Introduction by M. J. Cagumbay Tumamac
POETRY
Si Nene at Ako sa Pagitan ng Gabi at Liwanag by Estrella Taño Golingay
First Prize, 1994 Home Life Poetry Contest
Hatinggabi na Nene / Hindi ka pa natutulog / Baka ka mabingi / Sa bulungan ng gabi / At ng mga lamok / Tingnan mo’t manhid na / Itong aking mundo / Pagod na rin ang utak ko / Sa kahahawak sa guni-guni mo / At kasasagot sa mga tanong mo
To a Son Learning the Art of Cooking by Generoso Opulencia
First Prize, 2000 Home Life Poetry Contest
Every herb, red, yellow or green / has its proper cooking time— / You are beginning to know / as we pour / okra bits into the pan / of carrots, onions, shrimps / and sliced white gourd: / a goodly smell from fatherly bond this noon / that seems to know no bounds.
Regarding Flowers from La Trinidad by Generoso Opulencia
Second Prize, 1999 Home Life Poetry Contest
A heron perched / above emerging fog / this faded cerulean bundle / arrests / in a wink / the heart / a world of dew on granite steps, / below tiered pubescent slopes / sweeping upon / the molding cross and the fish-eyed / crucified
Image of the Dancer by Rita Gadi
Third Prize, 1964 Palanca Awards
Mirror the soul, cold, dancing on a lighted stage / Bare legs and arms spread with the music— / Sweating ten fingers and ten toes of soft white ashen / Clay: something is wrong here, like disconnected parts, / Something is a figure not complete, here; / Between the soft white ashen clay and the bone-roots / It is dark, and hollow and darker still, than all / Darkness of an unlit stage.
The Lady of October by Rita Gadi
Third Prize, 1964 Palanca Awards
Nothing remotely suggests / what the moon has tried / to conceal: at the foot of the mountain / we found a penitent, clinging to his / nightshirt, counting his fingers / and crying, / weeping under the shadow / of the moon, but the shadows / failed to hide his tears, and the moon / shone like the witch hysterical / over the water on his cheeks.
Mga Tulang Hugot by Alvin Pomperada
Ang watawat ay sumisimbolo sa ating kalayaan, / Sa kalayaang magmahal sa ’yo / Kaya itinuring kitang watawat ng buhay ko, / Tiningala kita, binigyan ko ng respeto, Inalayan ng kanta, lirika’y kinabisado. / Para sa ’kin, ikaw ang babaeng magiliw, ang perlas ng silangan. Hinanap kita sa Lupang Hinirang, na sinabi mong ating tagpuan / Ngunit nang ako na’y nakarating, iba ang aking nasilayan; / Duyan ka ng lalaking magiting, masaya ka pang hinahalikan.
FICTION
A Quest to Recapture the Spirits by Jude Ortega
First Prize, 2013 Jimmy Y. Balacuit Literary Awards
Nang Moray, the best-known albularia in half a dozen villages, woke up one day to find the spirits gone. She summoned them through her usual chants and rituals, but she did not receive any response. . . . After several days of calling in vain for them, she set out to look for her friends.
The Horror House by Prescilla Dorado
Everybody in Grade Six of St. Marcellin looked forward to Grand Fair. All except for Jeremy. . . . At first he had been excited. He had already made agreements with his last-semester seatmate and latest crush, Karen Solito, that they were going to volunteer for their class’s paint-face booth. It would have been perfect. They would have the same duty shifts, maybe even ride the octopus together. Then Aidan had to come in and ruin everything.
Mga Kuwentong Hugot by Jude Ortega
Nasasaktan ako ngayon dahil nasaktan kita. Pakiramdam ko nagtaksil ako sa ’yo kahit hindi naman tayo. Sana pala ginsigurado ko muna na wala kang gusto sa akin bago ako naghanap ng nobya. Ngayon tuloy ay nagataksil ako sa kaniya. Siya ang ginpangakuan ko pero ikaw ang ginatibok ng puso ko. Kanina siya ang kasama ko pero ikaw ang laman ng isip ko. Pero kung hindi siguro ito nangyari, kung hindi siya nagdating, hindi ko malaman na puwede kang maging akin.
Issue 1 (September 2016)
Introduction by Jude Ortega
POETRY
Kutabatu by Rita Gadi
Third Prize, 1964 Palanca Awards
Nuri, / finely feathered falcon / swiftest scaler of the sky, / azure lash of wind across the valleys, / Qudarat’s carrier of messages, / forecaster, skin of kings, majestic linnet:
Four Kinaray-a Poems by Generoso Opulencia
Sa gakudogkudog kong kaugatan / Ang karamig kang salog tang kawayan / Daw wara gid pag-iban. / Gabaragtik sa banggirahan / Ang mumho sa gatarangkas nga dulang.
Three Filipino Poems by M. J. Cagumbay Tumamac
Including a Second Prize Winner at the 2015 Talaang Ginto
Sa bingit ng pagkilala sa sarili’t pagkakaila, / nakaluhod ka sa mga butil ng asin ng pagtanda; / sa asing ipinanlalaban sa lansa ng mga isdang / binabalikat mo bago ang umaga ay magsimula.
ESSAY
Becoming a Hematologist by Noel Pingoy
Third Prize, 2002 Palanca Awards
What eloquent echoes in the mind can a tempest foment? . . . There is a somber gray in the constant pouring of the rain, punctuated by paroxysms of strong wind, casting an eerie gleam on the cream-colored wall of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
PLAY
Killing the Issue by Karlo Antonio Galay David
Second Prize, 2014 Palanca Awards
Raymond: I owe you no transparency, you’re not a registered voter. I wouldn’t owe you any transparency if you were. Arthur: Oh come on, Kuya, spill. For affection’s sake, if not for an FOI law. . . . Raymond: I said no. If you want to be in the know, enter politics.
FICTION
Crimson Crescents by Gilbert Yap Tan
Grand Prize, 1988 Mr. & Ms. Magazine Love Story Contest
“Who is Jesus? Is he a prophet like Muhammad?” “Jesus is the Son of God. Is Muhammad also the Son of God?” “Muhammad is our prophet. He founded our religion so we could praise Allah, the Holy Name of God. Allah has no son.” Confusion streaked across Bai’s forehead. “Is your religion different from ours?” Camar only smiled at her naiveté.
Ang Paborito ni Daddy by Nal Andrea Jalando-on
Second Prize, 2016 Jimmy Y. Balacuit Literary Awards
Kung magsaylo ang bata sa sunod naman nga mahampangan, halong man nga magsunod-sunod si Lester para indi siya mahalata sang manugbantay sini. . . . Delikado ini nga pamaagi sang pagpaumpaw sang iya luyag, kag makasiling siya nga wala sang tao nga yara sa tama nga pinsar ang magabuhat sini. “Last na gid ni,” hambal niya liwat sa iya kaugalingon.
Touch Move by Karlo Antonio Galay David
Gihagisan niya ng tingin ang malaking picture ni Lolo sa ibabaw ng bookshelf ko sa kabilang gilid ng sala. Ito yung masamang tingin, makitid ang mata, pero nagalisik, ganito yan pag galit ang tingin. Yan si Lolo ko. Jaime Saavedra, tatlong beses governor ng North Cotabato. Noong panahon ni Marcos gitawag siyang strong man ng Cotabato kay halos lahat ng pulitiko dito sa amin hawak niya.
Cotabato Literary Journal 