Thomasian Engineer Literary Folio Issue No. 2 - Circles and Scribbles

CIRCLES & SCRIBBLES

all that remained

CIRCLES & SCRIBBLES

From the Literary Editor

After all this time, we thought the pandemic had brought an end to our wildest dreams. Like circles and scribbles, our movement might be scalar - weighted yet directionless - there'll come the right time when our flawed masterpiece will be defined with a point connecting both ends.

This work of fiction aims to capture the heart of our fellow future engineers through the inspiration and personalization of the engineering experience by incorporating the realizations and technical values we have gathered all these years. This is for all the chances we have lost, for all the values we have gained, and for all the things that have remained to us, with us, and for us amidst the chaos.

To Batch 2023:

Nagsimula ang ating paglalakbay sa Ruano nang magkakasama, tinuloy man na magkakaharap sa birtuwal na paraan, ngunit dahil sa ating paghangad at mahigpit na pagkakabigkis, tinapos rin natin ang ating kabanata nang magkakayakap. Sa kabila ng unos na pinilit nating binuno, nandito tayo upang gumawa ng mga alaalang pambawi sa nakaraang nasayang.

To all the dreamers out there: There is more to life than the heartbreaks we feel, the defeats we need to heal, and the regrets we need to face. The pain tends to be felt for a time, yet demands to be learned from for the rest of our lives. Padayon, mga susunod na Tomasinong Inhinyero!

Copyright © 2023 Thomasian Engineer. All Rights Reserved.

CIRCLES & SCRIBBLES

Preface

Three years have passed since the pandemic has struck the world.

Three years have passed since the world has been running in circles and scribbles.

This is dedicated to: All we've lost All we've gained, and All that remained

all we've lost ALL WE'VE

LOST

ALL WE'VE LOST

- all we've lost -

CIRCLES & SCRIBBLES

by Julienne Ramano

our matter has rested and has held a pen so wobbly so wriggly, like the ink's free from the force coming unexpected

what was it? …. gravity? or just the pressure of destiny?

mind blotted, i scribbled smaller and smaller circles lines came slanted when could i escape this bubble?

circles and scribbles in paper the day's getting scalar oh, i can feel it's heavy yet aimlessly, there i go that way

ART BY

Waldy Hans De Castro

Inagaw ng Salot

ni Euclid John Jornacion

Sa gitna ng tahimik na gabi

Ang siyang pagbigat ng nadarama

Tinanong ang sarili

Kung may bukas pa bang nakahanda, May ‘ako’ pa bang nakatadhana?

Nag-iisa sa pinagkulungang puwang

Nalulungkot…

Nangangamba…

Natatakot…

Umaasang may pagbabago

Tumayo sa gilid katabi ng bintana

Kumuha ng maiinom, kasabay ng pagtulo ng luha

At biglang naramdaman ang malakas na kulog at ulan

Sumigaw nang sumigaw

“Tama na!”

‘Di na tama.

Huminahon; bumalik sa masasayang alaala

Habang pinagmamasadan ang buwan at mga tala

Pinakalma ang ‘di mapakaling mga kamay at paa

Huminga nang malalim at hiniling

ang minsa’y inagaw sa’kin ng pandemya

Pag-asa

Sa’yong pagbalik, aasa pa ba?

MGA KUHA NI Sebastian Gauce

- all we've lost -

Dying Lights

by Christian Mendoza

A once, hollow, empty soul that wandered through the night, Found some company on whatever gives light. Overtime, the light dies and the soul wanders through, Looking for someone that will light him anew.

The hopeful soul wandered more to find what makes him reshine, Wish upon the stars that everything would align. Time and time, the soul would shine and it would fade, The light that shone passionately, in time, was unmade.

The light shone brightly, but shuts down occasionally, Stayed there through the times, even knowing it wasn’t healthy. Stayed for the fragment of hope within, Oblivious to the possibility of what could have been.

It was euphoric when it was good, gloomy when it’s not, Stayed with the shining star even drought is what it brought. The soul went on with it, even if it’s a bumpy ride, Up until the last bit of light remaining dies inside.

-

by Maychie Ortega

2020 was the year when everything started, The year when everyone gets disheartened.

