ANG TINAGA
The Literary Folio of The Innovator
The Official Student Publication of College of Business and Management — West Visayas State University
Cover by: Layout by: Nicole Flaire Presbitero
Daryl De La Cruz
Sunshine Fillone Minerva
Terence Gee Falsis
Jake Ramira
© 2024 The Innovator. All rights reserved.
in the middle of an uncharted shore, even when we feel lost, there’s always a glimmer, a voice, a light to bring us home.
In the stillness of night, amidst the vastness of the unknown, a solitary light guides us home.
As I flip through the pages, I’m reminded of why we began this journey of creating a folio; to give voice to those moments and those fragments of our lives, that often go unspoken. I’ve had the privilege of watching these pieces evolve and it’s been humbling to witness the raw honesty, the whispered hopes, and the sometimes fierce resolve that fill each line, and stroke of these work. Passionate voices and bold hearts have dared to capture these moments of beauty, resilience, and discovery in the spaces we inhabit—both seen and unseen and it is my hope that as you walk through the medium of this folio, you’ll feel as connected to these
It is my hope that somewhere between pages, you will
pa·ró·la - the Filipino word for “lighthouse”
It symbolizes guidance, hope, and resilience. Throughout history, lighthouses have stood as unwavering sentinels along shorelines, casting their beams into the night to guide ships through darkness and danger. They are symbols of safety, illuminating paths for those navigating turbulent waters or searching for safe harbors.
The imagery of Parola reflects the spirit of this folio—a collection of works that shine brightly, even in solitude, to connect, to guide, and to remind us of
our shared humanity. Each piece, like the light from a distant shore, invites readers to navigate their own journeys, to find comfort in shared stories, and to remember that the human experience, though often challenging, is beautifully illuminated by the courage we carry within. Just as a lighthouse stands steadfast in any storm, these wonderfully crafted masterpieces remind us that even in the darkest moments, there is always a light—and it is worth seeking.
By Trisha Ann Cazeñas
Unclear Water
By Shekina Imperio
If you fall for the red light, what happens next? When everyone warned you, what did you expect? The sirens were loud, yet you chose not to hear. When there’s a storm, the waters are never clear.
You see, a love built on sand doesn’t last But the thrill of a chase ignores the forecast. The lighthouse stands, its light signals through. For ships to follow, when lost in the blue.
Shipwreck
By Shekina Imperio
In the quiet moments, in my silence, I found comfort in the calmness of the wind. In all my hurting at the beginning, Made my way back, found peace at the end.
I learned not stoop so low, For a love that chooses to sink, not float. On our ship, our names engraved, Finally made the jump, a move so brave.
They said seek closure, But what does that do? Never going back, Better to start anew
It was a sinking ship afterall, Nothing good ever comes from the fall. In my surrender, my strength renew. Learned the hard way, it doesn’t always take two.
White flag raised, I call my truce Taking back my heart, healed but bruised Sailed the ship, journeyed our youth, With lessons learned, I hold my truth
Paano Nga Ba Magmahal?
By Scarmaya Nicole
Paano nga ba magmahal?
Sabi nila, makakaya mo raw magsulat ng mga tula, Kahit na hindi ka isang makata.
Makakaya mo raw magsulat ng mga kanta
Para lamang siya ay maharana.
Makakaya mo raw sungkitin ang mga bituin, Kahit halatang imposible itong gawin.
At makakaya mo raw iwan ang lahat
Mapakita lamang na ang pagmamahal mo’y tapat.
Totoo nga ba ang mga ito?
Buong buhay ko ay wala akong nakitang ganito— Ang ganitong klase ng pagmamahal sa mundo
Maaaring mababasa lamang sa mga libro.
Ngunit, paano nga ba ako magmahal?
Kung sakaling balang araw ay makilala ko ang aking kapareha,
Ganito rin ba kalalim ang pagmamahal namin sa isa’t isa?
Magagawa ko ba ang mga nabanggit ko kanina?
Nakakatakot isipin na baka hindi ko kaya.
Hindi ko kayang magsulat ng mga tula
Dahil madalas ay hindi ako magaling sa mga salita.
Hindi ko kayang magsulat ng mga kanta
Dahil ang boses ko ay hindi talaga marunong makisama.
Hindi ko rin kayang sungkitin ang mga bituin
Dahil hindi ko rin talaga alam kung paano ito gawin.
