ALEGRIA - A Literary Folio by LELLS | Vol. 4

Acknowledgment

The League of English Language and Literature Students

would like to express their deepest gratitude to Mr. Guiller T. Marila for his endless support in making this Literary Folio possible. From ideas to planning and the execution, you have been there until the end and we greatly appreciate you for that. Thank you for your guidance and support that no one can ever measure to. You have and always will be a great inspiration to all of us.

The LELLS would also like to thank everyone reading this Literary Folio, to the literary committee and graphic designers, the LELLS officers and of course, the people behind the pen names who contributed to this literary folio. We appreciate each and everyone of you, this would not be possible without your existence.

Thank you and God bless.

Gabrielle Neil S. Bulda President, LELLS

Editor's Note

Hello there!

In line with National Literature Month, I am proud to present you the first-ever literary folio of the League of English Language and Literature Students entitled "ALEGRIA: Define Your Own Joy," it is a great privilege to manage this literary folio as the Head Editor despite having hectic schedules with various events taking place.

While editing with the team, I read some of the entries and witnessed how they define joy that sparks within them creatively with illustrations, experiences, and deeper meanings you'll never expect to see.

I'll never forget the sleepless nights I have in finalizing this book with the Executives.

I'd recommend listening to a dreamy playlist to feel the experience of this book. Take a glance. Enjoy and read, what joy means for you and me.

Matthew Jullian C. Naval External Secretary, LELLS

Wordsandphrasesthatspark thoseunwaryhearts thatsetsindividualstoembark anddefythemeaningthatmarks.

Willjoygiveyouaspark?

GENUINE

Ialwayslovestarringather

Hereyesshinelikeastar

smilethatcolormyworld

Herhairsmellslikeaflower

CottonyfeelingwhenItouchherskin

Warmhugsthatcomfortme.tellingme.

thatthisisyourhometakearest.

HervoiceislikeaLullaby

Thatmakesmeweakandcaresmyears

She'smycryingshoulder

Noneedforvitamins,Ialwaysfeelactiveandstrongwhenshe's withme.

Cookingadeliciousfoodwasmypayment.

Theloveandcarethatwillmarkaspermanent.

Whenthetimecomes

Themomentthatoureyeswillnevermeetagain. Butourvoicewillreacheachother.

Thedistanceisnotanobstacle.

Physicaltouchcanwait

MyLoveisalwaysyou

Myheartisalwaysyours

Youralwaysonmyprayer

Takecareofyourself

Itwilltakealittlelonger

Iwillwaittillyourherelyingdowninmyshoulder

Are the Bonds In this era is Really that flimsy?

Whenpapadisappeared

Floodofproblemsappeared Ourfoundationhasgone

Theproblemgetridofusallatonce.

Hey,momIseekforyoursupportbutthere'snoresponse.

Imovetograndmaandgrandpashouse. Tolessentheamountofcost.

LastnightIsawyourpost.

LookingatthenamesIthinksomenamewasmissing Taggingallnamesofmysiblings

Theonenamethatismissingwasmine.

Iknowyouwenttomall,Iunderstandikeepshuttingmy mouth.

Imnotjealous,allthistimeIneedevenalittleamount.

Financiallyandmentallysupport.

Fiftypesosisabighelp.

Iworkhereasacookwithoutpayment.

Waitingforsomeonewhowillgivemesomemoneyformy transportationtoschool.

Iwalkeverynightandmorning,darknessofnightneverscared me.

ItoldyoubeforethatIwillliveheretosavemoney.

Nottoburnthebridgeofyoursupportforme.

Idonthaveanymoneyinmypacketeveninmywallet.

YoumightthinkIlivelikeaprincehere.

Ifyoucanonlysee

Ifyoucanonlyfeel

Ifyoucanonlyhear

Imfightingmyfear

Tryingtosurviveinthisunfairworld.

Tellingmyselftoholdon.

FromnowonIcandoitbymyown.