“What a cruel world,” they said, As I watch, everything goes down to shreds.

News and policies, New medicine and technologies. Everything was being used, But why do I see it being abused?

ART BY Jefferson Juan

Cases upon cases rise and rise. The lockdowns were many’s demise, And many suffered casualties at hand. What about us? Is this the end?

The world is now a void,

A performer of tasks who are not joyed, A performer trying to go back to the norm, But only does so to conform.

all we've lost -

- all we've lost -

EQUILIBRIUM

by Jan Harvey Lasic

December 2023

“—is a state of balance between two or more forces.” The bell rings and cuts Mr. Zamora’s lecture. He ends the class and dismisses the students . Jack, right before leaving the room, gets called by Mr. Zamora. Jack approaches the teacher’s desk. “Take a seat, hijo,” Mr. Zamora said. “Okay… hi! How’s our onsite class for you, Jack?” Jack answers, “Equilibrium, sir, I missed it.” Confu sion paints Mr. Zamora’s face but Jack says noth ing and smiles.

December 2019

Kaleidoscopic lights luminate UST. Jack is in awe as he, together with his friends, walks the Plaza Mayor. Music excites him even more as Ben & Ben start playing “Bibingka”. The friend group rushes to the field and secures a spot. They jam along the enchanting tunes until the band’s final song. The night concludes with a pyromusical display — truly magical.

December 2023

“I used to have school-life balance before the pandemic happened, sir. Hard times, fun times, downward and upward forces. They cancel out and everything’s just fine,” Jack says.

December 2020

In his room, Jack is busy, carefully outlining his orthographic plate as music from his laptop resonates. He pauses when Bibingka starts playing. It’s that time of the year.

December 2023

“Paskuhan, never felt so depressing. Positive moments were lost when everything I do was done through the screen of my laptop,” Jack added.

December 2021

Comfort is completely lost in the darkness of Jack’s bedroom. Jack stares catatonically at the screen of his laptop as his hands loom to click the button that will send his request to file a Leave of Absence to their dean. Throwing all his doubts, Jack finally sends the email.

December 2023

“I tried to adapt but I couldn’t. I had to pause. I had to heal. I had to take my time and bring back my will. The formerly active and outgoing student that I am lost his ardor in confinement,” Jack explains.

December 2022

Kalei- doscopic lights luminate UST. Jack is in awe to be back in the Plaza Mayor with his online friends, finally in the flesh. They proceed to the field to listen to the live music. They jive until the night concludes with a classic pyromusical display — still magical.

December 2023

“After a year of hiatus, things changed. The new normal started to feel more… normal. The world has recuperated from the impacts of the pandemic. Positivity slowly returned in the lives of people, myself included. I went back to school, sir. After all, I redeemed myself. I regained my drive, my wellbeing and I reached equilibrium anew,” said Jack.

December 2021 (present)

“Jack! Jack!” someone calls while knocking on the door. Jack wakes up finding himself bowed on his desk. “Wait, Ma!” Jack responds. He gets up, leaving his laptop open and an email unsent.

ni Eiyzen Cayabyab

Nagsimula sa kalagitnaan ng delubyo

Mundong hindi mabait na titigil para sayo.

Patuloy pa rin ang ikot kahit isip ay gulong-gulo

Distansya ma'y hadlang, kailangan pa ring matuto

Sa set-up na hindi mainam para sa lahat

Kahit anong aral ay hindi naging sapat

Kahit naninibago, kailangan magpatuloy

Kahit mawalan pa ng panlasa at pang-amoy

Sa kalagitnaan ng dalawang taon,

Naglaro ako ng tagu-taguan

Pilit kong hinanap ang tiwala sa sarili

Pati oras sa minamahal nag-aatubili

Kailan kaya mahahanap ang nawawalang kumpyansa

Nasaan ang sarili na puno pa ng pag-asa

Ano nga ba ang dapat kong gawin para patunayan ang

sarili ko

Hanggang kailan ko sasabihing babawi ako

Halos dalawang taong pinagkait

Mga alaala sanang nabuo na hindi maipagpapalit

Hindi lang sarili ang hinanap

Dahil kasamang nawala ang lakas para sa pangarap

Mga kaibigan na sinandalan ko noon

Hindi ko maakap dahil nakakulong sa apat na sulok ng

kahon

Mga alaala na pinagkait ng pagkakataon

Kulang na kulang ang panahon.

