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COVERwith separate layout

Banaag Diwa Karapatan ng Paglalathala, 2007ATENEWSOpisyal na Pahayagan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Ateneo de DavaoCovered Court Bldg. Ateneo de Davao University, E. Jacinto St., Davao CityTelephone no: 221-2411 (loc. 8332)E-mail Address: atenews@gmail.comMember: College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

Nilimbag ng Midtown Printing Company, Inc.A. Bonifacio St., Davao City

Banaag Diwa 2007Katipunan ng mga akdang pampanitikan ng Atenews

Yugto ng Pagbabago (transition) n. Eng 1.change; 2. evolution Pang. Fil. 1.transisyon; 2.yugto ng pagbabago

The Banaag Diwa Team(2007-2008)

EDITORIAl BOARD

Nisa S. OpallaHyangeto Hao

Santigo Paulo L. Pascual

lAy-OUT By:Shem Bajenting

PhOTOS By:JB Thomas H. Busque IV

ARTWORKS By:Carl Garey Marañon

Ghamar Kanda Abdul

STAff:Hannah Lesley Taotjo

Jell Vie GualbertoJobelle Obguia

MODERATORS: Dr. Macario D. Tiu

Dr. Victoria Tatad-Pre

NilalamaN

Pambungad 6

The Fall (pagkalugmok) 7

[Allowance • Ang ulan ug ang imong pagbiya • Banig • Buhay Walang Buhay • Drifting • Erythrocyte • I’m Floating • Kung mahimo lang • Laban ng ala-ala • Nakausap ko si Hesus • Pisong Paraiso • Ricochet • Salin sa ulan • Sleep, Drown and Bleed • STP • Tahimik • The Orange Lightpost • The Passing • Weyter]

The Struggle (pakikibaka) 27

[Ang Sining ni Nadja • Formosa Repugnata • Hatud sa Ngabil • Huwag Pumikit • Kasarian Ko Ba’y Kontradiksyon • Katawhan • Menopos • Pagbabago • Pakiki-isa • Reflections • Sambit ng Kalabaw • Steep Incline • Tula ni Komander Chummy • Wasted • Lugaw • Wala]

The Liberation (pagbangon) 43

[Ang Tunglo sa Alom • Back to Basics • Baliw • Friends • Beng • Dominate • Of mountains and why the city streets go no further • Sa pagmata • Sa Dalampasigan • Musika • Ginoo pag ampo • Grace is dead • Hammock • Kahayag • Kaliwa • Let Go • Limbo • Pag-asa]

Life Goes On (magpapatuloy ang buhay) 61[A Box Full of Monday Mornings • Alarm Clock • Book • Kining Alaot Kong Gugma • Holy Ipis • Aspheus • Nagtanga • Hayaan mo, Mahal • Isang Gabi nang Maisip kong Mag-meditate • Piskot Giahak Gugmang Inatay • Travelogue • Demeter • Di na ta magsaba • Dialect 101 • Dili Takos ang mga Rosas • Do you need me • Eleven • House Party • I catch my wife • ID • Isang Daang Papel na Tagak • Kamla Beach • La Tica • Life Goes On • Masa • Book • O Pa-ilog • Reklamador • Sea Wall • Torpe • Transport Estrayk • Tulad ng silid ko • Turn Tables]

Gallery 100

Pasasalamat 126

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Pambungad

hindi madaling bumangon. At lalong hindi madaling mamuhay.

Sa ating panahon, ay nararanasan natin ang sari’t saring mga kaguluhan sa ating bansa. Nariyan ang unti-unting pagkabagsak ng moral, dignidad at buhay. Nariyan ang tuloy tuloy at talamak na pagnanakaw at pang-gagahasa sa ating inang bayan. Nariyan ang kahirapang unti-unting pumupugsa sa mga ating naghihikahos na dukha. At nariyan din ang tuloy tuloy na pagpatay sa ating mga aktibista, manunulat at mga elementong tumutuligsa sa mga may kapangyarihang tumapos sa kanila.

Marahil dala na rin ng pagod at hinagpis, ay nagmimistulang mga bangkay na buhay ang ating mga mamamayan. Kahit talamak ang mga anomalyang nangyayari sa gobyerno tulad ng pagnanakaw, dayaan at ang pagbagsak na parang mga langaw ng ating mga kababayang maka-kaliwa, ay kapansin pansin ang kakulangang maki-elam at maki-alam ng ating mamayan. Oo, hindi madali ang makibaka sa taong kapit na tayong lahat sa ating mga leeg. hindi madali ang maki-alam dahil marami na ang gumagawa ng mali at marahil ay nag-iisa ka na lang na gustong gawin ang tama. hindi madali ang tumayo sa gitna, at isigaw “Tama Na! Sobra Na! Palitan Na!”, dahil malamang ay wala nang makakapansin sa mga nangyayari. Malamang, wala na silang paki-alam.

Pero, kaibigan, may magagawa ka. Nagsisimula ang pagkabangon sa isang maliit na tapang para harapin ang lahat. Nagsisimula ang isang rebolusyon sa isang munting ideya… ideya na magbibigay buhay sa isang masigabong pagbabago.

Nagsisimula ang lahat sa isang munting inspirasyon.

Kaya, sana ay maging saksi ka sa pagkalugmok, pakikibaka, pagkalaya at ang ultimong pag ikot-ikot ng buhay sa pamamagitan ng munting foliong ito. Sinubukan naming hulihin ang kahulugan ng mga hakbang patungo sa pagbangon sa pamamagitan ng mga tula, munting kwento at iba’t ibang gawang malikhain ng ating mga kapwa mag-aaral.

Muli, narito ang Banaag Diwa, para bigyang puwang ang mga elementong kailangan para sa ganap na pagbangon. Sana, sa bawat pahinang iyong bubuklatin ay magbigay inspirasyon sa iyo.

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The Fall (pagkalugmok)“…Like stars, we bask in our own glory only to fall down and crash down to

oblivion…”

“… Nagmataas… tulad ng mga tala… para lamang… malaglag sa lupa…”

8

hala! hurot na akong kwartaWala pa nakapadala si mamaUnsaon na ni nako pagkaon?Ah, kabalo nakoSi kuya akong pangutan-on.

ya naa pa kay kwarta?Akong pangutana

Nah, wala na pod bayaTubag niya.

Ug ako nabalakaKon asa ko mangita og kwartaPang hiram na langSuhestiyon ni kuya.

Unya akong nahunahunaSige mangutang na lang koPero kang kinsa?Kini na pod ang bag-ong problemaMaulaw nako sa akong barkadaPati sa akong tito ug titaKada taga wala koy kwartaSa ila ko magpabaga.

Ah, bahala naManghiram jod ko og kwartaBahala ingnon ko og bagaAng importante naay pangkaonKay lisod mageskwela Nga walay gikaon.

hala tama, daghan nakognaistoryaPasensya na mo haAni jod koSige ra og kabalakalabi na pag dili makapadalaAng akong mama og kwarta.

AllowanceMa. alona P. loMa

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Nakahinumdom ka ba sa panganod?Itom ug nagataliabot,gawara-wara sa nasukong langit;Morag imong pagbiya nga managsugod,Dili matugkad sa akong pagsabot,Dili mahangyo sa pulong ug sa hagit.

Nakahinumdum ka ba sa kilat?hugpong ang iyang mga kamotSa pag-igo sa kakahoyan ug kayutaan,halangdon sa iyang pagbusikad ug pagpakuratMorag imong mga kalagot ug kasukong hurotSa usa ka kalit ug dili gitaganang kataposan.

Nakahinumdum ka ba sa dalugdog?Gibuntog niini ang mga tanan natong kasaba,Murag kini’g atong mga panagbingkil ug away,Samtang tanang mga pagpasaylo giabogSamtang tanang pagsalig gigubaSamtang tanang mga pagtambag gisuway.

Nakahinumdum ka ba sa ulan?Sa dihang mihawa ka na sa akong kiliran.Nawala na ba imong gugma, ug tanan niining utlanan?Nahanaw ang adlaw sa kabuntagon, sa gabii ang bulan,Ug miagas kini sa mga kabukiranUg gihugasang limpyo ang hugaw’ng tanan,

Tanan, apil ang mga sugilanonSa mga matam-is ug mapait nga kaagi Nimo ug kanako.

lakaw na samtang hinay pa ang ulan.

Ang ulan ug ang imong pagbiyaMark Darryl Caniban

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Gabii na sab, ilatag ko napod ang banig,labi na sa bugnawng gabii, ang likod way laing ikasaligNangatastas na kining banig…Mikupas ug miyatyat na pud kinihapnigan og baga nga habol aron di sakit higdaan

Isangit ang higot nining moskitero,Sa milabay nga panahon morag dili ko na madali-dalig syumoy ning tali sa lansang (mokatawa)Gakurog ang akong mga tudlo..Ipiton og unlan kining parte sa moskitero nga nabangag, aron dili makasulod ang lamok..Usahay magsindi og katol…nya payak-on kini sa bote..mora kinig panganod sa ibabaw sa moskitero..apan morag Dili na madutlan ang lamok niini..

Sa dihang andam na ako mohigda… ang mabilin nga suga mao lamang ang lamparilya.. ang kayo niini moragGapirok-pirok, gakipat-kipat… mora bag mapawong, nahadlok… giyaga-yagaan og gitik sa hangin nga moliliNing payag.

Ug sa dihang malansang na ang akong mata sa kisame….Maglisod na ako’g katug..Inig piyong nako daghan kog makit-an…..kaguol ug kahangawa para ugma..

BANIGnonoy narCiso

(May 21, ‘06 - Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte)inspired by the work of Corazon Almerino’s “lawak”

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Ako gayong pugson, kay gikapoy ko..Apan sa dihang madungog ko na ang imong mga tunob, gikan sa hagdanan padulong dinhi sa atong banig..Magbukot sa akong daang malong, ilokot kog guot sa akong lawas, morag suman, morag ibus.. mag-pahagok-hagok aron ingnong natug..usahay magnganga nganga ako, aron kaluy-an sa akong kakapoy..Kanunay na lang, nanganad man pod ka.. sige ra kag pamirag habol..pugson tag pahayang..Dili na lang man podKa mananghid o manghangyo..

Gimingaw gyod ko niadtong panahon nga nagahisgutanay pa kita sa atong mga kaguol, pangudoy, kahangawa, ug kalipay

Kato bang magdagandagan kita sa pilapil ug magkinanchaway kong mahulog sa basakan..ug manungkit kitaog bayabas unya isuso sa suka. Malipay dyod ko kaniadto kon mokuha kana sa imong plawta nya manawag taghangin ug kahilum…ug motokar sa imong sista.. samtang imo akong kantahan nya magduyog tang duha..nyaMohigda ako sa paa nimo..gimingaw na dyod ko ato…

Apan karon…paminaw ko nga mora ra pud kog banig nga higdaanan, pahulayan ug pagawsan og gibati.. inig human sa lawom nga gabii, lukoton nya ipadaplin.. nya ilatag pag-usab ug kapuyon na pod ka.

Kon madungog ko na ang imong dagkung tunob, kulbaan na usab ako, kabalo ko nga usa ra gyod ang imong tuyo,Ang mokiyod…

O, banig tabangi ako, gaksa ako aron sa hingpit masusama na lang ako kanimo…

hangtod wa nay kusog ang akong mata nga molurat..magpasalamat ako nga unta inig tulog nako, dili na akoMahimata…ug magdamgo na lang kanunay sa kalipay uban ning banig sa kinabuhi ug kamatayon..banig sa pag-inusara.

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Magpipinta ako. Gamit ang isang malinis na puting papel at itim na pentel pen, guguhit ako ng isang bilog na may limang bilog sa lahat ng gilid nito. Dinagdagan ko ng isang linya at hugis parabilog upang magmukhang dahon. Dalawang kulay lang ang meron ako. kahel at kayumanggi. Kahel ang gagamitin kong pangkulay sa bawat bulaklak. Nagdadalawang isip naman ako kung gagamitin ko ang natirang kulay sa dahon. Magmumukha lamang itong lanta at tuyo. Di ko na lang kukulayan at hahayaang magkulay puti ang dahon.

Datirati, mas makukulay ang mga larawang naipipinta ko.Nung, maliban sa itim, puti, at gray,

Pula at dilaw ang mga krayolang tanging tangan ko.

Buhay Walang Buhayloi

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iam

sailingon rough seas

tossedby angry waves

high tideleaves

me bruisedand the tranquil

seasends mefloating

sometimes to nowheresometimes

to the shore

wavesreclaim me

at the end of the day

adriftwood

that’swhat

iam.

DRIFTINGrhaye MenDoza

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She ate strawberries for breakfast.

And she ate them fresh.

Red, gnarled to a pulp, dripping.

like her heart beaten and mashed.

She drank water to cool her flesh,

And her lips that are already bleeding.

ErythrocyteMuffleD Chatterbox

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i'm floatingkiDlat PaMukaw

sa madaling araw

kung saan humihilik

ang mga pusang nagbabangayan

kanina sa isang pirasong buto

ng isdang may sabaw.

heto ka't lumulutang

sa mga ulap ng pag-aalinlangan,

pagod na pakpak sa kalawakan,

kaya 'di mo naisip na kay taas na ng

buwan.

kung pa'no nilipad

ng isipang lagalag

ang mga kuwento

ng bawat musmos

sa lansangang tinatambayan

ng mga pagnanasa

sa mga librong 'di mo pa nabasa

ay hindi ko rin alam.

parang isang alamat lamang

itong bersong naibulalas,

misteryosong paglalahad

ng mga imaheng madalas

may bitbit na hiwaga.

kaya marahil minsan

sa paglutang

mahiwaga ang bumaba.

