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.

Continue reading Nippa

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.

Continue reading The Breakup

Firefly

Poetry by | August 12, 2012

to light up
like a firefly
to signal
my desire
to light up
like a firefly
to eat you
alive
to light up
and die
to light up

—
Orlando Sayman, Jr. is a Job-Enabling English Proficiency Monitoring Specialist at USAID-GEM, and is a regular contributor in Dagmay. He misses looking at fireflies.

Mom

Poetry by | August 12, 2012

You don’t know how
painful it is for me
to feel you, covering your head
with a pillow, hoping
that your wails of pain
become a secret, like
how you shroud the hurling marks
in your face with
concealers, powders and
smiles of charade.
Last night too, I heard
you packed your things without
even telling me what went wrong.
I am here, I am here
lying beside you and trying
to make you believe that
I couldn’t hear
your wails of pain.

—
Zarah Meneses studies in Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan.

Konduktor

Play by | August 5, 2012

Mga Tauhan:

Kaloy: Isang konduktor sa terminal ng jeep. 18 years old na binata. Payat. Ang suot niyang t-shirt at shorts ay nababahiran ng grasa. Makakaaway niya si…

John: Pasaherong uupo sa front seat. Mas malaki ang katawan kumpara kay Kaloy. Mayaman ang porma niya. Mayabang umasta. Kaaway ni Kaloy at ni…

Manang: Isang matandang galing grocery.

Tagpo:
Ang tagpo ng istorya ay sa isang terminal ng mga jeep.

(Bubukas ang telon kasabay ang pagtugtog ng background music na parang nasa terminal ng jeep. Papasok mula sa kaliwa si Kaloy. Mayroong multicab-jeep [sideview]sa background. Sa loob ng jeepney ay may mga nakaupo na.)

Kaloy: O kayo diyan! Maam! (sabay turo sa isang manonood na babae)

Dito po, lalarga na! Sasa, Sasa, Panacan, Tibungco, Lanang! Sasa, Sasa –

O boss dito o. (sabay gabay sa isang lalake papunta sa likod na pasukan ng jeep)

O, O, O! Paki urong naman diyan! (papaluin ni Kaloy ang kilid ng jeep) Paki urong para makaupo si bossing! O, O, O! (papaluin nanaman ang jeep)

(Habang pinapaurong ni Kaloy ang mga tao sa loob ng jeep ay papasok si John mula sa kanang bahagi ng entablado. Sasakay siya sa front seat ng jeep. Maglalagay siya ng headphones sa ulo niya at makikinig ng musika.)

Kaloy: Sasa, Sasa, Panacan, Lanang! Miss, pwede pa o, Sasa ba Sasa? (magtatanong si Kaloy sa isang babae mula sa manonood)

Ser! Lanang? (magtatanong si Kaloy sa isang lalake sa mga manonood) Tibungco? Bakante pa doon o.

(Magmumukhang pagod si Kaloy. Iikutin niya ang tuwalyang dala niya para magpahangin. Papasok ang isang matandang babae mula sa kanan ng entablado; may daladalang punong grocery bag. Kukuhitin ng matanda ang likod ni Kaloy. Lilingon si Kaloy sa matanda.)

Continue reading Konduktor

Footprints

Poetry by | August 5, 2012

Moonlight was our perfect alibi for breaking
this quiet darkness. Ancient nights when olden
rooftops made for a dozen water beds
and we had no need for mattresses and pillows
beneath our backsides and our heads. Back then,

we spent our nights learning how stars unravel
the direction of our home. Back when our eyes
were keen enough to watch snowfall from halfway
across the globe. Now, old and bitter as those cheap

wines we used to buy, I can’t climb a tree house
to save my life. My Love, I have my eyes squinting
skywards all night long. I swear I will see you soon.

Tonight, I chase your footprints across the surface
of the moon.

—
Allen Samsuya is a graduate of Creative Writing student from the University of the Philippines- Mindanao. He was a fellow for poetry in the 2009 Davao Writers Workshop, the 18th Iligan National Writers Workshop, and the 50th Silliman National Writers Workshop. His works have appeared in Philippines Free Press, Philippines Graphic, Sunstar Davao and the Best of Dagmay Anthology.

Softdrink

Poetry by | August 5, 2012

Nakamata ko’g kadlawon
kay milinog among katre,
sa dihang gisusi ko,
si ate giyarok ang softdrink.
Misugilon ko ni Nanay
sa hinay midangoyngoy siya,
gitawag dayon niya si Tatay
og si Ate ilang giistorya.
Misinggit si Nanay og
si Tatay hapit si Ate laparuha,
sa hilabi nilang kasuko
si Ate mihilak, nipahipi na lang.
Sa kadaghang giyawyaw nila
usa lang akong nakat onan,
dili moinom og softdrink kung sayo pa
aron dili sayo mosakit ang tiyan.

—
Michael Marquez is president of the University of Southeastern Philippines English and Literature Evening Society. He was a Fellow of the 2011 Davao Writers Workshop.

Mga Tuyong Dahon

Poetry by | July 29, 2012

Lumubog ako
sa dagat
ng mga tuyong dahon.
Sumisid ako
upang likumin
ang mga tagong yaman.
Sa pag-ahon,
gumawa ako ng kastilyo
at nagsaboy ng mga dahon.
Hindi ko napaghandaan
ang pagdating
ng alon ng mga dahon
na kumain
sa aking mga yaman at kastilyo.

—
A poet for children from General Santos City. MJ Tumamac is a member of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING) and Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA).