Sorry, Supremo,
we no longer deserve to
call you our hero.

For we’ve been silent
and lustily cheered even
as they killed the defenseless
and jailed those that wouldn’t be silenced.

We have conveniently forgotten
them who like you were buried in graves unknown,
and we adore the Lazaro Makapagals
and Emilio Aguinaldos of these times.

We pray that someday soon
we find the conscience
and gain again the courage
to redeem ourselves
and be worthy once more
to call you our hero, our Supremo.

Eric S.B. Libre
25 November 2021