Landtrip ***** On The Road Poem by Rommel Mark Dominguez Marchan

Along Pampanga expressway
(aboard Partas Trans 8338)

Trip to La Union, we're caught by emergency
shoulder lane - engine trouble
2 kms. away to Clark starting perimeter
Angeles boundary
I just read this at the reflectorizing post
and while waiting for sister bus to fetch us
the panoramic view razes out the boring hours
of waiting
the un-droop flight of birds from active Pinatubo
phalanx of Asia' s staple food
oceanic habitat of marine cultured species
Quite far beyond the eyesore building wall
in Metro Manila where we escape from

On the road to San Fernando
(aboard Victory Liner)

Seen through bus window
the Agoo's 15th century landmark
the renovated Basilica church
Modern nominal castle, shrine on humpish hillside
marked La Union Spanish-influenced past
the broad-breasted acacias
the towering pines
the green-leafy Philippine grapes
un-bloom tobacco
herd of cows too young to be butchered
Just wait patiently

As I pass by Quezon Province
(Philtranco bus from Cubao to Davao
2 days and half tracking)

If i could do it all over again
land trip from Luzon to Mindanao
or vice versa
I probably stop here for a day and
drink coconut wine
the Lambanog
yes good for the heart
drink moderately
as goverment warns in TV
and I probably bring a galloon
gum flavor, blue or red in color
for my curiosed kababayan in Mindanao
I am proud to suck the Quezon sweat and
blood of specialty
cheers!
One for the road!