Minute

At 5:59 AM, she's awake

staring at the ceiling

for 8 hours straight

wondering;

how sleep failed her

to temporarily take her away

from the all the demons

that's surrounding her;

how fast-paced life is

from four to three

maybe it's supposed to be;

how black and sadness

are the triggers

to sad poetry;

how indecisive a man is

to let go of what's essential

and keep what's not worthwhile

That one minute left

before six o'clock;

She decided to give up

because in order to win big battles,

you must have to lose small ones

- koralike

(Feb. 19, 2016, 6 AM)

11:50 PM

An hour ago, he left

without telling her why

leaving trails of shattered hearts

and reopened scars

Half an hour ago, she's left confused

to walk away or try harder

because he failed to prove her

that forever exists

At 11:00, she finally realized

that the heartbreaks from the flowerboy

that she admired for four years

is nothing compared

to what happened tonight

11:05 PM, she's stuck in between

having a strong mind

and a fragile heart

that made her lost soul

broken for once more

At 11:15 PM, she can't believe

having no boyfriend would still hurt

not because of young lads

but about her Dad

responsible for her first heartbreak

11:30 PM, she's chaotic;

wondering if she, still,

can trust boys

or forever shut the doors

At 11:40 PM, she's a mess

if her King will come back

for even if he left her princess

she would still wait

for the King's return

hoping that even he failed

to prove the existence of forever

he'll turn "Happily Ever After"

to reality

11:50, she's weary

she'll try to sleep

because tonight,

the world has ended for her

and will start again

in the morning

- koralike
(Feb. 18, 2016, 11:50 PM)

Kuwentong Kamay

     Tirik ang araw sa bayan ng Sanip kaya't nagtampisaw sina Juan at Maria sa ilog. Sumama rin sila Pedro at Monching; sina Felgario at Montessa; sina Dodong at Sunay. Ligo, banlaw. Ligo, banlaw. Unti-unti silang dumadami kaya't ang ilog ay unti-unti ring dumudumi. 'Di ito alintana sa kanila kaya't tuloy lang sila sa pagtatampisaw na para bang bawat lublob sa ilog ay siyang paghahanap ng sagot sa mga katanungang sa simula pa lang ay kaya na nilang sagutin; ngunit ayaw lang nilang tanggapin.

     Dumating din ang araw na hindi na sila maaaring magtampisaw sa ilog. Kasing itim na ito ng kaluluwa nila; ngunit walang may gustong linisin iyon. Marami nang sumubok, pero wala namang nagawa kundi titigan lang ang mga dumi na makipaglaro sa tubig.

     Nag-antay sila ng mahabang panahon para may magkusang-loob na manguna sa paglilinis, ngunit wala pa rin. Dumumi na rin ang paligid at nagkaroon ng epidemya. Naging desperado na ang mga tao sa paghahangad ng kalinisan, ngunit wala pa ring may gustong magtrabaho para dito.

     Napakaitim na ng Sanip ngayon. Bulag pa rin ang mga tao sa pagpili ng taong magsisimula ng pagbabago. Sa totoo lang, hindi nila kailangang pumila o mag-antay. Alam na nila iyon sa simula pa lang. Nasa kamay nila ang kalinisan; nasa kamay nila ang pagbabago. Takot lang silang mabahiran ng dumi ang mga kamay nilang iyon. Alam nilang kahit sinong manguna sa pag-lilinis, kung walang may gustong magsimula sa sarili nila ay walang patutunguhan ang lahat. Pero wala eh, gano'n talaga sa Sanip.
     Ay baliktad pala. Parang mga utak nating mga Pilipino ngayon. Bansa nga pala; hindi bayan. 'Pinas' nga pala; hindi 'Sanip'.

[ Sinulat ko 'to no'ng May 5, 2016. Alas-tres na yata ng umaga no'n at 'di pa rin ako makatulog. Nilaan ko na lang ang oras sa pagbuo ng kwento since malapit na rin ang eleksyon no'n. 9 AM ng May 6, 2016 nang pinost ko 'to sa Facebook para magsilbing gabay sa ninanais ng karamihan na 'pagbabago' na nasa kamay lang talaga natin. :) ]

I'm Not Your Fairytale

I am not a damsel in distress just waiting for a

knight in shining armor to come and rescue me

from the drudgery and misery.

