Gusto ko mobalik pagkabata

Poetry by | September 11, 2011

Gusto ko mobalik pagkabata
Kanang dula ray hunahunaon
Saputon kon sayos buntag
paligoon, molaag sa pikas balay
Muoli’g makadungog sa sitsit
ni nanay ug tatay kon oras na tingkaon.

Gusto ko mobalik pagkabata
Kanang walay dautang tinguha
Kanang limpyo ang hunahuna,
mahadlok lang kon mapawngag suga sa kasilyas,
mohilak kon di paubanon ni nanay sa palengke
kay mahugaw ra daw ko didto,
Ug adunay mangidnap ug bata.

Gusto ko mobalik pagkabata
Kanang dasig kayo kon makakita’g libro
Basahon konohay ug kusog,
morag korek nga nagtuon
Eksayted sa quiz papers kon ibalik ni ma’am
Kay matod ni tatay, kon maka-100 ko
Iyahang paliton bisan unsay akong gusto.

Gusto ko mobalik pagkabata
Kay karon,
Wala nay manitsit tingkaon
Wala nay mamokaw aron ko paligoon
Daghan nay malisya
Daghan nay kahadlokan
Daghan nay butang angay hilakan,
Ultimo kadasig pag-ablis libro
Nawagtang,
uban sa akong pagdako
uban sa mga panahon
nga kaniadto
kami kompleto,
Si Nanay
Si Tatay
Ug ako.

—
Reymond is a 4th year AB Mass Communication student of Ateneo de Davao University and a fellow of Davao Writers Workshop 2010.

Cheesecloth and I

Nonfiction by | September 4, 2011

When it comes to reminiscing about one’s childhood, most people would not look back, fondly or otherwise, on the underwear they have worn over the years. But since I was never really in the category of “most people” but rather in the “weird ones,” I would like to share a few thoughts on this particular subject because it has been percolating (or more aptly: fermenting) in my mind for the past two months. 

Recently, a friend posted his embarrassing underwear moments on his blog site. Funny enough, while I was reading his article, all I could think of was this particular pair of undergarment that has haunted me from 4th grade, all throughout high school, and even up to now.

Continue reading Cheesecloth and I

Farmer's Outburst

Poetry by | September 4, 2011

Translation of Bugiot san Parag-uma by Harold Mercurio

My neck now stiffens
Looking up at the sky
For the rain to fall.

The mounds are now stricken by black ants
Where corn is planted
For it to grow.

The carabao wallows
In its bed of clay
To cool its body burning from heat.

When will the water system
Flow in the rice field
As promised by those in power?

Bugiot san Parag-uma

Poetry by | September 4, 2011

Nagtig-a na akon liog
Paghinangad sa langit
Kun san-o mahuhulog an uran.

Ginhantik na an mga luho
Nga gintamnan mais
Paghaluna nga tumubo.

Lumukot na la an karabaw
Sa galot niya nga higdaan
Pagpapinit san nasusunog nga lawas.

San-o daw la maawas
Sa danaw an patubig nga
Ginsaad san mga gamhanan?

—
Phil Harold L. Mercurio is a faculty member at the Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) in Calbayog City and an NCLA Coordinator for Eastern Visayas.

Sleep Talker and Secret Genius (Part 2)

Fiction by | August 28, 2011

“Yes. I do that sometimes, I’m sorry.”

“No. Don’t apologize. I like talking to my passengers when they ride in my taxi. The stories I have heard are enough for me to write a book. The most special ones are the passengers that I pick up from the airport. They talk about problems, sadness, joy, relief, and anything that they want to talk about after visiting the airport. But this was my first time to talk to a sleeping passenger.”

A taxi driver writing about his passengers. The idea struck me as cool, but I absolutely didn’t want him to be writing about me or the things I said when I was asleep.

He looked at me through the rear-view mirror and asked, “How do you think is she feeling right now?”

Continue reading Sleep Talker and Secret Genius (Part 2)

The Poetic Process

Nonfiction by | August 28, 2011

“Spirals and spiraling, lead us to meaning. This is the poetic process.”

What is poetry? Technically, it can be defined as the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts. To the poet who is engaged in the poetic process and wishes to define his art, not much is said by this definition. To the uninitiated, a mere reader (literally, without the attempt at an analysis) of poetry, this would suffice.

Continue reading The Poetic Process

Vivo

Poetry by | August 28, 2011

Hinabi ang mga kulay, at dinampi sa may lona
Upang tingkad ay mabuhay at magkadiwa ang obra.
Ginuhit ang mga hugis, mga detalye at linya
Upang mapukaw ang tamis ng gunita’t ala-ala.

Bawat katha ay hinubog ng matalim na haraya.
Bawat obra ay bantayog ng tagumpay at ligaya.
Nililok ng pagsisikap, pinagtibay ng pag-asa
Ang pagtupad ng pangarap, at paghulma ng korona.

Ngunit makipot ang daang tinatahak ng malikhain
Bago anihin ang bungang itinanim sa dalangin,
Bago sumibol ang tinta at magliyab ang damdamin,
Bago matapos ang obra at mabuksan mga tabing.

Bawat pinta ay sagisag ng inipong karunungan.
Bawat kulay ay liwanag ng nabuong kamalayan.
Bawat dampi, bawat hampas, nahubog ang katauhan,
At ang pinakamimithi ngayo’y pinanghahawakan.

—
Jhunorjim Zandueta is a computer engineering student.