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Gunitan ko sa hugot ang imong mga kamotIpadayag ko kanimo ang bug-os ug putli nga pagbati nga nigitik ug niduslak ning kabos kong kasingkasingIsulti ko kanimo ang mga pulong nga kanunay ug sa walay puas nga gasinggit sulod sa akong kasingkasing ug hunahuna

Magdungan kitang manglakaw, maggunitay sa atong mga kamot didto sa baybayon samtang gakilumkilom ug nagbugno ang kahayag ug kangitngit, samtang ang mabugnaw ang huyuhoy sa hangin mohapuhap sa atong mga bukubuko

Malinawon kaayo ang palibotAtong madungog lamang ang mga alingasa sa balod nga walay undang sa pagtugaw sa kalinaw sa baybayonNahibulong ka, daw di mo masabtan ang lakaw sa hunahuna koAng mga mata mo nakighinabi sa kalag ko ug nangamuyo nga gusto kang maminaw sa yangungo sa samarang kasingkasing ko

Motan-aw kita sa layo, sa panganod ug sa way kahumanang dupa sa kadagatan human, tan-awon ko ang imong mga mata, ug sulayan ko sa pakigsandurot ang imong kasingkasing ug kalag ug ako dayong isulti kanimo ang mga pulong nga sa kadugay sa panahon nagpadugta sa angulon kong dughan

mihuyohoy ang hanginDala niini ang kabugnaw nga mituhop sa atong mga salabotanTunga-tunga sa kaanindot sa huni sa kinaiyahan akong gisulti kanimo nga gimahal tika sa tibuok kong kasingkasing, hunahuna ug kalag

mitulo ang mga luha ko, tungod sa di masabtang paghilab sa kahangawa uban ang dakong kalipay kay ako na gyong nasulti kanimo ang giluom kong paghandom sa gugma mo

Gitrapohan mo ang mga luha ko sa imong mahumok nga kamotOg dayon migakos ka kanako sa hugotNaghilak kang misulti nga

Kung mahimo lang…

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hanap kita sa aking ala-alaKailan kaya makikitaAng pusong nabaonSa limot ng kahapon

Bakit pa hinayaang maglahoAng lahat ng pag-ibig Na itinakip ko sa butas kung puso

Sayang ang lahat ng pagkakataonNasayang lang sa mga nagdaang panahon at ngayun nagsisisinais ibalik ang kahaponnais sulitin ang nasayang na panahon

ngunit wala nawala na ang lahat ng iyonnaglaho na kasabay ng alon ng panahon

nasaan ka na nasaan na ang pag-ibignasaan na ang pangakonawala na, wala na

Laban ng ala-alaflorante olaybar

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Kakaiba ang gabitanging ang kulisap lamangang nasisiyahan sa liwanagna nagmumula sa lampara.habang ang bawat galawng guhit ng reloay malakas na naririnig,ang dilim naman ay nagbabantang matinding kalungkutan.

Saglit kinuha ang isang kahon,nangangapa man sa dilim ay huling-huli pa rin.Buti rin, tahimik na ang lampara,wala na rin ang kanina’y naglalarong insekto.Binudbod ang puting bagaymula sa supotat sinimulan ang nakagawiang orasyon.

lalong tumahimik ang silid,iginala ang mga tirik na matatumigil na ang galaw ng orasannamatay na rin ang liwanaglumulutang ang katawanpataas ng pataas...

Saglit pa’y may napansingmukhang nakaguhit sa may dingding,nakakahilakbot ang hitsurang tumambadna misan sa paniginip ay hindi mawari,ang bawat patak ng dugong umaagos mulasa sugat ng kanyang mukhaay nakakatakot.

Natagpuan ko ang akingsariling umiiyak sa awa, sa takot, sa galit”Ikaw nga hesus!”ang simula, ang hangganan, ang katapusanilan pang tulad ko and magiging ganito?Ngayon, ibabalik ko ang tanong mo noon?”Diyos ko, bakit mo ako pinabayaan?”

Nakausap ko si HesusalfreD CoMPra

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pisong baryana nahulog sa latananggaling sa kamay ng taong nagsimbadi ko akalaing ako’y buhay paang Diyos kong pag-asa ay panaginip lang palaako'y mamimili ng damit na magaramatutulog ng mahimbing sa malambot na kamaalmusal koy lechon, hindi lang isdagagawin kong lahat sa kabilang buhay nasapagkat ako'y pulubi na hindi nakitani mayor na dumaan sa akin kanina

Pisong Paraisokoykix

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RicochetJoan Mae soCo

Ako usa ka bolaNga ang nag-inusarang tahasMangguba og dingdingNga dili ako’y tag-iya.

Makahatag ako og kalipayKon mabungkag ko na ang dingdingUg makuha ko ang daghang singsing.

Sa pikas bahin,Aduna koy hinigugma, Nga sa tanan kong tahas,Gasige’g bantay nako sa kaguol.

hilabihan niya kaduolApan igo ra siya makakita,Dili siya makahikap kay tungodDili ko niya reyalidad.

Sa takna sa akong kamatayon,Magsubo siya, maglagot pa,Tungod sa puntos Nga di’ na mamahimong makuha.

Apan maulian ra siya dayon Kay mahimo pa man ko niyang buhionPinduton lang niya ang start buttonPwede na sad ko niyang dulaon.

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Salin sa ulannonoy narCiso

Mayo 2007

Salin sa ulanTinuhog nga perlas sa hayhayan

Nag-inusaraNaghikut ug hayhayan

Salin sa ulanMga aryos nga naglaylay sa

kabulakan

Gilansang mataSa aping sa buwak

Salin sa ulanMga bata nga nagkumbitay

Inig human sa ulan Nagyaka, nag-inusara

Nagtapok sa aping sa dahonGiduyan sa palad

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Do we have to bleed?

Just to feel Alive

And poison ourselves

Just to get up high

Do we have to fly?

If only to take the fall

To weep dry our eyes

Is this what they call life?

Do we have to scream?

Only to be unheard

And be fools ourselves

Just to seem wise

Do we have to smile?

If only to suffer inside

To dish out our lies

Will the sun ever rise?

And we become part of the sickness

Knowing we're running on empty

Is there no stopping this?

We're keeping our spent bliss

Tomorrow might not be bright

It's been a while since we saw the light

So we all close our eyes

Pretend that we can't see

And we drown ourselves in our sleep

Run away and dig deep

We're drowning in our sleep

...drowning in our sleep

Sleep, Drown and Bleedhyangelo hao

Curl up like a ball

Careful, we might die...

Or maybe it's not worth the try

We've been screaming far too long

That our mouths have run dry

Or maybe it's that we can't fly

We have been trying far too long

That the tears we shed dry

Or we just can't take it all

And we're bleeding far too long

That our blood has gone dry

Or maybe for just one last time

We try to make sense of it all

And try to ask ourselves why

live a life of lies

When we all have eyes

To see the truth

And realize

That we all have a chance

To be the glimmer of hope

In the despair of life...

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We’ve loomedToo many red spiral threads

That we are entangledWhen we begin to weave

And we’ve chosenRed comforters

To keep us warmInstead of loose shirts

That enable usTo truly feel the cold

But allows usTo sweat with ease.

When we beginTo feel comfortable.

how do we serve the people?

STPasnes

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TahimikJose Miguel PasCual

TahimikAng mga silid aralanNakakubliang mga yesoWalang naisulatSa pisaraNakatungangaAng mga mag-aaralTulo lawayNakakadenaMga paaSa malamigNa sementoNakikinig sa guroNa may talikalaAng mga bibigMga libro’yWalang ibang mga titikKundi bilangNg mga bayarin, utang

Sa labasNagpuputukanMga barilAt bombaDugo ang lumalabasSa drinking fountain

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It was the usual night for everyoneThe sky was still bluish blackThe streets were filled with rushing vehiclesEvery thing was the usual, exceptfor the man and the orange light postIt was a hard day for himhe got fired from his jobhis girl broke up with himand dirty laundry was waiting at homeAnd the orange light post?In the morning, it got peed by some dogsAt noon, someone nailed some ads on itAnd just before the man stood near ita woman was stabbed, and a crazy fellowgot shot in the head by some policemanAn ordinary night, indeedBut at that moment, on that nightSomeone with a broken soulstood by an orange light post to planfor tomorrowIt was a night with bluish black skyWith vehicles rushingand people passing by without a care for him.

ThE ORANGE lIGhTPOSTfreDo agreDa

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I fear the passing of daysThe days will end

The nights will lingerThe cold air embrace

The only light from the moonI fear the passing of days

The flowers wiltThe trees lost foliage

The sun straysThe darkness inside creeping

I fear the passing of daysThe mother of six abandonsThe children crying asleep

The friend who used to smileThe laughter now just a dream

I fear the passing of daysThe memory turns to dustThe heart turns to stone

The eyes weep the last time…for in the end we are alone.

Nalingaw ko sa mi-agi sa akong atubangan

Samtang ako nagkaon sa suok nianing kan-anan

Tulo ka tawo nagsunod morag hagdanIya-iya’g pas-an sa trey nga may

basong de kolor ug pingganSa ilang paglabay igo ko nahuna-

hunaanNakakaon na kaha sila nganhi sa

mahalong restawran?

WeyterMiChelle anthea Malana

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The Struggle (pakikibaka)“…Like ants, we struggle to go on despite seemingly insurmountable odds…”“…Tulad ng mga hantik, nakibaka tayo laban sa mga naglalakihang balakid…”

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ang pagbundak sa ulan sama sa iyang tiil nga ming-apil sa martsa sa kadalananang matag ajit nga isinggit sa iyang baba sama sa musika nga nindot paminawon sa gamay nga dunggan

ang matag hagbong sa mga layang dahon sa yuta sama sa mga luha na mingtulo sa iyang mga mapungay nga mga mata tungod sa bangi sa burgis ug proletaryadong baroganan

ang sining ni nadja---sining sa pakigbisogsining sa malungtarong gubat sa katawhansining natong gipahimuslansining sa pagtagbo sa martsa sa kadalanan ug kabukiranang sining ni nadja----sining sa rebolusyon

ang paghampas sa hangin sama sa paglabyog sa iyang lawassa matag sayaw ng iyang gigasa para pasabton ang halapad nga masa

ang pagsindi sa mga bituon sa ngitngit nga kalangitansama sa iyang mga pulong nga makabag-o sa katilingbang gilamon sa kadagatan.

Ang Sining ni NadjaioD at asnes

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Lugawasin

Sadyang nagtatapon ng mga simboloang baliwsa tuwing natutunaw ang yelo,nagiging makinang ang dugosa halimuyak na hatidng gumamelang wala namang bango,naiisip siguroang duyang himlayan ng kaisipan,sa gitna ng dilubyong hatidng langaw sa ibabaw ng lugaw,kakainin ko na lang ito,nagugutom na kasi ako.

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It bothers me.The way she dresses,like wash day is just another Saturday.She doesn’t seem to careAbout her faded sneakers and unkempt hair.her loose jeans and plain shirts are already becomingA part of her.But she doesn’t seem to seeThat she is more beautifulThan the greatest poem could ever be.

It bothers me.The way she talks,like she doesn’t care if someone is actually listeningTo her.She doesn’t seem to mindhow absurd her opinions may be.She speaks her soul the way nightingales sing theirSongs.But she doesn’t seem to seeThat every word she utters is a spell that bewitchesMe.

It bothers me.The way she walks,like a drunk schoolgirl trying to break away from aSober world.She doesn’t seem to feelThe earth tremble when it touches her heel.She walks like springs are attached on her feet, andher footsteps carried away by the wind.But she doesn’t seem to seeThat she has left imprints on my soul permanently.

It bothers me.The way she thinks,like the sudden shower on a warm and sunnyAfternoon.She doesn’t seem to observehow she fascinates me with her contradiction.She ensnares me with her wit and captivates me withher personality.But she doesn’t seem to seehow thoughts of her plague my mindThat it becomes so difficult to break free.

It bothers me.The way she is.A puzzle with missing pieces.She doesn’t seem to seeHow her flaws mold her to perfection,And simply, magically,Engulf me in a mysteryThat is ShE.

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Hatod Sa NgabilJake

Mingdausdos ang lapok sa da’nAng inahan mingisi sa iyang anak

Samtang nagpahimulos sa duwaanMatang naulit sa panghitabo.

Sa dihang mangatagak na untaAng gasidlak gikan sa mga panganodNagpasiaw sa makadaghan pag-usab

Ang tanom haduol sa kasing-kasing.

Sa makadaghan pang mga higayonAng managhigala nagkaubanApan di’ gayod mahikalimtan

Ang nawad-ag bili nga butang.

Apan sa dihang nahawan ang maong lugarUg mingkapot na ang tanom sa koralWa nay nahimo ang tayhop sa hangin

Ug panagpuli sa adlaw ug dag-om.

Naghinay-hinay og kamang ang tanomhangtod sa matabonan ang koral

Mao nga ang hanging nalingaw pag-ayoNangita’g mahatdan sa iyang ngabil.

