The official literary folio

of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Volume XV

Cover illustration
by Patricia Mapili and Al Chris Varquez
 Editor’s Note
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
BENILDEAN PRESS CORPS Redefining mythology isn’t difficult. We do it
SY 2012-2013 everyday. With every story we exaggerate, every
moment we misremember, every time we imagine
something new, we redefine myths.
Remember that gods come from people, in
Editor in Chief Martin Diegor
Associate Editor Acy de Guzman the same way that people were created by gods.
Creative Director Patmai de Vera All gods exist, all beginnings are true, and all ends
Managing Editor Janeil Vino shall happen.
That’s the way mythology works. As long
News Editor Bernadette Daos as you believe in something, it is made true—
Features Editor Katrina Palencia somewhere, sometime, even if not here.
Sports Editor Angelo Oyardo And while all you see are words on a page, it
Kultura Editor Dempson Mayuga
doesn’t mean that none of this is real.
Literary Editor Motzie Dapul
Quoting the wise words of Neil Gaiman, a
Art Editor Patricia Mapili
Photo Editor Yla Corotan man who knows mythology intimately and who’s
Layout Editor Al Chris Varquez redefined it in more ways than one:
Web and Social Media Editor Carl Graham “What do I believe?”
“Believe everything.”
Head Ms. Dianne May E. Torres
Publications Adviser Ms. Joanah Christine L. Sayo
Secretary Ms. Rizalyn L. Manalili

Motzie Dapul

Shades of Gray is the official literary folio of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

(DLS-CSB). No part of this folio may be reproduced whether by photocopying,
scanning, or by any other means without written permission from the Student
Publications Office (SPO). Copyright 2012. For inquiries, visit the SPO at 2F Br.
Miguel Febres Cordero Bldg., DLS-CSB, 2544 Taft Avenue, Manila.
 Managing staff
Steffani Yu

Writers
Tonichi Acenas
Marielle Almario
Eya Arceo
Adrian Ayuyao
Aviana Baladad
Iris Trinidad

Contributors
Pat Arafol
Marty Arnaldo
Gennina Balana
Jemmarie Bocalbos
Raphael Bulaong
Anne Beatrice Cruel
Acy de Guzman
Patmai de Vera
Jimdrix Diaz
Martin Diegor

Staff
Camille Estanislao
Pauline Hermoso
JC Jamoralin
Ko Hwe-Jeong
Gianina Martinez
Dempson Mayuga
Angelo Oyardo
Jan Sabado
Melanie Irene Tagama
 Layout Artists
Kathrina Agraan
Alberto Cinco Jr.
Gabriel Daluz
Niro Donato
Mariel Enriquez
Evanberg Gasgonia
Melissa Gatchalian
Tyron Lucido
Gerard Mangente
Sharon Ramos
Kaye Tan

Illustrators
Angelica Abayan
Georjanno Abenoja
Thea Bathan
Mawee Borromeo
Veronica Chua
Mariel Empit
Gerard Lopez
Cassie Mendiola
Dorothea Napay
Angelica Regala
Alyssum Teh
 17
Contents
17
Imperfections
Written by Angelo Oyardo
Illustrated by Veronica Chua
21
How horses lost their legs
Written by Adrian Ayuyao
Illustrated by Mariel Empit
26
How the Erotes
gave me my first love
Written by Patmai de Vera
Illustrated by Angelica Regala
18
The creation
of the Mamags
Written by Gennina Balana
Illustrated by Cassie Mendiola
24
Ang alamat ng mangga
Written by Acy de Guzman
Illustrated by Thea Bathan
29
Pallas
Written by Marielle Almario
Illustrated by Cassie Mendiola
31
Europhoric euphemisms
Written by Motzie Dapul
Illustrated by Allysum Teh
34
Driving lessons
Written by Aviana Baladad
Illustrated by Veronica Chua
35
Chaos in the court
Written by Eya Arceo
Illustrated by Mawee Borromeo
39
Did you hear about...
Written by Motzie Dapul
41 Illustrated by Dorothea Napay
Mirrors can remember
Written by Camille Estanislao
Illustrated by Dorothea Napay
45
(de)Humanization
Written by Anne Beatrice Cruel
Illustrated by Cassie Mendiola
49
Charlotte and Sarah
Written by Aviana Baladad
Illustrated by Mawee Borromeo
 50
Bathala the lonely
goddess of the Underworld
Written by Motzie Dapul
Illustrated by Thea Bathan 54
If only the sun
had shone earlier
56
Written by Pauline Hermoso
Illustrated by Mariel Empit
Issues of consent
Written by Motzie Dapul
Illustrated by Veronica Chua 60
All is fair in love and war
Written by Melanie Irene Tagama
62 Illustrated by Dorothea Napay
So Odin walks into a bar
Written by Ko Hwe-Jeong
Illustrated by Georjanno Abenoja 66
Morpheus’ shop
Written by Jan Sabado
67 Illustrated by Veronica Chua
Murphy
Written by Gianina Martinez
Illustrated by Dorothea Napay
69
The untold story of the
Written by Jemmarie Bocalbos
72
Illustrated byAngelica Regala The villain song
Written by Motzie Dapul
Illustrated by Alyssum Teh
75
Prisoner
Written by Tonichi Acenas
76
Illustrated by Mawee Borromeo
Ex-mythology
Written by Raphael Bulaong
Illustrated by Mariel Empit
80
Old wives’ tales
Written by Iris Trinidad
Illustrated by Patricia Mapili 84
God is dog, dog si God
Written by Marty Arnaldo
85 Illustrated by Thea Bathan
Glass-eyed quests
Written by Aviana Baladad
Illustrated by Cassie Mendiola
 89
Ding, ang stone!
Written by Dempson Mayuga
Illustrated by Cassie Mendiola
92
Buhay ko’y rainbow
kapag kapiling ang berde
mong mukha
Written by JC Jamoralin
Illustrated by Patmai de Vera
97
Adventure down under
Written by Jimdrix Diaz
Illustrated by Alyssum Teh
91
God. Some assembly
required
Written by Marty Arnaldo
Illustrated by Angelica Regala
96
Kuwentong kutsero
Written by Pat Arafol
Illustrated by Gerard Lopez
101
On that certain trip
during the night
Written by Martin Diegor
Illustrated by Mariel Empit
103
The boatman
Written by Tonichi Acenas
Illustrated by Georjanno Abenoja
104
The plan
Written by Angelo Oyardo
Illustrated by Dorothea Napay
105
Green day
Written by Dempson Mayuga
Illustrated by Gerard Lopez
109
The afterlife myth
Written by Adrian Ayuyao
Illustrated by Dorothea Napay

I n the beginning, there was
existence. It happened at a time
no one remembers, and gave
form to what has always been.
And with beginning came the
things which, to this day, bear no
name. These things that bear no
name will always exist, but they
are not remembered. What are
remembered are the stories.
Imperfections
by Angelo Oyardo
My, have you heard
of creatures absurd
who unlike us
are imperfections?
A grotesque objection
to the grandest selection.
“Like mud on our shoes!”
Exactly—imperfections.
So weak yet so proud;
So rude and so loud;
“We should chuck ‘em out!”
Yes, off with the imperfections!
What were we thinking when—
“Yeah, what were we thinking?”
Wait, let me finish.
—where were we?
“Uh— ‘what were we thinking when—’?”
Yes, of course.
What were we thinking when we made these imperfections?
17

The creation
of the Mamags
by Gennina Balana
I t all started when a woman named Maya Mahina
fell in love with a handsome man named Carlito
Makisig. Carlito Makisig was every woman’s dream.
While Maya was pretty with the most expressive eyes
anyone had ever seen, she was also extremely shy and
had a bit of a weak character.
18
Carlito fell in love with Maya because of her
kind and caring nature; he loved her truly. No
matter how beautiful the other girls were, he only
had eyes for Maya. Maya, on the other hand, was
afraid of being hurt and at first kept her distance;
but after seeing the proof of Carlito’s passion and
feeling his steadfast love, she slowly opened her
heart and surrendered her whole being to him.
Meanwhile, in another realm, Anitun Tabu, the
goddess of wind and rain, was growing very bored
with her life. Because of her beauty, everything
was always given to her without much effort
on her part. One day, she looked down at the
mortal realm and saw Carlito working. Bewitched
by his looks and captivated by his strength,
Anitun decided that she wanted him for herself.
She followed him down to his workplace and
told him to come with her. Without hesitation,
Carlito refused. Anitun Tabu offered to grant him
anything his heart desired if he would come away
with her but Carlito simply said that he desired
nothing more than his beautiful Maya.
19
 Angered by the rejection of a mere mortal, Anitun
unleashed a strong typhoon in Carlito’s region. There
How horses
lost their legs
were a lot of casualties, Carlito included.
Maya, consumed with grief from the death of her
lover, withdrew from society completely. She was
inconsolable. She prayed to Bathala to send Carlito by Adrian Ayuyao
back to her, but it was impossible. She then decided if
that if he couldn’t come back to her, then she would
join him in the afterlife.
Dumakulem, the guardian of the mountain
and the brother of Anitun, heard of what his fickle-
minded sister had done to the couple. He pitied them
and their unfortunate
demise. He knew Angered by the
that if Anitun had not rejection of a mere
intervened, they would mortal, Anitun
have lived a long and
unleashed a
prosperous life. He
decided to give the
strong typhoon in
couple a new life. Carlito’s region.
However, he didn’t
have the power to restore the dead; he could only
reincarnate them as creatures in his mountain. He
created two small creatures with big, expressive eyes,
long ankle bones, and long tails. These creatures
were said to be shy and a bit suicidal when lonely.
The happily reunited couple kept to themselves
and basked in each other’s love until death took
them again. Their offsprings were later given the
name “tarsiers”. A long, long time ago, there were horses.
Boon of the gods, they were noble steeds that
reigned supreme over the land. They were not
beasts of burden. They were horses and they held
their heads high.

