Irong-irong 6

Published in 2012 by the University of San Agustin Publications Official Student Press Corps of the University of San Agustin 2nd Floor Alumni Building, University of San Agustin General Luna Street 5000 Iloilo City, Philippines E-mail: usa.publications@rocketmail.com Website: www.usa-pub.blogspot.com Copyright©2012 by The USA Publications for the collection and the individual authors and artists for the individual works.

This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, organizations and events portrayed are either products of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All right reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means–whether virtual, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise–without the written permission of the copyright owner/s.

Cover Line Art by JERSON E. ELMIDO Layout and Graphic Design by RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG Computer Layout by ELMER C. SERBOL Printed in Iloilo City, Philippines

by PANORAMA PRINTING, INC.

Febrielyn S. Tumines Editor

conTenTS Hoy, Daydreamer!

Kilig sa Jeepney Nobyo, sa Diin Ka? The 100th Hug Music Box Unseasonal Love Your Majesty Dear Mr. Math Love at Summertime Tay, Ikaw ang Bida A Mother’s Love In Heaven Wrapping Up Sa Balay Barasahan Blue Moon POST

2

7 8 10 11 13 13 14 15 17 22 23 24 25 27 28 29

JOhN LOUIE E. ESMAYA BEB O. AnG MIA ROSE V. EMBOLTURA JOYCE GEM M. CAÑETE ANGEL MARIE L. MEDEL ChRISTINE JOY A. SABER kEVIN JERROL C. EREBAREN MISTY E. MIkO JULIE ANN A. ANALISTA JULIE ANN A. ANALISTA kIZZIELYN S. TUMINES JANE S. BALDOVE ELSED S. TOGONON ELSED S. TOGONON ANGEL MARIE L. MEDEL ELSED S. TOGONON

A Day of Destiny Last Cupcake Paraiso Color Personality Test, Try it!

31 33 37 38

Christine Joy A. Saber Misty E. Miko Magdalena F. Sernicula Beb O. Ang

artworks and photos Hot and Cold Singing Our Love Songs Don’t Let Me Go Grand Prize My Material Girls Forgotten Valentine Bubbly Love Cheating the Game Four M’s El Querido

contributors Love and Humor

6 12 21 26 36 42 43 44 45 46

jerson E. Elmido Marc Anthony B. Suyom Marc Anthony B. Suyom Marc Anthony B. Suyom jerson E. Elmido Ray Adrian C. Macalalag Ray Adrian C. Macalalag Ray Adrian C. Macalalag jerson E. Elmido jerson E. Elmido

47

3

aS you like iT

an introduction

“The biggest sin in writing is to be boring.”

Paul Jennings “Once upon a time,”- it’s amazing how these words have made your imagination take flight, years before you knew about The Twilight Saga, The hunger Games and even the Precious hearts Romances.

A part of you was made out of the odd stories you heard in your childhood days, like you wouldn’t want to lie, for if you do, just like Pinocchio, you might grow a twig for a nose; or you’re not such a dimwit to take a bite from a stranger’s apple, because Snow White’s fairytale taught you a lesson - never to accept any offer from a stranger.

Now that we’re grown-ups, we’re too old for bedtime stories. Whether we like it or not, we have to read on our own, to discover uncharted seas, magical kingdoms and spell-bound affairs. But the value of reading was zoomed out from the scene; social networking sites, teledramas, movie marathons came with the advent of techies and flashies. Who would choose to bore himself with a book? But hey, no gadget can equal the high definition quality of our imaginations.

Gone were the days when many would prefer to sit and bury their faces in books.

Classic works, even Shakespeare’s sonnets and classic novels, would just leave us, teenagers, with hollow eyes and slack jaws as if we’ve suddenly fallen into some kind of collective coma.

Because without even trying, we hastily conclude, “They’re too deep for my little brain to comprehend.”

I do agree. Two hundred plus pages, Times New Roman font, size 12 - these are really boring. Add to that the author’s sadistic tendencies of including highfaluting words ten times in a page. So instead of reading continuously, you stop frequently to consult the dictionary. What a hassle.

Stories are written for the readers, so instead of giving you some collective coma, we’ve decided to give you more fun in reading instead. So here it is - a collection of literary works on love with humorous and surprising twists.

As mentioned by our language critic in Filipino, Dr. Erwin Sustento, there was an interesting change in the language used especially by Filipino writers. The words have become more dynamic to which teenagers can surely relate.

If you’re a hopeless romantic with zero lovelife, then “Nobyo, sa Diin ka?” by Mia Rose Emboltura will be right down your alley. “Tay, Ikaw ang Bida” is an inspired true-to-life story of Julie Ann Analista who dedicates it to her father who had passed away. Magdalena Sernicula’s “Paraiso” is a wake-up call for the protection of our Mother Nature. If you want some dose of insanity, take the “Color Personality Test, Try It!”, or be charmed by the insightful poetry of Elsed Togonon and Angel Marie Medel.

Take up reading, especially of books, then keep them on your bookshelves. Sooner or later, you’ll surely come back for them, shake the dust off them, read them again and have a darn-this-is-exactly-my-life-story kind of feeling.

Everyday, without you knowing it, you make a perfect book scene. The only difference is that your story doesn’t get published.

Let’s get that reading habit back. There are hundreds and millions of stories yet to unfold. You’ll never know, one of them could be yours.

So here’s the sixth volume of Irong-irong, trying to keep the reading habit back on track. You’re going to do a lot of laughing and loving here - just as you like it.

4

Love and Humor

HoT and cold

Jerson e. eLmido

6

Hoy, Daydreamer!

John Louie E. Esmaya

Ang sarap ng ganitong pakiramdam Parang ako’y nasa langit at walang pakialam Kapiling siya at masayang nagkukwentuhan Hawak ang kamay na tila walang kapaguran.

Walang paglagyan ang aking ligaya Akin siyang tinitigan sabay sabing “Mahal kita.”

Ngunit ngumiti lamang siya at tumawa Ako’y nalungkot dahil akala ko’y may gusto nang iba.

Tumingin siya sa ‘kin at sinabing, “Mahal rin kita.”

Nang marinig ko iyon napalaki ang aking mata Sa sobrang ligaya di ko napigil at nahalikan ko siya Palagay ko ako’y nasa langit na.

Masaya na ang lahat sana Ngunit sakit ng katawan bigla kong nadarama Nahulog na pala ako sa aking silya Doon ko napagtanto panaginip lang pala.

Nang ako’y nahimasmasan ako’y napangiti Habang tinatanggal ang laway sa aking labi Huli kong naalala ay hinahalikan ka sa pisngi Sana kahit panaginip ay maulit muli.

Panaginip man ngunit ako’y masaya, Kahit malayo ka palagay ko’y kapiling pa rin kita Kaya mag-ingat ka diyan lagi dahil “Mahal kita.”

Sana pag-uwi mo ay magkatotoo na.

Mayroon akong hilingin kung maaari sana Ang hiling ko ay kung pwede ‘wag kang magkagusto sa iba Dahil ayokong mapunta ka kanino pa Sapagkat minahal na kita kahit noong una pa.

Love and Humor

7

kilig Sa Jeepney

beb o. anG

“Sumakay ako sa jeepney…” timing na kanta sa radyo, Sa likuran ni Manong drayber agad akong pumuwesto, Pagkaupo’y starstruck agad sa ‘king harapan, Napa-evil smile tuloy sa nakaambang kinabukasan.

Maanyag ka pa rin gaya ng huli nating pagkikita, kelan nga ‘yun? Pilit kong ginunita, Ahhh… nung hayskul, dead na dead lahat sa’yo, Syempre, sa looks mo nadala pati ako.

Matang misteryoso gaya ng malamig na gabi sa Disyembre, Ilong na kasing tangos ng sa mamang nasa kwartang bente, Labing parang kinuyom na rosas sa buwan ng tagsibol, Buhok na walang balakubak, walang sabit o buhol.

Malasardinas na ang siksikan, pero O.k. parin ang view ko, hay! Basta long distance, kahit wala na, “O, pwede pa pito!” kahit ang dungis ng paligid, sapat na ang pagmumukha mo, Buong-buo na ang araw, linggo at buong taon ko! kung ilegal ang pagnanakaw ng tingin, Naku, kanina pa siguro ako nakulong sa ganitong krimen, Okay lang sa ‘kin kahit habambuhay nakapiit, kung ang rehas naman ang puso’t pag-ibig mo ang kapalit.