At baka hindi ko rin kayang iwan ang lahat,
Kahit na ang pagmamahal ko’y totoo at tapat.
Paano nga ba ako magmahal?
Sa totoo lamang ay wala talaga akong ideya, Sapagkat ni isa ay wala pa akong nakikilala. Wala pang nagkakainteres sa puso kong nag-iisa; Maaari ngang... wala talaga.
Pero para sa akin, ang pagmamahal ay isang biyaya— Sa buhay ay regalo ang kaniyang dala-dala. Binabago ang lahat sa ilang pikit ng mga mata; Tunay na ito ay napakamahiwaga.
Ngunit, paano nga ba magmahal?
Napagtanto ko na ang mga sagot ay iba-iba. Ang mga tao ay may kani-kaniyang paraan ng pagpapakita Ng kanilang mga damdamin at saloobin— Maaaring ipinapakita, sinasabi, at kinikimkim.
Iba-iba magmahal ang mga nabubuhay sa mundo; Ang laki, lawak, at lalim ng mga ito. Siyang tunay na ang pagmamahal ay napakamahiwaga— Nakakamangha dahil sa kaniyang mga nagagawa.
Kung sakaling balang araw ay mayroon nga akong makilalang kapareha, Gaano kaya kalaki, kalawak, at kalalim ang pagmamahal namin sa isa’t isa?
Magagawa ko ba ang mga nabanggit ko noong una? Siguro... baka aking makakaya.
Pangarap
By Ma. Bridget Anne Francisco
Malayo pa, pero malapit na, Mga naririnig at bunga ng ligaya.
Kung iisipin, ‘andito na ako
Sa lugar kung saan ang dating ako ay handang humayo.
Marami pa ring kakaining bigas, Subalit ako naman ay tutuklas.
Lugar kung saan mararating ang tagumpay— Tiyak na destino natin ay naghihintay.
Sa awa at gabay
Ng Diyos na siyang tagapatnubay, Susundin ang mga plano— Babangon at mananalo.
Parang isang parola,
Na unti-unti na nating nakikita.
Lugar na noon ay isang delusyon, Ngunit ngayo’y destinasyon.
Salamin
By Lesty Hope Lovingco
Walang katapusan. Wari’y nahuhulog sa lalim ng kadiliman, nakakabinging katahimikan.
Hapdi ang dulot ng bawat segundong dumadaan. Ilang beses pa bang kailangan masugatan ng mga bagay na sarili rin ang may kagagawan?
Sa tulad ko’y mayroon pa bang kaligtasan kung ang aking pangunahing kalaban ay ang aking sarili rin naman?
“How’s Life So Far?”
By Scarmaya Nicole
Dear me, how’s life so far?
Have you now unraveled just who you are?
Tear down that facade, and show yourself to me— Speak of the horrors and magic of your story.
As a child, there was nothing much to think, But later on, innocence finally began to shrink. The cruelty and loveliness of the other side beyond, Had made its way through me and dawned.
Friendships and dreams, they fall apart, Tears in my eyes, and a bleeding heart. Regrets and acceptance catch up with each other, This fall into oblivion feels like forever.
Yet still, l want to stay for a while longer,
To see what life could possibly offer.
I believe in the good days, and I don’t want to miss, I have hope that there is still more than this.
Dear me, how’s life so far?
Have you uncovered the essence of who you are? Years have danced by; now do you see?
Life is a mysterious thing, and you should let it be.
By Scarmaya Nicole
I’ve always been ashamed of my sharp and poisonous thorns, And yet you hold me as if I’m a delicate flower That should be taken care of.
I’m scared I might make you feel sick, And you’ll die from the love That I don’t even know how to give.
Rose
She is a Sea
By Lesty Hope Lovingco
But she herself gets drowned When the wild waves of Neptune come.
The viability to be saved is uncertain. Oh, what a painful despair.
She is lucid.
Glides with grace amidst the scars of her storms. Offers an endless horizon, With a lot to confer—scintillating.
She’s deep: Blue. Dark. Cold. Melancholic.
But she herself gets drowned When the wild waves of Neptune come. The viability to be saved is uncertain. Oh, what a painful despair.
Mirrored Identity
By Elyza Cantomayor
Once, I found myself deceived by a moonlit ripple. How tempting the way he appeared— An ethereal momentum of hope, and at the same time, A distorted illusion brought to life by a luminous entity called ‘light.’
