Date a Farmer

Nonfiction by | July 7, 2013

I remember how the mud stuck in between my toes and nails. I never knew my soles’ dead skin was also absorbent. Glad to have bought cheap soap from the nearby sari-sari store. Wala problema panglugod.

I should have worn boots but that could have made him uncomfortable. I don’t want him to be uncomfortable. I want him to like me so that he can open up. Gusto ko lang guid sya mapamatian mag istorya.

I though the chance of talking to him would slip when he said, “Makadto ako sa bukid. Hindi pwede ipabwas kay may tubig na.”

I hurriedly caught up on him and said: “Wala problema. Maupod ako didto.”

He chuckled. I though it meant, sure ka?

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Mga Kendi at Turon

Fiction by | September 20, 2009

“Limang piso?” tanong ni Bien sabay kamot ng ulo.

Nginitian sya ng kanyang ina at hinalikan. “Mag aral ka nang mabuti. Dapat hindi ka mahuhuli sa eskwela anak, ha?” malambing na paalala nito.

Alam nyang kahit ilang beses syang magtanong ay hindi na madadagdagan ang kanyang baon para sa araw na iyon kaya naman ay ibinulsa na nya ito, tumalikod, at lumakad patungo sa eskwela.

Kahit kailan ay hindi pa nahuhuli si Bien sa klase. Hindi man sya ang pinakamatalino sa klase niya, ngunit ang “record” niyang “never been late” ang pinanghahawakan nya simula nung grade 1. Grade 3 na siya ngayon at malinis pa rin ang “record” niya kahit naglalakad lang siya patungong paaralan. Natatalo pa niya ang mga kaklaseng may sariling sasakyan.

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Dalagita

Fiction by | November 23, 2008

Tumingala sa langit. Nasaan na kaya siya?Alas singko y medya. Medyo madilim na. Kailangan daw mag-ingat sa paglalakad. Mahirap na. Maputik ngayon. Sana mamaya na bumuhos ang ulan. Sumakay na lang sana ng pedicab. Medyo malayo rin pala. Parang malapit lang naman ‘to dati. Hinahatid pa niya ako noon. Pwede naman sigurong dumaan sandali sa tindahan nina Lily. Mangangamusta lang, matagal-tagal na rin. Minsan lang makalabas. Magpapakita pa kaya siya? Buntong-hininga. ‘Wag na lang, baka magalit ang nanay. Buti nga kahit pa’no, pumayag ngayon sa paglabas. Konting tiis na lang. Tingin lang ng diretso. Isang kanto na lang, bahay na. Nakakapagod pala talaga.. Kakayanin ko kahit wala siya. Higit sa bigat, yaong mga tingin, yaong mga bulong. Pero andito sana siya. Continue reading Dalagita

Of the Bombs and the Sun

Nonfiction by | November 25, 2007

Tacurong City and I have seen good days. The atmosphere where I grew up in has continuously changed having something to do with my expanding horizons and growing consciousness of the various events.

When I was a child, all I thought was that Tacurong was my haven. I grew up with all the love and joy offered not only by the people around me, but also by the enchanted trees and the birds, I ran freely with the wind, I slept soundly with the crickets singing their songs.

I had a deep appreciation of the sunset that I always saw from afar – across the rice fields which were just meters away from our house, and across the mountains, the proud Daguma Range. My little eyes found pleasure watching the sun paint the sky with colors as it set. The mountain ranges looked as if they were palms embracing a crystal ball that predicted my future. I would always find myself leaning on our gate’s post, staring dreamily at the sun until it vanished and gave way to the stars.

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