I Live to Die

Nonfiction by | May 24, 2015

I can still remember the laughter and smiles we shared together, the happy Christmas songs we sang, the fun games we enjoyed, the delicious food we ate and the wacky poses we did in front of the camera. Who cares if the wind is already tormenting the leaves of the trees outside? Who cares if the light keeps on turning on and off? And who cares if PAGASA raised the storm signal to number two? It is our Christmas party, for God’s sake! It is the last time we will meet each other for the year; we should be enjoying and celebrating the birth of the Lord. Who cares? We never had an idea that that was really the last Christmas party of our friend nor did we know that indeed that was the last time we will see her, ever.

She went home earlier than any of us. Before she left she said “thank you”, in a happy tone. We never knew that those were the last words we would hear from her. We tried to stop her but she explained that her parents already want her home since it’s already passed ten o’clock in the evening. Even when she left we continued the party. Who cares? We never knew what would happen three hours later.

Continue reading I Live to Die

Chicken Tinola

Nonfiction by | May 17, 2015

We have more than twenty chickens in our backyard. Our compound is huge and we allot almost a third of it for the chickens. We have a net fence tied from our east side of the compound to the west, and the covered part was where all the chickens are left to roam, lay eggs, and eat. My father is never into cockfights and the chickens are actually there for the family’s entertainment—or something else to keep us busy.

The hens do not lay eggs regularly, and sometimes they get rotten before they even hatch because the hens are too lazy to even sit on them every day. We cannot sell their eggs, even the good ones, because they are never good enough as the eggs sold in the market place. The eggs are either allowed to hatch to new chicks or, sometimes when we forget to include eggs on the grocery list, our chickens’ eggs end up in the frying pan or in the refrigerator egg compartment.

We never have income generated from having these chickens around but when I notice that my parents goes to the chicken house first thing in the morning to feed them, I feel the importance of having the chickens with us. They are sort of chores my parents look forward to. And even if they do not smile or dance while they feed the chickens, I know it makes them happy to do it twice or thrice a day.

Continue reading Chicken Tinola

Smoking in the Attic

Poetry by | May 17, 2015

Sneak away from the daily buzz
Lighter in hand and light footsteps, too
Treading up the staircase
To where I feel desolate
Cigarette now lit; inhale
The smoke coaxing, to surface
Lost to the air, and with it
Forgotten yearnings of past
Only the filter remains
Baggage I should dispose of
To avoid outing myself
My needy nature; to be loved
Washing off the nicotine
Masked with soap suds and toothpaste
Rid my teeth of plaque from smoke
Ready to flash my dummy smile
When I break off, thinking I’m safe
I prop a stick in my mouth
Waiting, for someone to light the spark
Or a mouth to keep my own shut
Until then, it’s the attic for me
My own penthouse of solace

—
Gari Jamero is a BS Biology Student from Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan and a member of The Xavier Film Society.

Talagsaun

Poetry by | May 17, 2015

Nipatigbabaw ang imong nawung sa akong huna-huna samtang gatan-aw sa wisik sa abohon nga balod. Gadala og kabalaka nga malumos sa imong handuraw kining pagbati kong talagsaun.

Apan ang panganud gitiklop ang gabii sa akong daan nga kahadlok ug nisidlak ang kamaayo sa init sa akong nawung. Gihiwa sa bidlisiw ang ngitngit nga balod, aron mahimong sama sa langit nga bulawanun.

Ninggitiw na sab ang imung pagtambong sa akong kiliran, dungan sa paggakos sa bugnaw nga tayhop sa hangin. Gapamati ko sa tapyok sa balud ug sa akong kasing-kasing, samtang galaum nga dili mo tuya-tuyaan ang talagsaun kong pagbati.

—
Cyrell is a psychosocial worker in a local NGO that helps young adolescent children in vulnerable situations. She is a graduate student of Masters in Applied Social Research in Ateneo de Davao University. Aside from writing fiction and poetry, she paints and sketches.

Pinikas, Ikaduhang Bahin

Fiction by | May 10, 2015

Usa ka hapon, pag-agi nako didtos tindahan ni Ante Nita, maoy tapik sa mga istambay ang umaabot nga piniliay.

“Unsaon na lang kaha ning atong eleksiyon, Pre, no? Morag haskang gubota.”

“Gubot pas imong bungot, Pre.”

“Ayawg tripingi nang akong bigote, Pre. Assit biya na. Haha!”

“Tuod, Pre, tiamona? Apil si Kulas modagan pagka kagawad? Pastilan! Puyde diay na?”