Any girl with stardust eyes that wander without any right Would get swayed by his gentle waves, Smitten by the warmth of his embrace, And spellbound by the intimacy of his gaze.
Miens aside, our personalities matched like pieces of missing creations,
That even stars would align within the scope of our reasons. With both our identities trapped in different locations, He embodies me, but as another version.
The only thing that sets our beings apart Is that I carry too much hatred within me, While he is capable of extinguishing the flame I possess. With that reason alone, I refused to reach for him as he pleaded to be saved, Until dawn came, and the moonlit ripples ceased to exist.
For I know that despite his dream-like daze, He’s no more than an ethereal image reflected upon the dark surface of the water—
An initial memory painted by the moon and sea, An artwork with dying potential yet never seeming worthy— He is me, and I am he.
Defying Odds
By Arcane
Not my dream university, nor the course I sought, Yet here I stand, facing battles bravely fought. Through every challenge, I find my way, Conquering doubts, turning night into day.
Though paths may twist and dreams may stray, I rise with purpose, come what may. In this journey, I discover my might, Transforming struggles into my guiding light.
Ebbing Tides of Goodbye
By Julia Marie Fernandez
Standing at the near end of the midnight blue sea, The lighthouse’s light shining brighter than the moonlight’s gleam, Casting a shadow like a mournful seam, While the sea wind sings a sorrowful plea.
A warm touch enough to make
The cold night’s sad embrace— Savoring, pleading, too obsessed to take One step forward to feel and taste.
Standing in a white nightgown, she soulfully looks into his eyes, Her gaze asking, confusion following behind: Why he feels so unreal and distant this time, Why his kisses trailed chills and crept inside.
“This might be a goodbye,” he finally speaks. “And I cannot return on time.”
She releases a defeated sigh and finally replies, “If waiting was wrong, I’d commit a crime.” Heart shattered as her spirit cries; He caresses her lips with a final goodbye.
And he finally steps away and departs, Leaving his poor other half almost wailing behind. And she confuses herself on how to tell apart Loving him endlessly or falling apart.
Promises too heavy to keep, too broken to bind, Left drifting with tides, trapped in her mind. The lighthouse flickers, its light beam fades low; Nothing left but woe, no peace, not even a shadow.
She clutches her chest, torn between hope and despair, Wondering if his love was ever truly felt. The winds whisper his voice that was once there, Now carrying his absence in an empty space.
Waiting on the shore, though she knows deep inside, The sea has stolen him as sand and waves collide.
Realizing he may never return to be by her side, She stands frozen still, where the earth meets the tide.
With a last whisper of farewells, it sinks in again: Her lover was long gone—what a tragic event. Waiting for nothing now but simply the rain, To feel the love long lost, stolen by fate.
The Plotwist I Never Wanted
By Kacey Claire Tanallon
I stand at the edge of a dream, once so bright, A vision of futures I held through the night. I reached for the stars, for the course I had planned, But now I find myself on a path I hadn’t planned.
The world feels askew, my heart’s in dismay, For I’m not where I thought I’d be today. The dreams I had cherished are slipping away, And I struggle with truths I’m forced to betray.
I dreamed of the halls where my future would shine, Of plates and of designs, a life so divine. But now I’m redirected, not by my own choice, And it’s hard to accept this unwelcome voice.
The plot twist is harsh, a reality unkind, A path that I’m walking, though I’m far from aligned. I want to resist, to fight against fate, But the currents are strong, and they won’t abate.
Yet, in the depths of my struggle and pain, I sense a soft whisper, a hope to sustain. Perhaps there’s a reason, a purpose so grand, That I can’t yet see, but it’s part of the plan.
Maybe this detour is leading me near, To something much greater, something I’ll hold dear. Though the path I am on is not what I’d dreamed, There’s a chance it’s a blessing, more than it seems.
How I write of love
By Shekina Imperio
They tell me to write of love happy, write of love soft, write of love gentle—not of a love lost. But I’ll write of the truth, or I’ll write of nothing at all. I’ll write of how pain followed after the fall.
For love is not always the fairytale told, but a feeling of loss even after you found gold. So no, I won’t write of love perfect nor sweet, I’ll write of how to me, love felt like defeat.