‘Yung mamang katabi ko, ang epal naman, Dikit nang dikit, nakikisabay sa siksikan, Pero blurred ang buong paligid, sa’yo lang naka-focus, Ang spotlight ng buhay kong nagmimistulang circus.

8

Sapat ba ang ilang minuto na kasama ka sa biyahe?

Nang mapansin at masuklian mo ‘tong pagtingin mula pa dati, Sana ikaw rin, tuwing hindi ako nakatingin, Nagnanakaw rin ng sulyap at pasimple-simpleng tingin.

Para akong nahulog sa kaulapan, Nang bigla kang nagsabing, “ Manong, para nga d’yan!”

Pagkababa’y sinalubong ka agad ng isang babae, Dinig ko pa nga ang sigaw niya, “Honey!”

Bago pa ako masadlak sa sobrang kalungkutan, Di pa pala ako nakakabayad, muntik kong makalimutan, Kinapa-kapa ko ang wallet, ba’t wala na?

Di ko alam ang Girbaud bag ko’y butas na pala!

Kaya pala dikit nang dikit ang mama kanina, Paano na ‘to wala akong kahit isang barya?

Iiyak na sana ako sa sobrang kahihiyan, Buti ang hero to the rescue ko’y and’yan.

Tinabihan ako ng dati kong kaklase sa elementarya, ‘Yung tinutukso sa ‘kin, pero lagi kong dinededma, Siya lang ang nakakita sa ginawa ng snatcher ko, Kaya ayun, nakalibre agad ako.

Kung ganun, kanina pa niya ako tinitingnan, In fairness, ang laki ng ipinagbago niya sa kabuuan, ‘Di na siya ang dating uhugin at lampa, Posible kayang love story na ‘to, gaya ng sa kanta?

Love and Humor

9

nobyo, Sa diin ka?

mia rose V. emboLtura

Masubo mangin babayi nga wala nobyo, daw may isa ka kaladtu-an nga dili masayo, mabudlay tunlon ang kamatuuran nga wala sa imo may malingaw-lingaw.

Masubo mangin babayi nga wala nobyo, daw isa kaw ka dinuguan nga wala dugo mabudlay man kun sa ital-ital wala ka may malihog kag masugo.

Masakit mangin babayi nga wala may nagapangaluyag, daw isa kaw ka bitsu-bitsu nga wala kalamay, kulang sa katam-is ang kabuhi, puro lang panghayhay.

Masakit mangin babayi nga wala may nagapangaluyag, daw isa kaw ka spaghetti nga wala sauce adlaw-adlaw ginapamangkot, maabot pa bala siya, o akon Diyos?

Masubo mangin babayi nga wala nobyo, Masakit mangin babayi nga wala may nagapangaluyag sa imo, Pero mas masakit magtukar ang sakit sang unto...

10

Robert is now sixteen and sure he’s turning into a real man. He likes Cecil and, as a grown man, he’s going to give her his hundredth hug as a confession. Will this be his greatest birthday gift ever?

The 100th Hug

Joyce Gem M. Cañete

It is not Thursday. It is his birthday; and this year, he has raised the bar a little higher on the scale.

No gifts. No parties.

Just a dare.

Robert smiled to himself. A hundred hugs for a gift wouldn’t be bad at all. They’re not worldly things to have, and besides, they would make his 16th birthday a special one.

And so he walked, wondering to whom he would give his 100 hugs. Yet, he only had one thing on his mind - the 100th hug had to be given to his dearest Cecil, his long-time crush.

Before long, he triumphantly gave away his 99 hugs. Now, however, giving the last hug seemed to be a harder task.

“Not only will I hug her for the first time, but I will also confess to her my true feelings.

Who can turn down a celebrant’s plea anyway, right?,” Robert told himself with a spark in his eyes.

Mr. Destiny was with him it seemed as he spied his angel in disguise clad in a lilac sundress that showed how much of a man of good taste he was. Smiling, he readied himself for the big reveal, all the while holding his breath.

But his world crashed around him when he saw his dearest Cecil walking with a tall , masculine and chinito guy. They were so engrossed in their little chat that they were like the closest couple in the world. Throughout his life, he had never actually realized how heartbreaking it was to see a loved one happy with someone else.

But Robert stood his ground. “Today is my birthday. No. No one can ruin it,” he chokingly whispered.

The determined soul approached Cecil, taking steps as slow as his breathing. “I’m giving you my 100th hug today.”

“Hey, it’s your birthday, right? Happy birthday!,” Cecil squealed.

God, she’s beautiful, he thought. This is it... she’s going to hug me..

“Mark,” she turned to her companion and told him with a grin, “It’s Robert’s birthday,” .

“Happy birthday, Robby!” and before Robert could move, Mark leaned towards him, wrapped his muscled arms around him and... kissed him... “Uhmmwaaahhh!”

Love and Humor

11

Singing our love SongS

marc anthony b. suyom

12

Music Box

Angel Marie L. Medel

Sing me to sleep when my heart is tired.

Dance away my loneliness.

Lure me away with soft tones from reality to where I could escape from its darkness.

I was contented with loneliness when you showed me music It touched my naive soul and weakened my fear.

Let me love you instead, a woman that pops out from the box.

Unseasonal Love

Christine Joy A. Saber

My life is made of seasons strong; Some are short and others are extensive; Some are joyous and some are sad; Yet, through each season - good or bad, Just knowing that you are always there, Makes me feel like a millionaire.

Love and Humor

13

your maJeSTy

keVin JerroL c. erebaren

Oh! You think you're the queen already?

Thoroughly expecting my admiring stare Thinking you’re so heady Do you really believe that I will ever care?

Not quite yet, your majesty.

By performing without any flaw Are you expecting a look of awe?

Careless clichés leaving your lips Dazzling all with your marvelous quips Regrettably not, your majesty.

Enchanting the neighborhood guys Drawing them with your beauty like honey to flies No one has the guts to speak out against the queen It’s like jumping over a deep ravine You're lying, your majesty.

You're wonderful, beautiful and free I have already praised you, so just let me be But don't complain that you're all on your own Just walk back silently and sit calmly on your throne I'll handle it, your majesty.

Just accept it; you know your realm is crumbling With a frown, I watched it all go down Admit it to yourself now and then quit Then maybe I'll want to admit That I like you, your majesty.

14

Chad is the school’s Math whiz and Zeina is a simple girl who seriously likes him. Will she ever solve that one equation Chad has failed to solve in Math? But what is that equation anyway?

Dear Mr. Math

Misty E. Miko

Dear Mr. Math, I like this guy in our math class, Chad. For me, he’s the cutest and the smartest guy on campus. I really like him but I’m too shy to say it. I’m afraid our classmates will tease us. What will I do?

Yours truly, Sweetgirl The next day, when the school paper came out, Zeina was among the first ones to get a copy; she flipped through the pages to find her favorite column, Dear Mr. Math. She read Mr. Math’s reply and smiled. Beside her, Chad, her classmate, greeted her good morning. She blushed a little and smilingly greeted him back. They sat beside each other in class and she was always amazed at how he could solve the toughest math problems. They were friends, but not that close, despite having gone through grade school and high school together.

As the years went by, however, Zeina gradually realized that, little by little, what she felt for him was more than just friendship. Mr. Math’s reply to her letter gave her another reason to tell Chad on that very same day what she really felt for him. She waited and waited but she couldn’t get through to him to tell him what she really felt. She wanted to confide in Charie, his twin sister, girl-to-girl, but she was too shy, so she wrote to Mr. Math again.

Dear Mr. Math, I tried but failed. He looked so busy with his homework that he seemed not to have time for anything or anyone else. What do I do now?

Yours truly,

Sweetgirl Zeina fairly grabbed the school paper when she got her copy the next day for she couldn’t wait to read what Mr. Math’s reply was.

Dear Sweetgirl, If you are scared of telling him now, then you will never have a chance to be with him at all in the future. Tell him now while it is not yet too late.

Yours truly, Mr. Math

Love and Humor

15

This time, she swore that whatever happened, she would tell Chad. After their class, she tried to tell him again but her nerves got the better of her. She waited until the next day but, as rotten luck would have it, Chad failed to attend their class. As she always did when she didn’t know what to do, she wrote to Mr. Math.

Dear Mr. Math, He never showed up at school today. Perhaps something has happened to him. I hope he’s okay though.