32

Huwag PumikitkaMi-bay

huwag mong ipikit ang iyong mataSa kabila ng liwanag.

Kumislap ang mga bituinNakikipagsiksik ang araw,

Babanaw ang tubig na malamig,Iinit ang baradong kanalBibilis ang tibok ng puso

’pag narinig mo ang balitang ito.

Sa pagbabasa iyong nalalamanNa hindi lahat sa larawan ay

Ang katotohanan.Gayon man sa ulanAy tatapik sa pisngi

Ay huli na ang lahat nang maging biktima ng

Kanyang galit.

Maging masigasig,Gamitin ang natitira at

kabuohang lakasMakipagtagisan

Makipaglaro, sa larong lahat tayo; nakakaalam.

32

33

Kasarian Ko Ba’y Kontradiksyon?

Marvin t. guMPay

Sa aking kamulatanAko’y mulat sa isang mundong nakatali sa tanikalang nakagapos sa

kahirapan.

Ngunit ng aking sinuriang mundong aking ginagalawan

Ako’y ‘di makagalawdahil sa kontradiksyon

na tila bang kadenang nakatali sa mga urimaging lalake man o babae

Aking iniligay ang mga kontradiksyon sa aking talambuhay’di batid sa akin ang piniling kasarian

na ’di lamang pala kontradiksyon ng kasarianang nais kong ipaglaban,

Kundi mga kontradiksyon ng mga uriat sa uri na aking pinagmulan na pinagsasamantalahan.

Ako’y babae na nakatago sa anyong lalake,gawi ko noo’y sabi ng nakararami na wala daw sa ere!

Eh! Kasi naman rampa dito, rampa doon ang gusto ko palagiat ninais ang buhay na puno sa luho’t

makasariling eksenang dala ang gulo at pagkalito.

Ngunit ngayo’y aking nabatid at napag alaman,kabahagi pala ako ng lipunan

na pinagsasamantalahan na may dalawang uring kontradiksyong pangkasarian at sa uring pinagmulan.

Ngayo’y aking pinaninindigankahit ako’y tinatawag na ikatlong mukha ng kasarian

Aking pinipakita na ako’y may malaking papel sa pagpapalayasa isang bansang puno sa pasakit

at dama ang kahirapan ng masang gusto makawalasa mga tanikala ng kontradiksyon ng uring mapagsamantala.

Noo’y rampa dito! rampa doon!ngayo’y aking binabaybay ang buhay ng kalsada,

na dala ang boses ng masang gusto kung makasamaupang kasabay ko sila sa pagtatagng isang lipunang puno sa paglaya.

34

Katawhanleigh

May isang taong nahihirapanSa isang malumong kalagayan

Sinusubukang pumiglasSa mga sumisikip na rehas

lumiliit, nagsusumikapMalalampasan din ang hirap

Patungo sa liwanag ng pag-asaPara sa buong diwa ng masa

35

MenoposviCky tataD Pre

Daw nagyuhot-yuhot ako sa kabugangan,Katol, sakit, hapdos ang kawras sa mga sampinit;

Unsa ba gayoy akong padulnganNiining naglagiting nga gibating kainit.

lisod sabton kining kagil-asPukawon ka sa kalandrakas sa hunahuna

Ug di matugkad nga kahaw-ang.Unya kalit ka lang motidlom

Sa huyong-huyong sa kabalisa,Daw na-“bull’s-eye” sa dakong pana!

Tan-awa ra, alas dos pa gain sa kaadlawon,Ania, gibati na sad akog kalad-ang,

Gikuhit ko akong tapad kay murag naay kulangMiingon siya, “Ikaligo ra god na!”

Dayong talikod ug migahi sama sa tingga.

Kinsa bay akong sugiran niining pagkabutanga,Nga karon ug unya lagi mag alingasa!

Ay! Ikaw daw ang magmenopos, lalim ba!

36

PagbabagoleonCio bagani

Iniihip ang hangin,at nilalagas ang mga dahon ng noonupang likhain ang mga ngayon.

Umiihip ang hanginlalagasin,lalagasin ang mga dahon ng ngayonupang likhain ang bukas.

Tayo ang hanging umiihip,tayo ang lalagas sa mga dahon ng noon,tayo ang lalagas sa mga dahon ng ngayon,tayo ang lilikha ng bukas.

36

37

Pakiki-isaasnes

hihimlay akoSa daluyongNg masang api…Nang sa gayon,Maramdaman koAt sa diwa ko’y manatili.Ang paghihimagsikAt pag-aaklasNg puso’t diwa nila.Kasama ako,Kahit sa pagtulogKami’y nakikidigma

38

ReflectionsJasMin aCuña

I say goodbye to my children,“Are you leaving again, Nanay?”My teary eyed boy would asks,“Won’t you stay to play?to sing?to be with me awhile?”

“Anak, I have work to do,So many people to meet,So many places to go.But I will be home as soon as I can”

But the evening draws so fastAnd when I return the children are already asleep.

The next day, I say goodbye to my children,“Can you not come home a little earlier, Nanay?”

Again, I say goodbye to my children,“Are you leaving again, Nanay?”My teary eyed boy asks,“Won’t you stay to play?to sing?to be with me awhile?”

And I am tempted to stay.But what if like their father, I don’t come home at all?Though I have been a poor mother to my children,Who shall be mother to them when I am gone?

39

Sambit Ng Kalabawloi

namamahinga sa lilim ng pinagsaklubang kalinga ng bukas

piniringan (muli) ang sariling mata upang mamulat sa sariling pantasya

nag aalab man ang puso, isip sa pag nanasang pandayin ang pulang bukangliwayway

upang di na kailanman gigising sa isang madilim na gabi

pagod at hirap ang anino ng anyong humaharapna sa likod ng bawat salitang binibitiwan

halakhak na naririnigat mapag-arugang bisig na kumakandong sa

umuusbong na liwanagay tumatangis din at sumisigaw ng palihim

ang nag-aararong kamulatan

40

STEEP INClINErhaye MenDoza

halfwayis

not asfaras

the roadtraversed

bymeto

meetthe you.

Tula ni Komander Chummyasnes

Umaga.lapag.Ulan.Ubo.

hamog.Gutom.Uhaw.Bagyo.Sakit.

langgam.Dahon.Puno.Ibon.Usok.Apoy.Ulap.

lakaran.Pagod.Saya.

Pakikibaka.

4141

WalakiDlat PaMukaw

walang matawalang ilongwalang tengawalang bibig walang pakiramdam dahil hindi malaya ang media,ang napapanood sa tvmadalas ay walang kwenta,ang nababasa sa pahayaganay madalas walang laman,ang napapakinggan sa radyoay madalas sintunado. walang buhay sa pagiging marangalganitong walang trabaho at mababa ang sweldokaya madalas mas nanaising maging kriminalmay pambili lang ng bigas. si nena nagpuputasi totoy snatchersi kanor drug pushersi marivic ay illegal recruiter. walang alam sa bayan ang mga mag-aaraldahil madalas walang itinuturo ang eskwelakundi quality education is expensive,matulungin ang mga kano ,tamad ang pinoy,yayaman ka kapagmag-aabroad ka. walang karapatan ang walang perapero kung marami kang peramarami ka ring karapatan. wala kang karapatang kumainkung mahirap ka,maliban na lang kungmay pambili ka ng instant noodles at sardinaso masikmura mong kumain ng basura.

kung mahirap kawala kang karapatang magsuot ng damitna hindi malinis at hindi punit-punit,lalong lalo naang magtayo ng bahay sa kung saan mo gusto. pero ok langmay konting karapatan ka naman sa ilalim ng tulaysa marupok na kariton,may konting karapatan ka rin namang maglapag ng karton sa kalye o plasajust name your choicebasta wag lang sa kung saan. walang dapat ipagtakakung bakit walang mahanap na trabahowalang increase sa sweldowalang lupa na pwedeng sakahinmahal ang mga bilihin,madalas ang pagtaas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin sa eskwela,walang pagkain sa mesa,walang load ang cellphone,walang pamasahe,walang pambili ng yosi,walang bagong t-shirt, pantalon, sapatos,walang panregalo sa syota,walang pang-date,walang pang-internet,walang pang-videoke,walang pambayad sa kuryente, tubig,at renta sa bahay, lalong-lalo nakung wala kang pang-gimik sa sabado. dahil wala, wala, wala walang hustisya sa mga mahihirapwalang kapayapaan sa mga mamamayanwalang pag-unlad ang bayansi Gloria ay walang paki-alam.

42

WastedJoan Mae soCo

The bottle spinsRound and roundAnd its mouth points at me.Not truth, I’ll take a “shot”.

And the sweet poisonflows into my mouthBurns my throat,Scorches my gut.

But wait…

I now feel the surge of Ocean waves in my insideRushing out into The spaces in my mouth.

And I need to runTo seek the comfort of a roomWhere restless souls Can vomit it all.

Everything still spinsPlease send me homeSo I can be oneWith my longed–for slumber.

43

The Liberation (pagbangon)“…Like a tree, we will reach the zenith of the sky to liberate ourselves from our chained reality”“tulad ng puno, aabutin natin ang kawalan ng alapaap at sa pamama gitan ng ating pakikibaka, pakakawalan natin ang ating mga katawan mula sa pagkakagapos… babangon… susulong… para sa panibagong bukas”

44

Ang Tunglo sa AlomDon Pagusara

Ibabawg dyutay sa imong ngabil naay alom---Ayay! Gisungil ka diay sa lubot sa himungaan?Kun mokibot imong baba mga bakak manglugwa?Pagka dakong dimalas sa Pari nga kanimo nagbunyag!Si Arsobispo Papaya ba o si Kardinal Ohalisang nagpasimhot nimog insensong kulangotpinupho sa mga suok-suok sa White house?

Nganong di man gyud ka motagum?Kay wa pa ka makatilaw og karma sa masa?Patuyang ka man gyug pisik sa imong lawayug pakitiw sa imong dila sa panglingla?

hala! kanta, sayaw! Sayaw sa musikanggitrumpeta sa simoid ni Birmita ug sa mga dilani Bokrales ug de Volencia nagpakang-pakangmurag mga cymbals, sipa pa kay sa mga bombinggipatugtog sa teroristang Bushlot sa Iraq!

Ugma, mokatay ang itom nga alom sa imong aping,modilom sa mga suok sa imong kasingkasing!Modagsang murag mga libgos ang balhiboong alom,molukop sa tanang suok ug gihang msa gilakangang palasyo!

hala ka, lakambining Salamangkera! Naay tunglomobira sa imong dila, molugit sa imong mata,mobalit-ad sa imong ilong, mokulitog-kulitogsa imong dalunggan, moliso-liso sa imong liog,hangtod manglugwa mga bitok sa imong utok!Ug manguyam ang mga ulod sa imong kalag!Ihulog ka sa impyernong kasaysayang! hala ka…!

45

Mark Darryl a. Caniban

When I was young,I thought the world was round.That it had no endAnd had no beginning.That the world was equalfrom it core to its different surface points.That the world was better roundThan that of primitive beliefThat a deep abyss lied near of reachWhen sought and discovered.

When I was youngI thought man was invincible.That he had a supreme abilityTo wrestle the grounds of natureAnd worked them for his benefit.That he could move mountains,Dive rivers and circumnavigate the worldThrough his mind.That he could create justice,freedom and love.

When I was young,I thought love was all encompassing.That it held bearings toThe crinkled human emotions.That it conquered hearts and actions.That it made the world go round.That it made lives special and complete.That it enthralled nymphs,Gods and mortals alike.That it was the greatest feelingEver discovered.

little did I knowThat love is partial,Narrow and restricted.

That it undoes knots of happinessAnd crumbles conglomerates of stability.That it frees hearts into singularityAnd actions into disheveled peculiarity.That it delays worlds from going into throttles.That it destroys lives and fractures souls.That it is the sole reason whyGods can’t be with mortals.And that is sucks everytime everything’s over.

little did I know that man is weak.That he has an ambitious soul,yet nature can’t always beBountiful and good to him.That he is vulnerable to sickness,Pain and death.That he can create violence,Combat and oppression.And that he is nothing butAn imitator of that Supreme being.

little did I know that the world is oblate.That it has imperfections.That it has corners, and points of ceasingWhere mortals cannot pass through.That it has poles of bias that impose directionsWhere is north and where is south.That it is better imperfectly oblate thanThat of primitive belief that everything it isPerfect,MagnificentAnd lovable.

Back to Basics

46

Baliwkoykix

Dilawna liwanagsa kanya’y sumalubong.Mga mata ng baliw –pinukaw, ginisingng bulong ng sinagni Amang Araw.Mainit na liwanag,nag-aapoy, nagliliyab --sinusunog ang mga bangkayat rosassa hukay ng kanyang utak.

Asul na langitna kanyang nilipad.Malaya ang baliw –nagpupumilit, nagpupumiglasang mga pakpak ng kanyang isip na parang paru-parong inabot ang ulap mahaplos lang ang kamay ni Bathala. Pulang

dugo at pulsong maselan –nag-aabang, nananabiksa alindog at halikng matalas na patalim.hinihintay ang dalawng Dakilang Katapusanat ang pangako ng isang bulaklak.

