Gapamuyayaw ang mal-am
Ara duman ang maya
Ginaubos ang gisabwag
nga palay sa iya uma
Bisan ano ka tabog,
gabalik ini. Gatinusik
sa duta sang mangunguma
Naluyag ang maya
sa gisabwag nga palay
Kada lagson, maglupad
Kada dapo, lagson
Gipagwaan sang baril
Wala na may naglupad
Wala na may nagdapo
Natanom ang maya
upod sa naluyagan
Upod sang palay sa uma
sa duta sang mangunguma
Ruben III Castañares is a native of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, a multicultural city in Mindanao’s core. Last year, he released “Mga Gisulat sa Gabi,” an independent zine, at the 2023 SOX Zine Fest. He was also published in Sulat SOX for the piece “Isa ka Adlaw sa Kabuhi ni Junior.” His work “Slam Books are Memoirs” will be published in NAGMAC’s ANTINOSTALGIA this April and “Ulan sa Payag” in TLDTD’s 7th Issue on August. He served as the Interim Chairperson of Manug-isa: South Cotabato Writers Association (2016–2018), the Editor-in-Chief of OMNIANA, the Notre Dame of Marbel University’s official student publication (2015–2017).