“Disappear”

By Maecel Joy Priolo

I am here standing with the thoughts of escaping this hellbent lifetime.

By Jennyfer Briones

Splintered Heart

By Kashina Ashley Gatilogo

Chapter One

You search for me as the moon draws in the waters or when the sky falls. You scream for my name even in the vast and bottomless pit. As soon as the sound hit the walls, I echoed your name. We go together like thunder and lightning or thunder and storms. You were embroidered in my heart and stitched into my mind. How I wish I could stay in a chapter like this one.

Chapter Two

We steered away from others' thoughts. You let me drown in the waters and refused to mention my name. And now that my mind is in chaos, you will find me insane. Still, I hope that one day, perhaps if we ever spoke, you will remember me warmly like an imprinted soul lying beneath your skin. We were doomed to never connect, like poles of two magnets. Well, that's the end of chapter two, and I'm yearning that someday it'll still end with you.

Pilgrim's Diary

By Nicole Bucayani

Hearken, a mourning of thy past. Scrawled in unstructured, childish hands. Musty leaf with a dreadful smell, Lest companion of thy weary soul.

Every morsel of regrets lies herein. Curses unsung— hatred and repressions. Icy contempt increases with emotions. Refused to be thawed, clog thy comprehension.

Thou art the protagonist of every page, Not a villain of your everyday scene.

In the darkest corners of sobs and gloomy visages, You write with savage vehemence.

Pilgrim's diary tracks thy quest. So, if the present juncture stagnates you— Begone! Reread, away from the multitude, You'll be enticed, warmed with gratitude.

Cinco De Noviembre Monument

By Divine Desoyo

Masipag Gumawa Ng Wala

Ni Theresa Mae Dulman

Gabi-gabing naglalantad ang mga misteryo ng dilim. Tila ako'y nakakalanghap ng malansang amoy ng bakal sa hangi'y sumasabay. Hindi galing sa baluti; hindi galing sa armas. Kung hindi dahil sa dugong dumanak dulot sa lungsod na walang patawad at walang pagod na nagmamatyag sa lahat. Tama at nagkakatotoo na kaya ang panakot ng matatanda tungkol sa mga halimaw na lumilitaw tuwing gabi? Sa mga krimeng nagaganap sa dilim- ito nga ba’y dulot ng tiyanak na mas gusto ang pagkukubli sa maruming bangketa’t humihithit ng pampagising kaya nasa alapaap? O aswang na sa mahamog na gabi’y naghihintay ang pulang mata’t naglalaway, sa walang katapusang pananabik sa mga walang kalaban-labang biktima; nagawa niyang pumaslang at magbigay ng pagdurusa.

Distant Longing

By Kashina Ashley Gatilogo

As a five-year-old, I look at the world as my playground. I climbed every monkey bar. I waited for my brother to push me down the slide, Or to swing me high up in the air, Till I can see the birds in the wind-whipped sky, Or the flowers against the horizon.

Over time, my world shifted. What was once a playground Is now a busy and hectic world. I started to climb mountains, but not just "mountains." Finding myself at a pinnacle, So that everyone will see me as successful And not as a disappointment. Failing was like slipping down the slide, Sliding back slowly as I fell apart.

Now, I am no longer a child. I want to change my path. For now, I am playing tug of war, Trying to fight against my own. Gathering the strength to pull myself back, Till I can be in the sky once more. Flying with the birds, Over ravishing flowers.

Yet, my path seems to be blurry. For now, I will ride a merry-go-round, And wish that maybe—

If I spin enough in circles; Somehow, I'll be transported back to my old playground. Where I could run as fast as I could, Without having to worry if I got bruises, And climb every monkey bar, yet again.

A Tesseract in Chimes

By Alexis Moraña

Reminisce

By Shaira Iwayan

Lay rhythmic scenes behind serene eyes, Feigning silence in deafening memories of the past. Follow the familiar beat from where it lies, The life once lived no longer lasts.

Used to wake up to beeping sounds of wailing motors, From outside small windows of a two-story pad. Smoke seeped through unleveled jalousie glasses, The odor imbibed in textiles hung on racks.

With excitement, her day commenced. Hair tied, her swollen face she rinsed. Prepped to walk amidst the downtown crowd, Sans umbrella, mirthful under a darkened cloud.

Now the same old town has become scarce of life. Empty, only the nostalgic church bell rings. Lost are the joyous smiles above asphalt road, Gone are the colors the purest light endowed.

Flash of Younger Years

By Raeverly Elena Ramirez

Oh Grief, How Horrid

By Keziah Patrice Jocson

What tool should I use. To measure the amount, Of my underlying remorse, The more I tried to contain it, The more it spilled?