20 21
 And then there was Man, bane of the gods,
who loved the horses. Man gave horses shelter
and attention and the horses gave Man travel.
With travel, Man saw the world. He traded,
learned and fought because of the horse. Man’s
relationship with the beast was fruitful for
many  years.
That is, until Man stayed home.
After Man saw the world, he went home to
live with his conveniences. When Man no longer
needed to travel the world on the backs of horses,
he was content to leave the horse unsheltered
and unattended, which made many horses
very  unhappy.
Then came Mr. Fulton, a Man who loved the
horses’ nobility. He came forward and said, “I can
make you strong and hardy! To help you help Man
see the rest of the world and to always need to be
attended! All I need are your brave hearts!”
There were horses that said, “No, we must be
whole to be horses.” But there were horses that
grew excited and trampled at the opportunity.
Those horses were torn asunder. They became
hippocampi and the Man that rode them became
Argonauts. With the hippocampi’s now-immortal
hearts kept in steel bodies, Man crossed oceans
and Man was happy for the change. But not all
horses were.
Then came the Brothers Wright, two Men who
loved the horses’ need for endless travel. They
came forward and said, “We can make you fly! To
see the World from the sky! All we need are your
tireless spirits!”
And again there were horses that said, “No, we
must be whole to be hors­­—,” but their voices were
22
silenced by the gasping and the whinnying of the
other, more excited horses. Those horses became
Pegusi and the Man that rode them became
Bellerophons. With the Pegasi’s lightweight bodies
and smooth wings, Man crossed mountains
and Man was happy for the change. But not all
horses  were.
Then came Mr. Ford, a Man who loved the
horse. He came forward and said, “I can make you
horses once more. All I need are your legs.”
There were horses that were reluctant but
none said, “We must be whole to be horses.” The
rest of the horses became as horses, but steel,
and Man that rode them remained Man. Their
steel bodies helped
The rest of the
Man trade, learn and
fight over greater
horses became
distances, but were as horses, but
shinier and more steel, and Man
costly to handle. And that rode them
yet, Man was happier remained Man.
for the change. But
we don’t know if the horses were.
With all the horses changed, they kept
silent. No longer were they the noble steeds that
reigned supreme. No more were there horses
that galloped and whinnied or said, “We must be
whole to be horses.” There were just the lifeless,
soundless mechanical beasts of burden that we
shelter and pay attention to. There will be beasts
that we’d care about, horses that would whinny as
the occasional jalopy did or the horse that would
act up as the Titanic or as the Concordes did.
But that’s how horses lost their legs and how
Man lost horses.
23
 Ang alamat ng mangga
ni Acy de Guzman

Sa ilalim ng puno ng mangga,

Nagsimula kang magpatulong sa paggawa ng project mo
Sinamahan pa kitang bumili ng G-Tech para sa ‘yong guro.
Kahit palakol na grade ay ayos na sa ‘yo.

Unti-unti nang nalalaglag ang mga bunga ng mangga.

Ngunit tawanan at kuwentuhan ay tuluy-tuloy pa.
Pinagbalat mo pa ako ng isang nahulog na bunga.
Epic fail nga lang, kasi inuuod pala.

Tuluyan nang nahulog ang lahat ng mangga—

May mga nahulog na bulok, may’ron ding hinog pa
Kasabay nga lang ng mga nahulog na bungang ito
Ay ang pagkahulog ng loob ko sa ‘yo.
Mula nu’n ay hindi na tayo bumalik sa puno ng mangga.
Mga mukha natin ay nailang sa isa’t-isa.
Kumusta na ang punong iyon? Namumunga pa ba?
Wala na akong balita buhat nang mawala ka.

Matanda na ngayon ang puno ng mangga.

Earphones ko’y sira na, project mo’y naipasa na.
Kaya isusulat ko na lang gamit ang papel at pluma,
Ang tungkol sa punong puno ng alaala.

Sa ilalim ng puno ng mangga,

Nagsimula siyang bumanat ng corny jokes niya.
Kunwari ay kaswal lang ang kanyang pagsama-sama
Pero halatang ang mga tingin niya’y malagkit pa sa dagta.

Sa ilalim ng puno ng mangga,

Nagsimula kaming magsalo sa earphones kong luma na.
Sound trip ang drama kahit wala namang musika.
Ay meron pala, ‘yun nga lang, naririnig lang sa isang tenga.

24
 How the Erotes gave
me my first love Unreciprocated.
Pothos hath touched me
Stirred my dreams much
by Patmai de Vera I felt his touch.
Ever so gently

I gasped,
Awakened to the real.
In my head, he’s my darling.
In my life, he’s but nothing.
Unsure of what to feel.

Sweat.
Drenches me to the bone.
Hedylogos, kindly assist
That my words not miss
To not be left alone.

Tactile from lips,

Warmth blessed by Eros
Eyes meet.
Indiscreet.
Seediferous.

Unorthodox,
Anteros strangely was last,
With sweet moments,
Skin commitments
To each other cast

Intruders,
Suddenly Algea, swift distress
Betraying whispers,
Quick disperse.
Promptly unblessed.

26 27
 Pallas
by Marielle Almario

F rom these stories came gods,

the old and the new, the
named and unnamed. No one
knew how these gods came to
be, but they were remembered
in the stories that were made.
And they had their beginnings,
their middles, and their ends.

P allas wandered back to Asphodel Meadows

with Persephone. In the distance, Hades
attended to the souls in the Elysian Fields.
“Pallas?” Pallas paused in retelling the tale of
Athena to Persephone.
“Yes. Athena and I were inseparable. We did
everything together. She was a great friend and—”
Pallas paused, suddenly feeling a tightness in his
chest. “And one day, we had an argument. It... It was
a petty thing; silly, actually, so much that I have now
forgotten what it was.” Pallas’ lips ghosted into a

29
 smile. It was a really unimportant matter which they
fought over, she thought. Euphoric euphemisms
“Oh, how horrible!” Pallas merely shrugged off
Persephone’s words. by Motzie Dapul
“I was mortal and weak, Athena was strong.” Her
voice cracked and weakened. “You see, Persephone, I love the innuendo,
Athena and I... We had loved so much. I was her the lively love fandango,
beloved. We loved hard and deeply...and we fought the horizontal tango,
that comes with stories told.
like wild beasts.” Pallas gave a weak smile to the
Underworld’s queen. Heracles or Hercules;
“She was too wise and I was too impetuous for For him there were some maybes.
her.” There was a Iolaus on his knees?
subtle shake from
We had loved so His nephew? I’m too bold;

Pallas’ head. “So much. I was her I’ll tell you that that boy,
soon, when I died, beloved. We loved Iolaus, with sidekick and joy,
Hades took me in hard and deeply... Could be a little coy.
As lover, t’was his right.
with open arms. and we fought like
The lord of the
wild beasts. And Loki, god of fire
Underworld took and mischief, earned some ire,
pity on me. But we’re friends now.” through Odin’s grand desire,
with horse, he lost a fight.
Persephone took on a critical look as she eyed
Pallas. “When you say ‘lord’...”
“It is a slur.” Pallas clarifies.
Persephone shook her head, smiled, and took
Pallas’ hand.
“Since Hades is a friend, I too, hope that we can
become friends, Pallas. You are an amazing woman.”
The warmth in Persephone’s eyes could almost be
magnified by the darkness of the Underworld.
“We will,” Pallas said as she chuckled lightly.
“Of course, we will! Now, let us go and keep my
husband company.” And Persephone cast her gaze
towards Hades as they walked towards the fields.

30
(By fight, I do mean cherry) The tricks were godly things
For months along did tarry For which the poet sings.
Loki, just to carry, And know each scandal rings
Sleipnir, whom he birthed. Too true to the old myths.

And what of Ganymede Try not to be a prude

Receiver of the seed? And I’ll not be too rude
The seed of Zeus indeed. While saying these ensued;
(That joke had little worth). These myths are our gifts.

And Set and Horus, why, There is no use to censor

they had no shame, no lie, In flimsy old defense, or
Insemination, by the by The stories myths dispense or
Was Set’s own claim to rule. The fact that copulation

But Horus was so clever Was part in parcel then.

And while they “danced”, he never Know that these stories can
Let the seed inside; he severed Restore the lives of men
the hand that caught the pool. To rightful exultation.

So when they called the gods Don’t fear these words, they’re hist’ry
To check each of their odds Mythology, less myst’ry,
And Horus got the nod T’was different then, and this we
for his seed in Set’s gut. must know about today.

(Well that was Horus’ play) ‘Cause old things hold their teaching.
(Set’s salad was the way) Let your mind take the preaching.
(That he kept Set at bay) Forget not as you’re reaching
(With seed as dressing, but) The lessons they portray.

33
 Driving lessons
by Aviana Baladad

I held the reins

Chaos
In my shaking hands
I held my dreams
So close to taking flight.

The proud stallion at my side

Whiter than the shining
Shining stars
in the court
Of the Milky Way
Tossed his head by Eya Arceo
Indignantly, it seemed
Impatiently.

Dare we not go?

All those driving lessons
Shall be for naught
If I cannot get my feet
Off the ground.

He spread his wings

And took flight—
Better than a
Brand new car
Faster than the speed of light.

W hen the mightiest of gods congregate, every

other being should be wary—for when the gods gather
on Olympus, a terrible fate may be bestowed on another.