I am myself’s own hero.

I fight all those who try to hurt me because

that’s a lot easier than to wait for someone

to save me.

I conquer every fears I have even of it means

I’ll have to have cuts and bruises ad endure

every pain.

I know I look weak.

I look as if I’m going to stumble

with just a snap of your finger.

I know I mumble with words

everytime people throw sarcasms at me.

I certainly get hurt but those are just

too shallow for me to scream in agony.

I’m not a princess in stilettos, a tiara, and a fancy dress.

I chose to be in my ripped jeans and sneakers.

I don’t want to wait in vain

for a prince charming to arrive

on his white horse.

I’m not just simply waiting for a kiss

and expecting that a happily ever after

will follow.

I’m not even dreaming of a prince.

All I want is someone who’ll never

feel scared to stay at my side;

someone who’ll jump at every chance

of adventure with me.

All I ever want to be

is a princess

not built in imaginary land

of fairies and castles.

A princess who traveled

the path that few dared

to choose for her

happily ever after.

Abby Arreitavlas 031616

via Betsin-artparasites

Paradox

Dahil ang buhay ay walang katapusang pagtatanong at paniniwala. Hindi ito katulad ng papalubog na raw sa dapit-hapon na maaasahan mong babalik pagsapit ng umaga.

Walang kasiguraduhan.

Palaging maiipit sa tanong na paano at bakit.

Mabubuhay sa walang katapusang pagtatanong at sa walang hanggang paniniwala— na palaging may pagbabalik sa bawat pag-alis, na may pagbati sa bawat paalam, na palaging may ngiti sa bawat pagluha, na palaging may posibilidad sa pagkakataon, na palaging may magbubukas sa bawat pagsara. Palaging may kasama ang isa pa.

Hindi maaaring wala.

Palaging may oo sa bawat paghindi, tama sa mali, Malabo at malinaw. Kailangan mo lang kumapit sa mga bagay na minamarapat mong paniwalaan.

Kailangang maniwala sa tinitimo ng puso.

Dahil ganoon ang buhay; palaging bumubuo ng posibilidad ang bawat pagtatalik ng paniniwala at pagtatanong.

Natatapos lang ang pagtatanong at posibilidad kapag tumigil ka sa patuloy na pagsubok.

Angelica Diano Morante

via The Artidope

words by pauline bactad

 

words: jeselle tarin

edits: mine

pcr. owners

Yezi ♥

YEZI, Fiestar

- spits verses

- rap queen

- resting bitch face

- makeup always on fleek

- crop top + high waist shorts

- EXTREMELY aggressive on diss raps

(rip Truedy, Sua)

- REAL WINNER OF UNPRETTY RAPSTAR II

Alaala x Pusong Ligaw

i failed in doing aesthetics, i'm sorry, i'm a failure

Confessions of a Fangirl

Confessions of a Fangirl is an article made by Kyla in 2015, published on their English school newspaper, The Genzette, wherein she's the Associate Editor of the said school publication in that year. The article is modified due to typographical errors and to keep up the accuracy of the contents inside for the year 2016.

     Being a fangirl is not easy. You may think it's easy as a, b, c's, but no. Fangirling is a tough job, especially if you're a K-Pop fan. Again, it's a job. I also repeat, it's K-Pop. K-Pop is extremely far from western music you guys usually like. From the language itself, the region it came from and its style of creating music.

     Now that you know it's obviously different from each other, let me show you our "fangirl burdens" through this piece of writing.

