Walking Alone in Ilustre



Poetry by | December 16, 2012

You stand there,

fixed with an intention

as I walk with uncertainty,

looking for street lights

in this cold, dark eleven thirty air.



The damp cement casts 

small, vertical white clouds,

breathing out the day’s frustrations 

telling me it’s empty; save for some 

taxis lining up for a late catch.



Tall, intimidating walls of 

this giant we hail ‘GS’ greet

me in a nonchalant way.

And my feet carried me to its

lonely, awkwardly angled corners – 

where fixed intentions meet.



Taking a sharp turn, 

I walk towards the
almost-erased street sign.

There I stand feeling pierced

by sharp, eager eyes probing.



But then, there you are.

You with your intention, 

heading toward me.

Teatro ng Pag-Ibig

Play by | December 9, 2012

teatroTauhan:

Ming – Isang 2nd year student ng Kolehiyo de San Ignacio. Siya ang babaeng bida ng kwento. Sikat na estudyante dahil sa ganda at talino. Si Berto ang matalik niyang kaibigan.

Berto – Isang 2nd year student ng Kolehiyo de San Ignacio. Siya ang lalakeng bida ng kwento. Isang simpleng musikero. Matalik na kaibigan niya si Ming. Ngunit…

Direk – Ang director ng dulang pinaghahandaan ng dramatics club.

Mga props people – Ang mga gumagawa ng props para sa dulang magaganap.

Eksena: Ang mga miyembro ng dramatics club ay naghahanda para sa isang dula na gaganapin sa ika-14 ng Pebrero. Sila, ang mga miyembro at ang director, ay nasa loob ng auditorium. Ang stage ay di pa gaanong napaganda. Merong mga estudyante na gumagawa ng props. Sa gitna ng stage, ay mayroong babaeng nakatayo at handang mag emote

Narrator: Ang pag-ibig ay mahahalintulad sa kamatayan;
       Wala itong pinipiling oras ni kung sino ang matatamaan.
       Tulad na lamang ng kwento ngayon.

       Isang linggo, bago sasapit ang araw ng mga puso,
       sa Kolehiyo de San Ignacio,
       ang mga estudyanteng kabilang sa Socio-Teatro,
       ang dramatics club ng paaralan,
       ay naghahanda para sa “Dula ng Pag-ibig”,
       ang taunang palabas na ginaganap tuwing ika-14 ng Pebrero.

Continue reading Teatro ng Pag-Ibig

Dinnertime

Poetry by | December 9, 2012

Mama, Papa, and I
are eating in the dining room,
Mama sitting opposite papa
on the dining table.
There is only silence
but the clang of my spoon
hitting the bowl
as I stir mom’s special law-uy.
Until Mama stabs her plate with a fork
and glares at Papa
and shouts at him about a woman
named Julie.
Papa scoots from his chair
but Mama throws her glass,
exploding on the wall.
Papa tells me to go to my room
and play with Barbie
but I hide near the dining room
and hear screams shattering like the
thrown glasses and plates.
When I hear Mama’s sobs,
I frown
because dinner time is over.
And I’m a bad girl
because I didn’t eat Mama’s special law-uy.

—
Glyd works as a research assistant at Philippine Women’s College of Davao. He was a fellow of ADDU Writers Workshop 2010 and Davao Writers Workshop 2011.

Sa Panahon ng Internet at Cellphone

Poetry by | December 9, 2012

Ipinagbubunyi natin ang pagdagsa
Ng mga gadyet na tila infusyon
Nating ikinakabit sa ating mga ugat.
Sapagkat kundi man tayo iga
Sa tango at pansin ng mga kakilala
Ay takot tayo sa mga sandali ng ating pag-iisa.
Kinakabahan tayong manatili sa isang silid
Na istakato lamang ng ating pulso at dibdib
Ang mauulinig sa kinasasadlakang paligid.
Kaya sa halip na ang isip ay makikumpas
Makidama sa pagitan ng bawat paghinga
Pagbubulaybulay at pagkilala sa pagkatao
Ay abala tayo sa pagpindot ng mga teklado
At pagbuo ng mga niritokeng teksto’t litrato
Gayong kinakatay lamang natin ang saysay
Ng ating mga panaginip at paglalakbay ng malay.

—
Edgar Bacong studied AB Sociology at the Ateneo de Davao University, and now lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

Transforming Imagery in Three Poems by Young Davao Writers

Nonfiction by | December 2, 2012

The transforming image is one of the most captivating things about poetry. When a poem transforms one thing into another right before the reader’s eyes, it becomes magical. Such a feat of ingenuity demonstrates the creative genius of the poet-magician.

This poetic element has been central to the poetics of many Filipino poets. It has been argued by many Philippine literary critics that the earliest form of poetry in the Philippines is the riddle, which represents things in fresh, often startlingly unexpected ways to tease the curiosity of the reader or listener. The “teasing of curiosity” lives on today to be the main appeal we get in reading poetry.

The successful execution of transforming imagery involves comparison between two things, and by properly connecting the dynamism of one thing to that of the other. The transforming image may be central to the poem, or may simply be a supporting element in its overall effect. The image may result in fantastic, often semantically deviant language, or it may arise in intended ambiguity.

Today, particularly in Davao, the transforming image is championed by local men of letters such as Don Pagusara and Macario Tiu, and many young writers, picking up from their poetics, also demonstrate this in their poetry.

A look at three particular poems by young Davao poets would reveal a harvest rich in imagination and transforming images.

Continue reading Transforming Imagery in Three Poems by Young Davao Writers

Ode to a Facebook Photo

Poetry by | December 2, 2012

This time, there are only your eyes.
Your gaze, fixed intently into space
as if searching the air for lost light
waves, digital owls, a revelation
of vagrant angels. I turn my laptop
towards the window so you too
could see a band of moonlit clouds,
some apple trees, and at a distance,
a pack of griffins.

—
Allen Samsuya is a creative writing major from the University of the Philippines Mindanao. Instead of a dislike button, he hereby proposes a “throw magic tomato button” on Facebook.

1/2

Poetry by | December 2, 2012

Half-cooked promises
Half rice still on plate
Half-truths of celebrities
Half-lies in policies
Half full cash pocket
Half empty wine goblet
Half-minded intentions
Half-hearted lamentations
Have we gone to world,
Of halves and no wholes?
Like the promises of lords,
And the mindset of fools.

—
Born in Davao City but raised in General Santos City. Currently studying B Medical Laboratory Science in University of Immaculate Conception.

lights

Poetry by | December 2, 2012

everything is still
the sun takes forever
giving the passing cars
a chance to stir the room
and my imagination
with their lights
i turn away
escaping yet failing
seeing the yesterdays
i look to my right
and there you are
sleeping beside me
i look away
and there you are
making your way to the bathroom
i sit up
and there you are
smiling at me from some time ago
i close my eyes
and i feel your lips touch mine
i open my eyes
everything is still
the sun takes forever
giving the passing cars
a chance to stir the room
and my imagination
with their lights

—
Davao born and raised, ex-architecture student at Ateneo de Davao University, currently out of school yet again.