Rendezvous
By Shamnel Francine Soteo
I glanced at the towering lighthouse up ahead, And memories of us came rushing into my head. Through that watchtower, I recall everything we did And all the promises and sweet things we have said.
I remember when I squinted, hindering my eyesight; I always felt your hand shielding my eyes from sunlight. All the little things we did that made all of my days bright— I remember them all, with that beacon and its impressive height.
I remember the salty sea breeze that filled the air; I always felt your warmth, making me so aware. All the littlest things we did together with ease— I remember them all, along with that old tower by the seas.
I remember when I pointed at the seabirds that flew by; I always felt your burning gaze on me, making me shy. Every little thing that we softly said and bravely tried— I remember them all, and that lighthouse against the blue sky.
A beautiful place that has withstood the harshest of the harsh, A century-old beacon that holds the memories of the past, Has become our favorite space where we built our trust. I hope it remains strong, symbolizing the love between us.
She— A Slave of Love
By Jan Eduard Gumawa
She offers kindness, a well run dry; her beauty, a curse that draws disdain’s eye. A remnant of love, in shadows she dwells, unaware of the hearts that whisper and swell. Chasing a phantom, lost in the chase, yearning for warmth, yet finds empty space. Desiring return, but fear makes her mute, in love’s tangled web, she feels the brute.
Midnight Craze under Cerulean Haze
By Jake Ramira
I perambulated through the coast when the clock struck the witching hours, like a fiend hollering through the shards of earthiness, while the midnight mist made my body cower.
Along the trails of the ocean’s sentiments, of its body scattering through the shore, I pondered deeper than the depths of the oceans, plunging into the trenches of my bequeathed lores.
There, by the reefs of my most refined phantasms, the phantom of my past hides itself in the obscurity, like an anglerfish watching the current’s rhythm to prey on my fragile hours, to initiate the enmity.
I felt my soul burst like a lightweight bubble as I drowned and gasped for air. As the sonorous silence began to pierce my mind, I felt the waves crash like my most dreaded nightmares.
The agonizing hues of the night’s descry, and my bruising ego’s insipid lullabies unhingedly haunting me like a sperm whale’s tremendous cacophony. I lost my sight as everything began to burn in shadows, devouring my senses—my body hollow.
Then a beam of light began to gleam from afar, radiating hope from the despair of the dark. That’s when I found the shelter to my storms, from a tower built of sturdy stones, a tomb of time, of ages’ bones.
The Sun set and So Did You
By Jake Ramira
We cradled in the embrace of the golden beacon as our silhouettes bled behind the shrouds, gazes grimacing through the stretching oceans as we endlessly voyaged through the quixotic shapes of the clouds.
We nestled above the fragments of earth’s skin, rummaging possibilities of what lies beyond the horizon and akin. As the waves subtly touched our toes, I felt your breath trilling through the surface of my nose.
The sun was a witness to the vows we’ve sworn; the skies were the nurses to our newfound affection; the winds were the apothecaries of a love born under the constricting bounty of sunset’s pavilion.
Then, the twilight arrived in seamless phantoms, and the shadows permeated through the scene. As obscure as the enigma of the daylight dimmed, you began to dissipate through the winds.
I had a peripheral angle of your frolicking ghost, leaving a trail of footprints like a ticking clock, and I was left in wrench, shouldering the curse of an oath, kneading the sand castles that we both dreamed to last.
I wept, and the oceans hid my cries. I became the distressed siren on the side of the coast, and I was left like a fiend asking, how can you just walk away, skipping the green flash, knowing that something like this does not mean to last?
By Sharmaya Nicole
Cold breeze touching my skin, As I sit upon a lonely seat. The moon is brightly shining, As the lake reflects the elite.
Contrary to the beautiful sight, Inside myself,there wasn’t any light. Fighting invisible demons, eating me alive, Doubting if I will still survive.
Silently weeping with my eyes and heart, Looking surely like a devastated art. Alone, I mumble to myself, and again, I swore, “If my heart could yell, it couldn’t talk anymore.”
Moonlight
Selenophilia
By flor y luna
In this serene gloom, the silver spoon of moonlight stirred, Casting a gentle glow on the world’s hushed word. It whispered through the curtains, a soft, silvery thread, Weaving a tapestry of peace around my weary head.
The moon, a silent guardian, in the night sky stood, A beacon for the broken, misunderstood. Its light, a balm to the shadows of my mind, Guided me through the darkness, helped me to find
A semblance of serenity in the stillness of night, A moment of clarity, where everything felt right.
