His Name Was Magsaysay

He was there--
On the balcony and on top of the stairs
Watching people go by, and patrons,
In and out our "sari-sari" store;
On the beach
Watching the flight of sea gulls, the
Giant waves and the golden setting sun, and
On the farm
Tilling, threshing and harvesting--with me.
O, how I loved playing with him!
And, thank God, he loved playing with me.
I'd throw a bamboo stick, and eight of
Ten, he'd run to get it; other times,
He didn't bother at all. But no matter, I'd
Give him reward of peanuts and rattan ball.
He'd walk with me to school, Monday to Friday--
Then, he'd walk back home, ever so slowly,
Looking back...every few steps away.
And I'd know what he was telling me:
"I love you. I'll see you at noonday."