Yours truly, Sweetgirl The next day, she got the paper but when she turned to her favorite column, she was disappointed for it wasn’t there anymore. She turned to the other pages to see if it was moved to another section but it wasn’t anywhere in the paper at all. What happened?

Also for the same number of days that the paper didn’t have Mr. Math’s column, Chad hadn’t shown up. Zeina was desperate so she made up her mind to set her shyness aside and just tell Chad what she felt. So late that night, she texted Chad, “Wat hapend? Uv bn absnt 4 a week & ur missng lots of revws & Xrcises. S somthng wrng? Text bck asap.”

In a couple of minutes, she received a reply, “Dis s Charie. Chad’s in d hospitl now. Doc sed he can’t make it.”

Zeina dropped the phone after reading the last phrase. Chad shouldn’t die. I still need him to teach me how to solve algebraic equations. I haven’t told him yet that I love him, that we’re going to get married, have a family, grow old together. I can’t imagine my life without him...

Zeina saw her dreams shatter into pieces. She fell asleep from exhaustion with profuse tears running down her cheeks. The next morning, she was convinced that it was just a nightmare. her hope went pfft when she read the message again. It was really there. She tried calling Chad’s number but his phone was already unattended.

So even though it was hard on her, she went to school with one thing in mind, she must have Chad’s home address and go there.

But when she arrived in school, she felt a chill run down her spine when she saw Chad in the corridor! Is that his ghost? She forced herself to get a closer look when he turned to her and smiled, his handsome face, clear for all to see. There was nothing creepy about him at all. She pinched him to make sure he’s alive.

“I thought… you... were… dead?”

“What?! Is that the way to greet a friend who has just been out of the hospital?”

“But… Charie texted you couldn’t make it…” “haha… Maybe she thought you were my teammate for the Math Olympics. What the doctor said was, I couldn’t make it to the competition. But I’m entirely okay now; I was just overstressed. hey, I wrote you a letter, I wanted to give you this, but you know, I was admitted.”

Zeina opened the letter and read: Dear Sweetgirl, I know you like me a lot but it’s too late for you to say it now because I’ll say it first: I like you a lot, very much. I might be the school’s Math whiz but I hope you can solve the equation that I failed to solve…the equation of LOVE… Lovingly Yours, Mr. Math Chad Your Bestfriend

16

They say when love hits you, there’s no turning back. But what if love itself turns its back on you; will you give up?

Love AT Summertime

Julie Ann A. Analista

It was six in the morning when Cathrin woke up. She looked out the window and saw people hurrying to and fro. She quickly jumped out of bed and got herself ready for the day.

It was their barangay fiesta and everyone was busy preparing for the day’s activities.

Cathrin was that year’s fiesta queen. For the parade, she wore a long purple gown studded with crystal beads that glittered when they caught the light.

The parade went down the main street of the barangay going towards the covered court. Along the way, over the cheers and shouts of the people to whom she waved and smiled, she heard someone calling her.

“Cathrin!” the voices shouted.

She looked at the crowd from where the voice came. She saw her classmates and friends and was so delighted when she saw among them her crush, Chrisian, looking at her. She felt that she was the most beautiful girl in the world. Because she wasn’t looking where she was stepping, her foot slipped in a small mudhole and she almost fell. She was so embarrassed.

She saw that there was mud on her brand new silver high heels. Yet, the show must go on, so she straightened her back, held her head high, plastered a smile on her face and continued walking.

“Oh my gosh! Chrisian might think that I’m so clumsy and he would be turned off.

Please, God, I hope not,” she thought as she walked.

After the parade, Cathrin and her friend Mappy had their pictures taken together with their classmates and other friends.

“Cathrin, can we have a picture together? Uhm, I mean just the two of us?” someone asked her.

Cathrin was shocked to see it was Chrisian. She felt her knees turn into Jell-O’s.

“W-what? J-just the two of us?” she asked. Chrisian nodded with a smile on his adorable face.

“Why not? Come, let’s find a romantic place, I mean, a quiet place to have our picture taken,” he replied.

“Ahm… Cathrin… uhm… Will you... remain at the plaza after your coronation tonight? I mean... for the dance?”

“I sure would.” She felt like she was floating among the clouds.

Love and Humor

17

After the photo-op, Cathrin and Mappy went home to change clothes.

“Mappy, did you hear what he said?” she asked.

“Yes, of course. And I’m so happy for you, my dear. I guess this is the most memorable fiesta you’ve ever had, right?” Mappy said.

“Oh, Mappy, am I dreaming? Pinch me, pinch me!”

Mappy did, hard.

“Ouch! That hurt! Anyway, it’s true, isn’t it? It really happened, didn’t it? I just can’t believe it!”

“Believe it, girl,” Mappy replied with a giggle.

Later that night, despite being exhausted from the coronation ceremony, Cathrin was so excited to go to the dance. She didn’t know what to wear so she consulted her selfproclaimed fashionista sister, Charisse.

“What about this one?” she asked her sister while holding a silky top and striped pants.

“Naahh.. That outfit is so last year!… This floral-printed sleeveless dress will have all the guys falling in line to dance with you, ” Charisse.

“You’re right. I must be beautiful tonight.”

After a “beautification process” supervised by her sister, Cathrin emerged from the house all dolled up, from her wavy ‘do to her strappy sandals.

Like Cinderella, she went to the ball, a dance actually, together with Mappy.

She saw Chrisian right away for he was standing by the entrance as if waiting for her. he looked handsome in his red polo shirt. “hi! It’s good of you to come. You look gorgeous!”

Cathrin blushed and muttered thanks because she started feeling nervous just being near him, her crush. Oh, heaven!

“Uh, excuse me, guys. I’ll go ahead, okay?” Mappy blurted out, seeing that the two only had eyes for each other.

“Okay!” they both answered in unison.

“Umm... Cathrin... can we find a place where we can be alone for a while? I’ve something important to say to you,” Chrisian asked.

They sat on a bench under a tree a little away from the crowd.

“So, what is it?”

“You know what, Cathrin, whenever my classmates in grade school and high school would ask me who my crush was, I’d always say your name. I’ve always had a crush on you for the longest time, Cathrin.” hearing those words coming from Chrisian himself, Cathrin felt as if butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. She couldn’t speak.

Chrisian took her hands and said, “But now, if they would ask me who my crush is, I wouldn’t say it’s you!”

Cathrin felt as if her heart would burst with disappointment. She felt like crying. She couldn’t believe she was hearing this. She stiffened when Chrisian took her chin and made her look at him straight in the eye.

“Because you’re not my crush anymore, Cathrin...you are now...my love.”

She was so speechless; she didn’t know what to say. Finally, blushingly, she was only able to say, “Oh, Chrisian...I like you, too.”

18

Then, just like a scene in a romantic movie, they hugged each other without saying a word.

Later, their first dance together as a couple was very sweet, tender, and memorable for both of them.

After that, almost every day of their two-month summer break was spent with each other.

When summer was over, they went back to school. In the first two months, they still continued keeping in touch, but beginning in the third month since school started, they became so busy with schoolwork that they found less and less time for each other. They hadn’t noticed that they were starting to be getting farther apart.

Until one day, Cathrin remembered it was their 8th monthsary so she greeted Chrisian through text. She waited for his reply but nothing came. Days passed and still she didn’t get any reply from him for any of the text messages she had sent him.

Semestral break came and Cathrin went home. She expected to see Chrisian there.

One day, her best friend, Mappy, came over to her house. They chatted about lots of things, including Chrisian.

“Girl, Chrisian is here. He came home last night.” Mappy said.

“But he has never come to visit me here at home.”

“Well, I don’t know, friend. Maybe he’s still resting. But you know what, there’s another dance tonight at the covered court. Would you like to go there?” Mappy asked.

“Hmm, I don’t think so. I’d rather stay home.”

“But Chrisian might be there. This could be the right time for you to have a talk,” Mappy said.

So Cathrin decided to go, thinking that she would see Chrisian there, then they could talk.

Mappy came to pick her up and together they went to the plaza. While she was walking towards the entrance she felt a sense of dejà vu, similar to what she had felt on the night of their fiesta last year when their relationship bloomed. Inside the gym, she looked around, trying to find Chrisian. He was there indeed! Eagerly, she ran towards him, Mappy following her. But when she was just about several feet away from him, she saw a girl holding hands with him as he was talking to his friends. She stopped short but, too happy just to see him, she approached him, tugged his free hand, pulled him to her and hugged him tightly. The girl holding Chrisian’s other hand pulled him back and, in an annoyed voice asked, “Who is she, hon?”

