alyssa avila,

Wow na Obra at Lit… Paano ba Mag-submit ?

11/27/2020 08:32:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Mahaba-haba ang naging pahinga ng Aninag Online. Dahil doon, totoong na-miss namin kayo, guys! Nabasa n’yo ba ang mga lits sa unang pub ulit namin? Na-miss talaga naming mag-share ng kuwento sa inyo kaya promise, pinaghandaan namin ang aming #MComeback. Na-inspire ka bang magpasa ng iyong gawa pagkatapos mong mabasa ang mga lits? O meron ka bang naisulat o nagawang mga tula, maikling kuwento, liriko, o naiguhit na mga obra habang tayo ay naka-quarantine, pero nahihiya kang i-post sa isang platform? O kaya naman, wala kang alam na platform na pwedeng mag-publish ng gawa mo? ‘Wag ka nang mag-aalala dahil nagbabalik na ang Aninag Online! Dito, pwedeng-pwede mong ipakita ang galing mo sa pagsusulat at pagguhit!

“Kaso, hindi ako miyembro ng MC...” Okay lang! Lahat ng mag-aaral ng UPIS ay pwedeng magpasa. Open kami sa mga gawa n’yo guys!

“Nahihiya ako, baka hindi maganda ang gawa ko” ‘Wag kang mag-aalala dahil nariyan ang ating mababait at magagaling na editor. Gagabayan ka nila para mas mapaunlad pa ang obra mo.

“Hala, baka malaman nila kung sino ako.” Kalma ka lang! Confidential sa MC ang lahat ng mga ipinapasa at ginagawa. Walang snitch. Chika in MC, stays in MC. 

“Paano ako magpapasa?” Ayan, diyan tayo magpokus. Ituturo sa iyo ng infographic kung paano mo maaaring ipasa ang iyong gawa. 

Link for Submission: https://forms.gle/4ikSimByRhn4cWLu6 Infographic Credit: Addie Sajise

Ayan, alam mo na kung paano magpasa ng gawa mo. Kung sakali mang mapabilang ang obra mo sa maipa-pub, i-share mo ito sa mga kaibigan mo, ipagmalaki mo sa kanilang nai-publish ang gawa mo sa Ang Aninag! Tandaan lamang na tuwing Friday, 2nd at 3rd week ng buwan ang ating publication date. Aasahan ko ang gawa mo ah. Work it, human! //by Alyssa Avila










0 comments:

english,

Literary: Brave Soul

11/27/2020 08:29:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Brave soul,
I may not know you
But your eyes whisper
How many tears were poured
Over the scars
That deeply hurt you,
Over the past
That weighs on your heart,
Over the thoughts
Dying to be heard but
Never spoken

Brave soul,
Hear what I say,
Cry, cry until the past lightens,
Until scars are healed,
Heed what is yet to come
Shrug off what has been

Brave soul,
Remember the path you’ve taken
For each step is not in vain
Each is a lesson and
A reason
To take another

0 comments:

Chanel No. 5,

Literary: Pugon

11/27/2020 08:26:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Nakahiga sa maruming semento ng selda
Malamig ang pakiramdam nito sa aking balat at mga sugat
Nakabusal, nakagapos,
hindi nakapiring ngunit hindi makakita sa dilim

Ang tanging liwanag ay nanggagaling
sa pugong puno ng nagbabagang uling
na sa tuwing kumikibo ako'y
Ipinampapaso nila sa akin

Kada linggo, may bagong pasok na bilanggo
Bubusalan, itatali ang kamay sa likuran
Papasuin kapag nag-ingay
Bubugbugin hanggang mawalan ng malay

Linggo-linggo parami nang parami
Siksikan, tabi-tabi, naipon kami,
mga bilanggo sa iisang selda,
mga inosenteng nakulong dahil sa pagsasalita

Araw-araw, pinapaso kami isa-isa
Anila'y matuto raw kaming manahimik
Araw-araw, liwanag lamang ng pugon ang nakikita
Hanggang sa napuno ang selda ng bilanggo at galit

Naroon kami sa maruming selda
Ang pugon ang tanging liwanag
Sama-sama, sabay-sabay kaming tumayo at naramdaman
Ang dating malamig na sementong hinihigaan ay umiinit na

Sa paglapat ng uling sa aming mga balat,
itinuring namin itong kaibigan
Niyakap ang bawat sakit at hapdi
sapagkat alam naming ito na ang huli

Kaibigan namin ang pugon, uling, at apoy
Ang tanging kalaban ay ang naghahawak nito
Ang tusong nagbilanggo
sa aming kapwa nila Pilipino

Ang apoy ay malakas, nanlalamon, nag-aalab
At kapag wala ka nang maramdaman kundi galit,
nagsisilbi itong gasolina
at sa dulo, ang galit ay magiging pag-asa

Sa dilim, nakangiti kaming lahat
Alam naming kami ay iisa
May iisang kalaban
May iisang minamahal

At sa unang pagkakataon sa selda
Hindi lamang ang pugon ang nagsilbing liwanag
Kundi ang apoy ng mga nag-aalab na puso
na alam na papalapit na, sisiklab ang pag-aalsa

0 comments:

english,

Literary: Unchangeable

11/27/2020 08:23:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Unchangeable.
I have been here for what feels like decades
Stumbling around blindly,
Feeling for a switch—
But some things never change

It's the way it has always been
I spread myself too thin
And cause my own destruction
I say too much
And crumble far too easily

The world carelessly gives away a chance
To take it back just as bluntly

I know how to survive, to keep my heartbeat steady
Be unfazed, older and wiser
Perhaps embittered, acrimonious
I know that things do not change
And they will not for me

So I should not be surprised
As I sit, bleeding
As the walls press in
The way they have hundreds of times before.

And yet I am.

I close my eyes.

Stubborn like a scar,
It boldly stays even when it knows it is what wounds me.

I take a breath and hold it in
Slow the pace of my heart
Retreat into the softer corners of my mind
Prepare a greeting for an old friend

I call myself a cynic
I like to think I am immovable
Something to fall back into when the rug is pulled out from under me
And my pride hollows out once again

But in truth
I'm as vulnerable as when I first opened my eyes
And I open them now
Knowing my youth is so evident,
So loud in my ears
And naiveté still has me at its beck and call

While I hate to say it
The stories always reside in my mind
Each one a beacon
Signaling there's more to come

A selfish friend,
A relentless one
Still holds a capacity in my heart,
A space I reserved,
Holding me hostage
In the same place it first sunk its claws
It will not let go.

Hope.

Unchangeable;
Some things never change
I would never admit it, but I am grateful

0 comments:

-12:07-,

Literary: At Long Last

11/27/2020 08:20:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



I caught a glimpse of a fair lady
Who was smiling at me from afar
Against the backdrop of the skies so gloomy
She shone resplendently like the stars
She closed the distance between us
In surprise, I could not even exclaim
And before I could get a chance to ask
She told me that Hope was her name
She whispered to me promises of splendor
Of fulfillment, glory, and jubilation
She said all I had to do was to chase her
I wanted to, but I listened to reason
So I said no and we had to part
And she left as swiftly as she came
Soon thereafter, regret pained my heart
I realized I trapped myself in the mundane
Then one day, I saw her once again
And her sweet promises came to mind
I made up my mind right there and then
That I would chase after her this time
I didn’t know I had a long journey ahead
But I reached her after a long time has passed
I gave her a tap on the shoulder and said
“Hope, I’ve caught up to you at long last”
She paused and sighed before doing a spin
And what followed caught me unprepared
She told me that Hope was her twin
And that her name was Despair

0 comments:

Eclipse,

Literary: Crescent Sun

11/27/2020 08:16:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



    Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there were two lovers—Elio and Selene. To simply describe Elio, he was bright—blinding even. One could easily spot him in a crowd from his golden locks and tanned skin. His glowing smile and dazzling eyes lit up every room he walked into. Not only this, Elio was also very sharp. His quick wit and intuition always played to his advantage whenever he would encounter little snags every day. Because of this, Elio was well-loved by all. The children and the elderly alike would always offer kind smiles, items, and quick stories whenever Elio passed by.

    Exactly the opposite of Elio was Selene. She was quiet and always put on a serious face. Her long dark hair and clipped remarks would always scare away the children. Despite her cold aura, no one could deny that she was beautiful. Her pale skin made elders tell stories of how she was born at the stroke of midnight when the stars shone the brightest, but the night was at its coldest; and her piercing eyes made her seem like a flower on a cliff—beautiful but utterly untouchable.

    Selene loved painting. She would usually paint from when the sky started to brighten until the stars came out and the entire world was shrouded in darkness. Selene loved to paint by her window as this gave her a picturesque view of the town and the landscape beyond. It was also a great place for her to hear the muted chatter of the villagers and the harmonious songs of the birds; it made her feel less alone, for she hated the silence. She felt loneliness creep in whenever the villagers avoided her like the plague when they saw her painting by her window. Selene hoped for a spark of light that would accompany her and brighten up her dark surroundings. She wished upon the infinite fields of constellations above her, for hope is the bringer of light. 

    Elio loved baking. He worked at the bakery near Selene’s house. After he delivered the bread fresh from his oven to every house in the village and gave the burnt ones to the stray dogs and cats, he would make a fresh new batch and give it to the person by the window. The girl, who would always be painting, would gladly accept and munch on the still-hot bread, eating silently as Elio told stories of his early morning encounters with the villagers. 

    As days passed, Elio’s warmth slowly crept past Selene’s walls. Elio would grin brightly whenever Selene chuckled at his ridiculous jokes and never-ending stories. 

    Elio would say, “Your eyes are like crescents,” whenever Selene’s eyes disappeared as she laughed loudly at his attempts to impress her with different types of bread and flowers every morning. 

    Elio never failed to show up. The pair would usually stay together until late at night, just painting, talking about the mundane things happening in their lives, and anything else they could possibly think of. Eventually, Elio managed to coax Selene away from her window; they started to take walks together. Elio filled Selene’s once-quiet life with boisterous laughter and absurd tales. Every night, Selene hoped for the spark of light to forever accompany her and fill her quiet surroundings with dulcet tones. She wished upon the infinite fields of constellations above her, for hope is the bringer of euphonious music. 

    Much to the surprise of everyone—even Selene’s—she started to join Elio on his early morning deliveries. Selene would shyly smile at the villagers as Elio caught up on what was happening in town. Who would have thought that the cold moonflower—as she was usually called—and the town’s sunshine boy would be seen walking around together and enjoying each other’s company? That the golden light could still shine brightly beside the mysterious darkness?

    After their early morning walks, the pair would go to the hills—as per Elio’s request—to give Selene space to paint. Elio liked to lie down on the limitless fields as Selene painted whatever captured her interest. Sometimes, Elio managed to pull Selene out of her trance by putting flowers in her hair and chasing around rabbits and squirrels. Afternoons would be filled with carefree laughter and the smell of flowers; paintbrushes and canvas were tossed aside in favor of soft hands and wide green hills. 

    As the world darkened and everything quieted down, Elio gazed at Selene, her crescent eyes bright in all the soft ways there were as she painted under the illumination of the fireflies’ lights. With every dip of her brush into the night sky, she borrowed the glimmer of stardust. With every brushstroke, sparkles of light found themselves a new home in the vast expanse of her canvas. 

    Once the painted stars lit up the world in the canvas instead of the sky above them, the pair would begin to head home. Every night, Selene hoped for the spark of light to forever accompany her and fill her cold surroundings with warmth. She wished upon the infinite fields of constellations above her, for hope is the bringer of comfort. As the pair walked back to the village, both silently wished that the next day would bring as much beauty as the last. 

    One day, Selene woke up to absolute silence. 

    The moment Selene opened her eyes, she noticed that the world seemed a shade darker than yesterday. The world seemed dead. The smell of freshly baked bread was also missing. She noticed a gloom took over the entire town. Ignoring this, she patiently sat by her window to wait for her sunshine boy to fetch her. She waited. 

    And waited. 

    And waited. 

    By the time the sky darkened, she decided that maybe Elio was sick and unable to stand from his bed. Realizing that Elio probably had no one to accompany him, Selene immediately rushed to the bakery next door with medicine and some food to give to the missing sunshine boy. 

    But the bakery was void of any light. There, Elio lay, pale as paper, coughing up blood. Selene sat by his side trying to give him medicine. She laughed softly as she recalled their memories of the past few months. She remembered how Elio bothered her every day and refused to leave even if she glared at him. She remembered how Elio made flower crowns for them to wear at the hill. She remembered Elio’s wide eyes, bright in all the soft ways there were, as he gazed at the night sky under the illumination of the fireflies’ lights.

    “Your eyes are like crescents,” Elio managed to say weakly.

    Selene shook her head. Her eyes disappeared as she attempted to not shed any tears. She feared breaking Elio whom she held delicately. Elio tried to show off his once-blinding smile to reassure Selene that he was truly okay, but his eyes only grew dimmer and dimmer. At the stroke of midnight, when the stars shone the brightest, but the night was at its coldest, the sunshine boy lost his shine.

    The next day, the world seemed a shade darker than yesterday. Everyone wore black. Selene felt loneliness creep in. The villagers started to avoid her again. The town was in an eternal gloom. 

    Her eyes traced the glowing path of stars above her, hoping that at the end of the trail she would see the eyes that held the galaxies inside them. Selene hoped for her spark of light to come back to her side. She wished upon the infinite fields of constellations above her, for hope makes one check every day for the answer longed for, only to confirm that it is not there.

    Selene had loved painting. She had usually painted from when the sky brightened until the stars came out and the entire world was shrouded in darkness. Selene had loved to paint at their hill as this gave her a picturesque view of the night sky above.

    She wished for Elio to come back; she swore she would do anything just to have him by her side again—even if it meant she would stop painting. Selene looked at the paintbrushes and canvas tossed aside. Maybe that was how the universe worked. Wishes don’t come true without sacrificing something in return. 

    The entire town was bathed in gold the very next day. A bright ball lit up the world. The warmth was back, and everything seemed better. Perhaps, all of Selene’s wishes for the spark of light to come back came true. Perhaps, all the wishes upon the infinite fields of constellations were granted, for hope is the bringer of granted wishes. 

    As the town enjoyed the sun that they would see every morning, they failed to notice the disappearance of the painter. 

    Soon, they learned that as the sky would darken, there shone the bright crescents that Elio loved so much. There, beside the meteor showers and exceptional comets, was the moon. 

    Some said that Elio became the sun, shining every morning to tell everyone to cherish the day and the next, or to try again, to fight for another day, always bringing warmth and comfort even through the coldest of seasons. 

    No one knew where Selene went. But some guessed that if Elio was the sun, then she was the moon, forever walking amongst the stars, looking for a path to meet Elio again someday.

    And maybe the universe was unfair that way, taking away Selene’s loves. 

   But it was during particularly bright days when the people were reminded of the pair who went around town delivering bread and running around the hills smelling of flowers. It was also during those cloudless nights when the crescent moon gleamed as beautiful as ever, and the fireflies were out illuminating the universe of stars above.

0 comments:

english,

Literary: A Lone Star in the Night

11/27/2020 08:13:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



As I stare up at the pitch-black sky
A thought pops into my head.
Tonight, will a star be visible to the naked eye?
Will it be able to distract me from the struggles I face?

Observing the ill-lit sky,
Looking intently, my vision starts to blur.
I continue to look for a star, but cannot help letting out a sigh,
Because after a while, the sky becomes clouded with haze.

Bit by bit, I’m losing hope
‘Oh, why now, when I need you the most?’
I am about to give up but just keep staring as I mope,
I glance the other way, and I am in awe of what I see. 

Look, there it is, the single star I have been waiting for!
Just shining alone in the gloomy sky.
Alone in the darkness, yet it manages to soar
‘Oh, if that star can do it, then I’ll be alright.’

I’ll be alright even when I’m alone,
There’s no need to be afraid on this journey I’ll take.
Like the lonely star above, I will glow on my own,
As long as I focus on myself and my dreams.

Thank you, star, for being my light;
A much-needed one when I felt alone and stuck.
As I go through my journey, which I long to be bright,
I will always remember your spark.

0 comments:

english,

Literary: Dear Future Self

11/27/2020 08:10:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Dear future self
I deserve happiness
Happiness is something you create
So go out there and be creative

You have plenty of time
Don’t rush it
Do the things you want to do
Maybe those things can relieve the stress in you

Dear future self
Let go of the past
And live in the present

Don’t dwell too much on the past
Learn to move on
You can hurt yourself
Just by remembering the things that hurt you back then

Dear future self
I am not my mistakes

You are not defined by your mistakes
You can still learn from them
But do not let them happen again

Dear me
Don’t put yourself down,
Without loving yourself
there will be no future you

There will be light
at the end of the tunnel
You just have to trust the process,
that everything will be alright

Change will come,
For better or for worse,
But through it all
We got to push through

Better days are coming
Don’t you forget that
But until then
All we have to do is wait
That’s all for now

0 comments:

Anatheia,

Literary: Tequila

11/27/2020 08:07:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Mga kaibigan kong uminom ng tequila
Para matanggap kung ano ba sila
Ngayon ay sumusuka
Sa tabi ng kalsada

Mga kaibigan kong sumusuka
Sa tabi ng kalsada
Uminom para matanggap
kung ano ang nangyayari sa kanila

Mga kaibigan ko ngayon ay sumusuka
Sana'y inyong maintindihan
Kapag binitawan ninyo ang tequila
Marami kayong pwedeng maipakita

Linangin ang inyong diwa
Ipakita ang sarili sa madla
Wala kayong dapat ikahiya
Huwag nang kumapit sa tequila

Tanggapin ang iyong sarili
Marami ang pwedeng mangyari
Hindi ka nahuhuli
Dahil walang karera ang nagaganap

Alam nating mahal ang tequila
Kaya huwag nang bumili pa
Itabi na lamang ang pera
Makaiipon ka pa

Mga kaibigan kong uminom ng tequila
Tama na ang pagsuka
Parang awa n’yo na 
Mahirap kayong akayin isa-isa

0 comments:

filipino,

Literary: Mensahe ni Maestra

11/27/2020 08:04:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



BAgo pa tumilaok ang manok,
ang blusa ko'y nakabutoNes na.
Sa akinG pulsuhan, isang pulseras na perlas
at sa aking mukha, isang ngiting nagagalak.

Ang biyahe ay mahaba ngunit 'di bale na.
Sa Pagsisikap na hindi bigyang-pansin ang tiyan kong nakalimot mAg-almusal,
at sa pagsisikap na manatilinG nakatayo sa bawat pagkunog-kunog ng bus,
ang isipan ay inaabala sA maS mahahalagang bagay--
sa pag-uulit-ulit ng mga ibabahagi ko ngayong Araw.

Ang salubong sa aking pagdating,
isang silid ba o sementeryo?
Mga mAtang walang ningning,
mga bangkaY na nahihimbing.

"Magandang umaga," panimula koNg bati.
Sagot sa aki'y koro ng mga isipang blangko.
Mga kamay Ay nakatago't mga daliri'y maliliksi--
mga kwento rito'y madaling naipadadala sa ibang silid.
Mga labi ay maingat sa bawat galaw,
takot na aking maSagap ang tsismis.
Mga binti ay 'di mapakali't ang tuhod ay taAs-baba
sa pag-asang marinig na ng mga namimiling tainga ang
"Paalam at salamat."

At ang nagmamadalIng mga paa aY mabilis na lumilisan
hanggang sa akO'y naiiwang pakinggaN ang inGay ng bawat yapak nila papalayo.

Habang pauwi, pinagmamasdan ko ang araw na lumulubog.

Ang sabi sa akin noon, ang mga Mata nila'y maliliwanag--
mga bituinG kumikislap na 'di maikubli ang pangarap.
Noon, ang kanilang diwa'y gising nA gising--
damdaming nag-aalab sa pagtaguyod ng hangarin.

Noon,
Mga kamay ay nagliliKha,
nagsusulat, nagsusulong, nagpapahayag.
Mga labi'y nanginginig man, pAtuloy ang pagsasalita,
nagbibigay-boses para sa mga pipi at paos.
Mga binti'y hindi nagpapahinga at tuhod, 'di sumusuko
hangga't hindi pa nAipararating ang mensahe't adbokosiya
Mga tainga aY pinakikinggan ang lahat,
mula sa mga sigaw ng poot hanggang sa mga bulong ng saklolo.

At ang nagmamadaling mga paa ay hindi naliligaw ng landas,
mabilis na kumikilos,
matatag na umaangkla sa mga pinaninindigan.

Ang sinasabi sa akin noon, ngayon ay nasaan na?
Alam kong nariyan pa sila, maaaring nakalimot lamang.
Siguro totoo ngang hindi maaaring maghintay lamang at magpaubaya,
Kaya ngayon, anak, hinahamon kong hanapin mo muli ang liwanag.

0 comments:

dandelion,

Literary: Luminous

11/27/2020 08:01:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



I've always found comfort in solitude
Comforted by my lack of companion
Above me, the vastness of heaven
No moon, no light
Just darkness, a starless sky

A familiar song, as if on cue,
I find fingers strumming the strings of a guitar.
The tune speaks of pain,
Of the sorrow, of the loss,
Of all my silenced inhibitions

The chords are my escape
The vibrations, windows of my soul
My lack of words is compensated
With the melodies, deep, clear, and slow.

I just love how it makes me feel,
But there's no way this delusive contentment is real.
Because despite my euphonious pleas
There is not a single soul willing to heed

The night is dark
And so are thoughts clouding my head.
I find myself suffocating
Hit by a whirlwind of emotions

Just then,

A breath of air, a cool gentle breeze
Caressing, soothing me
As if prompting
My breathing that has stilled

Out the corner of my eye, I notice
An inspiring orange light of dawn,
Its cheerful glow fills the void in my heart
And takes me to a tranquil fantasy.

Unknowingly,
I find my fingers beginning to strum
A tune I find very odd
But there is magic in the mellow tone

Because for the first time
I truly feel at ease
As if being held in the arms of rhythm
Bewitched by serenity

Gone are the darkest of nights
Now, turned into the finest gleam of sunlight
Accompanied by a hopeful strum of my guitar
This, I would never trade for solitude

0 comments:

english,

Literary: I am alone, I am nothing, I am hopeless

11/27/2020 07:58:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



***


I am hopeless.
By Elroy Sun

I am a failed work of art
A product of a mistake
Cannot be undone.

I am a dish burnt to a frazzle
Supposed to be enjoyed
But forgotten.

I am in darkness
I don’t know where I am
Lights are gone.

I am a broken glass
Shattered to pieces
Cannot be put together again.

I am a lightning rod
Constantly shocked
Chances unknown.

I am a clock that struck midnight
Time’s up
The end.

This world is finite
This world is full of lies
This world is ruthless.

I am alone.
I am nothing.
I am hopeless.


***

“And that’s it,” said Elroy, preparing a sheet of paper to print his output onto.

Elroy began printing his finished poem. While doing so, he couldn’t help but turn his phone on.

