Tokhang

Poetry by | April 14, 2019

More to roses than their roots
they fake love swaying
with the wind,
the inevitability of change.

Night attends
to the garden
to lull them
to sleep.

             The weak let go
and weather with the season;
yellow leaves go first.

Roots dig deep,
below the surface
wider than branches.

By the day
the gardener names
roses, and only roses;

the leaves have all
           fallen
       to
    the
ground.

Darylle Rubino is a faculty member of the Department of Humanities in UP Mindanao. This poem was published in an anthology entitled Continue reading Tokhang

The Troll in the Woods

Poetry by | April 14, 2019

(In collaboration with Hannah Green)

We felt a milder breeze upon our stroll
Although a hatred looms inside the space.
Which made us look around the spooky place.
The face which made us shout looked like a troll.
Whose facial hair is longer than them all.
Its body big just like a large suit case.
Its width is wider than the city’s space.
we felt like we were pinned against a wall
It made my heart quiver just like a lamb.
It made me think of what my fate would be.
This was a close call between death and life.
Its mouth opened and swallowed up a man.
I’m happy that it didn’t follow me.
But If it did, I would have used my knife.

David Paolo Brigole graduated at the University of Winnepeg with a BA English degree. He grew up and studied in Davao City during his primary years. His passion for poetry stemmed from when he used to play with words as a toddler. He is also passionate about drawing bizarre and beautiful objects and loves to indulge in gastrointestinal delights.

Food: Emotional, Political, and Powerful

Nonfiction by | April 14, 2019

Editor’s Note: This essay first appeared in worldpulse.com.

In 2006, my mother decided to open a small carinderia (local eatery) outside our home. It was a typical carinderia: of tight spaces; overwhelming nook and crannies; aromatic and powerful smoke from burning charcoal and wood; buzzing of customers eager to have their orders taken; and an orchestra of scents and sounds. Not only did Mama offer affordable meals but she contributed to the dietary diversity of over 100 households in our community. She whipped up amazing and tasty meals which she became famous for such as law-uy, a soothing vegetable soup with lemongrass and bits and pieces of fried fish and monggos, a filling mung bean soup with green, leafy vegetables.

My mother has always been a brave single parent in my eyes – resilient amidst poverty and strong in the face of a vicious cycle of pain. But my mother as an important actor in the food systems never came up. I have been a part of numerous global fora and have sunk my teeth on many advocacies, but it was in a recent forum which opened my heart and brain to many narratives within food systems.

I participated in the EAT Asia-Pacific Food Forum, a gathering of more than 500 food systems stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region. The forum aimed at unpacking the challenges facing the Asia-Pacific food system as part of the overarching goal to transform the world’s food system. The forum was held in Jakarta thru the leadership of the EAT Foundation and the Indonesian Ministry of Health. It was an honor to be part of the forum representing the Philippine Coalition of Advocates for Nutrition Security or PhilCAN. The EAT Asia Pacific Forum served as a platform to discuss global food concerns, overwhelming as these may be, the format was personal, encouraging, and inspiring. Within two days, I tried to learn as much as I can, jotting down notes, taking images of the poignant slides, and personally linking the insights with my own reflection and experiences. I am sharing some of the connections here.

Continue reading Food: Emotional, Political, and Powerful

Dalagang Ina

Poetry by | April 7, 2019

Katulad ng aking paa ang mga ugat
Ngunit ayaw kong kumakapit sa lupa kapag nakatindig

Walang kaparis ang aking tamis
Subalit hindi mo ako matitikman katulad ng mansanas

Lumililim ka sa aking may hapis
Gayong ako’y naambunan rin ng sariling luha.

Akala mo siguro’y matingkad itong ating mundo
Samantalang dilim at liwanang lang ang mga kulay nito.

Heto at kinakabog na nga ng takot itong aking puso (paano na pagdating mo?)
Parang bungang tahimik lang na mag-papayugyog, mahuhulog.

Kahit walang lupang sumalo,
Sisibul itong binhi sukat mang nag-iisa ako.

Avelth Castro Belicena. Pagkatapos sumali sa palihan ng IYAS, naligaw siya sa Mindanaw at nag-iwan ng marka sa Surigao, Misamis, Lanao, Butuan, Tagum at Davao bilang isang milagrosang mandirigma. Ngayon ay nahanap niya ang daan pauwi bilang reyna kasama ng kanyang dalawang prinsesa sa puso ng QC.

Ang Bagyong Hindi Madalas Kung Marso

Poetry by | April 7, 2019

Ang bagyong hindi madalas kung Marso
Ay tulad ng isang pangkaraniwang pagluha ng langit.
Subalit hindi na ito pangkaraniwan ngayon
Gayong wala nang makapagpaliban sa kanyang pagbuhos
Sumasaklob ang malalaki niyang patak
Sa aking namimigat na talukap;
Ang mga dahong nakayung-yong sa hardin
Ay napilayan din ng husto.
Para kaming sabay na umuusal ng panalangin
Na huminto na ang bagyo.
Itong nakapatong na lungkot sa aking balat
Ay unti-unting dumidiin, bumabaon sa aking laman
Sa pagsampal nitong hanging humahaplit sa akin
Nang may umingit na iyak sa pintig ng ulan,
At ako iyon – basang-basa ng luha, humihibik.
Ito lamang ang maririnig na lumalalim pang tunog
Sa magkabilang dulo ng ingay at tahimik,
Sa mga butas sa lupa na inapawan ng tubig.
May paparating pang hagibis kahit tag-init,
Subalit hindi ako papatda kung ikaw man ito, muli.

