Segue

April 2011

What’s inside?
Like Mother like daughter / 2
Magkaparis / 4
A pen in your hand / 7
Behind her smile / 8

UP Panitikan Visuals / 10
and more...
 2
I never felt a mother‘s
love. Not even once did Like Mother Like Daughter by Dick Penisi Mula sa
slowly isang ina
I get to experience the
warm sensation of a not dwell on the past never healed
mother‘s accepting hug for my past is full of spread throughout his ni baliw na payaso
nor did I get to hear darkness and negativ- body, she might have
her kind and compas- ities that it could engulf wished death. She must totoo ngang di biro
the flickering hope I have been terrified but maging ina
sionate words. It would
be hypocritical of me to have, the flickering she chose to prolong her sa trabaho mo'y pa-
say that I didn‘t get hope that I hold upon agony for my sake. god na nga
so dearly, the flickering I was lucky I didn‘t in- pag uwi, pamilya'y
jealous of other kids
when I see them run ray of light that I now herit the disease, but I aalalahanin pa
and cry to their moms pass on. was equally foolish minsan talaga parang
You know, I really enough to contract it. But ako'y suko na
because someone bul-
lied them and then the didn‘t believe in people who am I to blame?
mom goes rushing like who claim they had a Should I lay the burden ngunit pag narinig na
near-death experience on the fact that I didn‘t ang halakhak
a superhero to defend
them. I always wished when they go on saying have a family to ng aking mapagmahal
that there would also that towards the end of enlighten me? No. I was na mga anak
one‘s life, you replay promiscuous. My mother lahat ng pagod ay tila
be a mom that would
your life in fast forward was not. I just wish my naglalaho
praise my work even
though it‘s obviously - that sort of thing hap- daughter would forgive mistulang gumagaang
short of retarded, a pens only in movies. me for falling under the ang dinadala ko
But now I believe with same faith as my mother.
mom who would tell me
I‘m beautiful when oth- full certainty that they
I look at her now, noon ay puro pagka-
ers call me ugly, a mom were not kidding. In beautiful, innocent. But muhi ang nadarama
who would cheer me up fact, when I felt the in- have I given her the noong iniwan kami ng
whenever I‘m in de- describable pain of my curse? I have no way of kanilang ama
spair. But, you know, heart ceasing to bet, knowing. I only can ask hindi ko alam ang ak-
my systems failing and for her forgiveness, ing gagawin
as years pass by, you
kind of get the hang of the struggle to breathe though she could not give di alam kung paano
not having someone to my last and as the light it to me at this moment ko sila bubuhayin
call mommy. Not to get was seemingly being and I doubt if she could
confused though, it‘s sucked up by black- give it to me tomorrow. salamat at sadyang
not that my mother ness, I was transported She might hate me like mabait ang langit
abandoned me nor I‘m to the that place where the way I despised my unti unti ay nawala
just insensitive to feel memories came flood- mother. I would under- ang pait
her love—it‘s just that I ing me- and incredibly, stand. I cast on you, my aming nairaos ang
didn‘t have a mother in only in that precise mo- last wish, my only hope pang araw araw
the first place. ment, I began to real- that your future be better at naging maayos na-
My mother died when ize, only in that mo- though I could not be man ang aming bu-
I was just a baby. Many ment did I cry. there to kiss, hug and hay
I wept for the very guide you. I will commit
say that what she did
was heroic but I said, first time, not for my- all the same mistakes of madalas nakakapa-
especially while I was self, but for my mother. not being there and will god, madalas na-
growing up, that she Like me, she also must cause you the same pain, kakasawa
have been shocked and bitterness or grudge that pero lahat ay kakaya-
was just a selfish bitch
depressed when she felt I felt for not having a nin para sa pamilya
wanting others accep-
the appalling signs but mother—my apologies, bagamat hindi biro
tance and recognition
‗til the very end of her not having anyone to the least I can manage magtaguyod mag isa
short-lived existence tell to. She must have for you is do what my bawi na lahat makita
and letting me survive felt helpless when she mother, your grandma, lang ang ngiti nila #
alone, unwanted and had fever that went on did for me. But for now, I
miserable. But let us for weeks. When the depart. #
blisters and lesions that

Working Mom
by sir.bonsai
Ang kama'y mapang
-akit
maputi't malambot
hatid sayo'y pan-
gako
'sang gabing ligaya
'lang oras ng pagli-
mot
sandaling paglaya
ng pagod na kata-
wan #
And she bit her lip,
drawing aside her brush
for the nth time.