ART BY Toby Orduña

VOLUME

by Maychie Ortega

Laughter was the one that filled the room, Do you know what could have filled this volume?

It is a series of circles that fill the tiny space, Big and small, it filled up the place.

This has been constant for months and years, Just for it to end when news reached the ears. Oh, where are the circles in the room?

Oh, it became empty because of you.

A circle can be formed digitally, But that cannot replace what was formed originally.

The remaining months where it could’ve been cherished

Has gone to waste with nothing to relish.

The volume of this room was once filled to the brim,

But with one occurrence, everything was grim. Oh, where are the circles in the room? Oh, it became empty because of you.

PHOTO BY Ronielle Angela Rey

all we've gained ALL WE'VE

LOST

ALL WE'VE LOST

- all we've gainedImprinted Ink

by Ainsley Judd Tumbaga

Life for me was never dull, You’ll see me always innovating fun ideas, As I embrace my passion and grit for adventure. Subsequently, a life-changing decision was made.

Sacrificed joys of youth, For the future that my family has been aiming for. Leftover ink in my left hand, A reminder of how sweet my life once has been.

Crumpled papers everywhere, Life wasn't what I envisioned years ago. It pained me of how I’d changed, Down the roundabout in less than a year.

Where once I only solved my questions for the universe, I sat and stare at my blank paper for hours to solve for given equations.

But these experiences forged from the painstaking exhaustion, Made me rise and resist the flow. I was able to see what I could not see before, Experience, knowledge, and sacrifice were all interwoven after all.

ART BY Jean Orme

Silent sobs were conquered with bursting waves of laughter, Frustrations shown by crumpled papers overpowered with victorious battles. Were once detached due to the pressure of the harsh reality, Now, everyone’s pulling me back, reminding me that I may fight alone, but not lonely.

Life for me was never dull,

Though I am still in the midst of my journey, But oh, how I am proud of what I have overcome. Thus, a new season would soon blossom, Where I will resist the flow and innovate my way out of this world.

the academy

by Julienne Ramano

Philosophy, as they see Defines as the science of truth

Life comes as the methodology

To our prime from our youth

We seek the light

Then be the light

For others to find afterwards

As they relentlessly play the cards

The academy called life

Had snapped idealism out of my mind

Before we can say knife

The kids aren’t alright

… And that’s okay

We ain’t turning blind

It’s how we take our own creeds into light

PHOTOS BY Jeremy Edera

Distance Among Stars

by Janna Louise Ong

Beginning is where I stand, Eyes above, but feet on the ground. Where to go with nothing on hand? End is nowhere to be found.

As the night falls, done is the day. Stars, even the farthest, trail behind, Like a shadow that never goes away, Just hides itself back in the blind.

Running in circles is what it seems. Road unfolds with every step taken. Nothing as no sound of the streams Can be heard, or am I mistaken?

One path, now two, unknown awaits. Either direction adds to my journey. With the thread, what do the Fates see in the dreams of the worthy?

ART BY Waldy Hans De Castro

Walking forward with a force hindering you to go. Flashbacks of the past returning like a storm. There's no choice but to take it slow, To make it uniform, Which helped me to transform.

It will never be gone, just as it would never not have happened. It’ll push us like a force, Back to the time when it ended, Where it all began, At the time when I ran.

I wanna go forward, but friction keeps holding me back, Memories of the past, Nostalgia that feels me rack, Bits of all the fun, Realizations when it’s done.

Walking forward with a force hindering you to go, But stronger than the friction Repressing you to grow. Like what everyone had said before, Let’s go ahead for more.

