Metrobank Architecture Competition 2012 - The Winner Who Lost Poem by Ian Jay Bantilan

I
Dried from Exhaustion
Lost in the Translation
Confused in the Submission
Expectant in completion
___That was who I am

II
Spent from Exertion
The Joy of Triumph
The Pain of Defeat
The taste was all mine.

III
One came a call
While I was in the Mall
Another meeting, o darn
To Manila I will return

IV
They say, they pay the fare
I, the rest, my dear,
But sad another couple absence,
I am a Professor, you see.

V
So, I'm off to the Airport and fly
To rent a Hotel for a Night
But sleepless, restless, mindless I tread,

To the Death,
To Obscurity
To Oblivion
To the Mercy

the Mercy of the (MADE) Metrobank (Foundation) Committee.

VI
On my own expense I dine,
Rendering Walkthrough(3D) line-by-line
I curse my fate, by the Stars
Why by their whim I slave away this far!

VII
I pick up my Papers and Cue
Set the Powerpoint Page to New
Type Away, Click Away, Quiet
Through last ounce of Energy to the night.

VIII
I look to the Mirror,
And practice my lines
I wince with Terror
At the eyebugs in my eyes.

IX
I console myself with the Thought
After this, I eat and Sleep and strut
It wouldn't pay for blood and tears,
The risk to health (from puyat) to my years.

X
So I'm off to Metrobank Tower
In Gil Puyat, Makati, ready and sober,
But sleepless, restless, mindless I tread,

To the Death,
To Obscurity
To Oblivion
To the Mercy

the Mercy of the (MADE) Metrobank (Foundation) Committee.

XI
I wait for my time, for Presentation
Impress all the Judges, grab their Attention
They are well dressed, and composed
Ernest, keen and seated, in their Rows.

XII
So I'm off to give my Presentation
Clueless and Grilled, up to Perfection
But sleepless, restless, mindless I speak,

To the Death,
To Obscurity
To Oblivion
To the Mercy

the Mercy of the (MADE) Metrobank (Foundation) Committee.

XIII
I talk of Architecture, Concept & Light
While they listened, somewhat uptight
They brushed us around, talk at our backs
And kept us in suspense, we can't relax.

XIV
O, how Destinies would turn
And happiness would end
When you stir up the Heart
Deep sorrows they would send!

XV
We were called, back to the meeting
Before us, envelopes sealed a-sitting
We were motioned forward to open
Up flew a sign of Death, a raven.

XVI
Oh, that I only listened
To the little voice inside
And not the authorities,
That beckon to abide.

XVII
So I'm off to open the Letter
and see that I won the Price! This is to be...
But sleepless, restless, mindless I tread,

To the Death,
To Obscurity
To Oblivion
To the Mercy

the Mercy of the (MADE) Metrobank (Foundation) Committee.

XVIII
For we shouldn't place our hope in Man
Whose minds may change like shifting sands
They are mortal, undependable
Their thoughts and minds are unstable

XIX
Congratulations, Celebration, Joy and Grief,
The Judge Announce, O what deceit!
Hollow words echo across the Halls
While I run down through the Walls

XX
A wriggly man to me, approach
We're glad you Won but take these Notes
We plead with you, be silent Please
Until we (Metrobank Foundation) launch our Press Release.

XXI
So, I'm off to my Hotel, to pack my Bags
Walking like a Zombie, my Mind's like a Rag
But Sleepless, Restless, Mindless I Pack,

To the Death,
To Obscurity
To Oblivion
To the Mercy

the Mercy of the (MADE) Metrobank (Foundation) Committee.

XXII
Two weeks past, this call I catch
From the Validating Team
And, awaiting them I glance my Watch
Waiting for Eternity it Seems.

XXIII
The team arrives, and Headway dives
Into files and every Crook and Cranny
Collecting Info, Person, Place and Time
to Clear some doubt if there is any.

XXIV
So I'm off to answer Questions
To clarify and give my Reasons
But sleepless, restless, mindless I answer,

To the Death,
To Obscurity
To Oblivion
To the Mercy
the Mercy of the (MADE) Metrobank (Foundation) Committee.

XXV
So a week had past and now again
They break the news, and give a plan
We change our mind, We'll take it back
Your Award's Recalled, - no more plaque.

XXVI
I said 'Maam, Please explain, can't understand'
'The whole meaning of what you plan'
'We plead with you, Withdraw your Entree
So you could join, again next year.'

XXVII
'Does not your Competition say,
The Jury's Verdict is Final
How do we Discuss and Sway,
Your Decision with Reversal? '

XXVIII
I remember, I spoke Plain and Clearly
I never hid (information) from the Jury
Everyone heard my Testimony
(And they had time aplenty)
To decide their Final verdict

XXIX
'Our (Unanimous) Choice of you was cast,
Sorry but we changed our Mind,
Our Decision's made with speed and rush,
Forgive us, for your waste of Time.'

XXX
'And may you give our one Request
Please Withdraw your Entry, from the Rest
But we will give a chance to Join,
Our Competition in another Time.'

XXXI
'And, though your Work is quite Exemplary
We're ticker for rules, and Parliamentary,
We are Judges and keep our virility
Appeal if you must, for this Technicality.

XXXII
So I'm off the Competition
Humiliated and Stung by Deception
But Sleepless, Restless, Mindless I Left,

To the Death,
To Obscurity
To Oblivion
To the Mercy
the Mercy of the (MADE) Metrobank (Foundation) Committee.

XXXIII
Today I learn another Lesson
Time and Chance come, to every Person
Take care when you hope in Man
Because Bureaucracy can have other Plans

XXXIV
It's best to put your Hope Above
On One who sees and judges in Love (not Technicality)
Men can change their Hearts and Mind
They may be unstable, you will find

XXXV
For he who trusts in Men may Fail
But the One above will never Bail (Leave)
He will abide to the End
And preserve your Faith as a Friend