Liyab

Feb

Tale of the greedy king

by FRANZ ZOE STOELZL T. BAROÑA AFTER TWO decades of subjugation, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) has, at last, begged to differ on the 22nd of February, 1986. "Ba’t ang daming tao ngayon?" nine-year-old Kurt pondered. Underneath the old moon, hundreds of pedestrians have begun to gather along Ortigas…

Feb

By The Flame Literary

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Vanity Mirror

by CZERIZHA KAIZEL S. ADZUARA WHEN THE night grows quiet and the sound is left for the cicadas, Helen silently sits before the vanity mirror. With its carved curlicues, the wooden frame devours her whole. It was the same mirror that devoured the features of Helen’s mother; and their female…

Feb

By The Flame Literary

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Pied Piper

by MARIA ALTHEA V. JAVIER From the realm where I exist You pulled me into a world devoid of reality Once the clock strikes jarringly Fireflies master the art of allure Flowers embellish the vines with their glory Iridescence overtakes the paths I cross To which crickets of the dead of…

Feb

By The Flame Literary

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Solitary Rain

by FRANCIS MIGUELL S. STA ROSA OR SO he recalls, there was almost zero visibility when he was driving along MacArthur Highway. The wiper was already on its highest setting, but quite absurdly, Bocaue is still passable. He just went on a date with someone. They ate at a dim sum…

Jan

By The Flame Literary

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The sorter of letters

by FRANZ ZOE STOELZL T. BAROÑA ANDENG SORTED countless mails since the first ascent of dawn. It was only fair for her to evoke a sense of weariness. At 7 in the evening, she departed from the Post Office and wandered along the entangled paths of Liwasang Bonifacio. Lampposts and lanterns…

Jan

By The Flame Literary

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As the midnight dandelion blooms

by VON ZYRON P. ALIMORONG IN THE days leading up to New Year, Barbara’s parents would often talk about a strange firework that only appears once every 23 years. Its beauty can hypnotize anyone, they say, and leave them breathless. Its origin is unknown. Many had tried to look for…

Jan

By The Flame Literary

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Deafening excitement

by NICOLE DG. SAMSON EVERYONE RAN around me, carrying plates of food and drinks. I had no appetite. Though the sofa was comfortable to sit on, it was hard to ignore the loud engines of motorcycles dragging pots and pans on the road or the kids with their plastic trumpets. …

Dec

By The Flame Literary

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Burnouts and shunt wires

by FRANCIS MIGUELL S. STA. ROSA HE STUMBLED as he journeyed to the España side, decorating the floor with his reading materials. Tired even of getting mad, he let out a big sigh and picked up the papers—and himself. “Okay, slower now.” Christmas colors dictated the movement of the vehicles along…

Dec

By The Flame Literary

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The assemblage of yellow hues

by HJADOEYA CALICA Under the flowing energy of the sun, Particles of perspiration by my flesh, Found its way to the knitted threads. The queue of hasting feet, The urging buttons of electricity, The cadre's arms away from its body— I was caught in the arrow without end. …

Dec

By The Flame Literary

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Into the abyss

by MARIA ALTHEA V. JAVIER GROUNDS CLAD in yellow gold. The unmistakable atmosphere keeps me in my senses. The deeper into the campus grounds, the longer these dangling Christmas lights get. Into the abyss of traditions, I find myself tantalized once again. Weight piles up on my shoulders, as arms suddenly…