Fiction by Jasmin Andrea Y. Pacalna | March 16, 2026
This story won 2nd Prize at the 7th Satur P. Apoyon Tigi sa Mubong Sugilanong Binisaya. This story is presented in serial form this March 2026.
I. Ang Pagsugod sa Kasakit
Ang akong pagkabata nagsugod sa kalayo ug kasaba. Digos, sa akong panumduman, usa ka lungsod nga init kaayo bisan buntag pa. Ini’g mata nako, pirmi ko makadungog sa tikatik sa ulan nga moligid-ligid sa atop ug sa kalit nga pagsinggit ni Tiya Belen gikan sa kusina, “Ay, Aisha, tabangi ko diri sa tinapa!”
Poetry by Nina Matalam Alvarez | March 2, 2026
The night comes early, air pregnant
with the cold of rain. The water
in the pot hums and bubbles along
to the tap-squish tune of him slicing up tomatoes, sweet
and tart, blushing green. The meat
goes in, breaking fragrant surface.
Continue reading It Is February, and I Have a Love Like Freshly-Made Sour Soup
Fiction by Ian Jane P. Orillaneda | March 2, 2026
It’s been weeks now. My legs are numbing from gravity. The wooden floor seems hollow, and I can only think of crawling toward the door. The weather outside creeps into my skin, scorching me to the bone. Nay Seling set the electric fan last night, but it is not helping much. I overheard on the radio that today’s heat will reach around forty degrees. And it has been weeks now since my bed became my sanctuary.
Poetry by Francis Kyle Madas | February 23, 2026
kahit nagasipsip na ng dugo ang semento
kasi gihampak ng ex ko ng payatot na dos por dos
ang tangkugo ng bago kong nobyo
na nagaupo at nagalaro lang ng ml habang nagasipsip
ng mango shake dito sa night market
ng bulad festival ng calumpang na nagakulintas
sa liog ng barangay hall at gym,
Continue reading ginatawanan niyo pa rin kaming mga bayot na parang isa lang joke
Poetry by Kris Kristofferson Halog | February 23, 2026
The mayor says the river is clean.
He says this while bottled water
waits on his table like a witness
trained not to testify.
Nonfiction by Carlou Barroca Espedillon | February 23, 2026
Adobong puti is probably one of those dishes that is closest to my definition of “comfort food.” Cliché as it is, I always mimic the infamous Anton Ego spoon-drop whenever I eat this dish.
Preparing adobong puti is the easiest way to cook meat. You can screw up frying meat, but there is no way you can mess up adobong puti. All you have to do is put the meat in a pot or pan. It can be any meat, but I personally prefer liempo, or any pork cut with a good balance of meat and fat, together with the spices, vinegar, and salt.
Continue reading Why Adobong Puti Is My Favorite Type of Adobo
Poetry by Andrea Lim | February 16, 2026
I love you enough
to close my eyes while you drive
I may be the first one to remind you to fix yours on the road.
Poetry by Andrea Lim | February 16, 2026
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
— Albert Camus
From your carved corner, from your side of the crossroads
You asked me to take a look: love, it’s snowing here right now
And in the hurriedness of your work at hand, you sent without an edit:
have you seen now before?