Beep after beep sounded. For the past 5 hours, messages have been piling up.

~~~

Ernie sent a message.

Brooo waddup? Remember the painting I said I botched? Well, I kind of salvaged it. I know life’s been hard, especially these past few days. I hope this lightens you up in the meantime.

Attached is a picture of the painting Ernie painted for Elroy. Although the flaws are obvious, Elroy recognizes his face on the canvas, smiling.

~

Mom sent a message.

Hi Elroy sweetie, I’m very sorry about the weekend dinner fiasco. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you. Come over at 6 pm for dinner. I will make sure to keep an eye on the stew from now on.

~

Dad sent a message.

Elroy, I finally fixed the lights in your old bedroom. Your mom and I also cleaned the place up and it looks good as new. If you want to sleep at home, just hit me or your mom up, not literally of course. Just remember that you always have a place here.

We miss you a lot.

~

Red sent a message.

Elliee,

I’m really sorry about your favorite mug. I know how much you loved that mug and it was so careless of me to accidentally drop it. So I worked all day just to put it all back together, though you can’t drink from it anymore. I think it could work better as a display or a pen holder.

Again, I’m really sorry.

Love you.

Attached is a picture of Elroy’s mug, with glue marks everywhere. The shards are still recognizable but Red did his best to put it back together.

~

Claude sent a message

Hey man, I read your status. Is everything okay? If you don’t have anyone to talk to, you can always talk to me. :)

~

Professor Williams sent an e-mail

Good morning class,

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I have decided to extend the deadline of the poem to next week.

Use the extension wisely.

Have a nice day.

~~~

The printer beeped; the printing was done.

Elroy held his paper, looked at it,

crumpled it and threw it into the trash.

And he breathed deeply.

He sat at his computer and worked again.

0 comments:

Elliot,

Literary: All in good time

11/27/2020 07:55:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Dear Diary,

Another day has gone by,
Blood, sweat, tears,
Still unnoticed, unrecognized.
Is this where life takes me?
Woven on a dead-end road.

I know it can be challenging, but your
Blood, sweat, tears
Will be taken into account.
Life has a better path for you 
So go, stand your ground.

It is a constant struggle
Of making ends meet.
A battle you fight each day,
Inclining towards defeat.

Struggles mold you to be better,
Conflicts prepare you to be smarter,
Battles only make you braver. 
Life may be hard, but you are tougher.

The journey may be long and weary,
a rough path that seems steeped in misery
But be patient, my child 
Everything will make sense,
All in good time.

Is this where I give up?
Where is that one glimmer of light?
A ray of sunshine
In these bleak nights?

All in good time,
My child,
All in good time.

Anyway, I have more work to do. . .

Good luck! Goodbye for now.

Until the next entry,
With Love,
Your Future Self

0 comments:

english,

Literary: Beach of Hope

11/27/2020 07:52:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



What's with that frown?
Are you feeling down?
Come on, let's go to the beach

'Cause at the beach, we'll see the SUN
Soon, there'll be light
Soon, it will be alright

Beneath our feet, there's the SAND
Send others some good news
Send both love and hope, don't choose

Of course, there's WATER
Whatever happens, don't be scared
Whatever happens, I'll be there 

There's FISH for FISHING
Push all your fears aside
Just keep pushing, everything will be fine

Get that CRAB
Grab every opportunity
Grab every positivity

Drink that COCONUT
Don't say "I could not"
But say "I could not say I couldn't"


Quick, let's ride the BOAT
Change "But I can't"
To "But I can"

Lastly, don't forget to set SAIL
And that is to 
Stay
Ablaze
In
Life

0 comments:

english,

Literary: She Flew

11/27/2020 07:49:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



A newborn bird has come into the world,
still doesn’t know how to sing and fly.
In the darkness of a hole in a tree,
there she resides with her mother so old.

The mother goes out to search for food,
she always comes home with claws full of fruits.
The hatchling devours every seed every day,
until her vivid complexion of feather is displayed.

One day, the mother goes out again.
The daughter waits and waits,
but not a single flap of wings is heard.
She starts to worry and peeks from the hole from time to time.

The next morning, news comes to her tree.
Shocked about what she's heard,
she stares out of the hole's opening
knowing that her mother is dead, attacked by snakes.

It’s a miracle to receive the news,
as the other birds are also scared to come out.
The neighbors are scared,
everyone’s just hiding in their nests.

The daughter can’t help to moans and groans
until the ruckus catches the attention of a snake.
The bird discerns the coming of the snake,
so she keeps quiet and learns to not use her voice ever again.

She wants to fly away,
live in a different place.
But the fear inside her
wants her to stay.

The bird grapples with it every day,
always gazing at the dull sky.
She does not know what to do,
she just sits still and despises the view.

One day, the bird sleeps soundlessly,
until the roaring of a machine is heard.
She looks down to observe what’s happening,
and a crowd of strange creatures is standing next to her tree.

The machine has jagged ends that can cut the tree in half.
The creatures have no wings
and they have brown skins.
They almost look like large monkeys.

Her tree starts to gradually lean
until she falls from the hole and lands at the bottom of the tree.
The creature tries to pick her up,
But the bird ducks into another hole in the tree.

The bird is afraid of getting seized.
She has never used her voice for help,
so she just runs and hides.
Eventually, the crowd leaves the place with a big half of the trunk from her tree.

She realizes that this is wrong,
the struggles are too much for a little bird.
She stands tall with her eyes full of anger,
she has had enough.

She decides to use her feet,
to step forward and be strong.
She decides to open her mouth,
to use her voice to be heard.

She calls and calls for help,
this is exactly what she needs.
She is scared thinking that maybe
no one will come to help.

Suddenly, a flock of birds approaches.
They understand the struggles and give her tenderness and care.
The bird cries of happiness
and decides to go with them.

At that moment,
she realizes that she is not alone.
A lot of birds experience the same struggles,
and they come together to keep on fighting.

She has lost her mother,
and she never met her father.
But with this flock of birds,
a new family is formed.

The bird knows that her life has more to it,
And that every struggle will come to an end.
She looks at the sky and spreads her wings.
And with the flock of birds, she soars.

0 comments:

filipino,

Literary: Liwanag

11/27/2020 07:46:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Sabay-sabay ang pagsubok
Bigla na lang bumubulusok
Pandemya, lindol, at bagyo
Bigla na lang nabubuo

Nabalot ng takot ang mundo,
at ang kalaba’y walang anino
Hindi alam saan dadapo
Dapat mong protektahan ang sarili mo

Unti-unti ka nitong ikukulong
Ilalayo ka sa mundong
iyong ginagalawan
Aagawan ka ng iyong kalayaan

Kailangan mong lumaban
Sa isang sakit na wala pang kalunasan
Hindi ka dapat uuwing talunan
Kailangan may pag-asa kang pinanghahawakan

Hindi man ngayon
Malay mo bukas ikaw ay makabangon
Pagsubok lamang ito ng panahon
Makalalabas ka rin sa kahon

Sa muli mong paglabas,
makikita mo ang liwanag ng buhay
Makikita mong marami kang karamay
na yayakap sa iyo sa susunod na bukas

Hindi pa huli ang lahat
Matatapos din ang pagsubok na ating kinahaharap
Marami pa ring dapat tayong ipagpasalamat
Liwanag ng buhay ay muli nating mahahanap

0 comments:

0-08,

Literary: Light

11/27/2020 07:43:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



In this world of ours
I see a bright shining light
Within the darkness

In times of hardship
It shines brighter than ever 
Blazing like a flame

Pushing the limits
Against the veil of darkness
I see its true form

A desire for change
A world full of peace and joy
A beautiful wish

Luminosity
In a world of gloominess
A beacon called hope

0 comments:

boomerang,

Literary: Bakit tuwing gabi nakikita ang mga tala?

11/27/2020 07:38:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



    Hindi ko alam kung paano o bakit ako napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon. Kahit sa murang edad, natuto na ako kung paano magtrabaho at alagaan ang aking sarili. Bilang mag-isa sa buhay, natuto akong kumayod dahil kung hindi, baka hindi na ako masikatan pa ni Haring Araw.

