Pagbati Year 23 by Traitor Fork

Collegium EDITOR IN CHIEF

ROY R. BANIAS

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

FRECEL T. ROQUE

MANAGING EDITOR

ROSSEL GRACE S. RETOLLA

NEWS EDITOR

JHERINE NIKKI HAZEL DALAYGON

FEATURES EDITOR

BETH S. DAGUPLO

CORRESPONDENTS

CARLO B. QUINLOG STEPHANIE HOPE S. ARNILLA EDU G. MACABATAS KHRISTINE LIEZLE S. ARNILLA JAY PAUL M. EDER JASTINE ROSE M. CAÑETE DENNIS JAMES A. LUIS MAVIS P. MORATILLA

CARTOONISTS PHOTOJOURNALISTS

LAYOUT ARTIST ADVISER

JOHN MARTIN M. DELAPOS QUINN M. URSAL MARK LORENZ M. DAYON ZARRITA JEL B. PAJES JENNIFER D. FUERTES

About the Cover The cover is a mixture of vector and calligraphy art that depicts the content of this year’s Pagbati. The clouds that surround the text represent the imaginations and feelings of the writers and contributors of the folio. Cover Art by: Ric Kevin Conde

RIC KEVIN L. CONDE PROF. MARCK LESTER L. NAVALES, CPA

PROLOGUE PAGBATI YEAR 23

Can Mr. Ink

We all love, of that I am sure to say. But oftentimes people tend to neglect this stream of emotion because of noble or hollow reasons, be it fear, priorities, imprisonment over the past, firm decisions, pain and many of life’s intricacies. However, as people may lose their grip to this fancy feeling, remnants still firmly attach. Small may it seem, but once love has conquered someone’s heart its function will permeate the entire chamber. Shards will clog in every vein, bits will run through the blood, fragments will gush over the system and love becomes immortal -- its ultimate crown. No matter how much we suffer or how we erupt in total euphoria, we just can’t prevent to feel the glory of love. We all hate, yes it’s true. We all experience pain, nobody is excused. We all break down, in different points of times. But we can forgive, this we must. We can regain from the aches of the past. We can seek conquest, against the odds of the universe. We can love.

PAGBATI THE OFFICIAL LITERARY FOLIO YEAR 23

SHORT STORY

TIPS KUNG PAANO MAGING MASAHISTA by: Imbyernadeth

usto mo bang maging masahista? Hindi ito alok ng trabaho o kaya’y paandar na negosyo gaya ng pagbebenta ng sabon. Marahil naging masahista ka na dati hindi mo lang namamalayan kaya ito ang mga tips kung papaano magmasahe ng katawan. Una, tanungin ang magpapamasahe kung saan banda ang masakit para malaman kung anong angkop na masahe ang gagawin- hard o soft. Sa likod ba, sa ulo o sa puso? Tanungin mo muna si crush bakit siya malungkot, bakit siya wala sa sarili, bakit siya balisa. Kung nalaman mo na, ito na ang pangalawang step- chikahin mo gamit ang natatangi mong galing sa pagbibigay ng payo. Diyan ka naman magaling diba, sa pagbibigay ng advice? Ikaw pa itong walang love life ikaw pa itong magaling. Haha. Hard ba o soft? Makatotohanang advice ba o advice na may halong paligoy-ligoy? Ikaw na ang bahala, laruin mo ang puso niya. Pag nagkalabuan sila, sundin ang ikatlong stepDampian mo ng Magson o kaya’y Efficascent. Yung malamig kapag inilalagay

sa mahapding katawan. I-comfort mo .Sabihin mong “Magkakabati din kayo” o di kaya’y “Tiwala lang” nang sa ganoon ay unti-unting mawala ang pamamaga at hapdi ng kanyang pusong sugatan. Hilutin mo hanggang sa masarapan siya at maging komportable sayo. Ganung-ganon ang nangyari sa akin. Masahistaang dakilang taga-comfort ng binugbog na puso. Ang galing ko. Walang mintis sa pagbibigay ng mga payong di mo aakalaing magpapagaan ng loob mo. Kahit masakit, okay lang basta mawala lang yung sakit na iniinda mo. Bet kasi kita. Di mo lang alam, di rin alam ng SIYAM NA BUWAN MONG GIRLFRIEND. Kinikimkim ko lang baka malaslas ang forever niyo. Pero umaalagwa ang kalandian ko ‘pag tayo lang ang magkasama. Isang araw, maaga akong pumasok sa klase at nakita kitang mag-isa sa sulok ng silid suot ang headset at ang malungkot na mukha. Akala ko seryoso ka lang dahil sa mga bagaybagay. Nilapitan kita sa pagnanais na baka magkasparks tayo o kaya’y magka moment man lang. Nagpaaura ako pero di ka kumibo.

Nagtanong ako kung anong nangyari pero gusto mong mapag-isa. Pero di ko matiis na magtanong kaya kinulit kita at sa wakas ay nagsalita kana. Nagtalo pala kayo ng girlfriend mo na si Sylvia. Naku yang si Sylvia talaga! Haha. Ikwinento mo ang nangyari kagabi dahil sa pagkagalit ni Sylvia nang di ka makareply sa chat niya. Ibinigay ko ang tenga ko sa hinanakit at nagkunwaring ramdam kita pero deep inside napasabi ako “Sana ako na lang… Sana ako nalang ulit.” Char. Haha. Pero di ko yun nasabi. Syempre dahil nasasaktan ka, pinilit kong i-comfort ka kahit papano. Hinilot ko ang namamaga mong puso at inabot din tayo ng kalahating oras. Dahandahang umingay ang silid at naramdaman mo na ang kapanatagan sa mga sinabi ko sayo kaya sinabi mong “Salamat sa comfort”. Di naman ako kinilig, nabugbog ko lang naman ang batok ng katabi ko sa sobrang saya. Haha. Dumaan ang isang araw, nakita ko kayo sa Mcdo na sweet na sweet na nagsusubuan ng French fries at may pa selfie pang nagaganap. Nakita ako ni Sylvia sabay sabing

SHORT STORY “Uie friend dali kaon ta!”. Napangiti ako sabay sabing “Ayy No! Di ko mukaon ug karton sa French fries. Manglakaw naman mo diba bantog nag selfie mo?” Napahalakhak sila sabay sabing “Haha. Bitaw nu?”. Minsan talaga masarap manapak ng babaeng gaya ni Sylvia. Nag-aaya ng kain pero wala naming ipapakain. Pwe! Lagi kayong away-bati. At kapag nag-

na ako sa kakahilot sayo. You have me at your worst but I don’t have you at mine. Char. Akala ko okay lang ang lahat pero dumating ang araw na naging mahirap ang buhay ko. Magulo ang pamilya namin at kailangan ko ng balikat na sasandalan at tenga na handang makinig sa problema ko. Hinanap kita dahil gusto kong hilotin mo rin ang puso ko pero ang sakit. Busy ka, kakalandi

mo sa kakahilot ipaalam mo sa kanya na nasasaktan ka na. Umabot din kayo ng isang taon. Wow! Pero sa loob ng isang taong iyon, puro kayo selosan at away. 1 year and 2 months kayo nang makita ni Sylvia na may kaakbay kang babae sa fb. Nagwala ang Sylvia, inaway ang babae at inaway ka rin. Inaway mo siya kaya nag-away kayo. Ang saya diba? Ilang taon mo

Saktan mo siya. Ipaalam mo sa kanyang nanginginig na ang kamay mo sa kakahilot ipaalam mo sa kanya na nasasaktan ka na. aaway kayo, dun lang din ako naging parte ng buhay mo. Ang sakit sa gilagid na malaman mong takbuhan ka lang pala pag nasasaktan siya. Ginawa niya akong masahista. Sige, okay mamasahiin kita hanggang sa gumaling ang sugat . Ganun naman talaga kapag nagmamasahe ka diba, siya yung gumagaling ikaw ang masasaktan. Sa tagal ng masahe, di mo namamalayang nangangalay na pala ang kamay mo, nangmamanhid, kalauna’y kumikirot. Naging manhid

sa girlfriend mo. Busy ka, dahil masaya na kayo. Busy ka, dahil hindi ako naging priority mo! Eto na. Aabot talaga ang bawat masahista sa pinakamalaking dagok ng kanilang buhay. Ang panghuli at ang pinakamasakit na paraan: I hard massage mo. Mabigat ang pagkakahilot para sa hapung-hapong katawan. Ilalaan mo ang buo mong enerhiya para magising siya sa katotohan. Saktan mo siya. Ipaalam mo sa kanyang nanginginig na ang kamay

din siyang tiniis at lumapit ka sa akin at nagtanong sa chat “Bulagan nako sya or hulaton nako nga siya ang makipagbulag nako?”. Gusto kong sabihin sayo na ikaw na ang magdesisyon dahil sawa na akong magcomfort sayo. Gusto kitang murahin at sabihing “Bulagi gud kung di na healthy inyong relationship”. Sa pagkakataong ito, sasaktan na kita. Para sa feelings na di mo binalik. Sa araw-araw na pagnakaw ng oras ko. “Seen 11:47”. Paalam, Crush.

PROSE

WAITING by: DHON_29

ne gloomy night, when things were boring for me, I decided to go out of the house. I sat at the roadside and savored the peacefulness of the moonless evening. I looked up at the sky, until… “Kuya, what are you doing?” my little sister’s voice woke me up from my reverie. “Waiting for the rain. It is so refreshing to see and feel the droplets of rain,” I replied. “The clouds are not yet prepared for the rain. Perhaps, no rain would come tonight,” she said. “I’ll wait. For I know it will come,” I responded. “You are waiting but you don’t know when it will come. You are expecting but you don’t know how heavy or great

it would be. You’re just sitting there without exerting any effort, expecting yet not moving,” she replied. I was shocked. In life, we dream and wish. Often times, we wait and expect things to happen but we do not exert any effort to make our wish come true. We expect for a heavy rain, but what if it’s just a drizzle that comes? Do not expect for too much or else you’ll get disappointed and hurt when your expectation does not come true. Better still, when you dream or wish, work in order to fulfill your wish. And if you fail, try again and try as many times as you fail. Work harder and discover new strategies to succeed. Then one day, your efforts and sacrifices will be rewarded.

“You are waiting but you don’t know when it will come. You are expecting but you don’t know how heavy or great it would be. You’re just sitting there without exerting any effort, expecting yet not moving,”

POEM

Admiration, not admired! by: Edu Garcia Macabatas

One sided love as I named it, This feeling of mine, I’ve been trying to quit, Struggles and heartaches, have no limit, With this complicated journey, pinched me internally not a bit. You knew everything yet did nothing, You let insanity ruled my entire being, You never recognized my desire, so unfair, But all, to you it seems NONE, and don’t care. I long for you, but you are longing to get rid of me, I love you so, I wrote on my diary, Words are useless if I won’t say it directly, Dear, remember, you’re my inspiration every day. I know, I can’t hold on you, You have your love, I’m hurt. I really do, Countless tears and pains, I am suffering so badly Please, I am longing for you, give me a chance, even in my dream, for me it’s okay! Totally! Now, tell me “How do I unloved you?” Tell me, “How can I gave up on you?” You are….. I am dreaming and praying But if this admiration won’t be admired, forgive me, I’m dying!

POEM

Agony Ascends by: : Lady Nyx

Broken Like a crystal shattered Impaired From wounds you inflicted Misery and pain Dwells within Blur the memories once prized Crippled I’m left breathless Numbed from pain’s assault Heart beats ajar Life sees no hope Impossible to mend Unable to move Empty Robbed of everything Barren Life’s now pointless The day’s a torture Night’s full of anguish Agony ascends

essay

DIE-ARRAY by: Just A. Name

believe it is important to write in one’s diary as frequently as possible, so that one may record even the most fleeting emotions, and every poetic thought. Even while one may suspect, as I do at this moment, that no one will never, ever, ever wish to come back and remember anything about past’s tragic events. One may, at some point, find oneself to be mistaken, and seeks back through the annals of time. One may be inexpressibly delighted to discover a carefully detailed and powerfully heartwrenching account of one’s most despairing episodes of life. It was never me, it was him, and I’ve decided not to forgive him, and that would make me the one to be blamed. I never had the chance to talk to him, never had the moment to resolve the problem we had

over many years ago. Never had the guts to shout out my ideas about our relationship. Our supposed relationship. Yes we never had a relationship, maybe I was just the president of the hopeless romantic club. I know a lot of people around the globe engaged themselves with a relationship which is only known by them alone. Relationships which are bounded between their minds and their diaries. Between imaginings and falseness, between illusions and magic. Yes, today, love just revolves on false analysis, either by the lad or the lass. I’ve decided not to forgive him. I decided that way since there was nothing to be forgiven, after all it was just my illusions that made us “in a relationship”, now a tragic relationship! I still don’t

understand. I think boys are the most hateful, horrible, terrible, insensitive things in the entire world. They make no sense and they are self-absorbed and clueless and obnoxious and thunderously stupid and I hate them ALL!!!. Today as I venture the world of love so full of aches, I am thinking that I am in need of these paranormal experts on love. The one that can fully clean all the junk files stored in my rotten heart. The junked files are the memory of my beloved fools.

Relationship which are bounded between their minds and their diaries. Between imaginings and falseness, between illusions and magic.

ARTWORK

ESSAY

DON’T JUST LOVE, SPREAD IT! by: Jastine Cañete

And that’s when chaos is starting. When a certain place is out of love.

he present is in chaos. The world needs peace. The unpleasantness continues to spread, destroying almost everything. From every bit of living until to those that are essential to the existence of human kind. Now, what do you think we can do to answer the simplest wish our planet pleads? God says, “Love me above all else.” Therefore, the key answer is Love! Don’t choose to love only your mere boyfriends/ girlfriends, not only your friends. not only your family. Remember, you and they are not just the people in this small world. For Pete’s sake, billions of breathing creatures are surrounding you. What God had requested from you is to disseminate love. The kind of love you had from the start of your life.

Your family is in peace, right? Why? Because the atmosphere is filled with love. If not, then, there is no understanding that’s present in your selves. And that’s when chaos is starting. When a certain place is out of love. Imagine, visualize and comprehend that sometimes most of the songs released to the public is dedicated to love. That only means that love is a very powerful tool which catches the attention of everyone. When we have felt the spirit of love, you are influenced to do good deeds and share moralities to fellow occupants of this planet. Life is wonderful and love is powerful. Why so? Because even those who addicted themselves with criminalities and those who drowned themselves with hopelessness, when once injected with love…tadah!

becomes a worthy man. The thing is, the world is out of love. Love becomes imbecile when not felt, seen and appreciated by people who are busy satisfying their material needs. Maybe there are other better and more concrete solutions for world-peace but to my own initiation---I would definitely derive to love and not just love alone, spread it to your neighbor, to the other barangay, to the whole region, to the entire country and mainly, to the whole universe. How wonderful it is to feel peace and solemnity by just loving and loving. February do not just stand as the month of hearts where you will feel the presence of love, but no matter where and when, as long as there is a need to express love, then every day is ‘hearts day.’ Come on! Spread the love you know.

POEM

Ang Pagbabalik by: : Jastine Rose Millanes CaĂąete Humingi ka na ba ng tawad? Lagi mo ba siyang naalala? Palapit nang palapit na ang oras, Ninuman ay walang pinapalagpas Mayaman man o mahirap, Mahina man o malakas, Lahat kasali Pero sa huli ay pinipili. Takot, pangamba, o kung ano pa, Iyan ang dinaramdam ng mga madla, Nangangambang baka mawala na lang na parang bula At takot na takot na baka hindi na masilayan ang mundong ngayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y nakikita. Matagal nang nakahanda ang ating mga buhay, Hindi mo Siya nakikita pero kilala ka Niya, Gumawa ka na ng masama, Pero nakatuon ang mga mata niya, Sa maling kagawian na hindi mo naiiwasan, Ni hindi man pinagsisisihan kailanman. Huwag ka nang magtago Bumabagal na at humihinto Mas mabuti na lang kung salubungin Bumuo ng desisyon at huwag pigilin. Magsimula ng magmahal Taos-puso at mapagbigay, Maghunos-dini na sa mga kasalanan, Patawad, patawad, mahal na Panginoon!

ARTWORK

POEM

Bawal mubasa ang wala pa kamob-on by: : Penname

Nibasa lage ka ani? Basaha ra gud ang title Nakamob-on na diay ka? Sure diha uy?

Uy… napaisip siya oh Tama ko no? Narealize na nimo nganong nagbulag mo Nagmahay na ka sa imong sala? Hmmm?

Kung magkita mo ni “X” ‘Di ka maglikay-likay? Burit nimo uy! Mabusy man gale ka ug pinaabtik

Dili g’yud ka musugot na imohang sala? Denial ra kaayo friend Ayaw kasuko saako, mao ma’y tinood Unya ug mangatik sad ko? Naay maako? Haaa!

