Walking that short strip of EDSA--
that strip between the corner of East Avenue and the MRT station,
that I used to walk daily for years--
I suddenly noticed it.
The way the sunlight fell from the east at an 8AM height,
the smell of people's colognes mixed with hurried sweat;
as I guzzle on bottled soy milk peddled by a taho vendor.
The streetsweeper MMDA did a great job getting litter off the street.
Suddenly I'm hungry for the deep-fried crablets and tortang talong and tokwa,
the softdrinks in iced chests,
the eyes of strangers on their way to work or death.
I long to understand the graffitti on the wall.
Last night's rain washed away the stench of urine but not the acidic discoloration.
The barker with lop-sided eyes sneezed.
I was grateful to catch that moment: I may never see that again.
Living now in Malolos, had to be miles away, an hour a half bus ride away,
to notice what I once took for granted.
