

all these to provoke them...
to motivate them...
to pursuade...
to challenge their capacity to rise above expectations...

i've become someone i don't know anymore...
shifted to a personality not mine but somebody else's...
albeit, a protege turning to be like the mentor...
and that sucks...

they have become my victims...
our victims...
they have every reason to hate me...
to curse me...

yet, on the eve of my big day...
they concocted something i don't expect...
a tribute i'd never imagine they think i deserve...

not the candles or the cake...
nor the card or the tune of greeting...
but the smiles on their faces...
and the intention of making me feel special...
it's what melted my heart...

thank you very much everyone for making my birthday count...
it's indeed an unexpected wonderful surprise...
to gather together and pretend you'd play poker with me...
duh! hahaha! poker? you? hahaha! nice try!



TO MY PIGLET AND BLUETOOTH...
maraming maraming maraming salamat... i heard it was your idea...

TO MY JULIA, NEGGIE, POLDI, ATE JERLYN, LIEZL, VKY, KAYE, JAY, LENTOT, KUYA NELSON, ARMA DEAR, JEROME, KUYA MONTES, KUYA BONG, KUYA REY, YAYA CHELSEA, MANNY, DENMARK, ANGEL, MARK, BIEN, LEONARD... many many many heartfelt thanks...

TO HUGZ ELTON AND SIR WILMER... warmest gratitude for celebrating with us that night...

and TO ALL WELL-WISHERS... blessed be to to you...