Katu man galeng nakita nimo siya Katu gung naa sa siya’y kauban lain Nahurt man gale ka bis? Unya naka mob-on naka ana? Furthermore, why seems so payatot na? Tas nganong nagpagwapa man daw ka? Lam na this, padelicious para gukron ni “X” Sakpan na kaayo ka uy! Hoy! nganong nagbasa paman ka ani? Ayaw na ni’g basaha buh, Assuming ra kaayo ka, Mao gurong gibiyaan ka niya

Ambot! Basta kung wala pa ka mob-on, Ayaw ug basa ani! Ok? Dili ni para sa imo, stop reading this Hoy hunong na ba! Ok! Nagbasa gihapon ka! Ambot nimo uy! Sige, kung gusto gyu’d ka mubasa! Hala! Ilisan nako ang title, meresi nimo “Para sa mga taong assuming Na nakamob-on na kunohay Miskan wala pa gale”

ESSAY

EL AMOR ES PACIENTE by: Julianne

ove is a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person (Merriam Webster). When you love someone, their happiness matters to you most. You would gladly do the things that can make them happy. You would do it even if it will cost you so much of your time, money and effort because in the end, you will always say, “It doesn’t matter because I love him/ her.” Isn’t it wonderful to fall in love? Isn’t it exciting, nerve-wracking, and can make your world turn upside-down? Well, it’s for us to experience and to find out. That’s why I am looking forward to meet that person who can fit into my imperfect world perfectly. I am 21 and still single. Single as in NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth). It was certainly okay for me before but not until that some of my friends already got married and some of them have their serious partners. It kind of freaked me out when realizations hit me that I’m not getting any younger. That I’m not a kid anymore, fantasizing that my prince charming will appear and sweeps me off my feet. That I am not a teenager anymore who dreams of a ‘happily ever after’ just like in Disney films. I started firing questions to myself that I don’t even know

how to answer. Am I not good enough for someone? Well, only God knows the answer. Surely, there were some guys who courted me. But neither of them had passed through the gates of my heart. My friend once told me that maybe my standards for a boyfriend are so high. I just want a guy who’ll respect me in any aspect, who’ll accept me as to who I really am, and most especially, a guy who loves God more than me. Are those things considered as high standards? Is it a yes or a no? As a girl who knows nothing about committing herself romantically to someone, I kinda envy seeing sweet couples around the mall while holding each other’s hands. I don’t know how it would feel when someone asked you out on a date or if someone pays so much attention to you. How it would feel if someone wants to see you smile every single day. How it would feel if someone falls in love with you. I’m getting more and more curious about these things to the point where I would jokingly say, “Aha na man si true love oi!? Na-traffic jud to ba. Tsk!” But that opened my eyes that the more you look for a thing, the more you will not find it. Same as love, it will appear in your life when you are not looking for it, when you

least expected it. Another friend told me that I am person who knows how to wait and has a lot of patience. Maybe that was the reason why I’m okay with staying single (though I freaked out a little bit), why I chose to be single. According to the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:4, that love is patient and is kind. That was exactly the right words I want to hear from God. That love can wait. I know that God had already wrote my love story and I am pretty sure that it is a beautiful and as wonderful as I imagined it would be. Of course, because God is the best writer of all time! Now, all I have to do is to wait patiently and pray earnestly for the love of my life because ‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you asked for in prayer.’ –Matthew 21:22. It does not bother me anymore to be an NBSB, in fact, I am proud of it. Now my new mantra in life is “El Amor Es Paciente,” which can be translated as “love is patient.” True love can wait and it will come in God’s perfect time. Remember that nothing is impossible to God, He can easily send someone to be your lifetime partner in sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part. A partner that you can always say, “It’s all worth the wait.”

ARTWORK

ESSAY

FACE VALUE by: Lady Nyx

Our eyes are the first ones to fall in love.

hat old cliché line, “love at first sight” says it all. Having taken someone at a good face value, it may send a message to our brain along the line that it is love it felt. The question is, is it really love? There’s a fine line between attraction and love. And more often than not, we lose sight of it. Thus we don’t know where attraction ends and love starts. Attraction could lead to infatuation. It gives the faux feeling that you are in love, deeply and irrevocably. You never know the real thing until you get pass the face value and try to quantify its carrying amount (wait does it sound nerdy now? well, at least you know which dep’t the author belongs. So, read on). That’s when you knew to what extent you really care for someone. Sad, really, and such a hard fact that most of us never gets pass the face value of someone. You are so attracted to the looks that you never measured the depth of your feelings. Moreover, it causes you so much heartaches to see the one you cared, falsely being in love with someone else. All because he looks more handsome than you are.

It was so hard to see yourself being rejected just because your competition looks outrageously handsome. No matter how much you tried to be seen, there seemed to be a wall that separates you. You showed her the best effort, you were there beside her most of the time, and you patiently waited for her to accept your friend request, all for naught. The pain may be unbearable, as you saw her easily and giddily accepts another guy’s sweet chocolates, red roses and adorable stuffed toys. It especially hurts as you see her laugh loudly, and flush beet red talking to him, while she acted cold and stiffly distant when she’s with you. You looked and felt so pathetic that you might blame the world for its unfairness. But, is it really? Unfair, I mean. Or is it just because you haven’t found the right “one” for you? Someone who falls for looks doesn’t deserve anyone like you. Someone who couldn’t isolate that deceiving face value from the real significance would be remained trapped in the illusions of being in love, not knowing it was all worthless attraction. Fall and

be deeply in love with someone who will never take you for granted. That way, you will be the happiest man alive. Of course, the fact still holds that a beautiful face is a major turn on and the opposite is rejected. We all fall for the form. But until someone comes to your life who knows how to substantiate people beyond form, you just have to sit back, relax and enjoy the show. There’s love that needs to be found, a love you have to seek. But there’s love that comes looking for you when the time is right. We must remember two things: “Eyes sends the pictures to your brain resulting to photographic memories stuck on your brain.” And that’s it. It stays in the brain. We were old enough to know that what’s in the heart matters. The brain may give reason but it is never compassionate enough to decipher love. Another thing is, the basic accounting concept: substance over form. Funny enough that the rational ways of accounting applies in the intricate ways of love. But hell, it is true, isn’t it?

POEM

By thy Birth and By thy Tears by: Tep.x

By thy birth and by thy tears By the human’s griefs and fears By thy conflict in the hour Of the subtle temper’s power Savior looks with me a pitying eye Savior help me or I die. By thy lonely hour of prayer, By thy faithful conflict there, By thy cross dying cries By thy great one sacrifice. Savior looks me with a pitying eye Savior help me or I die. By thy triumph o’er the grave By thy power the lost to save, By thy high majestic throne By thy empire all your own. Savior looks me with a pitying eye Savior help me or I die.

POEM

Fangirl Life by: : Reinyx

You caught me by your eyes, As I look at you and let out a heavy sigh. My friends ask me, “Why?”, “I think I found my ideal guy”. I did everything to make you notice me. But all I got was anxiety. In my heart is a very big scar, All brought by loving you from afar.

ESSAY

HOW TO LIVE FEARLESS by: Ms. Pen

t is often said that life is full of fearful occurrences. Yes indeed, it is. It is full of circumstances and chaos in which you don’t have the choice but to cross. It is filled of big surprises where you can suddenly find yourself standing at the middle of nowhere. But just like what it seems to be, life must go on. As we go along in our journey, those dreadful emprises of our lives are just obstacles, to some reason, that we will overcome. But out of those fears that we have, have you tried to live fearless? Nobody can live fearless in this world. Because the world where we live is the world where chaos and circumstances exist. Even at night, we can’t get away from the sudden fear when those dreadful nightmares come. We can’t get the availability of full security though you’re surrounded with walls. You can’t live on this world without fears. Fear?---that’s the thing which preserves us alive. We strive to live on int fullest because we have the fear of limited time. We try to raise ourselves because we have the

fear of dependence and later on abandonment. Throughout my life, I am living jointly with my fears. Fear of expression, knowing that I might assault somebody. But I was wrong. I have to express what I’ve been feeling. An hour ago, I was so happy. An unusual feeling of happiness I just got experienced once. For my whole life, I never found myself talking seriously in front of my second family. Yes, a feeling that has pushed me to disclose things which I kept hidden for a long period of time. The gravity of sincerity is pulling you down. Those kind of unfeigned expressions that you are hiding will eventually spill out of its floodgate. It was a momentous night for me. It infer how I love my second family. God knows my desires. God knows how I really love them. In part to it, I know that God had given me an opportunity to enjoy those things that I merit. It is truly nice to live without fears. As what I had experienced, to live fearlessly is learning of how to let go. To let go with those hatred and feelings of inferiority. Learning

We can’t get the availability of full security though you’re surrounded with walls. You can’t live on this world without fears. how to embrace the fact that we only live once, thus we only have one chance to indulge ourselves with hope and love It is innate to human to feel fear, likewise to fight for it. For what was the fighting spirit which God had given designed for? Leave those fears, be courageous. To our narrow road, we have to overcome its difficulty. Notwithstanding our journey is like a long bridge over troubled waters that we have to cross. Thus, be strong enough! Let your faith be bigger that your fears. When will be the time? Today is the time to live fearless. The time is now.

SHORT STORY

HOPELESS ROM-ATIK by: Girl Gwapa

ung si Popoy ang representative sa mga lalaki (ingon sa Second Chance), ako pud diay ang representative sa mga HOPELESS ROMANTIC diha (Ay Jadine Fan oh haha). Bitaw, hopeless romantic sa mga crush gud nato nga abi natog naa ta’y pag-asa pero wala diay. Basta, paminawa nalang ko sa akong mulo, basin diay pareha ta’g problema. Kini diay akong crush guys, makahulog ug skirt, makaputol ug strap (haha!) ug sobra ka-gentleman. He is the type of person nga you can’t deny but have a crush on him. Bet gyud. I don’t know how he was created. Swear, murag gihalukan siguro’g diwata ning lakiha ni. Sige, magsugod nata. Kabati ka anang mga actions sa imo kay SWEET kaayo nga makalanay ug lollipop ug makataktak ug dughan? Kadakita ninyo mu-akbay siya sa imoha like you were treated as a princess in the beautiful land of Pag-Asa and then he would ask you, “Nag-kaon naka? Ayaw papasmo ba madaot imong beauty”. Maka-touch ana naa’y pagka-sarcastic pero sweet. Librehon ka’g walay oras tapos, suportaan ko sa akong contest, naa jud siya nag-cheer sa ako bisag klase niya, gi-absenan jud niya. Kada-online nimo kay mag-chat chat tapos ga-text text gud mo, kada-mata “Hi, good morning (with kiss emoticon)”

tapos kada-uli mangamusta siya tapos pag mag-assignment mo mag-share mong duha sa answer. Palangga kaayo ko niya, even to the point na mura na sya’g mama, concerned sa akong fashion, sa akong lipstick ug sa akong sanina nganong kun-ot, nganong dili tarong akong hairstyle. Lagi, sweet na kaayo mi, maibog nalang gud ang uban babae sa ako. Pero mga bis, naa diay koy uyab. Pero mga bis, announcement. Niabot jud ang time na gibulagan nako sa akong uyab (5% happy pero 95% kamatyunon). Happy ko nga nagbulag pud mi kay mura siya’g kuryente nato sa katilingban ba, ABUSADO! Laliman ka, gi-atik atik pako niya’g ingon nga gusto daw niya i-prioritize iyang acads unya makipag-bulag na siya kay samok daw ko sa iyang pag-eskwela, (mura baya’g DL, di baya, pero gwapo nuon) pero pagkita nako after 1 week naa na siya’y kauban nisulod sa highlights? Unsa ni, yaga-yaga? Gi-acads-acads pako niya ha, bright jud bataa! Halinon gyud pero palakero. Gi-yawyawan nako sa text ug nangutana kung nag-unsa siya sa highlights, ana siya, “We’re done. Anong pakialam mo, girl?”. Grabe akong kurog ato ug hilak like kamatyunon nako, lami ilaslas. Tanga pud ko noh ngano nangutana pako, alangan nama’g magstudy silang duha sa babae sa highlights? Bad move. Pero this

Boy Crush of mine never left my side, gitaguan niya tanan kutsilyo and all sharp things nga akong makita, pati ballpen nako, to the max bantay siya (charing, ka-sweet). He was the one who comforted me, from my depression down to the moving on stage, he is there. Never did he say “I’m tired of understanding you”, instead he even helped me heal from the pain. I felt the good company with him, I feel secured, I feel so alive. He is undeniably my knight in shining armor. We’ve known each other since last year, dugaydugay na pud and after all my hard times, he has always been at my side to comfort me and be my prince in the forest. So I think I can no longer treat him as a brother, a classmate, or a friend. Kinsa ma’y dili mainlove? Makaingon ko, “SIYA NA AKONG INSPIRASYON”. I got perfect quizzes and almost perfect examinations tungod sa iyaha that I can say I moved on from my useless boyfriend. Wala ko kabalo nganong pag makita nako siya mura kog mapansakan ug 1000 kabuok nga battery sa lawas ug kung mag-uban naming duha, the time stops. It’s always magical when I see him. I’ve been hiding this for almost how many months kung gaano ko siya ka-gusto. I told myself, “Wow. God really provides”, tinuod! He provided this man for me. I’m already confused unsaon na nako pag-confess sa iyaha. Times came when I attempted to confess. Out of my urge to tell him the truth or magparamdam na nga naa nako’y feelings, I asked him impliedly, “Best, unsa diay imong ideal girl? What do you like most in a girl? What makes

SHORT STORY you attracted to a girl?”, then after a minute I asked him again “Best, if you don’t mind, do you find me sexy or hot?”. Oh my goodness. Nakulbaan nako habang ginapangutana nako to, murag showy na kaayo ko sa akong feelings ba, mailhan man kay kulit na kaayo ko. But you know, after all those silly questions, he just smiled. Like “What?”. Yes, ngisi-ngisi ra siya! Sige ra sya’g katawa sa akong giingon. I want to evaporate. Funny diay akong questions? Baga kaayo ko’g dagway, that wasn’t the first time I did Q and A, and every time I ask him about that, the day ended without an answer from him. Ang saklap. To make the long story short, the dilemma begins here na nakakita ko sa iyang cellphone nga naa siya’y textmate ang naka-phonebook is “Babe”. Nakulbaan ko kay nagselos ko. Dapat ako lang ang Babe niya. Natingala pud ko kay naa’y times muingon siya nga dapat magpa-manicure nako, metikuluso kaayo sa akong pagka-babae. Ug pinakashocking, naa koy nakit-ang lipgloss ug face powder nga Maybelline sa iyang bag, pero murag OA ra pud kung bayot siya, scam ra siguro ni. Second, niapil diay mi’g “Ga, Tara na manlakaw ta!”, and syempre, inspired gud dapat gwapa gihapon bisan gipaningot, maynalang ma-attract siya

sa ako. That time, I sensed something. Nag sabay man gud mi’g baktas. Pero pag-abot namo sa highway, natingala ko nganong nawala na siya sa linya. Pag-abot namo sa school, hanap-hanap ko pa rin siya habang mag-avail ng Arrozcaldo, natingala ko naa na siya’y kauban sa suok dapit sa vending machine naa’y katunga sa Arrozcaldo ug sweet kaayo. Nag selos ko bis, kamatyunon ko. Kanta nalang ta’g “Paano ba ang magmahal, kung lagi bang masasaktan”. Last, wala na nako siya gisamuk. I went to Jollibee drive thru for breakfast, pusila ko, naa silang duha didto, sila lang duha mismo namahaw pud! Nag-tago ko habang gatan-aw sa ilaha ug niabot sa point na wala na siguro sila kaantos, nag HOLDING HANDS silang duha sa lamesa (syempre wala pa kaayo’y tao so PDA sila) ug yes, kahilakon na kaayo ko nga nag kurog na sad ko, lami mukuha ug sharp things pampatay sa sarili! Confirmed! Dili nako madawat nga “HA? BAYOT AKONG CRUSH! UNSA MANI? NGANO LALAKI IYANG KAUBAN?” Akong utok ba nag-ingon “BASIN PAPA RATO NIYA”, Pero bai, unsa? Holding Hands? Papa? Grabeng imagination! PATYA NAKO! Bis, unsaon pag-laklak sa reyalidad? How could I? Dili gud nako kaya. Tudlua ko, please? Pareha mi’g gusto.

Pareha mi’g wants and needs: lip gloss, eyeliner ug mascara. Ngano man? Nasakitan ko ug maayo. Siya akong battery pero karon, mura kog gi-patay ug ika1000. Hopeless romantic ko. Bantog ra mungisi ra siya sa akong pangutana nga “Do you ever find me sexy?”. Siguro mas na-sexyhan siya sa iyang sarili. Ug bantog ra concerned siya sa akong fashion kay mas arte pa diay siya nako. We are meant to be best friends nalang jud or what. Giatik ra diay ko sa akong pagbati, wala nako siya gi-susi ug maayo kung unsa siya. But you know? I still believe that “God provides” and He provides the right. I believe mag-produce si God ug pareha sa iyaha pero ako na ang gusto (haha). I still thank my bestie kay wala siya nagbag-o. In love gihapon ko sa iyaha, but maybe, in a different way. And siguro, kung kami jud, kami jud. (Awa, feeling hopeful gihapon ko huhu). All I will ever do is to accept him for who he is and I hope he is happy now with his love life. Ako? Gwapa gihapon. move on ika-duha napud ta ani. Mag-focus ko sa akong academics oy ug dili ta mag-atik atik ug adto sa highlights pareha sa akong ex! Diba? I know that God provides the best! Hay, buhay HopeRom, masakit. But pain demands to be felt. Enjoy the pain now. And I will promise to myself, dili nako matintal ug sharp objects.

