Poetry by Mark Arlo Segundo | 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.
Poetry by Krizia Banosan Garcia | 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.
Fiction by Josie Carballo Tejada | November 25, 2012
And so it was that one day, as the sun began to set in the west, the prized creature watched as the fox headed for its hole with the vixen, the stallion galloped away with the mare, the ram trudged in his trenches with the ewe, and the goose swam off with the gander. But it was alone. And it lifted its hands to the sky, gazing at the expanse imploringly, as though its silent pleas would rise with the wind towards the place of its Maker’s celestial dwelling.
The Essences observed.
“Might it be lonely?”
“Was it enough for Us to make but one of it?”
“The Created Order had provided for two of each kind that they may replenish their own for generations to come.”
“It seems We had overlooked something.”
“The Created Order is incomplete.”
“Then We must craft another of its kind.”
“A fitting companion.”
“A creature so like in likeness, but of finer form.”
“To help in the oversight.”
“To be a partner.”
“A flesh of its flesh.”
“A bone of its bone.”
Poetry by Riza Racho | November 18, 2012
maayo mu istorya si Ma’am uy
purbidang paminaw nako
“the annulment cannot be processed
when the spouse is not in trial
before the court of the land.”
unsa daw to? pastilan jud murag tinuod man
gilansangan ang iyang mga pulong
sa katahum sa iyang power point
de colores kaayo, naa pay gauntol-untol na bata
napuno ug drawing sa mga nindot nga
panang linya
paadto didto
paari diri
simang sa wala
tul-id sa tuo
katoohan jud ay
Fiction by Josie Carballo Tejada | November 18, 2012
Because of his impudence, the usurper thenceforth took on the title of Adversary, and for their rebellion, leader and horde were banished to a far flung sector of the universe, trillions of worlds away to await their final destiny. The banishment was irrevocable and the Adversary sought to find for them in the meanwhile, suitable habitations. Thus he declared, “Inhabit therefore any realm that you fancy. There are billions scattered all over the cosmos. Go, and spread your ilk to where you best desire. But remember, keep in touch with your brethren – the better for them to know what mischief lies afoot elsewhere in the universe!”
Play by Emiko Escovilla | November 11, 2012
(Base sa “The Lottery” ni Anton Chekhov)
Ang mag-asawa naa sa lamesa, nagameryenda. Si mister nagabasa ug dyaryo.
Poetry by Djamyla Millona | November 11, 2012
Anak ng tupa.
Nagbabasa ako ng kanilang mga tula
at wala akong magawa
kung hindi ang humanga
sa indak ng mga salitang
lumilikha ng paraiso dito sa lupa.
Wala akong ganyang kakayahan.
Ni Katiting. Ni Daplis.
Ang alam ko lang ay magbasa
at humanga
at magbasa
at magmukhang kawawa.
Paano ba kasi nila
binuburda ang mga titik
upang makabuo ng tula
sa langit?
Saan ba kasi nila
kinukuha
ang indayog at kulay ng
kanilang salita?
Anak ng tupa.
Pagmumura lang ang aking magagawa.
Wala akong kakayahan.
Ubos na rin ang tinta ng aking mumurahing
bolpen.
Higit sa lahat
wala akong mahagilap
na totoo sa akin
Walang pag-ibig
Walang Ligaya
Walang Luha.
Ang tanging totoo lang
ay ang tulang kinatha ng iba
at hinding-hindi ko magagawa.
Anak ng tupa.
—
Si Djamyla ay apat na taong nag-aral sa Ateneo de Davao University, mahilig magbasa ng mga tula ngunit hindi (raw) marunong gumawa.
Poetry by Ayessa Tolentino | November 11, 2012
Dapit hapon ay sumapit na
Oras na para magpaganda.
Kolorete ay nakahanda na at
Ilang oras na lang palabas ay mag sismula na.
Sa likod ng pulang lipstick
Akala ng iba sya’y masaya
Ngunit sa kanyang pag-iisa luha ang pumapalibot sa kanya.
Sa paningin ng madla buhay pag-ibig nya ay masaya
Di alam na puso niya’y nagdurusa’t nangungulila
Sa harap nila siya ay ayos lang
Lingid sa kanilang kaalaman siya’y pagod na pagod na
Sa likod ng pulang Lipstick
Pinipilit nyang maging masaya
Umaasang sa paglipas ng panahon
Sugat sa puso ay maghihilom na
—
Si Ayessa ay isang gradweyt ng University of Mindanao sa kursong Hotel and Restaurant Management at nagtatrabaho ngayon sa isang BPO sa Davao City.