34 35
 She entered the court with a serene smile on her
lips. She did not show fear in her expression, despite
the fact that she was to be judged by gods. Instead,
she looked as if she were enjoying a stroll along the
park, picking flowers in the garden or singing to
the birds.
“My lord Zeus,” she bowed to the Lord of the
Sky. “And the mighty Olympians,” she said as she
turned to address the rest of her audience. “You
summoned me?”
“Don’t pretend that you were summoned! You
had gone into hiding and have only resurfaced now,”
Zeus bellowed, unable to contain his rage. “Your
actions led to a war and the death of countless
victims. Yet you act as if you know nothing?
Stand and prepare to receive the judgement of
this council!”
The young lady’s eyes shone with tears waiting to
cascade down her angelic face. She took a step back
from the gods and clutched her  chest.
“W-what? I don’t understand…” she said as her
eyes moved from one god to another pleadingly.
“You’re blaming me? How can you accuse me of such
a thing? I–I didn’t do anything wrong…”
She dropped to her knees and hid her face in
her hands. Her slight figure shook as she cried. Her
sobs echoed throughout the pristine hall. The gods
stared at her with cold expressions. They knew not to
be fooled.
True enough, a moment later, her sobs turned
into something more sinister. No longer were the
woman’s shoulders shaking from her tears but
from her snickers. Soon, her laughter turned into a
malevolent cackle. No other sound could have been
more ominous, more  foreboding.
36
The woman lifted her face and stared at those
in front of her. “I never did like playing the damsel
in distress.”
She smiled, and when she did, it was no longer a
serene, calming smile, but one filled with malice. She
seemed like an entirely different person.
“Enough with your games, Eris!” Queen Hera
demanded. “You will learn to know your place!”
“Yeah, yeah,” the goddess of discord
replied  sarcastically.
“ERIS!” Zeus shouted. “Be silent and hear
me speak!”
Any other being, mortal or not, would have been
frozen in place with fear. They would have followed
the command of the lord of the gods. But not Eris.
She seemed not to hear. Instead, she noticed the
ghost of a handsome young man standing alongside
the gods, staring at her with pure hatred and disgust.
“Paris,” Eris
greeted. “How are
Without me,
you, my darling? Did without chaos, how
you have a good time will you even begin
with Helen?” to describe peace?
The young man’s
expression darkened even more. He took a small step
forward. “I pray that you will be judged harshly, Eris.
You caused the destruction of Troy. You will pay.”
“Oh, and here I thought it was you who did
that.” Eris smiled wickedly. “What was that song the
mortals listen to?” Her expression turned thoughtful.
“Ah, there we go. That’s what you get when you let
your heart win,” Eris sang. “Oh wait. For you, it’s
‘That’s what you get when you let your lust win,” she
laughed  mischievously.
37
 A lightning bolt struck the floor a few inches from

Did you hear about...

where Eris stood, causing her to step back and turn
her attention to Zeus.
“Silence! I will hear no more of your insults!
Speak again and I will destroy you!”
by Motzie Dapul
“Destroy me?” Eris scoffed. The same sinister
laughter escaped from her lips. She stared at Zeus
intently. “Do you really think that’s wise...? If you Did you hear about Horace?
destroy me, what will happen to peace? Without No, seriously, listen.
me, without chaos, how will you even begin to Horace O.? You know?
The kid with the little nose?
describe  peace?” Yeah, that’s the one.
The council stood silent, too stunned to speak. He slept with his uncle.
“Everyone knows that peace is the opposite of His uncle.
chaos. If I didn’t come to play, no one would even To be fair, they’re like,
almost the same age, you know?
appreciate Harmonia.” Well, almost.
“Can’t you see?” Eris taunted. “I bring balance to He’s like, fifteen.
this world! You NEED me!” She spread her arms wide His dad’s little brother is a college
and let out a cackle of sadistic glee. freshman.
Nineteen, I think.
“You’re mad...,” Paris murmured after a while. I know, right? But yeah,
“Mad? I’m not mad,” she replied. “But I am what
I am.”
No one knew what to say. This was not how this
congregation was supposed to go.
“Well, I really must go,” the goddess of discord
sighed. “I have places to be, things to destroy...”
She began to take a couple of steps back, and the
mightiest of gods could do nothing to stop her.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll see each other
again  soon.”
And with a little wink, she vanished.

39
 I don’t think they were close.
I hear they hate each other.
Seth and Horace.
Something about Horace’s dad,
Seth’s brother.
They’ve got this whole history.
I dunno. It’s none of my business.
They always fight, though.
Like some kinda (can I say kinky?)
D/s thing.
No one would’ve guessed they were
getting freaky.
Well, okay, maybe.
I mean, you couldn’t hate someone
that much if...
Never mind.
What? Whaaaat?
Come on.
… Fine.
I mean, you couldn’t hate someone
that much if you didn’t care.
If you didn’t... didn’t love.
Right?
Right?
What do you mean—
Well yeah, but...
No, no, no
I don’t think they’ll ever stop.
But I dunno.

Mirrors can remember

It’s none of my business.

by Camille Estanislao

D o you know what mirrors are

capable of? Mirrors remember.

40 41
 Once, in Narcissus’ woods, I met a wandering nymph
who nursed a great admiration for the drowned youth.
Her hair was long, her footsteps light, and her eyes were
wild, but she was kind enough to talk to a weary rambler,
and do me no harm. She wore wild daffodils in her hair.
Indeed, she was very beautiful. But she insisted that her
looks were nothing compared to Narcissus’.
“But how do you know?” I asked her. “Narcissus was
before your time.”
“Oh, but the lake remembers his face,” she told me.
“His face sometimes glimmers out of it, an image of
perfection—perhaps to remind me of my own vanity,” she
added honestly, coquettishly.
It was a beautiful lake not overwhelmingly large,
but large enough; perfect
for a day of meditation— But you can’t deny
perfect for reflection. that sometimes,
Away from these cold reflections are what
forests, what a turbulent make things exist.
world awaits me!
Some years later, I walked into an old shut-down
restaurant in Paris. It used to be an artist’s studio, which
used to be a ballet studio, which used to be a coffee
shop, which used to be a teashop, which used to be a
bookshop. The mirror had always been there, fixed
beautifully on the wall, old as old can be.
Looking closely, it was just possible to discern
stockinged-legs flashing up and down in the mirror’s
memories. If you looked long enough, you might see
bookshelves behind you, too. But I didn’t stay long in
that empty place.
42
Back in Narcissus’ woods, I told my friend the
nymph that there wasn’t much use in investigating
mirrors’ memories anyway. And, I said, wasn’t a
reflection a mere bounce-back of light under the
right conditions?
“Well, yes,” she replied, after a moment, “but you
can’t deny that sometimes, reflections are what make
things exist. A bounce-back of light… how much light do
you have in you, that a mirror will not forget your face in
a hurry?”
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is rather
enjoyable to sit at the bank of Narcissus’ lake, feet
swirling in the water, surrounded by perfect white
flowers. Was all of this just a reflection of something
else? Night fell and the lake became a dark pool
of  glitter.
The nymph pointed to the moon. “The moon is
mirror of the sun,” she declared, “and the lake is a mirror
of the moon tonight.”
A pair of eyes glimmered from the ripples I was
making with my feet. Such beautiful, gray eyes…
“As the ocean is mirror to the sky, and such transient
things they are!” The lake itself is vain, I thought. The
darkening forest seemed to smile.
“And his eyes,” the nymph smiled at where the gray
glimmer had appeared, “are a reflection of his spirit,
and it is reflected in the lake. You will not gain much
from seeing it—he was quite as shallow as the lake is
deep,  apparently.”
After that last visit to Narcissus’ wood, I could no
longer see the memories of mirrors. Something in those
43
 gray and coldly beautiful eyes had taken that away from
me. I could only see my own reflection, and wonder
what else the mirror remembered. But no matter; there
(de)Humanization
by Anne Beatrice Cruel
were other things to do. How much light do you have
in you, that the world will not forget you in a hurry?
Between the ocean and the moon I felt conspired
against, yet blessed.
Meanwhile, I had taken to staring into the greatest
mirror’s—the ocean’s—surface, hoping that the depths
would crack away the vain shallowness of Narcissus’
eyes. Farewell to the shores of Europe! Truly, a sense
of clarity is building up in me as tropical winds draw
nearer. And anyway, I might meet a siren, and who
knows what the mermaids will be able to show me?

J.P.R., July 1887. En route to the Philippines.

“Greetings from the Strait of Malacca in a sea as
tranquil as a mirror...” wrote Jose P. Rizal in a postcard
dated July 26,1887, as he was on the way back from
Marseilles. About a week later, much closer to home, he
slept on deck for a whole night, in the light of the moon.
His written anecdote about Narcissus’ lake was never
found, but mirrors found their way into El Filibusterismo.

G REEN EYES CAREFULLY scan the raindrops

sliding down from the glass window that
separates them from their spectator.