AllIwantnowistofinishcollege

Andgototheplacewherenooneknowme.

a summer in december

wavessplashing, feelingsfleeting, crescentmoonpeaking; lookingatyousmiling.

burstingintolaughter, unknowinglyconversationsafter. refreshingcolddrinkstogether, secretlyglancingtoeachother. indeed,itisasummerindecember. -

Joy and the human nature

Misery

Itisthestateofdistressandsuffering.

Itisapartofthehumancondition

Toliveistobewithsuffering

You'retiredaren'tyou?

Youfeelanxiousandterrible

stupidatthingslikeyourlifeandyourfuture.

toyouohpeopleofnojoy,thebaselineofemotionis theheavyanddarklikethebottomofthedeep.

Thenwhatdoido?wheredoigo?

Whyshouldicontinuetolive,iflivingissuffering moreandmore?

Forthetrapoftheegoishellandliberationisheaven.

youarenotinthedeep,thisisjustthenight.Havefaith andsleepforthesunwillriseonceagain.

Thefirststepoftrulylivingistoacceptthatpainisa partoftheworld.

Happinesslikesadnessisapartoflife.

Theyintotheyang.

Apartofthesamecoin.

infaceofsufferingonewantstobehappy. Buthappinessisaweakgoal, fleetingandcircumstantial,lastinglikeashortgustof thewind.

Thoughitisnecessarytobedistressedforalittlewhile whenfacingvarioustrials,begladforthereishope.

Athingyou'llsee butsufferingisnot.

Begladoffool

notbecauseofcircumstancesbutbecausethereishope, thatpaintemporaryandgoodthingswillcome.

Forpainmightbeamammothofatask,butjoyisawall strongerthanpain,forjoyisawallofhopeandfaith.

SuchagreatgiftfromGodtoman.

Thoughit'seasytomissthereisapointtoallthis.

Don'tworryforthefuture,itisforfools.Workforitbut don'tletitbeyoursuffering.

Takeitslowgrabasip, aseeddoesn'tmagicallyexplodetoatreeovernight.

Talktopeople,gooutside,we'reastupidlittleantthat sufferswhenalone.

Learn,itisthefoundationofgrowthandwisdomand peace. Andlastlybekind.

Toliveisneverreallyeasy,muchlesstolivewhile beingkind.

Ittakesstrengthforamantoclimbtheabysswhile choosingtobegood.

"howcanonebegood?"youmightask.

Openyoureyesandlistentothis,sothatonemight livesensiblythistime. Justbedecent, That'sheroismenough. That'showitis, that'showit'salwayshavebeen.

Putdownyoursword.youdon'thaveanenemy, nobodydoes.

beit10,000years nomanknowshowlifeworks,noonewill.

Carveittostones,paintitonwalls,writethiswords intoeverybones,speakthiswordstoeverytongues, peopleshouldknow,theyneedtoknow.Thatlifewill begood,it'llbeokay.

Havehopeatleastthatitwillbe.

Nowwalkyouuglysackofpotato,rejoiceforthereis hope

Letuswalkaloneinthislifetogether

Whatluckwhatshameisthisthingcalledlife.

Attheendofthisalldon'tlistentome,iknownothing really.

I'mbarelyevenaperson.

Invisible and Unappreciated Astoryof

InvisibleandUnappreciated

I’vebeenlivinghereinourworldforalmost20years andmytwoeyeswitnessedmanysituationshow reallyimportantthemoneyis.Lifeofeverypeopleis notmovingforwardwithoutmoneythatsustainstheir basicneedsandluxuriouswants.Otherpeoplesaid thatthesmileofapersonwhohasamoneyiswider thansomeonewho’sshudderingbecauseofbeingin love.Thisscenecan’tdenythefacthowdoesmoney definesomeone’sowndefinitionofjoyaswellashow doesmoneycontrolhowwefeelandhowweshould actforeverysingleday.Forsomepeople,maybe moneyistheirjoyorhappinessthatisonlytriggered becauseitsupportstheirnecessities.

Buthowaboutsmallthingsthatisunappreciatedfor some?Howaboutthethingsthatisinvisibletohuman eyebutitfeelsdeeplyinourhearts?Areallthose thingsisnotajoy?Orwe’rejusttellingthatbecauseof beingdiscontented?