But before Chrisian could speak, Cathrin answered “I’m Cathrin, his girlfriend!”

Having said that, she ran away in tears, Mappy following close behind. They found a deserted place in the plaza where Cathrin could cry aloud without any curious passerby seeing them. Mappy, pitying her best friend, just let her cry on.

“It’s so painful, Mappy, so painful that it squeezed the last ounce of blood in my heart.”

Since that night, Cathrin didn’t want to talk about anything related to him and their relationship. She cried for months, trying to forget him. She made herself busy with activities in school. She was finally able to move on though it took her years to do it. Yet, the scar remained in her heart.

Love and Humor

19

After her graduation from college, she had a thanksgiving celebration at her house.

Mappy and her other friends were there. She never saw or heard from Chrisian.

Three years later, their elementary school batch had a reunion. Many of them were present; some already had their own families, most were professionals and others were still trying their best to change their lives. Cathrin and Mappy came late because they had a lot of catching up to do.

“Cathrin and Mappy are already here, only one’s not around…”

“I’m here,” a familiar voice shouted.

“Chrisian!” the boys shouted. “Good of you to make it. We thought you couldn’t join us.”

Cathrin had already expected this to happen so she simply ignored him. She never enjoyed the party. She simply sat on the side watching Mappy and the others.

“Aren’t you enjoying the party?” It was Chrisian. “not much,” she answered.

“You know, Cathrin, you’re more beautiful than before.”

“Thanks!” She answered curtly, head bent as she pretended to text.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

“Aren’t we talking right now?!”

“No, I mean just the two of us.”

“What about?”

“Us.” “What about us?”

“About our past relationship,” he said, and grabbed the cellphone she was holding.

“Give me back my cellphone! Our past relationship? So it’s already past? Did we end it?

Chrisian, I’ve already forgotten about it. About us,” she said “But I want you to know that I feel so sorry about what happened. I still love you. I’m so sorry, Cathrin. All these years, I’ve realized I was wrong for hurting you. I thought I could be happy with Dianne. But I was wrong.”

“No Chrisian, it took me a long time to forget you. Now, my heart is already closed for someone like you. I have forgiven you. I don’t love you anymore. We’re not meant for each other. Our love will not have a fairytale ending. Go your way and find someone better than me and love her, but never do to her what you’ve done to me.”

Cathrin left Chrisian with a feeling of being free at last. Some part of her still loves him dearly, of course, because no one forgets his or her first love. But she had already chosen her new-found love, her one, true, enduring love.

Years later, Cathrin visited her hometown on the day of the fiesta. She remembered the old days. A lot of things have changed. It’s been a long time indeed. Instead of looking forward to enjoying the “perya” or the dance, she found joy in the thought of attending the fiesta mass. In church, she saw her bestfriend, Mappy, wearing a special garment similar to hers. “hi Cathrin, I mean Sister Cathrin.” “hello, Sister Maria Pilar. It’s good to see you again.” The two hugged warmly.

“By the way, Sister Cathrin, meet our visiting priest for the mass, Fr. Chrisian Tiongson.”

20

don’t let me go

Marc Anthony B. Suyom

Love and Humor

21

Tay, ikaw ang bida

JuLie ann a. anaLista

Naalala ko noong ako'y bata pa, kapag tayo ay naglalaro ako'y iyong dinadaya, Pero okey lang, sabi ko, Paglaki ko, ako naman ang pupuntos sa'yo. hanggang isang araw nagising ako, Tinawag ko pangalan mo. hindi ka sumagot, Sabi ko, "Tay, laro tayo!" hinanap kita sa lahat ng sulok ng bahay, Ngunit wala ka, Umupo ako sa tabi at naghintay, Nagbakasakali na ika'y dumating.

Sa mura kong isip, Ako ay nagtaka, Saan na kaya?

Saan na ang kalaro kong madaya?

Ang isang araw ng paglalaro ay tapos na pala at di na mauulit pa.

Walang kaalam-alam na ika'y wala na. kahit sa pagkawala ikaw pa rin ay madaya.

Pagkat ako'y iyong iniwan na nasasaktan at luhaan.

Mundo ay tila tumigil sa iyong pagkawala, Pero naalala ko ang sabi mo, "Ang pagmamahal ng isang ama ay walang hangganan, kahit si kamatayan ay walang kaparam."

Aking naisip, kahit ika'y wala na, Alam ko na ang puso mo at puso ko ay iisa. kaya kahit ika'y nawala, Mananatili kang buhay sa'king alaala.

Sa aking muling pagdalaw sa iyong himlayan, Aking naramdaman ang kalungkutan, Sapagkat kahit sa Araw ng mga Tatay, Di man lang kita nabati, ng “happy Father’s Day, Tay!�

Pero binawi ko ang lungkot na nadarama, Aking naisip masayang ala-ala Upang pangungulila at luha Ay mapalitan ng ngiti at saya.

Palagi mong tandaan, Dito sa puso ko hindi ka mawawala Pagkat dito nakahimlay lahat ng iyong tawa.

At dito, "TAY, IkAW ANG BIDA!"

22

A Mother’s Love

Kizzielyn S. Tumines

“Metro Manila’s most notorious druglord, shot dead!”

Was the night’s headline on the TV screen, She jumped off from her folding bed, If only you saw this unfortunate scene.

As the authorities had a toast over this, There was a mother who bled behind, Longing for his hug, cuddle and kiss, She still remembered him as sweet and kind.

Is this because he was the fruit of her sin, After that one night’s loving?

But she promised never to do that again, Or was it just because of her upbringing?

As the camera started rolling, Her face appeared in the interview, Tears were naturally rushing, But her eyes showed love and strength.

Yet TV viewers blamed her, Saying what a bad mother she was For raising such a scoundrel and drug pusher, If only they knew, what a good son he was.

Love and Humor

23

in Heaven

Jane s. baLdoVe

You left without saying, You left without a smile.

It was so soon I never thought it was really true, Until they opened the casket...

Until I saw you, Eyes closed and body cold, Smile gone.

I wiped the tears from my eyes, Turned to my mother with a fake smile, At the same time wondering why.

It’s been nine months without you here, And it still hurts to be without you, To cheer me up and make my sky bright blue and clear, I cried, I almost died.

Because I couldn’t stand the thought that you'll never be here, To see me succeed, To walk down the aisle with me, I miss the happy days when I got to see you, I miss the laughs we shared together, The memory of our hugs was the most hurtful.

Tatay, you’re now gone but never forgotten Because you’re now in heaven, Where you won’t have to suffer the pain as much anymore.

I miss you now and forever more.

24

Wrapping Up

Elsed S. Togonon

Perhaps, I said it all, wrote in my case-as if to untangle the complexities of dangling modifiers and balancing faulty parallelisms.

But then, you boast how you topped my exam again. Although you doubt why I gave you a perfect score in test four.

But does it matter, I don’t know, every paragraph requires a topic sentence. I found one in yours.

Exam is over. No more white notes piling up my table. No more stolen glances, another poem to write.

And we exchanged our customary goodbyes while I remain en-drowned in your laughs and smiles etched in my heart but does not hurt...

Turning your back away from me, I find delight in the evanescence and pang in the ephemeral.

And in my surrender how easy it becomes, to untangle the complexities of dangling and misplaced modifiers. Weave them, capture them, into that story.

Love and Humor

25

grand priZe

marc anthony b. suyom

26

Sa Balay Barasahan

Elsed S. Togonon

Sa balay-barasahan nagabukas ang paghigugmaanay nga mahimo matabo kanatun nga darwa.

Nagausbong ang kahamot nga nagapadura kang dapug ka tagiptip sa darag nga mga pahina nga akun ginahak-un sa akun pagpangita kang dumaan nga mga libro sa nagahilera nga mga estante.

Diin ko ikaw makita?

Sa pagbukad ko kang mga pahina ka mga nobela nanday D.H Lawrence, F. Scott Fitzgerald, kag Oscar Wilde; mga binalaybay nanday Whitman, Neruda, kag Frost— indi makatupung kang akun kauhaw nga ikaw liwat ko makita sa nagabalag nga mga estante sa mga libro nga nagatabon kang imong landog.