    Sa aking pagtanda, nakagisnan ko na ang pagsilip niya ang hudyat ng aking pagpapahinga. Bilang sa gabi ako nagtatrabaho, ang pagpapahinga ko tuwing umaga ay para mapawi ang aking pagod at para na rin mag-ipon ng lakas para sa panibagong araw. Gustuhin ko mang magtrabaho kahit na umaga, hindi ko na ito pinilit dahil wala rin namang makapapansin sa taglay kong ganda.

    Ang hapon ang natatangi kong libreng oras para sa buong araw. Dito ko nagagawa ang lahat ng nais kong gawin. Pagmasdan ang hugis na binubuo ng mga grupo ng ibon na lumilikas, tingnan ang nagtataasang gusali, bilangin ang dami ng mga saranggola, at isipin kung anong imahe ang binubuo ng mga ulap ang ilan sa mga parati kong ginagawa. Ngunit ang pinakagusto ko sa lahat ay ang pagmamasid sa mga dumadaang eroplano sa langit. Ito ang paborito kong gawain dahil ako'y namamangha sa kung gaano ito kababa o kataas. Minsan pa nga ay natatakot ako dahil ito ay sobrang lapit sa akin.

    Kahit nais ko pang magsaya, kailangan ko na itong putulin upang makapaghanda sa aking trabaho. Dapat ako ay mukhang kaaya-aya at malinis. Hindi dapat magkaroon ng kakarampot na duming maaaring makita sa akin dahil kung magkagayon, hindi ko magagawang magningning sa abot sa aking makakaya. Lagi ko ring iniisip na ang bawat pagpasok ko sa trabaho ay panibagong oportunidad para sa aking buhay. Umaasa akong may makakakita sa akin na malaking personalidad at pasikatin ako. O kaya naman ay nagmamay-ari ng isang kompanya kung saan pwede akong makahanap ng trabaho.

    Sa paglubog ng araw, ang aking pinakahihintay, oras na para ipakita ko sa lahat ang aking liwanag. Dahil sa liwanag na aking taglay, nakikita ko kung paano ako tingalain ng lahat. Hindi man sila malapit sa akin, natutuwa akong may nakapapansin sa akin. Ang gabi ang parte ng aking araw na nagpapaalala sa akin na ako’y buhay pa. Sa araw-araw kasi na paulit-ulit ang aking ginawa, wala nang bagong nangyayari, sa tingin ko nga ako ay tila isang robot na walang pakiramdam.

    Ang pag-antabay ko sa malalaking personalidad o sa mga may-ari ng kompanya ang paraan ko upang makahanap ng pang-umagang trabaho. Ito sana ang pagkakataon ko para magkaroon ng “bago”, ngunit bilang narito pa rin ako sa aking kasalukuyang trabaho, alam niyo na siguro kung may nadiskubre na sa akin o wala. Ang mga tulad ko raw kasi ay nababagay sa panggabing gawain katulad ng aking nakasanayan.

    Sa kabila ng pagnanais ng bagong buhay, patuloy pa rin akong pumapasok tuwing gabi. Hindi ako pwedeng mabakante dahil maliit lamang ang ipon ko at kung ako ay tumigil sa pagtatrabaho, hindi ko masusustentuhan ang aking sarili.

    Isang gabi, minabuti ko nang lumapit sa aking katrabaho. Sinabi ko sa kanya ang lahat ng aking iniisip pati na rin ang nais kong pagbabago. Dinamayan niya ako at sinabing sisikapin niya akong tulungang maghanap ng panibagong trabaho. Bago tuluyang matapos ang gabi, kinausap niya ako.

    “Hindi ko mapapangakong mahahanapan kita ng trabaho. Ang mga tulad kasi natin ay hindi natatanggap sa mga trabahong lihis sa kung ano ang trabaho natin ngayon.”

    “Ayos lang… Pero bakit ba kasi kailangan nating dumaan sa ganito? Kailangan ba talaga na tayo ay dumaan sa dilim? Napapagod na kasi ako. Nakapapagod na kasi ang lahat ng ito. Magpapahinga sa umaga, panandaliang magsasaya, at magbibigay-aliw sa mga tao sa gabi.”

    Tinitigan niya ako at nagbalik ng tanong, “Bituin, makikita ba natin ang ilaw kung hindi naman dumilim?”

0 comments:

ampersand,

Literary: Can we see the light without the darkness?

11/27/2020 07:35:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Like how a rainbow,
appearing after a storm,
Tints the dark blue sky

Like how a streetlight,
Outlining a long wide road,
Navigates the lost

Like how a firefly,
Lighting up the forest,
Gives shine to the wild

Like how the stars shine,
Accompanying the moon,
Making the gloomy night shine

Like how we see hope,
After countless of struggles,
All will be alright

0 comments:

english,

Literary: In a Ramshackle Home

11/27/2020 07:32:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Torn,
stripped,
and tattered,
I've been through a lot.

In tears
and screams,
and pain,
my heart wallowed in sorrow.

And in the end, the silence,
the company of none...
oh, that must be the hardest part,

to wake each day and question
what is it I have done
to walk with no one beside me
and be burdened with a son,

to hear a mouthful of scoldings
and taking blame for what I've "done",
no one loves any story more
than of the girl having too much fun.

And every night, the cries unending
the relic of my past,
I join in weeping with the small body I hold in my hands.

But the small body I hold,
no matter how it haunts me,
I cannot seem to be rid of it,
nor can I set it free.

Its fingers are so delicate,
strangers to a life so adverse.
Its cheeks are so soft and smooth,
unknowing of hardships beyond its cradle.

Its eyes are the brightest,
perhaps more than any star,
though they resemble a monster's
they can't keep me very far.

Torn,
stripped,
and tattered,
I've been through a lot.

But in my arms I carry no burden
but the only right thing amidst it all.

I see the smile on my baby's face,
the warmest fire in the room,
and I think
maybe I can make it through.

That is when I smile too.

0 comments:

english,

Literary: Party No More

11/27/2020 07:29:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Here I am again,
Offering my body,
Playing along with the sounds,
Every night with the crowd.

Having parties all night long,
One-night stands for so long, they keep
Playing with me like a toy, then I always
End up losing my dignity.

Hear this sound inside me,
Opposing me and wanting me to
Press the mute button to
End this all.

Here then comes a follower,
Opening my heart and
Placing me in the presence of our Almighty God who
Encourages me to go to my deserved path.

Hearing His voice
Overture me that He’ll
Protect me and
End these disco ball parties.

0 comments:

Amelia,

Literary: Bagong Buhay

11/27/2020 07:26:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments




Pagbangon sa umaga,
sa aking pagbaba,
muling mapapatanong,
“Bakit ako’y nagising pa?”

Umaga, tanghali, gabi,
palagi na lang bang mali?
Wala nang naging tama,
ano pa bang magagawa?

Ano ba ako?
Bakit ako naririto?
Bakit nabuhay pa
sa ganitong klase ng pamilya?

Bakit laging ganito?
Walang malapitan,
walang mapagsabihan
ng aking mga nararamdaman.

Pagod na ‘ko!
Ayoko na!
Tama na,
hindi ko na kaya!


Mabibigat na salita,
Sa isip ay ‘di na mawala-wala.
Gusto nang mamahinga
Upang maging malaya.

Tigil, anak. 
Imulat ang mga mata. 
Narito Ako, 
ang tangi mong pag-asa. 

Hayaan mo Akong 
pumasok sa buhay mo. 
Akin itong babaguhin, 
ibigay lang ang tiwala nang buo.

Lumapit ka lamang sa Akin,
Ako’y iyong kausapin, 
mga problema’y Aking diringgin
gumaan lamang ang iyong damdamin.


Tandaan,
ika’y Akin laging gagabayan
bawat pagsubok na dumating,
sasamahan kang harapin.


Sa pagdanas ng mga problema,
may matututuhan ka.
Nang sa iyong pagtanda,
ay tuluyan nang maging handa.


Dahil ikaw ay Akin,
handa Kong ibigay ang iyong pangangailangan
mula sa kasaganaan
ng Aking mga kayamanan.


