Donde Esta by Jayline Gonzales-Barredo

Continuing our showcase of the winning entries from the Bien Chabacano Poetry Writing Contest, in this winning poem, Jayline Gonzales-Barredo reflects on the relationship between people, nature, and the environment through the eyes of birds searching for a home.

The poem, written in Chabacano, talks about the importance of trees, habitat, and our shared responsibility to care for the environment.

As cities grow and landscapes change, where do the birds go?

It is one of the pieces featured in Voces del Alma: Sombra y Luz and is also a winning piece from the first Bien Chabacano Poetry Writing Contest.

Launched in June 2026, Voces del Alma is the first-ever poetry anthology book featuring contemporary Chabacano poems written by Zamboangueños. Its first issue is titled Sombra y Luz.