Itimna paligid, at ilaw ng buwan --Matang nagmamasid sa daang nilakad,at musika’y ungol ng asoat pagaspas ng dahonsa gabing malamig.humayo ang baliw nang akoy hanapin,at nakita ko syasa aking salamin.

47

Pulangdugo at pulsong maselan –nag-aabang, nananabiksa alindog at halikng matalas na patalim.hinihintay ang dalawng Dakilang Katapusanat ang pangako ng isang bulaklak.

Itimna paligid, at ilaw ng buwan --Matang nagmamasid sa daang nilakad,at musika’y ungol ng asoat pagaspas ng dahonsa gabing malamig.humayo ang baliw nang akoy hanapin,at nakita ko syasa aking salamin.

JonDoe

I.I am the wind

The world is my domainI am everywhere yet nowhere

happy am I to see the lightA light so bright yet shadows cast

Not in the light but in shadowsMy darkness seen, conceals the truest light

II.

you, a cherry blossom treeWho grew from the light of the truest lightExposed by shadows yet burned by light

I crush you with my strengthYet firmly rooted you are, sways in my every blow

you see and feel what has been unseenFacing the darkness, finding the light making me seen.

Friends

48

LIMANG TAON. Limang taon nang siya’y pinatay. Walang awang pinatay. Nagulantang ang lahat

sa pangyayari. Hindi makapaniwala na patay na ang isang kaibigan, kaklase, at kasama.

Una ko siyang nakita sa pahayagan ng aming eskwelahan nakangiti na tila ba walang problema. Nabasa ko ang kanyang mga isinulat. Dahil sa kanyang mga nasulat ay unit-unting napukaw ang aking kamalayan sa pag-iisip sa tawag ng panahon. Naisip ko, balang araw ay magsusulat ako tulad niya, hindi lamang sa sarili kung hindi para sa iba. lumipas ang ilang buwan nang nalaman ko na pinaslang siya. Pinatay siya ng mga militar dahil sa pagtatanggol sa karapatang pantao.

Ang pahayagan na puno ng kanyang alaala ay biglang nag-iba. Ito’y naging sementeryo ng pighati at kalungkutan. Ngunit nagdaan ang panahon na ang kanilang pagluluksa ay nag-ibang anyo. Ito’y naging pag-asa at pagpapatuloy sa mga gawaing pamamahayag at pagpapahalaga sa karapatang pantao. Ito’y lumaganap sa kung saang parte ng eskwelahan, ng komunidad, ng siyudad, pati na rin sa buong bansa.

Bengleigh

48

49

Nakakahawa. Nakakapanibago. Nakakamangha.

Patunay lamang na hindi hadlang ang kamatayan upang ang tao’y magpapatuloy sa pagsilbi sa masa. Dito ako tuluyang namulat, tuluyang nakawala sa dikta ng mga demonyo sa isipan at lipunan. Dito ako nagdesisyon na sumapi sa pahayagan na kanyang naiwan. Dito ako nagsimulang makibaka.

Simula noon ay higit pa sa mga estudyante sa paaralan ang natatanaw ng aking isipan kundi pati na rin ang mga manggagawa, mga kababaihan, mga katutubo, mga kabataan, mga masang api.

limang taon na din ang nakalipas simula nang mangyari ang lahat ng ito. Dahil sa pagkamatay ng isang tao ay marami ang nabuhay.

Nakatutok ako sa kanyang imahe sa dingding ng opisina ng pahayagan, inaalala ang mga sandaling binuhos alang-alang sa higit na nakararami. Kinuha ko ang isang folio na naglalaman ng kanyang mga naisulat at muli ko itong binasa. Muling nanumbalik ang kanyang pagkatao. Napatigil ako sa pagbabasa at kinuha ang lapis at papel at doon ay nag-umpisa akong sumulat. Mga kwento, tula at awit para sa masang kanyang pinagsilbihan.

Siya’y isang simpleng estudyante, kaibigan, kaklase, at kasama. Siya’y nakipaglaban at nakibaka sa katarungan. Nang lumaon ay naging isang makata at mandirigma. Kaya’t habang sinusulat ko ito ngayon ay naiisip ko siya at ang iba pang mga kasama na nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay upang makamit ang tunay na kalayaan. Sa bawat gawain, pagsusulat at obra na magagawa ko ay iniaalay ko sa kanya at sa bawat indibidwal na nakikibaka para sa karapatang pantao. Ang mga tulad niya ay parang rosas sa gitna ng mga tinik.

May naramdaman akong kamay na dumampi sa aking likuran, tara na kasama. Tumayo ako sa aking kinauupuan upang ipagpatuloy ang pakikidigma para sa diwa ng masa. Para sa patuloy na pagsulong ng malayang kaisipan. Para sa malayang bukas.

50

Dominate!hyangelo hao

The things we leave undonegive us heartaches at the setting of the sunThe words we leave unspokenhaunt us, never to be forgotten

finish what you can todayfor we will all die somedayBesides, we are the new hope generationIn our shoulders, we carry the nation

We'll never get past our limitsIf we don't snuff off our "inhibits"The life that we all can liveIs but an inch from our grips

So raise your fists into the airQuit whining "life Ain't fair!"The strength of youth flows in usWe don't have time to dwell on the past

We will dominate, purge all the hateyou know they can't stop us, mate!If we throw them more than they can take!Then we will dominate and purge all the hate!

51

when thosefine and loose

particlessifted

to recreatewhat used to be

dark brownearth

bricks cannotcompensate

nor alter

the footprintsleft by

shoe solesnor

inscribethe distancepeople coverfrom mountain

to byways

and asphalt roads

to get solid

footingas

I lose

MyselfIn the maze

Of City

Sidewalks.

No furtherWhy the city streets go

Of mountains and

rhaye MenDoza

51

52

Sa pagmataMayuMi habagat

haaay…Morag nagahigda gihapon ko sa duyan…Samtang ang akong tiil lapokWalay pagduha-duha Bisag suyopon sa lintaMadungog gihapon nako Ang huni sa mga mananapAng walay mutigbabaw nga katugnawUgma, pagmata nakoAng sidlak sa adlaw didtoAkoang makit-an diri

52

53

Sa DalampasiganalDo

Tayo'ybinubuyo ngnakangisingbuwanna bumitawsa akbayngdalampasigan.hinahawing mga bituinang belo ng dilimupang atingmaaninagang pagsuyong langitsa dagat.Pinipigta

ngmgaalonang mgapusongnakaukit sa buhanginhabang ibinubulongnghanginangpangakong aakbay sapaglayag natin.Umaagos angatingdamdaminsamalambingnahaplosngtubigathangin.

54

Minghalok sa dungganNga kanunay ginatagoanSa mga yangungoluha, ngisi ug katawa

Sa matag pitikSa kwerdasAng kaugatan motugtogSubay ang nagsayaw-sayawNga dugong mingsuongSa ugat

Sa matag bunal Sa combo ug simbalsModalugdog ang kasingkasingGugma ang ginakanta

MusikaKaanyag sa imong panagwayAng iyang kalagAng imong kayoAng kadasig sa iyang lawasAng imong pakigbisogAng iyang lirikoAng iyang unod

MusikaanDres Miguel PasCual

55

Ginoo pag-ampoDeaD fish

Nganong ania ka pa?diba gipahawa na taka?dili na taka gusto makita...kay ako imong gipasakitan

Pangita na lang og maatikKay ako dili na jod nimo magitikWala na kay pag-asa sa akong gugmaKay ikaw ra ang tighurot sa unod sa akong bulsa

Nag sige nalang tulo ning akong luha Maypag wala taka nakaila...

May na lang akong nabal-anAng imong tinuod nga batasanKay kung wala pa nasulti sa imong uyab ang tinuodBasig mituo nako sa gugmang giulod

56

Grace Is Deadasin

in an epochwhere all you seeis your own reflection,the mindwould ratherchoose to capitulatethan whimperover the stale memoriesof struggling dances,those were the daysof mystical intoxication,crave for passion,infallibility,yet a leaf witherssomewhere in time,where grace is deadand my brother's bloodbecomes a utility.

HammockMayuMi habagat

As you lay yourselfIn the hammock

Of our struggle’s sanctuaryI long to whisper the words of

sympathyI long to put in your dreams

The harshness of human emotionWe now submit

Into a man-ruled epochWhere life becomes a sacrifice

Where your vanity becomes the mudAnd your joy becomes them.

57

Kahayagleigh

Ang kahayag sa haring adlawmihalok sa akong aping.

Duyog sa huyuhoy sa hangin sa kabuntagon.

Mikaylap sa akong kasingkasingang hiyas sa akong pagkatawo.

Ako usa ka babaye sa lawas nga lalaki,nakigbisog sa matag lakang sa matunok nga dalan

Apan magpadayon nga magsiga ang akong kahayag,sama sa adlaw taliwala sa kangitngit.

Kaliwaleigh

Ang paghihirapAy masusuklian lamangNg kaginhawaanKung lahat tayoAy marunongNg lumabanAt manindigan.

58

let Gonitta

let go of guilt;It’s okay to make the same mistakes again.

let go of obsessions;They seldom turn out the way you planned.

let go of hate; It’s a waste of love.

let go blaming others;you are responsible for your own destiny.

let go of fantasies;So reality can come true.

let go of self-pity;Someone else may need you.

let go of wanting; Cherish what you have.

let go of fear;It’s a waste of faith.

let go of despair;Change comes from acceptance and forgiveness.

let go of the past; The future is here – right now.

59

LimboviCky tataD Pre

Asa diay ang limbo?Ingon sila lugar kini taliwala sa langit ug impiyerno.Kinsa man ang makaadto?Kadto kunong wala mabunyagi unya patay diretso.

Nangutana sila, aduna pa ba karo’y limbo?Kay kon wala na, di na pamisag patay ma Dominggo.Aw bitaw tua na sila sa purgatoryo.Di ba mao ra na? limbo ug purgatoryo?

Ingon si Pader, di man siya katubag.Kay di man siya pari sa Pre-Vatican 11Tambag niya “Pangitaa ang GinooDiha kanimo ug sa imong isigkatawo.”

Ako? Way seguro sa langit ba moadto,Pero di sad ko gusto moadto sa impyernoBahala na, magpuyo na lang ko sa limbo.Kay bisag mabunyagan ko.Daghan kog atraso sa GinooUg nagtipun-og akong reklamoSa…sa…sa gobyerno?

60

Pag-Asaleigh

hindi dapat ikatakotPagkatako’t pagkamali

Di ba’t walang dagatAng natatawidKung hindi maglalayag?

Di ba’t tagumpayAy nakakamitSa pakikitunggali?

Magtiwala sa buhayAt kamatayan ng pagharapSa hagupit ng mga pagsubok

Padayon!

Kasama mo ang masang api!

61

Life Goes On (magpapatuloy ang buhay)“... As we unchain ourselves from the dungeons… as we unmask ourselves from our pretensions… as we rise from desolation… we bring life to our weakened soul…”“…Sa pagkakalas ng mga piitang kadena … sa pagtanggal ng maskara sa ating mapagpanggap na mukha… sa ating pagbangon sa wasak na lupa… mabibigyang buhay ang ating nanghihinang kaluluwa…”

62

Waking up, I believe, is never really easy for anyone. The dreams are too real, perhaps, or maybe the weariness of years can be felt every morning. for

some, the almost total absence of sense is blissful, addictive, and the pain-ridden world just doesn’t seem worth waking up for. But still, we all have to be thankful that we wake up everyday. I don’t think I need to tell you why.

Today, I really have to battle the urge to sink my face in my pillow for an extra five minutes. I’m still crusty-eyed as I consider this proposal…hmmm… There’s a shop to visit for lolo’s present, and of course, there’s my 9:30AM literature class, and then a paper due on Monday (at least five pages about the Enron scandal, with photos, double spaced, 0.8-inch margin on all sides). The bridge collapsed last week, so traffic will be crawling today which means I have to move double time. Oooohh-kaaaay…I’ll get up. The world waits to torment and be tormented. With any luck, I could even run over some chickens and still get to school before roll call…

The professor walks to and fro like an intelligent zombie. She raises her hand to the sky, and recites in her scandalized voice the myth of Tantalus:

“…the only mortal allowed to dine with the immortal gods. But do you know what he did when the

gods came down to feast with him? he tore his own son, Pelops, chopped him up and threw him into a cauldron of stew. This he served to the mighty gods, just to see them perform an act of cannibalism, and was something they abhorred greatly. They punished him for it. In Tartarus, the murderous king hangs from a tree that bears many delicious fruits, and below him is a pool of cool water. But the water shrinks away when he reaches out for a drink, and the fruits do the same

when he tries to pluck them. So there hangs Tantalus, great butcher and chef and king, doomed to eternal hunger and thirst. he has to endure the torment of hav—”

“hello?” I whisper into my cell phone. “I’m in class.

A Box Full of Monday Morningshannah lesley taotJo

W

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Call later.” The whining voice on the other line won’t let up, and the professor is already turning her head in my direction. “I’ll meet you later.” The professor has already started to point to the door. I sigh and go outside to call Tommy...

“There’s this new kid in our office who screws everything up. The guy is a retard, but he comes from some hotshot school up north. I should feed him to the sharks. Maybe I will when I get the chance, or a disposable client. Is it disposable or dispensable? Which is it?” Only the two of us are in the café, but he talks like he wants the bartender and the waitresses to hear.

“I was in class, couldn’t you wait?”