Malapad diyang balay-barasahan rugya sa Unibersidad kang San Agustin, Nagaisaranhun ako nga gapungko sa lapad nga lamesa sa Reference Area.

Daad, sa akun pagtakup basa kang nobela amo man ang imong pagsulud, ang pagtabuanay kang atun mga mata, ang imong pagyuhum kag pamaypay nga nagapatimaan nga kon kaisa— may paghigugma nga masarang matabo indi sa mga sugidanun nga akun ginabasa.

Love and Humor

27

blue moon

anGeL marie L. medeL

The moon tells no lies That we were in love that night The waves speak of soft lullabies That let me fall safe in your arms.

Your eyes reflect the light from the moon.

If you only knew that on that night I really felt loved.

Your touch was like liniment to my skin.

Your presence was my immortality Yet that night will remain as a sweet memory that somehow I have escaped reality and found my life with you.

Forgive me if dreams were intended to come true only when you are asleep.

I have to be awakened by the things that hinder this love.

Forgive me, If I cannot spend another moment like that with you.

If time may permit, let us wait when the moon tells us to walk again on the shores of life.

By then, I can say I am yours.

For now, let me dream of you in one sweet slumber and wait till the moon rises again and the tides will not drown me in my past.

28

POST

Elsed S. Togonon Hey, nabasa ko nga pala Ang PM mo sa Facebook Nung inakala kong dinelete Mo na ako sa friend list mo.

Hanggang ngayon kasi Ang mga ito lamang Ang nagsisilbi kong handuRawan kapag may mga Linggong hindi ka online.

Ewan, praning na yata ako Wala din kasi akong alam Kung bakit sa tuwing Nagbabadya ang notification, Inaakala kong ikaw ‘yun Magcocomment Magla-like sa post.

Panilagan ko kasi, Ikaw lamang ang nag-iisang Kahagugma sa buhay ko— Nabubuhay sa bawat Titik at salitang binibitawan Ng iyong daliri sa keyboard.

Ngayon nga, nararamdaman ko na Ang katugnaw ng aircon Habang matiyagang hinihintay Ang pangalan mong lumitaw.

Subalit ilang beses na akong Nag-log-in at nag-log-out Ni isang titik sa wall post, Wala naman akong nabasa.

Mas lalong sumikip ang dibdib ko Tila hindi makahinga sa pagAakalang ako sa iyo’y may halaga.

Alam mo, hindi ko ito gusto Subukan ko mang i-PM ka At ipabutyag ang nilalaman Nitong hangal na puso, Marahil kunot-noo lang naman Ang tangi mong isasagot.

Sabagay, sino nga ba naman ako Isang hamak na makatang Naghahabi ng mga binalaybay Ni kahit sa panaginip man Ay hinding hindi magkatotoo?

Ngunit bakit may mga pagkakataong

Love and Humor

29

Tila sinasadya ng tadhana Na hatagan ng kasagutan ang tila Tanhagang bumabalot sa ating dalawa?

Bakit tayo pinagtagpo nang pumatak Ang unang ulan ng Mayo?

Bakit sabay nating natapos Sa parehong araw ang nobela ni Allende?

Bakit nalaman ko na taga-Las Piñas ka Bago ko man ito natuklasan Sa Friendster profile mo?

Buong gabing nagbantay ang buwan At sinabayan ko ng paggising Sa kakaisip na baka itinadhana Tayong dalawa sa isa’t isa.

At ang tangi ko lamang batid Na ikaw ay aking kailangan.

Ngayon na masyado kang abala Sa iyong tesis at pag-aaral, Marahil ito na rin ang huling PM Na ipapadala ko sa iyo. hindi ko na rin kailangan ng sagot Mula sa iyo. Wala din namang tayo.

Ito na din siguro ang tama nating gawin kapag mabasa natin ang post Ng isa’t isa o di kaya’y kapag kapwa tayong online, Isipin na lang natin na dito Sa ating mga kasingkasing Patuloy tayong mangungusap hindi sa pamamagitan ng Mga titik o salita kundi ng mga damdaming Tayo lamang ang nakakaunawa.

30

A Day of Destiny

Christine Joy A. Saber

Sa isa ka madulom nga kagab-ihon, Ako yara naga-isahanon nga gapanglakaton.

Gulpi lang ako nakibot, Sang isa ka mestiso ang nag-abot.

Sus! Abi ko kung sa diin na ako, Sa Flow bala ukon sa MO2?

Ano gid man ini bala?

Matuod-tuod ukon isa lamang ka damgo?

Baw kag didto ko natalupangdan, Ako gali yara lang sa tunga sang isa ka diskohan.

Kag atong mestiso nga akon nakit-an, Abaw! Gulpi man nalipay ang akon dughan, Sang siya liwat akon makit-an, Daw indi ko dayon maintindihan, Kung ako bala matindog na lamang, Ukon siya akon palapitan kag inguran.

Hay ano ini man?

Nga-a kagamo gid sang akon nabatyagan, Indi ko tuod mabal-an Kung ato nga mestiso bala Ang akon gid man dapat salaon.

Kay umpisa sadtong nakita ko siya, Kapin pa gid sang gintalupangdan ko siya, Patay lang siya duludalagan sa akon panumduman.

Love and Humor

31

Natapos ang disco kag nag-abot ang kaagahon.

Pero ang mestiso wala gid nadula sa akon tagi-pusoon.

Umpisa sang ako nagbugtaw, Asta sang ako nagpamahaw, Pati sa akon pinggan, Baw! Iya hitsura akon pa makit-an. kung silingon daw adik na gid ako sa iya, Pero okey lang kay dira man ako masadya.

Nag-abot ang udto kag kinanglan ko na magbalik sa Iloilo.

Urong-sulong ako kun’ ako madiretso, Pero destiny gid man siguro, kay nagkit-anay kami liwat sang mestiso.

Abi ko daw hangin lang siya nga malabay, Pero didto gid ako nalipay, Sang siya nag-ingod sa akon kag kami nagtulukay.

Amu gid na siguro kung kamo gid man ang madayunay. hambal gani sang isa ka hurubaton, “kung kamo gid ya, kamo gid na ya.� kag ako isa sa mga gapati sina, kay akon gid napamatud-an, kay ang lalaki nga gina-tulok ko lang sang una, Ang lalaki nga ginahandum sang una, Subong ari sa kabuhi ko, kag nagapabutyag sang iya matuod-tuod nga gugma.

32

Leanna was about to eat her last cupcake when Jeun crashed into her; she dropped the cupcake.

But that was only the beginning of a friendship that turned into love. Will Jeun be the last man Leanna would share her last cupcake with?

Last Cupcake

Misty E. Miko

Leanna was new in school. She was very nervous for it was the first time for her to transfer especially since it was already halfway through the school year. She found all her subjects very hard except Cooking. She was good in the kitchen for her mom was a chef in a five-star hotel who taught her everything she knew about cooking and cooking techniques.

Leanna’s masterpiece was cupcakes. On her second day at school, she still hadn’t made any friends yet so she ate lunch alone. She brought a couple of her cupcakes to school with no one to share them with. She was about to eat the last one when a guy came crashing on to her table causing the cupcake to drop from her hand.

“Hey, jerk! Look what you’ve done! That was the last…” Leanna yelled at the poor guy.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to… Don’t worry I’ll replace them tomorrow,” he answered in a tone that made Leanna feel sorry for him.

“Uhmm…well…that’s okay. I’m sorry, too, for yelling at you. By the way, I’m Leanna and I’m new here.”

“I’m Jeun. You’re new here, huh? Well, I could show you around the school sometime.

And I meant it when I said I would replace the cupcake with one that I would make myself.

If you want I could bring a whole cake.”

“Thanks, but you don’t have to. Uhm…there’s the bell… I’d better get going for my next class. Bye…” “Bye. See you later.”

As Leanna hurriedly walked away, Jeun couldn’t help but follow her with eyes that were both pensive and interested. That night, he baked some cupcakes. The next morning…

“Hi, Leanna! Here’s your cupcake…”

“Thanks, but you really didn’t have to…”

“But I wanted to. Say, I was wondering if we could have lunch together? I mean, if that’s okay with you..?”

“Sure… why not…”

They sat together side by side.

“Try the cupcake.”

“Okay… Mmm… this is good, almost as good as mine…did you bake this?”

“Yeah…well, others might think that baking is weird… I mean for us, guys… I don’t mean it’s bad or guys shouldn’t do it… It’s just that a guy doesn’t usually do baking, you know… unless he’s a chef or the son of a chef… I mean..” “ Don’t worry, I understand… You know, you’re nice.”