Giatik ra diay ko sa akong pagbati, wala nako siya gi-susi ug maayo kung unsa siya. 23

POEM

One day by: : NheyAncheta, BSBA Mktg. One day in my life I met you, You became part of me but I let go. One day in your life you’ll question me, Why did I leave you? Why I didn’t stay? One day in your life you’ll forget me, The way I cared about you, the way I loved you. But one day in your life you’ll think of me, The words I used to tell you, the things I used to do. One day in my life I tried to move on, I tried to forget you but I failed to do. So one day in my life I made this one rule: with anybody else, it’ alright to care but never fall For long time ago I have saved my heart for you And that one day in my life, I’ll be back to love you… Sadly though… one day in my life I’ve known that one day in your life, you have given your love to someone new… There could be a chance… only if you waited for that ONE DAY.

POEM

Tunay sa hindi by: : Bitchikoy Tambukikoy.

Ang pag-ibig ay nakakatuwa Ngunit masakit isiping minsa’y ito’y nakakasuka Nakakasuka sa sobrang tamis Na sa huli’y binalot ng hinagpis Ang pag-ibig ay nakakamangha Nakakamanghang isiping kung sino pa yung tapat Ay siya pa yung walang awang iniwa’t nagdusa Nagtiis sa lahat ng poot at sakit na hanggang ngayo’y bakas pa sa kaluluwa ang mga lapat Ang pag-ibig ay hitik Hitik sa panlilinlang na unti-unting pumapatay Hitik sa pangakong palaging napapako Hitik sa pag-asang lagi namang nagpapaasa. Ang tunay na pag-ibig ay nakakatuwa Nakakatuwa dahil alam mong mamamatay kang hindi nag-iisa Nakakatuwa dahil alam mong may pagmamahal na sa iyo’y nakalaan Nakakatuwa dahil alam mong ligtas ka sa anumang kapahamakan. Ang tunay na pag-ibig ay nakakamangha Nakakamangha dahil sa kapangyarihan nitong makapagpasaya Nakakamangha dahil sa kakayahan nitong makapagbago ng isang kaluluwang lugmok sa kadiliman Nakakamangha dahil sa di malamang dahilan kung bakit ito nabuo. Ang tunay pag-ibig ay hitik Hitik sa pag-asang may ilaw pang tatanawin Hitik sa ideyang problema’y lilipas din Hitik sa kaligayahang tanging dito lang maangkin.

ARTWORK

PROSE

I’M SORRY by: April

’m sorry. When will be that line of yours become “I love you?” It has been four years now. Four long years of loving you and four long years of hurting myself. For someone whom I thought would give me rainbow, thank you for the storm. You have learned that I was hurt, you said, “I’m sorry” for inflicting me so much pain and for being a neglecting boyfriend. I did forgive you. You knew that I cried every night, you said “I’m sorry” for not giving me even just a little of your time. I did forgive you. You said that you were very busy in school and that

your family needed you. I understand you. I have waited you to utter “I love you”, but I only heard your “I’m sorry.” January, I know we’re done already. Allow me to use your favorite line, “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry for not yet moving on. I’m sorry if I missed you so much. I’m sorry if I can’t forget you. I’m sorry if I want to see you still. I’m sorry if I am still crying every single night, thinking only of you. I’m sorry if your name is still forming on my lips. I’m sorry if I’m still hopelessly hoping …I’m so sorry, January. I’m sorry, but I still love you. Forgive me.

I’m sorry if your name is still forming on my lips. I’m sorry if I’m still hopelessly hoping… I’m so sorry, January

POEM

Fragile by: Mr. Ink

I give you this antique A decade-old craft. Though wounded by time Still speaks value, Though beaten with memories Still stands intact. Yes, it has cracks Even ugly holes. I pasted it piece by piece, To form anew; Exaggeratedly decorated, To hide its pathetic form. I give you this antique I give you my heart. Please handle this with care; I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be broken again.

POEM

To Mr. Sneaker by: Lhyra Chui

He’ll show on your doorstep Asking if he could come in Looking so calm Looking like who he is Started a pretty good talk Having a little chat Bickering and laughing aloud Can’t figure what’s inside Don’t know how to converse When he’s having the idea reversed I am so confused Shoot! I want to defused The guy has a secret intention Yes he has, I could tell

He’s so unreserved And the talk gets boring The beans have spilled Thoughts were bouncing Like boomerang in off-space I was shocked and desperately clueless He had gotten his part Feels like accomplishment So proud and supercilious But now he’s gone I thought he was the one The one that’ll show me the feeling So sad I concluded eagerly Now I’m bitter half-heartedly

POEM

To the guy I hope would love me back by: hallowbae31

Up, up here I go. I fly then I cry. I am here, you are there. Your love is with me everywhere I go. I am near, you’re far Driving everywhere your feet flow.

love me back? Please put your books down and let me know what you’ll do when I’m gone. Your presence kills me, hope you’ll feel it in the middle of the dawn.

Your shadow brings light in my rayless world. Be the one, read between the lines, you’ll know who you are. Even it was a dear almost, I’m still here. I will love you from afar.

Meeting you on the corridor makes me want to evaporate and exhaust. The existence you bring is a point of suffocation and rebirth.

This love is self-afflicted. I’m starting to hate the love I have. Do I have to go away to make you

No one can choose who they fall for, or how, or when or why. I will wait for you when sometimes it’s suicidal and dry.

POEM

Game of Love by: : Penname

You were captured by my eyes Screwed in the brain of mine And caged inside my heart But still, you had succeeded to run away from me How am I supposed to catch you? When you’re actually in front of me Drawing a line between us Denying the memories we once valued I thought I can win this game by cheating But it was you who brought my plan in play You made your own rule “Ignore me until I quit” Am I still capacitated to win this game? When in fact in the first place You had claimed the play finished Without even letting me pass over the line The world is against to our forbidden love But I have never thought of you Contradicting all my will and joy The pain is still infinitely counting, it hurts

ESSAY

LIFE – THE GREATEST MUSIC ONE HEARS by: DHON_29

usic has always fascinated us. It communicates with us and makes us feel and respond to it by the way it connects. It can hush babies from crying, it can make couples caress each other, it can make people sing and dance, and it can make a nation, united. That’s how music affects our lives. These are only some of the many things that music can do. Just as music can do a myriad of things, we can also perform countless actions. And little do we realize that in our performance, we are manifesting the extraordinary. God has given us different pieces of musical work that contains different pitch, mood, tempo, notes, and length. The musical piece I am talking about is the symbolic life. He gives us life and makes us go through the varied experiences that we are made to encounter. It may include in the ups and downs, the happiness and sadness or it might be so fast and so slow and may stay longer or shorter. Yes, this is the reality of life. What matters most is how we deal with all of these

experiences. Life is like a meaningful song that is so inspiring to hear. We appreciate the melody and harmony produced by the music if they touch our hearts and emotions. But if music is distorted, it becomes noisy and irritating. If life is lived beyond its limits, it may be disturbing and harmful to others and even to oneself. The fundamental of singing includes the usage of one of the most essential sense of an organism. The basic rule states that you can’t vocalize the right tune unless you hear the right tone. We can hear in two ways: hearing by our ears and by our hearts. Yes, heart can hear and speak in return. St. Benedict pleads us to, “attend and listen with ears of our hearts.” Our hearts conform also to the “inner voice” or the conscience that conducts our every action and dictates to love what is right and hate what is wrong. Socrates once said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” For me, it is the same as saying that “an un-meaningful song is not worth hearing.” We might be attracted to the beat of the song or its tune, but one

should appreciate the song not the beat or the tune. The song must be appreciated by the essence that is found in the lyrics. A song, according to a friend whom I asked about this matter, must be understood and appreciated in the context of its lyrics. Life, too, must be understood and appreciated not because of its pace and number of events in a day or a period of time but how these pacing and events wear to every individual and the community. As an adolescent, I have been aware in my heart and intellect that life, like music, is very important and significant to all of us. If we have the right to cover someone’s ears for the purpose of restraining him to hear a song, neither do we have the right to terminate or stop someone’s life. For life is a blessing, a gift from the Creator. Just as music tells a story and evokes many types of reaction from the listener, life contains a lot of stories, of experiences. A melodious piece played by different virtuous of an orchestra conducted by our conscience, life is a beautiful ballad composed by Him.

ARTWORK

SHORT STORY

MY LIFE’S STORY by: Adonis_ko_Behbang_sya

“Life, indeed, is like making your move …so make the best one that no one has ever created and no one can create. Compose the greatest story that everyone would remember, and create the finest tale that you can be proud of.”

od made me to become an actor. God created me to build my own story, act my own role, and produce my own name for the whole world to know. God gives me the chance to create the best story no other soul could ever create… and that story is what I call “MY LIFE.” Every moment is another sentence in my little storybook. Every instant serves as a paragraph in my own story. And even every problem I encounter, every conflict I meet, every bitter experience I endured serve as another setback in my story to make it more wonderful and more interesting. Life is just like that…”lumalabay lang ang tanan.” Every problem in life has its own endings. This observation serves as my hope that every storm in my life would someday end. By turning another page in my life, I also put my ‘Now’ in my ‘Past’. Moreover, by turning the pages of my life, I create another for

myself that I could begin again no matter how many times and whatever storm comes to my life. If my life now is so bitter that no one in this world would like to get a taste of it, someday I can turn a page again, leave my past and create a new beginning even better than before. Like a story, you can scan the pages of your past but you can never change it. You can learn from your yesterday but you can never bring it to your today, you can repent what you’ve done but you can never ever put together the broken pieces that you’ve destroyed in the past. On the contrary, you can never read your future but you can write it and you can start writing it today. Every moment is important. As I said, “lumalabay lang ang tanan.” So, write the best story that you can write while you still can. Fill every page with the best stories you can make while you still can. Face and overcome every suffering,

trial, and problem as bravely as you can. Refusing to do this now will make you regret someday. All the past pages of my story would serve as a tool to create my future pages. What I write at present could be the reason why I will be in the next pages of my life. All are connected – the bitter and the sweet scenarios, the awkward and funny moments. ALL ARE CONNECTED IN MINE AND YOUR LIFE’S STORY. That’s the reason why I help everyone while I still can. Because by the time I end this story, whatever I write and whatever I tell are the ones that would be remembered by my loved ones and those who knew me. What my book will be would be my passport to heaven and my resume to enter the kingdom of God. So I will write the best story while I still can and I will do it not to impress others but because it is the only story of my life that God has willed me to write.

POEM

Gugma Signs by: : Penname

Sa guma â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;di na kailangan ang lisensya Kailangan lang tun-an ang rules Pati ang mga symbols Para di magka violation

BLIND CURVES: Ayaw kaayo palabi ug liko Basi mabangga ka Lisud baya magrecover

NO U-TURN: Ayaw na jud ug balik Nibiya naman ka Panindigan najud nimo na, gaba!

NO PARKING: Bawal na ka diha uy Wala na kay space sa iyang life Ayaw na pag-expect, sakit!

KEEP RIGHT: Ayaw jud anang left To-o lang jud, to-o Kay basi, maleft behind napud ka

Mao ng wear proper accessories

Helmet para kay brain Unya pagpangandam para kay heart Para iwas nalang jud sa pain

THANK YOU FOR FF. TRAFFIC SIGNS

POEM

Hanggan Status nalang ba? by: : Luna_Lovegood_16

Kapag mayroon kang mga hinanakit Just open and log on your facebook and then click! Type, then post and like, may comment pang kasama Tapos aasa ka pa na ila-like niya Ang status mo sa facebook parang DIARY Araw-araw may hugot kang nasasabi Yun nga lang, marami ang nakakaalam Sa mala-MMK mo na kadramahan. Post ka nang post wari’y may pinariringgan Di papakabog kung emote ang labanan Random thoughts lang daw, ang sabi ng lola mo Nag-quote ng lyrics, halatang patama sa’yo. Ba’t di nalang daanin sa Post, Usap, Deal Baka maibsan pa ang iyong nafe-feel Kaso, mas Malaki pa sa’yo ang pride mo. Di naman ikamamatay pag nilamok no? Feeling broken doon, feeling pissed off dito Hello? Feeler ka lang talaga siguro Sabi nga nila, “nagsinagbot ra ka ba!” So, tanong ko sa’yo, “Hanggan status na lang ba?”.

ESSAY

PAG-IBIG NA IYONG NAKALIGTAAN by: Edu Garcia Macabatas

a mundo ng ating pakikibaka, kaliwa’t kanan ang mga pangyayaring minsan ng sumubok sa ating katatagan bilang tao. Minsan na tayong nakipaglaban at bumawi. Tumayo at ipinakita ang ating lakas sa bawat adhikain. Ngunit, lahat ng iyon ay nagiging posible at kaayaaya kung ang pag-ibig ang namumutawi at ang siyang humahawak sa bawat hakbang ng buhay. Ang bawat inspirasyon ay kaakibat sa bigat ng pag-ibig na nararamdaman. Kung ito man ang batayan, sumasalamin ito ng kadalisayan. Ngunit, pagibig lang ba sa magkaibang kasarian ang basehan upang tayo’y mamuhay ng dalisay? Kung ating papakakaunawain, pag-ibig sa kapwa at ninuman ang siya ring nagbibigkis sa ating malambot na puso at maharlikang dugo upang tayo’y makaranas ng ganitong buhay. Ito man ay tila naibabaon na sa limot, kaya hayaan niyo akong ibalik ang kahit kunting patunay na ang pag-ibig sa ninuman ay bahagi na ng ating kasaysayan bilang tao at indibidwal. Sa panahong kasalukuyan, di natin maikakaila ang samu’t saring

imprenta sa pagpapatunay na ang pag-ibig ay buhay dahil ang binata at dalaga ay kapwa nagmamahalan. Lumalabas sa anumang mga tanghalan, palabas sa takilya at maging simuno ng anumang sulatin. Pag-ibig ni Maria Clara at Ibarra ang nagiging paksa. Magnilaynilay ka! Noong panahon na ginawa ka ng iyong ama’t ina iyan ay bunga ng pag-ibig. Mula ng iniluwal ka at binigyan ng kalinga at tamang pag-aaruga iyan din ay halimbawa ng di masukat na pag-ibig ng mga magulang sa iyo. Noong bata ka’t hindi ka marunong magsulat at magbasa, dugo’t pawis ng iyong mga guro ay inialay upang maihatid ka sa mundo ng karunungan. Pagibig iyan, oh aking kaibigan. Sa panahon ng himagsikan, nakipagdigmaan ang ating mga bayani para sa demokrasya ng ating bansa. Ipinaglaban ang tunay nating pagkakakilanlan na sa panahon ngayon ay ating tinatamasa. Pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa iyan, oh aking kaibigan. Sa panahon ng kalungkutan, dinamayan ka’t sinamahan sa iyong paghihinagpis ng iyong matalik na kaibigan.

Simpatiya niya’y di mabilang upang ipakita sa iyo ang tunay na epitomya ng pagkakaibigan. Iyan din ay pag-ibig. Sa kalagitnaan ng daan, nakita mong tumawid ang ale, iyo siyang sinamahan upang makatawid ng ligtas at malayo sa disgrasya. Naging bayani ka sa iyong sariling gawa. Saludo ako sa iyo kaibigan. Nang sinalanta ang karatig bayan ng kalamidad, namigay ka ng kaunting tulong sa kanila upang damayan sa panahon ng sakuna. Lumuha ka’t nadurog ang iyong puso. Iyan din ay isang halimbawa ng pag-big. Nais ko lamang iparating na maraming bagay sa mundo ang kinakailangan ng pansin sa usaping pag-ibig. Hindi parating KathNeil, LizQuen, BaLona at JaDine. Hindi rin usapang AlDub at Mr. at Ms. Pastillas. Hindi naman sa nanghihimasok ito lamang ay isang pagbabaliktanaw sa ibang dimensyon ng pag-ibig. Sa simpleng paggawa ng kabutihan sa iyong kapwa iyan ay nagpapakita ng pagmamahal na nararapat nating bigyang halaga’t pansin. Naway naibukas nito ang ating kaluluwa. 39

PROSE

NEVER BE by: Aviriyu

I’m just here being the smallest star

e met at the most special time of the year, but we never had the slow-mo. We never nailed at each other’s gazes when our eyes met but my attention was caught by you. You never ran after me and got my name but I was dying to know yours. Yes, we had another chance to see each other but it never crossed your mind: the idea of you dating me, but it was my fantasy. You will never be that guy in the movie who stares at me like the whole world around us is stopping. You will never be that guy who thinks that I am the most beautiful girl your eyes have ever seen. I know that you will never be my perfect prince charming who would sweep me off my feet. You

will never surprise me with a big teddy bear and a bunch of roses while serenading me with your friends in the school parking lot. You will never be my knight in white shirt and ripped jeans that will show the world that I will be part of your life; that I deserved to be loved by a guy like you. You will never love me as much as I love you. You will never have unrequited love for me, but I do. But I will never be that girl destined for you. I will never be that pretty, rich and popular girl that you always dreamed of. I won’t stand out in the crowd and I don’t have a look worthy of your glance. I will never be that girl who would keep you awake late at night. I will never be a part of your world

as you have been a part of mine. I was out of your zone. I’m just here being the smallest star that will never be a part of your galaxy. I would settle looking at you in the safest distance. I am still grateful to you even if you never gave me forever because in this world, at some point, someone unconsciously taught me what love really is. You may be my “never be”, but I know someday, someone will just accidentally bump me in the coffee shop and everything around us are stopping and we will slowly stare at each other and found love in each other’s eyes and he will be dying to know me and run after me to get my name and he’ll ask me to sit and talk for a while.

that will never be a part of your galaxy

POEM

Hello Kitty by: : @thinkNormal

Meow, I see her out. Meow, she’s so hot. Meow, she’s my kitty. Meow, she’s my mummy. Meow, I don’t understand how. Meow, I love her now. Meow, she’s so cool. Meow, I freeze with shawl. Meow, I’m a stalker. Meow, I shake when I see her. Meow, she’s a cat. Meow, I’m a dog but now I’m a cat. Meeeoooowwww.