“Aww…you skipped it for me, anyway. Where’ve you been hiding? My phone isn’t ringing as often as it used to.”

“What do you want?”

he stops smiling and looks down on his food. I do the same and as I stare into my soup, I remember the Tantalus’s stew. I imagine Tommy serving me a casserole made of Marcus’s guts. That sweet little boy would probably taste—

“Well, you’ve been avoiding me. I’m no idiot.” he says quietly and flatly.

Tommy twirls the oily pasta around and starts fiddling with the round mushrooms. he does not look at me, and his sudden silence makes me uncomfortable but relieved because I was waiting for the right time to start. I take a deep breath and blurt out the speech I’ve been rehearsing for the past several hours—

“Well gosh, Tommy. Who do you want me to avoid? your wife? I’m quite good at that. you’d be very proud of me, Tommy, you ought to give me a medal.”

“Don’t talk to me like that, Mae—” how bossy. “—I never forced you into this—” how cliché. “—and you know that.” how true.

“Aren’t you even going to ask me why I’ve been avoiding you? It’s just one word.”

“Nah, I don’t really have to ask you. Why should I, if I already know the answer? like I said, Mae, I’m no idiot. My question would be, what would it take to make you stay? I mean, come on, you know I don’t even like her. But you…” his voice fades and he smiles at me again. Does he really think one smile could make me brush the consequences aside? I ought to shove this coffee cup down his throat.

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“Well I don’t want to stay anymore, Tommy.” A heartbeat. “If I left her, would you?”

“No.”

“If I divorced her, would you?”

“No. Aren’t you going to ask me why I don’t want to stay?” how do you know that you’ve won a basketball game or a chess

match? There would probably be a clock that says the game is over, that time is up. Or there would be no more pieces or moves left for your opponent to win with. In both cases, there’s nothing he could do to win. I cannot say that I am the victor, either, because there is no prize left for me to claim except a peaceful night’s sleep and a peaceful awakening.

“I think I know why,” he says. And not to my surprise, he winks, like he

always does when he’s reminding me of a secret. he has known me since I was twelve or eleven, and although I was about to end this affair (there, I said it), I know that I can never truly end everything between Tommy and me. This city is too small, and friends are too common.

“Well,” he says as he calls for the bill, “I have to say that this is one of the worst lunch meetings I’ve ever had.”

I laugh. “It’s not even noon yet, Tommy.”

“Noon, evening, midnight, dawn. let me take you back to your campus.”

“forget it; I’m going to the mall. have to buy something.”

“I’ll drop you off. Don’t look at me like that, Mae. My car doesn’t smell that bad. let me drop you off. That way, you won’t have to worry about exhaust fumes.”

What could I do? I say thank you, give him a little kiss and hail a cab. I get in and I tell the driver to head to the mall. My stomach starts to lurch as his figure becomes smaller and smaller, and finally disappears from my sight.

I walk briskly towards the little shop in the corner, and my phone rings. It is Tommy. “I almost forgot. Can you tell my old professor I said happy birthday?” I say yes, and I hang up. for some reason, hanging up isn’t as painful as I thought it would be…

“happy birthday, lolo!” I kiss my grandfather’s warm cheek as I place

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the almost-Tiffany-like box on his blanket-covered lap. he smiles his weak smile that always tugs my heartstrings. If you’ve never really lost anyone, but you’re on your way to losing someone, you’d know how solidly a single smile can hit your heart. he feebly unties the white silk ribbon, and slowly rips the turquoise wrapper to reveal the ornate music box I bought earlier. It is made of dark, polished wood with intricate silver vines on the corners and edges. It has a mirror behind its dark lid, and inside is a hollow space to store odds and ends. however, I did not buy it for purposes of storage.

“It winds up like this, lolo.” I turn the leaf-shaped knob several times, let go, and listen to the sharp, delicate notes of an old native song called Dandansoy. I believe it originates from Iloilo. On the box’s mirror, I watch his eyes glimmer for a while, and then grow blank. I let him think, I let him go back to the years of industry, when his voice had power over men and machines, and left deep impressions on the minds of his students.

he doesn’t bother to clear his throat before he hoarsely says “Thank you, hija.”

“lolo,” I start with a tone that always gives him the impression that I am about to ask him for a favor…and in most cases, he would be right. “lolo, have you talked to Mom?” Cold stare. Not good. “She’s been looking at your pictures, you know?” Sighs. Good sign. A little more storytelling. “She’s been taking your old car for a spin around the village. I half expect it to just fall apart, but she’s taking real good care of it.” Still quiet; just a little more. “And—and she took lola’s orchids to her new house, so she could look after them like lola used to, you know?”

his lips start to tremble and his eyes look upwards, as if he is asking heaven if he deserves a granddaughter like this one. “To that man’s house?” he then looks at me and shakes his head. “I don’t—” he coughs, I give him a little water and I pat his back, “I don’t care about every sentimental thing your mother does—or does not do.” he takes another deep breath. “She certainly didn’t care when she wrecked that poor woman’s life and family, or when she left you. You,” he points at me with a trembling finger. “you of all people should know how much shame and pain her little scandal caused.” I turn pale and I start to stammer. has lolo found out about Tommy? how? lolo is a recluse, an old man in an older house located in one of the oldest subdivisions of the city. Gossip travels fast, but not this far.

he probably saw me withdraw my face an inch; he draws his breath again, this time like he is about to dive for pearls or for understanding, and both would be equally precious to him. “But that does not change our friendship, hija. Not one bit. you’re not like her at all, you see?” And he holds up the music box mirror, lifting it to face me. “you see?”

And I nod. I smile because he is right. I’m not like her at all.

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Alarm ClockMa. alona P. loMa

I woke up to the loud alarmIt is already 6:30My class is at 7:40 I still have timeSo I turn the alarm offAnd go back to sleep.

Booknitta

As I flip through the pages,And reach different stages.

I experience joy and excitementin every waking moment.

I laugh, I cryAnd go on to read once more,

The book that I adore.

Literaturelife is like the pagesof a booktrying to tell us thingsthrough poems and fictionOur imaginationSees truth and liesWe laugh and cry.

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Kining Alaot Kong Gugmakaizer roz

Tunga-tunga sa hut-ong sa daw dulon kabagang

katawhan

Ang kaanyag niya misidlak labaw pa sa kahayag sa adlaw

ug bulawan

Way laing matahom nga bulak ang akong nakit-an, bisan

gisalipdan kini sa daghang katawhan

Kon dili ang Rosas nga mitisok sa akong dughan.

Bisan asa nako ipunting akong mga mata, siya gihapon

akong makit-an

Sa akong pag-inusara ang iyang dagway motumaw

gayod sa akong salabotan.

Bisan unsaon kog tambog ang Rosas sa kalayo sa

kalimtanan

Mosamot man hinuon og sidlak ang iyang kaanyag

ngadto sa kinauyokan sa akong dughan.

Nahibalo ako nga ang akong bug-os nga gugma

alang kaniya walay padulngan

Kay siya malipayon man didto sa iyang

hinigugmang ambongan

Sakit palandungon, nga ako maski sa gapudyot

walay paglaom

Mao nga maski pait, pilion ko na lang ning gugma ko

iluom sa hilom

Tingali ingon niini gayod ning gugma, kahibulongan

Sayod ko nga kini way kasigurohan, apan padayon

ako sa paglaom nga gugma ko iyang buligan

Matay ning gugma dili gayod masabtan

Maski alaot kini, hala padayon sa gibati hangtod moabot

sa kaparotan.

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68

Holy Ipis!stat

Maraming mga gabing hindi ako makatulog dahil sa takot na makagat ng ipis. Sa sobrang inis ko sa di maudyat na ritwal na paglipad sa loob ng aking kwarto, na-inspire tuloy akong gumawa ng tula na may pamagat na “An Ode to the Ipis”. Sinabi ko sa tulang ito na gagawin kong tropeyo ang mga spines nila. Kaya nga lang, wala yata silang spines. At kung meron man, hindi ko alam kung kaya kong sikmurain ang alinmang bahagi ng katawan ng ipis.

habang sinusulat ang tula, namalayan kong marami pa akong di nalalaman tungkol sa mga ipis. Sabi pa ng ate ko, bago ko daw husgahan ang isang bagay, alamin ko muna ang kwento sa likod nito. Ika nga, don’t judge the book…ahmm…Ano nga ba yon? Don’t judge the book because my brother is not a pig! Basta! yon na yon! Kaya’t para mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga ipis, nagsaliksik ako tungkol sa kanila.

Matagal na raw nabubuhay ang mga ipis, mula pa sa panahon ng mga dinosaurs. Kabarkada pa nga raw ng mga ito ang lola ng ina ng tiyahin ng pinsan ni Barney. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ako takot kay Barney. Ngunit hanggang dito pa lang ang lawak ng aking kaalaman tungkol sa mga ipis. Para mas lumawak pa ito, hinanap ko sa Encyclopedia of Knowledge ang pangit nilang mukha. Nagmula pa daw sila sa pamilyang Blattidae, order Orthoptera. Pero di ko na sinaliksik kung sinu-sino pa ang mga kamag-anak ng mga ipis dahil baka matuklasan ko pang may lahi silang Dora the Explorer.

Nakasaad din sa aklat na iyon na madalas nilang bahayan ang mga kahoy, bato, at ang bahay ng mga langgam. Pwede pala silang mang-agaw ng mga bahay ng mga langgam. Nagtataka tuloy ako kung bakit sa kuwarto ko pa nila naisipang mag-reunion.

Mabilis daw kumalat sa mundo ang mga ipis dahil sa paglaganap ng komersyo. Madalas silang nakikisakay sa mga barko (sana nalunod ang lahat ng ipis na nakasakay sa Titanic),

69

sasakyan, at maging sa eroplano. Mahigit tatlong daang milyong taon nang nabubuhay ang lahing ipis nang di man lang nagbago ng anyo. Astig talaga! Survivor pala sila!

Kung magkakaroon ng isang reality TV show kung saan pagsasamahin ang ipis, aso, pusa, daga, at pagong sa isang deserted island, tiyak na mananalo ang ipis. Maliban sa dahilang kakainin ng pusa ang daga, i-vo-vote out ng aso ang pusa, at mamamatay ang aso dahil sa pagkain ng MSG (vetsin), mahihirapan rin ang pagong sa paghabol at pagpatay sa ipis kahit ilang tsinelas pa ang baon nito. Tunay na survivor nga ang mga ipis! Sa katunayan, kahit pinugutan na ng ulo, kaya pa rin nilang mabuhay ng mahigit sa sampung araw. At ang magiging dahilan ng kamatayan nila ay gutom.

Bakit nga ba nabubuhay ang mga ipis sa mundo? Ayon sa textmate ko, maaaring hindi lang daw dito sa mundo natin nabubuhay ang mga ipis. Marahil ay meron din daw sa Mars. Natakot tuloy ako. Isipin mo na lang, paano kaya kung darating ang araw na lulusubin tayo ng mga higanteng ipis na Marsians? Kung sakali mang mangyayari ito, maiintindihan kaya nila ang ating lengguwahe? Kulay berde din ba sila? Sabi naman ng textmate ko, di daw sila kulay berde at meron daw silang translator.

Umikot na naman ang isip ko. Ano kaya ang gagawin ng mga tao sakaling sasakupin tayo ng mga ipis? Ano kaya ang magiging armas natin laban sa kanilang maruruming lahi? Ewan ko sa inyo, pero ako, magpapagawa ako ng maraming Moth Ball Cannons. Bibili rin ako ng isang higanteng Insect Spray. Kung kaklase ko naman ang tatanungin, masasabing hanep din siya sa imahinasyon. Mag-iimbento na lang daw siya ng isang matinding pamatay-ipis-aliens na di na nangangailangan ng isang batalyong sundalo. Ito daw iyong tipong di nangangailangan ng “supervision”. Ito ang tinatawag na MBV o Moth Ball Virus. hindi ko na tinanong kung ano yon. Pero ito siguro iyong papadalhan niya ang mga ipis ng isang picture message na may dalang MBV. Sisirain ng virus na ito ang mga cellphones nila nang sa gayon ay di na nila matatawagan ang kanilang naiwang kamag-anak sa Mars at din a nila mate-text ang kanilang mga textmates sa ibang planeta. At mamamatay sila sa bagot o kaya’y mapipilitan silang umuwi sa kanilang mundo. hmmm…epektibo nga!

Pero kahit gaano pa ka-advanced ang mga nabanggit, iisa pa rin ang pinakamabisang armas laban sa mga alien ipis invaders – ang higanteng Tsinelas! Whapak!!

P.S. hindi ako obsessed sa ipis. Oo…talaga! Maniwala ka!

70

OrpheusMuffleD Chatterbox

And you strike your lyreWith all gentlenessAnd clarity.Music flowsfrom your soulyour loveflooding my veins.

your eyes speak ofUnsung wordsOf the muteMusesIn the farStretch of theBristlecone-swept brook.

your voice enthrallsEven the believersOf the ladyhuntsmanWhoRoams the barren meadowsUnderneath the wounded moon.

hecate bleedsTearsOfAgonyfor your being.