“Really? I mean, of course, I am…” “ Ha..ha.. You’re so funny! Oh, and thanks..”

“For what?”

“For being a friend. You know transferring is hard enough especially when you know no

Love and Humor

33

one in your new school, but you made my first week incredible. Thanks for that.”

With those words, Jeun’s heart started to beat a little faster. Since that day, they started hanging out and they were together in everything they did, especially in their Cooking subject. They were the cooking experts of their school and they were often sent as representatives to cooking competitions. Everything was going fine until one day…

Leanna saw that Jeun had seemed to have left his notebook on his desk. She took it, meaning to give it to him when they met again. As she was holding it, she couldn’t resist to take a peek at his notes. She liked his handwriting anyway with all its flourishes and lines.

She flipped through the pages and saw that they contained a mix-up of notes in different subjects. She was about to close the notebook when she came upon a page that had her name written repeatedly on the top margin. Curious... and flattered... she read the notes that looked more like a diary entry.

I just got lucky today. I accidentally bumped into Leanna Reyes, daughter of World Tower Hotel’s top chef, Rhea Reyes. Befriending her can be a great advantage. She could be a good cook as her mom. If we’d be good friends, she could be my partner in every competition and with her, I’d surely win. heart feeling heavy and tears pooling in her eyelids, Leanna slammed the notebook shut just as Jeun entered the room.

“Look, Leanna. I’ve just bought a book on Indian cuisine. It’s very cheap,” he cheerfully told her.

“Yeah, it’s very cheap. I wonder if there are cheap people, too.”

“What do you mean? has someone hurt you?”

“Cheap people - it’s my word of the day. It means people who use other people for personal use.”

“Yeah. Some people do that.”

“Oh, come on, Jeun, don’t pretend! You’ve planned this the whole time. You’ve wanted to befriend me, the daughter of a famous chef, because it would be to your advantage,” Leanna said with sarcasm.

“Leanna, I’m sorry. I thought about that when I first met you. But having been with you all this time, I’ve known the real you and liked what I saw so what I have with you is pure friendship, not just for the competition.”

“Jeun, is this still part of the show we’re playing? Just tell me what the next script says.

It’ll be okay, I’ll try my best to act my part,” she said and left him.

That night, everything changed and saying sorry was not an option. Five months had passed now and still, Jeun and Leanna had not spoken to each other. At lunchtime, they’d sit with their classmates at separate tables yet each would look surreptitiously at each other when he or she thought the other one wasn’t looking.

Jeun couldn’t keep up the pretense any longer, so one night, he called Leanna…

“C’mon Leanna pick it up… It’s Jeun.” “hello?”

“Listen, Leanna… I’m sorry about what happened. Can you forgive me?”

A surprise Leanna didn’t know what to say so she simply kept quiet.

“Leanna, are you still there? We can’t go on like this… can we be friends again? We still have to prepare for our competition this weekend.”

“So this is just about the competition, huh? Well, you know what? I give up!” and Leanna slammed the phone.

“I’m sorry, Leanna. I didn’t mean to…hello, hello?”

Leanna cried herself to sleep as she curled in her bed.

On the day of the competition...

“Where is she? I hope she gets here in time…” Jeun thought as he paced to and from in the holding room. Deep in his heart, however, he knew it was hopeless. Leanna wouldn’t come. The competition was about to start when he saw Leanna running towards their table.

34

“Thank God you’ve made it! So, we’re okay now?”

“Shut up, Jeun! Let’s just get this over with. Anyway, we’re both here only for the competition, right?”

Ouch! That was an in-your-face insult, Jeun thought. As expert cooks, however, they went ahead with the preparation of the dishes they were asked to make. Although they were not actually talking to each other, they knew what to do. Later, when the results were announced, they weren’t surprised to know that they won. They both got up the stage and received their trophy. After the picture-taking, Leanna immediately left, leaving Jeun holding the trophy alone.

The next morning…

“Hello?”

“Is this Ms. Leanna Reyes?”

“Yes? Who’s this please?”

“I’m the nurse on duty here in the emergency room of St. Andrew Hospital. This is about a friend of yours… Jeun Henson.”

“What?! Why? What happened?”

“I can’t tell you right now. But just come here please before it’s too late.”

Leanna’s knees nearly buckled when she heard it.

“Okay...okay... I’ll be there as soon as I can!”

Feeling the worst, she drove to the hospital like a madman. As soon as she got out of her car, she ran to the ER and asked for the nurse who had called her earlier.

“Calm down, Miss… He’s still in the emergency room.”

“What happened? How is he now?”

But the nurse had rushed back into the ER. Leanna felt more scared. She slumped against the wall.

“This is all my fault,” she moaned.

“Excuse me, Ms. Reyes?”

“Yes?” “We did whatever we could…”

“Oh, my God!” She felt faint.

“We found your full name and contact number on his latest dialed numbers. It seemed that he wanted to give you these.

Leanna opened the box and saw 3 cupcakes with a word in icing on each, arranged to form the phrase… I LOVE YOU. There was a little card that said: Dear Cupcake, I hope you like these… they’re special and I made them just for you. Taste them and you will remember the first day we met.

Lovingly yours, Jeun At that moment, the nurse came out of the ER and told her to enter. Jeun was unusually pale, with his eyes shut and his body still. Teary-eyed, she slowly walked towards his bed.

Just then, Jeun opened his eyes and smiled.

“Were you worried about me, Cupcake?”

“Jeun, don’t say anything. But let me say I’ve forgiven you.”

“Those cupcakes were my token of apology. I’d like to see you eat them.”

Without a word, Leanna took one of the cupcakes and ate it. She then picked the other one and ate it, too. She left the last one with LOVE written on it in the box.

“I won’t eat this one Jeun. Keep this as a sign of my affection… Cupcake,” she said teasingly.

“So you’re giving me that last cupcake? Promise, I’ll never ever drop it, my love.”

Love and Humor

35

my maTerial girlS

Jerson e. eLmido

36

Paraiso

Magdalena F. Sernicula Sang isa ka gab-i akon gindamgo, Ang Pilipinas sang una nga tiempo, Perlas sa sidlangan, duta nga natawhan, Ginpanubli pa sa aton kalolohan.

Sang akon paggwa, akon gid nabatyagan, Preska nga hangin nagadupoydupoy sa akon uluhan, Sa uma, humay dalagko ang bunga, Pantat kag puyo sa matinlo nga tubig sila nagakapakapa.

Sang akon pagbugtaw, ako natingala, Mabaho nga hangin sa akon nagdapya, Plastik, lata, botelya nagalinapta, Hay, diin ang aton pag-ulikid kag gugma?

Nga-a bala may baha sa uma, sa siudad, sa bukid?

Indi ayhan tungod sa kulang naton sa pag-ulikid?

Ang sadto nga humayan, kakahuyan, subong pabrikahan, Sa diin na karon makadto ang ulan sang kalangitan?

Ini isa ka panawagan, “Palibot aton tinluan”, Agud makalikaw sa dugang nga balatian sang kalibutan, Liwat liwat lang ini nga pahanumdom, Pero ngaa daw mga bungol man kita gihapon?

Magkinot indi lang sa kwarta kundi pati sa kuryente kag tubig, Kay ini sa “global crisis” daku gid ang mabulig, Madamu nga kabataan subong indi na manggad, Planuhon sang maayo ang pamilya nga gusto mapaugwad.

Magkampanya para sa kaayuhan sang katawhan, Malain nga bisyo likawan, lawas aton halungan, Bangud kita nga pamatan-on ang ginalauman, Sang pungsod Pilipinas, padulong sa kauswagan.

Halin sa aton mahamuok nga katulugon, Bugtaw, magbugtaw kita tanan, Ang paraiso nga ginhatag sang amay sa kalangitan, Bululigan naton nga ibalik sa duag nga kinaandan.

Love and Humor

37

color perSonaliTy TeST, Try iT!

beb o. anG

Walang binatbat ang Yo Soy Caliente Psycho test ng Momentong ng UST sa personality test na ito. higher ang validity ng test na ito kesa sa Rorschach Test at Rosenzweig PictureFrustration Study. kasama ito ng Yo Soy Caliente Psycho test sa batch ng mga nireject ng karamihang psychologist, dahil nga sa high degree ng accuracy ng interpretations, marami ang nagtaas ng kilay sa sobrang inggit. kaya ito, mas mauuna pang ma-experience ng mga Augustinians ang “magic” ng test na ito. Malas ng mundo at na-reject ang personality test na gaya nito.