     First of all, we face a lot of discrimination struggles whenever we were asked about our favorite genre of music. Yes, we like K-Pop. No, we are not Koreans. That's it, end of story. Why do people have to discourage us about loving K-pop? Is it a big deal if we don't like your fave artist because we love our oppa(s) and eonni(es)? Why do people push us to like artists whom we don't like? We aren't bandwagons and we don't follow it. We stand for what we like and what we don't like. Just because you like this *insert genre of music/artist/band* doesn't mean you have to push people to like them. We have different tastes. Respect everyone's choices if you don't want your idols to be exiled and bashed because you, narrow-minded people. We are extremely powerful than what you think. We can stop you from using your social media accounts by just letting a single hashtag trend for days (if it is actually a serious case). K-pop has various sub-fandoms. Once you attack a certain fan of the group or the group itself, all of the fandoms will join in to defend this certain fan or member. Think before you act.

     Second, we are not racists. How could we be one of your so called "racists", if every single race has a k-pop fan in it? Don't underestimate our ability to influence non-kpop fans because we can turn them to be one of us in a heartbeat. We possess that communication skill. @koralike_ | kairms.blogspot.com

     Third, don't underestimate the capability of a fan to hold emotions; also their brain's memory storage of events, Hangul (Korean writing), and speaking skills. Even if we aren't Koreans, we know how to read and write it. Somehow, we are able to speak Korean words or phrases just like saranghaeyo, jinjja, and eottokhae. We can also stay up to 5:00 AM just to watch a group's comeback music videos such as EXO's "Love Me Right", BTS' "Run", and Seventeen's "Mansae". Take note, we don't watch it once, but we kill the F5 button to break certain views.

     Being a fangirl is a job, with no income. Instead, we are the ones who spend money, handle raging emotions, and keep up a fansite active all at once. Fangirling is a way of life. A life out of the 'feels'of a world too mainstream to understand. Are you one of us?

One Thousand, Ninety-Five

I wrote this article for our essay writing contest in 2015. I didn't win, but my friend from the star section did. It's not that I can't accept their decision that I lost, but I felt insulted, and robbed. They judged my work and accused me of copying it from the internet just because I came from a lower section.

I came from a poor family of 12. We rarely eat three times a day and I haven't lived on a peaceful home. I'm from a broken family and I live with my Mom. I have a younger brother whom lives with my dad. I am the eldest one, and my name is Reah.

Since I was young, father told me that we don't need to go to school anymore; for what's important is how to live by ourselves and that doesn't require to go to school... to waste time, money, and effort-- but by knowing how to plant crops, take care of the livestocks and the rice fields... and I completely disagree with that.

I am an ambitious child. I want to grow with flying colors in order to help my parents to raise ourselves from poverty.  My younger brother lowers my self-esteem to reach my ultimate dream-- to reunite our family and be grateful enough to live together, even I know that it's impossible.

It's 10 o'clock already and I should have slept. It's pitch black yet a burning desire lights up the surroundings. I try to find the missing piece, and my feet guided me towards the dusty library. There, I felt chills flow to my spine seeing the thick pile of books in front of me. I know it's making me to feel the urge to read one, and I did.

I picked a book. I started to scan the pages and decided to read it from the start. I know, I didn't go to school, but my mom told and taught me how to read and write because she told me, "It's one of the basic needs of a human to grow." With that, I read the book; I'm so engrossed that the sun smiled and touched my tan skin, telling me to have some rest. @koralike_ | kairms.blogspot.com

I went back to our home and told Mom about it. She's astounded for she thought no one would ever see her hidden crib; the library, which molded her for years... yet wrecked by a man she thought she dreamt and already read from the book, which is my dad.

She didn't disagree nor prohibit me from reading. She inspired me to read some more and we both talk about the books we both read, claiming we're both 'bibliophiles' and served as our bonding.

Every night, I would go to the library before I doze off to sleep. It feels like I'm filled with ecstatic emotions everytime the book takes me to different places... from forests to seas, from heavens and underworlds; I feel like I'm a different person everytime I'm hooked up on the book.

It became my hobby; a piece of me that I don't regret that I've let in. I've let every quote, every majestic word and thunderstriking plots to consume me. This lasted for 1,095 days... and I made a decision to leave my comfort zone; the library, to explore the wonders of my capabilities and apply those in reality, since I've been fully equipped for half of my life. I went to cities all by myself, leaving Mom my promise that I will rise ourselves from poverty. It's hard and vexatious, but I know I will benefit soon.