The blank canvas
stared at her.
Taunting me with its
whollyness, she thought
as she fiddled with her
brush, tapping it against
the range of colors mess-
ily assorted beside her. It
had been past four when
she sat on this exact
chair, looking at the same
blasted thing and now it
was almost seven and she
hadn‘t even started any-
thing yet.
It was just one of those
ordinary days in the uni-
versity where the sun was
high, sweat was crawling
underneath the blouse
she wore and her arms
were practically begging
her to drop off the load of
books she was carrying
when she saw that lone
piece of paper tacked on
the bulletin board.
Her father was laugh-
ing in disbelief when she
said that she announced
one night when they were
having dinner that she
would enter an art com-
petition. Poking furiously
on her potatoes and car-
rots, she listened on how
her father ranted about
the ridiculousness of her
idea and continued on his
talking of his latest ex-
Awkward Steps to Picasso
by Bart
hibit. Yes, he was a painter.
Yes, he was an absolute
brilliant painter. And yes,
she didn‘t inherit her fa-
ther‘s prowess.
Sometimes she wondered
if it was because of the Law
of Dominance (a topic she
had somehow begrudingly
listened to on her Genetics
class) that made her fa-
ther‘s talent in arts reces-
sive on her. Or maybe it
was because she hadn‘t ex-
erted any effort when mani-
festing her ―works‖ into
physical form.
On actuality, she knew
Cubism, Art Nouveau, Sur-
realism and all those fancy
art movements that pul-
sated the 19th and 20th
century, what colors to use,
the shapes and forms for-
mulating in her mind, but
when face in front of paper
and pencil or with any art
medium, she was as dumb
as the class dunce.
Theory without prac-
tice, her professor would
say while shaking his head.
Maybe she wasn‘t as en-
thusiastic as his father was
when it came to arts, but
she knew she had that in-
nate passion inside her that
was slowly growing each
day, burning her with its
igniting flame.
While she was taking a
break from her futile jour-
ney into finishing her art,
somehow she had un-
earthed some old
sketchbooks of hers stored
in their attic.
So many pages of lines,
shapes and undefined color-
ing that spoke so much of
her childhood days. Some-
times she drew of rain, peo-
ple with undescribable
faces, and her own menag-
erie of the seven-year-old
mind. The nostalgic feeling
left a smile on her face as
she traced each figure, each
mark and mess that she
made and this lifted the pile
of self-pity she was carrying
on her back.
All along, she knew how
to draw after all.
The competition held an
exhibit in lieu of the winners
and the other contestants.
And there, on the wall, was
her masterpiece. A painting
of a canvass with a girl sit-
ting drawn on it, slowly
creeping out of the frame
upwards, exploding and
blooming into a hundred of
different colors and shapes.
―Out of the box‖ was the
title.
It won 1st place. #
3
Likha ni withtact
Babae
Isang likhang kapitapita-
gan
Ang likha‘y kapitapita-
gan;
Isang obrang walang
kapantay,
Ang obra‘y walang ka-
pantay.
Tumikwas ang kanyang
kamay,
Sa marmol ay humaplos
At ang malamig na ba-
to‘y nabuhay;
Huminga, sumigaw, sa
damdamin umaapaw,
Ang konkretong dati ay
patay.
Isang kaluluwang maku-
lay,
Siyang nag-ihip ng kalu-
luwang may kulay;
Pula, asul, luntian, dilaw
Iba-ibang kulay sa kan-
bas isinaboy
Iba- ibang larawan, iba‘t
ibang galaw.
Makapigil-hininga, gan-
yan siya;
Makapigil-hininga ang
kanyang likhang pigura.
Oh makabagong Eba,
paano‘t ika‘y naging
isang biyaya?
Gawa‘y matayog bagkus
kamay ay marikit.
Likha‘y bantog subalit
ang manlilikha'y nakaku-
bli.
