Tag Archives: PG Murillo

Antigong Salamin

Ni PG Murillo
Tula

Nakaharap ako sa
isang antigong salamin
na pamana pa ng aking lolo,
na nabakbak na ang kahoy
dahil sa tagal nang panahon
na pakikipaglaban
sa kaniyang tibay.
Walang bakas ng kahapon
ang namumuo sa pakikipagsapalaran
ng kaniyang linaw.
Maaliwalas pa rin at hindi makikita
na milyong lungkot na
ang sa kaniya’y nakadungaw.
Alam ng mga nagpapaalam
ang sagot sa pagpapaalam,
na hindi ito alam ng mga humihinga
sa kasiyahan. Hindi nagdadamot ang salamin
para ipaubaya ang kalayaan ninuman.
Magkakaroon lang ng balita
kung magpapasakop sa mga nauna.
Ngunit alam kong hindi ito
ang hagdanan at tarangkahan ng langit
na hinahangad nila.
Kasalanan ito sa mata ng Diyos,
ngunit hindi ito kasalanan
sa mga matang bumabalot ng kalungkutan—
ito ang sagot sa mga naghihikahos.
Sa mga oras na ito ako ay nakadungaw sa
napaglumaang salamin,
walang pagbigkas ang namumuo sa labi,
walang bakas ng salita
na didikit sa kaniyang napakaaliwalas na linaw.

Tinignan ko lamang ito,
at halos ayaw pumikit ng aking mga talukap.
Habang sa pagtanaw ko’y
may namumuo nang tubig sa aking mga mata.
Nakaharap na pala ako sa bintana ng aking kaluluwa.

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Editors and Contributors

CONTRIBUTORS

Hannah Adtoon Leceña is a high school teacher and spoken word artist from Kiamba, Sarangani Province. She was a fellow at the 2018 Davao Writers Workshop, the 3rd Bathalad–Sugbo Creative Writing Workshop (2019), and the 26th Iligan National Writers Workshop (2019), where her story received a special Jimmy Y. Balacuit Literary Award. She earned her Bachelor of Secondary Education (major in Filipino) degree at Mindanao State University in General Santos City.

Jerico L. Marcelino is from Carmen, Cotabato Province, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree from the University of Southern Mindanao in the same province.

PG Murillo is an independent rap artist and battle emcee. He won first place at the rap battle of the 2017 GenSan Summer Youth Fest and was declared champion at the spoken word competition of the 2019 GenSan Summer Youth Fest. He studied information technology at Systems Technology Institute (STI) in General Santos City.

Adrian Pete Medina Pregonir is a senior high school student in Banga, South Cotabato. He has been published in Cotabato Literary Journal and Liwayway, and he was a fellow for poetry at the 2018 Davao Writers Workshop. His piece in this issue, “Noon Akto-o Hén Fa Gali Em (May Katotohanan Pa Pala),” won third prize in the Kabataan Sanaysay category of the 69th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (2019).

Prince Vincent M. Tolorio teaches at Holy Trinity College of General Santos City and earned his bachelor’s degree in Filipino at Mindanao State University in the same city. He is currently taking up Master of Arts in Teaching Filipino at Sultan Kudarat State University.

EDITORS

Jude Ortega (Editor in Chief) is the author of the short story collection Seekers of Spirits (UP Press, 2018). In 2015, he received honorable mention at the inaugural F. Sionil José Young Writers Awards and at the Philippines Graphic Nick Joaquin Literary Awards. He studied political science at Notre Dame of Marbel University in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, and currently stays most of the time in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

David Jayson Oquendo (Editor for Fiction) is from Polomolok, South Cotabato, and works in Davao City as an electrical engineer. He was a fellow for fiction at the 2018 Davao Writers Workshop and is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Mindanao State University in General Santos City.

Andrea D. Lim (Editor for Poetry) is working as an editor for a publishing company in Cebu City while taking her master’s degree in literature at the University of San Carlos. She was a fellow at the 24th Iligan National Writers Workshop (2017) and is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Her family lives in General Santos City.

Paul Randy P. Gumanao (Editor for Poetry) hails from Kidapawan City, Cotabato Province, and teaches chemistry at Philippine Science High School–SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. He was a fellow for poetry at the 2009 Davao Writers Workshop and the 2010 IYAS National Writers Workshop. He is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Ateneo de Davao University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and is finishing his master’s degree in chemistry.