The moon’s tender luminescence, a steady, soothing flame, Told tales of resilience, whispered my name.
In its tranquil presence, my thoughts began to wane, The tides of my sorrow, now a softer refrain.
The moon, a constant in the ever-changing skies, Reminded me of hope, that the sun too shall rise.
With each phase, it showed life’s ebb and flow, A reminder that change is how we grow.
The moon, in its orbit, a dance of grace, Taught me to embrace my own unique space.
In the canvas of the cosmos, it painted my plight, A portrait of a soul, finding strength in the night.
The moon, my companion, through the highs and lows, A witness to my journey, as my healing grows.
So here’s to the moon, and its comforting light, For guiding me gently, through the toughest of nights. A celestial poet, in the sky’s grand stage, Helping me turn a new chapter — a new page.
Sentiments
By Frances Retiro
It’s beyond the shadow Of a doubt okay To feel a certain way— Feeling down in the dumps Or bent out of shape.
These are ordinary sentiments That is rooted in our minds. After all, we’re human beings, Not heartless mechanoids. We ponder and perceive existence.
Breaking Free from the Labyrinth of Gloom
By Monic Therese Jalandoni
I’m trapped in a suffocating gloom, A maze of doubt, where loneliness loom, Infinite loops of questions and self-criticism swirl, Will chasing high remarks satisfy this little girl? Will being recognized free me? I’m lost in this chaos, please help me!
Seeking validation, I might benefit, Constant praise is my way to cope, This should be my beacon of hope, The gloomy place where I’m trapped will be lit. As I search for fulfillment in me, I’ll discover more within and break free.
Lovely Shards
By crimson cram
Smile and sweet scents, songs, and serene sunsets, Memories of euphoria trace the path where we first met. A story as precious as time, like destiny’s perfect rhyme, Even bittersweet love draws two souls to entwine.
A leap of faith ignites both hearts, longing to unite, In the silence of night, our heartbeats echo bright. Hand in hand, we tread the shore of uncertain love, Embracing the ecstasy gifted by the stars above.
Yet as time weaves its tale, shadows dance in the light, Waves of doubt and fear challenge our will to fight. We gather every moment, both joyous and scarred, Holding tight to the beauty, though our love feels marred.
One compelling truth strikes deep within our hearts–Between you and me, there’s no chance we’ll drift apart. Dolefully, there is no chance and no pieces to restart, Yet here we stand; toxic, nostalgic, collecting lovely shards.
Within
By Lesty Hope Lovingco
Once she shines bright, Adored by the multitude, Oblivious to the fact that she’s Laggardly consumed By the need to suffice The expectations thrown upon her.
The brightness made her blind; Her light vanished. But gentle hands held her And let her feel the warmth— Enough to spark the eagerness in her again.
A fire, Waiting to melt a lot of hearts, Waiting to warm a lot of souls. Those gentle hands were hers all along, Left but not abandoned, Kept but not forgotten. Indeed, she got rekindled.
Weaving Words Under the Moon’s Veil
By flor y luna
In the quiet of the night, under the moon’s gentle glow, I found solace in my pen, letting my thoughts freely flow. The stars whispered secrets, in the silence of my room, As I wrote, my spirit lifted, dispelling all the gloom.
The moon, a silent guardian, watched over me with care, Its silver light caressing words, born from deep despair. With each stroke of my pen, the darkness seemed to fade, And in its place, a tranquil peace, within my heart was laid.
For in the act of writing, beneath the moon’s soft beam, I found a kind of healing, a place to dream and deem. The night’s embrace, so tender, held my hopes aloft, And in that sacred space, my burdens felt so soft.
So thank you, dear moon, for being my steadfast friend, For guiding me through verses, where broken hearts can mend. Your presence brought comfort, as I poured out my soul, In the sanctuary of night, writing made me whole.
Moonchild
By flor y luna
In this serene gloom, the silver spoon of moonlight stirred, Casting a gentle glow on the world’s hushed word. It whispered through the curtains, a soft, silvery thread, Weaving a tapestry of peace around my weary head.
The moon, a silent guardian, in the night sky stood, A beacon for the broken, misunderstood. Its light, a balm to the shadows of my mind, Guided me through the darkness, helped me to find
A semblance of serenity in the stillness of night, A moment of clarity, where everything felt right.