ART BY Toby Orduña

Mga Lihim ng Langit

ni Hannah Andrea Romarosa

nakapagtataka ang hiwaga ng langit— bakit ito patuloy na nagbabago ng anyo?

dalawang taong tila walang-hanggan ang tiniis

dalawang taong tila wala akong magawa kundi magkubli sa pagitan ng apat na pader

gusto kong makita ang nasa labas ng mga pader na ito

gusto kong pagmasdan ang langit

gusto kong suriin ang hiwaga nito

ang mga lihim sa pagitan ng mga ulap na bumabalot dito

ang tanging kariktan na marapat pagmasdan sa gitna ng pait ng panahon

ay siyang napagmasdan sa pagtingala ko—

nakilala ko ang langit

sa langit nakapinta ang bawat pangarap na sumagi sa isip at pusong nagmula pa sa unang pagpatak ng oras

Mga Lihim ng Langit

ang pagbangong-anyo nito ay siyang tanda na walang permanente sa mundo

tunay na lahat ay nagbabago, kahit subukan nating pigilan ito lahat ay nagbabago, kahit na minsa’y hindi pa tayo handa para rito

sa langit nakapinta ang bawat nagbabagong pangarap— ang bawat umuusbong na pangarap

at ang lihim ng langit? ay hindi ako nag-iisang nangangarap hindi ako mag-isang lumalaban

nakilala ko ang langit at nakiala ko ang mga kuwentong nakaukit dito

ngunit kung tutuusin, wala talagang lihim ito— kailangan ko lang tumingin at pagmasdan ito

walang lihim ang langit na hindi pa naibunyag kahapon

pagka’t ang mga ito’y naisigaw na ng mga nauna at lumipas bago ako

walang lihim ang pagtiis—hindi ito pormuladong hakbang

tungo sa dulo ng lahat ng kapus-kapalaran

totoong ang buhay ay puno ng kasawian

walang lihim na maibabahagi ang langit para daigin ang mga ito gayunpaman, lahat ng nakaukit dito ay nakikiramay

at gayunpaman, kusang dumadaloy ang pagtakbo ng oras

samakatuwid, ako ay patuloy lang 21

The Continuity of Kindness

by Rhianne Joie Delmo and Maychie Ortega

The scorching heat from the sun scattered all throughout Manila. People of different ages walked through the streets hurriedly to get to their respective destinations. The honking of jeepsand buses are heard as they pass each other on the highways. And in the middle of it all, there’s a middle-aged homeless man, sitting under a shaded sidewalk, lost in thought.

The man was unconsciously watching every passerby, observing and thinking to himself, what if he was one of those people who has a destination to reach for? Near him were children playing. Their giggles illuminated the sidewalk as they were trying to run away from each other.

The homeless person’s ponder evaporated when a loud sound of a person falling on the ground was heard. As a reflex, the homeless person stood up, and helped the young boy stand up on his feet.

Visible concern was seen on the homeless person’s eyes as he gave the young boy a soft smile.

“Are you okay?”

The young boy gave him a nod and mouthed a thank you towards him as a reply.

The young boy then turned his back to the homeless person and slowly and carefully ran after his friends. Before he could speed up his pace, he caught a glimpse of an old lady with a kariton having difficulties pushing the cart as she was crossing the street.

The young boy didn’t think twice and proceeded to

help the old lady. He approached the old lady with a big smile.

“Nay! Let me help you with that!”

The old lady gave him a grateful smile as they both crossed the street with the boy pushing the old lady’s kariton. When they reached the other side, the old lady gave a gentle motherly pat on the young boy’s shoulders.

“Thank you, little guy. I hope you take care of yourself wherever you go,” she said before they both drifted apart.

The old lady continued her way down the street when she made a stop. She let the gentle breeze graze right through her. Despite it being a hot afternoon, the afternoon breeze was enough to keep the lady calm. There were numerous people passing by as she let her two orbs look around the place, not until she spotted a little boy, sitting at an empty corner of a street.

The old lady observed the little boy and there she found that he was staring at something. She followed his gaze, and saw that he was staring at a group of children eating sweets and not in a single blink, the old lady took a few of her goods and offered it to the little boy.

Unknown to the little boy, a person was already approaching him.

The shadows of the old lady dominated his little figure, resulting in the child to be suddenly cautious. He checked who it was and saw the old lady

all we've gained

The Continuity of Kindness

giving him a sweet smile.

“Here, you can have these,” the lady said as she was handing him a pack of a few sweets.

