Photo of the Week

Behind the stack of boxed action figures and bright-colored balls was a small-framed woman, not the kind that you would pity at first glance, but the kind you would not notice at all. Old Marites sat patiently on a small stool, fanning herself with her clammy hands. She tucked the gray fringes of hair behind her ears to alleviate the bugging, humid heat. Marites scanned the nook of every shelf in her stall. She released a long, spiritless sigh. “Not a toy sold today, huh.” She sprung up from her seat and unfastened the ropes of a make-shift umbrella made of tattered tarpaulin. “Maybe tomorrow,” she muttered to herself.  As she drew the covers together, she felt the seams of her shirt being tugged. Her gaze traveled down her side to a slim, bright-eyed boy. She crouched down to meet t

Hirap na hirap si Aida sa pagtulak ng kaniyang shopping cart patungo sa Aisle #5. Kalahating oras na lamang ang natitira bago matapos ang kaniyang shift at naatasan siyang mag-restock ng ilang produkto. Nagpaparamdam na ang sakit ng katawan ngunit pinapaalala na lamang niya ang oras sa sarili upang siya ay ganahan.  Wala siyang nakasalubong na mamimili kaya’t dumiretso na siya sa pwesto ng mga instant noodles. Pagdating doon ay agad niyang sinimulan ang pagsalansan sa mga ito.  Hindi pa niya natatapos ang kaniyang ginagawa nang nakarinig siya ng malakas na pagbagsak ng mga lata sa sahig. Paglingon niya sa pinanggalingan ng tunog, namataan niya ang isang babaeng nagpupulot ng mga nahulog na lata. Agad niya itong nilapitan. Tutulong na sana siya sa pagbalik ng mga lata sa kanilang

Ravaged by the touch of a scarring plague, the sickness pulled me in idle. Needles pierced through my skull, numbing my senses for freedom, Gasping for someone to cope with the pain.   Loneliness lurked deep in the corners of the dark room. Menacing eyes threatened my sanity, Labeled as a purging disease to many. O, how I long to be wrapped in warm arms, Yearning for their empathy to shield me from fear.   The outside world has become unknown, Due to the rampant chaos happening at a quick pace. The device that connects me outside Unleashes dread that disheartens sensibility, Leaving me wounded with harmful thoughts.   A sudden ring pierces through the  silence of the room, A part of me reconnecting to the days past

“The mundane affairs of humans must always have boundaries.”  Disapproving my love for adventures, mother always repeated those words as she told the tale of a  venturesome princess who disrespected the sacred Tawhay River. Angered by her recklessness, the gods cursed her to balance eternally on top of a stone pile as a living stone figure. Mother’s tale did not stop me and my horse, Kusog, from venturing into the woods. It only reinforced my desire to prove its legitimacy. She simply underestimated my stubbornness and wanderlust.  My stream of thoughts suddenly halted when I began to hear the gushing waters. Alas! I caught sight of Tawhay, with the balanced stack of stones at its center. I urged Kusog to trot towards the pile for a closer look. Indeed, it was real ye

The lights flickered off at sunset, just as his prayers began. He was hoping for a delay; that the electric distribution company would be lenient. Darkness pervaded just in time for Black Saturday. Still, he remained in solemn posture. “...he was crucified, died…” As he prayed, a door opened. They looked at him.  His wife and daughter’s eyes shut melancholy, but that was not all. They held culpability in their gaze, directed towards him. They clenched it like a lance, almost with aggression.  He twitched as it pierced his heart. His breathing paused. For a moment, he thought blood streamed down from his torso. “...he descended into hell…” It was sweat trickling on his skin. A sudden heat expanded throughout his body. “...he rose again from the dead…” He he

Minsan kong nasilayan ang madlang yumapak  Sa mabatong daan na saksi ng kasaysayan. Magkakaiba ang mukha. Magkakatulad ang mithiin. Lahat ay binubuhay ng kanilang mga hangarin.   Kay raming beses ko na silang nasamahan Sa kasiyahan man o kalungkutan Habang nakikisilong sa aking mga sanga, Samu’t saring istorya ang dala-dala. Lahat ay nagpapatuloy sa pagtahak sa kapalaran, Habang ang paghihirap ng araw-araw ay iniinda.     Ngayon ang mabatong daan ay wala ng laman, Katahimikan lamang ang naiwan. Kasabay ng bulong ng panahong nakalipas; Mga sandaling nakamit na ang wakas.   Kung may dumaan man ay bihira ito. Takip ang ilong at bibig habang pumaparito. May bahid ng lungkot sa mga mata, Dala ang mga ala-alang nak

Hinayaan kong lamunin ng unang daluyong ng alon ang ibabang parte ng aking katawan. Ang buhangin na tumutusok sa aking mga talampakan ang nag-alis ng pamimitig sa aking mga binti. Isang mahabang hininga ang aking pinakawalan. Bumulabog sa aking malalim na gunam-gunam ang malalakas na putak ng mga tagak. Sa aking kaliwa ay mayroong kawan ng mga tagak na hindi mapakali, panay ang kanilang pag-huni.  Ngunit may isa na hindi gumalaw ang tuka. Panatag itong naka-tirik sa mga batuhan. Ang kaniyang mga maiitim na butil ng mata ay tumagos sa aking kaluluwa. Ibinuka nito ang kaniyang mapuputing pakpak at dumapo sa aking kawayang balsa.  Tinitigan ako nito ng mariin. At sa kaniyang pagtitig, ako ay naligalig. Tinaas ko ang aking kamay upang ito ay bugawin ngunit ako ay napatigil.