POEM

I have a Poem by: : Justina Rosa

February commemorates the month of hearts Valentine’s Day states the sign of love, But no matter what day, month or year Love, you could find just anytime and anywhere.

For Pete’s sake, you’re not the only creature made to survive. There you go, loving again Loving someone, putting to fame Try to love every one Without malice and just voluntary warmth.

Love as in ‘I love you’ From God, family, friends or that surrounds you I love you, too when it is intimate and reciprocal To every folks very, very casual.

We were made out of love, And you are ought to love as to have Not only February, but yearly Just love, no matter what come may.

I tried to write this words of my crazy imagination Generated to give you an artless realization Love not just for Mr. Kupido’s time

Ending is sooner or later Afraid or not, just continue to love without your hater I have a poem and this is its content Impressed? Try to like by liking to it.

SHORT STORY

PAG-IBIG by: Aviriyu

Ang pag-ibig ay isang lason sa ating pag-iisip na nilalamon lahat ng katinuan sa iyong kamalayan

akatitig na naman ako sa kisame na tila ba wala sa bokabularyo ang salitang antok. Di maipaliwanag kung ano ang nangyayari at bakit mukha mo ang nasa isip. Kasabay ng pagkumpas ng orasan ay ang pagbabalik ng mga alaalang dapat nakalibing na sa kasulok-sulukan ng mga gusot sa utak na akala koâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y nalimot na. Akala ko nakalimutan ko na pero sariwa pa rin sa alaala ang mga pagkakataong dati akala ko ay hindi na matatapos. Ang bawat pagkakataong sabay nating binabalikan, ang una nating pagkikita sa simbahan na tanging mga mata lang ang naging daan ng pag-ibig na hindi man sinasabi ay di rin maikukubli. Ang mga panahon na ang pangalan mo ang naging paborito kong kanta na nais madinig ng aking tenga, na sa tuwing naririnig ko ay hindi napipigilan ang pagguhit ng ngiti sa aking labi. Ang bawat pagkakataong magkasama tayo ay walang mapagsidlan ang aking tuwa dahil umaapaw sa pag-ibig na pilit mong ipinaramdam sa pamamagitan ng kanta at mga makukulay na bulaklak na

nagbibigay kulay sa malungkot kong mundo. Ang bawat pagkakataon na magkasama tayong nangangarap ng mga bagay na tila ba ang dali-dali lang abutin habang nakatanaw sa kalawakan kaharap ang mga bituin. Ngunit ang inaasahan kong pag-ibig ay bigla nalang nawala sa isang iglap mula noong umalis ka at di na nagpaalam pa. Sa isang iglap akoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y nalugmok sa kailaliman ng mga lupa na natabunan ng mga batong kasing tigas na ng puso ko. Sa isang iglap, ang mundo kong kinulayan mo ay nagbalik sa dati nitong malungkot na anyo na ngayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y naging selda ng mga nakakulong na alaala. Sa isang iglap ang iyong pangalan ay tila naging isang sumpa na kapag binaggit ng ninuman ay naghahatid ng walang kasing sakit na kamatayan. Sa isang iglap, ang mga bituin sa langit ay nagmistulang mga patay na alaala na ni isang sulyap ayaw kong magawa. Sa isang iglap, ang binuong mga pangarap ay naibaon na sa hukay ng lahat ng masasayang alaala na akala koy panghabang buhay na. Ang sabi nila ang pag-ibig ang dahilan kung bakit umiikot ang mundo ng mga

taong patuloy na naniniwala sa kapangyarihan nito subalit ito rin ang dahilan ng biglang paghinto ng galaw ng mundo na may makulimlim na paligid; isang hudyat ng walang tigil na ulan na nilulunod ang sinumang nakaramdam nito. Ang pag-ibig ay di tulad ng nasa pelikula na walang kasing husay na isinulat ng isang malikhaing pag-iisip na sa bandang huli ay mauuwi sa masayang pag-iibigan dahil ang totoo ay bibigyan ka lang nito ng isang talata ng masayang karanasan na di magtatagal ay mauuwi sa isang masamang bangungot na maghahatid sayo ng takot na muling magmahal. Ang pag-ibig ay isang lason sa ating pag-iisip na nilalamon lahat ng katinuan sa iyong kamalayan at hinahayaan nitong lasunin bawat parte ng ating katawan lalo na an gating puso na syang nagdadala ng mga pasaning dala ng hagupit nito. Wag basta basta maniniwala sa mga taong nagaanyong anghel na tuturuan ka kung paano mabuhay at di kalaunan ay ipaparanas kung paano ang mamatay. Dahil ganito ang pag-ibig. Hindi ito tulad ng iyong inaakala.

ARTWORK

SPECIAL ARTICLE

PAGBATI 101 by: Penname

aghahanap ka ba ng syota? Naghahanap ka ba ng makakatabi sa malamig na ihip ng gabi? O ‘di kaya’y naghahanap ng taong mamahalin mo POREBER? Pwes, mali itong binabasa mo! Dahil this is only intended para sa mga broken, namanhid at nabaliw sa pa-ibig, but, I’ll make consideration in one condition, BASAHIN MO ITO NANG NAKAPIKIT, TRY MO DALI! ROCK NA THIS. Hi pala UMyots at UMyangs, kamustang puso? Basag na naman? O c’mon! Sha, hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa, sumulat ako dito dahil sa isang napakaimportanteng dahilan— upang basahin niyo ito, ok? BABALA SA MAMBABASA: Ito’y naglalaman ng sensitibong tema na ‘di angkop sa mga taong ‘di marunong umintindi, mabutihing lumisan at bumili nalang ng kendi. So much for the corny intro, so, where shall I start? Here? There? Anywhere? Hmmm… Ok, to make a cut, magsisimula ako rito. Have you tried asking yourself “Nakamove-na ba ako?” ”Did the pains and grudges disappeared?’ o “Mahal ko pa ba siya?” Etchus! Pwes, kung hindi pa, better ask yourself,… done? If the sagot mo to the tanong is “No!” as in hindi, well here are some tips to do para makaflat one sa pagmomove-on.

STEP ONE

STEP TWO

STEP THREE

Know first bakit gusto mong magmove on. For the char lang ba, for public information purposes, para sabihing maganda, o para matanggap mo na wala na ang iyong bataan? (Bawal green. Bataan, yes! Dahil lumipat ka na sa Lungsod ng Tagum at wala ka na sa Bataan.) Alamin mo why move on? This way, your objective and goals are clear at alam mo kung saan ka tutungo. So after thinking why at na-spot mo na ang perfect reason “why?”, you can now proceed to…

Accept the katotohanan na wala na kayo. Huwag ka nang mag-worry sa kaniyang iniisip tungkol sa iyo at huwag ka nang mabahala kung ano ang nararamdaman niya regarding sa paghihiwalay niyo, dahil sa isang rason… #WalaNaKayo! This is actually different sa pagiging bitter, it’s just a way to make your feelings better. In that way, you’ll actually absorb the lesson na hatid sa inyo ng step one and makakamove on ka na sa third step.

Magbrainstorming ka. Hingin mo ang basbas at biyaya ng bathala. O ‘di kaya’y magpatulong ka kay Detective Conan para malocate mo ang pinakaworst thing about sa kaniya. Ito ba ang kaniyang mabahong hininga at kilikili, maitim na batok, sirang ngipin, mababang grades, o maliit na you know. Yung you know na. Yung maliit na time na binibigay sa iyo! Magfocus ka lang sa lahat ng katangian na nakakaturn off sa kaniya at with all you might and power, ituon mo ang lahat ng chakra mo para maremember mo talaga hanggang tuloyan ka nang mandiri sa kaniya.

SPECIAL ARTICLE STEP FOUR Isipin mo rin naman ang pinakbest asset mo of course. Maybe your mabangong hininga, malasampaguitang amoy na katawan, maputing kili-kili, o ang iyong napakalaking hinaharap (idyoma sa malawinag na future, bawal ang luntian!). Furthermore, think why you don’t deserve para i-treat the bad way; that you are worth caring not playing; and you are worth loving not paasahin and the likes. Pagnamaster mo na ang step na ito, you will feel valued and ang selfconfidence mo ay raratsada sa himpapawid and because of that… proceed na sa next step. STEP FIVE Try looking for another flirting buddy, but don’t get too OA! Maghanap ka nang pagpaparausan mo ng iyong nag-uumapaw na love na supposedly ay para kay “X”. Pero, pero, pero, this move is quite crucial, kailangan mong magcontrol na hindi ka mahulog, because most likely, you are prone to fall in love if nasa stage

of recovery ka, so dapat palakasin mo ang ribs mo para ‘di na makapanlaban ang puso at hindi magwala. However, 1 out of 5 Umians will end up unliking this step because they are still craving for their addiction at hinahanap-hanap pa rin nila ang aura ng past nila. So iiskip mo nalang ‘to if gusto mo, and talon na sa…

STEP SEVEN

STEP SIX

STEP EIGHT

Why not… be friend sa’yong past addiction, sounds good right? Kasi usually ang mga addict pagninirehab, the doctors will not abruptly detach the drug from the host, so likewise since moving on ay para ring nirerehab mo ang self mo para hindi ka naman mashock sa paghihiwalay niyo. Although in the previous steps I taught you to be tough, and those were actually the basic, unlike this step, this is much harder, kailangan mo talagang maginternalize ng bongga. After mo maggawa ang step six, try noticing hindi ka na mukhang ampalaya, di ka na magiging bitter. PROMISE.

Magkakagustohan kayo and later on magiging kayo ulit. Magiging masaya ka na to the 5th power. Subalit hindi mo na mamamalayan na the step nine is fast approaching which is…

Since friend na kayo, untiunti kang mahuhulog, untiunting mamadedevelop ulit sa kaniya, at unti-unti mong marerealized na okay pala siya at bibigyan mo siya ng second chance. I-oopen mo ang puso mo sa iyong “X”. Maheheal na iyong severe bleeding.

STEP NINE Sasaktan ka nanaman niya gaya nang ginawa niya sa iyo noon. Mababaliw ka na naman. Masisiraan ng bait. Magigiba na naman ang iyong mundo at gugustohin mo namang magmove on for the second time around once more from the top, at diyan papasok ang last step sa pagmomove on… ang… STEP TEN Balik sa step one.

Chicken lang magmove on diba? At since nakaabot ka na sa huling parte ng aking makahulugang pag-aacheche sa inyong mga kokote. May natutunan ba kayo UMyots/ UMyang?! Ang sarap talagang magmahal diba? Pero ang hirap magmove on! Grabe noh? By the way, OMG, as in, it’s so Grrrrrrrr na! Napahaba na pala ‘to. Gusto ka pa sanang magyou know nang mga information tungkol sa inyong mga damdamin, however, baka magalit na si Mr. EIC! So Adios mi amigos,mi amigas, sa susunod na taon ulit… Happy “Pagbati”, or I should I say “Pagbigti” Day everyone. #R.I.P. The end. 47

SHORT STORY

BECAUSE IT’S FORBIDDEN by: @dubbylovie12

Ug kung muabot man ang time nga magkita napud mig usab, maningkamot name pareho nga kalimtan ang tanan.

hen I was in high school, nakit-an nako akong childhood friend sa usa ka reunion party nga akong gi attenan. Kahinumdom pajud ko sauna atung bulingit, sip-unon ug yagit pa kayo sya. Karun kay na star struck naman nuon ko pagkakita niya. Hala oy! Mura naman sya’g si Enrique Gil sa akong panan-aw. But of course I acted like wala ko kita niya arun sya’y unang muduol sa akoa. As if no kahinumdom pa sya? Pero oo, sya juy ni approach ug una. We had a long, great talk that night, nagsige ramig istorya sa mga nahitabo sa amoa sauna tapos sigeg pangatawa. We even exchanged phones and saved our numbers on. And didtoa nag start ang tanan. Naga text-text ug tawaganay name adlawadlaw ug usahay mangagda pa na siya’g date nako. Sa Grand Mall jud na among tagpuan para dili kayo mi makit-an, paghuman namog grocery didto diretso dayon na among ruta sa E-Park. Yes! E-Park diay ang witness sa among love story. Gikan sa kulitan, chickahan, tawanan, pati sa pagdula namog unblock me, pag answer sa logo quiz, pag tan-aw namog movie ug pagtudlo niyag bike sa akoa, kana jung lugara ang ni witness tanan-tanan. Para madali ang istorya, May 12 atung tuiga nagkauyab ming duha. Sa ngalan ng Porky’s Chicharon nga pareho namong gikaon atung gabhiona, sa taas sa imburnal ug sa ilalom sa mga bituon, habang ginakanta niya ang “Grow old with you” ni Daniel Padilla, gihatag nako ang pinaka tam-is nakong “OO” sa iyaha. I could say that we are one of the sweetest and near to perfection najud nga couple. Bisan pag once a year lang sya naga uli diria tungod sa kurso niya 48

nga Marine sa Cebu, gina sulit jud namo amung moments together ug bisan pag wala sya sa akong taparan permente, I felt always secured. There was once nga nagsakit ko, to the point nga kinahanglan najud nako i-admit due to complications. Wala nako sya gipabalo kay di ko gusto mabalaka pa sya. Sige syag text pero wala nako gireplyan, mutawag sya pero di nako tubagon. Until one day, to my surprise, niadto syag hospital with a bouquet of flowers and fruits with him. Na shock jud ko. Gipangutana nako sya kung asa sya nkabalo ug matod nya na gitexan daw nya akong mama. Yes uy! Close kay sila ni mother earth. Good thing niuli si mama atung tungura, basig mag hinala siya ba kay nganong naa pay flowers2x effect ning isa. Feeling nako atung panahona nibalik tanan nakong nangawala nga enerhiya. Murag the flash akong pagka-abtik - pinakalit. After a week, nakagawas nakog ospital. Pila ka adlaw ang milabay, nag tuig name. Nag dungan mig panimba. Sa New Cathedral kay para gamay rag tawo, pagkahuman sabay mi niampo ug nagpasalamat. Sa simbahan pud diay namugna ang commitment namong duha. We exchanged promises nga despite sa among situation, positive gihapon mi nga basin diay kami ra gihapon magkadayon at the end. After a month, he needs to go back to Cebu para sa iyang pag skwela ug ug ako kaluy-an kay nakapasar kos scholarship diri sa UM. Working student ko diri and yes dili jud sya lalim. You should know your priorities and know how to manage your time (Chaaar! Ka-ingles kog ahat.) Pila na pud ka bulan ang nilabay, okay kayo gihapon mi bisan pag we’re miles away

(Chooos!) Niabot akong birthday, gitawagan ko niya in the middle pajud tus akong pagdali-dali kay exam na. Pero syempre kay love man nako sya gitubag nako ang iyang tawag. So katu nag istoryahanay mi kadali tapos napalong kay nahurot naman ang 5 minutes. Taud-taud, nanawag napud siya, pero sa wala pa nako natubag, nay lalake niduol sa akoa ug nihatag ug bulak ug paper bag nga nnay nakabutang nga “BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE <3 “ Wa kayo ko kita sa dagway sa lalake kay nagdali-dali man syag lakaw. Pagkahuman atung hitaboa gitubag nako iyang tawag. SYA: Nadawat nimo? AKO: Ha? Taympa, gi-unsa nimo tu pag plano nga naa man ka dihaa sa Cebu? SYA: Ay nagud sigeg pangutana. Nadawat ba nimo? (Medyo strikto) AKO: Oh.. oo SYA: Sige na .pagdali na dihaa kay exam pa biya nimo. (Lambing voice na) Godbless Mahal. Belated happy birthday. I love you dubby ko. (Toooot…. Tooooot… END OF CALL) Wala ko kasabot sa akong gibati. Murag kahilakon nga kakataw-unon nga lami isyagit tungod sa kakilig. Mao jud na akong ganahan sa iya, he loves to surprise me and never fail to make me happy all the time. A+ for Effort kayo na sya permente bisan pag LDR mi. Pila ka bulan ang milabay, 2 years name. Niuli sya’g Tagum para i-celebrate ang among ika duha ka tuig nga pag higugmaay. And as always wala sya nagsaba nga muuli siya. Gipaadto ko niya ug E-Park ug pag abot didto nay