The WindBreathes for you.StarsWish for you.heartsBeat for you.The Earthlives for you.

life.Music.love.

yOU…

NagtangaMiChelle anthea Malana

Sa usa ka kilidSiya nanampiling

Mga mata ngaMorag nagtan-aw

Sa panganod

Apan bisan nindotAng mga langgam

Wala siya kamatngonNga morag naghulat

Sa iyang timbaya

Ang lapis sa iyang kamotNagtuya-tuya

Nga morag nayKaugalingong hunahuna

Ug sa wala tuyoaGikan sa kasingkasing

Nasambit niyaUsa ka awit

Gikan sa kasingkasing

Naghinaot na dal-onSa langgam namiagi

Ang awit ngadto tugpaSa iyang minahal.

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Pag-ibig kong puno ng paglayaMarvin t.

Nang ika’y makita,batid sa akin ang tuwa,dahil nariyan ang ngiti mong dala ang paglaya ng madla.

Minsan kita’y nasilayan,Ikaw pala ay may kakaibang mukha,Mukha na puno sa pangarap upang ang masa ay dalhin sa pag laya. Minsan ng kita’y kausapin iyong tinig parang saakin ay iba ang pahiwatig.Boses mo’y gaya ng boses ng bansa na matagal ng sumisigaw ng laya. ’di ko maitago ang aking nadarama,parang tila ika’y sinadya, na sa akin ay magdala ng isang gabay ng pag-ibig na gayang iyong ipinakita sa masang iyong pinalaya. Sana lahat ng aking nakikita at nadarama,Ay maging gabay na ako’y maging malaya naIpahayag ang pag-ibig para sa ’yo at sa bansang gustoNating sabay na lumaya.

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72

Hayaan mo, Mahalkaizer roz

Kung marunong lang sana akong gumuhit

Ginuhit ko na ang napaganda mong mukha

Kung marunong lang sana akong umawit

Inawit ko na ang mga katagang di mabigkas ng aking bibig

Kung marunong lang sana akong lumilok

linilok ko na ang hiwaga ng iyong kagandahan

Kung marunong lang sana akong sumayaw

Sinayaw ko na ang musikang likha ng pintig ng aking damdamin

Kung marunong lang sana akong tumula

Patula akong luluhod at magsusumamo sa iyong pag-ibig

Kung marunong lang sana akong sumulat

Sinulat ko na ang aking panaginip

kung saan ikaw at akoy nag-iibigan ng walang hanggan

Kung marunong lang sana akong mag-alay ng mga Rosas

Binigay ko na sana sa iyo mahal ko ang pinakamarikit na rosas

upang maipadama sa iyo ang pag-ibig kong walang kapantay

Ngunit ako’y isang pangkaraniwang tao lamang

Walang nalalaman kun’di ang ibigin ka ng lubusan

Di ko kayang abutin ang mga tala upang ningningan ang iyong daanan

Di ko kayang abutin ang mga bundok upang doon sa tuktok

ipagsisigawan ko ang iyong pangalan

Di ko kayang sisirin ang malalim na karagatan upang doon hanapin

ang hiyas na magbibigkis sa ating pagmamahalan

Ngunit hayaan mo, mahal ko, ‘di ko man kaya ang lahat ng ito’y ibigay sa iyo

Kaya ko’t walang alinlangan buhay ko’ sa iyo’y ialay makita ko lamang

mga ngiti mong nagbibigay saysay’t halaga sa aking buhay.

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Isang Gabi nang Maisip kong Mag-meditate

kiDlat PaMukaw

Kagabi,hinimas ako ng hangin sa magkabila kong pisngi

At pilit kong dinama ang lamig nitoUpang madama ko man lang kahit konti

Ang klima ng lugar kung nas'an ka.

Pumikit ako at pilit kong inilabas ang mystic energy ng aking inner self

habang magkalapat ang dalawa kong kamay sa isa't isa,At habang lumalalim ang aking konsentrasyon

Di ko maiwasang magtawag ng mga elementalsUpang tulungan akong makapaglakbay

Sa kabilang dimensyon kung saan ang mga lugarAy walang pagitan,

Walang malayoAt wala ring malapit

Dahil doon ay walang konsepto ng distance.

Sapagkat marahil dunAy 'di mo na maidadahilan

Ang pagiging malayo natin sa isa't isaPara gapusin ang aking pananabikSa walang katiyakang pandama.

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piskot.giahak. gugmang inatay.loi

piskot. giahak. gugmang inatay.wa magdahom sa kinabuhi molabay.

wa kapangandam,wa jod maski jutay.nah! nabuang na.

gahinuktok na lang kanunay.Sa una puro duwa ang naa sa huna-huna.

apan karon,pisting lalaki maski sa pagtulog di mohawa.

wa kabalo. wa kapangandam.ang dughang giukit pirminti gatanga.intiro buntag hangtod adlaw mosaop

ginapangalandongan iyang pag abut.ug di makit-an batasan di masabtan.

apan kong moagi o masimhotan man lang,ang baba maglaway laway

ang dughan maglagubo kanunay.apan si kras wa man gayod katagad.

sa kanunay'ng pagsunod-sunodakong baho wa jod siya nasayod.

wa ba xa nahibaloang akong kasingkasing kaniya gaalagad.

himuon ang tananpati sa amigo mangilad

aron di lang jod makaubanug iyang nawong akong masayran.

daghan og nabag-o sukad kaniadto.ang daang lakinhon pulbos na man ang paliton.apilan pa jod og sudlay ug gamay'ng pahumot,

baon ginatigom aron makapamanikyur.hain na ang tarak-tarak? hain na ang baril-baril?

di na nagatigsodi na kanunay hugaw ang tiil.

kon tung una sige og pantalonkaron magsayal na.

ang di musuot ug sleevelessispageti na nga sanina ang ginapangita.hala mga higala ang lakinhon tung una,

karon dalaga na.daghan gayod nabag-o sukad kaniadto.

Tan-awon nato unsa pay motukarsa atong dalagita

na kanunay makahisgot ogpiskot. giahak. gugmang inatay.

75

Travelogue Dyavie

I entered the library as fast as a click,then suddenly I was with harry in his broomstick.As I smoothly landed,I thanked J.K. Rowling for my wish was granted.

I closed my eyes and thought of Greece,and as I opened I’m with Paris.fortunately helen was not there,thanks homer for sponsoring my fare.

A damsel sent by Sir Thomas Malory held my hand,and led me to King Arthur’s land.I saw Merlin with Excalibur,Who directed me to an open door.

The door led me to Verona,where Shakespeare’s set his drama. There I met Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague,who taught me that real love needs only to be true.

Then to my surprise, I saw Rizal wearing a smile.Though I had not met with them,but I was able to recognize Elias and Salome.

Oh my gosh! hundreds of Orcs were runningThen suddenly I found myself screaming.I thought they were after me,Thanks Tolkien for grabbing me.

I opened my eyes and saw Ms. librarian grinningI thought it was another sceneAll of a sudden I was with harry and the othersGosh! It was just a dream.

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I will always remind youThat as long as the skies swayI will forever stay.This and all I can do for you.

Tahimik kitang babantayan;Di kita iiwan kailanman,At sa panaginip mo langMauunawaan aking nararamdaman.

I'd make a fool out of me,for you to have that smile;Make you forget your worries,Even for a while.

Sapat na sa akin na makita,Na ikaw ay masayaMay ngiti sa labiAt ningning sa mata.

I will sing you a songSerenade you to sleepI will not wink or blinkWhile i guard you to dream.

Sa katahimikan doon lamang,Magiging akin ang panahonItigil ang oras;At alaala mo'y hagkan.

DEMETER: IN HYBRID EXPERIMENTATION

In the morning,I will wear a smileAnd a prayer thatOne day you'll be mine.

Isasayaw ka sa umaga,Ililipad ng aking gunitahabang akoy nanampalatayaNa maging aking ka nga.

All this i can doAnd moreOnly for you...And you don’t have to say you love me too.lahat para sa iyo,At higit pa.Iaalay ko at sa iyo lamang.Kahit na alam kong di tayo babagay.

darkmau

MAlAyA!

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Di na ta magsabaiMPassaiMase

Maghilom na lang talingaw na ang tananWa na tay problema

Di na ta magsaba

Magpuyo na lang taAmigo na ta

Unsa pa bay laing mapangitaDi na nato hisgotan pa

Katupad na taMangatawa..Mag-istorya..

Mao, di na nato gub-on pa

Kabalo ko, kabalo na kaSa akong ginapang-estorya

Iingon pa nako?Ayaw na ta..

78

Dialect 101hannah lesley taotJo

Dili man ko kamao mag-Bisayakay gikan man ko sa Texas.Paunsa nako iingon sa taxi drayberNa paadto ko og Roxas? Basig mamali ang akong nilitokan(Kanang--Bisayan grammar ba)Matay! Wala'y "Bisaya" subject diri!English ug Tagalog naa pa.(Kung kabalo lang ko, sa Manila unta ko nag-eskwela) Paunsa nako pagtuon?Maulaw man ko moingonSa propesor nakong mangtas,Sa kaklaseng namugas,Ug sa gwardya diha sa gawasNa di pasudlon akong tsinelas. Tabangi tawon ko.

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Dili Takos ang mga Rosaskaizer roz

Gilantaw tikaNaglakaw kang nag-inusaraModuol unta ko Apan ang kahadlok maoy mipatigbabaw sa hunahuna ko

Di ko kasabot sa akong buhatonKay ang kaanyag mo miulipon kanako sa dugay nang panahonWay matahom nga bulak nga takos ihalad kanimoMaski ang mga Rosas nga timailhan sa gugmang putli ug bug-osDili angayang idayandayan diha kanimoTungod ikaw ang Rosas nga nagpagun-ob sa kahayahay sa pag-inusara ko.

(Si Kaizer Roz ay isang baguhang manunulat na nahuhumaling sa kagandahan at kahiwagaan ng isang Rosas na sa COMELEC lamang tumutubo)

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I WAS AGAIN lOST, not in the woods but rather in the streets. Not that I wasn’t good at directions. I was just caught up in my own world. I walked the whole stretch

of the boulevard past all the buildings and landmarks, yet still I didn’t know where I was heading. But I kept on walking until my feet were sore.

I had just been laid off from my job. yeah, “laid off”. It’s not quite a destabilizing word, until it’s told right up to your face. I felt like falling upon my knees, weeping and cursing everyone.

I really needed that job. how was I going to push through with my schooling? I worked my butt off for hours after class, juggling everything. And school, when you think of it, wasn’t getting any brighter. My class cards were not to be proud of either. My grades needed much of a repair. I just wondered if there were any repair shops around (that was cheap, of course) which could restore my self.

I wanted to be home. My body ached from work, but more so because I bled from inside. I searched through my pockets and found a hundred peso bill aside from my exam permit, a doctor’s prescription, and my last paycheck. Well, at least I had the money to take a ride back home. But I put in the money and back in my pocket started walking again. I felt the need for some space. Before I knew it, I was going through the door, just like the way I used to. It had been quite a while since I had visited the place. I was glad some sheer luck brought me there. My favorite hangout was still in one piece and I needed it all the more now that I was broke.

It was here that I met him. he was the reason I stayed behind, longer than everybody else. he worked the late night shifts while I needed some place where I could get on writing my thesis.

When there were not so many customers, we talked. he was an aspiring engineer in a state university while I was a struggling journalist in some famed institution. It seemed like I was a prying DA but actually I was just being friendly. We became good friends then, nothing more. I knew he was still fresh from a broken relationship of two years. I was also beginning fresh with my love of the moment, my thesis. I would have graduated if not for that overdue paper. I would have by now been big if not for that episode in my life I had long tried to forget. I would have been everything I dreamed of if

Eleven Past FiveP.winDang

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not for that fated day. Some things were best forgotten.

As I sought out my spot in the corner, I was taken aback because the coffee table wasn’t there anymore. It had been replaced with a rack that held the newly acquired coffee machines. It turned out that the management had been changed but the owner was still there, opening and closing the café. Although it was packed with people, still I managed to find a seat. I looked through the crowd to check if there were familiar faces. I saw my former classmates in stilettos sipping coffee and smoking all at the same time. I looked the other way hoping that when I turned my back, they’d be gone. I forced myself into thinking they didn’t exist and that they were all just the result of a very rich yet provoking imagination. Besides, monsters didn’t go out the night just to socialize. I wouldn’t have survived the torment if they saw me broke, literally and figuratively. I wanted to leave as soon as the waiter handed me my cup to go. But it didn’t end there. I felt someone tap me on the back.

“lea, it’s really you! how have you been?” I knew the voice, and when I turned around, it was her alright. “Oh…Trista, it’s you. I’m quite…uhm…okay. Still good, I think.” I managed to fake a smile.

“Why are you here? Didn’t you see them? Come on, let’s join the girls outside! have a sweet talk, maybe?”

“I’d rather be here, Tris. Besides, my money’s good only for a hot brew.” I wanted to add something like “yeah, I see them alright. fine and dandy. Not to mention filthy rich. They even grow sticks in their mouths and look like worn-out chimneys. But I just zipped my mouth.

“That won’t be any problem.” She signaled the waiter.

“Actually, I’ve already ordered. Thank you anyway. you still haven’t changed, Trista.”

“you’ve not changed, either. you’re still the same old you, lei. So,…”

I came here to kill time before heading home. And of course a cup of coffee won’t hurt especially if you get axed tonight at your job.”

“Really? I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want to… Okay, I’ll leave you now but we’ve got a lot of catching’ up to do. Keep in touch, hear?”