The moon’s tender luminescence, a steady, soothing flame, Told tales of resilience, whispered my name.
In its tranquil presence, my thoughts began to wane, The tides of my sorrow, now a softer refrain. The moon, a constant in the ever-changing skies, Reminded me of hope, that the sun too shall rise.
With each phase, it showed life’s ebb and flow, A reminder that change is how we grow.
The moon, in its orbit, a dance of grace, Taught me to embrace my own unique space.
In the canvas of the cosmos, it painted my plight, A portrait of a soul, finding strength in the night.
The moon, my companion, through the highs and lows, A witness to my journey, as my healing grows.
So here’s to the moon, and its comforting light, For guiding me gently, through the toughest of nights. A celestial poet, in the sky’s grand stage, Helping me turn a new chapter — a new page.
Scarily Wonderful
By Scarmaya Nicole
Growth is a daunting journey, as is staying the same; Time will come when you’ll have to bear a new name. You’ll shed your skin, and unwantedly bleed through it; Pain and pleasure will consume you bit by bit.
Your mirror will be the window of many, All your lived lives will fill up your one soul, uncanny. Fragments of who you were and what you will be; Will make you a broken piece, or shape an entirely new entity.
Friends may turn to strangers, and dreams fade away, Home will feel unfamiliar, leaving you lost and astray. Lessons will grant you new eyes, and the world will seem to change Only then will you see life’s wonderfully strange face.
You will always look for that happiness you once felt, You will find it frozen in time, and you’ll beg for it to melt. The magic of childhood, now dead and distant from its prime, You might find yourself wishing to go back in time.
Growth is a wondrous thing, so is remaining the same; Sometimes, you’ll loathe to wear your new name. But what is the past but a whisper to remember? No one can escape their destiny to be altered forever.
Failed to Know
By Lesty Hope Lovingco
You love paintings,
So you adorned yourself with the metallic scent And bathed in its alluring red hue.
But nobody knew.
You love songs and sculptures, So you carved every lyric into your skin.
But nobody knew.
You love crafts, just like jewelry, So you wore a necklace of escape.
Then everyone cried.
They wept and mourned, Remembering the goodness that once radiated from you.
But nobody knew
What lay hidden beneath those carefully crafted smiles— Your silent cry for help,
Echoing louder than the words they could see. They know what you did, but not what you truly felt.
Until then, nobody knew.
A Greek Tragedy
By Elyza Cantomayor
I could never fathom
How much an entity—
Namely, he—
Would remind me
Of the tragedy in Hellespont—
The death of Hero’s beloved, The raging storm,
The light that died, The heart that drowned, And the soul that refused to survive. But he
Is no man of Abydos,
And nor am I
A priestess of Aphrodite.
He would never take the risk
And swim the ocean
Just to catch a glimpse of me,
Nor would I
Drown myself after seeing
His lifeless body.
Regardless, his mind and my heart
Were never on the same track.
For I live for the moment,
Yet he cowers in the logic of the aftermath.
So when the night blessed a fiery storm, It all came pouring down on me—
The light I offered to provide Seemed never enough to keep him safe
In the same raging waters
Hero’s lover braved. Hi
Parola: Beacon of Hope
By Zhenrha Mica Tayoba
I will surpass this endless night, I’ll embrace my worth, so I can fight, In courage and strength, I believe, Self-fulfillment and acceptance, I’ll achieve The pressure of education, a relationship of love and hate, My Achilles’ heel, an unending fate. A boat was cast out across the sea of raging waves, As this pitch-black sky marked solitude losing its raves. Burdened by chaos and inconstancy within its core, The boat struggles to spread its sails to reach the shore.
Remaining adrift through highs and lows, It vanished in a realm far from the way it should go. Lost in a meadow of darkness planted ubiquitously, Hoping for a rescue before being submerged completely.
Then suddenly, a ray of light flashed before its lenses, And hope was dispersed throughout the system’s presence. As the storm and raging seas became fuzzy and blurry, The boat pursued the light with stillness and security.
A guardian in the harbor for navigators in darkness, A beacon of light that paves the path for ships who lost their luminescence.
A lighthouse standing firm amidst the crashing and roaring vicinity— Parola, a symbol of hope beyond adversity.