Kaya ko nang harapin
ang lahat ng pagsubok
sa pamamagitan ng tulong ni Kristo
na siyang nagpapatatag sa akin.

Sa sandaling mapalapit sa
Kaniya, Akin,
Ay tiyak na magiging bagong nilalang.
Wala na ang dating pagkatao,
Ito’y tuluyan nang nagbago.

At ngayon anak Ko,
nais Kong pakatandaan mo
na habang ibinibigay mo
ang iyong lubos na tiwala sa Diyos,
ikaw ay lubos ring gagabayan Nito.



Huwag nating problemahin
mga pagsubok na darating.
pangalan Niya’y ating sambitin,
at ito’y sabay nating haharapin.

0 comments:

english,

Literary: Helping Hand

11/27/2020 07:23:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



I've been walking on this path
for a short period of time
that has felt like forever.
The ballistic bone-chilling wind
and the hazy night compel me
to stop and be still.
But hopelessness is just starting.
Chains are dragging my feet
until I have no choice but to stop.
Anchors latch on to my arms,
pulling me further into the dark.
If only the sun shines on me,
maybe this path wouldn’t be this hard.
Then, a hand engulfs mine,
bringing back my spirit,
taking the weight off me.
Your hand gives a reassuring squeeze
and suddenly, energy spreads through my body. 

Suddenly, nothing feels uncertain.
The wind is a brush on my cheek,
the moon once concealed by clouds
now casts a light
and makes my night clear.
Hope finally envelops me.
No chains or anchors are pulling me
down to the ground.
It doesn’t matter if the sun shines or not.
I no longer expect the sun
to save me from the dark.
Just the warmth of your hand is enough to keep me on track.

0 comments:

english,

Literary: When the sun sets

11/27/2020 07:20:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



When the last breaths of daylight have run out and the sun begins its descent, we dread what lurks behind evening shadows and the silence that might echo cries inside our heads.

We sit in one corner, blinded by fear, shackled by the unknown. While hamstrung, alone, we can only pray for the dawn to no longer delay.

We sit. We wait.

What we fail to see is the light in our presence, perhaps only in a form unexpected. The sun is never truly overcome by darkness. It manifests in a silver glow that calls us to see it, believe it, and trust it.

Why, the moon has always been around whenever the sun wanders astray. It isn't what we yearn for, but we might find it to be enough. If we only open our eyes to see past the unfamiliar silhouettes, we might find that what we've been searching for has been with us all along. The struggling moonbeams, though faded, can be enough to guide us through the dark times.

The light has never been lost. We only have to look.

0 comments:

english,

Literary: Fireflies

11/27/2020 07:17:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



A creature with wings
That carries a light around
Wherever it journeys
A wonderful creation indeed

As a child, I'd always adored it
A firefly, even with its tiny light
Had always given me the greatest of joys
And the brightest of hopes

Even the dreariest and darkest sky
Was no match against
A jarful of these glowing creatures
Illuminating everything within me

Even so, nothing is permanent
Everything comes to an end
Fireflies lose their luminous glow
And I grow older through time

Slowly, I forgot about their light
I was lost on a dark road
Stumbling with every step
Blinded by my own fears and worries

I wondered where the fireflies went
Their comforting and gentle light
Gave me the will to carry on
I couldn’t see them anymore

However, just when I thought
I wouldn’t be able to get through the dark
Suddenly, a familiar glow
Carried and led me with its radiance

Constant support given by friends,
Family’s unconditional love
And the warmth of someone
Who was always there, through and through

Little by little, it seemed as though
I had a newfound hope
I have found my fireflies
And they have brought me home

0 comments:

Dalisay,

Literary: As We May

11/27/2020 07:14:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Staying hopeful isn’t as easy
as how the optimists say
I’m sure it’s a challenge
we all go through each day

The picture box telling everyone
the same bad news over and over again
And the random thoughts in our heads asking
too much of what’s what and when’s when

Hearing stories from other people
that cause us to drown
Remembering lost promises
and old friends who let us down

But while there’s a lot of things
that take our hope away
There’s still a lot of good reasons
to hope as we may

Like a sunrise, a rainbow,
and a dove, to name a few
But let’s not forget how it could be different
for me and for you

So whatever it is
that allows you to keep hoping,
I hope you hold on to it forever
as you stay strong and keep going

0 comments:

english,

Literary: The Light in the Darkness

11/27/2020 07:09:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



With a heavy heart and a drained mind, I lay alone in the darkness. Slowly losing my breath, I felt tears streaming down my face. I couldn’t help but feel that no one was there for me, that no one would take me seriously, that I was left alone to win this fight.

I got up, walked towards my desk, and took the notebook that had been tucked away in my drawer. As I opened it, I saw that it was blank. I quickly grabbed a pen and started writing.

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October 14, 2020 - 11:00 pm

With so much going on right now, it’s no surprise that everyone is having difficulty in everything. But I am experiencing something that I have never experienced before. I’m feeling lost, as if I’m in the middle of the ocean. I feel heavy, as if I'm being pulled by gravity. And I feel blank as if my mind is a dead screen.

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I didn't know what else to write so I left my notebook on the desk. I walked back to my bed and tried to sleep, but I couldn't. The next thing I knew was that I was crying my eyes out. I eventually cried myself to sleep when, suddenly, I was rudely awakened by a loud roar of thunder. I checked the time and it was almost twelve midnight, I was asleep for less than an hour. This made me mad. Just when I thought I could sleep through my pain, the universe decided not to let me rest. I furiously rubbed my face to wake myself up and I rushed back to my desk.

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October 15, 2020 - 12:00 am

Why suffer from pain now if I could just go? Go to that place they call paradise, where you don't have to worry about a thing.

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I wrote with rage while tears uncontrollably fell on the paper, I was writing with so much force that what I was writing left a mark on the next few pages. I slammed the notebook shut, threw the pen, and banged my head on the desk, making a loud thud. A minute later, while I was repeatedly hitting my head on my table, I heard whining on the other side of my door, followed by a bark. I got up to check who it was. I saw a furry ball with two shiny dots staring at me. It shone like an angel as its fur met with the light. I tilted my head and it tilted its own.

Wiping my tears away, I asked, “Where did you come from, little one?” As I spoke, I saw its tail wagging gently. I let it in and saw that it was a female puppy. I gave her some food and water then I sat by the wall. When she finished, she came to just sit in front of me.

A few minutes passed by and I sniffed a slightly foul odor. I stood up and walked around, looking for the source of the scent. I couldn't find it so I made my way back to my spot; the puppy was still there and as I sat down the odor grew stronger. I found out that it was coming from the puppy, so I gave her a bath. While in the shower, she was calm and patiently waited for the bath to finish; she wasn’t feisty at all. As I was scrubbing her fur, she licked my nose and it looked like she was smiling. I smiled back.

As I rinsed her down, she yelped. I quickly looked for the spot I last rinsed and saw a wound about the size of a dime. I hurriedly dried her up and scrambled to my drawer, looking for a medical kit. I cleaned her wound and gently applied ointment safe for dogs to the scar. When we finished, she kept yawning, then I remembered that I had just recently changed my pillow so I could make a comfy bed for the puppy. I got a plastic box and placed the pillow at the bottom of it. I then got a soft blanket and placed it on top of the box. I carried her and let her go in herself; she was just sniffing it at first but then she eventually lied down.

I sat in front of her box and as we stared at each other, I saw that she slowly started to close her eyes. I stroked her head and soon, she fell asleep. I didn’t realize that I fell asleep, sitting with my head tilted to the side, until I found myself waking up. I checked the time and it was just 12:34 am. I looked down and saw that the puppy was awake too. A thought came to me and I got up, picked her up, and walked towards my desk once again.

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October 15, 2020 - 12:35

I just made a new friend. I couldn't help but think, what will happen when I'm gone? What will happen to my friends and family? Who will take care of this little one when I’m gone? I don’t think anyone near would take good care of her if I leave.