SHORT STORY niduol sa ako nga familiar ug dagway gitagaan ko niya ug bulak (rose jud tu nga color puti tapos naay sagol nga pula gamay) tapos naay nitawag sa ako ug paglingi nako naa siya nagtindog sa ilalom sa imburnal (kung asa nako siya gisugot sauna) nag gunit atung paborito nakong cake. Gialalayan ko atung lalake nga nihatag sa akoa ug roses padulong sa iyaha. (Ay tama! Sya tung lalake atung birthday nako.) Pag-abot namo sa iyang gitindugan, wa najud ko kapugong, nitiyabaw kog maayo nga murag bata nga gikuhaan ug candy. That time, I don’t care kung unsa na akong dagway. Wala najud ko naulaw sa iyaha. Basta gitrapuhan niya akong luha tapos ni-smile ra siya ug gi-hug ko niya. Gisuotan sab ko niya ug singsing. Couple ring daw tu namo tung duha. As he was holding my hand, ana siya nga bisan pag di mi magdayon tungod sa among sitwasyon, dapat naa ra jud gihapon sa among mga kasing-kasing ang among mga memories and promises. Ug wa jud napakyas, 4 mons after tu nahitabo, sa cellphone pajud, nag decide najud mi pareho nga magbulag name. Sakit kayo huna-hunaon ug atubangon ang kamatuoran. Murag gi-buak ug gi-dunggab ug bali kapila akong heart atong panahona. Feeling man gud nako sa iya nagtuyok ang akong kalibutan. Mura bag ako ang earth tapos siya ang sun. Kanang siya ang dictionary nga naghatag ug meaning sa akong life tapos atung adlawa nahuman ra tanan. Nag decide mig bulag dili tungod sa third party. Dili pud tungod sa wala namiy time. Labaw sa tanan dili tungod kay wala nami na feel nga spark kay labaw pas buto-buto sa fireworks ang among nafeel sa usa’g-usa. Nag-desisyon mi atu kay kabalo mis kamatuoran nga mas mapasakitan lang namo ang isa’t isa kung ipadayon pa namo ning relasyona. Nga at the end of the day, kabalo mi pareho nga dili gihapon mi magdayong duha kay tungod ig-agaw mi. Yes, you read it right. He was my first-degree-cousin. The love of my life. The person who understands me at my worse. Who gave me hope and put smiles

on my face. The person who was always at my side and was my greatest supporter. My best friend, my partner-in-crime, my knight in shining armor. The person who gave me nothing else but happiness was also the same person who caused me pain right now. My great lover and the best boy friend ever. But bisan pag ing-atu I did not regret. Never once in my life, wa jud ko nagmahay nga naging kami. Life is a matter of choice and I chose to hurt myself. Bisan pag nasakitan ko, di gihapon kabayran ang kalipay nga akong natagamtaman niadtong mga panahon nga kauban nako siya. Mga tuig napud kapin after sa nahitabo. Wala najud mi nag communicate ug nagkita pa. Nanguyab napud kog lain it’s because I thought through that makalimtan na nako siya. Gipugos jud nako, pero wala. Nangayo kog sign and after 14 months of waiting, nahitabo ang sign. I prayed nga magkita mig usab for proper closure. Coz at the back of my stupid mind, basig mao tuy kulang maong di gihapon nako siya kayang pakawalan sa akong huna-huna ug dughan. It’s really hard for me to let him go. I don’t know what would be my first step in doing such basta all I know was bug’at kayo ang rason sa among pagbulag mao kinahanglan najud nako siya kalimtan. Ug last year lang, 4th day of November, unexpectedly nagkita mi sa lugar nga among usual nga gina adtuan. Paggawas nako atu pero gitawag ko niya. Paglingi nako murag rejoice akong gi-shampoo kay nagka-slow mo (Chaaar!) Bitaw namelt akong heart pagka kita niya. Gwapo gihapon kayoo bataa. Wala ko kasabot sa akong gibati pero murag nibalik tanan (love & pain) Sa way pagduha-duha, gi gakos jud ko niya (Giatay! Humut jud kayo siya.) First time nako tu siya nakit-an nga nag hilak sa akong atubangan. Gimingaw jud daw siya nako pag-ayo. And admittedly, I felt the same way. I missed him too. Too much actually. Nag istoryahanay mig balik. Kinataw-anay ug taud-taud mura mig mga buang nga mag tinutukay tapos maghinilakanay. Wala pa daw siya naka move-on ug wala pud daw

siya nanguyab ug lain kay gitupad jud daw tu niya iyang promise sa akoa. And I felt ashamed. Because on my side nangita kog lain para lang makalimtan nako siya. I tried. Pero siya rajud gihapon hantod karun.So katu, nigabii nalang wala jud gihapoy closure nga nahitabo. Basta pila kaadlaw ang milabay, nanghid siya nga mubalik na siya’g Cebu for his apprenticeship. And the last words he told me before leaving was: “ I don’t have the right to ask God kung nganong ikaw pa man nga ig’agaw nako ang akong first love. But I always thanked Him for giving me you, bisan pag di naka akoa (smile) kuntento nako nga ing-ani tang duha. Thank you. Promise ug promise ikaw lang gihapon.” Then he kissed me at my forehead, held my hand, hugged me tight and left. Ni sakay na siya ug bus. Ni babay nalang pud ko habang nakit-an nako siya sa may window. Wala nako nag care pud atu kung unsay iingon sa mga tao after niya ug speech sa akong atubangan basta akong nahinumduman wala nako kaistorya kay kahilakon na kayo ko. So mao tu, until now wala pami nagkitag usab. 1 year napud mi nga walay communication. Ug kung muabot man ang time nga magkita napud mig usab, maningkamot name pareho nga kalimtan ang tanan. Sa pagka karun graduating nako next year puhon so I’m keeping myself busy. This is to escape from reminiscing him. I love him, I still do and I strongly knew that he feels the same way too. We loved each other to death pero dili dapat. Bawal. Dili pud namo gusto maguba ang salig sa among parents sa amoa. Mag ig-agaw/mag best friend ra jud mi sa ilang nahibal-an ug sa ilang panan-aw ug wala name balak isulti pa. We need to make a mature decision because it’s the least thing we could do. Mao puy dapat ug tama. Love kayo namo ang isa’t isa pero mas importante gihapon ang among pamilya. Mao bisan pag ipush namo ni among pag higugmaay, dapat gihapon undangon BECAUSE IT’S FORBIDDEN. 49

POEM

Para ni sa akoang Kuya by: : Dianne

Sa pamilya usahay ikaw manloud Kay kuno imong gibati, ikaw sa ila walay puangod. Apan sa kapit-os sa kinabuhi napamatoud Nga pamilya nimu para saimo misugakod. Importante ka, wa mo lang batia Kay ikaw napuno sa kasubo Nga wa ka hatagi’g importansya, Nga ikaw wa hatagi’g pag-amuma Maong sa pamilya mo ikaw nahilayo Imong ginakanan wala’y gabii nga di masubo Mga igsoun mo’ng wa masayud sa nahitabo Pero sila tanan nasakitan sa imong paglayo.

POEM

Fragments by: : J.N.H.D.

See the pictures that held our love The evidence of bliss we shared The fossils of promises carved Printed glossy and colored true Hear the music that liven our days In lieu of thoughts unspoken Tangled on lyrics that pierced thy souls Played in harmony of hearts in synchronized beat Utter the poems of a clandestine poet The intricate dance of words set in verses Borrowed from Shakespeare, Kipling and Petrarch Rhythmic proofs of our romantic interlude (But) The pictures faded as tears fell The music lost its enticing tune The poems lost the captivating assonance Our world lost the quixotic hue All thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left are fragments Of moments left shattered Remembrance of treasures now unwanted Once precious, now forgotten Triggers nothing but pain

ARTWORK

SHORT STORY

REALITY BITES: THE TRAGIC FIRST KISS by: Dora d’ Drug Pusher

“May laway ka pa sa pisngi. May muta ka pa sa mata. Naku! May gatas ka pa nga sa labi. Tsaka marami ka pang kakaining bigas.” “Mama. Natural, buntag pa baya. Wala pa ko naligo,” sagot ko sa orasyon ng nanay ko. Huminto siya sa kanyang ginagawa at inilatag ang cellphone ko. Okay. Alam na this. “Mitch, you’re too young to fall in love. Hinumdumi na.” May pagkapraning talaga si Mama. Lumalabas ang mga nakatagong ingles at tagalog sa mahiwagang baul. Kung anu- anong pumapasok sa kukote porke nakabasa lang ng mga love quotes. Siya lang naman ang nagbibigay pansin sa mga walang kuwentang mensahe na yun. Ang totoo, ginagawa ko lang na calculator ang cellphone ko. Mahal kasi kapag bibili pa ako ng calculator. (Mabuti pa ang calculator, nagmamahal.) Pero ang totoo, wala talaga akong pambili ng load. I’m not in love naman. Pero I was back in 2002. Hindi ko alam kung paano. Gumising na lang ako isang araw kilala

ko na si Bob Sponge. Half siya. Half human. Joke. Magmula noon ay arawaraw na kaming magkasama. Sa tuwing walang pasok ay tumatambay kami sa bahay nila at nanonood ng mga pelikula. Naging malapit na rin sa akin ang kanyang pamilya. Kahit yung tita niya sa Germany ay kinakausap ako sa Facebook. Paborito rin ako ng lola niya magpahanggang ngayon. Sumapit ang isang araw na nakita ko na lang siyang balisa. Nawalan ng ganang mamuhay sa mundo. Dumating ang mga pagsubok na bumago sa kanyang ugali. Nagkasakit ang nanay niya at nagka-mild stroke. Samantala, naputulan naman ng kaliwang paa ang tatay niya dahil na rin sa diabetes. Ginawa ko ang lahat mapasaya lamang siya ngunit wala ring nagawa. Nawalan kami ng komunikasyon sa loob ng mahigit sa dalawang linggo. Subalit nakita ko na lang siya isang umaga sa harapan ng gate namin. Nainis ako nung una pero nawala rin naman at napalitan ito ng walang pagsidlang saya. “Dating gawi?” Tinanong

niya ako sabay hablot ng kamay ko habang tumatakbo patungo sa bahay nila. Pero hindi muna niya ako pinapasok sa kanila at nilagyan ng piring ang mga mata ko. Masyadong halata na may inihandang surpresa si Bob para sa akin. Nag-antay ako habang nananabik sa kung ano mang bagay na iyon. Ngunit parang bumagal ang pagtakbo ng oras. Nainip ako at dumukot ng chichirya sa bulsa ng shorts ko. Amoy na amoy ko pa ang halimuyak na taglay ng Super Crunch. Takam na takam ako sa kinakain ko ng mga oras na iyon. Samantala, hindi ko namalayang may papunta pala sa kinaroroonan ko. Hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lang ang init ng malambot na labing dumampi sa namamasa kong bibig at tuluyang nahulog ang pagkain sa lupa. Tumaas ang temperatura ng katawan ko. Bumuwelo ng takbo ang kaskasero kong puso na siyang dahilan upang hingalin ang baga ko. Nanginginig ang buo kong kalamnan at ramdam ko ang panghihina ng aking

SHORT STORY kasukasuhan. Hindi ko lubos maisip ang mga nagaganap. Ngunit bahagyang humapdi ang gilagid ko dahil sa kung anong bagay na matulis. Gamit ang di mapakaling mga kamay na halos nawalan na ng lakas ay inalis ko ang takip sa mga mata ko. Laking pagtataka ko nang wala akong mahagilap na kahit na sino. Nilingon ko ang buong paligid pero wala pa rin. Napayuko ako sa sobrang pagkadismaya. Ilusyon lamang ba iyon? Sa pagyuko ko ay nakita ko ang isang aspin. Pansin kong masaya nitong inuubos ang Super Crunch ko. Sa isang iglap ay may pumasok sa utak ko. Kumuha ako ng panyo at idinampa sa bibig ko. Walang kakaibang nangyari sa puntong iyon. Ngunit dumating ang sandaling nakaramdam ulit ako ng hapdi sa gilagid. Idinampi ko ulit ang dala kong panyo at tama nga ang hakahaka ko, may dugo. Tuluyan nang nawalan ng lakas ang upang

makatayo ang mga paa ko. Takot, galit at pagkadiri ang tanging nadarama ng puso’t kaluluwa ko. “Yoohoooo! Jerry! Asa naman ka? Jerry!” Napalingon ako sa sumisigaw na si Bob. “Uy Mitch! Naa ra man diay dira si Jerry. Tuy! Tuy! Tuy! Tuy! Tuy! Tuy!” “Arf! Arf!” “Gipapalit gud nako ning papa, Mitch. Para sa imuha.” Hindi na ako nakapagpigil at umiyak ng malakas sabay sabing, “uwahhh! Gipaak ko sa imong iro! Yakz kaayo! Bantay lang kang Mama dots! Ipakulong jud nang Papa imong iro!” Sabay pahid ng sipon. “Bantay lang ka!” Then I ran away. Yes, his dog or let me call it his supposed to be gift for me (curse that animal) bit my gums. Akala ko natanggal na ang upper gums ko. Buti na lang hindi. Just an average size of wound and its beyond a normal one in cases like

this. Pero halos himatayin si Mama nung natuklasan niya ang nangyari sa akin. Siya na lang tuloy yung inasikaso imbis na ako. This memoir is well treasured in my mind. Nakakatawang isipin pero mga bata pa kami nun nang mangyari iyon. But malaki rin ang nagastos ng pamilya ko sa pagpapagamot. Hindi kasi napabakunahan yung aso at delikado pa sa delikado yung kaso kasi malapit sa utak. Pero, tinulungan naman kami ng pamilya ni Bob. Well, that was twelve years ago when I was still in the age of innocence. Nevertheless, it’s not a matter of when I felt something but to whom I felt it. I guess this is an epic failed sort of photograph taken together with my childhood FRIEND and I. I also realized that reality really bites. Yung aso yung reality tapos siya rin yung nangangagat. Waley! Kayo nang humusga sa kung man ang nais kong ipahayag sa kuwentong ito.

Nevertheless, it’s not a matter of when I felt something but to whom I felt it. I guess this is an epic failed sort of photograph taken together with my childhood FRIEND and I.

POEM

Process of being broken by: : Penname

Got caught to the trap Enjoyed the emotion Saw yourself shattered— It’s just a mere process You have known someone Approved her existence Realized the growth— This is how it usually starts You have fallen in to the cage Claim the reward for loving You’re happy, two became one There goes the turning point… Misunderstood each other Got lost in the road Have yourselves half You’ll realize you’re broken It always end like this, so tragic So be cautious but still enjoy the danger Because once again, it’s just a mere process Get used to it

POEM

Queen of my heart by: Mr. Ink

IT WAS MY HI STO R Y that gave me fear of loving again. Yet you came unexpectedly. And I was left surprised of how you wonderfully changed my sad way of thinking about love. YOU HAVE REDEEMED my broken soul from the trench of devastation. And I am very thankful that you love me U N C O N D I T I O N A L L Y

SHORT STORY

THE END IS FOREVER by: Mr. Ink

“Wait for me…” I said to her. “I will fulfill my promise, just please… wait for me.”

he is in tears. I cannot blame her why she is sobbing in front of me. I’ll be leaving to the States to work with my uncle’s resto. And, basically, she will be left. I know the feeling of being stuck to nowhere without your other half. I don’t want her to experience that but I need to fly overseas, that’s the least thing I can do to help my family. I need to earn a living. I know and I hope she’ll understand. Now, we are on the airport, waiting for my flight. Waiting for us to be away from each other. I looked intensely at her eyes. I wiped the evidence of sadness on her face with my thumbs. “Please, don’t cry. You’ll look ugly.” I heard small chunks of giggle. Finally, I can say she’s okay. She then stared at me. I saw pain deep within her globes, I saw longing even though we haven’t departed yet. It almost made me to decide on not to leave. But then I cannot. I must not. She released a cheerless sigh. I then felt the misery on her breath. “But promise me. You will stay faithful to me, that you will not look, not even once, with those hormone-driven American girls. You can go to parties, but never drink too much and never take drugs! I don’t want to marry an addict.” She said. “Of course! You’re the only woman that I want to offer every string of my love and with the finest things in life. And I will not drink too much nor take drugs, but I can’t promise you that you won’t marry an addict.” I jokingly replied.