Where Secrets Never Die
By crimson cram
Bewildered by the starlit dome in the velvet night’s embrace, Beneath the silver gaze of a friend, gifted with light and grace, A silent sentinel, drifting in the heavens’ endless span— The loneliest object, full of secrets and stories grand.
A silent confidant to the ache that fills my soul with yearning, For someone so cold, so distant—my heart cruelly burning. In silence, we share no words, yet feel a tethered bond, A connection forms, unseen, in quiet depths beyond.
Your craters, like the scars of time, hold stories left untold, Mirroring my heart, listening to how monologues unfold. A beacon in the darkness, your light guides the broken-hearted, A companion to those whose spirits are shadowed and tormented.
I speak of love, lament, and longing, of dreams that fade at dawn, Of hopes that teeter on cliffs, where moonlight gently yawns. For you, too, understand the longing, the waiting, the desire, To be close to one who’s distant, to ignite a gentle kindling fire.
The moon, in all its loneliness, becomes my sympathetic friend, A silent listener, a solace to the tale of love that has no end. The moon, in all its splendor and glory, a reminder of the past, Of what we’ve lost, what we’ve found, and what will last.
So here I stand, screaming my whispers over your soft light— Oh, moon! You sail the heavens in your eternal, lonely flight. In silence, we converse between the earth and sky— I pour my heart to you, where secrets never die.
A Siren’s Symphony: A Daunting Cacophony
By Jake Ramira
The moonlight’s gist kisses her skin as she dawdles through the menace of tides. Her visage portrays a writer’s dream, a reaper’s grim, and everything in between that transpires and subsides— the angels of the oceans, the deities of the seas, the seraphic ornaments that the heavens have seized.
Euphoric by voice, a mayhem by sight, an alluring fiasco that reaps your delights. They lull in entrancing serenity, singing your desires in serendipity.
As you’re drawn by the cerulean haze fogging the crevices of your fantasies, you subtly plunge through the maze of remorses under unmitigated ecstasy. Soon, they grasp through your skin and claw through your bones, through the veins on your flesh, through the things that you own. They peruse your soul and savor your entirety like a lowly being of inferior entities.
Humming in ecstatic melodies, you become the ocean’s fertile mulch, a scrumptious feast for the fish and the plankton’s oceanic haul.
Padayaw sang Parola
By Mart Lorence Dula-ogon
Ang Damgo sang Estudyante, Padayaw sang Parola
Sa kilid sang baybay, may parola nga nagapasanag, Pareho sang estudyante, may damgo nga gina bal-ag.
Sa tago nga mga gab-i, bisan ang kalayo nagahapon, Ang iya handum, subra pa sa mga tudlo kung isipun .
Ang parola, nagagiya sa mga balod nga wala ti katapusan, Pareho sang estudyante nga nagatindog sa duta sang kahilwayan.
Bisan kabudlay kag kalayo ang kadulungan, Ang kabilugan sang iya paglaum, sa damgo nga iya ginapatihan.
Sa kada adlaw nga nagaagi, kis’a may bagyo pa nga nagapasulabi, Pero ang parola, pareho sang estudyante, matindog gid sa balas sang kabuhi.
Sa kadulom, may paglaum nga nagapalumba, Ang damgo sang estudyante, pareho sang parola, indi magpatumba.
Ugaling, bisan magkalayo ang damgo nga ginatulok, Bilog kag kasanag, pareho sang parola sa baybay nga nagatulok. Ang pagtuo nga nagapasiga, ang iya gina padayaw, Pareho sang estudyante, ang damgo indi magpalayaw.
Cosmic Wanderer
By flor y luna
Upon the cosmic sea I sail, a starseed on the gale, Through the dark of night, ‘neath starry veil, I seek a holy grail. A journey deep within the soul, where silent whispers roam, To heal the wounds, to make me whole, to find my way back home.
From shadows cast by Saturn’s rings, to Neptune’s misty glow, Each planet sings and gently brings, the lessons I must know.
The comet’s tail, a fiery trail, ignites a spark within, A transformation, vast and frail, a new life to begin.
Through trials of fire, through tests of air, through water’s deep embrace, I find the strength to face despair, with dignity and grace.
The Earth’s rich soil beneath my feet, a stable ground to stand, Reminds me of the love so sweet, that flows from nature’s hand.
A starseed’s path is never clear, it twists and turns in space, But with each step, I conquer fear, with a steady, measured pace. The universe, a teacher wise, imparts its sacred lore, And in my heart, a light arises, brighter than before.