Para masimulan na, kumuha ka ng panyo, lumagay sa isang tahimik at meditative na lugar. kung gusto mong umihi, umihi ka na para walang masyadong delay, siguraduhin mong mag-isa ka lang sa mga oras na ito, tumingin sa paligid, magmasid.

Isang tanong lang naman, ano ang ulam mo noong gabi ng September 31, 2009? kung hindi mo natatandaan, let’s proceed to the second question, “What’s your favorite color?”

Ganyan lang kadali, nasa ilalim ang mga listahan ng mga kulay, at sa bawat kulay ay may description ng kung anong personalidad meron ka ayon sa napili mong favorite color. Sa madaling salita, your favorite color might tell everything about you! Goodluck!

yellow

“hanggang kailan ka maghihirap? hanggang kailan ka mananahimik? kung hindi ikaw ang kikilos, sino? kung hindi ngayon, kailan?” Ganito ang motto mo sa buhay. kaya, kung may nakasabay ka sa jeepney, naklasmeyt na irregular sa Theo, o nakasalubong sa hagdan ng Mendel hall at mukhang type mo, hindi mo na pinapalampas ang pagkakataon, wala kang pakundangan- hinihingan mo agad ng number, inia-add sa facebook at fina-follow sa twitter(‘yun eh kung may account siya). Grab the opportunity, ika nga nila. Malay mo, baka nga type ka rin.

38

GREEN

Masyado kang mahinahon, kung ang iba, walang isang salita, ikaw naman WALANG SALITA. Minsan nga hiniram ng classmate mo at ipina-scan at ipina-print ang project mo at inangkin, siya raw ang nagpuyat, ikaw pa ang lumabas na nangopya. Pero hindi ka nagalit, sabi mo pa nga “O.K. lang”. Minsan naman, ipinagtapat ng bestfriend mo na may gusto siya sa childhood sweetheart mo, kaya ayun nagparaya ka agad, ikaw pa ang naging bridge. Ba’t ba masyado kang mabait?

Try mo naman maging mean, rude, fierce, hilarious, despicable at naughty! For a change!

Ang ibig kong sabihin kung nag-slice ka ng pizza sa walong bahagi, tirhan mo naman ng kahit isang slice ang sarili mo, huwag mong ibigay ang lahat ng slices sa iba at magsisi sa huli kasi hindi ka nakatikim ng kahit isang kagat (ang lalim ha).

RED

Huwag ka naman masyadong epal. Oo na, marami ka nang alam, daig mo pa si Einstein sa general knowledge. Huwag mo namang pasobrahan, try mong lumingon sa likod (alangan sa harap) masasakit palagi ang tingin ng mga klasmeyts mo. Kung sa action movies, ikaw na yung unang pinatay ng gang leader, kasi nga “Masyado ka nang maraming alam!”

Ang totoo, second voice ka lang naman palagi ng teacher niyo, Minsang nagtanong siya, “Class, sino nga ang first president ng United States of America?” sabi mo pa nga, “Sino nga yon? Uhmmm…” Nang sinabi ng teacher niyong, si “George Washington”, sabi mo “Ahh! Oo ma’am, si George Washington!”. INULIT MO LANG. Well, kung genius in the making ka talaga, “Ano ang full name ng assassin na pumatay kay John F. Kennedy noong November 22, 1963?”

(Uhmmm.. Uhmmmm.. Parang familiar..)

BLACK

Naks! Ang tindi ng looks mo! Kamusta ang buhay ng isang pinagtitilian? Araw-araw may nag a-add sa facebook na hindi mo kilala. Well, mahirap talagang maging head-turner that makes everybody green with envy. Bawat galaw mo parang may nagmamasid, huwag kang matakot, mga stalker mo lang ang mga ‘yan.

Remember ‘yung naklasmeyt mo sa Theo? ‘Yung sa bandang harapan sa third row?

Naku, patay na patay sa’yo yun. Ang buong third row, crush ka ng mga yun. Idagdag mo pa ang buong first row. Out of a total of 36 na estudyante, halos one-fourth ang may crush sa’yo, hindi pa dala ‘don ang mga may H.D. (Hidden Desire). Kung alam mo lang na ilang pamilya ang nawasak dahil sa magkakapatid na nag-agawan sa panyong nahulog mo. Kung ilang friendships na ang nabuwag nang 3 seconds na mas nauna mong ini-add sa facebook ang isa.

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pink

Ang buong buhay mo ay isang kasinungalingan. hindi ka talaga mahal ng bf/gf mo, may h.D. ‘yun sa bestfriend mo na siya ring umagaw ng dalawa mo pang ex’s noon sa kadahilanang mas maputi ang batok niya kaysa sa’yo. kaya ka niya niligawan/ sinagot para magkaroon ng dahilan upang makasama ang bestfriend mo.. May tinatagong lihim ang parents mo sa’yo, may kambal ka… na ahas. Maging ang kinikilala mong mang-aagaw na bestfriend , na pinagnasaan ng bf/gf mo, na mas maputi ang batok ay may pinapakalat na tsismis tungkol sa’yo. Pero hindi ko sasabihin kung anong tsismis ito, na kuripot ka raw at masyadong swapang sa mga gastusin , ayaw mong ikaw ang nanglilibre.

Ang pinakahuli, maging ang personality description na ito ay isang malaking kasinungalingan.

violeT

Perfectionist- ganyan ka. Ayaw na ayaw mo ng mga pagkakamali, gusto mo palagi perfect at organized ang mga bagay-bagay. Bakit, ano ka Diyos? Masyado nang over ang pagka-OC (Obsessive-Compulsive) mo. Oo, ikaw na ang pinakamalinis, pinakamakinis, pinakawalang dungis.. ikaw na! kung isang mahirap na salita ka sa diksyunaryo, siguro honorificabilitudinitatibus ka, kasi ang hirap mong bigkasin at ispelingin! Ang totoo Th* ka, na masyadong nagpapakaTMTh**! *Trying hard **Too Much To handle

wHiTe

Oh, ba’t ka na naman malungkot? Deadma lang, eh ano ngayon kung puno ng constellations ang pisngi mo? Anong sa kanila kung para kang ilong na nilapatan ng cheekbones, este cheekbones na nilapatan ng ilong?(Ano ba ‘yan nalilito na tuloy ako.)

Wala silang pakialam kung mas maputi ang balat sa mukha mo kaysa sa leeg. At lalong hindi nila problema kung nag-aalyansa laban sa isa’t isa ang mga ngipin mo. kahit ganyan, meron ka namang smooth and silky hair na hindi hair spa, ni-Rejoice lang. kaya cheer up, meron pa namang Belo, braces at derma, mareremedyuhan pa yan. Bakit, problema ba ang magpaganda? hindi naman di ba?

blue

Nakabibilib ka rin ano? Eksperto ka na nga talaga sa “repeated exposure effect” (Palagi+ Nakikita= Develop) na tinatawag ng mga psychologist. Oo nga naman, sa sobrang lagi ka niya nakikita, baka nga naman madevelop.

Pero isang paalala lang, mapusok ang pag-ibig, sabi nga hahamakin nito ang lahat masunod lang ang layaw. kaya okey lang naman kung sa una pa-pasaload lang ng lima, sampo, trenta. Pero kung buong load wallet mo na ang hiningi, naku something fishy, pera mo lang ang habol niyan.

Take this from me, kasi nga ang buhay pag-ibig parang downtown ‘yan, ‘pag hindi mo binantayan ang puso mo, baka isang araw sa pag-uwi mo butas na ‘yan, gutay-gutay at wala nang natirang laman.

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ORANGE

(Ang weird ng taste of color mo ha!)

Ba’t ba palaging sunod ka nang sunod sa uso? May good news ako sa’yo, balita ko, uso daw ngayong taon ang “natural beauty look”, yung parang bagong gising ang dating.

Baka naman career-rin mo’t hindi ka na magtoothbrush, maligo’t magsuklay bago pumunta sa iskul. Ang ibig kong sabihin, parang bagong gising kasi medyo buhaghag ang buhok at kumukulot pa nang kunti, ganyan ang ibig kong sabihin.

