Call for Membership Applications: Northern Mindanao Writers Group

Editor's Note | November 25, 2016

About NAGMAC

The Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro (NAGMAC), a young artists collective of established and emerging poets, essayists, fictionists, and playwrights, is now open for membership applications. Applicant must be born and/or (currently) based in Northern Mindanao—Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental (Cagayan de Oro), and Misamis Occidental. NAGMAC aims to provide opportunities for local writers to enhance their skills and receive further education about their craft through workshops, clinics, and other forms of critiquing; provide a venue for editorial development and support group for those making a career with their creative works; create an open artistic community within the region that recognizes up-and-coming homegrown talents; and cultivate an inclusive community of literate and discerning readers and patrons of local literature and the arts.
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Wildflower

Poetry by | November 20, 2016

Weed, they say
Of the sprout
That blooms in concrete.
Wild, because its color
Is sunkissed.
This weed they curse,
This weed they raise their fists,
This weed they fear.
Yet be the wild blossom
That stands unwavering,
That waltzes with the wind.

Stephanie is a creative writer, blogger, and enthusiast of all things creative. She graduated with a BA in Literature at De La Salle University – Manila. She has attended two Mindanao-based workshops, namely the 1st Cagayan de Oro Writers Workshop (2016) and the 2013 Davao Writers Workshop. She’s currently working on her first work of poetry, Animalia: a collection of animal poetry. The poem, “Wildflower,” is from her collection of works entitled “Found.”

Ilhanay 2016: The Pleasure is Mutual

Nonfiction by | November 17, 2016

Last October 13, some members of the Davao Writers Guild (DWG) participated in Ilhanay 2016, the first literary festival of North Davao Colleges, Panabo City, through the initiative of faculty member Mohammed Nassefh Macla. Through Macla’s vision, the school’s former “English Week” turned into a celebration of contemporary Mindanawon writing, an unequivocal act of defiance toward the hegemony of English as a language of intellectual and literary pursuits in the Philippines. That day, it was clear that Binisaya is the language that speaks to and of the heart of the Mindanawon.

Panabo is a city in its own right, nestled between the larger cities of Tagum and Davao. Our trip there is part of the outreach activities of the Guild in order to ensure that aspiring writers from outside Davao also have the opportunity to meet and learn from more established writers. In the past, DWG as a group has gone to Samal Island, Digos City, Kapalong, Davao del Norte, and Bukidnon, and each time, participating writers came home inspired by the enthusiasm of the audience. In Panabo, I joined Noi Narciso, Darylle Rubino, Errol Merquita, and Macla in the usual forum and reading. What we didn’t know was that the students had actually prepared a treat for us.
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Victims and Perpetrators

Fiction by | November 13, 2016

Harassment is something that a human mind could sense. When someone, even if it were a child, is being harassed, he or she knows it. Sexual harassment cases occur among girls and women of all ages.

These were the words I heard from the speaker of an anti-sexual harassment forum I attended when I was in first year college. I think most of these cases are unresolved and are only kept secret by offended parties because of two reasons: some threatened by their offenders and some kept their secrets by choice. I chose to be on the second category.

It all started one morning, when my parents were out doing the usual pamalengke for Sunday lunch. I was five. I loved to stay in the sala while waiting for my parents because I like seeing the goods they bought for Sunday lunch. We would usually have a festive lunch every Sunday so we would invite my father’s buddy, Bobong, who had been, ever since I remember, a close friend of the family. What would make us aware of his arrival would be his signature way of saying “Ayo!” as he’d climb his way up our house. He would come to our house in every occasion—big and small ones. Big ones like my younger brother Ponkik’s first birthday where he led the slaughtering of the big pig for lechon, my youngest brother Langgay’s dedication day and small ones like ordinary drinking sessions and tong-its card games with my father and their other friends.

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Unsaon Pagpatay sa Ok-ok

Poetry by | November 6, 2016

Pag- andam og tsinelas,
kanang baga, kanang malaparo.
Pag-andam og tirongan,
kanang talinis, kanang taas.
Pag-andam og silhig ug sako,
kanang dako, kanang lapad.