“hear. I will. Next time, Tris. Next time would be good,” I said.

Back in the old days, Trista was the only one I could talk to and not talk to, and she wouldn’t take it against me because for her, talk or no talk was just the same. She had always understood me, my troubled mind, my passion, and my disposition. Except for that day when I ran off and was not seen for more than three months. No one knew where I was, not even Trista. I knew they would have to look for me through her.

I had sent her a letter. It read:I’m sorry for taking you into my troubles. I’m very thankful that you have to

put up with someone like me. Remember the book I gave you on your birthday? It’s about us. We need not talk to understand each other. I will have to see you

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soon. Take care and God bless.-lea-

I wouldn’t call her my best friend and I didn’t expect her to treat me as one. But we cared for each other more than sisters. She opened up to me and I confided in her, but I didn’t disclose everything. Even if I was older, it seemed like I was the one who needed the constant reminding. I was the worrywart, Trista was free-spirited.

“Excuse me, Ma’am, here’s your order.” The waiter cut me off in my thinking.

“What? huh? Oh…Thank you. I almost forgot about that.”

I went out of the café. I saw Trista in the sidewalk table and I managed to smile. She smiled back at me. I continued my stroll and headed to the bus station a few blocks away. I sipped my coffee through the small lip hole in my cup. yeah. Just like what I wanted; a bitter taste for a bitter end. I still hadn’t taken the thought off my mind. Deep within me, I was desperate. People back at the job told me I was still lucky, I was laid off, not fired. Well, for me, it didn’t really matter. It was quite the same actually. They had just prolonged my agony by not firing me. I was sure they were very happy. Why didn’t the government make laws about contractual work? Why weren’t they protecting people like me from losing their job? I was about to graduate with only a term to go. how would I be able to do it now? Something crossed my mind which I quickly discarded. “forget it.” I said to myself. I would never ask for help.

I didn’t want to go home. Well, not yet. It was too early. My watch told me it was eleven past five. Still early for my shift – my house shift, that is. I called it a shift because we barely saw each other. The people living there were strangers to me. It was like the only thing connecting us was the house rather than the blood that made us a family.

I had already forgotten how tired I was. I also sensed that the god of sleep had forgotten to pay me a visit. I knew it was the coffee. But I kept claiming that it was just supernatural. So I kept running in circles and I was walking in straight lines. I knew I should have turned right after passing the first block, or should it have been left. I didn’t know where I was. I just knew that I was in some place where I could see the sky without structures blocking it. I looked again at my watch, eleven past five. I had a funny feeling about the time.

I dumped the cup in the garbage bin. All of a sudden, I felt my world spin. No, I thought I was the one spinning, because at least, that was what I thought and felt. Everything was a whirlpool. I clearly remembered everything as if it happened today. I remembered everything there was to forget.

“It’s all your fault!” My brother Carlo shouted at me.

“My fault? Who ran away with some girl in the country?” I answered him in my shrieking voice. I wanted to cry but I didn’t want to give him the impression I was losing.

“Keep her out of this! She doesn’t have to do anything with our problem…yOUR problem!”

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“Where’s mommy? I’m hungry.” Matthew, who was barely five, had woken up to our fighting.

“Shut up! Go to your bed now and stay there,” I said.

“Waah! I’ll tell mommy. I’ll tell her!” he wailed and ran back upstairs.

“Do what you want! Mommy’s not going to be here! She’s not going to take care of you, she’s not going to take care of us anymore because…because she’s…she’s dead! you hear me? She’s dead. Mommy and daddy are dead!” I shouldn’t have talked to him like that. he was just a kid! But he too had gotten on my nerves,

“What are you doing? Carlo asked, and in a small vice he added, “he doesn’t know.”

“I don’t care. It’s time he knew.”

“That’s the reason why mom and dad left us, because of your behavior!”

“ha! you’re talking about behavior? Between the two of us, who’s the delinquent?” I looked at him in the eyes. When he was younger, he had hooked up with some bad people and for a time he tried using weeds.

“But why were mom and dad on a plane? In case you forget, it was because of you. had you not gone away to some quack doctor in a remote island, they would have been alive,” he said.

“Blame me! Curse me for being sick!”

“yeah, you’re sick in the head too!”

It was Carlo who teased my being sick and all, being the weakling. he told me even if he was the problem child; at least he was healthy, that I was the real problem child in the family. I was the reason. I was to blame for everything.

“What’s the matter here? Are you two fighting?

“Nicky! he started it!” I rushed to him thinking he would take my side.

“Now, now…lea, be still.”

“But…but…”

“All of you listen to me. It has been a month since that happened and I know that it’s hard for all of us but we got to stay together,” he said.

“Together?” I confronted him. “But why do I see you packing your things? you think I don’t know? you’re not leaving, right? Tell me!”

“It’s the only way I know.” his voice was soft but stern.

“See? Is this because of me? you’re working abroad just so that you can afford my medications, aren’t you? Nicky, I’d rather be dead than see you leave.

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I don’t want to see our family shattered again because of me.” I ran towards my room and packed my bag. I knew this was going to happen. I dreaded this but I couldn’t take it any longer.

“Lea! Listen. Come back here. We’re still not finished.”

“I’m finished. I’m finished with you all. I know you’re better off without me.” I shouted back at them.

“It’s not your fault! It’s nobody’s fault.”

Those were the voices that had never left me, especially my heart. Even if my memory was clouded with so many things, my heart continued to remain a keeper of my feelings.

When I opened my eyes, I saw pitch black darkness. I had never experienced this kind of emptiness. I tried screaming, but all that came out of my mouth was a meek whisper. Then I saw from afar a wavering spark which I followed. All of a sudden, I was distracted by a bright light. I couldn’t see anything except for a door. I entered through it.

There, I saw my family complete – Nick, Carlo and Matthew, even mom and dad were there. Everyone was there but me. It was as if they had a party and forgot to invite me. It was weird. Instead of happy faces, everyone was wearing bleak expressions. And the food was, oh well, weird too! There were no catering services the way mom threw a party. Instead, they were passing around sandwiches and biscuits. The good thing was that it was flowing coffee everywhere! funny, it looked more like attending a wake.

I spotted Trista and asked her what happened. But she looked away as though she didn’t recognize me. I guessed she was angry at me like everybody else was.

“But why is Ate lea sleeping in a box? Wouldn’t she catch cold, kuya? And why are there big candles?”

“She’s resting Matt. let her get some sleep, okay? Everything would be okay soon.”

“Won’t she come back like mom and dad?”

“When you’re older you’ll understand. Right now, just go to sleep.”

Then I realized. That was why there were bright lights; I had seen my own end. I didn’t understand, but somehow it kept me thinking, or better yet, breathing. And then I felt something on my face. It was as though something soft pricked it. I heard a gentle shower after. Without warning, my whole body experienced being under rain’s spell but I lay still on the empty street. I to slowly opened my eyes and thought I was still dreaming. But it wasn’t because in an impulse, I jolted up and ran to take cover. I was drenched in the heavy downpour. As I hastily took out my hanky in one pocket, my wristwatch snapped. I picked it up and it startled me, it read eleven past five. Time told me I had to go home. For the first time, I didn’t listen to myself. I started running.

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i catch my wifeplaying rainin the bathroomDon Pagusara

/ / / / // / / / / / / / / / / / / / // / / / / // / / // / / / / // spat / ter

/ ring/ syl / la/ / / /bles / of /

moans/ / / / andgig / gles / // in/ / /splash / sing // / / rap // / tures. /

nasapnan kong akongasawa nagduwa-duwag ulan sa banyoDon Pagusara

/ / / / // / / / / / / / / / / / / / // / / / / // / / // / / / / / na / mis /sik

/ pi/ sik/ ang/ /

/ mga/ si/ la/ bol/ / / / / sa // agu/ /mod / ug / / // agik ik… / / / nag tim // / / / pa / / saw / hi // ma / / ya… /

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ID ayaChan

love is torpid

but a breakup is rapid

we're a broken bicuspid

my ego against your id

i'm just a kid

sorry for being so torrid

doing something incredibly stupid

you've gone frigid

you've gone rigid

the feelings you hid

plot them on the grid

i have to be candid

without you, i'm lighter by a quid

on a day so humid

gotta go look for cupid

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Isang Daang Papel na Tagakkokoi nanini

Isinulat ko ang pangarapko sa mga pakpakng papel na tagakupang ilipad nila itosa mundo ng katotohanan Isinulat ko ang pangalan mosa mga pakpakng papel na tagakupang hindi ka malimot ng panahonsa oras na nalimot na kita Isang daang papel na tagakang aking pinakawalansa kalangitang walang hanggannangangarap balang arawna ika'y mahagkan

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Kamla Beach PhuketJoan soCo

yellow orange skiesTouch the blue shades of cloudsCaress the blue green sea.

Gentle waves sing They kiss the shoreOf white sand with soft footprintsAnd trees dancing to their hymn.

People chat merrily,Their laughter echoesThe celebrationOn a perfect afternoon.

But when can I be thereTo this picture Of eternal joyAt Kamla Beach Phuket?

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LA TICA DE COSTAalDo

Cigarettesmoke dances

a restlesscalypso

as i essaythe distanceof our worlds

in wordsremembering

how ourseaful eyesfished for

metaphorson the night

my lips harboredin the warmthof your native

shores.In the

courtship ofwind and waves,

stars and seas,our continents

embracedfrom dusk

untildawn

as the pacificserenadedthe latinohorizonwith thesweetest

lovesong

teasing youto sleep

in my home.

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O! Pa-Ilog! Pa-Ilog!loi

mintras gahulat sa kanto tennis court aron makasakay og habal-habal nga maghatod sa ako sa bonifacio st, diin ko gatrabaho:

bata 1: o pailog! pailog!bata 2: sige na! sige na!

excited kaayo ang bata sa ipailog sa isa pa ka bata.walay purong ang isa ka bata ug ang iyang dako nga t-shirt ang mitago sa iyang timoy. ang isa naay shorts ug sando, pero morag kabungkagon na sa kagamay niini. di ko kasabot kong gamay ra kaayo ang sanina para niya, o tambok ra siya para sa iyang ginasuot. sabaan ang duha. nalingaw sa ilang pag pailog. wa ko nasayod unsa to ug ngano perti man nilang lingawa. naay mingduol nga usa pa ka bata. upaw ug gisip-on. wa pod nagkadimao iyang tsinelas nga ginasul-ob kay puro tu-o. pula ug green.morag gusto moapil sa ilang pagdula dula.

bata 1: o pailog! pailog!bata 2: sigeh na! iitsa na!bata 1: kadyot lang. kadali lang ha.

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mipalayo ang usa ka bata. katong walay purong ug dako iyang t shirt. naglakaw-lakaw ug nagduko-duko. morag naay ginapangita. kadugayan naay gipunit ug midagan padulong sa iyang grupo.

bata 1:o sigeh! o sigeh! pailog! pailog!bata 2: sigeh na! sigeh na bai!bata 1: o pailog! duha kabuok! duha kabuok!

giitsa sa bata ug usa-usa ang mga bato sa hangin. ang usa, duol sa tambok nga bata, ang usa pa ka bato duol atong wa nagkadimao ang tsinelas.

perting lipaya sa 3 ka bata.pati ang ikatulo, masking wa nagsaba saba, kabalo ko perti pod niyang lipaya sa iyang napunit.dako kaayo ang ngisi sa iyang nawong.giuli nila pag usab ang mga bato sa bata nga way purong ug dako ang t shirt.

bata 1:pailog! pailog!bata 2: o sigeh! o sigeh!

ug nagpadayon silang 3 sa pagpailog.taod-taod, niabot ang habal habal na akong gihulat.ako: nong, bonifacio.(ang mga bata diri bana-bana nako naa sa 4-6 and pangedaron)

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Reklamador 101haMabar

Techie made for the classroom for her first class of the day. It was the Monday of the second week of the first semester of her last year in college. Everything was as it should be: she was on time, (she had promptly paid her minimum downpayment. Daddy had wanted to make it a full payment, but they might need the money for something else—never know), she wore her ID, and her crisp white blouse was tucked in properly.

Were it not for the two subjects she had to add, her first week would have been perfect. Never mind that, she was sure that her adding/dropping forms, along with her new printout, would be ready by the time her class was finished. her priority card assured this, being meant for that morning.

Techie entered the classroom and found her friends huddled together as usual, in the middle of the room, as usual.

“Not another No-Show. Do we have a teacher yet?” she asked the girl closest to her, who replied with a shrug and a mocking smile.

“Well, there should be!” said a girl who always woke up at 5:40AM. She lived in another town, far from the University. Imagine the cold morning bath, breakfast cooked and hurriedly eaten at dawn, the long jeepney ride to school, only to find the class dispersed after 15 minutes of waiting. “We haven’t started and this is our third meeting!” the girl from far Away continued.