Babae
Isang likhang kapitapita-
gan
Ang likha‘y kapitapita-
gan;
Isang obrang walang
kapantay
Ang obra‘y walang ka-
pantay. #
 4
Magkaparis
ni Piniritong Gulay

May dahilan
Kung bakit ang kalika-
san
Hindi ipinaris sa kung
kaninuman
Kundi sa isang babae,
sa isang ina
Na pinakamalapit sa
puso ng karamihan.

Kalikasan, tulad ng
isang mapagkalin-
gang ina
ang siyang responsable
sa ating hininga
Binibigyan tayong ba-
hay
Gamit ang kahoy sa
mga puno,
Binibigyan tayong pag-
kain Bakit natin hinahayaan
Who was she? any identity
Mula sa mga butong Sila'y unti-unting by ako-si-art Who she was was disre-
inihasik at namunga. mamatay garded
Kulang ba kanilang pag She was unheard of what she did was forgot-
Kalikasan, tulad ng -aalaga? She was invisible in her ten
isang babae At kung ito man ay own world who she should be is
Birhen na maituturing tama, sapat ba ito She looked into the mir- etched in stone
hangga't upang ror and saw not her- and what she should do
Walang kamay na Pagkamatay nila'y self is known by all
pumipinsala Hindi natin ikabahala? but someone society
Karaniwang walang told her to be. In time she would learn
salita, sa mundong 'Wag na sanang hin- to fight
pinagagalaw ng mga tayin pa She was sad and no one in time she would learn
lalaki Na tayo ang magdusa cared. to be
Itinuturing na walang dulot ng pagpapa- She bore no scars or there was not much she
laban baya bruises could do
Pagkat natural kuno Dahil kalikasa'y tulad and left no footprint in just waiting and watch-
rito ang magtimpi. ng isang babae o ina the sand ing for the rule of
Na kailangan rin ng pag what was left of her was men to fall#
'Di mawari -aaruga. # someone stripped of
Ng utak na taglay

Live and Let Live
by sweetdoll16
―In health there is free-
dom. Health is the first
of all liberties.‖
- Henri Frederic Amiel
September 6, 2010 ever after finally becom- parents. And when I say
ing a reality. strict – I mean, really
This is it. Yet, it was hard. It strict. They are very re-
He‘s finally going to was really hard not ligious in the sense they
tell his parents that I am knowing how I will act. I are really devoted to the
his fiancée. grew up in a very liberal goal of the church.
It is a dream come environment while he
true. It is my happily grew up with his strict Turn to next page
 5
Live and let live ceptives. I, on the other weeks since his family I could not let myself
From the previous hand, believe that it is accepted our relation- fall deeper into the trap
page the choice of the woman ship. where the rules of soci-
if she wants to use con- I do not really know ety are binding me
I, on the other hand, traceptives or not. In how we managed to do tighter to the rule of
grew up with my the case of my mother, it. All I know is that I those who are in power.
she really needs to use decided to stop being an Those are those who
mother. She was a pros-
titute. I know it is contraceptives since she activist in public. What I know nothing of the real
shocking. However let‘s is a prostitute. It is for mean is that I no longer state of the society. I
her protection from dis- join rallies and various know better than that. I
all get real. People do
anything for the sake of eases transmitted dur- movements for the pro- realize that now.
earning a living. I mean, ing the act of sex. Yet, motion of the rights of The argument we had
not everyone under- the masses. I do not a month before our mar-
not all of us is actually
given the privilege to stands that. Not every- know why but I really riage was the breaking
have what others call one is capable of seeing regret doing so. I mean point. Yelling at me be-
decent jobs. Not every- the truth from another I should be happy since cause I want to use con-
one wants one too. I am perspective. his family finally ac- traceptives was below
They cannot seem to cepted me. But I am the belt. It is not about
aware of the fact that
those who are employed understand that the not. religion! It is about pro-
in offices are no differ- Church cannot interfere It is like I am letting tecting me from dis-
with the decisions of the myself under their con- eases that I may have.
ent from my mother.