She became puzzled with my last statement. I just widely smiled. “You know that I’m an addict already. I’m hopelessly, crazily addicted to you.” I said. I saw how her confused face slowly glowed. I saw how she smiled to the fullest, how she reacted with my line. I saw momentary joy. We both laughed. We hugged. I kissed her on the forehead. And then there came the broadcast that signaled our long distance love. “Calling the attention of the passengers for Flight 2187 of Asia Pacific bound to Chicago, USA. Please proceed to the departure lobby. We will fly in ten minutes time.” She broke down. She tightly embraced me and let her tears ran on my sleeves. I hadn’t maintained my self-control as well. I also let myself cry hard. I’ll be leaving her. I’ll be flying away from reason of my existence. Three years. Three years of being away. The image of her alone in the province slowly knifed my heart into pieces. “I need to go.” After five emotional minutes, I finally got the courage to say. She nodded. But as I was walking away while gripping my travel bags, gripping my plane ticket, I suddenly felt a warm soothing sensation as a pair of arms has wrapped around my waist and a petite figure sought refuge at my back. It was her. “You’ll be back and marry me right?” she asked me while still leaning and crying

at my back. I did not face her because I know it will only be the end of me going abroad. “Yes, I will… I p-promise you that.” My answer was followed with seconds of silence. I was biting my lips that moment to restrict the sound of my sobs. But I knew what I did was still useless, she can still feel my sorrow with the vibrations produced by my chest. “Okay then, y-you can… you c-can go now. Just always think that I love you.” She released me from her tight embrace. That particular moment almost killed me. I continued walking away without facing her. That time, my heart was bleeding and I knew she felt the same. I sensed that she was still staring at my back as I entered the door of the departure lobby, that’s why I shouted with the bottom of my lungs the words: “IT WILL BE YOU AND ME! FOREVER!” For sure the crowd’s eyes were focused on mine. But I don’t care, I need to say those words for her to believe that I will be back with my promise of marriage and forever. For her to keep my love and never find another. The oceans, the distance, the different time zones and even the call of destiny can never split us apart. Seconds later, I heard a reply, louder than my shout. It was more of a scream. “FOREVER!”… It was her. ~~ to be continued ~~

POEM

L.T.S. Love Story by: : Snow Whiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dwarf

LTS ang sinogdanan Ug mao ang hinongdan Sa atong kapalaran Na wala nahibal-an Ako naglaum, Sa imuha naghandom Na ako pansinon Sa umaabot na panahon Ikaw sa visayan Ako naa sa Cuambugan Kilometro atong pagitan Pero dili kana apan Sa akong gilauman Sa akong paghunaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;huna diri Unta dili nimo hikalimti Nga akong gugma walay silbi Kung ginadedma ko nimo pirmi

POEM

I Wish I Was Her by: : Peaknot

Staring at the sky Sometimes I wonder why You have two eyes to see Yet you always pass through me And then I found out Something that I have to let my heart shout Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s this girl youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been chasing for years Shivers down my spine because of those fears Everything came crashing down to my senses and I suddenly burst into tears.

SPECIAL ARTICLE

SCIENCES OF LOVE by: Aviriyu

any relates love to cupid’s arrow, some even relate this sensation to different things and others begin expressing their inner Shakespearean to release the burst of emotion they contain. But beyond the different metaphorical comparisons associated with love, it is after all a phenomenon that science could explain. Even though love is a subjective matter for person to person, it does also elevate an objective reason, supported with empirical explanations and scientific deductions. LOVE AND FOCUS Studies have shown those people who are passionately in love are less able to focus and perform task that requires attention. Well if that’s the case, we should probably be focusing first in study than getting to relationship. LOVE AND ADDICTION When you fall in love, the same neural system in your brain linked to cocaine addiction becomes active, giving you that feeling of euphoria. It has already proven! Love is indeed an addiction that needs moderation. LOVE AND PAIN Studies have shown that some of the areas of the brain activated by love are the same areas that drugs

use to reduce pain. I guess it only takes a holding hand with your beloved one to lighten the pain. LOVE AND HEARTBEAT Research has shown that when you’re in love, your heart beats as fast as your partner’s so they’re at the same rate. Even hearts also knows rhythm. LOVE AND PITCH Research has suggested that people in love may sometimes try to mimic or match the pitch of their partner’s voice as a way to communicate affection.

LOVE AND THE BLIND Studies have shown that people in a committed relationship who have been actively thinking about their partner actually avert their eyes from attractive members of the opposite sex unknowingly – “The Act of Unconscious Attentional Bias”. Shakespeare is indeed right. LOVE AND RISKS In a relationship, the risk taking behavior in men and women show that men are more willing to take unnecessary risks for a romantic partner. Probably, one of those classic tales of knight and shining armor. LOVE AND EYES It has found that pupil dilation correlates with intense emotional states such as being in love. The eyes never lie for it takes us a peak to their soul.

ove is an inevitable happening. It might strike us by accident or by the playful games of destiny. But no matter how it would cross our way it already locked up an assurance, a certainty of happiness.

COLLEGIUM THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

POEM

Klaymaks by: Mr. Ink

Huwag mong isisi sa paglubog ng araw Ang kapwa paglamon sa atin ng dilim Bumulusok pa man ang laksang bulalakaw Wala nang katuparan ang sa puso’y dinadaing. Huwag mong isumbat sa daluyong ng dagat Ang pag-anod sa tamis ng ating nakaraan O sa kumunoy na nakakubli sa masukal na gubat Ang paghigop sa’king lakas at ‘di ko paglaban. Huwag mong isumpa ang huni ng amihan Kung bakit nanunuot sa iyong kaluluwa ang lamig. Ang kulog, kidlat, pagragasa ng baha, at pagbuhos ng ulan Ay walang kinalaman sa pagtawag mo sa diyos, at hindi niya pagdinig. Huwag mong kamuhian ang galaw ng tadhana Sa biglaan at mapait kong paglaho Sapagkat ganito talaga ang buhay, aking sinta Minsa’y mapagbiyaya, minsa’y mapaglaro Mahal, huwag mong isipin na nag-iisa ka ngayon Simula nang sa dakilang langit ako’y tumungo Sinilid man ang aking katawan sa payak na kabaong Ang pag-ibig ko sayo ay kailanma’y hindi yayao.

ESSAY

SINCERELY NOT YOURS by: Xaviery Zeth Alexander

“the true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good”

ours, a possessive pronoun which indicates that something or someone belongs to you. But in this case, I don’t have someone or something to call me ‘yours’. Having an endearment or title means giving a solid foundation to a certain relationship, constructive in its sense. However, not every title given is pleasant to hear or even commendable. Others suffer, like it is a never healing scar. Yours, in Bisaya region it is a term given to a certain person (male mostly) which means you’re gay or you’re acting in unmanly manner. But the fact is, everyone is trying to conclude that having a soft side precisely means that you are a member of third sex without knowing your background, upbringing, or other factors which makes a guy a little too soft to be a man resulting to bullying.

Boys are being bullied for being weak because we consider showing weakness is girly. Even girls affront guys for being sissy. I think because of constant change, there is now a thin line between men and the gay community. Almost every time, people ask me the same question – are you gay? I could immediately answer the question without having second thoughts because I know myself better but ‘no’ is too unbelievable for them. So now, I am perplexed about this situation. And these are the few questions I have in mind while weighing different notions of different people. Does not having a girlfriend make one gay? Does having too many girls as friends makes someone less of a man? Do drinking liquors and smoking cigarettes make a man? Do having affairs become a right way just to be manly? Does being studious and not wasting money on online

games makes a man a pussy? A faggot? A sissy boy? If your answer is no, then I’m confused to what is really the measurement of being a man. As what Samuel Johnson has said “the true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good”. I think I believe him. I suppose sexual preference is a matter of personal choice. It is not given by the society. It is what you believe you are. Sometimes, allowing yourself to be submerged in the thought about how people see you or why do they view you differently make your selfesteem drop rock bottom. But in the end, you are the one who know yourself. That is the reason why I don’t deny it because there is nothing to hide. I am aware that I have a soft side, but that does not mean I am less of a man. I am a man and sincerely not yours.

PROSE

SAME OLD HOPE by: Mr. Ink

I hope you know That I have this kind of romantic feelings for you. You can see it in my actions being wrapped up in little details. The way I fidget when you say my name, the way I convulse when I feel your gentle pats onto my shoulders, the way I nervously roll my eyes just to avoid the image of you along with your smile, as you come near to me. The way I awfully acted.

I don’t know what I’m trying to head forward, I’m coward enough to know. I never have the guts anyway. It’s just that there’s this interplay of thoughts, what ifs, hopes, dreams, fears, clogging in my mind --- all wrapped up in tiny, fragile moments of awkward thinking. I hope you know. Even there he is, existing by your side. And here I am, a nonexistent vapor.

I hope you took notice of that.

It’s just that there’s this interplay of thoughts, what ifs, hopes, dreams, fears, clogging in my mind --- all wrapped up in tiny, fragile moments of awkward thinking. 66

POEM

Lihim by: Mae Lim

Kung mamarapatin,puso koy pakinggan Matagal ng may nais sa’yoy ilaan Sa tulang ito sana’y iyong malaman Ligayang dulot mo lubha kong naibigan. Sa maikling panahon na magkasama Wala sa hinagap ipagwalang bahala Ang isang tulad mo na tila isang biyaya Bigay ng maykapal mula ng nakilala. Dumating man ang pagsubok sa hinaharap Pangakoy panunungkapan maging sa hirap Sapagkat suliranin ay sadyang sangkap Upang samahan ay tumibay ng ganap. Hindi man matamis ang araw-araw Bastat bawat isa’y walang aayaw Damdaming hindi magkamayaw Mabibigyan ng lunas pagdating ng araw. Kung tunay man ang iyong hangarin, Ako sanay iyong hintayin At sa iba’y wag ibalin ang iyong pagtingin Upang hindi masaktan ang isa sa atin.

POEM

Regrets by: : _Freal_

It was a wild and windy night There may be a cloudy climate in sight When the soft wind touches my skin I feel the warm breath of the spring And right now I feel so careless When you left me alone so helpless But for me nothing else means everything Coz’ your memories are worth remembering I wish I could turn back the time that passed by The time when you said to me the word “ goodbye”. I’m sorry for the things I’ve done to hurt you But it’s your fault because you hurt me too. I f I could right the wrongs I’ve done We shall be free in the years to come Even though all I have left are these regrets These memories of us I will never forget.

POEM

Relentless Love by: : Hanoi Phanie

All people in the world seeks A love that will never fail They search in mankind, so weak Yet they end up with hearts that frail From the rising of the sun Until the setting of the day This untainted, relentless love from the One Satisfies us in the true way There is only one love That would never leave us apart Made all wonders that eyes can see All deep creations and forms of art He made what mind can’t bear And all golden symphonies of time To the good and wicked, He is fair Even reveals Himself to mankind The universe itself shakes in awestruck As its existence revolves in the path of Divine All are held in the foundation of The Rock Where man can’t stand on its glorious shine But as generations passed, sin ruled Deceptions of evil turned all to fool Disobedient to righteousness, wayward

to Him Rebellious to the King and advocated the sin. But what love is this that heavens roared? Dressed in human outside yet the King above all Laid down His life for mankind and called The most unworthy kind, saved from the fall. Hung on the cross to bear our sins The darkest nightmares and evil scenes Trampled down and crucified every wicked thing Now we shout it out, “Oh death, where is your sting?” See how great this marvelous love one can know That even sin, He can turn as white as snow That in this love, we have the Freedom Song By the perfect love on the cross He has shown.

ARTWORK

SHORT STORY

BAND AIDS DON’T FIX BULLET HOLES by: Miss_chievous_143

Love yourself because no one else will. Dear Pagbati, Hello. Maayong adlaw. Tawaga na lang ko sa alyas nga Dara. Usa ko ka ordinaryong babae nga kung mahigugma, ordinaryo lang pud. Kadtong niaging mga tuig, ang akong pagka-ordinaryo, nahimo kaning special ug one-of-a-kind. Tungod sa isa ka inspiration nga nakapabag-o nako. Ambot lang kung maayo ba o dili nga pagbag-o. Nakauyab ko ug isa ka lalaki, Pags (Hoy Pagbati, tawagun lang takag Pags ha?). Gwapo, taas, bright-bright pud to akong nahigugmaan. Basketball player sya, gwapo, but-an man. Gwapo. Basta, gwapo gyud siya, Pags. Di malalis. Daghan ug nagkagusto niya, pero ako gyud iyang gipili. Nagdugay mi ug 4 years. 4 years sa kalipay, 4 years sa paghigugmaay, 4 years sa away-away, 4 years sa pagsorry, 4 years nga espesyal kaayo. Sa sulod anang upat ka tuig, siya jud ang nanag-iya sa akoa. Sa among first 2 years, grabe ang love gyud ga uros-uros. Give and take gyud mi. Naay one time naghimo mig research sa boarding house sa akong classmate. Gutom kaayo kay gusto gyud mupasar. Natingala mi naay nanuktok sa gate sa bhaus dis oras sa kagab-ihon. Akong uyab nagdala ug burger and fries tunga-tunga sa kabuntagon. Haaay. Kinsa may di matunaw ana. Pa-surprise kaayo ang amaw. Syempre wala gyud ko nanghatag sa akong groupmates oy. What’s mine is mine. Apil ingkit sabay kilig. Sus dah. Kalami sa feeling naay prince charming. 72

Isa rato sa kalami sa among paghigugmaay sulod sa first two years namo. Kapoy na story sa kadaghan, Pags. So mao to. Muabot gyud mi sa ika tulo nga tuig. Pero natingala ko, Pags. Lahi na gyud diay basta malapas mo sa 2-year period noh?. Mao ra jud tung panahona ang lami. Kay sa 3rd year, mas lami na diay. Hakhakhak. Love gyud ni. Magtinabangay bisan nag pait. Naay usahay pag wala siyay baon or kulang ang pambayad sa exam, buslotan sa nako akong alkansya. Sama pa sa iyang giingon, “Pag ma ninyo nata babe, sobra pa ani nga kwarta akong ibalik sa imoha”. Ka sweet uy. Provider gyud. Naa pud toy kaisa, nadaot iyang marpil. Concerned kaayo ko. So giubanan nako siya sa kilid kilid na dental technician ug gipasukatan nako ug bag-o na dentures. 50-50 mi sa gasto pero utang lang sa daw iyang share. Bayaran lng ko niya pag ma ninyo nami. Isa ka adlaw Pags, nagaway mi kay naay classmate niya nag text text ug sweet message sa iyaha. Bantog diay di sya pahilabot ug cellphone. Di parehas sauna nga halos ako pay mugunit sa iyang myPhone ug sabay gyud mi magpaload. Karon, musandig lang ko sa iyang abaga samtang gatext, muikyas naman atik-atik ug katol sa ulo. Hantod one time, nag dula na siya basketball Pags. Timing nag cheer ko sa iyang dula. Ug samtang lami na kaayo ang mga rebound ug assist, nitingog iyang myPhone sulod sa iyang bag. “Hala, naay nagtext”, Ana akong brain. Pero “no. Trust. I trust him uy”. So padayon kog sa singgit-singgit ug go sexy sexy

love. Nitingog naman pud na’g usab Pags. Nalikoy ug kalit akong utok Kay sunod-sunod naman ang tingog. Akong giabrehan iyang bag ug nangalismaw ang baho’g singot nga mga sanina ug shorts. Pero okay lang Kay love man nako siya. “Asa tong ga tingog?”. Atat na kaayo ko makit-an to. Naa diay sa pinaka ilalom ang cellphone. Level 5 man gud diay ba maong saba. Sus dah, pag abre nako, naa may passcode. Wala mana sauna, Pags. “0808?” Anniversary na namo. “Ay hala mali. 0417?” Birthday to niya. Error gihapon. Ginoo ko, isa nalang ma PUK nani. Gitestingan nako ug 0000. Naabre ra gyud. Puros man Jane gwapz ang inbox. Murag 3 ra ka Babe nga message, mao tung akoa. Suko na ang sok! Wa ko ganahi ug cheer. Puros sweet ug pabebe! Yati ra. Nahuman iyang dula nga daog Pags. Pero pildi siya sa akoa. Yawyaw gyud ko to the max. Kinsa mana si Jane-gwapz? Ana sya classmate lang daw niya nga nangayo ug advice sa iya nga nagka close na sila. Unsa? Lami na paminawon? Kahadlok ba ana? If I know nakagusto nana si Janegwapz sa iya! Kung madevelop sila? Kung naay mahitabo? Juskolord. Ma push jud nako sila sa Bingcungan bridge. Grabe nakong tiyabaw ug hilak. Ngano mana? Pero iyaha jung gi-assure sa ako nga ako iyang love. Bisan daw sa kadaghan ug gwapa, ako daw gihapon. Gwapa man ko ba, tinuod na Pags. Mutya gani ko sa among probinsya. Pero Ana siya ako jud daw iyang ginahuna-huna. Iyaha pakong gikissan. Sess. Mao na, tunaw na dayon ang baye. Wa na. Okay na. Case closed. Hakhakhak.