Inevercomplainabouthowsimpleourlifeis.Ididn’t complainwhatthingscanmyparentsoffertous becauseattheend,westilldoappreciateitevenifit’s nothingforothers.Bothofmyparentsis

undergraduatebutthisacademicdilemmawillnever beahindranceforthemtonotbeabletofulfillwhat andhowgoodparentswouldbe.Theyhave10children andIamthefourth~measacollegestudent,theonly thingthatwantedistopaybackmyparents’sacrifices andtobearolemodelformysibs.I’veseenand experiencemanyatrocitiesinlifeandallIdidisto fightasbravelyasIcan.

Onecupofcoffeewithariceinitisourbreakfast beforegoingtoschoolwithoutcarryinganymoneyin ourpocketsandifIhave,tenpesosisthehighestthat isspentforthewholedayandthislastsuntilIentered highschool.Everymorning,fillingupawaterinapale isourexercisebecauseofnothavingourownpipeof water,wetendtogoinourneighbor’shouseforusto fillupourcontainersandpayforit.Eatingadelicious friedricecookedandsellbyourneighbornamed“Ate Luby”isjustonlyhappenedseldom,onlyifwehave enoughmoneytobuywhatwewant.Eatinginfastfoodchainsoutsidewillonlybeexperiencedonceina bluemoon.Staringatourwoodenpatchedceiling-a protectionfromheateveryafternoonbecauseofour roofthatisfullofholes,isaroutineeverynightbefore wegotosleepinsteadofwatchingtelevision.

It's3o’clockinthemorning,it’salwaysanexacttime whereIstartedtooverthink.Mindisthegreatest enemyatall,it’sbetweenwhatyouthinkandhowyou feel.Whilelyingonmybed,wearinganoldnighties, andstaringatourceiling,Iwasthinkingifhowweare goingtobefreeinthis,inshacklesofdespairand poverty?Andevenintheprisonofourmindswherea restwillneverbeananswerontiredness.Ididn’t mindthatmypillowisbeingsoakedintearsdropped frommyeyesthat’swhyIturnitonanothersideand fallasleepaftersobbing.

Sundaymorningisadaywhereinallfamilymembers arepresentbecauseitisafamilyday.Taskswillbe continuetomorrow,Monday.

Sundaymorningisadaywhereinallfamilymembersare presentbecauseitisafamilyday.Taskswillbecontinue tomorrow,Monday.IwassurprisedbecauseI’verealized howblessedIamhavingalovingfamilythatmakesme feellikehomeisawinandincomparablethanthevalueof moneyforothers.Ourparentsraisedmeinawayof viewingasmallthingsinmorepositivelight.Imagine, beingplacedinasmallprimitivehome,havingagood familyisakindofjoyforme.Wedidn’tseethetrue beautyiflifebecausewealwayscountedwhatisthe thingsthatwelackofratherthanthethingsthatwe alreadyhave.Beingdiscontentedisthereasonwhy peoplewantedmoreandneverappreciatesmallmoments intheirliving.

Lifeisnotalwaysaboutthebigmomentsthatwilltake ourbreathaway,butit’saboutthesmallwinsor momentsthat’llmakeourheartssingbecauseofgreat pleasure.

You’llneverseegreatthingsaheadthatbringsjoyifyou willneverbecontented.Seeingmyparentslyingonasoft newlybedandwakingupwithoutthinkinganyproblems anddoinghouseholdchoresisagreatpleasureforme.A feelingofgreatpleasurecanbeagentleandfreshbreeze onawarmday,alaughterofmycutelittlesibs,thesmell offreshbrewedcoffee,andthedeliciousfriedricethatI alwayswantedtoeatinbreakfast.Joycanbefoundintwo armsofsomeoneentwinedinourbodyandtwoears that’swillingtolistenwithoutanyjudgment.Ajoythat mayfoundinsomeonethatwillmakeyouforget everythingthatmakesyoutired,willmakeyouthings easier,andsomeonewillmakesyoufeelwhatishome andyoursourceofjoywhereitcultivateasmileandthat smilewillbeaninspirationforothers.

