Santifica

Poetry by | September 25, 2016

Ya anda le kamina para na otro punta del entablado
Ta alsa alsa un pies acaba el su otro, como ta brinca brinca,
Llega otro lao, ya alsa le su maga braso y ya para un rato
antes le abaha na jutay escalera del entablado

Ya hace ste ele por cuanto vezes; tiene vez ta kore,
tiene vez, ta camina. Su ohos tiene vez ta mira mira
na areredor, como tiene kosa ta anda busca;
Tiene jutay mujer ya anda sigui con su nana

Una, el avenida del reso. “Santa Maria
Madre de Dios rega por nosotros…”
Ta segunda su maga pies: pak pak pak pak

“…pecadores ahora y hasta para cuando…”
No hay quien ta reklama, hende ta pensa malo
masquin sila todo ta sinta, hinca, y ta resa
El santissima virgen cintao lang alya na mesa

Tres: Risas del jutay bata mujer.
“Amen.”


Floraime is a Basileña who majored in Literature, Linguistics, and Language Teaching at the Iligan Institute of Technology of the Mindanao State University. She is currently teaching subjects on Literary and Language Studies in the same university. The poem “Santifica” is the first Chabacano literary piece ever published in Dagmay. “Sanctify” is the approximation of the meaning in the Chabacano language, and not the translation, as indicated by the author herself. You may find the English translation of this poem here.

The Story of Lake Mainit

Poetry by | September 18, 2016

The virgin forest
The rain forest
The orchids of the forest
The gold and silver of the forest
The unending music of the sky
The waltz of clouds
The rolling hills of clouds
The roaring thunder,
The sparkling lightning
The heaven of silence
The beautiful sleeping lady
White dress embroidered design
A very long hair
A perfect clothing
Adored with silver
The chant of the wind
The cascades of falls
The hiss of the leaves
The whispers of the river
The kiss of the dust
The touch of the branch
The hug of the air
The eyes of the mountain
Continue reading The Story of Lake Mainit

The Third Waterfall

Poetry by | September 11, 2016

Her brute force rattles you
To the core, even from a distance.
She drops with such heaviness,
Such strength, that she sends spray
Back up the air, higher than her,
Ramming the forested slopes around
With her rumble, causing leaves
To tremble, your heart to flutter.

The most beautiful is the most
Terrifying, you tell yourself, humbled
By your smallness, by the mortality
Of your body. You stand still
Before her, and in mere minutes—
In your ears and eyes, her roar lowers
To a murmur, her fall slows
To a flow. She becomes something
Whose power you can harness,
Whose beauty you can sell.

Beasts stalk their prey, and before
They devour it, they pray.

Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
September 2016


Jude Ortega is from Sultan Kudarat Province. He was a fellow for fiction at the 2016 UP National Writers Workshop.

Tungang Gabii sa Divisoria

Poetry by | September 11, 2016

(Alang kang Krishna Mamoko)

Nibiya na ang usa ka kamot sa orasan.
Lagmit nagduka kon kinsa ma’y naniid nato
samtang nagbarog ta sa eskina. Kandado na

ang mga tindahan sama sa atong kahilom.
Ang salin sa kainit sa imong kamot
akong gikuptan samtang gapaabot
sa imong tagad, apan sama sa mga lampara

sa Divisoria, kapundiron imong mga mata.
Unta, mahabwa na ang tanang buot ipadayag
nga nadan-ok pa sa tutonlan.

Ug sama sa kawatan, kalit lang moikyas
hangtod ulahi na ang kahiamgo dungan
sa pagkahanaw unya sa tanan natong
gibahandi. Wala gihapon ta’y imik.

Wala’y tingog gawas sa minghoy nga awit
sa radyo dihang gipasakay tika’g taxi hangtod
nahabilin ko ug ang akong anino nadum-ok

duol sa bata nga gahithit og rugby. Nagpadayon
ang kagabhion. Giwitik ko ang sigarilyo
ug gisakmit ang abo duyog sa panghupaw,
nisakdap sa dalan nga taas

ang kadulom. Bugtong saksi ang buwan
niining tanan sa wala pa hingpit
nga gitukob sa gabusdik nga dag-om.


Mark “Ton” Daposala was born and raised in Cagayan de Oro City. His works have been published in Bisaya Magasin and Kabisdak. Ton now works as a faculty at Humanities and English Department of Capitol University. He’s also a member of CDO writers bloc, Bathalad-Mindanao, and NAGMAC.

The Song of Kagan, the Song of Unity

Poetry by | September 4, 2016

Bayok ng Kagan, Bayok ng Kakaysa (Original Kagan)

This is a call for everyone
Whose spirits will soon taste death
Rich and poor, you must remember
So your faith may increase.

This is to wake those sleeping souls
In a hopeful remembrance of their kin.
Cut not your ties
For Allah forbids it.