44 45
 Along with a heavy sigh that escaped from very
thin lips, thick black curtains suddenly obscure the
dreary scene.
“It’s a surprise seeing you here, Loki. I didn’t think
this café suited your tastes.” A ghostly smile makes its
way over the impish, effeminate face.
“I am the god of mischief after all. Unpredictability
should be expected from me, my dear god of the dead.”
The newcomer resists making a laugh before he sits on
the person’s right.
“I knew that we would meet again but I did not
expect for us to meet as teacher and student.” Smoky
grays turn to their youthful green counterparts. “And if I
may ask why, why a female form, Loki?”
“I would rather be myself than force myself to
be who I’m not, and besides, it’s just temporary.”
The trickster shrugs. “And really, Hades, an
Economics  teacher?”
“My Roman counterpart is the god of riches as
well as of the dead.
...overlooking the
You can say that I’m
getting in touch with
fact that everyone—
my inner  Roman.” and I mean
While he hides his everyone—has the
chuckles, his loose capability to do
clothing change into better and worse.
fitting black leather
and his black locks turn a vibrant red. “If we are going
to talk as gods, I suppose it’s better if we look as gods as
well, don’t you think?”
“Very well,” says the elder god. Shadows rush from
the room’s corners and engulfs them whole.
46
The ominous things soon wrap themselves around
the elder god like a fitting cloak. His young face is soon
etched with lines and wrinkles as it pales with every
passing second. The only thing that does not change is
his unwavering smile.
“Is this to your liking, young god?” he asks
mirthfully, but his disposition changes when he notices
the trickster’s sobriety. “Is anything bothering you?”
“Does it not pain you when people assume that
you’re evil just because you associate yourself with the
dead and darkness?”
“I never would have taken you for someone who
cares about the opinions of others.”
“What are we really, Hades?” The Norse god asks
solemnly. “Are we really gods or are we just creatures
born from paper and ink with lives and wills not of
our own?”
“Isn’t that a bit too philosophical for you?”
“I just do not want… to be the monster those tales
want me to be.” The trickster sighs. “I do not want to be
remembered by those monstrous deeds. I’m sure you
understand what I’m trying to convey.”
Hades’ very pale eyes gaze at the defeated stance
the trickster is showing. He gives way to a heavy breath
before he starts to explain.
“The people have always feared things they do not
comprehend, not knowing that they fear an entirely
different matter. Sometimes, out of fear, people twist
those mysterious, incomprehensible things, as if they
are things to be afraid of, when in reality, they should be
accepted with opened arms.
“You can say that everyone will always look for a
47
 handful of villains from their viewpoint, overlooking
the fact that everyone—and I mean everyone—has the Charlotte and Sarah
capability to do better and worse.” by Aviana Baladad
“Such wise words for an old man,” the Norse god
jests, hinting the return of his playful nature.
They were beautiful, yes.
“You still have a lot to learn, child,” the Greek quips. Two sisters everyone seemed to love.
With that, the trickster’s smirk disappears. They had it all—the looks,
“Can you please take care of her? Of Hel, I mean The charm, the confidence.
They flirted and crushed
since she is....”
Those young men who,
“There is no need to ask, Loki,” he kindly interrupts. Valiantly
“I have been watching over her ever since she came Tried to conquer them.
into her own. Besides, we death gods must look after Those young heroes—
Nothing but playthings to them
one another.”
“Thank you, Hades. I am forever in your debt.” They were beautiful, yes.
“There is no need for you to say that. Besides, Two sisters everyone feared.
honesty is not in your character.” Thunder and lightning were all
That reigned in their hearts
Vibrant red hair unexpectedly returns to its
Their minds clouded by thoughts
former dark glory as the black clothes transform into of destruction—
loose casual wear. The darkness ripples away until Compulsion.
the economical atmosphere of the café resurfaces
Those little boys never had a chance
once again.
When they would turn their sights on them.
Green eyes look at the window for a final time and
notice the bright linings of the sky. “The rain must have
stopped pouring while we were talking. I guess I better
go then. See you around, Des– I mean Sir Desmarinas.”
The student wonders about her strange slip as
she leaves.
“See you in class, Miss Kilos.” The death god’s teacher
persona speaks for him. Once his student disappears
from sight, he looks skyward with the younger god’s
unanswered question lingering in his mind.

*Based on the story of Charybdis and Scylla

48
 Bathala the lonely
by Motzie Dapul
B athala had a wife, once. Like a consort,
sort of, but he loved her. So, wife, then. S/he
(hermaphrodite, you know?) was kind. Gentle. Loving.
Ikapati was her name. When Bathala was melancholic,
s/he would warm him and kiss him and play with him,
and he would be happy for a while.
But that didn’t last long.
50
S/he could see he was lonely.
So s/he did something—a little thing; s/he formed
a ball from materials in her garden, and s/he gave it to
him to play with.
With that ball, he created the world. Spattered it with
water, gave it life with his breath. So proud was s/he that
Ikapati placed it in the sky. Bathala’s great achievement.
After that, s/he was gone.
Just... gone.
“At least, that’s how it’s told.”
“Whad’you mean?”
“Only Bathala remembers now.”
“Oh. So what happened next?”
Bathala fought with Amansinaya all the time. He
was Sky, she was Sea, and they were so detached from
each other that it took one disgruntled bird to bring their
realms together.
Amihan wanted rest, so she forced peace—the
infinitesimal, powerful bird that she was. And Bathala
and Amansinaya just went with it.
After that, Amansinaya disappeared. Bathala made
friends with Galang Kaluluwa, but he died.
Bathala felt the loss, but he got used to it.
It was all he could do.
Eventually, the second-generation gods came. Gods
of agriculture, protection, wind and rain, sea and stone,
food and work—they rose up, singing praises to Bathala
and taking responsibility for his people.
And for a while, he wasn’t lonely. Especially
with,  well...
Lakampati was a fertility god/dess; half-and-half,
like Bathala’s wife, and just as kind and gentle. The
people loved him/her for his/her compassion, and so
did Bathala.
51
 But he was Bathala, above them, a god even in their and the moon, the winds and the rain) couldn’t be left
eyes. He knew he’d just scare him/her away. He didn’t grounded. They were too important for that. Meanwhile,
want to lose the warmth s/he showed him. the Earth gods would have to survive on their own.
So he never said a word, and watched as his Ikapati— Luckily, the Earth gods married Earth gods. Sky gods
no, Lakampati—married one of his servants, Mapulon of did the same.
the changing seasons. Except...
She eventually birthed Anagolay, goddess of lost Lakampati had fallen for a god of seasons, and
things, who married Dumakulem, warrior god of the Mapulon loved someone who drew life from earth.
mountains. And they in turn brought the sun into the And they were broken.
world, as well as the goddess of love. They held each other until Bathala pulled them
And in the changing seasons, Bathala watched them, apart. The sorrow touched him more than anyone, but
far from his own happiness. Alone. he was a god. His duties were clear.
“That’s sad.” And so the sky gods lived, untouched, and the Earth
“It is, yeah.” gods... they survived.
“But Bathala—” “And you?” Rick asked.
“Was so human when he decided; He wanted him/ “I pay my way to
her to be happy. No use bringing up all that baggage. Bathala for moments And so the sky gods
Especially when...” with Mapulon, no matter lived, untouched,
The white men came again, first with words of peace, how little,” Lakampati and the earth gods...
then with fires, to burn down villages. sighed, taking a sip of
they survived.
The gods ran, took their people with them, into the her sweetened coffee.
mountains. They should’ve been safe there. “He told you? The bit
Still, they were lost. with Ikapati, I mean.”
Their people turned to the new men and their God. “Just so I’d know, he said. Why he was doing this.
Those who remained faithful were hunted down. The Because he loved me. Because he couldn’t stand to see
gods couldn’t let their people suffer like that. me wither away. I’d... gone through enough time, enough
So Bathala, for the first time since his peace with war, to take the news standing.”
Amansinaya, took the sky and parted ways with the Lakampati paused, taking in the café’s white noise.
Earth (once upon a time, the sky was so close you could “Now I do Bathala’s jobs on earth: making heroes,
touch the clouds, and the gods of the Earth and the gods helping good people, taking care of his land. In
of the sky could consort freely). He pulled it so high that exchange, I get to see Mapulon.”
it could not be touched. “And Bathala?”
But you can’t win ‘em all. Not even if you’re a He’s alone, Lakampati didn’t say. He’ll always
supreme god. be alone.
The Earth gods couldn’t mount the sky. Friends and
family were separated. Sky gods (seasons, stars, the sun
52 53
 If only the sun We were kids back then; Persephone knew less
She’s a really pretty girl that wouldn’t make a mess
But we grew and the world grew colder

had shone earlier And Hades came to take the rest of her.

It was a dark rainy afternoon that had the best of me

by Pauline Hermoso We played hide n’ seek, thinking she couldn’t find me
Time passed; days came by
Never knew she’d leave without saying goodbye

Grasping now these cold metal bars

Looking on what’s left of my battle scars
Remembering how he wanted her
And how his eyes would always make me shiver

She came back after a couple of days

Lost in her own eyes; lost in her own ways
He promised her so many things she wanted to decline
He promised that this world would be fine.

Now the seasons change and war came between men

Never did my heart ever try to soften
After all those pathetic and selfish lies
Everyone now prefers to be in disguise.

From the painful heat when summer breaks

To the lonesome cold when winter wakes
Have I not done enough to make her clean?
All of these orange leaves, what do they mean?

As I sit still by this empty cell

The chambers of my heart become empty as well
How could the gods have let this happen?
How could we wage war with our fellow countrymen?

Looking back at those days that had made me sing

Memories of this old broken city She was always happy when it was spring
Bits and pieces of how it used to be Maybe I have to forgive and forget, or maybe regret later
Here I sit by the same old corner But this world wouldn’t have been wrecked if the sun
Where he had a chance to break her. had shone earlier.