Hazel-Gin Lorenzo Aspera (Editor for Nonfiction) is a registered nurse, artist, and writer. She spent her childhood in Cotabato City and is now based in Cagayan de Oro City. A fellow for literary essay at the 1st Cagayan de Oro Writers Workshop, some of her feature stories appear in the book Peace Journeys: A Collection of Peacebuilding Stories in Mindanao. Currently, she is Associate Director for Communications and Junior Fellow for Literary Essay of Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro (NAGMAC).

Jennie P. Arado (Editor for Nonfiction) is from Koronadal City, South Cotabato, and currently works for a newspaper in Davao City as editor of the lifestyle section. She earned her BA in English (major in creative writing) from the University of the Philippines–Mindanao and was a fellow for creative nonfiction at the 2016 University of Santo Tomas National Writers Workshop. Her story “Ang Dako nga Yahong sang Batchoy” won the South Cotabato Children’s Story Writing Contest in 2018.

Norman Ralph Isla (Editor for Play) is from Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, and a department head at Mindanao State University in General Santos City. He was a fellow for drama at the 2015 Davao Writers Workshop and at the 4th Amelia Lapeña–Bonifacio Writers Workshop (2019). Several of his plays have been staged in General Santos City and South Cotabato.

Ulang Kumbektibo

By PG Murillo
Poetry

Dumadagundong ang tibok
nitong dibdib
May paparating na unos.

Maaraw naman kanina.
Sobra pa nga ang init.
Ngunit biglang nagdilim ang langit.

Ang ulan, di pa nga pumapatak
Ay nakapanlalabo na ng pananaw.
Paano pa kaya kung magtampisaw?

Ang mga namamagang pamunglo’y
Daig pa’ng sinuntok ng iyong kamao.
Dagdag bigat sa pinapasang puso.

T’wing pipikit, kasabay na pumapatak
Ulan at mga imahe ng alaalang nangangaral
Kung bakit ganito tayo sa kasalukuyan.

Ngunit basâ man at tumutulo,
May nakahanda pa ring magpasukob
Ipaubaya sa kanila ang baldeng pangsahod.

Ingatan mo ang iyong parte.
Di bale nang sumobra.
Sa bawat pananim, hardin ang aking mga mata.

Editors and Contributors

CONTRIBUTORS

Xaña Angel Eve M. Apolinar is from Maitum, Sarangani Province. She is a member of the Sarangani Writers League and the Sarangani Youth Debaters Guild. She was the champion of the 1st Munato Youth Festival Spoken Word Poetry Competition and has performed in different municipalities in Sarangani.

Marc Jeff Lañada was born and raised in General Santos City. He is a graduate of BA Communication Arts in the University of the Philippines–Mindanao. He was a fellow at the 2017 Davao Writers Workshop, and some of his works have appeared in Dagmay, the literary journal of Davao Writers Guild.

Hannah Adtoon Leceña is a high school teacher and spoken word artist from Kiamba, Sarangani Province. She was a fellow at the 2018 Davao Writers Workshop, the 3rd Bathalad–Sugbo Creative Writing Workshop (2019), and the 26th Iligan National Writers Workshop (2019), where her story received a special Jimmy Y. Balacuit Literary Award. She earned her Bachelor of Secondary Education (major in Filipino) degree at Mindanao State University in General Santos City.

PG Murillo is an independent rap artist and battle emcee from General Santos City. He won first place at the rap battle of the 2017 GenSan Summer Youth Fest and was declared champion at the spoken word competition of the 2019 edition.

EDITORS

Jude Ortega (Editor in Chief) is the author of the short story collection Seekers of Spirits (University of the Philippines Press, 2018), the chapbook Katakot (Balangay Books, 2018) and the zines Mga Kuwentong Peysbuk and Faded Jeans and Old Shoes. He divides his time between Senator Ninoy Aquino and Isulan, both in Sultan Kudarat.

Eric Gerard H. Nebran (Managing Editor) is an educator and illustrator from General Santos City. He is currently a PhD Comparative Literature student at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. His research interests include orality, history, and literary productions of his hometown.

David Jayson Oquendo (Editor for Fiction) is from Polomolok, South Cotabato, and works as an electrical engineer in Davao City. He was a fellow for fiction at the 2018 Davao Writers Workshop and is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Mindanao State University in General Santos City.