They also experience state. Even the constitu- trol. It is about my health. It
the ills of the nation. tion says that the sepa- I really wish that this is not about the teach-
ration of the church and feeling will end. ings of the church. It is
They are affected
whether they like it or state is inviolable. They March 19, 2011 about a woman who
not. I couldn‘t care less are among those who Two weeks after my wants to live.
if you work in the dump- believe that the teach- wedding date. I guess I cannot have
ster or not. All I care is ings of the church Two weeks after I de- everything I ever
that you are not one of should be followed. They cided to end things with wanted. However, I
those who give false are performing their him. have always been an
promises during elec- moral obligation without It was awful. independent person.
realizing that there is I could not let myself Who know what might
tions of a better life.
They do not really mean something much more be a slave to their rules happen?
a better life for us. They important. that I do not believe in. I just might get my
They do not know I want to be with a per- happily ever after some-
are referring to them-
selves.Well, that is a how hard it is to a son that respects me. day. #
problem for me and woman who lives in pov- And he does not.
erty. With a job that
him. His parents are
loyal supporters of the requires people to per-
current administration. form acts that they
And I am not. I have think should be in pri-
been in rallies for differ- vate, the RH Bill is a
chance that we want to
ent national issues while
he just does what his have. I know it will
parents tell him. take some time.
Additionally, they also I can only hope that
hate laws that go we will be able to find a
against the teachings of way.
the church. Especially
the RH Bill proposed a December 24, 2010
few years ago because
they think that it legal- It is the day before
izes abortion and pro- Christmas.
motes the use of contra- It is exactly three
 6
World PMS Day
ni Calypso
Dear Diary,
World PMS Day ba
ngayon???? Oo, as in
World Premenstrual
Syndrome Day!!! Hay
nako, para kasing wala
na akong nakasalubong
ni isang babae na nasa
magandang mood
ngayon.
Pagkagising ko sa
umaga, tinalakan na
ako ng inay ko. Bakit
daw may virus ‗yung
computer namin. Ako
lang naman daw ang
laro nang laro run.
Bakit daw masisira ‗yon
kung hindi dahil sa‘ken.
(Ah, tatlo nga pala
kaming magkakapatid.
Ako ang bunso at nag-
iisang lalaki. At lahat
kaming magkakapatid
gumagamit ng com-
Signature
After the release of
grades for our third
grading period, on our
second-year in high
school, I received mine,
like all my classmates,
and went home, placed
it on the top of the living
room table, where my
mom often sits when
she does her office
work.
Grades were usually
written on white cards -
one with boxes allocated
for four grading periods
per year, a space for
comments from the ad-
puter na yon.) Gusto -break na lang daw ko na lang na matapos
kong isigaw sa inay, kami kung hindi ko na ang PMS nila. Mood
―Tanungin nyo si Ate, lang din daw siya papa- swings lang nila ‗yan.
sya kahuli-hulihang halagahan. Sinubukan Sabi nang prof ko, may
gumamit nyan eh!!!‖ kong mag-explain na mood swings daw ta-
Pero wala, narindi na pagod na pagod ako laga ang mga babae
lang ako sa talak ng kagabi dahil sa pag- pag magkakaro‘n na
Inay. Lalo lang naman gawa ng prototype ng sila eh. Malas lang ng
siyang magagalit kung thesis namin kaya na- mga lalaki dahil kailan-
sumagot pa ako. Kaya katulog na ako gan nilang magtiis. Hay
ang ginawa ko na lang, agad...pero wala. Yung nako, talaga naman.
lumapit kay computer itsura nya, seryosong-
at tiningnan ang prob- seryoso at para bang -Samuel
lema. Napaisp sobra ko syang nasak-
ako, Sus, madali lang tan.
„to. Ipagawa ko na lang Yung classmate ko
sa kaklase kong techie. namang babae, galit na Samuel,
As usual, hinintay ko galit sa‘ken. Hindi ko
si Irene sa may LRT raw ginawa ang part ko Sira na „yun nang
station. Aba, nang sa group report namin. ginamit ko!!! At ikaw
nakita ako...hindi ako Eh kasalanan ko bang ang gumamit no‟n bago
pinansin! Habol naman madukutan ng flash ako no! Kaya wag mo
ako sa kanya at napan- drive. Oo, pati flash isisi sa‟ken ang nan-
sin ko na umiiyak sya. drive...dinudukot na gyari sa computer!!!!
