Introduction by Paul Randy P. Gumanao
FICTION
I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Erwin Cabucos
Manika by Mubarak Tahir
POETRY
Layers by Christine Joy G. Aban
To recreate that which I had seen in a dream by Almira Caryl Jane A. Calvo
Astral Demise by Florence Dianne D. Samson
Antler Series by Julius Marc Taborete
Makeup Kit by Mubarak Tahir
PLAY
Liar Goes to Hell by Allan Ace Dignadice
By Almira Caryl Jane A. Calvo
Poetry
To recreate that which I had seen in a dream,
I’m going to paint the skies with a stroke of my pen,
Write trees and line them with thoughts from my brush,
Canvas the seas with iridescent hues of sand,
And fold flowers from thin sheets of rain.
Cut the stars with mud and clay,
Shape and mold the mountains with scissors,
Pry the light from day—I’ll use my fingers
And stick the warmth to cold with glue.
I will
Weigh the Sun and Moon,
Measure the vastness of the universe,
I’ll trace the air we breathe,
And count the number of stars through a cup.
I will do it all in one sitting,
Filing all in the clattering of labelled buttons,
In one millionth speed it shall end,
And, like a star gone nova, I’ll realize.
GUEST EDITOR
Paul Randy P. Gumanao hails from Kidapawan City and teaches Chemistry at Philippine Science High School-SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus. He was a fellow for poetry at the 2009 Davao Writers Workshop and the 2010 IYAS National Creative Writing Workshop. He is a former editor in chief of Atenews, the official student publication of Ateneo de Davao University, and is currently finishing his MS in Chemistry from the same university.
REGULAR EDITOR
Jude Ortega is a short story writer from Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat Province. He has been a fellow in two regional and four national writers workshop. In 2015, he received honorable mention at the inaugural F. Sionil José Young Writers Awards. His short story collection Seekers of Spirits is forthcoming from the University of the Philippines Press.
CONTRIBUTORS
Christine Joy G. Aban was born and raised in Cotabato City. In 2000, she went to Iligan to study in MSU-IIT. She is now married to an Iliganon and has two kids. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Her poem “Layers” won third place at the 2018 BalakBayi Poetry Writing Contest.
Erwin Cabucos, born and raised in Kabacan, Cotabato Province, is a teacher of English and religious education at Trinity College in Queensland, Australia. He received High Commendation literary awards from Roly Sussex Short Story Prize and Queensland Independent Education Union Literary Competition in 2016. His short stories have been published in Australia, Philippines, Singapore, and USA, including Verandah, FourW, Philippines Graphic, and Quarterly Literary Review Singapore. He completed his master in English education from the University of New England.
Almira Caryl Jane A. Calvo is an AB English student of Mindanao State University-General Santos City. She is also a member of the book readers club Valoræx and a feature writer trainee in the university paper. Her poem “To recreate that which I had seen in a dream” won first place at the 2018 BalakBayi Poetry Writing Contest.
Allan Ace Dignadice is a nineteen-year-old playwright and poet from Koronadal, South Cotabato.
Florence Diane D. Samson is a third year AB English student at Mindanao State University-General Santos City. She grew up in the municipality of Datu Abdullah Sangki in Maguindano but is now residing in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, with her family.
Julius Marc Taborete is an AB English graduate of Mindanao State University-General Santos with latin honors. He was the editor in chief of the MSU College Social Sciences and Humanities’ student publication Pingkian and folio Ningas. He currently teaches Literature at Dole Philippines School, Kalsangi, Polomolok, South Cotabato.
Mubarak M. Tahir was born in the village of Kitango in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Filipino Language (cum laude) at Mindanao State University in Marawi City. He lived in General Santos City when he taught in the campus there of his alma mater. His essay “Aden Bon Besen Uyag-uyag” won the third prize for Sanaysay at the 2017 Palanca Awards. Currently, he is teaching at the Davao campus of Philippine Science High School.
Cotabato Literary Journal 