Eric Abalajon, Iloilo, The Philippines
Garbage Crossing
East of Bacolod
Excited, she asked us
to stand in front of the falls.
The picture turned out good.
The water breaking into
well placed boulders, the landscape
layered with small palm trees
and trimmed grass made to
hide the remaining visible mud.
On top, just a glimpse of an outline
of the steel railings to prevent
people falling into the lake
by accident. We walked back to
the hall for lunch, I asked what
this place used to look like before.
Cane fields, of course,
she says matter-of-factly.
When sugar prices crashed, and well,
never recovered, the descendants of the
owners had to think fast. Some say the rocks here
were used to extend the city.
Eventually becoming the area
where SM City Bacolod now stands,
frequently attempted
to be reclaimed back
by the Guimaras Strait
to no avail.
My parents recall, a beloved priest
had to be reassigned
since his sermons talked
about the evils of quarrying.
Nonetheless, I’m still glad Alangilan
now has a farm resort.
A reason for you balikbayans[1] to visit me.
[1] balikbayan refers to a Filipino returning home to the Philippines, either for a vacation or for good, after having lived or worked overseas for an extended period of time.
Eric Abalajon is currently a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo. Some of his works have appeared in Revolt Magazine, Loch Raven Review, Ani, and Katitikan. Under the pen name Jacob Laneria, his zine of short fiction, Mga Migranteng Sandali, is distributed by Kasingkasing Press. He lives near Iloilo City.