Years have passed and I became a writer. I became famous and owned a lot of publishing establishments. My life became an inspiration for today's youths, yet I always say to them that I owe it to the library, my mom, and God. The three of them made me forgot that I came from a poor and broken family. I persevered a lot, and I know Mom and God knows all of these.

I got a surprise call from my Mom telling me that Dad decided to complete our family again. Dad didn't knew the epitome of success I've reached, yet I'm blissful that his mind took the realization of family's importance. I told them about my achievements, and they are dumbfounded of what I've become. Our family decided to live in the city I work, and continued to fill up the empty pieces of myself by having leisure time with them through reading.

I am Reah, and this is real. I may be uneducated, but the books accompanied me to the darkest dilemnas of my life; and it took me 1,095 days to proudly say that in reading, hope springs!

Unlabeled You

Unlabeled You is an article made by The Genzette's Editor-in-Chief, Kyla, for her opinion column, Catharsis, which was published last March 11, 2016. It is her first and last opinion column as she bids goodbye in the school publication. The article states her views and personal experiences during her high school life.

     The section that you belong in doesn't define who you are. Being included in the pilot section doesn't mean that you're already a virtuoso. Being included in the lower section doesn't mean you don't excel. @koralike_ | kairms.blogspot.com

     I came from the star section when I first stepped in high school. It was pressuring for others; yet I don't feel it. Even if we're already loaded with numerous tasks, we still managed to watch movies everyday after class. We'll rent multiple CDs and watch it in our home with my friends. Then the next day, we're the topic of the class. My adviser would sarcastically ask us what the movie plot is all about and if we memorized the characters... and how we keep up being sneaky when going on our way home (because we pass by their house so my adviser knows). Thug life indeed.

     I'm an easy-going person, yet I know my priorities very well. Even if me and my friends just chill out, we can still maintain our grades; pass projects right before the deadline, do assignments, and ace the tests all at once.

     Yet maybe that's the reason why I left that section-- because I really don't belong there... for I hate the pressure the teachers are placing on us and the tension with my classmates going on every single time.

     Since I left that section and went to the lower ones, my perspective really changed. To be honest, there's a lot of geniuses scattered on the lower sections, and they deserve slots in the higher ones. I've met a lot of students who are effortlessly smart; who doesn't even need to review, yet keep on slaying the tests. Some are not that knowledgeable, yet extremely equipped with perseverance, creativity, and talent. On the contrary, not all of the students in the star section are deserved to be called one of those precious stars because of various, evident circumstances they are involved.
https://www.xkroalike.blogspot.com | SuperKyla
     My theory why they tranquilly excel is that the lower sections aren't shell-shocked. They are given enough time, and they are not obliged to join 'this' and 'that' just because they are labeled to be the greatest, and they have to win as 'best'. But even if there's a lot of smart wizards on the lower sections, they are still labeled as the "incompetent one". Why? Because people love to judge, and there are a lot of people who always claim the spotlight even if it doesn't suit them.

     What vexes me the most is that when people look down to students from lower sections. It's not fair to stereotype a whole group of students based on one person you've seen to perform in a certain (probably poor) way. We are certain individuals. We have different attributes to show. We are all capable of something that others aren't capable to do.

     Students from lower sections aren't immobilized; they can do what the higher sections can do. Sometimes, they can even execute it way better... so why do we lock up these individuals who possesses great talent into a certain room of judgment just because they aren't from section one?

      To be honest, higher sections must feel grateful, for they have the chance to be called as the "best". Yet they should be also grateful for the serene, lower sections because without them, they won't be called like that.

     I speak from my experience as a writer, and a student who came from two types of sections too. I'm an editor-in-chief of The Genzette, and I also came from the lower section, just like the most of you. If I can, I know you can. I didn't let the label inscribed in me for three years to restrain me from doing something I really do with passion, which is writing. Now, I want you to create your own stand, firmly believe and fight for it.

x