How should I know, The weight of these unsaid words. They grew heavier than yesterday, They slowly break my bones. Every time I remain silent?

How could I tell, Which direction was my despair heading, When there was no true north, And the map was stolen By a face, I only saw in my dream?

How should I deepen, The shallow minds I tried to dive into— Those puddles and stains, And the mud thickens, Every time I take a leap?

How should I reach The end of my consciousness, When its breadth was wider than a desert, And its sandstorms buried the dead? Possibly, even the living.

Where do I hide

These skeletons from my closet, When I was close to being busted? The more I concealed them, The more they made me vomit.

By Lance Joshua Satojito

Naramdaman kong tumutulo ang mga butil ng pawis sa aking mga mata, mahapdi pero pinilit ko na di kumurap, natatakot na baka hindi ko iyon masalo, kaya kailangan maging kalmado. Andito ako sa pwesto na kung saan alam kong dito ulit iyon babagsak. Wari ba’y kabisado ko na ang projectile motion at ang trajectory nito.

Habang ako’y naghahanda sa pagsalo ng tsinelas ay bigla ko lang nakita ang napupusuan kong kaklase sa aking gilid. Pawang siya ang aking eba na kinuha mula sa gilid ng aking tadyang at namumukadkad sa sarili kong tabi. May kung anong lamog na ideyang dumapo sa aking isipan. Ito ay isang pormang pagtataksil sa aking mga kalaro, ngunit ito din ay isang pagkakataon na bigay ni kupido sa paglalapit ng mga puso.

Lahat ay nakatuon sa pagbaba ng tsinelas, puno ng pag-asa ang pungay ng kanilang mga mata, sisirain ko ba ang umaahong sinag o magiging parte ng pagsilak nito?

“Tumaob ang tsinelas!”

Hindi ko ito sinalo. Rinig na rinig ko ang bawat tibok ng aking puso. Ako’y lumingon ngunit hindi ko siya mahagilap. Sa ibang lalaki pala siya nakaangkas

“Paparating na si ma’am!”

Balik-Tanaw

Ni Nicole Bucayani

“

Oy, nakatihaya! Huwag kayo aapak sa lupa!” sambit ng aking kaklase habang pinapahid ang sipon sa manilaw nilaw nitong uniporme.

Dali-dali kaming nagtakbuhan at pumatong sa kung ano mang bagay na nakaangat mula sa lupa. Ang walang mahagilap na pwesto ay ginamit ang kanilang stamina sa pagtakbo, papalayo sa makamandag na tsinelas .

Nakahanap ng tiyempo ang taya, kaniyang inihagis ang sumpang ito sa kaklase kong babae, ngunit siya’y nakailag magaling umilag sapagkat ‘study first’ ang mantra sa buhay. Kibit-balikat na kinuha ng taya ang tsinelas at muling inihagis ito ng patalikod. Hindi ito nasalo, at ang tsinelas ay tumagilid.

“Magkingking kayo!“

Agad naming itinaas ang isa naming paa, na pawang mga tipaklong lasing na hindi mahagilap ang tamang balanseng ninanais.

Sa pangalawang pagkakataon, hindi parin nakahanap ng lunas ang taya, kaya’t naisipan niyang ihagis ang tsinelas sa ibang istilo, umaasang mawawakasan ang pagdurusa. Magkasabay na binigkas ng aking mga kalaro ang salitang ‘Kang’ matapos kong saluhin ang tsinelas. Pahikbing kinuha ng taya ang tsinelas sa mga kamay ko, at sinubukang muli.

“Ga!” Isang napakalakas na hiyawan at palakpakan mula sa aking mga kaklase ang umalingawngaw sa gymnasium ng eskwelahan.

“Galing mo tol!” saad ng isa kong kaklase sabay tapik ng aking balikat na may halong kaunting tulak.

Isang hagis at salo na lang, mabubuo na ang kangaroo at mapaparusahan na ang taong taya dito.

The Halt

By Cyrin Baticbatic

She Attends A Funeral Every Night

By Theresa Mae Dulman

She attends a funeral every night; mourning for her loss, she's uptight. Eyes shed tears; the pain she cannot bear.

He was here for a moment, and now, he's gone. Shattered, reckoned, and blamed; she's such a shame.

"Never tell a soul," t'was his voice that said, "...or it will be your end."

Alas, for the life he destroyed, his was the cost. She grabs the knife, ending him without a fright.

One stab, for the life he shattered.

Two, for the dignity he crashed.

Three, blood scattered.

No judgment, no remorse, she's unleashed. Awfully liberated.

She attends funerals every night. As death becomes her, And her becomes death.

Pedal

By Shoppy Lynn Condemilicor