Bakit daw hindi ko sya ngayon. Seryoso. At nga pala, hindi to
tinext kagabi. Kung Seryosooooo. PMS. At si Inay, meno-
kailan daw nya ako Siguro nga mag- pause na „yun.
kailangang-kailangan kakaro‘n na ang inay
tsaka ko naman daw ko, si Irene at ang -Ate #
siya iniwan sa ere. Mag classmate ko. Hintayin
classrooms or during
gatherings. I am won-
that; on the day I re-
turned my card, I had
by Sulatkamay dering if something, my mom with me. She
perhaps, has happened stormed towards the
viser, and the back at home that caused principal‘s office and
space for the signature him to act this way. I called for my adviser; I
of the parent. That spe- would very much appre- went to our classroom.
cific grading period, the ciate to talk to any par- Mom: This teacher,
space for comments of ent if possible.” Mr. Principal, accused
my card was filled with Perhaps this comment me of not being able to
words that angered my by my adviser caused raise my child well. She
mom. my mom to wake me up blames me for the anti-
“Your son‟s grades are at 11 in the evening, social and dull character
fairly high, thanks to his shouting things like: of the boy. Well, let me
exams and projects. But ―Who does you adviser tell you, dear adviser, I
I am quite alarmed by think she is? Is she have five children, all
the shift in character blaming me?! Wait until studying, I have two
your son showed, he I report her to the prin- jobs just to make sure
now often spends the cipal for accusing me of that these children eat
break times alone, away not raising my child and have a home to
from his classmates. He well!”
rarely talks inside the Things did happen like Turn to next page

A pen in your hand
by Polaroid
You hold a pen in kind. They are like the
your hand and let it big bad bully in school,
waltz on empty sheets. but the difference is that
You could have liked to they can do whatever
write something beauti- they want, sometimes
ful, something like a without punishment if
sugarcoated story to de- ever they get caught.
scribe the events in your All of these are suppos-
life. Your hand leads edly because you are
the way, as thoughts the weaker species.
attempt to pour into
Yet they like your
black and white; but you
fragility. They project it
do a double-take, know-
romantically and lay
ing you would rather
flowers upon your feet.
write truths, even
They write you down in
though they are menac-
fairy tales sitting on top
ing pieces, too hard to
of the highest tower
bear.
with golden hair; sleep-
They think of you as ing placidly amidst utter
a flimsy thing, akin to a disarray and the pande-
scrawny kid forbidden to monium of time; as
ride a bike. Because of beautiful with blood-
this, you are prohibited painted lips, raven hair,
a lot of things. They winter-colored skin and
gather everything for gentle eyes, needing
themselves, even the waking up—a kiss, that
extremes, and leave is it. That is what they
nothing for you and your think you need. But
7
even if you are a prin-
cess put on top of
down upon you. Even
members of your own
twenty mattresses and kind know their place
twenty feather beds, and it should never be
even when they seem to ambitious, not at the top
give you everything you of the game where the
need, you could feel opposite species resides.
there is something You are a spectator,
wrong. You feel the tiny watching the game from
pea, lying underneath all the stands; a member of
the sheets. They think the support team,
it should be insignifi- whose words aim to up-
cant, what you deem is lift the spirits of those
unjust, but you feel it is who are there in the
there, ever present and game, not your own.
its mere existence both- The field is never leveled
ers you…and so you are enough.
restless. They serenade
You know these and
you with whimsical
you know more.
notes, draw you bril-
liantly on canvas and You hold a pen in
marvel at you at the your hand and you are
wall, offer you whatever capable of doing some-
you want, except to be thing with it. You write
free and be whatever what you know, for
they are themselves. other people to know,
You are only a piece of what is missing or what
the puzzle, used to they refuse to see. With
cover an empty space, this pen, you know, you
not the entire picture could cease to be seen
that can stand still, even as a feeble, hopeless
if one piece is missing. thing. #
Everybody looks

very lonely every day, Mom: My separation that my mom wanted to

Signature and his classmates told with my husband and take me home right
From the previous page me that he was not like how I cope with it have away. I took my bag
this before; he used to nothing to do with this, and carried my books. I
laugh and play with nor with your job! Your wanted to return the
come to, I don‟t have them after classes. This job is to make sure that card to my teacher, but
was until, they told me, my son‟s grades remain found out that my mom
the time nor the energy
to bother myself with the problem with you as high as they are! did not sign it, so I just
how my son acts to- and your husband hap- Now, if you please ex- walked away. My ad-
pened. Your son seemed cuse me, I don‟t have viser then took the card
wards his classmates, as
long as his grades are to have said this to one much time to spare for from my hands, and
high! of his closest friends, petty things like these, I signed her name at the
and that you kept drink- have work, I have to back, she smiled hum-
Adviser: Ma‟am, I was
not trying to imply such ing at night. That is why feed my children, things bly, and so did I.