Tuktoka sa iyang panimalay.
Kon makit-an nimong
gakamang-kamang ang mga ok-ok
sa Boulevard, hinay-hinayag duol.
Unya kalit walupa
sa baga nga tsinelas.

Ug makaikyas unya musukol
ang inahak, kuhaa ang tirongan.
Tusoka sa lungag kay tingali
misuksok sa Brgy. 23-C.
Tusoka gyud hangtod madunggan
nimong napislat ang iyang lawas.
Unya kuha dayon kag silhig.
Hiposa, tapoka, isulod sa sako
panaghoy murag daw sawaay.

Inig kadlawon ilabay sa kasagbotan
Ug aron mahimangnoan ang tanan
butangi og pasidaan,
ok-ok ako huwag ninyong tularan.

Sayon ra patyon
ang mga gagmayng ok-ok.
Perog kung dinagko
na Insekto na gani,
Ayaw sa patya,
kay istudyohan pa.


Errol A Merquita is a free lance writer based in Davao City. He believes that even cockroaches can go to heaven.

Friendship

Poetry by | November 6, 2016

It is cosmic. But why do we try
reducing it precisely to habits?
Perhaps it sleeps, too, and wakes
to a new day like we do.
It sits momentarily, reviews a list of needs
and few serviceable tasks in a day.
Perhaps it looks for a quick inspiration, too.
A good call, or a response to a message
which has not been read for a couple of hours.
Neither circumstances nor excuses will ever
lose its value. After conflicts and neglects,
it restores and seeks itself again.
Perhaps it finds a new space
sometimes: once in a week, a month or two.
How long can it travel alone? It learns
where it stumbles upon itself.
It does not know it loves
because sometimes it reads too much.
It raises a mirror to itself and gazes
long at what it only wants to see,
and throws a question it cannot even answer.
Only when it demands, it delivers
a disappointed look.
It also hates and does not accept,
even itself. When it is in pain, it goes back
to where it once found itself easy.
It strangles with both hands but stops
to a sight of love, open as widening palms.
Then it goes home, empties out its pockets
full of ever-hefty disquiet.
Later, before it rests, it remembers
and holds a new precious thought.
Only it knows how it always wishes itself best.


Arian Tejano graduated from UP Mindanao. She’s currently residing in Dumaguete City in pursuit of writing, her transition and a new life.

Tinguha

Fiction by | November 6, 2016

Hinubad sa binisaya sa sugilanon ni Paz Latorena nga “ Desire”

Panimalaynon siya. Ang halapad niya nga agtang naghatag kaniya og mangil-ad, lakinhon nga panagway. Ang iyahang mga mata, nga gamay, naghirig sa kilid, ug daghan sa iyahang mga kaila ang naghuna-huna nga tingali, adunay tinulo sa langitnon nga binuhat nga nag-anig-ig sa iyahang mga ugat. Halapad ug pislat ang iyahang ilong ug kanunay nga nagpaluag ang mga lungag niini, nga murag ang pag ginhawa usa ka panugakod. Ang iyahang baba, nga adunay baga nga mga ngabil, usa ka taas, tul-id nga lahap sa iyahang panagway nga gihimong anggulohon sa iyahang hinaboon, dako nga apapangig.

Apan ang Kinaiyahan, nga murag naulaw sa kadaotan sa paggama sa iyahang dagway nagumol og lawas nga adunay talagsaon nga kaanyag. Gikan liog hangtud sa gamay niya nga mga tiil, maambong siya. Busdik ang iyahang dughan, ug nagbugdo ang iyahang mga tutoy, sama sa kaluha nga mga rosas nga nagbusiad sa pagpamulak. Ang iyahang hawak kay gamay, sama sa usa ka bata nga babayi. Murag gikawat gayud sa iyahang bat-ang ang kurba sa bag-ong subang nga bulan. Ang iyahang mga bukton kay malison, nahitapos sa iyahang gamay nga mga kamot nga adunay maanindot, nagkanipis niya nga mga tudlo nga gikasinahan sa iyahang mga higala. Ang iyahang batiis nga adunay malinis nga mga tuhod, nagpahinumdom sa usa sa mga manekin nga makita gikan sa bintana sa buhatan nga naghikyad sa pinakabag-o nga mga seda nga medyas sa babayi.
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