Avelth Castro Belicena. Pagkatapos sumali sa palihan ng IYAS, naligaw siya sa Mindanaw at nag-iwan ng marka sa Surigao, Misamis, Lanao, Butuan, Tagum at Davao bilang isang milagrosang mandirigma. Ngayon ay nahanap niya ang daan pauwi bilang reyna kasama ng kanyang dalawang prinsesa sa puso ng QC.

Maligno

Fiction by | April 7, 2019

(kataposan)

WALA MOTINGOG si Luningning. Apan maaninaw sa iyang nawong ang pinugngan nga pahiyom. Giubanan niya ang dalaga sa atabay sa tiilan sa bukid. Iyang gisulayan pagkapot ang kamot. Wala motutol ang dalaga.

Human sa kapin sa bulan niyang pangamoral, nauyab niya si Luningning. Usa ka buntag, iyang gidani ang dalaga pag-adto sa dapit nga gisalipdan sa labong nga bugang. Iyang gihalog ug gihagkan ang dalaga. Nabati niya ang pangurog sa lawas sa babaye. Tungod ba sa kahadlok o sa nagsalimuang nga pagbati?

“Mouli na ko, Sir,” ni Luningning pa nga milingkawas sa iyang gakos.

“Sige, ugma magkita ta pag-usab dinhi.”
Pagkaugma, midiretso sa siya sa dapit nga gisalipdan sa bugang. Nagpaabot kang Luningning. Miabot ang dalaga pas-an ang sag-ob nga kawayan. Gisandig sa dalaga ang sag-ob sa nag-igdal nga bato.

Anad siya unsaon paghaylo og babaye. Gisulayan niyag gakos si Luningning. Wala kini molihok sa iyang gibarogan. Iyang gihagkan sa aping. Wala molingiw ang dalaga. Iyang gihagkan sa ngabil. Migakos si Luningning kaniya. Nag-abot ang ilang mga baba. Nag-ukob. Wala mobalibad ang dalaga nga iyang gipahigda sa yuta apan nagdumili nga huboan sa iyang sinina. Nahapla ang sagbot nga naligsan sa ilang lawas. Nalimot si Luningning sa kaugalingon ug mipasignunot sa labing praymal nga hunat sa tawo.

Continue reading Maligno

Call for Entries to the 4th Satur P. Apoyon Tigi sa Mubong Sugilanong Binisaya

Editor's Note | March 13, 2019

The Davao Writers Guild is now accepting entries to the 4th Satur P. Apoyon Tigi sa Mubong Sugilanong Binisaya.

Named after renowned journalist, writer, and former Davao Writers Guild president Satur P. Apoyon, the contest welcomes short fiction in Binisaya by Mindanao-based writers. Works will be judged according to their command of language, writing technique, relevance to contemporary society and culture, and originality of vision.

Three winners will be awarded with cash prizes during the 2019 Davao Writers Workshop in November. The first prize winner will receive P5,000.00, while the second and third prize winners will receive P3,000.00 and P2,000.00, respectively.

To be considered, applicants should submit one (1) short story written in Binisaya. An entry should be double-spaced, on 8.5 x 11 inches bond paper, with approximately one-inch margin on all sides. The page number must be typed consecutively (e.g. 1 of 20, 2 of 20, and so on) at the center of the bottom margin of each page. The font should be either Palatino or Garamond, with font size 12. An entry should not exceed thirty (30) pages. The author’s name should not appear on the entry. An applicant is only allowed one (1) entry.

Entries should be accompanied by 1) an accomplished Application Form (submitted through the linked Google Form) and 2) a signed Certificate of Originality of Work.

Both the entry and the Certificate of Originality of Work should be attached as PDF documents in an email to davaowritersguild@yahoo.com.ph, with subject line “Entry to Satur Apoyon Contest”.

All requirements must be complete at the time of submission. Failure to comply with these instructions will automatically disqualify the entry.

Deadline of entries is on 31 August 2019. For more information, kindly visit http://www.dagmay.com. For further inquiries, please send an email to davaowritersguild@yahoo.com.ph, or message our official Facebook page.

Fat Man and Drying Pond

Poetry by | March 10, 2019

Mercy for our gasping gills-
We’re disowned by the rain, In vain
Fat man,
     Sprinkle some love into our mucked fins
     Just a little lick of liquid life

Our younglings dried for the flies
And our scales turn opaque –
As we are baked in mud we commune in death

Mercy for our gasping gills
Strike the broken ground for spring to flow,
In puddles of death, free us.
The sky has cursed our ponds to dry
     Please don’t curse us too
If you will take our forms for food
     We’re glad to offer you
Just let us breathe
     In water clean
          For an hour or two,

Poor fish,
Meshed in blackening pond weeds,
     I cannot take you as my food,
     Your septic flesh is searing now
          I’ll be dead before I chew
          Your sick fins chucked some stinky muck onto my lips
               Your brood lay drying closing to dying
          As I held you in the under the sun.
               Your jady color disappears

But fish,
I tell you this –
More cursed than you know.
This heaping fat is sucking dry my heart and inner core
I’ve not shown love,
Not even to my own,
I’ve been to hopeless wars
          And did my time
               Burying bodies during storms.