Letuscherishthingswithgratitudeandallow ittofillourheartswithhappinessbecausein thesmallmomentsofjoy,wediscoverthereal definitionandbeautyoflife.Maybethereare thingsthatwelackofandmaybethereare thingswillneverbeseenbutonlywillfeelif yougivevalueonitandappreciateit.

How we spill coffee when the cup was long empty

Forallthethingsthatarenowgone,whatIregretted themostarethosethatwerenotevengivenachance.

ThedeathofyourfavoritedandelioninaSummer rain,yourmutedfavoritesongintheaudio,thespark oflightningthatstruckonafrozenlake,alovethat endedwithoutevenstarted.

“Wheredidwegowrong?”ImightIaskyoufora moment,laughing whenwemeetagainattheold cathedral,oneSunday,Decemberevening. Iwillaskyouforacupofcoffee,talkaboutwhatmight happenifthingsdidnothappenorwhatmightnot happenifotherthingsdidhappen.

IfIwaitedforlittlelonger,ifIsaidafewerwords,ifI becamealittlemorepatient,ifIwalkedalittlefarther, wouldtherebeapromisekept?

Itmightfeelawkwardaftersips,andIknowitwill.I mightspoilthingsandsayitagain,“Wheredidwego wrong?”

Wordswouldbebetweeneachbreathe,heartbeats becomesoloudtheydeafen,andeachtearfromour eyesisajudgementoflifeanddeath.

Atthatday,youmightbewearingyourofficesuityou onlydreamtaboutbefore,yourglassesmighthavea highergrade,andyourdreamsmayhavecome already.

InthatdayImightforgetyourfaceinthatlong timeago,yourtearsinmyshirt,insidethat roomuptown,whenwefirstaskedanend.

Andyearsmaypassbyandsomanythings maychange;butthenagain,Imightbethe samechildyoumettenyearsago.Stillinlove withyourbowlcut,yoursmiles,andyoursoul. Andforonce,Imightspillthecoffeeandask youforthelasttime,“canwemakethingsright thistime?”

Haru

Everythingwasmonotonous UnderaspellwhereIliveinaconcealedmystery Nooneknowsitstheauthor'sworld Downtotheplacewe'reliving.

Anextraordinarygirlappeared inthelucenthallway,curtainssweptbywind

NowI'mstandingtowardsherasshegazeduponmyeyes themomentshesmiled,wechangedourfatetogether.

Onthemostgorgeousnightsky, standinginthelastsceneasthepagewillsoonflip, Hopefully,we'llrememberinthatsimplemoment, thejoywassharedwhenI'mwithyou. - Cold

Untitled

Someonesentmealetterbefore,someyearsback,which Ihadtotakeatthepostalofficebecauseofwrong address.

Hehasadelicatepenmanship,honestly.

Yet,itwasnotthewordsthatmovedmenortheintricate paragraphsinit.Buttheideathat,sometime, somewhere,someonehadseenmefromafar miles away,betweenislandsandseas.

“Shouldamannotblush?”Iaskedmyself.Butevenif manmustnot,IwaspinklikeasunsetinMarch. Notamanydaretowritesomeoneaconfession,letit alonebeaman.

Iwasoverwhelmed.Itboastedmyegoasaman,matterof-factly.ButIhadtobearealman.Amanwithanopen heart,butdoesnotfakeitsbeat.

Ididnotreply.Iwaswonderingifitwasrightorwrong.

ShouldIwritebackandbecursedforgivingadrizzleof chance?ShouldIletitheaveintimeandletthewindfly itsomewhere?

Ididtherightthing,though.Ifyoumightaskme.ButI couldbewrong.

Iwatchedtherainasitpoureddown.IknowIshouldnot danceintherainifIamnotsurewhatthestepstobegin with.

SoIletitstop.Withoutmedoingsomething.Whatcana meremandotostopthefalloftherain?Totryisa foolishthing.

“Itwaswrongaddresed,”Ikeeprepeatingitinmymind. “Itwaswrongaddresed.”

Yet,thinkingaboutitnowisnostalgic.

Ireaditagain.

