Erebus and the Maiden

Fiction by | August 26, 2012

Erebus the black ogre lived alone at the edge of the forest. The villagers were afraid of him because, as the elders said, “Black ogres bring misfortune to anyone who looks at them.” For this reason, Erebus, too, hated the humans.

One evening, as Erebus hunted for his dinner, he saw a very beautiful maiden walking alone in the forest. He followed the maiden and noticed that she constantly bumped into trees and bushes. Erebus thought it would be nice to give her a scare, but as he came near she asked: “Who’s there?”

“You shouldn’t be here,” Erebus said. “It’s not safe.”

“Thank goodness! I’m lost. Please help me.”

“I can’t. I’m not what you think I am.”

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Diksyunaryo

Poetry by | August 26, 2012

Pinilas mo ang bawat pahina
ng makapal kong buhay.
Naghahanap ng salitang madaling intindihin.
Marami ako niyan. Hindi mo lang pansin.
Nakatuon ka lang naman
sa mga bagay na mahirap wikain
o ispelingin.
Marahas mong winawaksi
ang pahina,
ng manipis kong kaluluwa.
Nagmamarakulyo.
Hindi mo lang alam.
Pasan ko ang mga titik ng mundo,
sa bawat katagang binibitawan mo.

—
Si Djamyla ay apat na taong nag-aral sa Ateneo de Davao University.

Bisaya Writing Contest

Editor's Note by | August 23, 2012

MGA LAGDA SA TIGI SA SINULATAY SA BATHALAD-MINDANAO ALANG SA TUIG 2012

1. Ang tigi alang lamang sa tulo(3) ka kategoriya; Sugilanon, Balak ug Gumalaysay nga bukas alang sa mga magsusulat nga nagagikan sa Kaulohan, Kabisay-an ug Mindanao.

2. Ang tigi magsugod sa Hulyo 25, 2012 ug matapos sa Septiyembre 30, 2012, nga ang mga ganti mao kining mga mosunod:

• Unang Ganti- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – PhP 5,000.00
• Ikaduhang Ganti- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – PhP 3,000.00
• Ikatulong Ganti- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – PhP 2,000.00
• Una ug Ikaduhang Pinasidunggan – – – – – – – PhP 500.00

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The Day I Met Juan Luna

Fiction by | August 19, 2012

It was a crappy, crappy day. My client for a vegan website had just requested a revision of all one hundred articles I sent him, simply because we could not agree on two points: he thought eggs were fruits, and I thought he was crazy.

No matter how hard I insisted that eggs were animal-based produce, my client still wanted me to rewrite everything. He wanted to encourage his website visitors to include more eggs in their daily diets. With much gnashing of teeth, frequent head shaking, and finally, inevitable resignation, I inserted positive (though inaccurate) snippets into all one hundred articles about the benefits of consuming eggs every day for all vegans to read.

After that, I felt like creating my own website that would educate the world about the simple truth that eggs are not fruits, and that these shelled products actually emerge from the posterior of chickens, thereby making them animal-based. I had planned on dedicating the website to all vegans and crazy clients alike.

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Mangga

Poetry by | August 19, 2012

Lisod dil-an
ang ginadili,
labi nang hubag
nga mangga nga naa
sa punoan ni inday. Nabuyod
akong panan-aw sa tumang kalunhaw
anang bambang bunga. Gidughit nako
ang mangga ug gisalo nako, aron di madaot
ang iyang kadasok. Gihinay gyod nakog panit
aron tibuok lang gihapon ang unod, ug gihiwa sa
kutsilyo gikan sa ibabaw padalus-os sa ubos, dayon
gidildil nako sa asin ug tuyo nga akong nakiriw sa su’d
sa iyang kusina. Gidimdim gyod nako ang lasa, ug
gasagol ang kaaslom ug kaparat sa akong dila.
Kada pisa nga hiniwa gikibkib ko ug gisupsup
puyra ang lubas kay pait. Kay morag bitin
kining makadiyot nga pista, mipiyong ko
aron tipigan ang kalami ning kalapasan.

—
He was a fellow at at the 1st Xavier University Writer’s Workshop, the 18th Iligan National Writers Workshop and the 27th Faigao Writer’s Workshop. He’s currently working in Cebu and still under the delusion that pigs can fly.

Marlboro Man

Poetry by | August 19, 2012

I lean against the wall, one hand
fondling a cigarette, the other tucked
inside the pocket of my jeans. I stand
on one leg, the other bent, as though
ready to knee any guy who will pass by
too close. I blow smoke rings up in the air
as you throw a glance at me from head
to toe, from the present to my past.
I’ve seen such a stare so many times that
I know what’s in your mind even before
you’re aware of it. You think I want
girls to see me as the man in chaps,
neckerchief, and wide-brimmed hat
riding a red bronco, down a gently sloping
hill, after a herd of stampeding cattle,
leaving in his wake a swirling cloud
of dust. I’ll let you walk away, with
your belief, for that indeed is my intent
most of the time. This moment, however,
if you care to know, I’m only trying
to hold off the fire about to raze
the dry grassland beneath my navel.

—
Jude Ortega is a native of Sultan Kudarat Province.

Nippa

Fiction by | August 12, 2012

On the Calm Sea Beach Resort in Samal stood a charming hut named Nippa. Unlike the other beaches in Samal, Nippa made Calm Sea Beach more enticing. Nippa was colorful and you could easily spot her off the coast from as far as Sasa.

Nippa though, had little tolerance for people. This is particularly because most of them would neither take notice nor respect Nippa, which was very offensive.

“I am one of the reasons why this beach is beautiful” Nippa grumbled. “Couldn’t they give a little more respect?”

But after years of serving the beach with little change, Nippa eventually accepted the fact that people were what they were. It was only because of the help of the staff that Nippa lasted and was on tip top shape every morning.

”Without them I would probably be nothing. They always keep me company and entertain me with their stories. I wish they were the only ones around the beach,” Nippa thought.

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The Breakup

Fiction by | August 12, 2012

I was sitting on the edge of the bed when he woke up. We were in a hotel in Lanang. It was seven thirty in the morning. Five and a half hours before going home to Davao Oriental.

“Hi honey, good morning.” After his warm greeting, he kissed my neck. “Wow! You’re already dressed up and…you packed some stuff. Going on a business trip?”

I didn’t answer. There was a moment of silence.

“Let’s end this,” I finally said.

He laughed. I didn’t expect this kind of reaction from him.

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