“Aw, apil man gani si Nong Karyo nga gabadhay-badhay nas katiguwang, modagan! Haha! Kon modaog siya, syur gyod ko nga dili niya mahuman iyang termino. Ma-terminit na siyag sayo!” dalag aksiyon og putol sa iyang liog.

“Haha! Ug, in pernis, Pre, si Minda nga mamingkahay, modagan pod kuno!”

“Lagi. Mao poy akong nadunggan.”

“Taymsa, si Botyok man diay ni.”

Continue reading Pinikas, Ikaduhang Bahin

shift happens

Poetry by | May 10, 2015

koro:
eto na ang pagbabago
shift happens
huwag mag-pahuli
baka maiwan ka sa byahe
sanayin na ang sarili
huwag mag-sarili
there’s no planet b

human transportation
kay bilis na ngayon
tele-portation,traffic signalization,
nag-transform
e broadband, e-email, etx, elevator, eroplane, e mrt, e lrt, taxi, e usb, e flash drive
ecd e dvd hanggang ma corrupt ang memory

Human transformation
Ka bilis na ngayon
Isang saglit, isang sachet
Kani-kanina lang
Nag- transform
Ecellophane, e wax, e pa relax, epa dye, e hot oil, e rebond, e highlight, e pakulot, epa upaw, dugagan, pakuratan
Hanggang, mamamatay

Human trans-figuration
Kay bilis na ngayon
Saglit lang, maghapon
Kanin-kanila lang
Nag-transform
hair removal, lumina therapy, Thermasculpt,botox, waxing, power peel, whitening, anti-ageing, e facial, facelift, threading, tattoo, branding,
hanggang ,manlupaypay

human fast food station
kay bilis na ngayon
nag-transform
Gud morning sir, gudmorning mam
dine-in sir, take-out po
Side dish po, add on po
Beta-carotene, msg pakapin
junk food na may anti-oxidant, inom synthetic, hanggang magkaroon ng
Degenerative disease

koro:
eto na ang pagbabago
shift happens
huwag mag-pahuli
baka maiwan ka sa byahe
sanayin na ang sarili
huwag mag-sarili
there’s no planet b

—
Noy is an art practitioner, art educator, and art student, teaching Hum 1 at Ateneo de Davao University.

Acumen

Poetry by | May 10, 2015

ascent of a scent, your scent—
a nascent I wished
prescience was sentient,
like Lourd with Anna,
as Emma with Charles,
like ramen kills pain,
as adobo brushes off ruined hearts,
unlike devouring monggo
with Lav, or gorging
caldereta with Raya
a decadence of words and
feelings devoid of coherence

—
Kim Ocariza is an Electronics Engineering student at the University of San Carlos and a soon-to-be-legit-cinephile.

Pinikas, Unang Bahin

Fiction by | May 3, 2015

DAKONG Balita: MAMINGKAHAY, MIDAGAN PAGKA KAGAWAD.

Kini ang nakapakignat sa among mga silingan sa Baryo Panatayan. Sa ilang unang pagkadungog niini, ila ming gihimong pulotan sa bahal nga gitinda ni Nanay Pirmin nga among silingan. Ug usahay pod, samtang ang mga babaye gapanlaba didto sa Aplaya o gahingotoay man ganing dihas ilang pantawan, gapadparan sa hangin ang ilang diskusyon padulong sa among balay ug kini molusot sa mga buslot namong bungbong hangtod kini among madunggan. Dako gyod nga balita!

Ambot ba pod, di nako masabtan nga misulod man sa alimpatakan ni Mama ang politika, kay sa tinuod lang gyod dili ko ganahan anang butanga. Alang nako, ang mga politiko puro mangingilad. Maayo lang na sila panahon sa kampanya. Saad diri, saad didto. Buhaton ko ni, buhaton ko na. Apan kon modaog na gani, hala! Makalimot na dayon. Kon inyong duolan para mangayog tabang, mangatol dayos ulo, dayon sa kilid. Morag among iro nga si Pusoy nga labihan kakutoon. Aha na kaha to karong buanga, ay? Mikalit lag kawala. Wala nay uli-uli human sa eleksiyon. Basig nabiktima to sa mga tambay didto sa ilang Nanay Pirmin. Matod pas mga tsika-tsika, dili daw na gapamili ang mga hangal. Bisag kagiron nga iro, basta luto na, lami na kuno kaayo! Kangil-ad.

Continue reading Pinikas, Unang Bahin