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When I finished writing, I told myself, “No, I shouldn't do this. I can't leave knowing that the people I love will suffer. Bearing my own pain is far better than causing the pain of many.” I knew that the right thing to do was to endure my pain and suffering. I needed to control myself, find things to distract myself from everything that brought me pain, play with my new friend, talk to my friends, spend time with my family, or, basically, do what made me happy. I decided to give the little one a name, a name that goes well with what I felt that day. I named her Hope. Hearing her name would remind me of what she did and how she helped me.

The following morning, I got dressed along with Hope, called my friends for a meet-up, spent time with my family, took Hope to the park, and went to the beach blasting music. I did the things that would help me calm myself, help me recover, help me regain my strength.

When I got home, I saw the notebook still on my desk. With three pages inked, I ripped all three out. I shredded two of the pages and posted the remaining one on my wall to ask myself: “What will happen when I'm gone? What will happen to all of the people who are close to me? What will happen to my family? Who will take care of this little one when I’m gone?”

The pain that I felt was temporary. Leaving is permanent. I can't go back if I leave. There will be a lot of irreversible damage, to both me and my loved ones. There is still hope during this time; don’t forget, everything happens for a reason. Nothing can keep you imprisoned. Every challenge, whether mental or physical, is just an obstacle. You will face it and overcome it. That is your goal. Don't lose hope.

0 comments:

english,

Literary: Room of Realization

11/27/2020 07:06:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



fragments of a mirror
are scattered
all over the room
and some pieces
collect beams
that come from Sol
and reflect them
onto dreary eyelids
similar to what
happens to Luna

this gives some
sense of vividness
to our monochromatic
beings

a reminder that existence
is like a swan singing
and ticking time bombs

thus we let
our crumpled paper boats
made out of
bygone pages
cruise into our tears
as they nourish the white roses
that will fill our empty vases

0 comments:

english,

Literary: Elemental

11/27/2020 07:03:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Hope is like an ocean
Wide, vast, and hauntingly beautiful
But the abyss is all consuming
And the excess will drown you

Hope is like a meadow
Where the flowers bloom and the grass is green
But the fact of the matter is that nothing lasts forever
And soon all that lives will wither away

Hope is like the wind
Calm, cool, collected
Ghastly, devastating, destructive
The duality of it all
Will either lift you high or drag you down

Hope is like a flame
Hard to start, and even harder to keep going
But when in action
Burns stronger than you could ever imagine

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Damdamin,

Literary: Magsuot Muna Tayo ng mga Pakpak

11/27/2020 07:00:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Habang ‘di pa tanaw ang araw sa langit
Habang ang mundo’y tahimik at madilim
Magsuot muna tayo ng mga pakpak
Humingang malalim, lumundag, lumipad

Hahamunin natin sa isang habulan
Ang mga mapaglarong ibon at ulap
Katatagpuin natin ang mga bituin
Masdan natin silang tumupad ng hiling

Sa dalampasigan tayo magtutungo
Magpapahele sa lagaslas ng alon
Sa aluyang gawa sa pinong buhangin
Habang hinahaplos ng lamig ng hangin

Sa mataas na bundok ay ating masdan
Ang abot-tanaw – ang lupa’t kalangitan
Pupurihin natin ang gabing tahimik –
Ang pakpak, ang tanawin, at ang daigdig

At ‘pag sumilay na ang liwanag ng araw
At nagising na tayo sa bagong umaga
Kahit wala na ngayong pakpak ang tao
Hindi nawala ang hiwaga ng mundo

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Eloisa Dufourt,

Opinion: Voters’ Registration: 2020 Edition

11/27/2020 12:10:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Photo Credit: Yel Brusola

Ngayong papalapit na ang Eleksyon 2022 na gaganapin sa Mayo 9, sinimulan na noong Setyembre 1 ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ang pagpaparehistro ng mga botante. Dulot ng kasalukuyang pandemya, iminungkahi ng mga nasa Kapulungan ng Kinatawan na gawing electronic ang sistemang ito upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan.

Ayon sa pahayag nina Senior Citizens partylist Rep. Francisco Datol Jr. at House Majority Leader Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez sa COMELEC mula sa ulat ng Manila Bulletin noong Hulyo 27, ito ay hindi lamang para sa kaligtasan ng mga tao kundi para na rin sa mas madaling pagpaparehistro sa hinaharap.

“By adopting a system for online voter’s registration, we do not just make our electoral system more resilient to unexpected calamities such as the COVID-19 pandemic but also create a system that provides the Filipino electorate and our government an efficient, convenient, and cost-effective mechanism for voter’s registration in the long term.” 

Dahil dito, ninais ng mga mambabatas na maglahad ng pagsusog sa RA 8189 o ang “The Voters’ Registration Act of 1996.” Sa mungkahing House Bill 7063, gagawing electronic ang pagpaparehistro ng mga tao. Kukunin ang kanilang litrato at biometrics sa pamamagitan ng video conferencing gamit ang mga gadyet at ang makabagong teknolohiya na built-in device for fingerprint. Ang biometrics ay ang pisikal na datos ng tao tulad ng kanyang fingerprint, facial pattern, mata, boses, at iba pa.

May mga adbentahe ang sistemang ito sapagkat una, matitiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan at makatutulong ito upang mapababa ang posibilidad ng pagkalat ng COVID-19. Pangalawa, mainam din itong paraan upang maiwasan ang epekto ng mga kalamidad na maaaring makaapekto sa pagdaos ng rehistrasyon tulad ng kasalukuyang quarantine. Magiging maginhawa ang prosesong ito dahil hindi na kinakailangan pang lumabas ng mga tao mula sa tahanan. 

Ngunit ang mungkahing ito ay hindi ipinatupad ng COMELEC at sa katunayan ay hindi ito ang ginagamit sa kasalukuyang pagpaparehistro. 

“Ramdam po namin ang panawagan ng publiko na ‘yan. Unfortunately, especially for first time voters, ay kailangan po kasi natin ang biometrics nila.” Iyan ang pahayag ng Tagapagsalita ng COMELEC na si James Jimenez sa CNN Philippines.

Nararapat lamang ang naging desisyon ng COMELEC sa paraan ng pagpaparehistro ngayong taon. Maraming haharaping mga suliranin ang sistemang electronic kung ito ay ipatutupad sa ating bansa. Kabilang na rito ang pagiging accessible ng internet at gadyet, ang kakailanganing badyet, mga kumplikasyong mararanasan sa paggamit ng panibagong teknolohiya, at ang seguridad ng mga datos.

Hindi masisigurado na ang lahat ng mga mamamayan ay makapagpaparehistro dahil sa kawalan ng akses nila sa internet o gadyet. Ayon sa ulat ng Inquirer, ang dami ng internet users sa Pilipinas noong Enero 2020 ay nasa 67% lamang ng populasyon. Kung ganitong porsyento ang may akses sa internet, hindi malabong ganito lamang din ang mga makapagpaparehistrong botante na kung susumahin ay sadyang kakaunti. Mahalaga na lahat ng mamamayan ay makapagparehistro dahil ito ay isang responsibilidad at partisipasyon para sa lipunan.

Kakailanganin din ng malaking badyet para maisagawa ang prosesong ito dahil sa pangangailangan ng mga mga equipment tulad ng built-in device for fingerprint, computers na gagamitan ng webcams, at iba pa.

Bilang ang sistemang ito ay bago sa karanasan, mataas ang posibilidad na magkaroon ito ng mga isyu. Mayroon nang mga pangyayari kung saan ang paggamit ng makabagong teknolohiya ay nagdulot ng aberya sa mga gawain. Katulad na lamang nang unang ipinatupad ang Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) para sa eleksyon. Sa paggamit ng PCOS, nagkaroon ng maraming kumplikasyon na nakaapekto sa proseso ng pagboto. Kabilang na rito ang paper jamming, hindi pagtanggap ng mga balota, hindi pagbilang ng mga boto, at marami pang iba. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga suliraning kinaharap nito ay wala pa rin itong ipinagbago. Sa katunayan, hindi pa rin ito naging maayos noong sinubukang gamitin para sa Eleksyon 2019. Maaaring magkaroon din ng mga isyu sa electronic na sistema ng pagpaparehistro. 