Empty the souls from enmity.
Stand for unity.
Stand for faith.
So you may fulfill our noble pledge
To Allahu Ta’ala.

Follow His commands.
And sow the unity in your heart
While it still beats.

English translation by Mohammad Nassefh R. Macla


Abdul Khaliq Tayongotong is a Kaagan-native from Lupon, Davao Oriental. He is currently taking up Bachelor of Education and Islamic Studies in the Davao Regional Arabic Academy, Inc. The poem Bayok ng Kagan, Bayok ng Kakaysa is originally a Kagan song, composed and sung by the author.

Bayok ng Kagan, Bayok ng Kakaysa

Poetry by | September 4, 2016

The Song of Kagan, the Song of Unity (English Translation)

Yani yang pagpasampay sang kariko natun
Na yaga-onawa da yang kamatay
Awnan aw miskinan, wajib na taduman
Sopaya magdogang yang iman ta.

Yani na pagpokaw sang yamatog na ginawa
Gaw na makatadum sang kawaris nan.
Di ta pagpotokon yang pamagutan ta,
Sabap pyaga-haram inyan ng Kadunan ta.

Tanakun natun sakit sang ginawa ta.
Paindug ta yang kakaysa.
Tabangan ta paglindog sang agama.
Untak matorid yang ongaya ta
Sang Kadunan ta.

Dayt na inangun ta uno na pyagasugo Nan.
Aw lilindug ta sang ginawa ta
Nang wa pa yang kamatay.


Abdul Khaliq Tayongotong is a Kaagan-native from Lupon, Davao Oriental. He is currently taking up Bachelor of Education and Islamic Studies in the Davao Regional Arabic Academy, Inc. The poem Bayok ng Kagan, Bayok ng Kakaysa is originally a Kagan song, composed and sung by the author.

Cafe

Poetry by | August 28, 2016

Alas-tres ng hapon.
Makulimlim ang langit.
Nagsilbing musika ang
Bawat ihip ng hangin
Sa mga nagsasayawang
Dahon at alikabok
Sa entabladong kalsada.
Unti-unti silang
Pinapalakpakan
Ng mga patak ng ulan,
Sabay yakap sa mga
Nanlalamig na semento.
Earphones.
Bumubulong ang lamig ng aircon
Habang sumisigaw ang init ng kape.
Ang naninilim na dingding
Ay nginingitian
Ng kislap ng ilaw sa kisame
At dumudungaw ng halik sa
Mga bakanteng
Mesa at upuan.
Humuhuni ang mahinang tugtog
Na pumupuno sa bawat espasyo
At sinasabayan ang
Patay kong titig.
Unti-unting lumalakas ang stereo.
Nagsilabasan ang nagtatagong
Koro ng mananayaw –
Sanga, papel, mga sasakyan,
At mga puno.
Binubuo ang isang produksyon
Na wari’y nakikipag-kompetensiya
Sa nagdudumugang butil ng ulan
At namuo ng agos
Sa paanan ng mga
Nagsisitakbuhang nababasa at
Naghahanap ng masisilungan.
Paisa-isa ay nagpapa-pansin ang mga artista.
Dinadaanan at binubuhay
Ang pagkakatingala ng aking mga mata.
Nakabukas ang kanilang palad
At nag-iimbita na
Salihan ang magulong takilya.
Nagpaligsahan ang puso’t isipan.
Isa-isang naglaro ang tabing ng alaala
At nakikikanta sa tunog ang madla –
Tawanan, iyakan
Mga gabi na nagtatamisan,
At ang pait ng pagpapaalam.
Nagsabayan ang malakas na iyak ng kalangitan
At pagbuhos ng maraming larawan
Nang nagdidilubyo kong kalooban.
Ginusto kong paunlakan
Ang kanilang pagtatanghal
Pero mas pinili ng katawan kong
Lasapin sa kamay ng inumin
Ang nakahubad na katahimikan.
Mas malamig na ang kape.


Bonn Kleiford D. Seranilla is a Certified Industrial Engineer and an Associate ASEAN Engineer. He is currently a Fulltime Faculty Member of the College of Engineering, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City.

Road Trip

Poetry by | August 20, 2016

We are on a road trip
riding a two-wheeler vehicle
for this way it’s cheaper
both labor and fuel
relying on concentration and skill
we hide in our helmets
-speeding.

We are on a road trip
dealing with all types of road
from flat to steep, rough to smooth
adjusting speed to its surface
relying on strength
we stop for breaks
-resting.

We are on a road trip
breathing dust, smoke and uncertainty
taking caution over blind curves
careful over overspeeding
estimating when to overtake
we’re close to death
-living.

We are on a road trip
we don’t know if we’re halfway there
or where we really are heading
we just hope we’ll find a shed
where we can rest our vehicle
rest our hearts
and abandon our helmets.


Abi Andoy graduated from the Ateneo de Davao University last March 2015. She is currently on a road trip called the adult life. She’s a proud Surigaonon.