His eyes twinkled with delight as he hugged the old lady as a thank you and began running towards the other kids while eating his sweets. The old lady also left with a huge smile on her face. Before the little boy made it to the other children, he passed by a teenage girl who was struggling to pick up the scattered papers on the ground.

The little boy then ran towards the teenage girl.

“Hi, ate! Let me help you with those!”

Enthusiasm was heard in his little voice which made the teenage girl giggle, surprised with the little boy’s actions.

She then gave him a small nod to indicate approval and they both picked up the papers while also having small conversations.

When they finally picked everything up, the boy even offered some of his sweets to the teenage girl.

The girl declined but gave the little boy a high five.

“Thank you! It’s good that you’re helping others at your age. You should continue to do it!” The teenage girl encouraged the little boy.

The boy only gave her a wide smile and they both went their separate ways—the boy going to his friends and the teenage girl going the opposite way.

The girl, then, went to a nearby coffee shop to buy some treats before going home. As she was waiting for her order, a girl who seemed to be in high

school was having trouble doing her homework. She noticed that the girl was having trouble differentiating concepts as well as applying them.

Seeing that her order is still being made, she approached the young girl who was struggling.

“Hi! May I ask what part you are having trouble with?”

The young girl just looked at the woman who approached her. The young girl was contemplating whether to answer the woman or not but seeing as she does not have any ill intentions, she told her where she’s struggling.

The woman taught the girl while waiting for her order. When it arrived, the girl thanked the woman where in return, she gave the young girl a smile and finally left the coffee shop.

The young girl continued studying until she finally decided to go home. However, while walking by a playground, she noticed someone sobbing near the swings. She was contemplating whether to come near the person or not as maybe they needed some time alone but the young girl immediately disregarded these thoughts and just went straight to the person crying.

As she came near the swings, there she noticed that the person who was crying was a middle aged woman who looked like she came from work.

The woman was sobbing softly until the young girl grabbed her attention.

"Uhm, excuse me? May I ask what's wrong?" The girl asked.

The woman slowly looked at the girl, teary-eyed. Then, she lowered her head embarrassed.

The Continuity of Kindness

"It's nothing…" the woman said.

The young girl was not convinced. Instead, she sat with the woman on the swing and started chatting about her day.

The woman just looked at her confused because why would someone randomly tell their day to a stranger? But for some reason, it comforted the woman as the stories were all about the fun things the young girl did that day and it made the woman smile a little.

The young girl noticed the small smile that the woman gave and gave her an even bigger smile. Feeling the comfort of the girl, the woman continued to listen to the girl’s stories until the end.

Feeling satisfied and happy she helped the woman, the young girl bids her farewell as she notices that it’s past her curfew. The woman also says her thanks and also goes on her own way.

The woman was smiling to herself despite having a heavy heart because of the young girl from earlier. As she continued to walk her way home, a man suddenly bumped into her.

“Ah, sorry,” they both said.

The man, however, was in a hurry and didn’t notice that his wallet fell from his pocket. The middle aged woman saw this and immediately ran after the man who just left.

“Excuse me!”

The man was still walking until he reached a store— a toy store. The woman saw the man come through the door of the shop and started to look at Disney Princesses.

The woman followed suit and was just in time as the man was standing by the counter, rushing through his things as if looking for something.

“Excuse me? Is this your wallet? You dropped it after bumping into me,” the woman slowly approached.

The man looked at the woman bewildered. Then, he looked at the wallet that the woman was holding before slowly reaching out to it.

He immediately checked the contents of the wallet and saw that nothing was missing. He looked at the woman and thanked her gratefully.

“I won’t be able to buy my daughter a gift if it wasn’t for you,” he said teary-eyed.

The woman just smiled at him and bid him farewell before going her own way.

The man was still bewildered but happy that a nice soul gave him back his wallet.

He paid for the toy that he bought for his daughter and headed off. As the man was walking home from the store, he saw a homeless man asking for alms. The man didn’t stop and just continued walking in the direction he was heading to.

After a while, the man came back to the homeless man with a large paper bag. He handed it to the homeless man sitting on the sidewalk and just smiled at him.

“I hope this is enough to get you by,” he said to the homeless man.

The homeless man was confused and peaked through the large paper bag. He saw a variety of food inside which would greatly help him.

