Cavite
You like to pretend that you will see her again.
One of these days in Bacoor, Imus, Dasmariñas
Cavite – the province of independence,
of historical treachery, of uneaten tahong chips.
Bayang Cavite!
Like the song from our hymn, THE Cavite Hymn:
“Bayang Cavite, aking mahal.”
I do love you, my dear province.
Come here, wear a mask & your face shield,
let's drive until we reach Tagaytay.
Drink coffee overlooking the Taal Lake.
And imagine there’s no such thing as a pandemic.
What fails in your daydream stays
in Cavite.
You are so prepared to be disappointed
by Aguinaldo’s house but you’ll love
his bowling alley. Sunsets are dreamy
over this coastal town. If you want to visit,
there’s no way you’ll miss it. So why not
in Cavite?
None of us ever ends up visiting our hometown.
We are strangers in our own homeland. This
much is true for the Filipino diaspora.
So why don't you write me a letter
from Cavite?
Neen Ramos is a Pinay (Filipina) who loves to devour pop culture and random stuff on the Internet. A lover of good books and a cup of coffee, her Spotify playlist keeps her sane as she juggles her remote work and TV show marathons. She's a self-proclaimed foodie and a habitual bargain addict. You can find her aspirational Insta-poet alter ego (@whatneenwrites) on Twitter and Instagram.