SHORT STORY Pero wala ko nag dahom sa iyang sunod nga giingon nga pinahipi pa ug pinasweet nga ulaw uaw. “Babe… Uhm. Babe, kanus-a man ta pwede? Hunahunaa pud ko” Wala ko kasagang. Niundang ug tulo akong luha. “Unsa babe?” Kunuhay wala kasabot sa iyang giingon. “Basta babe, kabalo naman ka Ana diba?” Akong huna-huna, wala kasabot. Dili pwede oy. Pero basig maunahan ko adtong Jane gwapz. Nahadlok ko Pags pero mas kahadlok ko mag huna-huna kung siya ang nawala sa akoa. So mao to. Lahi ra ang feeling. Lami sya pero maka guilty. Di nako mustorya. Nagdugay mi hantod nakaabot mig 4 years. Sige namig away adto. Gamayng butang di magkasinabot. Gamayng hinungdan, awayan. Pero magbati dayon mi. Apan kung magbati mi Pags, lahi. Pinaagi sa lahi nga binuhatan. Mao to. Pag nag-away mi, himuon namo to, pagkahuman ana okay nami. Ako lang pud daw. Ako lang gyud. Kana nga binuhatan, routinely na. Di lang kung mag away mi. Usahay kung magstoryahanay mi ug wala nay topic, kato nalang. Okay nami. Okay raman pud kay lami sa feeling ug naanad napod ko. Pero usahay nagsakit gyud akong dughan. Niabot pa ang panahon kaisa, Kay parehos ra man mi estudyante, walay kwarta, pero mas dako man kog baon gamay, ako pay mubayad sa oras, 350php. Siya lang daw bahala sa proteksyon, 50phph. Okay lang bisan dako ang variance Kay love nako siya. Normal rani sa isa ka relasyon. Give and take. Dugay naman pud mi. Pags. Sa among kadugay, ang among friends sa Facebook, mutual na halos tanan. Pati iyang mga ex, na-amigo nako sa Facebook (dala stalk, hahaha). Friend nako iyang isa ka ex, Pags. Kana nga ex, mas bata pa gud sa amoa pero katung nagbulag

mi kadali for 6 months due to fortuitous events, mao ni sya iyang gipili. Cute pud. Shoulder length ang hair, burgundy ang color. Petite nga morenahon, hitsuraan man sad. Angay pud masuroy. Mura pug ako, pwede kaayo isuroy. Kana si ex niya, nag change ug profile picture. Gwapa gud Kay naka make up adto nga time. So nag like pud ko Kay kabalo man pud ko mag appreciate. Basa-basa pud ug comments sa pictures. Then suddenly sa comment box, nipost na siya ug comment nga “Ha? Pagsure ba. Isumbong taka Kay Dara. Hahaha” Whaaaaat? Na saag lage akong name? What’s this? Pag basa nako sa tibuok comment box, wala may convo nga na match sa iyang reply. Wala puy na tag sa akoa na comment. Wala pud koy kaila nag comment. Unsa Mani? Then nireply napod si exgirl ingon niya “Ayaw ko pakasli, kato imo uyab diay?” Mas nitaas gyud akong katingala. Other than sa curiosity ngano nasaag akong pangalan, mas na intriga na ko sa convo nga naabot ug kasal. Pero wala jud koy makita sa comment box nga exchanging of conversations. Mura kog mabuang ug huna-huna, Pags. Nakulbaan ko. Taas akong instinct nga something is fishy. So naka decide kog Hiram sa Facebook account sa akong best friend para iview ang picture Kay naka public man pud to. Pero wala gihapon koy makit-an sa comment box nga ga reply sa girl. Unsa Mani? I need to feed my curiosity. Naka decide kog himo ug incognito account. Himo himo lang ug identity para ma-view nako. So akoang gitype ang name sa girl. Yes, opened. Akoa gi click iya profile picture. And wala ko katuo sa akong nakita, Pags. Naay second account akong babe. Iyaha lang gi rearrange ang iyang pangalan. Ug siya diay tong ka storya ni girl. “Hi gwapa :* “ “Ganahan jud ko sa imoha Kay but-an na, gwapa pa” “Ikaw

jud akong pakaslan puhon, sa di pa karon”… Huwaaat? Unsa ni? Pasabta ko? Yaga yaga ni? Poser ni? I need an answer! Akong gi view iyang second account ni babe. 2011 paman diay ni na buhat na account. Pero bag-o lang na active. Puno ug pictures ni babe, iyang info, pero wala mi mutual friends except adtong girl ug walay nasaag bisan anino nako sa iyang account. Iyang profile picture Kay iyaha jud dgway, so dili ni poser. Pero ang cover photo Kay “Say something I’m giving up on you”… Kabalo ko di lang ni siya kanta. Wala nako katulog ug tarong sukad adto, Pags. Sakit na kaau akong ulo. Sige nakog hilak. Ginatexan nako si babe pero tig dugay na kaayo mu reply. Nag dula daw sya ug basketball, nag klase, nag motor, gisugo sa iyang mama, daghan kaau ug rason. Sige nami ug away. Sige kog tawag sa iyaha pero usahay na lang i-answer. Taga ingon nako ug iloveyou sa iyaha, mwaah na lang ang itubag? Usahay, “salamat babe.” Gipangutana nako siya about adtong second account ug dakong lalis ang nahitabo kay dili gyud daw to siya. Wala siyay nahibawan about ana. Basig poser daw to. Wala daw koy trust sa iyaha, blah.. Katarungan! Justice please! Isang adlaw, akong gitestingan ug abre ang Facebook account ni babe. Pero gi lahi na niya iyang password. Mura nakog na paranoid. Dili mi ingana. Transparent mi sa among accounts. Bantog pud siguro di na sya nagapagunit ug cellphone Kay naa na gyud siyay ginataguan. Naga tuyok na gyud ako huna huna. Sakit na kaayo akong kasingkasing. Init na pud kaau iyang ulo sa akoa. Gamayng bikil, magyawyaw na. Dili ndaw ko niya mapasaylo. Unsa naman ni? Nag sige na kog ug ampo sa Ginoo. Lord, tagae kog justice please. Lord, ayaw ko pasagdii. Ug di ka katuo, Pags. Gi padamgo ko sa Ginoo sa username ug password sa iyang duha ka account. Ug nidagan gyud ko sa

SHORT STORY pinakaduol nga internet an ug confirmed! Na open nako ang duha. Naga kurog ko, dagko kaayo akong singot, bugnaw kaayo ang tibuok lawas nako habang ga hagipi sa kilid nga cubicle. Kulba nga hadlok nga excited akong gibati. Ang akong katapad sa internet shop, natingala na sa akoa. Gi block diay ko nya ug among mga mutual friends sa iya second account maong di nako siya ma view. Ug pag basa nako sa iyang messages, sa iyang original ug second account. Hapit ko nalipong sa akong gilingkoran, Pags. Halos pakaslan na gyud niya katung iyang ex. Nag hulat na lang daw siya makig bulag ko Kay sawa na daw. Di lang nya mabuhat Kay daghan pud siya ug benefits sa ako. Pero katung girl jud daw iya love. Naga kita diay sila secretly. Ginahatagan ug gifts ang manghod sa babae. (Kung kabalo lang ko asa gikan to nga mga kwarta).. Sa second account na Pags. Sa iya first account, naga flirt siya adtung Jane gwapz. Sigeg tanaw ug mga sexy sites. Daghan kaayo ug mga ka flirt. Man whore sya. User. Wala siyay batasan. Dili ing-ana akong pagkaila sa iyaha. Tinuod ni tanan? Akong ginahapak akong kaugalingon. Pila ka botelya na sa tubig akong nainom. Tinuod to tanan akong nakita. Isa ka adlaw, tungod Kay naghimo mig FS, bisan sa masakit sa akong ginabati, padayon gihapon kog skwela Pags. Mao jud nay wala nako gibuhian. Nag survey mi sa mga bahay tuluganan. Kabalo naka. Kauban nako akong mga classmates. Busy kaayo ming tanan sa requirements. Samtang ga interview akong classmates sa tag-iya, akong giluwa akong bubblegum nga ginausap sa gawas. Hantod sa nidagan akong isa ka classmate padulong sa akoa. “Ayaw ug hawa! Dira lang ka. Tago bes!” Sa akong kakurat ug kahadlok, nitago pud ko luyo sa mga dahon-dahon. “Hulata

bes. Ayaw ug lihok” Wa gyud ko kasabot sa mahitabo ngano di ko mulihok. Imbis na iluwa nako akong bubblegum, natulon na lang nako sa kakulba. Samtang gatago mi. Hapit ko nalipong. Familiar ang sapatos nga Kobe7 Cheetah nga akong pinalit tung Pasko. Color green ug violet. Gi order pa nako to online. Class A lang siya pero 3 months pud to nako giipunan. Naay kaakbay si babe gikan sa sulod. Katawa-katawa pa ang amaw Pags. Kalkag ang buhok sa babaye. Happy kaayo sila. Dakog ngisi ang amaw. Kanang mas dako pa nga ngisi kaysa maguban mi. Di nako mustorya. Pagbati. Akoa siyang giingnan sa akong nakita ug niingon siya nga dili daw to siya. Basig iyaha lang ig-agaw, nalibat lang daw ko sa ka Paranoid Kay gihiram sa iyang ig-agaw ang sapatos nga akong giregalo sa iyaha. Daghan kaayo siya ug rason ug pasumangil. Iyaha pakong giinvite mag kuan para magbati mi ug ma forgive nako sya. Siya daw bahala sa tanan gasto. Pero imbis na mu give in ko Kay lami, gibati ko ug kaluod. Wala nako ming too Pags. Kutob rami sa upat ka tuig. Tama nato. Kung sulod sa upat ka tuig, siya ang unod ug hangin nako, panahon napud siguro nga sa mga muabotay na tuig, akoang kaugalingon na pod ang manag-iya sa akoa. Siya akong first boyfriend pero murag nahulog nga tungod niya, di nako gusto muusab. Mas maayo pa ang single, ma buhat pa nimo tanan nimong gusto, walay magboot, dili gasto, way mangilad sa imoha, taga tulog nimo, dili ka magproblema kung naa bay kauban lain imong pares. I’ve had enough, Pags. It was too much. Part na siya sa akong history ug dili nako to ierase nga chapter. Tungod Kay kung wala to nahitabo, dili ko mahimong ing-ani ka isog ug ka-wais karon.

Thanks for the memories but mas thankful ko sa lessons. Ug dili na gyud ko mubalik sa iyaha. Karon, tua na siya sa Manila ug gi block ko niya sa Facebook. Nigamit kog laing account para ma view siya ug in a relationship na siya. Good luck para sa iyang new girl. Mao nang nisulat ko Pags Kay gusto nako ipaabot sa tanan nga dili magdali-dali sa gugma labaw na samtang ga skwela. Unahon sa mu graduate. Dili ma inggit sa mga uban nga naay uyab. Palipayon sa una ang kaugalingon ug ipa proud ang mga ginikanan. Ang imong kwarta, ipona. Dili para sa lain kundi para sa ika uswag sa kaugalingon. Ang temtasyon, pirminti na nanuktok bisan asa pero ayaw kini i-allow nga i-control ka. Pugngi sa kanunay. Ug ayaw ka insecure sa mga gwapa. Kay usahay, kung unsa ka Baga ilang lipstick, ing-ana pud kanipis ilang mga utok ug konsensya. Gwapa ka. Isulti gyud na sa imong kaugalingon. Love yourself because no one else will. Karon, nanarbaho nako Pags ug dako na ug sweldo. Pero ginaipon ko ini Aron itour around the world. Nakaadto nako sa mga laing lugar ug di ko ni undangan. Mamalit man kog gamit pero para sa ako rapod sa akong pamilya ug tinuod nga mga amigo. Kanang love life, dili na muabot na pina fairytale ug lami kaayo nga pagka pamisar. Usually, muabot na sya pag kumpleto naka. Fulfilled naka sa imong life. Dira naga abot ang tinud-anay nga love. Kanang ready naka. Dili out of insecurity, experience, yaga-yaga or loneliness. Ang tinud-anay nga love, dili nang muabot siya para kumpletuhon ka. Dapat kumpleto ug secured naka daan para ready ka sa pag-abot ni the one. Kaning duha, ready ug equipped na. Mao lang ni Pagbati, diri rako taman. Nagmamahal, Dara.xx

POEM

Memory Dredged by: : Lady Nyx

He remembers your beautiful eyes With intensity that spears his heart And how your long hair flies When you promised never to part He remembers the silent walk you take And the eye-conversations you make Or how people thought you’re crazy When you’re acting all silly He remember the moment he confessed Of love so deep he couldn’t suppress. When you said your hearts beat in sync And how forever is all he could think He remembers your first kiss, so sweet Under the lamppost on your street

And how your brown curls feels on his skin As he tucks your head under his chin He remembers the stars in sky so bright As you weaved your future into the night He remembers the warm hugs you shared And the loving way you stared He remembers your dad calling him son When he picked you up for the prom And the taste of your mom’s dishes When he stayed for dinner at your place He remembers the day you left And how he almost lost himself To the pain that broke his heart When he saw you happily in another’s arms

POEM

Dulang Pangdagko by: : JPol XD

Dula ta, dakpanay Dakpon teka, ako tatay Pero karon sigurado nako na maghinay Dali ra baya ka mugive up diay

Kabalo ka anang luto-luto Ganahan kaayo ko ana sauna Pero karon, ambot, dili na Kay ako paâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y maghago, akoy paâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y mapaso

Kung di ka, pwede nalang tigso Pero ayaw na pangita ug bato Gamita nalang ning kasing-kasing nako Ninggahi naman pud ni tungod nimo

Try nalang natu ning milo-milo Ako kunohay ang ambakanan nimo Kay anad naman pud kaayo ko Na patungan nimo para makuha imong gusto

Basta di lang ta anang taguanay Kay lain man gud diay kaayo ka bay Kung di lang gale ko dayon nimo

Aw tama diay no, kalimot ko Tanan man diay dula imong ganahan Mao gale pati ako nakuha nimo

makit-an Dali rako nimo ilisan

Dili para makauban, kunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;di para kalingawan

ESSAY

THE ORACLES OF FAITH by: God’s Girl

aith sees the invisible. It has the power to make people believe in the impossible. Faith determines the incredible gifts. Biblically, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith of Abel, he offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he is righteous of God testifying gifts. By faith of Noah, being warned by God of things not seen as moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; and became an heir of righteousness which is done through by faith. Through faith of Sarah herself received the strength to conceive a bare a child when she was past age. By faith of Abraham when

he was tried to offer up Isaac; and he that received the promise. By faith of Isaac, blessed Jacob and Esau concerning to the things to come. Through faith of Moses when he was born, he was hid by three months by his parents. Through his faith, he was come to years refusing to be a called as Pharaoh’s daughter’s son; choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy pleasures of sin for a season. By faith of Moses, he kept the Passover and they passed through the Red sea as by dry land which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. These all died in faith, not having received the promise, but having seen them afar off and were persuaded, embraced and confused that they were strangers on this earth. Through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought to

righteousness, obtained promise and being able to stop the mouth of lions. It is by our faith why we exist, hoping that tomorrow will come without having a full assurance. As the just shall live by faith, we should live to it and hope for the great things that will come. It is by our faith why we gain strength in believing to the things unseen. As we are given famous oracles of faith, a great examples to look up to. To nurture in the fire burning manifestation of the Creator; through our faith, the incredible things and unmeasurable blessings might be upon us. Unto our journey, those straightforward components of life are keep on upsetting us, still we keep on moving forward because we know that everything will come into pass with that, it shows faith .

