Rampa

Poetry by | August 22, 2010

Mihiwi ang tul-id
sa pag-agi mo:

Buhok pay imo
nga dunay kompas –
giwakli-wakli sa huyop
sa hangin nangambras.

Mata mong gangisi
daw gisungog sila –
mipitok-pitok luyo sa
siga ning hapona.

Liog mo pang
hastang lunoya –
gaduyan-duyan uban’s
mitalidhay mong higala.

Hawak mo pa lagi
nga gahinay-hinay –
nahadlok mapiko,
sa batsi galikay-likay.

Tiil, duna kay tulo,
gapulihanay ug duso –
pirting amping, kimbot;
maski ang isa wa’y koko.

Mihiwi ang tul-id
sa pag-agi mo;
Ug ako mipadaplin
uban sa biay-biay’ng
wa gyud nimo gipansin.

—-
Rory Bualan enjoys reading Steve Berry.

A Private Family Affair

Fiction by | August 15, 2010

Ate Stella and her husband Marco eloped two days after their wedding had been annulled, causing all the feeling of anguish to both mother and father.

It was the least expected event to happen in our family. Mother and Father had thought my eldest sister would start getting a better life after a long hurdle of going to the court, giving testimonies, and presenting pieces of evidence in front of Judge Gomez to convince him that Ate Estella’s marriage with Marco was null and void, and that, on her part, she had suffered physical abuse and emotional stress after her husband had become a drug addict and a total wreck.

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Buslot

Poetry by | August 15, 2010

Dili man gyud tawon sayon
Ang paglimot sa kagahapon.
Niadtong kita pa nag-uban
Gikalimtan ko ang tanan.

Apan walay butang nga molungtad
Kay kalit nausab ang imong pagtagad.
Wala ko damha nga ikaw maluibon
Sa imong mga bakak ako nagpaulipon.

Wala koy kasayoran karun
Kung asa pa ko puniton.
Dili lang ang bulsa nako ang nabuslot
Pati kining dugahn puno sa kapongot.

—-
Henry Daquipel is currently taking up his MA in English Language and Literature Studies at Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan.

Mommy, Ipinatawag Ka!

Play by , | August 8, 2010

Tauhan:
Guro, lalake, 23, payat, Religion teacher.
Mommy, 39, manikurista na liberated at matalino.

Lugar:
Ang guro ay naghihintay sa Prefect of Discipline’s office. Siya ay nakaupo sa harap ng kanyang mesa. May crucifix sa nakasabit sa dingding at bookshelf sa kaliwa ng mesa.

Mother: (sisilip sa opisina) Ay! Ang cute! (lalapit sa guro at sisikaping maging pormal) Teacher, ano ba ang problema ng anak ko? Diyos ko! Nagmamadali pa naman akong pumunta dito, yung mga customers ko, iniwan ko pang basa ang mga kuko.

Teacher: Good afternoon, Mrs. de los Santos.

Mother: Ms. na lang po. Teacher,ano nang nangyari sa anak ko? mababa ba ang grades niya? Natutulog ba siya sa klase? Binubully ba siya o siya ang binu-bully? Binugbog mo ba siya o ikaw ang binugbog niya?

Teacher: Ma’am, relax lang po. Ahm…sit down, please. Can I offer you something? Coffee? Orange juice…

Mother: (Uupo) Masyadong pambata ang juice. Beer. Pwede ba ang beer dito? Ay! Oo. CATHOLIC SCHOOL. Sige, iced tea na lang (kukuha ang guro ng baso) Teacher! With ice.

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After Six

Nonfiction by | August 8, 2010

I went home today taking the long route. Traffic was bad and the trip had a lot of stops and turns along the way. I looked at people’s weary faces in the jeepney as they stared blankly at the traffic jam or in space.

I watched them and thought what could they be thinking at this hour of day. Perhaps they thought of the day’s events, summarizing it. Some of them,who were clad in corporate attire could possibly be thinking of end day’s rest at home, or the sumptuous meal waiting for them, or the company of family. Others seemed to be drowned in their thoughts not caring about what was happening at the moment.

Indeed, riding in a jeepney or bus would provoke reflection of what has been, what is, or what is to come. The idle time spent in travel gives us the chance to ponder the many aspects of our lives.

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Mater Dolorosa

Poetry by | August 8, 2010

(para kay Arsenia Acut)

Alam ko lang, magaling kang magparusa:
buong kumpol o ‘sang tingting ng walis
batay sa kasalanan, mas kaunti sa mas mabigat;
sampung sili, paisa-isa, nginunguya,
nilulunok sa bawat sagot at sumbat;
rosaryo ng mga luha’t pawis habang hinihintay
na malusaw ang bawat butil ng asin na niluluhuran
para sa mga away-bata, kaibigan man o kapatid;
pagkalula, pagkahilo mula sa pagkakabitin sa sako,
‘sang minuto sa bawat minuto ng paggala;
sampal, suntok, sabunot.

Noon pa man, malikhain ka na
sa pagdiretso sa lahat ng baluktot.
Ngunit ang alam ko lang,
magaling kang magparusa.
Kaya nauhaw sa pasa, bugbog, dugo, at kirot
itong bawat sulok ng aking katawan
noong tumahimik, tumalikod,
umiyak ka lamang.

Sa hapdi, hinukay ko ang aking libingan,
pumasok, namatay, at umahon, nabuhay
sa sakit na kinimkim mo sa iyong
dunong at galing sa pagpaparusa.

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Ang Gaba Dili Magsaba

Play by , | August 1, 2010

Characters:
Customer: 17 year-old girl
Saleslady: in her early 20’s

Setting: Shoe section of a department store. There is a life-sized mirror beside a bench. A cashier is located two meters away from the bench.

(Ang customer naga tan-aw sa mga naka-display.)

Customer: I’m gonna buy this na talaga! My friends also told me na this is so bagay sa gown ko. Gosh! I am gonna be the most beautiful debutante, ever! (Mitawag sa saleslady sa iyang tapad) Get a new pair of this sandal nga. I don’t like to try this, baka marami na kasing sumukat nito.

Saleslady: (Pugos nga ni ngisi) Okay ma’am. Hulat lang sa kadali ma’am ha. Tan-awon sa nako sa stock room.

Customer: Don’t make tagal-tagal ha. Ayaw ko ng pinapahintay.

(Nihawa ang saleslady. Naglingkod ang customer ug gikuha sa bag ang iyang press powder. Gibutang niya ang bag sa iyang tapad. Sige na tan-aw ang customer sa iyang relo kay dugay niabot ang saleslady.)

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Kabit

Play by , , | August 1, 2010

In a cafeteria two recent friends meet by chance. Ringgo, who is hard of hearing, has his hearing aid disconnected from his ear. Jords is a ‘ngo-ngo’ who seems to be confident in conversations despite his condition. He is waiting for his new girlfriend, Magda.

Ringgo: (sees Jords from afar and approaches him) Oy! Musta na man ka pre?

Jords: Aw, oki ra kaayo.

Ringgo: Abi ko’g wa na ka’y problema?

Jords: Mao gani. Wala na ko’y problema.

Ringgo: Unsa lagi tong problema preng?

Jords: Wala uy. Amaw.

Ringgo: Unsa man pud latest na balita sa imoha preng?

Jords: Mao japon, trabaho, trabaho.

Ringgo: Kinsa’y kamangon bay?

Jords: Samuka ba! Tarong ba!

Ringgo: Aw. Lamokon bitaw diri bay.

Jords: Wala’y lamok uy. Aircon man diri sa cafeteria. Mag-sige ra pud ka’g agree.

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