54 55
 Issues of consent
by Motzie Dapul
H E DREAMS OF PEACE, a soft breeze drifting over
the mountaintop. He dreams of sheep, and of his
faithful hounds barking in the distance as his tutors
come to visit him. He is but young as the shadow of an
eagle overtakes him, even as he runs as fast as he can.
There is no escape for him, not that it matters. After all,
who would be foolish enough to refuse a god?
56
“Cassandra. That’s who. And look how she turned
out. Bag of cats. Couldn’t shake the crazy even if
she tried.”
“Thank you, Eros, that’s very helpful.”
Eros, infuriatingly sweet-faced with a touch of
mischief in his dimpled smile, giggled—yes, giggled—over
his coffee.
“You look older,” he observed.
“Cold turkey. I haven’t had ambrosia in years,”
Ganymede said. “Not that it matters. I think the shit’s
my blood.”
“In your blood?” Eros asked.
“No. Is my blood. Ever since I stopped drinking the
stuff, I’ve been piling up the mortal injuries. I bleed
gold. Gold, Eros. You know how I explained that to my
last ex?”
“Oh, do tell.”
“I didn’t. He was so tired he thought he was
dreaming. I ran. Packed my bags and ran before he could
ask questions.” Ganymede sighed miserably. “I liked him.
He was nice. A bit on the eccentric side, but nice.”
“What about now? You’re dating that cop, aren’t
you?” Eros asked, leaning precariously on the hind legs
of his chair.
“You know very well I’m dating that cop,” Ganymede
said, pointing an accusing spoon at Eros’ chest, “you
manipulative little SOB.”
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t bring my mother into this,”
Eros said warningly. “And don’t think I don’t see it. He
makes you happy. And you make him happy, but don’t
ask me how that part works. I’m baffled by anyone who
lasts with you for more than a week, especially with the
new wrinkles.”
57
 “I like the wrinkles,” Ganymede said. “I was sick glorify a rapist/murderer/life-ruiner who got his rocks
and tired of being forever 13. I wear 21 pretty well, don’t off on little boys.
you  think?” It took his students about 15 minutes to realize he
“Certainly less jail-baity,” said Eros. “At least no was talking about Zeus.
more big man gods will be tempted to kidnap you, “Ganymede was a young prince, the son of Tros
Mister Hunter.” of Dardania, brother of Ilus—founder of Ilium, or Troy,
“I’d drink to that if I had any alcohol,” Ganymede as you know it—and Assaracus, who inherited the
said, raising a coffee cup Dardanian throne. He was a young boy when he went up
good-humoredly. With one It was a different to the mountains to fulfill his coming-of-age duties. He
wave of a plump little hand, time, then. No was waiting for a visit from his tutors, who would bring
Eros turned his milky mix statutory rape, no his favorite hunting dogs, when it happened.”
of coffee into the highest court to appeal A dramatic pause had people looking up from their
quality of wine. notes. Professor Hunter looked wistful.
to when a god
And with his own goblet “He was taken by Zeus, who was... pleased with him.
of wine, the god raised
kidnaps you. Carried off, away from his loved ones, to live with the
a toast to the immortal gods on Olympus. To be loved by all but abhorred by
human and his newfound freedom. Hera, Zeus’ wife, for replacing her daughter as Zeus’
-- cupbearer, replacing her in Zeus’ affections. Can you
Mythology Studies was 10 times more interesting imagine?” George laughed bitterly. “A goddess, jealous of
with George Hunter, also known as Mister Couldn’t-Be- a 12 year old boy. At least, we can assume he was 12,” he
Older-Than-20-So-What-Was-He-Doing-Teaching- amended quickly.
College-Students-How-Many-Years-Older-Than-Him. “FYI, cupbearer wasn’t all he was,” George continued.
He was gorgeous, a living Greek statue, with baby- “It was a different time, then. No statutory rape, no court
blue eyes and gold (not yellow, not blonde, but gold) hair to appeal to when a god kidnaps you. Tros grieved for
curling perfectly around his face. him, but Zeus compensated him with horses. Horses for
But despite the youth in his face and the beauty his son.” He stopped, his hand clenched on the table.
that came with it, his eyes were old, older than anyone’s “His dogs cried for him. They died eventually, as he
eyes had any right to be. An old soul trapped in a pretty watched from the sky. So did his family.”
young body, and people had come to respect that He turned to his class, slowly.
about him. “Gods are made for immortality. But a 12 year old,
Even when Clash of the Titans came out and he spent living forever? Beautiful forever? What do you think was
most of the lesson ranting about how films loved to going through his mind right then?”

58 59
 All is fair
in love and war
by Melanie Irene Tagama
Is it fair? Is it not fair?
To do what it takes to get your share
Your wants, your needs, your drive
The reason for you to stay alive…
When you’re in love, you do stupid things,
Things caused by obsession and jealousy
A love that makes your heart sting,
For a deity of immortality or immorality…
60
Medusa—given injustice for lust
Whoever looks at her turns from stone to dust,
Makes a common fool like me wonder:
“What did Poseidon see in her?”
Athena made Perseus cut off her head
Was Athena that jealous of her?
Or did she just not want to be over-headed
By a Gorgon so different from her sisters?
Hades—the most fearful god of mankind
The only god who took what souls he could find
A lonely god in need of a muse in his dark kingdom
With Persephone, he didn’t care about freedom…
Persephone was blinded by Hades to stay
The goddess who regretted his proposal that day
Is now turning spring into summer, fall into winter;
Nagging he who made her like this forever.
Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades just want for their own
That place which they claim for themselves, called “The Throne”
Drew lots and Zeus hit the jackpot
Made Hades the god of rot…
Zeus—the ancient womanizer of mythology,
From first wife: Hera; to his last wife: Semele…
Athena never had an offspring, became the ancient single lady
Too bad for all the suitors who want to have her baby…
Is love hard to find? Or is it just blind?
Is war the answer to every task at hand?
Are the gods and goddesses immoral to mankind?
To be honest, I don’t know, so I don’t understand.
They exist among us today in our modern-day drama
But I fear those who’ll read this and come out with trauma.
It does start to make common folk like me wonder:
“Is ‘all is fair in love and war’ real? Does it matter?”
61
 So Odin walks into a bar
by Ko Hwe-Jeong
T here are fifteen paces between
the counter and the door, he’s fourteen
paces away.
It’s all very surprising, really.
Okay, not really.
I expected him to show up at my bar
sometime. Got a hint from my son, Fenrir, about
a couple of talking birds following me around. I
mean—the fact that he’s dressed like a hobo...
62
Seriously?
You’re gonna try that on me? Me?
Sure, it worked on at least two of his sons
and that one giant (some wise being he was), but
he doesn’t really think I’m gonna fall for that,
does  he?
Norns help me.
“Sorry, we’re closed for inventory. You can
come back tomorrow.”
Or never. Never sounds good.
He’s still here isn’t he?
Well let’s get this over with then.
“I can’t say I expected to find you working at a
place like this.”
Is he trying to sound dramatic? Oh wait.
Aww, that big oaf knew I could see through him
all  along?
He’s here to kill me. Yeah, that’s probably why
he came in, even though the sign said ‘closed.’
“Well you know me. I’m all about fun. And
what’s more fun than watching a drunk idiot go
on a rampage?”
Let me answer that for you: tying the said idiot
up with his own son’s entrails while a snake drips
venom onto his face, that’s what. He at least looks
guilty. I think he does. Okay look, the lights are
dim on purpose, it contributes to the atmosphere.
He takes a seat at the bar.
That should not freak me out as much as it
does. It really shouldn’t. I mean, he’s obviously
not here to kill me. If he did, I’d go to Helheim,
assemble an army, and woohoo! Ragnarok. This
guy threw his eye into a well to postpone Doom,
not start it.
63
 Either way, I’ve got protective runes carved into key me at Ægir’s, making a fool of myself. Confessing to a
places (you wouldn’t believe how often they come in murder you planned to keep your shining son of light
handy) around this fine establishment, and maybe this safe. Finally, there was a reason to keep me out of the
guy hung himself from a tree to learn the runes, but I way and prevent Ragnarok, right, Brother?”
had help from Freyja. Freyja. I should call her. If she’s not “You took things too far!”
still mad about that time at Ægir’s, that is. “Don’t you talk about taking things too goddamned
I’m fixing him a mug of ale when he asks the far! I can accept that you’re afraid of Angrboda’s
stupidest question ever. children, I can accept that you’d want to lock me up as
“How are the long as you can, but what you did to Narfi and Vali… I left
kids, Brother?” You once swore, Odin, Sigyn because of that. Sigyn, who stood by me when no
No. Hell no. I‘m that you wouldn’t one else did. I left her because I was afraid for her.”
going to kill him. drink without me. Well That should get the point across.
“Which ones? here’s to one last drink, He still believes he was justified in what he did, I
The ones you because the next time can  tell.
banished for being But now, he thinks I think I was too.
we meet, the sun will
mine? I don’t think He’s not going to be bothering me or Hel or Fenrir
you’d have to ask
grow black and the or Jormungandr for a while. But just to really get the
about Sleipnir.” earth will sink. point across…
I’m not going “You once swore, Odin, that you wouldn’t drink
to kill him. That would be counterproductive. I can without me. Well here’s to one last drink, because the
do better. next time we meet, the sun will grow black and the earth
“You had no right to take them, Brother—“ will sink.”
“Don’t call me brother! I would drain every drop of Because what this guy can’t seem to get through his
blood from my body before I let you call me that again! thick skull is that I don’t want Ragnarok anymore than
Why the hell would I want to go back to being your he does. And well… desperate times right?
scapegoat? Would you even let me come back? Are you He drinks without a word and leaves without
here to put me back in that cave, brother? I’m going turning back.
to be the literal death of you, right? The hag says so The jerk didn’t even leave a tip.
after all!”
“Brot— Loki…”
My throat hurts from yelling. Really, just yelling.
“But oh, it must’ve been such a relief for you to see

64 65
 Morpheus’ shop
by Jan Sabado
“I’m sorry; I won’t be able to
provide you with the pills,
But I think I could provide you
with an alternate thrill.
For now it’s free. It won’t cost
you a thing.
Why don’t you take a sample of
my dream?”
66
Murphy
by Gianina Martinez
A
ccompanied by a tune from the 60s, he walks
down the hall to the room of his last customer
for the day. It’s Tuesday—no, Wednesday 3:00 a.m. to
be precise as he opens the door. No locked door for
him, ever.
He inspects the dark room, faintly lit by the
exhausted laptop at the corner near the door. He looks
down at the floor under the clothes lying around like
skin discarded by a snake. Books and notebooks are
tossed here and there, as if vomited from a twister
while pens and pencils are sticking up like daggers,
threatening the feet of anyone who was foolish enough
to cross them. Past all that is a bed, on which a bundle of
bedsheets move slowly up and down, accompanied by a
deep, soft snore.
When the man knows that the coast is clear, he steps
into the room without care. “Allow me to introduce
myself,” he says as he touches his right hand to his chest
in greeting. “My name is Murphy Godlock. I am the
bringer of misfortune, the luck never wanted.”
“You see, Destiny has many devices, some older
than others, and,” he grunts, “some younger, which
67
 would be me.” He takes a look around the room and spots the
alarm clock by the bedside. He reaches out and starts to fiddle
with the clock’s hands. “Don’t mind me. Your clock’s running
out of battery. I’m just helping to point it out.”
He puts the clock back in its place and pats the dust away
from the subdued orange of his suit. “Now, where was I?” he
ponders as he pushes the sleeping man’s papers aside to sit
on the table. “I come around when people, such as you, least
expect it. I’m not quite sure with my siblings though. They have
their own timing.”
“But let’s talk about my job; I think that’s pretty much
obvious as it is. I’ll have you know that misfortune is
sometimes your fault. Sometimes it’s for a different reason, but
mostly, because it’s your fault. I just pretty much point it out
for you.”
He shrugs as he closes the laptop with the files unsaved. “If
you didn’t leave any loose threads
for me, I will not be compelled to
If you didn’t leave
pull them.” any loose threads
“But,” he chuckles, “much to to me for me to
your misfortune, you have so many.” pull, I would not
He stands up, stretches his arms and be compelled to

The untold story of the

yawns. “You make it too easy.”
pull them.
He makes his way towards the
door. “Today will be a trying day for you, but hear this—” He
pauses for a heartbeat or two. “Do not think ill of me. Blame no
one. Maybe my sister, Lady Luck, will show you your way. She
always did like puppy stories.”
goddess of the Underworld
He smirks as he opens the door. “And maybe my brother by Jemmarie Bocalbos
Serendipity will put in an appearance.”
He steps out of the room, and starts to sing, the lyrics
echoing softly in the hallway.
“Non, rien de rien. Non, je ne regrette rien. Ni le bien qu’on m’a
fait, ni le mal tout ca m’est bien egal...” I
n NifLheim, the cold flames burned and
silent moans could be heard.