So here I am, a traveler bold, in the vastness of the night, Transformed by stories yet untold, bathed in celestial light. A journey of the spirit’s quest, to know the truth so pure, A starseed’s tale of healing blessed, forever to endure.
Memories Hurt
By Scarmaya Nicole
Memories are treasures That you’re supposed to bring, Not a pin that you have to endure, That keeps you from moving.
Go on, move forward, And stop being a coward. Close the door and just leave; Remember, nostalgia deceives.
Vision
By Ma. Bridget Anne Francisco
A gust of wind gushed upon me, Seeing such scenery was dear to me. Achieving what lies over the horizon— That should never be a delusion. But things wouldn’t go as planned.
Mind filled with doubts and hesitations, In pursuing those dreams and aspirations. Buckling up to earn that plaque, And chasing the goal of the track.
With God by my side, Reaching the line between the skies and the seas Will not be a mystery—As it girds me to unsee The plan prepared and best for me.
Munting Tinig ng Pag-asa
By Kim Ryan Songcayawon
Sa pag-usbong ng katotohanan, tayo ay pilit na nagbubulag-bulagan. Mga matang tinatakpan, tengang nagbibingi-bingihan.
Kamay na nakagapos sa bakal na kadena, napapalibutan ng nakakabinging tawa. May mga nakakalitong busina, nakakaawang hikbi ng mga matatanda’t bata.
Masisilayan pa kaya ang bukas na may ngiti? Mga matang puno ng pighati, pusong nagdadalamhati— panalangin, kalayaan ang siyang minimithi.
Sa pagsikat ng araw sa dakong silangan, panibagong pag-asa ang nais makamtan. Makawala sa pait at pasakit ng nakaraan, magiging payapa mula ang munting bayan.
A Yearning’s Excerpt to his Future
By Jake Ramira
An invisible entity I can’t grapple on, an intangible chain I’m tied into, permeating through my soul, a conspicuous curse I can’t undo.
I dawdled through spaces as i watched your absence lurk around the whimsical realm I painted with my quirk. you dissipated under the shades leaving a trail of your bliss, and i realized my grievous mistake was not realizing you were worth the risk.
I envied the decoys the people you hang around, how you shared laughter while i didn’t make a sound.
Thus, i write on this modern parchment all the plethoras of promise i bid, your raw diffidence, our attachment and the fragments of me you heed.
this is merely a note, a gesture of hope that through this ember we spark through the whisper of hearts, the chances we take becomes the life we make.
beyond words and eloquent pieces, you are more than just hugs and kisses, y ou are my vow, my truth, bound to my soul, a person i can’t lose.
Citrus Yellow and Lime Greens
By Jake Ramira
Staggering in limps, burdened by weights, tiptoeing on eggshells and arrives somewhere late.
Crowing silently, charming the crowd, smiling like a gallant prince with his head in the clouds.
Fervor passion, relentlessly enthusiastic, paving his tunnel through a lumpy road with nothing but his tiny stick.
I hope that while the rain heavily pours and the drizzles becomes obscure, this letter envelopes you in warmth, and make your heart secure.
i see you and your efforts, your authentic diffidence, i hope when some days make you feel hurt you won’t hesitate to hold my hands.
when the lime lights are on, and your feelings dawn may i remind you that deeply in blue, you painted me green, when yellows were red, you appeared at the scene, and when it’s my turn to color your hues, i hope you take the promise that I’ll be there for you.
Never Been Easy
By Sharmaya Nicole
It has never been easy
To find the light in the dark sea, To wander blind and alone, To seek what is yet unknown. It has never been easy To stretch your wings and be free. The heart is an animal in a cage; Liberty has now become a sorrowful rage.
Chained by my mind, Haunted by my past, My poem and life are not the kind That gives a colorful blast.
Despite that, here I am writing
To tell a part of the horrors of living, And to say that it may never be easy, But chaos has a hidden beauty.
Melancholic hope and doubtful trust, Shaking faith, yet values are a must.
If life is softly deemed an art, Irony is one of its shameful parts.
It may never have been easy; Light and freedom may be hard to see.
But if we take life graciously, Maybe it won’t be as cruel as it would be.
ANG TINAGA
The Literary Folio of The Innovator © 2024 The Innovator. All rights reserved.