The homeless man was sobbing when he received the gift from the stranger. It is because he was the homeless man that started it all.

The endless chain he started, still continued through him.

AMBON

ni Julienne Ramano

tama lang ang lakas

tama lang ang hina

ng ambon at ang bakas

ng iyong pagpatak sa lupa

gaya ng alumana sa iba

hindi isang daluyong

na ang bugso ay nanggigiba

hindi rin umuurong

Ah, eh, urong-sulong

hindi pipigilan ang iyong ambon

ART BY Jean Orme

ang optimismo ay hindi optimisasyon ang optimismo ay maaaring pumaraan sa dakong huli ang pag-asa sa tangkang gumawa ng nakakatulong nagmula sa hangad na matibay at mariin

naghahangad na maangihan man lang

ambon rin ng iyong pagmamahal ang pagbuhos ng bagyo ay hadlang

dahil ito'y bugso ng damdaming adrenal

ikaw ang ambon

ako ang lupa

magkaibang mundo

maghihintay ako

magtago man sa ulap

ang pitik ng puso ko

naniniwalang sa'kin pa rin ay babagsak

that remained ALL THAT

REMAINED

ALL THAT REMAINED

all

Everything Over Me

by Janna Louise Ong

A thin solid line exists in between. But does it mean something?

If the boundary is barely seen Before me and after everything.

Dividing myself among my worries

Leaves no remainder for me, Not even a fraction of ease.

Will I be heard with my silent plea?

What’s left of me is just enough To breathe without a piece of soul. Mountain of burdens stands tough, Reaching the skies without control.

In a ratio that is endless to one, Time to dream screams guilty to dare, So I place where the number is none, That results in nothing—not a spare.

- all that remained -

PHOTO BY Alex Miguel Tacderas

Unknown Force

by Eiyzen Cayabyab

In the first chapter, I learned the summation of moment And suddenly had a Socratic moment, how do I find one’s moment of inertia?

In my pursuit of finding answers through these equations I asked myself, has the distance struck our circle of life? Or maybe….

is this the right ambition? am I still in the same position?

My next chapter taught me how to cherish moments

That could be possible without any formula

No product of force and distance

It was just to appreciate the present

I was no longer trapped in the four corners of my room

Memorizing, studying all afternoon with gloom

To be surrounded by people with a common goal I may now escape from my bottomless hole

I was never good at finding the allowable forces

Nor proficient in finding the spaces between rivets

But my driving force for my dreams remained And I know this feeling will never fade

ART BY Jefferson Juan

LIFE AND TENACITY

by Euclid John Jornacion

I live not by fortuitous as everything matters Like Physics, all else move through space and time; So that by chance or destiny alike, When opportunity on my door knocks, I grab the chance to grow and rise For life is Calculus- it continuously changes

And at times take me to place a new An area where I brave and face volumeVolumes of challenges and fear, I despair not though, for one thing is sureI will meet and have someone to Inspire and strengthen me - take at heart Everything I do and have the courage

To reach my goal I see at a distance And embrace many chances to change, To grow and develop - be self - anew Ready to win life’s battle Rejuvenate, enlightened with the fact that Life is a series of probabilities for A better, brighter and merrier opportunity To live life to the fullest.

A Diamond in the Process

by Rhianne Joie Delmo

Born on the month of April, woe

A month in a year that comes like a wave, drowning you whole You cast a shattered home, subdued health, and stoic Yet your orbs hold the deepest ocean, I was adrift

Thalassophobia? I couldn’t care less Not a single second, I dove in Your waters strangle my neck, suffocated, still I stayed. We stayed. As in your abyss, my eyes met concealed shimmers.

What are the odds that something sparkles

In your vast pain and fragmented self? Realization hits me hard, rockbottom; April’s stone is a diamond

Kiss away the thoughts that you deserve the world’s torture You are a diamond in the making You need to go through immense heat and pressure of life; Sleepless nights, silent weeps, and unsaid battles you only know.

You are molded with pressure into a fine material. The heat of embers here on earth made you tough. When people gets a glimpse of your light, The world will permit a halt, so they can stare in awe.

