I Am Marcus White - Razi Navarro

     I am Marcus White. I’m a cop from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Well… was a cop. Now, I’m just a torn man. Living nowhere… anywhere.

     June 9, 2008. I was picking up the groceries that night. I was thinking of what the kids might’ve been doing at that hour. I drove home to find all the lights were off. This was odd as it was just around 7:00 p.m.

     The driveway was blocked with trashcans and this lead me to think something was wrong. I parked the car in front of the house and headed for the front door. As I held the doorknob, my mind just got blurred.

     I didn’t want to remember what I saw next…blood…glass. A face that I’d never forget.

     I had woken up with a concussion. I heard a faint voice as my vision blurred. They told me everything. It was then I knew it wasn’t a dream. They’d promise to bring him to justice. And they did. Only justice wasn’t as just as it was known to be.

HILING - -Angelica Pia Tan

     Sana mawala nalang sila! Ito ang aking naisip habang naglalakad sa isang parke. Inis na inis ako dahil hindi na naman ako pinayagan ni Mama na sumama sa party ng isa kong kaibigan, sinabihan pa niya ako na lumayo sa aking barkada. Lahat nalang yata ay ipinagbabawal sa akin. Bakit hindi nalang sila maglaho lahat?

     Naupo ako sa isang upuan sa tapat ng Ferris Wheel. May isang lalaking tumabi sa akin, matanda na siya ngunit mukhang masayahin. Binate niya ako ngunit ngiti lang ang isinagot ko.

     “Mukhang may bumabagabag sa iyong isipan iha.” ang biglang sabi ng matanda sa akin, “Baka may maitulong ako sa iyo!” Dagdag pa niya,

     “Wala po, sa tingin ko hindi nyo naman ako matutulungan.” sagot ko sa kanya. “Isa akong salamangkero iha, kaya kong gawin lahat.” Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya, ito na kaya ang sagot sa aking problema?

     “Pumikit ka iha, at ibibigay ko ang iyong pinakamimithi.” Nagdalawang-isip ako ngunit sumunod nalang sa ipinag-uutos.

     “Nombre...Fadu...Olvi….” Kinilabutan ako sa kangyang mga salita. “Mag-isa ka nalang ngayon, Bianca!” Nalito ako kung paano niya nalaman ang pangalan ko kaya idinilat ko ang aking mga mata. Magtatanong sana ako kung paano niya nalaman ang pangalan ko ngunit wala na siya sa tabi ko.   

     Luminga ako sa paligid ngunit hindi ko siya Makita. Paano nangyari yun gayong katabi ko lamang siya kani-kanina lang. Lalo pa akong nagtaka nang Makita kong wala nang tao sa parke… maliban sa akin.

     Nagmadali akong umuwi ngunit wala rin akong nakita ni isang tao sa daan. Nasaan na sila? Bigla kong naalala na ito pala ang aking pinakahihiling na mangyari. Napalitan ng tuwa ang aking kaba na nadarama. Sa wakas ay magagawa ko na ang lahat ng gusto ko.

     Lumipas ang mga araw at nagpatuloy ang aking kalayaan ngunit sa paglipas ng mga oras ay unti-unti aking nalulumbay. Wala akong makausap. Naisip ko kung panghabambuhay na ba ito. Natakot ako. Nag-online ako sa Facebook at tiningnan ang chatbox, naka-offline lahat!

     Ang ibig sabihin ba nito ay ako nalang ang natitirang tao sa mundo? Dali-dali akong pumunta sa dating parke, nagbabakasakaling Makita ang matandang salamangkero. Umupo ako sa upuan kung saan ko siya unang nakita, naghintay ako buong maghapon. Sumapit na ang gabi, ngunit wla pa rin akong nakikitang matanda.

     Kinilabuatn ako… ano na ang gagawin ko ngayon? Hindi ito maaari! Hindi!

T H E A P P L E - Jared Cagas

 It was a misty morning. The skies were dark, the streets abandoned. Everyone seemed to isolate themselves into a certain part of the house and hoped to die. I feel everyone’s suffering. To toil in a memory of anguish and pain caused by  an unstoppable plague is barely conceivable.

             My brother, who was far wiser than me, called me over and thought of a plan. We were to retrieve a fabled apple. The apple, buried in legends and myths, was thought for more than a It was a misty morning. The skies were dark, the streets abandoned. Everyone seemed to isolate themselves into a certain part of the house and hoped to die. I feel everyone’s suffering. To toil in a memory of anguish and pain caused by  an unstoppable plague is barely conceivable.

             My brother, who was far wiser than me, called me over and thought of a plan. We were to retrieve a fabled apple. The apple, buried in legends and myths, was thought for more than a millennia to do wonders, create miracles, and to avert the inevitable.

That night, for the sake of our humanity and the faith of our fellowmen, we set out for our King and country. We walked endless summer days to cold winter nights until at the break of dawn, we finally arrived at the land of the legendary apple. The magical evergreen was stunning. Trees bend and sway, as if dancing in the wind. The sky, bright with brilliant hues of pink, complement the ground’s simple green. As we tread past the surreal dreamscape, the apple tree slowly came into view. But as our smiles filled our emotions, the ground shook.  Using our final moments of strength we struggled to gain our destiny.

I stood from below, gazing at my brother’s valiant climb. The ground shook even stronger but my brother’s will outgrew the tremor. Battling his fear and overcoming his thoughts, he snatched the fruit from the graceful embrace of its branches and came down.

We began our journey back. It wasn’t as difficult as before for we carried with us hope. We walked with pride. We came as heroes. We came back as brothers.

  

Journey Back Home - Jerusha Adamae Tan

The leaves were falling and the sun was about to set, as she saw the manager bringing his luggage. Maybe he misses his family, she thought. She saw in his eyes, pain and nostalgia.

             He walked slowly through the rocky path with yellowish shrubs across his shadow following his every move, his blonde hair and red coat sway with the wind. As he reached the end of the road, she knew by his face that he was happy to come back home.

OLD MEETS NEW. Sophomores’ museum exhibited a wide range of antique items awaiting your eyes.  

(Photos and caption by Ekim Mañacap)

FILIPINO LITERATURE AT PLAY. (Photo and caption by Ekim Mañacap)