68 69
 A goddess sat on her throne as she looked at
a crystal sitting atop her hand. She was a feared
goddess, for she ruled the Underworld with an iron
fist. Not a single spirit could escape her.
Her long hair curled elegantly. Her ruby eyes were
glued intently on the figure as it changed form. She
watched him as he changed. No matter what form he
took, for her, he was always the same.
The fact will never change that he who had given
her life had also taken her heart.
He continued to walk the earth—something she
loathed. For as long as he lived, he could never be
with her, she who was fated to watch over the dead,
she who could never leave this place.
He had done wrong,
and she awaited his
The fact will never
arrival patiently. Odin change that he
had ordered his death who had given her
as compensation, in life had also taken
exchange for the life he her heart.
took from Baldur, but
he was indeed clever, and always managed to escape
her grasp.
Her eyes stared at his form. No matter which one
he took, he could never escape her, for her black heart
would find him.
Their invisible connection.
He opened his eyes and looked at the form
above him. She had fierce eyes, and reminded him of
someone who’d saved him once, long ago. It was for
this reason that he didn’t fear for his life, though she
took the form of an executioner. A look of hesitation
crossed her eyes and she finally brought her hands
down, releasing the blade. She looked down, closed
70
her eyes, and then stood up and walked away.
He stood up and followed her, grasping her arms
before she could take a step further.
“Let go before I change my mind.” Her tone
was cold.
He loosened his grasp, but he kept his hold on her.
“No,” he replied
She finally turned around and faced him.
“So would you rather die?” She said, her voice
coated in venom as she took out another blade from
her coat.
He shook his head and looked her straight in
the eye.
He saw her look soften for an instant before
becoming cold once again. His mind raced to grasp
what role she had in his life, but there was noth-
ing there.
Only darkness.
She, too, looked at him and confirmed that he’d
lost all his memories. He might have been the same
soul, but he wasn’t the same mind, the same person.
It would be unfair to take his life. She felt the pang as
if a thousand blades had stabbed her heart. He didn’t
remember her.
There was no strong connection, at least, not for
him. She was the only one who ever felt that way.
She heaved a sigh as she shook her arm away from
his grip.
For her, their invisible connection would always
remain. She would see him again, that was for sure,
for though she was greedy, she was also patient.
She would have him. She would have him, and in
that time, he would have no choice.
71
 The villain song And Loki. Yes, and Loki
the brother, Odin’s kin
by Motzie Dapul While Odin lied and Thor destroyed
What then was Loki’s sin?

I wonder what it’s like to love For all the good he’d done for them
the villains of the show. The lives he’d saved, the gods
You root for heroes, strong and swift Were all too quick to have him bound
What do you really know? and suffering (those sods).

So Zeus is said to be the god And Izanami, loving wife

Of skies and glory, well, She died to birth her child,
and Hades gets the shorter stick And now she’s seen as rotting dark
The Underworld (not hell). For death and nature wild.

But Zeus, the good god? Rapist. And what of Lillith, often known
Not once but many times. As Adam’s first, strong wife?
And Hades gets the flack for one Because she stood for her own rights
of Zeus’ hundred crimes. She was condemned for life.

They called her demon mother

A lustful, evil soul
For being strong and right and true
And breaking from her role.

Demons, evils, monsters, foes

These labels were made known
But for what more than their own rights?
The seeds of lies were sown.

Now think for one more moment

And ponder on these truths
Why blame the gods of darkness
When “good” gods have no ruth?

So look again and wonder,

And question, as the one
Who knows to look in deeper
than what myths say were done.

72 73

A nd then there were people.
People came with existence,
in the time no one remembers.
But the people wanted to
remember, so from them came
the stories.
Prisoner
by Tonichi Acenas
Down in the pits of Tartarus,
there she lay.
A broken spectacle
yet, an iridescent face,
she stifles a cry
and cascades a silver tear.
All the odds are suspended
in the atmosphere
where the sound escapes
and no one actually hears.
What a tragedy
of an infinite existence
they never could defend.
What a conniving
twist of fates
to punish without an end.
If only to break
her shadows and chains
—and I know it sounds absurd—
but I would gladly sell my life, my heart
and my soul to the Underworld.

Ex-mythology
by Raphael Bulaong
“S o, are you going to tell me about it or not?”
Sarah drew a long breath. The straightforward
question caught her off guard. She thought they would
dance around the subject for a while, maybe talk
after a few glasses, but she supposed it had to come
out sometime. She lowered her head and her eyes
took refuge in her knees, trying to hide from Tina’s
patient gaze.
 After what seemed like an eternity, she managed to
look up and her eyes met the goading and concerned
face of her inquisitor.  tighter, as if its existence depended on her soft warm
76
“It’s hard to explain. I’m not even sure what
happened,” Sarah said as she took a sip of the cheap red
wine. Her hands held her glass protectively.
“It’s okay sweetie, I understand. It would be a lot
easier if you tell me everything from the start.”
“It happened too fast... I do-”
“You bet it’s all too fast! You caught us all by surprise.
Nobody saw this coming. I’ll admit even I didn’t see
this coming,” Tina burst out before Sarah finished
her sentence.
“I don’t know…” Sarah looked down once more.
“Is it serious? Or serious-serious?”
“I’m not sure, really.”
“Have you talked about it with anyone else?”
“No, of course not… I don’t want to go over it with
everybody anyway.”
“I’m glad you came to me first, Sarah.”
“That makes one of us.”
“Oh, stop it! You know talking about it will make you
feel better.”
“I don’t even know where to begin.”
“Well in that case, tell me how it ended.”
“I can’t… it’s just…”
“Just?”
“I’m not sure if I’m ready for this, Tin.”
“Then why the hell did you ask me to come here?
You think I like to down alcohol in my free time?”
“Don’t be mad, please. I’m tired of all this shouting
and fighting. I just want… to clear my head. I just needed
someone to talk to….”
Sarah stooped lower, hands clasping her glass
77
 touch. She looked outside the window to her right.
Outside, the people were going on with their lives. The
students walked to their classes. The jeepney drivers
hustled the streets for passengers. The pedicab boys
wading through traffic like rats in a sewer. All of them,
Sarah thought to herself, oblivious to her presence.
“I wasn’t angry,” Tina said in a low voice, “you need
someone to talk to and that’s why I’m here, right?” And
almost on cue, she held Sarah’s hand in hers and gave it
a squeeze.
Roused from her reverie, Sarah felt the icy hand
resting on hers and took comfort in the friend who was
sitting right in front of
her. She was still looking The reasons, mistakes,
through the window and apologies were
when her mouth started chosen meticulously
to open.
as she left out a detail
“We... I... I wasn’t
happy. And I haven’t
or two. It wasn’t her
been for a very fault after all.
long time...”
She stammered at first. But as she went deeper into
her story, her choice of words became more careful and
cautious. The reasons, mistakes, and apologies were
chosen meticulously as she left out a detail or two. It
wasn’t her fault after all. She could only tell what she
knew, and what Tina had to know. As she spoke, she felt
this odd feeling passing over her. As if everything else
didn’t matter and the past gossiped with the present
about the future. Sarah felt so sure and confused at the
same time. Then she stopped talking.
When she looked back and faced Tina, she saw that
78
her hands, which had held hers a while ago, were busy,
thumbs thrashing a BlackBerry.
“I have to go, now sweetie,” Tina said without
glancing up. “I did tell you I have class, right?”
“Yes, but…”
“I can’t cut. I’m way overdue.”
Tina pocketed her phone as she stood up and looked
Sarah in the eye. “You’ll be alright sweetie, forget about
him. You’re better off. Text-text?”
“Thank you, Tin.” Sarah stood up and Tina gave her
a hug.
“I’ll text you, sweetie, okay? I’m running real late. I
really have to go now. Goodbye.”
“Bye.”
Sarah sat back down. As Tina was almost out the
door, Sarah called her.
“Tin! Don’t tell the girls yet, I’ll be the one to
tell them.”
She smiled back and left the restaurant without
saying a word.
Alone, Sarah looked at her glass and mused. How
many times would she have to tell this version of her
story? How many other versions would Tina tell others?
And what would be his story? She took a final sip of
the cheap red wine. None of those questions matter, she
thought. What saddened Sarah is that nobody will get to
hear the true story…
The story they only two know.
79
 Old wives’ tales “Thou shalt not use the Lord’s name in vain,” Mang
Kiko replied nonchalantly as he continued on the
by Iris Trinidad trail, hacking away at the small branches that blocked
their path with a bolo. The sun was starting to vanish
behind the tall trees. In the diminishing light, they tried
desperately to find their way back out of the forest.
“We’re lost, aren’t we?” Josh’s companion, Ram,
asked in worn-out voice. He was heavily set and
trekking the uneven hiking trail had clearly taken a toll
on his hefty body.
“Don’t underestimate me, hijo. I know this forest like
the back of my hand.”
Mang Kiko stopped in his path. Every few feet, he
paused to leave marks on the trees. Using the bolo, he
chipped off some of the bark— markings to ensure
that they would not get lost. But as more time passed,
he noticed that these markings were of no use, having
passed the same Balete tree over and over.
“We shouldn’t have come into the forest today,” he
said as his fears were confirmed. “We’ve been led astray.”
Facing the teenagers, he reached down for the hem of
his shirt, pulled it over his head and turned the garment
inside-out before putting it back on.
“Come on, do as I do,” he said when he looked up to
see the teenagers gaping at him. “It’s the only way we’ll
be able to find our way back.”
“Tanda, you can’t be serious about this” Josh asked
incredulously. “We’re obviously walking in circles and