Diamonds are rare

You are rare

Simple, yet the most precious

That even the world is undeserving of your beauty

You are worth more than any value to ever exist; The strongest and hardest material to ever be known on earth. You will be unbreakable, indestructible, and stunning You are a diamond in the process.

So hang in there a little bit more, diamond, you’ll soon diffuse your shine.

all that remained -

ART BY

Waldy Hans De Castro

by Julienne Ramano

One letter with a multiplicity of meanings. That can leave a mark on fate. That can change the way we think.

C++

A program we all might know

From its fundamentals Hell, even its complex functions Can’t help but think sometimes “Can’t you be gentle anyway?”

+C

The addition of a character Personifies a new life

And as the value goes by Shows that our story can be definite That there's more to life than the trials we see

UNIVERSE's PROMISE

by Rhianne Joie Delmo

Before the bigbang or the creation

It was written in the stardust and space That in every universe in this multiverse I belong to you and you belong to me

We are one made into two different persons We’ve breathed different airs and saw different cloud shapes The resemblance of our situation is like fire meets water That even fate wouldn’t permit our collide

But fate was wrong, our orbs met and twinkled like stars I have never seen such beauty, never heard the softest voice You are so new, quite an amazing impression But strangely you felt safe, you feel like home

As if I was your diary but empty

Like i knew nothing about you but at the same time i knew everything As I get to explore you, I got to know myself more I also got a glimpse of the universe hidden in us.

Your presence is what I’ve longed for my whole life It’s been a lifetime of waiting for my heart’s finally You took every space in my heart, it’s so full of you Seems like you own it now

You brought along all the things i'm scared of Hurricane of cries, thunder of anger, a strong rain of pain My heart always skips a beat, but not of fear but of love Always know that I am never afraid of your storms, i’ll sail it

Pieces of all that moments together

Patches up to a picturesque of you and I are meant to be It’s when the sky kisses the ocean; beautiful; It’s the universe’s promise; soulmates;

A sky full of stars, we’ll still be staring at each other in awe

ART BY Waldy Hans De Castro

PROMISE YOURSELF

by Rhianne Joie Delmo

To read and to fulfill whatever is written in here

To treasure the shine of you

Like a star roaming the galaxy

A cup of you that you poured 365 times this year

To mortals of hues we pass by Promise yourself, that in the welcoming year you will never leave the cup empty

To each delicate touch of your soul

Embrace and cherish them As they leave a sparkle

To the people along the way

Whenever midnight blues takes over And voices of different yous flare up Promise yourself, You will shoo these monsters with grace

The pieces left from the past track before Promise yourself, to treat them as reminders and lessons

The crawling of mountains, the resisting of waves Deep dives from ruins to new beginnings

Brokenness that exposed the shimmers in you

It never fails to dazzle people around you

Promise yourself, that in fragility You’ll look for the glisten within you

To the existence of irony in our being; Insecurity and stability, like agnosticism in your feeling

ART BY Jefferson Juan

Promise Yourself

It will always highlight your physique

Promise yourself,

That chin is up, flaws are down; stare proudly as you glimpse in the glass

To your colors that are yet to unveil Fear not, welcome genuineness

Promise yourself, To always beam your own hue.

To the unsuccessful weeps

Kept to form clouded thoughts on the unholy hour

Promise yourself, to remind that it is okay to not be okay To let the tears enjoy sliding down your cheeks For after every storm comes a rainbow

The walls founded by inflictions Which has been a haven of delicate

Promise yourself, that it will never cause a blind view Of reality, care, and love

The unhealthy lifestyles of now; Insomnia, starving and fraud joy that shelters your unfeigned emotion

Promise yourself, That you will always find a way out and chase the rays peeking at the end of the tunnel

The knowledge and wisdom rooted inside your temple That made the beholder stronger and wise

Promise yourself, to always speak worthy That leaves a struck to every listener

To every deeds with compassion

You have done with altruism

Promise yourself, that you’ll give yourself a tap on the shoulder for embodying a wonderful soul that the world needs

For the bonds knotted in friendship and love

Fuels to connections and bounty to social life

Promise yourself, that you will cherish every knot That they will feel regarded and special

