Photo of the Week

The chilly December wind made him frown. It reminded him of the old days when he still associated the month of December with warmth; the kind of warmth that made him recall what home was like: far from the honking cars, the blinding city lights, and the bustling of busy people. Home reminded him of tall grass, old trees, sleeping carabaos, and the colorful ornaments that surrounded the peaceful provincial streets. What used to make December truly exciting was when a man would knock on the front door as his mother prepared snacks while he tried to do his homework. Upon hearing the knock, he would instantly run out of his room wearing his biggest smile as he eagerly unlocked the door. The man on the other side was always worn-out by months of battling the harsh waves of the ocean, ...

THERE ARE structures of authority that do not only lurk within the walls that forbid rebellion, but also posit the horrors of what the elements of control can inhibit society from doing. These borders continuously control individuals whose bodies have turned into docile subjects of dominance. They are not locked within these highly-built structures, but they are instructed to submit and perform orders, be it one that honors their endurance or one that does not heed to their mileage. There is a sensation of being chained within these walls. Since the chains are not visible, they inherently function not only within this structure but also extend into the depths of society. This sequence of control pushes people further into something that threatens their sanity as it slowly fractures ...

IN AN empty room, there laid a girl whose heart beat slowly. She was all skin and bone, and her face was a painting of emaciation. She waited for Death to come, and excitement flooded her when the air inside the room turned ice-cold. This was the fifth time he had visited her, and he did not look pleased. Death stared at her and immediately knew what she was up to. Despite the girl’s devastating condition, she still managed to smile. “Are you finally going to take me out on that date?” she asked. “Please stop. We cannot be together in this way,” Death replied. He slowly walked toward the bed and sat beside her, his hand brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Her hands shook as she recalled everything she had to go through in order to meet him. She knew the rules: she canno

THE SWARM of pedestrians comes to take you away while I look on powerlessly. They leave me standing alone at the end of the lane, stewing in my own emotions. A newfound feeling settles deep within my chest: it is something as obscure as the impending darkness of the night, yet it burns bright like the last rays of light in dusk. The seconds continue to tick by as you traverse the white lines in cadence with the footsteps of others. There is plenty of time left, but I remain surrounded by a panic as encompassing as the lazy red glow from above. In my vision, everything seems to be at a standstill: the gentle breeze in the air is gone, the vehicles are stuck in traffic, and I am in an impasse. I compel my feet to move, but a surge of hesitance and doubt overpower it. Desperately, I be...

THE JEEPNEY was almost empty. I was dead tired and eager to arrive home. The journey was quiet. Nothing was out of the ordinary, yet I felt bothered when I sensed two heavy eyes staring at me. They were from a man sitting on the other side. My mother has always reminded me to remain vigilant of my surroundings. Her reminder echoed inside my head as I observed the man. His stance was alarmingly suspicious as if he was hiding something, but what really made my spine crawl was his blood-curdling, leering, icy stare. My instincts screamed at me to jump off the rattling jeepney, but I froze, frightened by his presence. I tried brushing it off. I convinced myself that there was nothing to worry about. For a split second, I blinked and then he vanished. A small scream tried to esc...

DURING this time of the day, people would gather their personal possessions and take a break from the workplace. Some would leave the classroom as they hear the clamorous sound of the bell and see the dwindling lights of the hallways while they find their way out of the campus. Others would wait for a ride by the waiting shed as the slow-paced traffic is plagued with vehicles that were quickly occupied by other passengers. Meanwhile, there are also a few who are still on their way to work for their night shift. Beyond these unnoticed or distinguished spaces, something reigns from above: the blinding yet dazzling shades of hope and despair. Some people look forward to coming home to the solace of their loved ones after braving a long day; but there are also who feel like they have su...

THE dawn always looks best when the sun is about to submerge. The coming of silence and thoughtful tranquility comes by as people start to head back to their homes under the blackened sky. The night is a call to sleep; a state of rest unbothered by worries. This is not the case in other places and I have learned that the hard way. I still remember that walk. The street was empty with the exemption of a few passing tricycles. A view came to my peripheral vision and I noticed two men behind me, so close that they could have easily unzipped my backpack if they wanted to. I walked toward another direction and quickened my pace, but it only encouraged them to move faster. Fear then overtook my body as I ran as fast as I could without ever looking back. Now, an alarm rings in the depths ...

THE unknown summons malefic fears that eventually learn to lurk in the consciousness of people, which creates presuppositions that inhibit humans from going beyond the zones that they are familiar with. Humans fear the unknown because they believe that it will bring them nothing but harm. Thus, society seals away subjects of obscurity that are considered taboo and they are never unveiled for the eyes to see. People who are brave enough to be subversive to the mores of society are experiencing episodes of bigotry because of their attempt to unlock worldviews that transcend the traditional. They possess a kind of compassion that urges them to accept themselves and the enigmas that swirl around them. As entities who are dependent on love, people must face their fears so that they can p...

IT was the break of dawn when I saw a young lady who was waiting for the sun to reveal its full glory. Eventually, the blurred image of the woman was refined by the brilliance of the sun. She looked like a flower blooming gradually as she drew her stamina from the glare of heaven. From my point of view, I could tell that she was joyful, if not modestly ecstatic, because of the steady progression of the majestic scenery before her. When the rays of the sun hit her delicate skin, like a goddess, she basked in the shining glory of the sky. Indeed, her beauteous appearance from afar was a spectacle worthy of admiration and praise. Plagued by curiosity, I decided to take a closer look at the mysterious maiden. As I approached her from the back, I heard an indistinct sobbing—a disturbi

MARARAMDAMAN sa paa ang tila pagyanig ng lupa—ganoon din ang unti-unting paglakas ng mga hiyawan na sa ritmong taglay ay mistulang musikang nagbabadya ng panganib. Sa hindi kalayuan naman ay matatanaw ang burol na nagtatanghal sa ilalim ng bagsik ng nagbabagang araw. Ngunit sa pagkisap ng mata ay maaaninag ang hilera ng mga aninong unti-unting nagkokorteng babae at kabayo: ito ang hukbo ng magiting na si Prinsesa Urduja. Sa tuktok ng burol ay panandaliang huminto ang kawan at pumorma; sa katayuang ito ay tuluyan nang naabot ng kanilang anino ang paanan ng burol kung saan naglulungga ang mga kalaban: mga tulisang nagnanais sikilin ang kahariang sa mahabang panahon ay ipinaglaban at pinagyaman ng prinsesang mandirigma. Sa hudyat ng kanyang matalas na tingin at espadang matalim, sum