ideas in my comment, I I am concerned as his you won‟t understand If only that signature
was only concerned for adviser; perhaps the dear adviser! was actually supposed
your child, he seems environment at home is My adviser returned to to be there. #
not good for the child. our classroom, and said
 8
Behind her
Smile
by Patalipat
As I stepped on the
stage and had my hands
on my diploma, I could-
n‘t help but smile as I
panned my eyes over
the familiar faces before
me—faces that made
me who I am today. At
the center were my
batch mates who were
grinning at me as if to
say ―Congrats, you have
successfully graduated
from hell. Time to go to
the next level!‖ on the
sides were our ever-
su pportive parents,
teary-eyed with video
cameras on their shak-
ing hands, and upfront
were our teachers and
mentors, confidently
smiling back at me.
Among the faculty mem-
bers, the one with the
warmest smile and the
most assuring nod was
from my f av ori t e
teacher.
Ma‘am TR, as we of-
ten call her, is not the
usual favorite teacher
with soft and silky long
hair, friendly face and
pleasant mood that for-
gave us for not prepar-
ing our home works. On
the contrary, she was
initially feared by all stu-
dents because of her
strong personality and
strictness when it comes
to academics; but she
became the most influ-
ential teacher to our
batch. She was our ad-
viser, our mother and
our best friend in our
four years in high
school. every week. But never-
I remember the first theless, the sweat paid
time we met her—first off! We were awarded
meeting of Social Sci- the cleanest room every
ences 1. We got scared month and she would
the moment she entered treat us some ice cream
the room. A 55-year-old afterwards. If some of
-teacher with wide- us fails a subject, she
rimmed squared made time to teach us
glasses, high-pitched extra lessons without
voice and white hair anything in return!
growing all over her She was a mother to
head. Who wouldn‘t be all of us. When we were
terrified of the teacher in third year, Ma‘am TR
that raised her brow so would always make sure
high every time a stu- we had our breakfast
dent interrupted her before going to class.
train of thoughts? Yes, For those who are hard-
we were hell scared of headed, she made sure
her not knowing how they get punished. She
she would change our would cut the hair of
lives. those boys who felt like
She did not have a rock stars with their
family on her own. No long and untidy hairdo
husband, no kids. Just while the girls who wore
her career as a teacher too bright or neon-
and her 4 cats in her colored undergarment
house. She had been get reprimanded. Those
teaching at this school caught loitering were
for 15 years and every sent to her office to en-
year, she managed to joy an hour of sermon.
create a new family. Who would ever for-
Even if she came too get the time when she
strict and strong on the caught us cheating? She
first meeting, eventually made the whole class
one would be comfort- clean the whole student
able as soon as she pavilion for one whole
flashed a smile after a month. That stopped me
sarcastic remark or a from cheating, I must
playful joke. She made say! How about when
sure she was respected she caught two of my
but not feared, be- classmates at the mall
friended but not abused. during class hours? Trip
She was the best ad- to the library every after
viser. When we were in class to dust away and
our second year, we had arrange the books was
her as our homeroom their sentence. These
teacher. Of course, we may sound tough, but
were required to clean they made us into better
the whole room and our students and stronger
mini garden every individuals.
morning. We were Personally, she was
obliged to apply floor my best friend. She al-
wax and polish the floor ways knew if I had prob-
lems or if something
was bothering me, and
the best part was, she
always knew what to
say. There was a time
when I was struggling
with family problems,
she sat with me through
lunch and gave me ad-
vices. Whenever I
fought with my boy-
friend, she was there to
give us the ―logic‖ why
couples fight. At the end
of the day, she would
always remind me that
there will always be a
place to run, and that
place is God. She helped
me get through life and
made me better and
stronger to face another
day.
