Tag: Alfredo Carlos P. Montecillo

The Boy in the Corner, Part 2

Fiction by | February 2, 2014

Continued from part 1

A week passed. During those days, Tim continued to watch Grim. He noted unusual behavior from Grim. Sometimes, Grim wore a smile, at other times a frown – without any cause. But Tim discovered something more disturbing: Grim talked to himself. Because of how he observed Grim, the other students treated Tim the same way as his subject of interest. Tim didn’t care. He needed, he wanted, to know Grim.

Lunch came. Tim got ready to observe Grim from a distance.

“Notebook, check. Pen, check. Oh, no, he went ahead!”

Tim rushed outside the classroom to check if Grim was still in the hallway. He saw Grim heading downstairs. After letting out a sigh of relief, he followed Grim. Tim went down the stairs and passed by the admissions counter. Suddenly, someone tapped him from the back. He turned around and to his surprise, it was Grim.

“Tim, right?” Grim asked. He looked serious.

Tim didn’t know what to say. He was shocked. No, he was afraid. He was afraid that Grim would do something bad to him. Tim stayed silent. Grim lost his patience and dragged Tim to the restroom. Continue reading The Boy in the Corner, Part 2

The Boy in the Corner, Part 1

Fiction by | January 12, 2014

The black bells rang. An eerie bong echoed along the dim hallway as a shadow loomed from the rusted gates of the school. The shadow came from the new student, Tim. He was a former student of Eagle Academy, but because of financial problems his parents enrolled him in the Gray Institute.

It was already recess when Tim arrived. The gates were still shut, but from where he stood, he saw figures of what seemed to be, the students of the school. Suddenly, the gates opened; creaking as it’s rusty hinges moved. Tim was nervous. He did not know what to do. He thought of running back home, but because he was well aware of his family’s problem, he chose to go forward. He could not afford to simply waltz away from an opportunity to learn.

Continue reading The Boy in the Corner, Part 1

Father's Day Card

Poetry by | August 4, 2013

Alas onse sa gabii;
wala na si papa,
trabahuon na nako ning
card para sa iyaha.
Unta tungod ani
mu undang na siya’g uli’g sayo
sa buntag – gikan ila nang Bitka –
na dili humot batong,
ashtray, ug tuba;
kabalo gud si mama gud.
(pero pangga man na siya ni papa ba)
Unta pud maundangan
ang iyang pag hapak-
bakos,
dos por dos,
tsinelas, tubo,
kumo- sa akua
masking kabalo ko nga
mga panudlo to ni papa mao ing ana.
Ana ang mga silingan na
biyaan
na lagi daw si papa.
Pero dili mi oy!
Mu bag-o lagi siya…
wala lang puhon niya nabasa’g tarong
tung mga card nako sa una…
Oy! Pero nabasa to niya!
Siguro…

—
Alfredo Carlos P. Montecillo is a 4th year irregular student of Ateneo de Davao University.

My Mami

Nonfiction by | March 17, 2013

Valentina Peña is my maternal grandmother, but within our family, we always call her Mami. In all the years I’ve known her, no one has satisfactorily explained to me the genesis of that appellation. It may be a reference to the delicious chicken noodle soup she makes, or more probably, it is an affectionate, but misspelled alternative to the word “Mommy.” No one really knows. No one really minds. Certainly, Mami doesn’t mind.

Like most grandmothers, Mami is kind and caring. She is a petite lady, standing just a little above 5 feet tall. She has that beautiful Filipina morena coloring with a head of lustrously dark, brown hair, and skin bronzed by the sun. Her almond shaped eyes give others the impression that she has Chinese blood. Her smile is often wide with her teeth slightly discolored. She loves to cook and is very good at it too.

My earliest memories of Mami was from the age of 4. I knew I spent a lot of time in her house watching television, or playing with clothespins on the living room carpet. Every 3 in the afternoon without fail, Mami always served me a small plate of warm cheese sandwich, sliced into triangles. After I ate that, I would ask for seconds… and thirds… and fourths and more. I had a voracious appetite even then but Mami did not mind one bit. She would whip up batches of sandwiches upon request until I was full — or until her supply of bread and cheese spread ran out, whichever came first. She always gave me her wide smile whenever she saw me stuffing myself with her cheese-filled snacks.

Upon reflection, I may also have kept asking for her sandwiches for the sake of seeing that smile.

Continue reading My Mami

Teatro ng Pag-Ibig

Play by | December 9, 2012

teatroTauhan:

Ming – Isang 2nd year student ng Kolehiyo de San Ignacio. Siya ang babaeng bida ng kwento. Sikat na estudyante dahil sa ganda at talino. Si Berto ang matalik niyang kaibigan.

Berto – Isang 2nd year student ng Kolehiyo de San Ignacio. Siya ang lalakeng bida ng kwento. Isang simpleng musikero. Matalik na kaibigan niya si Ming. Ngunit…

Direk – Ang director ng dulang pinaghahandaan ng dramatics club.

Mga props people – Ang mga gumagawa ng props para sa dulang magaganap.