It is by our faith why we gain strength in believing to the things unseen. 77

SHORT STORY

UNREAD MESSAGES by: lessthanslashthree

To my ultimate crush: NAGKAILA TA. Not the usual way like the “HI, HELLO, NICE MEETING YOU” thing, but nagkaila ta since we’re both living in this crazy world. Your circle of friends were also mine – you’re my bestfriend’s classmate, I’m your bestfriend’s girl-closefriend, barkada nimo – same persons as mine. Well, yeah, ina-ana ka close atong world. Pero nganung kita dili man? (sus uy) Until… NAGKA-CLASSMATE TA. But that situation didn’t change the script, we’re still far from each other. Bisan gani sa sitting arrangement layo kayo ta: since A ka, R ko. But from that time, daghan na kayo ko’g nahibal-an about sa imo (stalker lng? Wag mag-assume. NAKAKAMATAY! Haha). Bestfriend nimo o! wala’y laing topic kundi IKAW! IKAW! IKAW! Until such time, ginasungog na ta. (Like seriously?! Kami jud? Wala jud ninyo nabasa ang karatulang “we’re 500 miles away. And we’re fine with this. So backoff!”) HAHA. JOKE. Time goes by so fast and… NAGKA-CLOSE TA. As in? Close na ta? Nganu gani to? I forgot. XD But there’s this one thing which I can hardly forget, GILIBRE KO NIMO! Tas naa baya tay kasabihan, “A way to a man’s heart is through his tummy.” Niya kay MAN baya ko. MAN-ngaunay. (katawa ta! 78

Haha). Kaya ayun, close na ta! To the point nga atoa nang barkada and naga bulag sa atoa kay mga OP daw sila. (pasensya! ^.^) then, there came the tragic part. (tragic jud kayo siya). Cause that’s how we became. NAGKAGUSTO KO SA IMO (SECRETLY). I mean, I don’t get what I really felt. Pero para makuha nimo, the lyrics of this song will explain, “BASTA ALAM KO LANG AKO AY MASAYA SA PILING MO. PAG ‘DI KA NAKIKITA NALULUNGKOT ANG PUSO KO. BASTA ALAM KO LANG IKAW ANG HANAP NANG AKING MATA. KAHIT ‘DI SINASADYA, LAGING NA-IISIP KA. PAG-IBIG BA ITO O HUMAHANGA LANG SA’YO? BASTA ALAM KO LANG AKO AY MASAYA SA PILING MO.” (kantaha lang. XD). But, are you really that dense na wala jud nimu na-gets!? Pero, wala pud ko’y balak ipa-gets sa imo no! Kadaghan na ug nagkagusto sa imo, gwapo kay ka’g imo pakung ma-apil sa lista! (Haha, STRIKTA! XD). Pero papansin jud ni si FATE ba! Then.. NI-ADMIT KA SA AKO. (Dah uroy!) unya kay friend man lagi ta, wala ko nituo. (Haha. Sarreeyy!) Malay ko bang seryoso diay ka. Pero ambot pud nako! I actually see how you care for me, how you make me feel special. Pero kabalo ba kang ACTION WITHOUT WORD is confusing? Well, sorry, I don’t want to assume. I don’t want to see myself

believing for something without any assurance that something exist. And worst, I might say, I don’t want to find myself FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU. I’m sorry. We’re friends and you’re that important to me. And I don’t want to take the risk for the possibility of losing you if it won’t work-out. I JUST DON’T. Months passed. We’re back to being us. But we can’t deny the fact, na naa na ju’y gamay’ng boundary. But we’ve been contented with that situation. I’ve been contented. I guess I am. But then… NAKA-UYAB KA. Happy kayo ka nga gipaila-ila siya sa amoa. (Spell, INSENSITIVE T.T) Syempre sakit. And I don’t want to feel like this. I want to forget this hard feelings. But if I did, I must forget someone who means a lot to me. And it is much harder to forget someone who gave you a lot to remember. Gusto ko mag-regret for refusing the love you offered, but I decided not to (tapulan baya ko). Let’s just accept the fact that there are people who were destined to love each other but never meant to be together. #</3 “Meeting you was fate’s joke. Being your friend is my choice, my decision. But falling in love with you is out of my control.” P.S. If I didn’t know how to swim, I might have DROWNED.

POEM

Restoration by: :bearbrand

Distinguishing something for truth isn’t easy, When it is too near but too far to touch, Too close but too distant to whisper on, Too resilient but too rigid when held, That goes when I say, ‘We are together but we never hear each other,’ ‘We commonly stay in a place but our eyes had never met,’ ‘We even bumped onto each other and that is a common thing,’ ‘And that we are in love for years but was never shown at far’ How clever if it could be restored, The missing feeling now turned to ash, When if a dizzy monkey stops and calms itself to regain strength, And, when if a crying baby sleeps to cease his sorrow, Thus, how will a rusticated devotion be shiny again? Like how could I possibly hug the unremembered passion…? Passion for which I always carry before and today I almost ditched it away.

EDITORIAL BOARD & STAFF

POEM

Tanga lang ang umiibig by: : Penname

Umasa, Naniwala, Kumapit, Nasaktan Paasa, Sinubukan, ‘Di nakayanan, Binitiwan Alin ka man sa dalawa Alam mong lugi ka Subalit, di kita masisisi Lahat nagmamahal… tanga! Pero payo lang ‘igan Hinay-hinay lang Dahil lahat ng sobra’y Mahirap suklian

ESSAY

WHY DO YOU LOVE? by: nightgoddess

hy do you love when more than half the time, you get hurt? When in the end, a good percentage shows a painful result. You give someone everything and they spank it to your face like it didn’t mean anything. You handed them your heart only to find it being played like a pathetic toy, tossed and left broken. You trusted them to take care of you only to find yourself trampled and forgotten. Because before the misery is an irreplaceable bliss. Something you’d trade anything to have. Before the heartbreaks were the moments filled with happiness, laughter and full of love. Before the shattered trust is the promise of forever, the dreams weaved together, the gazes that glued you all night, the touches that sent tingles in your senses, the kisses forever treasured. Before everything vanished, you made your world with him. You dance silly dances, made perfect memories that no painter could paint so vividly, you made time when the clockwork should be hectic. He holds your hand and you felt safe, warm and fuzzy all over. He holds your hand when you walked down the lane to wherever your careless feet took you. He was there when the pressure of the school work overwhelms you and you couldn’t do anything but cry pathetically. He was there and promised to stay when your parents learned of your relationship and commanded you to end it. He was there when you sneak out of your house under your parents’ noses to watch a movie with him. He was there to tell your bashers to back off as he told you not to mind the

close-minded throng around you. He was there to tell you to fight ‘cause he’ll fight with you. He was there to whisper goodnights through the phone, the one to text you first to wish you a good morning. He was there to ask if you’ve eaten your lunch. All these constitute your fragile moments. Moments you treasured more than your life. Moments that if it was possible, you’d kept locked in a treasure chest to keep it safe and preserved. Just until you realized that termites could penetrate the thick wooden box full of memories. Slowly eating away the protection you surrounded it with. Very much like how temptation penetrates his strong resolve. Like how lies slowly destroyed the trust you built. Like how the words from the people around you started to be heard, mattered. Unattended, your love slowly crumbles into ruins. Until the ruins mirrored your shattered self and in the long run, you were so ruined you lost yourself in the breaking. Losing yourself is the most foolish thing to ever happen. But you can’t help it. You’ve invested too much, given too much, sacrificed too much to ever get back to your feet. So, you blame love. Because you’re human and humans just have to have something to blame. So you became bitter. So much, that the happy faces were false in your eyes. So bitter that you see faults and flaws in everyone, their relationship and their future. You are consumed with misery that you couldn’t see happiness in anything. To see the world not in grayscale

but in complete darkness, pitch black. Tears flowed endlessly until you thought you’re drowning. The healing, the moving on, was so hard that you thought it would take your two to three lifetimes until you can completely say you’re okay. Until someone gets in the way. A stranger? A friend? But you clicked and you get wary. Because as time passed, he saw too much inside you, knew you like the back of his hand. He makes you laugh again, and tears flowed but it was brought by hard laughter. He made you happy, alive. You felt in love again. But it was too much to risk. Another pain? Another heartbreak? You can never imagine going through it again. Folly, but you took it, all the risk and everything it entails, eyes closed and head first, fearlessly. You cast the doubts away. Locked the pain to embrace happiness again. So you loved. All over again. But you knew it won’t be a déjà vu. No. It is another lifetime, another fresh chapter. It was a different story. Because the promises were different, the love deeper, the mind more mature. Because pain gave you a good lesson and you intended to make the best of it, use it. So you loved again. It was all a cycle though. Until you found the right one. It will be blissful, happy, ecstatic, but the end is unknown. Pain may follow, the grief, the misery, it’s as inevitable as death. Or a happy ending may be made. It all depends whether the prince was the one anointed by God. Nonetheless you take the risk, the unknown. Because love is a pungent drug. Intoxicating, addictive. We love for the high feeling it gives, that feeling of satisfaction, ecstasy, delight, happiness and heaven, albeit temporarily. And that is why we love.

POEM

The Voice from Hell by: : Tep.x

You live next door on me, for years We shared our dreams, our joys, and our tears A friend to me, you were ended A friend to help me when in need. My faith in you was strong and sure We had such trust as should endure No sparks between us ever rose Our friendship were alike and so our foes. What sadness then my friend to find That after all you weren’t so kind The day on earth, my life did end I’ve found that you weren’t a faithful friend.

For all those years we spent on earth You never talk about the second birth You never spoke about my lost soul And of Christ who’d made me whole. I plead today from Hell’s cruel fire And tell you now my last desire You cannot do a thing for me No words today my bonds free. But do not err my friend again Do all you can for souls of men? Plead now with them earnestly, Lest they will be cast in hell with me.

POEM

Three o’clock by: : Lady Nyx

Awake in this ungodly hour, alone (I’m) hearing screeches on gravel and stone Mind’s racing, heart’s pounding Fear’s creeping, terror approaching “Where are you” this I wonder Will you save me as I wander? Aimlessly in the dark of the night Watch me in this shameless plight Will you be there to comfort my being? I waited as I hear the screaming From the shadows ever-surrounding Red eyes on dark bushes, all-knowing See the monsters coming our way Snatching all the happy days Watch the shadows engulf our light When you left me alone for the night

SPECIAL ARTICLE

A Letter from Mr. Gryffindor IX

THE ONES THAT LOVE US NEVER REALLY LEAVE US By: Makoy Retsel Some things just can’t come back the way it was not because it can’t, but because of the fact that no matter how hard you try, it’s just so broken.

ove survives in the eyes of many for ages. It is classic. We all have our stories to tell and we all have different views to it. As we get mature, we change and we define it the different way. Before, I thought that love is such a wonderful thing. I thought that everything will be just so happy. NO SAD MEMORIES, no pain, just you and the person you love the most. I thought that love really is enough. I thought that what matters is that you love each other, but I WAS WRONG. It’s not just a feeling you embrace day by day. It’s not just about you who loves a person so much. It’s more of a choice. More of it. Lovers always start at a happy point. Perhaps, it really is a cycle. You find love, you lost it and you find another. But finding another is just as difficult as letting go because it is hard to forget the way someone looks at you. It’s DIFFICULT TO JUST FORGET the hugs and even the kisses someone have made that made you feel so alive and loved again. You wonder if they will ever call the name they used to call you and you keep on wondering all the things they’ve made just to make you feel cared and

loved every single day. You become STUCK IN THE THOUGHT OF “US”, of thinking that forever is real. Yourlife has been aligned with theirs that you forget you have a life and so are they. AND SUDDENLY THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE CHANGED. And suddenly your life sucks. And suddenly, here you are trying to forget someone who gave you so much to remember. Important people can cause too much pain. Too much. THEY CAN BECAUSE THEY MATTER. They won’t mind because you keep on eating your pride for them. You keep on understanding them even when they do not deserve it. You keep on staying that way because they are way too important and you can’t afford losing them. But EVERYTHING AS THEY SAY HAS AN END. And suddenly, YOU WAKE UP ONE DAY AND YOU FEEL SO TIRED. You don’t know if you still love the same person but what’s definite is that you are tired. You are tired waking each day so worthless just because of a person whom you used to give your all. You are sick of telling yourself the hopes you both could have where in fact it is just you holding on. You are definitely sick and tired of trying to understand

everything where in fact all you do is to love them and you ask God to transfer all the pain you are suffering for them to feel how it’s like to feel these all. You want to breakeven. They say that strong people are the ones who can accept defeat. They are the ones who could move forward from so much pain that a person has caused. But sometimes, THE HURT IS JUST SO STRONG. It is just so strong that makes everything so weak. The UNWANTED CRIES at night. The stab like feeling in your heart. The sleepless nights of wondering what went wrong. THE MEMORIES so happy enough you become nostalgic. The FAKE SMILE you do just to go on with your life. The deafening ears from your friends telling you to stop but you are still swimming with what ifs. All those things. All those ordeal you need to bear FOR THE SAKE OF PAIN THAT DEMANDS TO BE FELT. Your life becomes a misery. You wonder how they can smile after all the things they have done. It kills your senses seeing their face telling how happy they are without you. They seem to have thanked God so much that at last you are awake with your wishful

SPECIAL ARTICLE thoughts and you have stopped making annoyance in their lives. It hurts a lot that they have changed AFTER ALL.After all. IT KILLS YOUR HEART SEEING THEM BEING SO HAPPY WITH OTHERS WHEN IN FACT IT WAS YOU WHO MADE THEM HAPPY BEFORE. You ask God what’s wrong. You ask if you are such a disobedient child for suffering too much. Day by day you wonder what it is like in their shoes for you to understand because you were left hanging. You were left with no choice but to just go on with your life as they go on with theirs. It’s just so unbearable that they treat you like a stranger. THEY TREAT YOU LIKE YOU WERE NEVER SPECIAL.What is even hurtful is that they are not just a person you love, they were ONCE A FRIEND, a companion, a comforter, A FAMILY. But now, you become for them a piece of no one. Sad. Really sad. One day, you wake up feeling so heavy. You remember the day they lied to you for the sake of another person. It pains you a lot thinking the times they made you feel so worthless. You recall how much they made you feel so unwanted after knowing your flaws and lapses. It kills even more that you know all your defects but you still accepted them because as far as you know, YOU LOVE THE PERSON NOT THEIR SETBACKS. But they never actually did. They just left and you are with yourself hanging. You can still remember the times YOU WALK IN THE STREETS, FEELING SO LOST, crying while theyare trying to be so normal like nothing really looks wrong. It seems that they are good in rejecting and ignoring. You were devastated when they UNFRIENDED you. It breaks your heart andwhat is even more hurtful is that they were the ones who made the first in everything but they are also the ones who ended it. The risk in falling in love is when YOU GET

BITTER AT THE END just because someone can’t see your value that you can love them more than they think you could. How then can you manage the risk? Not to fall? Love is just too risky. YOU ARE TO CHOOSE HOW YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF WHEN IT’S DONE. Pity. You tried to understand but you still keep on wondering. You deserve an explanation but you never received one. You are not just a toy they can just trash. You are the person they USED TO LOVE. At some point, you all get tired of reading between lines. It’s just that sometimes, you forget yourselves in the process of loving. YOU DESTROY YOURSELF in the sake of loving them. They may ask apology but sometimes, sorry is not going to be enough to make someone whole again. You are now so broken. DAMAGED.Things will never be the same because now, you have your own big bruises trying to heal and YOU TRY TO LIVE AGAIN. Even how hurt you have become, you still have to accept things. YOU CAN LOVE WHO YOU WANT BUT SO CAN THEY. You just have to hope that one day, somehow, they would realize how much hurt they have caused. Hope that one day, you will forget all this pain and even the person who caused it. SOMETIMES, WE NEED TO FORGET THE ONES WHO ONCE MEANT THE WORLD TO US FOR US TO LIVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING.We always deserve better. We all deserve to be happy. It may be ironic that good old memories can be so hurtful to remember but we should all strive hard to live a happy life. Missing them is part of the process. It’s hard when you miss someone so much but all you can do is hug your pillow, ALL YOU CAN DO IS TO PRETEND TO BE THE USUAL YOU WHEN IN FACT YOU ARE BREAKING PIECE BY PIECE.

It’s hard. Really hard. People see you so stupid ‘coz they don’t know how much pain you are bringing day by day. THEY DO NOT KNOW YET THEY JUDGE. HYPOCRITES. F. But we need to go forward. Sometimes, when you love someone, you really need to let them go. You let them go even when deep down in your heart you still want a chance. You did your best but your best was just a cliché.IT’S NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR THEM.That is why even when you love them, you need to let them go. It is not because your love is not enough but because you also need to love yourself from too much pain you don’t deserve. For them to be happy and for you to be happy as well. To someone out there, FORGIVENESS IS GIVEN. The scarred heart will always remember the good times. Only good times. Live your life and be better and soon we will cross again the same path and give each other true smiles. I may become weak at some point in the future because I might miss you a lot but I will assure that I will handle myself and take care of it. I just hope you won’t experience what I have suffered because you won’t like it. I have learned a lot. BIG TIME. But I was never regretful you became part of me. You will always be one of the best parts of my life. ONE OF THE BEST.I wish you all the best in life.Goodbye. In time, we will realize why things happen, why some things can’t work no matter how hard we try and why it’s not always the way we wanted it to become. THE ONES THAT LOVE US NEVER REALLY LEAVE US. And if they leave, perhaps, someday, someone will take all the pain from the ones who chose goodbye. It’s just a matter of time. LOVE IS STILL WORTH IT. We should never get tired in believing that we are born for someone worth loving. I still believe in forever. Always.

POEM

YEOBO by: Mc Jim

Mahal, dalawang taon at pitong buwan Tayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y naging magkasama Sa bawat paghihirap at ginhawa Ngunit masasayang araw biglang nawala Maraming tanong ang nasasagi sa isipan ko Kung bakit malamig na ang pakikitungo mo, Kung bakit maliit na away pinalalaki mo Hindi ka na ba masaya sa piling ko? Mahal, ano ba talaga ako sayo? May pagkukulang pa ba ako? May nagawa ba akong hindi mo gusto? Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sadyang biro lang talaga itong pag-ibig mo? Hindi ko lubos maisip na sa pag-gising ko Wala ka na mahal sa tabi ko Kasama ang mga pangarap Na sabay nating binuo. Alam ko may dahilan ang mga ito Kung bakit tayo pilit pinagkakalayo Siguro hindi talaga tayo gaya ng sinasabi mo At iba talaga ang nakatadhana para sayo.

POEM

Ang Huling Tula Para sa Pag-ibig by: Mr. Ink

Minsan akoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y umibig Binalewala; Naglaho, kalaunan.