As I smiled for the
camera while holding
my diploma, I could not
help but wonder how life
would be after high
school without the hope-
ful faces of my class-
mates, the support of
my parents, without the
reassuring faces of the
teachers, without Ma‘am
TR. My smile slowly
faded until I caught a
glimpse of my favorite
teacher behind the cam-
era. There she was,
beaming at me like a
mom to her baby guid-
ing and giving her rea-
sons to smile so she
could look good in the
picture. I looked at her
warm and familiar face
and truthful eyes, and I
was assured that there
was nothing to worry
about. Truly, the world
always looks brighter
from behind the smile of
my favorite teacher.#

She
by Polaroid
Look at her. Look she were not soft-
at how her eyes spar- skinned and pale? Is
kle in the sun, dazzling her beauty the only
in themselves. You reason one should
become mesmerized. hesitate? Alas, that is
Listen to the pulchri- not and should never
tude of her laughter— be the case. Even if
the warm feeling her hair was withered
creeps up inside of you dreary and her skin
and suddenly, you dark as chocolate, it
know the meaning of should always be
sublime. Take her wrong, the deepest
hands into yours. No- form of mistake, to lay
tice that even with the a hand that shall
rough lines on them, cause bruises on her
you take comfort in skin, no matter what
the gentleness that color it is.
you hold, something
It should always be
that is able to give
wrong to force her to
more than it should.
step out of her
She is beautiful, is clothes, or even if she
she not? One look and does so willingly at a
you are enchanted. To cost, on a moonless
see her in pain would night, in a dark, damp
break your heart. But room where cheap
would damaging her curtains block it out
be less tragic if she from the rest of the
were any less beauti- world. It should al-
ful, if her skin were ways be unbearable to
any shade darker, if cause her fear so in-
9
tense that she would of a petrified world
give in to your caprice. that is abused, but is
Fear that would cer- left to feel scared and
tainly get her anxious humiliated, as if eve-
in dark alleys at night. rything is its fault.
Fear that would keep
Do not let her turn
her mouth shut,
into a faint-hearted
screaming only in
one. That is not who
thoughts for if she
she is. She is stronger
ever did make a sound
than what you might
or try to refuse, you
think; but even so, let
would lead the way to
her recognize how ca-
her grave.
pable she really is.
Draw her portraits,
Her fears are the
even with her clothes
fears of many. Her
on. Think not about
tears not only one can
when they are off.
shed. Her miffed state
Think instead of who
is the state of several
she is, the
others who have not
same as you,
yet experienced physi-
though differ-
cal cruelty in the
ent in many
hands of people like
ways. Marvel
yours, but know so
at her beauty,
much about the pain,
but do not
the desolation of it all.
ever force her
to do some- Look at her. Look
thing she at who she is right
would never now. She is many
want to. Blame things. She is many
her not for people. No matter
what they do what the case, no
to her. Help matter what she looks
remove the like, never hurt her.
shackles that For if you should, you
bind her to the would harm the rest of
dusky lurking the world. #
 10
UP Panitikan
Joanne Michelle Lara AY 2010—2011
Chairperson
Rayla Marie Recci Castillo
Michael Ryan Miranda Publications Committee
Vice Chairperson Assistant Head
Maria Fatima Doce Jeo Angelo Elamparo
Publications Committee Development and Membership
Head Committee
Assistant Head
Francess Anne Yangyang
Development and Membership Members:
Committee Maureen Denice Alfonso
Head Aubrey Nicole Arboleda
Priscilla Bacungan
Ferozza Della Simbulan Johnry dela Cruz
Outreach and Finance Committee Xylona dela Cruz
Head Allana Ruth dela Peña
Yodhim Gudel Gepty dela Rosa
Muhammad Muktadir Estrella
Dan Misael Gambe
Jenina Ruth Juganas
Vivien Medidas
Karen Christine Moroño
Maria Nelia Arianne Ong
Thatcher Pancho
Kiveli Venz Paneda
Pia Charis Pojas
Bryan Angelo Puerto
Nomar Postre
Venus Marie Roxas
Adrian Sampang
Jesse Nicole Santos
Dennis Sirios
Romina Kara Sotto
Catherine Tan