Eksena: Ang mga miyembro ng dramatics club ay naghahanda para sa isang dula na gaganapin sa ika-14 ng Pebrero. Sila, ang mga miyembro at ang director, ay nasa loob ng auditorium. Ang stage ay di pa gaanong napaganda. Merong mga estudyante na gumagawa ng props. Sa gitna ng stage, ay mayroong babaeng nakatayo at handang mag emote

Narrator: Ang pag-ibig ay mahahalintulad sa kamatayan;
       Wala itong pinipiling oras ni kung sino ang matatamaan.
       Tulad na lamang ng kwento ngayon.

       Isang linggo, bago sasapit ang araw ng mga puso,
       sa Kolehiyo de San Ignacio,
       ang mga estudyanteng kabilang sa Socio-Teatro,
       ang dramatics club ng paaralan,
       ay naghahanda para sa “Dula ng Pag-ibig”,
       ang taunang palabas na ginaganap tuwing ika-14 ng Pebrero.

Continue reading Teatro ng Pag-Ibig

The Soul Eater

Fiction by | October 7, 2012

Have you ever wondered what happens while we sleep through the silence of the night?

There was once a teenager who went along the halls of the prestigious Kolehiyo de San Ignacio. His name was Gin Miguel Walker, or Gin for short. He was a 3rd year student taking up BS Accounting. He stood at about 5’6″ and had a well-built slim body. He had the looks that matched those Korean singers that girls in his school fell head over heels for. But, despite these great characteristics, Gin was always a loner.

Every day, during 12:00 noon, a girl’s heart (or two) would fall victim to this superior entity; which would end in the misfortune of trying to ask Gin to have lunch together. Of course, being the loner that he is, Gin almost, if not completely, ignores this request. This type of behavior has caused him many unpleasant encounters with other guys who are envious of his uncanny charm. Once, he was beaten up badly, by the basketball varsity’s ace player. Apparently, a girl, who the varsity player had been trying to woo for 2 years, fell for Gin in a matter of 2 days.

Poor Gin. The people around him did not know the situation he was going through.

Continue reading The Soul Eater

Konduktor

Play by | August 5, 2012

Mga Tauhan:

Kaloy: Isang konduktor sa terminal ng jeep. 18 years old na binata. Payat. Ang suot niyang t-shirt at shorts ay nababahiran ng grasa. Makakaaway niya si…

John: Pasaherong uupo sa front seat. Mas malaki ang katawan kumpara kay Kaloy. Mayaman ang porma niya. Mayabang umasta. Kaaway ni Kaloy at ni…

Manang: Isang matandang galing grocery.

Tagpo:
Ang tagpo ng istorya ay sa isang terminal ng mga jeep.

(Bubukas ang telon kasabay ang pagtugtog ng background music na parang nasa terminal ng jeep. Papasok mula sa kaliwa si Kaloy. Mayroong multicab-jeep [sideview]sa background. Sa loob ng jeepney ay may mga nakaupo na.)

Kaloy: O kayo diyan! Maam! (sabay turo sa isang manonood na babae)

Dito po, lalarga na! Sasa, Sasa, Panacan, Tibungco, Lanang! Sasa, Sasa –

O boss dito o. (sabay gabay sa isang lalake papunta sa likod na pasukan ng jeep)

O, O, O! Paki urong naman diyan! (papaluin ni Kaloy ang kilid ng jeep) Paki urong para makaupo si bossing! O, O, O! (papaluin nanaman ang jeep)

(Habang pinapaurong ni Kaloy ang mga tao sa loob ng jeep ay papasok si John mula sa kanang bahagi ng entablado. Sasakay siya sa front seat ng jeep. Maglalagay siya ng headphones sa ulo niya at makikinig ng musika.)

Kaloy: Sasa, Sasa, Panacan, Lanang! Miss, pwede pa o, Sasa ba Sasa? (magtatanong si Kaloy sa isang babae mula sa manonood)

Ser! Lanang? (magtatanong si Kaloy sa isang lalake sa mga manonood) Tibungco? Bakante pa doon o.

(Magmumukhang pagod si Kaloy. Iikutin niya ang tuwalyang dala niya para magpahangin. Papasok ang isang matandang babae mula sa kanan ng entablado; may daladalang punong grocery bag. Kukuhitin ng matanda ang likod ni Kaloy. Lilingon si Kaloy sa matanda.)

Continue reading Konduktor

Para Kay Ma'am

Play by | February 26, 2012

Tauhan:

Ma’am Jen – Ang guro na hinahangaan ng mga nasa Kolehiyo de San Ignacio. Di lamang maganda kundi matalino, magaling magturo, at maaruga sa mga tao.

Art – Isang 3rd year student ng Kolehiyo de San Ignacio.

Kaklase 1 – isang kaklase ni Art. Isang lalake.

Kakase 2 – isang kaklase ni Art. Isang babae.

Dr. Xion – Ang chemistry teacher ng mga 3rd year students sa Kolehiyo de San Ignacio.

Pagsasadula:

      (Closed Curtains)

Narrator: Ang pag-ibig ay walang pinipiling lugar, oras, panahon, kasarian, edad, etsetera, etsetera. Wala!

Narrator: Ehem…

Narrator: Ngunit, wala rin itong pinapaboran. At kung minsan pa’y nakikipaglaro sa tadhana ng tao.

Continue reading Para Kay Ma'am