Dagdag pa rito ay ang seguridad ng personal na impormasyon ng mga indibidwal. Kung gagawing electronic o online ang pagkuha sa impormasyon, hindi matitiyak ang seguridad ng impormasyon lalo na at laganap sa ating panahon ang hackers. Noong Agosto 28, 2020 lamang, na-hack ng “Phantom Troupe” ang website ng gobyerno. Nagawa ng grupong i-hack ang security system ng website at nagdagdag ng content dito. Ninais nilang makakuha ng mga impormasyong makatutulong sa pagpapahina ng gobyerno. Nagkaroon na rin ng mga pagtatangkang i-hack ang ilan sa mga website ng iba’t ibang paaralan. Hindi malayong mangyari itong muli.

Mas mainam ang pagsasagawa ng pisikal na pagpaparehistro kaysa sa electronic upang maiwasan nito ang mga suliraning nabanggit. Dagdag na rin dito ang kasiguraduhan ng makukuhang datos lalo na ang biometrics ng indibidwal. Dulot ng mabilis na pag-unlad ng teknolohiya, madali na lamang ding gawing hindi totoo ang mga impormasyon tulad na lamang ng lagda. Natitiyak din sa prosesong ito na ang taong magpaparehistro ay totoo at ang kanyang kalagayan ay pasok sa mga kwalipikasyon na hinahanap ng batas. 

Mas accessible din ang pisikal na rehistrasyon sa lahat ng mga mamamayan lalo na sa mga walang akses sa internet o gadyet. Hindi na rin kakailanganing gumastos ang gobyerno para sa mga equipment. 

Tinitiyak naman ng COMELEC na ang gagawing pagpaparehistro ay magiging maayos at ligtas mula sa pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa pamamagitan ng Resolution No. 10674. Dito nakasaad ang mga panuto at health protocol sa panahon ng pagsasagawa ng pagpaparehistro. Makikita rin dito ang mga kakailanganing gawin ng mga tao bago pumunta sa registration area.

Mahalaga na sa simulang bahagi pa lamang ng pagboto ay maayos na ang proseso upang maiwasan ang anomang kumplikasyon sa pagpaparehistro at pagtatala ng datos. Sa pamamagitan din nito ay maiiwasan ang pandaraya sa identidad ng mga botante. Mabusisi man ang prosesong ito ngunit magagarantiya nito ang seguridad ng mga impormasyon at ang maayos na sistema ng pagpaparehistro para sa Eleksyon 2022. // ni Eloisa Dufourt

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Christine Caparas,

Opinion: The Best Option for AY 2021-2022 UPCAT Admissions

11/27/2020 12:05:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments



Photo Credit: Yel Brusola

After weeks of deliberation, the University of the Philippines (UP) finally announced that the UP college admissions test (UPCAT) for AY 2021-2022 is cancelled. As of recent news the university is currently creating an algorithm to fit the applicants’ circumstances.

According to a statement released last October 27, 2020 by the Office of Admissions Director Francisco de los Reyes, UP experts came up with five possible actions for next school year’s college admissions after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the yearly scheduled in-person entrance exam. The options posted are the following (as published on UP's official website):

1) A paper-and-pen administration of the UPCAT, subject to IATF and LGU COVID-19 protocols and coordination;

2) An online UPCAT;

3) A hybrid paper-and-pen and online mode for UPCAT;

4) A no-UPCAT scenario where UP may mine data from the applicant’s personal data sheet, high school records, the specific high school and performance of its graduates in UP, etc., to arrive at the University Predicted Grade (UPG);

5) A moratorium on freshman admission. 

Given these options, the Board of Regents weighed all the pros and cons to decide what would best benefit the incoming freshmen, the staff, and most importantly, the Philippines as a whole.

The first option, which is the paper-and-pen examination, has been proven effective over the past years. However, amidst a global pandemic, this would not have been the best decision to make. Yearly, there are around 100,000 applicants who take the UPCAT. This poses a potential health risk to the examinees and could easily contribute to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Furthermore, if this option had been chosen, the possibility of cheating among applicants would be greater since UP might have to extend the period of examination in order to strictly follow the health protocols. This would have led to examinees sharing information about the test questions and the students who will take the exam later will have an advantage because of this.

The second option, an online UPCAT, has the advantage of being safer and more accessible. However, this ease of access would only apply to those who have the privilege of a stable internet connection and a well-functioning device. Sadly, the Philippines ranks as one of the countries with the worst and most expensive internet connections in the world, according to VPN provider Surfshark’s 2020 Digital Quality of Life Index. Much like with the first option, cheating is also possible since there would be no observers to make sure that examinees do not use sources around them to look for the answers.

The third option, a combination of paper-and-pen and online UPCAT was also considered. It might seem like a great compromise, but the problem was that it most likely had the same set of disadvantages as the first two. With no further information released by the university, not much is known as to how UP would administer this kind of testing. 

The fourth option on the list is using the applicant's personal record as the basis of admission. This scenario is most likely to be administered now that there is no UPCAT. This is also the current admission process in other universities such as the Ateneo De Manila University and the University of Sto. Tomas. Among the five options, it is the most ideal because not only does it ensure the safety of the examinees, it also lessens the possibility of cheating. In addition, it is the most plausible since UP has a standardized system of evaluating an applicant's grade. This system is called the University Predicted Grade (UPG), which is designed to evaluate an examinee's academic performance using their test scores in the UPCAT and high school records. 

The final option on the list is having a moratorium on freshman admission. This is considered a last resort and would have been the worst arrangement because of the expected damages that it will bring to the country. First, those who cannot afford quality education ("underprivileged" ) whom the university mostly caters to, would be left with even lesser options. These people would have to find other alternatives such as loans or might need to temporarily halt their education altogether. Moreover, some teachers and university staff may have lost their sources of income for an entire academic year. The country’s economic status would also be expected to plummet, as a result of unemployment and a lack of fresh graduates.

The history of UPG started in the 1970s when a resolution was passed to combine the three-year high school average and the College Admissions Test scores. The UPCAT back then was 80% based on the subtest portion while the remaining 20% was based on high school grades. After a series of studies, they found out that high school grades should be given more weight in grading the applicant. It was not until 1976 that Prof. Romeo Manlapaz improved it by changing into the 60-40 grading system that we know today. This was when UPG, the system that we currently use, was officially born. 

The purpose of this system is to promote equity and ensure that each applicant is properly screened. So in 1998, UP improved the UPG system by introducing the Excellence-Equity Admissions System (EEAS). This system makes sure that the applicants are fairly treated because the EEAS adjusts the UPG of applicants using a palugit and pabigat. The palugit gives a bonus of 0.5 on their UPG if an applicant comes from a public barangay, public vocational, or public general high schools, excluding those administered by state universities and colleges and science high schools or if they belong to a minority group. The pabigat on the other hand gives a penalty to the applicant’s scores which is the opposite of palugit. This happens when a student applies for a campus that is not near his or her locality. Thanks to the EEAS, people from all sectors have a fair chance of getting admitted into UP.

As previously stated, an in-person conduct of the test is not recommended due to the country’s current circumstances. The next best option is to utilize the existing UPG system by taking an applicant’s personal data sheet, high school records, and performance into consideration, thereby leveling the playing field for the examinees. In addition, a written output in the form of an essay might also serve as a great substitute for the written component in the computation for UPG.

In the end, the Board of Regents is heading the right direction by choosing to forgo the UPCAT. It is unfortunate but as of now this is the most reasonable option that the BOR can take in these times of difficulty. //by Christine Caparas and Simon Delfinado

Sources: 

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