Pero mag-ingat ka rin, kasi kung uso ang pagmumukha mo sa mga nakaraang taon, baka sa mga susunod na taon hindi na. Kasi gaya nga ng sabi ng ex-crush ko na si Bob Ong, ang pagmumukha, pauso-uso lang ‘yan.

GRAY

Ayon sa pinakahuling datos ng U.S. Census Bureau, humigit pitong bilyon na ang populasyon sa buong mundo (as of 2011). Heto pa, ang proporsyon ng lalaki sa bawat babae ay 1.01:1. Kaya huwag kang mawalan ng pag-asa, dude. Malay mo sa humigit pitong bilyong tao dito sa mundo, may isang tao na inilaan ang Maykapal para sa’yo. Malas mo lang kung kalalabas lang niya sa sinapupunan (Pero remember, age doesn’t matter).

SILVER

Binibigyan mo ng meaning kahit ang mga pinakamaliit na bagay. Mahilig kang magformulate ng mga self-proclaimed theories- hindi siya nag-text kasi busy siya sa studies, palagi siyang nagse-send ng love quotes kasi pinapatamaan ka. Dahil ganun inlove agad sa’yo? Di ba puwedeng flirt lang talaga siya?

BROWN

Malas ka. Bad vibes palagi kapag nasa paligid ka. Ikaw ‘yung tipong hindi naman sumasablay, pero gumagawa lang talaga ang kapalaran ng paraan para sumablay ka. Sa sobrang malas mo, hindi na nakaabot ang tinta ng ballpen ko para bigyan ka pa ng further misinterpretations, este, interpretations. Sa next issue ka na lang- hintayin mo ha?

-out of order Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko parin napagtanto kung bakit ni-reject ang mga ganitong personality test. Ayon kasi sa mga findings, BIASED raw, Hello? Kasalanan ko ba kung green at black ang favorite colors ko? At reklamo sila nang reklamo, bakit daw walang gold, eh may silver nga! Nagkataon lang talaga na maganda ang personality interpretations at malay kong marami pala ang favorite color ang gold. All I ever wanted was to interepret personalities in the best of my extent, that’s it!

(P.S. Teka, ba’t ba ang hilig mong kumuha ng mga personality tests, hindi mo ba kilala ang sarili mo?)

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ForgoTTen valenTine

ray adrian c. macaLaLaG

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Bubbly love

Ray Adrian C. Macalalag

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cHeaTing THe game

ray adrian c. macaLaLaG

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four M’s

Jerson E. Elmido

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el Querido

Jerson e. eLmido

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CONTRIBUTORS

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miSTy e. miko/JoSellaine m. SanTuyo

Pessimistic Juliet Ang bitter mo. kasi para sa’yo, halos lahat ng mga istorya, nauuwi lang sa unhappily ever after (evil smile). It’s either may cancer ‘yung isa o ‘di kaya ayaw ng pamilya, ng kapitbahay, ng bahay at ng aso sa bahay ‘yung taong mahal mo.

ray adrian c. macalalag

Pessimistic Romeo hindi mo pa nga sinusubukan, takot ka agad? kung pumasok ka na sa relasyon, dinadaga ka naman? Paano ka liligaya niyan?

Julie ann a. analiSTa

Unofficially Owned Uso ‘to ngayon. Andiyan ka sa mga importanteng kaganapan sa buhay niya, madalas rin kayong mag-text at mag-chat. Mahal mo siya. Mahal ka rin niya. kaya lang, hindi ‘yun sapat para magkaroon ng “kayo”. Sino ka ba talaga sa buhay niya?

mia roSe v. embolTura

Unofficially Owned Mahirap pumasok sa isang relasyon kung alam mong maraming hadlang. kaya kung hindi pa talaga handa ang mga panahon niyo para magconspire, mas mabuting huwag muna pilitin. After all, true love can wait.

kiZZielyn S. TumineS

Heartbroken Araw-araw mong binubuksan ang account mo sa fb, at umaasang mahalata naman niya at mapansin na online ka. Pero pumuti man ang dalawang balintataw mo sa mata, habang abala ka sa pasimple-simpleng pag-like sa mga wall post niya, abala rin siya… sa kaka- Tetris at kaka-Ninja Saga.

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Jane S. Baldove

Happily Committed Perfect combination talaga, hindi na kayo mapaghihiwalay. Kumbaga, kung dinuguan ka, siya ang puto, kung whiteboard ka, siya ang marker, at ‘hetong mas matindi, kung askal siya, sigurado ikaw ang garapata.

Angel Marie L. Medel

Happily Committed Sa isang imperpektong mundo tulad dito, sapat na ang pag-iibigan ninyo. Umaaayon lahat, Flames Candle, Love Match, Lovers, True Love, lahat ng baraha, birthstone niya at mapa ng mga nunal niya sa katawan, nagsasabing kayo na talaga! Wagas!

Christine Joy A. Saber

Happily Committed Mahal mo siya. Mas lalong mahal ka niya. Nagmamahalan kayong dalawa.

May irereklamo ka pa?

Jerson E. Elmido

Happily Committed She pulled you out of the monotony of life. Siya ang oxygen, hydrogen, lithium citrate at asin-ang nagbibigay sa lasa sa bawat oras ng buhay mo sa mundo.

Magdalena F. Sernicula

Faithful Delilah Sa kabila ng climate change, economic crisis at natural disasters, walang dilubyo ang makakatinag sa pagmamahal mo para sa kanya.

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Joyce gem m. caÑeTe

* no comment

marc anTHony b. Suyom

Hopeless Romantic Nasa isang long distance relationship ka, kasi ang taong mahal mo nasa future. Matapos ang lahat ng “epic fails”, malay mo, she’s somewhere over the rainbow.

beb o. ang/ Febrielyn S. TumineS

Emotionally Undisturbed hindi lang naman pag-ibig ang nagpapaikot sa mundo. At teka, hindi naman talaga kayang paikutin ng pag-ibig ang mundo ha?!

elSed S. Togonon

*Let the poems speak for itself. Nahanap na, ngunit ‘di pa rin nakikita.

JoHn louie e. eSmaya

Heartbroken kung nakikinig ka sa Algebra noong hayskul, sigurado makaka-relate ka dito. Asymptote ang drama ng pag-ibig ninyo. kahit ang lapit-lapit na niya, kahit gaano mo man kahirap ipilit, hindi talaga magtatagpo ang mga panahon n’yo. So, move on, si Adele nga “Never mind I’ll find someone like you…”

kevin Jerrol c. erebaren

Emotionally Undisturbed Asus, love-love lang ‘yan! hindi ka naman mabubuhay ng pag-ibig lang.

Sa panahon ngayon, dapat praktikal. Parang tetris lang ‘yan, kung hindi ka maglalaro, wala namang mawawala. kaya bakit ka papasok sa isang bagay na wala namang kabuluhan?

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USA PUBLICATIONS

FOUNDED 1928

EDITORIAL BOARD MARY LESLIE S. EREGIA RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG Editors-in-Chief JOSEFA MARIA A. CASTRO Managing Editor JESANNY I. YAP ANDRE KARL S. FACULIN GENESSA A. BUENAFE Associate Editors Literary Editor Febrielyn S. Tumines Wall News Editor JERSON E. ELMIDO Art Director NICOLE FERNAN L. CAMINIAN Photography Editor KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE Circulation Manager JOHN LOUIE E. ESMAYA Gladys T. Confesor Moderator

EDITORIAL STAFF Senior Writers Ric Martin L. Libo-on Mia Rose V. Emboltura Hannah Grace S. Taba James Marthy M. Esleyer Staff Writers Kim Eric J. Del Rosario Joyce Gem M. Ca単ete Newspaper Apprentice Writers Wilhelm C. Lizada Marylex G. Sumatra Joel S. Sastrillo Kevin Jerrol C. Erebaren Magazine Apprentice Writers Diane Danica C. Dy Christine Joy A. Saber Ayah Danica V. Granada

Josellaine M. Santuyo, Ray Adrian C. Macalalag, Julie Ann A. Analista, Mia Rose V. Emboltura, Kizzielyn S. Tumines, Jane S. Baldove, Angel Marie L. Medel, Christine Joy A. Saber, Jerson E. Elmido, Magdalena F. Sernicula, Joyce Gem M. Ca単ete, Marc Anthony B. Suyom, Elsed S. Togonon, Febrielyn S. Tumines, John Louie E. Esmaya, Kevin Jerrol C. Erebaren