“M anong, are you sure we’re going the

right way?” Josh, a young man of a tall
slender stature asked. “We’ve been walking around
for ages, for God’s sake!”
the only solution you have is a senseless superstition?”
“I don’t know how things are in Manila, hijo. But here
in the province, youngsters do not call elders, ‘tanda’,”
Mang Kiko said with a glare. “And secondly, those

80 81
 so-called ‘superstitions’ have saved my life more than “I have come here to ask you to release the boys.”
once. Now turn your clothes inside-out. It’s best we get “Now, why would I do that?” The tikbalang slowly
out, before the night comes.” crouched down on his legs and stared down at Amihan,
an amused glint in his eyes.
Rainfall on a clear sky. “Be reasonable, Alegro. Maria would not be pleased
“Tikbalang,” she had warned “A tikbalang has with this,” she said with a pleading tone. “Your tribe, as
gotten married today. It is not wise to interrupt well as the other tribes, agreed to the pact that she had
their celebration.” made with my race.”
But her misgivings were not heard by the two “Hoho, you speak the truth. But you forget one
teenagers. After all, with adolescence came the inevitable thing, Amihan,” the tikbalang snickered. “Only those
daftness of youth. With a little more convincing, they had who honor the pact are protected. Not only have these
persuaded the aged lady to allow them to go for a hike. delinquents disrespected the
It was moments after she watched them disappear day of my union, but they have It did not come
into the trees that she sat behind the front desk of the also desecrated the mountain.”
as a surprise to
inn, wondering if she would ever see those teenagers Amihan looked away from
again. It did not come as a surprise to her when Mang the eyes of the tikbalang. She
her when Mang
Kiko returned the next day alone and weary. knew that it was the truth and Kiko returned the
It was a quarter before the devil’s hour when she left therefore there was nothing she next day, alone
the inn. A candle in hand, the woman walked through the could do. and weary.
darkened woods. In silent haste, she made her way to the “I presume that this is the
heart of the forest, keeping a careful eye on where she end of our little rendezvous. Tread well, Amihan.”
stepped, as she feared disturbing a duwende, a nuno or With that, the tikbalang slowly faded back into the
even worse—an engkanto. After what seemed like hours, darkness. Silently, Amihan nodded in defeat as she
she reached her destination. She stood under the Balete turned around to make her way back to the inn; leaving
and waited. behind the souls of the young men—daft enough not to
“Good evening, Alegro,” she said with a bow. From believe in old wives’ tales.
the darkness emerged a humongous figure; human-
like, with the head and the hind legs of a horse, but a
muscular torso of a man.
“Hello, Amihan. I take it that you did not come here
to congratulate me on my union?”

82 83
 God is dog,
dog si God
by Marty Arnaldo

Isang araw, kinausap ako ng aso ko.

Sabi niya, siya raw si God.
Of course, I didn’t believe at first.
But hey, who am I to disagree with a talking dog?

Mahirap man maintindihan kung bakit

At paano nagawa ng isang aso ang mundong ito,
I guess you just have to take it as it comes.
Plus he was a very good dog, too.

Glass-eyed quests
Ang daldal pala ni God, sobra.
Tinanong ko siya kung isa ba Siyang Anubis or isang Inugami.
He just shrugged and said,
“I am neither.”
by Aviana Baladad
“Ah, ganun ba?
Eh, sino ka ba?”
“Well simply put, I am God.
There is no name that could singularly describe me.”

“Ahhh, eh bakit kami nandito sa mundo, bakit may namamatay,

“S
may nasasaktan? Bakit hindi parating patas ang mundong ito?
hocks reaching nine and above on the Richter scale
Ginawa mo ba kami dahil trip mo lang? Bakit?”
have been recorded in different parts of the world…”
“Well you see,
Bark bark, arf arf.”

At ‘di na siya nagsalitang muli.

84 85
 “…a rare occurrence of earthquakes simultaneously
happening…”
“…recorded alarming movements among major
tectonic plates, greater than any witnessed in the past
century…”
The news reports came fast as the two men stood
on the very top of Mount Everest, which was shaking
enough to loosen boulders the size of cars onto the land
below. The younger one fought to keep his balance even
as he sat, but the older one stood like an anchor locked
into the earth, even as he browsed absently through the
tablet in his hands. His eyes moved like twin blurs as he
sped through articles and video feeds about the tremors
happening at that moment.
This feels like a ride in an amusement park, Carson
thought as a particularly violent shock threatened to
throw him off the summit.
“Why is this all happening?” he asked the man with
the tablet. The older one ignored him, tapping on the
gadget furiously.
“Hermes!”
Hermes finally tore his eyes from the tablet and
looked at Carson. “It’s a tragedy on a scale even the
gods have never seen,” he explained. “Poseidon has lost
something of great value, and he needs a young hero
to retrieve this item from wherever it may be hidden.”
Hermes returned to his iPad.
“He claims it has been stolen.”
Carson frowned. “Stolen? Then shouldn’t you know
where to find it?”
Hermes’ gaze grew hard and Carson flinched. “I may
be the patron of thieves but that does not make me a
walking metal detector. Besides, I highly doubt it has
86
been stolen. Only… misplaced.”
Huh. Okay. So the gods called me for a retrieval
mission. Carson grinned. Awesome.
“What’s the item then?” he asked Hermes.
Hermes tapped on his iPad and brought up a photo.
“This is Poseidon’s most important possession,” he
announced. He handed Carson the tablet.
In the stark white photo was a close up picture of
a glass dish. It was simple in design: clear and smooth,
without any marks or engravings. The dish was so tiny it
rested easily on the tip of Poseidon’s finger.
Carson frowned. He
was passionate about Greek You’re sending me
mythology, but he did not on a quest because
remember coming across a
Poseidon lost his
glass dish as an important
object in Poseidon’s
contact lenses?!
possession. He opened his
mouth to ask Hermes about it when his eye caught a
word printed in the corner of the picture.
Acuvue.
Even the tremors seemed to stop for a second as
Carson gaped at Hermes.
“You’re sending me on a quest because Poseidon lost
his contact lenses?!”
Hermes looked at him crossly. “Do not take it so
lightly, boy! The last time Poseidon lost his spectacles,
the dinosaurs—”
“You’re sending me on a quest for contact lenses,”
Carson repeated, emphasizing the last two words. “It’s
worse than finding a needle in a haystack. You’re asking
me to search the whole world—”
“Including the Underworld,” Hermes interjected.
87
 “Hades has been keeping to himself lately…”
Carson was flabbergasted. “You’re asking me to Ding, ang stone!
cross the Earth and the Underworld looking for a piece ni Dempson Mayuga
of clear plastic?”
Hermes gestured towards the shaking lands. “Do you
not see the state the world is in? If Poseidon continues
to search aimlessly for his lenses, it could very well be
near the end.”
Carson pinched the bridge of his nose. Either
millennia of living had caused the gods’ common sense
to decay, or they were bored and running out of ideas for
heroes’ quests.
“Why on earth can’t you just get a new set from the
optical shop?”
Hermes paused for a moment. “You speak sense,
young hero.”
Carson fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Tell
Poseidon to sit down and stop wrecking the world
while I quest for his lenses. I’ll send them to the sea
god myself.”
Hermes sped away, dropping Carson off in Manila. ‘Nung bata pa ‘ko, mahilig akong maglaro ng super-super powers,
kasama ng aking mga mighty friends.
As he trudged through the damaged city, he wondered
whether being a modern day Greek hero would ever be Tuwing hapon ‘yun, bago ako
like the stories of old. tawagin ni Mama para utusang bumili ng bigas kay Aling Nena
Don’t count on it, he told himself as he picked up an
Ang mga karakters at ang kanilang super powers:
intact pair of Acuvue lenses from a severely damaged
Si Abu, ang power niya ay apoy
optical shop. Si Ann, ang power niya ay kidlat
The tremors had quieted down and people were Si Nene, ang power niya ay ulan
milling about, surveying the wreckage, unknowing Si Bunsoy, ang power niya ay lindol
At siyempre ako,
that they had been saved by a 14 year old boy who had
ang power naman ay hangin
released a small box of plastic lenses into the sea.
Ang saya ng group namin
‘Di man siya pang-Avengers or Transformers,
Kumpletos-rekados naman ang elements

88 89
 Dahil nga sa kahiligan ko sa temang super powers,
Pati ang mga napapanood kong anime na may magic
God. Some assembly
ay napapanaginipan ko na rin
Naging si Cardcaptor Sakura
na ako sa aking panaginip
required
Masaya ‘yun kasi nakakalipad ‘yung baton ko habang
nagfa-flap nang graceful ‘yung wings by Marty Arnaldo

Naging si Sailormoon na rin ako

Alam kong ang gay pero ang saya ng feeling kapag
nagta-transform ‘yung damit mo habang sinasabi mo
ang, “Sa kapangyarihan ng buwan…blah-blah”

At naging si Inuyasha na rin ako

Pero ang weird ‘nun kasi parang nasa world ako ni
Spongebob
Anyway, back to the story, masaya magkaroon ng
super  powers

Pero, hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin ma-gets kung

bakit gumagawa ang tao ng mga kuwentong
wala namang katotohanan
My friend, Joe, and I decided to make a God one day.
Pang-entertain? Siguro It was one of those lazy Saturday afternoons where you feel
Form of art? Pwede like doing nothing in particular so we went over to the mall
Kabaklaan? Chenes
Bought a Create-Your-Own-God kit and merrily went home.
Ewan ko, baka ganun lang talaga It had everything you needed:
Gusto lang talaga nating mga tao ang magkaroon ng A chunk of faith
thrill ang ating buhay-buhay A dash of love
A sprinkle of devotion
Ansayang isiping may super powers ang lahat
Parang world of mutants lang And a bit of time
Pero minsan, And voila! Our very own God.
parang nakakatakot din He didn’t really do much
Except idly watch us as we went about our day
Baka kasi makalimutan natin ang ibig sabihin
ng salitang, “tao” But it was comforting enough just to have him around.
I love my God.

