Literary

I BASK in the scorching heat, witnessing new faces cheer in color-coded shirts and matching headbands, each upbeat chatter swelling in waves as the crowd begins their walk. The sun bears down on them; the golden beams cover the crowd like a welcome remark. Quietly, the old landmark stretches a…

CALLOUSED BY urban concrete every day, there is nothing my feet want more than to sink into pristine Cebu sand. The sea never fails to bring repose. The salty breeze unclogs noses used to constantly filtering dust, and the sight of docking ships resets brains desensitized by overstimulation. My family…

ONLY THE faint rustles of wheels on asphalt can be heard this morning. None of the usual plastic cracklings nor clamoring chatters among vendors and customers alike. The streets are clean, save for the residual water from rain. At this time of the day, the place is usually packed; cardboard…

I USED to think of summer as an illusion of rest and revival; a hazy season stitched together by slow mornings and days so mundane they blur into each other, only to be racked with busy weekends and blistering outdoor plans.  And yet, I find myself on neither end.  As…

Morning leans in, unfolding by a crumbling wall where whispering white blossoms spill. He, bare-footed, wears yesterday’s tired shrug and reading glasses that hide everything unsaid.   Wares made of pretend gold lie on faded velvet trays, a kingdom of tin and tinsel for passing eyes and careless fingers. Each…

WE WERE victims of early morning shifts and late night duties. We would wake up before everyone else and arrive home when everyone was asleep. We were at war with the duality of our bodies, confused about which consciousness to follow. A piece of paper was plastered on the wall…