2019

Katayan sa Palihan

i.

Hindi makapaniwala si Belai nang matanggap ang kanyang mga tula sa kauna-unahang Amanda Pahina National Writers Workshop para sa mga baguhang manunulat. Isang linggo bago ang ng pagsisimula ng palihan, nakahanda na ang lahat ng kanyang dadalhin sa Maynila.

Nakasilid sa isang malaking bayong ang mga sumusunod: limang blusang kulay-itim, banig na may kakaibang markang nakaguhit, tatlong garapon ng gayumang luto ng kanyang ina, isang kuwadernong naglalaman ng salamangka ng kanyang pamilya, sampung agimat na siya mismo ang gumawa at mga piyaya.

Manananggal

Mahika Realismo June 25, 2019

Bagong taon nanganganak ang isang manananggal ngunit ipinatawag siya sa pabrika ng telang pinagtatrabahuhan. Iniwan ang kalahating humihilab sa bahay upang mag-labor at ang bahaging itaas niya ang siyang nag-overtime.

Pulubi

Mahika Realismo June 25, 2019

Sinilip ng pulubi ang basong lalagyan ng nalimos. Sa loob, nakita niya ang ulo ni Rizal, dumudugo at bagong pugot.

Tides of the Sea

Alanna Michelle Escudero June 25, 2019

For the children and their dreams for a better tomorrow

Once in a beautiful village far from the barrio, hidden in the marshes; where children play under the warm sun, soft sand, by the seawaters. When gentle waves splashed against stones, and mothers dutifully plant seaweeds, and children play swimming, diving with their laughter filling the warm village air.

This village in the marshes had houses with wooden legs soaked deep underwater, old and worn, built out of bamboo and rods. Barely holding through the monsoon storms, as they gently swayed against the blowing wind. The houses are old but they were strong enough to hold together happy families.

Two Women of Bantayan

Danton Remoto June 25, 2019

A block away from our house stood a wood-and-stone house beside the river.

Our housemaid told us to avoid this house. “Aling Barang,” she said, referring to the woman living in the house, “kidnaps children and keeps them in her house. She has closed her windows,” she added, and before us rose the image of her windows tightly shuttered even in the hottest days.

“It’s because she keeps the children inside her house,” she continued, “and then she would stab them in the chest, drain their blood, and drink it.” Gooseflesh crawled on our skin. “And you know what she does to the bones of our children?”

Katayan sa Palihan

Manananggal

Pulubi

Tides of the Sea

Two Women of Bantayan

You Missed

Katitikan Issue 6: Lives of an Anxious Milieu

ISANG ARAW SA LABAS NG BAHAY AT IBA PANG SHITS

Lugdas

On “Te, tabangi ko bi”