Cagayan de Oro Writers Group Call for Applications

Events by | February 7, 2016

The Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro (NAGMAC), a community of literary writers and literature enthusiasts that aims to revitalize the local literary scene, is now open for applications. Applicant must be a native of Northern Mindanao and/or currently based in the region.

Minimum qualifications:
(1) Willingness and availability to go to official activities such as spoken word events, writing workshops, etc.
(2) Sincere passion for and interest in writing and regional literature
(3) Openness to sharing and learning from community fellows, mentors, and invited speakers
(4) High effort and quality of outputs in workshops and others

Membership categories:
(1) Category A – writers who have publication history and have received fellowships from regional and/or national writers workshops organized by reputed writing centers and institutes
(2) Category B – writers whose works have already been published in literary anthologies, journals, and books
(3) Category C – beginning writers
(4) Category D – general members
(Please see application form for required manuscripts to be submitted per category.)

Please download the application form via https://goo.gl/mz9jm8. Fill out, print, and enclose it in a short brown envelope together with the required manuscripts. Hand-deliver it (and the Php 200 registration fee) to our secretariat during or after the spoken word event on 12 February, 6 to 9 PM, at Chingkee Tea.

Membership perks include a chance to be mentored by established local writers, regular peer critiquing of literary outputs, first-hand information on the latest creative writing opportunities (regional, national, and international writers workshops, literary contests, among others), book exchange, discounts on spoken word events, and merchandise.

Time Travel Please

Nonfiction by | March 15, 2015

Any nerd who has ever put the words “what” and “if” together in a sentence would probably be pondering about the concepts of time traveling and alternate universes. I would know. I’m a nerd.

My fascination with time travel began when my Kuya told me stories about comics heroes from Marvel and DC. He told me about how Scott Summers was seduced by Emma Frost and how Jean Grey shat bricks and turned into this flaming hot babe named Phoenix all because of jealousy. (Disclaimer: Kuya told me this story when I was nine years old. Did this happen in the comics or was it a figment of my imagination?) But I digress. A few months later, he told me about another comic where Emma Frost failed to seduce Scott because Jean Grey travelled back in time and prevented it from happening.

At nine years old, I learned that it was theoretically possible to travel through time and that slutty bitches could push decent women to crawl into a portal and change the course of history. Or at least, not let their man sleep with conniving whores.

Continue reading Time Travel Please

May-December

Poetry by | February 1, 2015

The only wrinkles that you have
are those lines along the
corners of your eyes
when you smile
unlike her
Your countenance strengthens me
the might of
a thousand Spartans cannot match me
You hands
are smooth, unblemished by the
wash cloths and the dish soaps
the detergent you’ll be
handling soon enough
And yet beside you, I am
ancient
It is apt she calls this
May-December
You are summer
and I am at the tail end
of seasons
Soon, I hope
you, like a phoenix,
will rise
and I will remain
with her


Mai Santillan is, by day, a freelance writer from CDO. By night, she’s a couch potato. During her off days, you’ll see her wandering around Divisoria to capture mundane yet candid humdrum activities in the city. You won’t miss her. She has this ridiculously huge curly hair often mistaken as a wig. But it’s not. Really.

Proben

Poetry by | December 21, 2014

WP_20141005_17_36_46_Pro
Gilabnot ako ug ang uban pa,
gikan sa kinasudlan sa manok,
tapad sa batikulon,
gi-abrihan, gisusi, gikuot, ug giwaswasan,
giharinahan, giprito, ug gituhog,
tag-lima sa usa ka bikog.
Sa wala pa gilunsad,
sa bulaw nga mayor,
ang pagpahapsay sa dalan,
makita mi nimong nakalaray,
nag-atang sa mga busawang,
sama nimong,
gamulo na ang tiyan,
sa pagpangaslum sa kagutom.
Kabalo ko unsa imong gusto:
init, bus-ok, ug barato.
Ayaw og kaulaw.
Ayaw og panghugas.
Kinawboy ni nga stayl.
Wala lay utangay.
Hulbot lang og maskin singko,
daw itunol sa tindero.
Ituslob ko sa sawsawan.
Daghan kang mapilian niini:
halang, tam-is, aslum.
Andama ang palad,
sa pagsalo,
sa mutulo nga sarsa.
Kab-uta ang puso.
Lami na ipares nako.
Walay platuhay.
Dinamak ni nga stayl.
Pangitaa lang mi sa suok.
Naa ra mi sa Pabayo gatapok.


Mai is a founding member of NAGMAC (Nagkahiusang mga Mambabalak sa CDO), a community of local poets that mounts CDO Poetry Night. She is also a fellow to the recently concluded Davao Writers Workshop 2014. In her spare time, she hangs around milk tea shops and eavesdrops on people, hoping to write a play about strangers.

Suok

Poetry by | July 13, 2014

Sa tibuok adlaw natong
pagdawat sa
abog
singot
ulan
dalugdog
kilat
init
igang
kasaba
busina
pliti
sukli
sweldo
pagpanguhit
pagpanglimus
pagpangusi
pagpangasaba
ug pagpangulata
niining dakbayan
sa atong lawas,
Karong higayuna
Sa atong kaugalingong
Suok niining lugara
Kita ang hari ug rayna.
Ate/Kuya
usa ka long neck
guha ka platitong mani
usa ka large nga Nova
Unsa’y chaser, Ma’am?
Unsa may naa?
Apple blend
Calamansi blend
Dalandan
Pineapple
Pineapple, Ate/Kuya
Mura’g ritwal nga gisugdan
Ang pagpanaguban og
Kumusta naman?
Okay lang. Busy.
Kahilom
Niabot ang gi-order
og gisugdan na
Ang rason sa paganhi
mao kaha?
Kada yarok sa rhum
mao puy pagpanggawas
sa kainit sa
aping
liog
dughan
ug pagpangaslum sa
dila
kuto-kuto
tiyan
ug pagpanghapdus sa
mata
ilong
tuntunlan
Mga pangutanang
dugay na gilubong
sa kinasuokan
sa akong
alimpatakan
namuhi sa akong baba
sama sa mga batang
taud-taud nang
wala makalaag
Sa imong panghuna-huna
Nagsuroy-suroy sila
Kinabugatan sa tanan
Ngano?
Ug imo kining natubag sa kahilom
Niining suoka
Ikaw ang hari
Ako ang rayna
Apan, nilubad na ang lumay
Manguli na kita
sa atong kaugalingong
mga suok


Mai Santillan is a freelance content writer in Cagayan de Oro City. She, along with her friends from Xavier University, founded NAGMAC (Nagkahiusang Magbabalak sa CDO), a community of young poetry enthusiasts in the city. Once a month, they organize CDO Poetry Night.