“Relax, Kring. Linn’s at the office now, clearing things up.” Techie said.“No, you relax. you get driven around, and I don’t…”“Sorry.”“…I cook, you get spoon-fed…”The other girls started to complain about the time—the mall won’t be open

till 10AM, where would they go if no teacher showed up?A girl with a wide smile briskly entered the room. She headed for her bag,

which she had left earlier.“Tara. They haven’t even given us a teacher yet,” she said in a high,

disappointed voice. Moans of disappointment.“Sure ka, linn? I mean, the prof could be in another room. like Jaime’s Bio

prof, he was waiting for them in 203, but they were in 305,” Techie said.A couple of giggles escaped from the group. “What happened?” linn

asked, instantly forgetting that her competence was questioned.“What happened what? To them or like, why it happened?”“I mean why did it happen?”“you mean how did that happen?”“Just answer the question! Samoka Techie uy.”Techie laughed, and then shrugged. “Different rooms on the teacher’s

sched, on the students’, and…”“Unbelievable.”“Well, when they finally met, she had four meetings’ worth of research for

them.”“Unbelievable.”They stayed in the classroom, where it was cool, air-conditioned and quite

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comfortable. The security guard was on his rounds again, doing his usual tasks. he was lenient and let them stay. They paid for the classroom anyway. They paid to have a teacher, too, and they didn’t have that today. They could at least have their classroom. he shook his head and walked off, his keys jingling, jangling at every step.

“Now there’s a guard.” linn said longingly.“What?” asked Jan, who was been feigning sleep.linn laughed nervously. “he’s nicer than most.” She left her seat and sat

next to Techie. “That’s what I thought.” Jan said. he shook his hair with his hands and let

dandruff fall onto the dark wood of the armchair. “One of them turned off the lights while I was reading.”

“It was nine in the morning, anyway,” linn reasoned.“It was a dark, cloudy nine in the morning, it was. Couldn’t read a word

without ‘em lights. One minute my nose is bleeding from all ‘em dead guys’ ideas and caves…” “That’s Plato, darling”, linn interrupted. And the next minute, I’m in a cave myself,” He continued brushing off the flakes with his palm. The girls were disgusted.

Kring muttered an obscenity.“Ever heard of energy conservation?” asked Techie.“Ever heard of blindness?” said Jan.“Ever heard of the library?”“Ever heard of hypothermia? It’s an ice box in there!”Techie shrugged off the comeback and mockingly said, “Ah, of course,

you’re not a nerd. you don’t go in. Understandable.”“Shut up. I’m not smart, hell no. But we’re in the same section, so don’t be

a hypocrim!” “That’s hypocrite, darling”, said linn.“Deficiencies! They based it on deficiencies. Moron.”Everyone was hooting picking a side, but linn was silent and very

thoughtful. She took out her prospectus and swiftly scanned it with her dark eyes. her eyebrows met, and a crease formed between her eyes.

“I’m not supposed to be in this section.” linn shouted to be heard. “look! I have no deficiencies! None! I should be in section C!”

Jan snorted, like it was absurd for her to want to be somewhere else. linn ignored it and said “I’m going to the office.”

“I’m going with you.” Techie said lifting her bag to hang it over her shoulder. She wished she did not bring so big a bag.

“We can’t find it anywhere.”“Pardon?” Techie asked the young woman behind the counter. She could

have misheard her.“We can’t find your printout. Do you have your card?”

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Techie handed her the green piece of paper. It was meant for a morning claim. The woman looked through all the printouts on her table, then some more in her drawer. Techie started getting anxious. She wouldn’t get worried until much later, when things would go worse.

She could see linn at the corner of her eye. her friend was rising to go, and the white-haired man she was talking to said goodbye.

“how did it go?” Techie asked. The woman was still busy, anyway.“Confusing. That guy said that I could change sections, that they made a

mistake. But that guy,” she pointed to the white-haired man, “said that I can’t. So I left.”

“you should have said something.”“I did!”“And what did they say?”“’you’re welcome.’”Techie remained quiet, then said, “hey, I’ll just catch up.” linn walked away, back to the teacherless room. After a few more minutes,

Techie asked the woman if there was any progress.“We can’t find your printout.”“huh? So what should I do?”“hmmm…try coming back this afternoon.”“But I have straight classes this afternoon.”“Then come back tomorrow.”Two weeks later, in a cheap little café, Techie was telling Kring about her

predicament. Techie had grown tired of telling and re-telling this experience. She wished that she could just let the world know, all at once, so she won’t have to feel like a storyteller. Besides, she hated remembering. This particular memory always makes her angry and cheated.

“But how about your OJT? you know that’s from eight to twelve. Twenty-seven units in a one to nine time frame?”

“I have to.”“What if some subjects won’t have afternoon schedules?” Kring raised an

eyebrow.Techie was quiet as she sipped her rich avocado shake.“They have to.”“And if they won’t?”“hala…” Jan and linn said together. Techie looked at them as Jan said,

“last sem na yun.”Kring was full of concern now. She had hardly touched her food. She said

harshly and factually, “It wasn’t your fault. you got closed out because they—”Jan wiped his mouth with his handkerchief and jokingly said “Shut up. you

can sue the school.”Roars of laughter suddenly filled the café. The cashier looked in their

direction, and so did other patrons. Amidst the laughter, a small voice was barely audible. “Can you really do that?”

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TorpeMel santi

“Uhmmm…ahhh…kasi…ganito…ummm…ano eh…”hanggang dun’ na lang ba?Patuloy ang pagtagaktakNg mga butil na pawisSa iyong mukha…Ang iyong mukhangKay ganda sanang pagmasdanKung iyo sanang iiwasanAng pagkibot ng mga labinghalatang kinakabahan.Wala ka pa ringMabuo-buong salita,Aba’t, mag-iisang oras na.Akala ko tulo’y ibibigkas moAng ‘A-E-I-O-U’.“tik, tik tik’, tunog ng orasan,kasabay ng kumpasng malalim mong paghinga.Sa kainip-inip na katahimikan…“I lOVE yOU! Mahal kita…”Sa bigla mong hirit,Ako lang ay natawa!Nag-alinlangan ka pa,Isasagot ko rin nama’y“Mahal din kita.”

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TRANSPORT ESTRAYKasin

kasalukuyan akong nakaupo,

mula sa kawalan ay tanaw ko ang ilang kabataan,

sumisigaw at pinagpapawisan,

anong ginagawa nila? Ba't andon sila? Ba't ako wala?

Sa 'di maipaliwanag na kadahilanan,

sila'y aking nilapitan,

"Bai, pwede ko mangutana? Kanang unsa man diay

kalingawan? Nganong naga singgit-singgit man mo?"

"Nakigbisog mi laban sa pagtaas sa presyo sa lana! Taas na

man god kaayo mga palitonon! Dili na makaya!"

Akala ko bagong gimik 'yon ng mga kabataan,

hindi pala! Sila pala'y nakikipaglaban!

nakikipaglaban para sa kapwa mamamayan

upang supilin ang nakasanayang kahirapan!

Bumalik ako sa aking kinauupuan,

limang piso na lang pala ang sa bulsa ko'y naiwan!

paano ako makakauwi?

pitong piso na nga pala ang pamasahe!

Dinala ako ng aking mga paa,

patungo sa mga kabataang walang humpay na

nakikipaglaban

sumali ako sa pagsigaw,

nabawasan ang bigat na aking nararamdaman.

Gusto kong supilin at baguhin ang maruming pagpapalakad

sa aking pinakamamahal na tinubuan

gusto kong itama ang mali,

gusto kong matuklasan ang katotohanan,

Sana sa isang sigaw ko'y maglaho nga ang kahirapan dahil

kung hindi. . . ang lahat ng ito'y itatago ko na lang...

Pero hindi eh,

Patuloy dapat and laban!

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Tulad Ng Silid KobJ

Saksi ang silid ko,sa pag-ibig ko sa’yo.Mga sigaw nitong aking damdamin,silid ko lang ang nakakaalam nitong munting lihim.

Ganito nga ba ang pag-ibig?Di mo inaasahan kung kalian ka iibig.At kung wala kang mapagsabihan,munting silid ko’y handa kang pakinggan.

Sa mga masasayang araw na kasama ka,sa mga kwentuhan at tawanan nating dalawa,sa mga problema na ating nakaharap,tanging silid ko lang ang nakakaalam.

Ngunit hanggang kailan ba ito mananatili?Silid ko lang ba ang dapat na makarinig?Paano kung ipagtapat ko sa’yo?Maniniwala ka kaya tulad ng silid ko?

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sining ka ng mga sining (alay para kay mayumi habagat na minsang inibig ni kidlat pamukaw)

isang musika ang iyong ganda,pinong hibla ng ritmosa isang magarang pianoat tipa ng gitarang romantiko.

isang tula ang iyong indak,at sa bawat bagsak ng mga padyakng paa sa makatang lupaay nabubuo ang mga hiwaga.

isayaw mo ako sa alapaapkung saan hitik sa mahika,ilipad mo ako sa masining mong alindog.

dahil ikaw ang awit ng puso,komposisyon ng mga melodyaat ritmo nitong umusbong na pithaya.

ikaw ang sining ng mga sining,ipininta at inukit ng pag-ibig,daluyan ng aking mga kulaynitong brotsa sa canvas.

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turn tablesloi

he invited me a seat on his turn tablefull of holiday treatsa bowl of hugsa plateful of kissesand for the nth time said nodon’t wanna have those delightful thingsthey might look as enticing as they could get,(.. uhhmm id really like to have some...)nah.. looks could be deceiving, and I’d hate to have an upset stomachhow bout you? wanna share your own turn table with someone?

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Pierced by: JB BusqueGallery

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PROJECT OF THE GOVERNMENTAlab Kamut

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HYDRATION CREWS(Agco Natives)Pidor

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SCARY TACTICSPidor

107

DROWNINGSaiko

108

GUERILLA RADIOPidor

109

110

PINK MAKES THE MANJB Busque

111

THE FUTURE?Parh

112

KUHAleigh

113

DUTY TO THE NATIONJB Busque

114SAIKO

115

ERMITANYOKen Corrales

116

FOOD NOT BOMBS… LITERALLYPidor

117

118

HELD BACKAlab Kamut

119

120

NAMALANDONGJuan Bughaw

121

LOST

122

INFORMATION SABOTAGE

123

WAITING…Shem

124

“only thru the

struggle can the

fighting forces

can be constantly

replenished by the

ceaseless inflow of

new blood.”

125

SEHIzO

126

Lubos na nagpapasalamat ang Banaag Diwa Team kay God, yahweh, Allah, ang aming moderators na Sina Sir Mac at Mam Pre (sila ang responsable kung masali ang gawa mo o hindi… filter for

the win!) sa mga contributors (salamat to the nth power), sa ArtCo para sa mga kaakit-akit na larawan (wholesome!), kay Sir Pagusara (lalim ng bisaya nyo sir! =) sa computers ng Atenews, kay Bill Gates dahil sa MS Office 2007, Adobe, ang antique EPSON printer (tiiit.. tiiitt… tiiiit…), ang makabagong hP printer (fax, scanner, xerox in one! ),sa admin ng Ateneo de Davao University at ang mabait na finance department, Sir Ratilla ($$$), kay Sir Riki ( lumalakas ata boses nyo ngayon ano sir? ), para sa mga ginawa naming modelo at modela sa mga pics, sa CEGP, sa CEGP seminar sa Iligan (muntik na kaming mamatay sa gutom pero oks na din), sa sikmurang bato para sa CEGP, sa Atenews Editorial Exam (pitong oras ng paghihinagpis at kalagim lagim na sulat), sa McDo (tatarat tat tat love ko toh!), sa ballpen ng Uni, Pilot at lotus, sa Swatch, Midtown para sa kanilang printing powers, kay Be.Me. para sa pagbibigay inspirasyon kay Be.you (ahem!), Davao light, sa AVG, Norton at McAfee (kahit sandamakmak ang aming virus cleaner, eh infected padin ang aming computers), DoTA [para sa mga adik], Canon Digital Camera, sa mga magulang na nagluwal at nagaruga sa amin, NOKIA, Smart (simply amazing dahil delayed ng 10 years ang message mo), Globe, TM, Talk&Text, Sun, Red horse, San Mig light, Nescafe coffee (for the sleepless nights…), Philippine Daily Inquirer (fearless News, fearless Views?), The Philippine Star (The Truth will set you free?), Mindanews, Mindanao Daily Mirror, SunStar, sa mga puno para sa aming mga papel (magtipid sana dahil malapit na silang maubos), sa sosyal, mataray pero mabait naming ex-EIC (don’t be takot! let’s make baka!), kay Manang luchi para sa dyaryo, ung gumawa ng f313 drawings (kung sino ka man salamat sa gawa mo! Sayang kasi kaya namin kinuha =), sa salitang chaka, chenez, puresa, crayola at sa iba pang gay lingo na kahit kelan ay nagsisi kami na naiintindihan namin (ahr yah prehtteee?), sa ABS-CBN, GMA (ung hindi bansot), sa mga nagbibigay ng titig sa Atenews Office pag dumadaan dito, sa WinAMP at ang mga kanta niya (Piracy is a CRIME), sa Apple para sa iPOD (kahit wala kami nun at gusto naming magkaroon para ayos). Nagpapasalamat si Aya sa pagmamahal ni Shebe. Taas-kamao sa mga taga-kaliwa, kay Kim at Che, salamat na rin sa pressure! Dashboard Confessional para sa pag eensayo ng boses ni asin, sa bodega ng Atenews (lungaan ng mga ligaw na kaluluwa…), sa aming mga mambabasa, kay Tinyo at Tinya, at Kay Beng para sa pagbisita… para sa inyo uli ito.

Pasasalamat

L

BACK COVERwith separate layout