Itwasmyname.Itwasthesamepoststamp.Anditwas myname.

Iknownowitisrightlyaddressed.Justthat,Iwasthe wrongpersonthen.

The Contributors

Matthew Jullian C. Naval makes digital graphic designs. He is currently a second-year student taking a Bachelor of Secondary Education | Major in English. He was part of the 2019 DSPC Filipino Broadcasting in Tapinac Senior High School as a Radio Broadcaster, 1st Place in "The Search for Mr. and Ms. ICONS 2022 in the Department of English, and was cast as the main character in the teaser, "LELLS Confess" in February 2023. He writes film scripts for fun and aims to be a rookie model in the future.

Gabrielle Neil S. Bulda is currently a second-year student taking Bachelor of Secondary Education, majoring in English. She was a Senior Sports Editor, Proofreader and a Co-Anchor in Radio Broadcasting in Olongapo City National High School's Official English Student Publication, The Anchor. She is currently an English as Secondary Language (ESL) Teacher at iYES Language School.

The Contributors

Ma. Melissa D. Merlas writes fiction and poetries. She is currently a second-year student taking a Bachelor of Secondary Education, majoring in English. She was a Senior News Editor, news writer, and radio broadcaster in Olongapo City National High School's Official English Student Publication, The Anchor, and Gordon College Senior High School Department. She aspires to be an author and a broadcaster alongside her career as an educator in the future.

Criscel M. Caingal is a third-year student from Gordon College taking a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English. She was part of the student publication; during her elementary and high school days. Now, in her college, she is part of the League of English Language and Literature Students as one of the business managers and one of the online committees.

The Contributors

Izzy Mae Tiozon, a student of Gordon College, under the Department of College of Education, Arts, and Sciences, is taking the course Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in English. She is one of the editors under the Online Committee of the League of English Language and Literature Students.

Aeros Raphael N. Morales is a freshman taking the Bachelor of Secondary Education majoring in English at Gordon College. He is currently one of the members of the Online Committee of the League of English Language and Literature Students (LELLS).

The Contributors

John Christian J. Rocero hails from Nasugbu, Batangas, and is a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Secondary Education degree, majoring in English. He has demonstrated his exceptional communication skills and passion for the English language through his role as an English Radio Broadcaster at the official student publication unit of Gordon College, The Forefront. In addition, he is a member of the Media and Documentation committee of the highest standing council of the institution, the Gordon College Supreme Student Council. Furthermore, he is a proud member and part of the online committee at the League of English Language and Literature Students (LELLS). John is poised to become a notable figure; in the field of education and communication.

Matthew Jullian C. Naval Literary Editor

Aeros Raphael N. Morales

Criscel Anne M. Caingal

Gabrielle Neil S. Bulda

Izzy Mae N. Tiozon

John Christian J. Rocero

Ma. Melissa D. Merlas

Matthew Jullian C. Naval

Layout and Graphic Artists

Gabrielle Neil S. Bulda

Ma. Melissa D. Merlas

Matthew Jullian C. Naval Literary Committee

LEAGUE

OF ENGLISH

LANGUAGE

AND LITERATURE STUDENTS

President

External Secretary

Internal Secretary Treasurer Auditor

Public Information Officer

Public Information Officer

Business Manager Business Manager

1st-year Representative

2nd-year Representative

3rd-year Representative

4th-year Representative

Gabrielle Neil S. Bulda

Matthew Jullian C. Naval

Ma. Melissa D. Merlas

Atasha Kei L. Alejandro

Elaine M. Viray

Abigail D. Avelino

David Eman S. Simsuangco

Criscel Anne M. Caingal

Chrishelle Mae R. Agustin

Jeremiah A. Tañamor

Jasmine Alliah D. Silvido

Jasper Andrei D. Silvido

Mina D. Miranda

Guiller T. Marila Adviser

In a world that is cold and dark, where there is a tiny spark that warms the palms of these authors' hearts.

Words and phrases that spark those unwary hearts that sets individuals to embark and defy the meaning that marks. Will joy give you a spark?

May you define your own meaning of joy in writing that sparks within you.