Poet Profile

Wilfredo (Willie) Ropelos Bongcaron

Poetry has been the pre-occupation of this poem-writer ever since he could remember. Poem-writing challenges his spirit and allows him to tread previously untrodden paths. He is an A.B. Philosophy graduate from the University of the Philippines - Diliman. And now, finishing his MPA course at PUP Graduate School. He has been connected with the mass transport system in Manila since 1985, where he is an operations personnel. He is a happily-married guy with three brilliant kids and a loving partner. He believes that it is but wise to SAVE MOTHER EARTH; and we have to adopt and implement no-nonsense schemes and channel all our efforts to maintain Her environment habitable for the sake of humankind. Through the realm of haiku-poetry, and poetry-writing in general, this poem-writer is attempting to give his modest share of educating the reader to be a lot more conscious about and act for the sake of MOTHER EARTH. (Note: This poem writer has assumed a Japanese pen name, "Ao-Suzume" meaning the "Blue Sparrow". Thank you to Mrs. Gabi Greve.)

Awards and Other Honors: Featured Talent @ The Bright Light Cafe (Barbara Llewellyn and Rod Kirkham, Publishers, Bright Light Multimedia (Australia) [http://www.brightlightmultimedia.com]; Featured Poet at www.emanilapoetry.com.  His work has been selected to appear in the following collections: 2 poems included at Sa Kabila ng Ritmo /Beyond Rhymes (emanila.com pty ltd, Kingswood, NSW, Australia, 2005); 5 poems included in the Folio of Linangan ng Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA, 2006); 3 poems included in the Chapbook of Kamakatahan, Unang Sulyap (2007).

old calendar
the pages, heavy
with the year's events

church service
an altar server raises
his candle snuffer

lingering heat
locusts feasting in a field
of golden seeds

flicker of hope
the comforting warmth
of the candle flame

morning sunlight
a veil of the slightest
of raindrops

rainy evening
while stuck in heavy traffic
a tooth aches

Credits: "old calendar" - Sketchbook: A Journal of Eastern and Western Short Forms; " lingering heat" - CZHcanadien (Canadian Zen Haiku); "morning sunlight" - CZHcanadien (Canadian Zen Haiku); "church service" - Sketchbook: A Journal of Eastern and Western Short Forms; "flicker of hope" - Sketchbook: A Journal of Eastern and Western Short Forms; "rainy evening" - CZHcanadien (Canadian Zen Haiku).