Andrea D. Lim (Editor for Poetry) is working as an editor for a publishing company in Cebu City while taking her master’s degree in literature at the University of San Carlos. She was a fellow at the 24th Iligan National Writers Workshop (2017) and is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Her family lives in General Santos City.

Paul Randy P. Gumanao (Editor for Poetry) hails from Kidapawan City, Cotabato Province, and teaches chemistry at Philippine Science High School–SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. He was a fellow for poetry at the 2009 Davao Writers Workshop and the 2010 IYAS National Writers Workshop. He is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Ateneo de Davao University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and is finishing his master’s degree in chemistry.

Hazel-Gin Lorenzo Aspera (Editor for Nonfiction) is a registered nurse, artist, and writer. She spent her childhood in Cotabato City and is now based in Cagayan de Oro City. A fellow for literary essay at the 1st Cagayan de Oro Writers Workshop, some of her feature stories appear in the book Peace Journeys: A Collection of Peacebuilding Stories in Mindanao. Currently, she is Associate Director for Communications and Junior Fellow for Literary Essay of Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro (NAGMAC).

Jennie P. Arado (Editor for Nonfiction) is from Koronadal City, South Cotabato, and currently works for a newspaper in Davao City as editor of the lifestyle section. She earned her BA in English (major in creative writing) from the University of the Philippines–Mindanao. Her story “Ang Dako nga Yahong sang Batchoy” won the South Cotabato Children’s Story Writing Contest in 2018.

Norman Ralph Isla (Editor for Play) is from Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, and teaches at Mindanao State University in General Santos City. He was a fellow for drama at the 2015 Davao Writers Workshop. Several of his plays have been staged in General Santos City and South Cotabato.

Kamatayon

By PG Murillo
Poetry

Dili kuno ko kahibaw
makig-uban, kanunayong

nag-inusara
tungod sa giatubang
nga suliran.

Apan ang kamatuoran: bisyo
nako ang pagkulit

og mga pulong. Ballpen ug papel
ang akong hinigiban
sa bisan unsang kahoyng
nitubo sa akong kasingkasing.
Kini ang pamaagi
sa pagpagawas

sa akong gibati nga mura ba og

ako

ray nabuhi niining kalibutana.

Labaw pa kini

sa giingon nilang ‘Death Note’ 

kay usa kining paagi

sa pagpatay sa tinuod

kong pagbati.

Editor and Contributors

EDITOR

Jude Ortega has been a fellow for fiction at the 2016 UP National Writers Workshop and in five other writers workshops. He divides his time between Senator Ninoy Aquino and Isulan, both in Sultan Kudarat Province.

CONTRIBUTORS

Al-faidz Omar grew up in the Municipality of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. Currently a student at Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, he writes to contemplate his own feeling and discover the mysteries within.

Krizza Nadine A. Calmerin loves writing poetry and fiction and experimenting with the literary forms. She is currently a Bachelor of Secondary Education (major in English) student at Mindanao State University-General Santos.

Jonamari Kristin Ordinario-Floresta is from Kidapawan City but is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Educational Administration at the University of Sydney in Australia. She writes stories for children, teaches at Kumon Sydney, and speaks in several international conferences.

Kurt Joshua O. Comendador of General Santos is an AB English student; trainee at Bagwis, MSU-GenSan’s school publication; and the president of the book reading club, Valoræx.

Jerome Cenina was born in Brgy. Spring, Alabel, Sarangani Province. He is currently studying at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University as a Humanities and Social Sciences Grade 12 student. He has always dreamed of becoming a lawyer and writer.

PG Murillo is an Information Technology student at STI College-GenSan and a member of the rap artist group Katagang Pinoy ng Malayang 083. He served as the battle emcee of Digmaan GenSan Rap Battle League, placed first at the Rap Battle of GenSan Summer Youth Fest 2017, and was recognized as a Spoken Word Poetry Artist by his school.

Ryan Christian Dulay Tuan is a senior high school student (Humanities and Social Sciences specialization track) at Lake Sebu National High School. He is an active member of the Lake Sebu Youth Network.

Sharmin Tanael is a Bachelor of Elementary Education student at Notre Dame of Marbel University in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. She is from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Merhana Macabangin is a writer, illustrator, and Education student from Polomolok, South Cotabato. Her works are usually about Muslims and the Maguindanaon.