To the dreams that are in the process That’s been a motivation for the future

Promise yourself, that whatever lies ahead Always take one step at a time, rest for a while, and never say never

To all the failures

That you thought were the end already

Promise yourself, that in every stumble We have to learn how to get back up or crawl for the breakthrough

To the red marks Which fed us to disillusionment

Promise yourself to fill those spare spaces With much more lessons

To all the heartbreaks and pains Spawn and embraces

Promise yourself, to always find the new beginnings and opportunities Make those gaps of brokenness golden

For leaving, staying, acting like a fool, and realizing Oh as they say, an optimal solution to learning and cringing Promise yourself, that it will never be a reason to halt your ignition of authentic love

Promise yourself, That whatever you are, whatever you do, wherever you are in life You will always irradiate the shine of every single star Made to sparkle just for you

Promise you that you'll be you this time. There's nothing wrong with being you.

Mga Liham ng Langit

ni Hannah Andrea Romarosa

bitbit ko ang mga liham ng langit na marahang nagiging makulay sa pagdaloy ng panahon

bitbit ko ang pait ng bawat patak ng ulan ang bawat pangungulila ng tanging sikat ng araw ang bawat mapanglaw na bati ng buwan sa gabi

ngunit hindi nagtapos sa kalamlaman ang mga liham ng langit dahil sa pagdating ng bawat kinabukasan, bitbit ko naman ang pag-asa pag-asang patuloy na nagsasabi ng, “baka sakali” pag-asang nag-tutulak sa aking magpatuloy lang sa kabila ng kalamlaman ng kahapon

bitbit ko ang mga liham ng langit na marahang nagiging makulay sa pagdaloy ng panahon

bitbit ko ang ngayon, mamaya, at bukas ang bawat pagkilala sa nagbabagong langit ang tamis ng bawat pagpatak ng ulan ang bawat init mula sa pagsikat ng araw ang bawat masiglang bati ng buwan sa gabi

iba-iba man ang katingkaran ng langit sa bawat araw, ngunit nabubuhay ako sa pag-asang bawat bukas ay pagkakataon para sumibol

bitbit ko ang mga liham ng langit langit na bumabati, langit na nangungumusta langit na hindi nagsisinungaling langit na nakikiramay

bitbit ko ang mga liham ng langit na marahang nagiging makulay sa pagdaloy ng panahon

CIRCLES & SCRIBBLES

& SCRIBBLES

Executive and Editorial Board

Carl Tristan D. Gile

Aundrea Joy C. Levanza

Laurence Gabriel E. Arellano

Keith Portia R. Andres

Justine Keith R. Moises

Jose Miguel C. Ballecer

Julienne Alicon O. Ramano

Eunice E. Abayon

John Carlo O. Urbano

Lance Kasel Lasam

Toby Miguel L. Orduña

Dana Vea D. Plando

Reinehard T. Aytona

Julia Beatriz C. Galvez

Khristel Kate P. Penoliar

Mary Andrew M. Dalogdog

Jeremy R. Edera

Editor-in-Chief

Associate Editor

Managing Editor

Publishing Editor

News Editor

Associate News Editor

Literary Editor

Features Editor

Sports Editor

Technical Editor

Art Director

Layout Director

Assistant Layout Director

Head Photojournalist

Associate Head Photojournalist

GIQC Head

Associate GIQC Head

Literary Writers

Hannah Andrea P. Romerosa

Jezel Kaye Chua

Rhianne Joie N. Delmo

Ainsley Judd D. Tumbaga

Janna Louise R. Ong

Eiyzen Klein L. Cayabyab

Christian Jyreh G. Mendoza

Jan Harvey E. Lasic

Maychie L. Ortega

Euclid Jornacion

Photojournalists

Alex Miguel T. Tacderas

Jeremy R. Edera

Ronielle Angela T. Rey

Keith Cyril G. Fernando

Sebastian Raj R. Gauce

Artists

Waldy Hans V. De Castro

Jean Louise B. Orme

Cris Jefferson M. Juan

Toby Miguel L. Orduña

Reinehard T. Aytona

Thomasian Engineer

LitFolio ⚫ Issue 2

CIRCLES & SCRIBBLES

all we've lost all we've gained all that remained