Gardening by Accident

Poetry by | November 15, 2009

for Nanette

I wish I could tell you now
that you were right—
after two years
the pineapple head you had thrown
in the backyard has grown
and in fact, the strange
bromeliad is now the throne
of a lovely little piña,
still magenta in the base,
but already wearing a crown.
It competes with the thorns
and constant flowering
of the pink euphorbia beside it.
Also, the golden bamboo
you planted in the clay pot
to keep it portable
has broken through and proudly
taken root, right beside
the bougainvillea that had threatened
to die when the carpenter
chopped it down
to a stump.
It now bursts madly
into fuchsia revenge.
You have always known
it would all come to this,
didn’t you?
My wilderness of a garden
is profuse with paradoxes
and I grow lush
with a hundred eyes.

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The Pilgrim

Nonfiction by | November 8, 2009

beggars circle tables
dogs circle carrion
the lover circles
his own heart
-Rumi

1.

One occasion in my childhood changed my life forever. It was the arrival of a Sony Trinitron television in our home. Being the latest technology of that period, it was a departure from the electronic appliances that resembled pieces of furniture.

It was the last years of the Marcos era. In those days, television broadcasts in the province started at four o’clock in the afternoon with Batibot, followed by a back-to-back Christian cartoons, Super Book and Flying House. Music videos aired just before the evening news.

Coming home from school one afternoon, I switched on the television and saw a blonde girl with a headband and ridiculously large plastic earrings. She toyed with boys under a street sign, mouthing lyrics I barely understood. Soon I memorized the chorus of the song – Borderline — and eagerly anticipated the music video every afternoon. The singer, I learned, was Madonna.

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When you die I will bury you

Poetry by | November 1, 2009

When you die I will bury you
I will have trees murdered
And have their corpses mutilated
To make a casket for yours
That is all

When you die I will bury you
I and our relatives
will be busy
Preparing your wake
Serving your guests
with coffee and biscuits
Presiding the bingo
Spitting out the prayers
That is all

When you die I will bury you
I will weep a tear
Say a good word
Express regret
And express sorrow
That is all

When you die I will bury you
That is all

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You Inside of Me

Poetry by | November 1, 2009

The alluring taste of sweet kisses
that sends impulses through my skin.
The warm breath
whispering into my ear.
Those velvety hands
caressing me all over.
Your heavenly tongue
that lingers in my body.
Yes, I want you inside of me.

Enticing lips,
biting teeth,
intense kisses,
hearts racing
heating gush of blood
driving me into insanity.
The tingling sensation
Of each others touch
Tethering into an indulgent embrace
Pacing with desire
Until both scream in blissful sensuality
Yes, you inside of me.

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Ug Mingiob ang Kalibotan

Fiction by | October 25, 2009

The Communist Party of the Philippines, together with the entire Philippine revolutionary movement, condemns in the strongest terms possible the brutal and ruthless killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento, chairperson of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Supreme Council of Bishops, human rights stalwart, critic of social injustice and fighter for people’s interests. Bishop Ramento, who was found dead with several stab wounds inside his parish church in Tarlac City before dawn Tuesday, was brutally and heineously murdered. We hold the Arroyo regime responsible for Bishop Ramento’s murder. From: http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/8808.php

NAABTAN ko siyang way kibo sulod sa iyang opisina. Daw may lawom nga gihunahuna. Sa akong tan-aw, may dako siyang suliran. Ang iyang panan-aw didto nahipunting sa bentana…milapos sa jalousie, daw nagsud-ong sa usa ka halayong esena. Ingon na gayod siya niining ulahing mga adlaw. Way kadasig.

“Nia na ang juice ug sandwich, Monsinyor. Snack time na.” Gitandog ko ang iyang pagkasangit sa kahilom.

Gibuhian nya ang tugot sa iyang paghinuktok ug mitan-aw siya kanako. Sa lulot niyang mga mata, nakita ko ang duha ka lusok nga luha nga inanayng midagayday sa iyang kaapingan. Sa akong nakita, natantiya ko nga usa gayod ka bug-at nga butang ang nakapahasol sa agalon kong Obispo. Mangahas unta ko sa pagpakisayod kon unsa kining butanga apan nadat-ogan ako sa dakong kaikog.

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Pagpanghinguto

Poetry by | October 25, 2009

Gilaksi ni nanay ang usa ka panid sa kalendaryo
Nahuman na ba gud diay ang bulan sa Pebrero?
Dungan sa iyang sitsit mao ang mapugsanong sinyas
“Duol ra kadiyot ug pungko dinhi sa tsinelas.”

Iyang gibuklad sa salog ang gilaksing papel
Samtang ako miyaka duol sa iyang tiil
Gibadbad niya ang lastikong bugkos sa akong buhok
Gitaktak niya ang sulud dayon ako gipaduko

Huma’g kahig-kahig nangahulog ang mga kuto
Daw mga nasakpang kawatang nagtapok!
Gidalian dayon namog pamusa
Usa pa man sa ulo mobalik ug tugpa

Makapanlimbawot ang ilang balhiboong lawas
Gaitom lang ang agi sa mga gagmayng Hudas!
Ang kanhing puting likod sa kalendaryo
Nahimong usa ka langsang menteryo

Nagkatag ang dugo
dugo sa kuto?

o dugo nako?

Ah,basta ang importante hayahay na akong paminaw
Gikumot na ni nanay ang kalendaryong hugaw
Kuyog ang panghinaot nga ‘di na ko kutohon pa
Aron wa nay mahadlok nakong motapad ug makigdula

Kung Hiktan Nako ang Bulan

Poetry by | October 18, 2009

ung puydi lang untang
talian ang bulan,
kaw-itan ko kini’g pisi
ug ihikot sa haligi

Ipaguyod ko ang akong payag
sama’s kangga sa kabaw,
ug salmotan ko ang bulan
sa iyang paglatagaw

Ako mohangad
Lili-on ug ngisihan ko siya
gikan sa bangag
sa gamay kong bintana

Makapamalandong ako…

Tuod, wala ako’y bitoon
apan higala kami sa bulan

Ipaguyod ko pa ang akong payag

Ug ipaguyod ko usab
ang akong kalag
sama sa kangga sa kabaw
nga sakyanan sa mag-uumang
gikapoy ug nagtukaw

Tultulan ako sa bulan
sa iyang tagoanan
sa mga higayong
masilawan siya sa adlaw

Hatagan kaha ko niya
ug bisan gamayng luna?
Tungod kay dinhi sa kalibutan
dili akoa kining yuta

Taud-taud
ipakita sa bulan
ang iyang tulumanon
ang iyang bag-ong porma

Monipis
Moniwang
Mahisama sa karet!

Karet!
Sama ka’s karet, higalang bulan!
Hait ug talinis.

Hay! Kung puydi lang untang
talian ang bulan

Apan karon, itugyan ko lang usa
ang akong mga damgo

Ugma, sa pagmata
puniton ko ang karet
ug mosakay sa kangga

magpaguyod ko sa kabaw
padulong sa kadaugan!

Winners for the Bisaya Fiction Contest

Editor's Note by | October 12, 2009

The judges have chosen the winners from the field of 21 entries. They are:

1st Prize Winner: Ug Mingiob ang Kalibotan by Raul Moldez
2nd Prize Winner: Kadula by Brian Ang
3rd Prize Winner: Mga Dalan sa Downtown by Javin Jet Tevar

Awarding ceremony will be at Bagobo House Hotel, Gov. Duterte St., on October 17, 5:00 PM.