90 91
 Buhay ko’y rainbow
kapag kapiling ang
berde mong mukha
ni JC Jamoralin
H indi ikaw ang bida. Ikaw ‘yung taong ‘pag nasa
crowd ay dadaanan lang ng pan ng camera, saglit
na makikita at makakalimutan na lang ng manonood.
Generic, hindi ka espesyal. Isa kang extra. Tulad ng
karamihan, gusto mo rin mapansin sa pelikulang
pinagbibidihan ng magaganda’t makikisig na artista.
Sa paglalaro ng tadhana, sumikat ka nga. Ikaw ay
pinagkaguluhan at pinanood ng lahat—‘yun nga lang,
iba ang role mo—at ang part two ng pelikula mo ay
habambuhay sa selda.
92
“May shooting daw sa labas ah? ‘Yung Buhay Ko’y
Rainbow Kapag Kapiling Ang Berde Mong Mukha,” ito ang
bungad ng nanay ni Mac-Mac sa kaniya sabay salo sa
kaniyang pag-aalmusal. ‘Di makapaniwala si Mac-Mac
habang hinihimay niya ang tuyo at kamatis nilang ulam.
Ang Buhay Ko’y Rainbow Kapag Kapiling Ang Berde
Mong Mukha ay isang remake na teleserye na hango
sa You Make My World So Warm, isang Indianong
nobelang-musical na tungkol sa pag-iibigan ng
isang lalaki at babaeng nagiging halaman kapag
naaarawan. Pinagbibidahan ito ng action star na si
Dingdong  Gutierrez.
Si Dingdong Gutierrez ang pinaka-idolo ni Mac-Mac
sa showbiz. Pumupunta pa siya sa bahay ng kaibigan
niyang si Kelvin tuwing Biyernes ng gabi para lang
manood ng teleserye ni Dingdong sa TV7.
“Len-Len! Nasan si Dingdong?”
“Ewan! Tapos na ang shooting, Kuya!” sagot ni
Len Len.
Tumakbo si Mac-Mac upang habulin ang shooting ng
kaniyang paboritong artista. Pagdating niya sa eskinita
kung saan naganap ang shoot, pauwi na ang mga tao.
Nakita niya si Kelvin, abot tenga ang ngiti niya nang
ipakita niya kay Mac-Mac ang autograph ni Dingdong
sa sombrero niya. “Paano ba yan, pre? Nahuli ka. Tara,
DOTA na lang?” Dismayado si Mac-Mac dahil hindi
niya inabutan si Dingdong. Ngunit pinalakas ni Kelvin
ang loob ng kaibigan nang sabihin niyang babalik daw
muli ang cast nila para sa reshoot. Hindi raw natuloy
ang shooting kanina kasi nanakawan sila ng cable.
Nabuhayan ng loob si Mac-Mac kaya inaya niya si
Kelvin na tumambay sa internet shop.
93
 “Kumusta? Anong itsura ni Dingdong Gutierrez?” galing sa halos nawasak na utak ni Kelvin. Pumipiltik
tanong ni Mac-Mac habang naglalakad papuntang ang katawan ni Kelvin na parang inatake ng epilepsy
internet shop at hinihimas ang autograph ni Dingdong sa habang tumatalsik ang mga laman na parang kinilaw.
sombrero ni Kelvin. Bumagal ang mga nangyayari sa paningin ni Mac-Mac,
“Nakakabakla ang kagwapuhan niya!” sagot ng ang matalik niyang kaibigan, ang taong nagpakilala sa
overwhelmed na si Kelvin. Binigay niya na rin ang kanya sa kaniyang idolo, ang taong nagbukas ng pintuan
sombrero kay Mac-Mac sapagkat alam niyang sobrang niya sa mundo ng Internet, kinitilan niya ng buhay.
idolo niya ‘to. Ngiting-ngiti naman si Mac-Mac na na- Sa maliit na eskinita lang umikot ang buhay ni
deform ang bigote niyang hindi pa niya inaahit mula Mac-Mac, bahay
noong kaniyang puberty stage. nila, at ang Internet Sa maliit na eskinita
Bumalik na nga ang cast ng Buhay Ko’y shop na madalas
lang umikot ang
Rainbow Kapag Kapiling Ang Berde Mong Mukha. niyang pagtambayan
buhay ni Mac-Mac,
Ilang araw ding ‘di nakatulog si Mac-Mac para sa kasama ang matalik na
araw na ito—pagkakataon niya nang matupad ang kaibigan na si Kelvin.
bahay nila, at ang
kaniyang pangarap. Isang binatang tambay Internet shop na
Tumatawag na ang baklang naka-megaphone. si Mac-Mac, graduate madalas niyang
Kailangan daw nila ng 50 kataong extra para sa ng Computer Science pagkatambayan
shooting. Tutunganga lang daw sila sa camera habang sa isang di kilalang
nakikipagsuntukan si Dingdong sa robot. Narinig ni Mac- eskwelahan, tatlong taon na ang nakalipas.
Mac kaya madali siyang magbihis. Ngayon niya lang Ito lang lagi ang kinukwento ni Mac-Mac sa mga
ulit susuotin ang damit na sinuot niya nung prom night kasamahan niya sa rehas. Pinapanood nila ang Buhay
nila nung high school. Sakto pa rin sa kaniya sapagkat Ko’y Rainbow Kapag Kapiling Ang Berde Mong Mukha sa
‘di naman gaanong nagbago ang pangangatawan niya, maliit na telebisyon ng masungit na guwardiya sa labas
medyo kupas na nga lang sa kalumaan. ng selda. Hindi na nga sinama yung scene ng paglalaban
Pagdating niya sa eskinita ay marami nang tao. ni Dingdong sa robot na sumasayaw. Tapos na ang
Sumigaw si Kelvin at sinabi sa kaniyang, “Pare! 50 na exposure ni Mac-Mac sa totoong buhay. Laos na siya.
kami! Ang bagal mo eh!” Gumuho ang mundo ni Mac- Habang buhay na rin siyang makukulong.
Mac. Sa sobrang inggit niya ay ‘di nakapagpigil, pumulot
siya ng malaking bato sa at hinagis nang malakas kay
Kelvin habang pinapalakpakan ang sumasayaw na robot.
Nagkagulo ang mga tao, kumalat ang dugo sa eskinita

94 95
 Kwentong kutsero
ni Pat Arafol

Halika dito, maupo ka

Samahan mo muna ako saglit
Dito ka sa tabi ko
Kornik oh, gusto mo?
Adventure down under
Galing Ilocos yan, garlic and cheese by Jimdrix Diaz
Mahaba-habang kuwentuhan ‘to
Pagtiyagaan mo na lang ‘yung mga kwento ko
Medyo cheesy ito.

Naalala mo nu’ng…
S ilence always greets me every time I pass
through the corridors. It’s not absolute, punctuated
by the murmurs of people who look at me with disgust.
Oo, ‘yung…
Tapos pumunta tayo sa… It started from my first day so I kind of got used to it. I
Nakita natin yung… just remember that I was given the grant to study here,
Kumain tayo ng…
not to please these people. Or sometimes when I’m not
Naglakad tayo sa…
Nakakatawang part ‘yung… in the mood to be kind, I think that maybe they’re just
Ang ‘di ko talaga malimutan eh yung… jealous that I don’t have to pay for my education.
Tapos…
Hay.

96 97
 Our school is a bit strange because it only allows one
scholar at a time. I got the scholarship from a series of
tests that includes an item on the salary of my parent.
My family, which consists of my mom and I, lives in a
small apartment just beside the campus, and her income
only covers our food, rent, and bills. Sometimes she
gets to save little cash for birthdays and holidays. But
basically, we’re not rich and right now, I’m that only
scholar in an exclusive coed school where all the rich
kids study.
Remember not to
A part of our English
lesson is Mythology.
completely believe
I got so into it that I your history books,
drowned myself in because the people
books about it in the who wrote those never
library after class. actually fought in the
Hades fascinates me
wars they wrote about.
a lot; I don’t know
why, but maybe it’s because sometimes I wish I had his
helm of darkness so I could pass through the corridors
unnoticed. I’m so hooked that I imagine myself being the
lord of the Underworld, making use of the powers I’ve
been granted.
I stand inside an extremely huge cave, stalactites
jutting from the ceiling. I find myself situated in a field
of high grass. In front of me, I see an entrance gate
with queue lines, like in amusement park rides, with
no one lining up. To my right is a hill, on top of which
is a village, though I can’t see much from this distance.
98
It looks pleasant compared to everything else. There is
a cliff far to my left and I swear I can hear screams of
pain and anger as I look there. I turn around, and about
a hundred feet away is a huge gloomy castle. The castle
intrigues me, so I go in its direction. I push open the cold
steel doors and I see a man sitting on a throne at the
far end of the room. His pale skin glows in the darkness
and his black eyes look directly into mine. I’m not even
scared, though I know he’s meant to be frightening.
Slowly, I walk up to him and say “Hey… nice… place you
have.” I don’t know why I said that.
“Well, thank you,” he replies.
“Why exactly am I here?”
“How should I know? Mortals do not often visit my
lair, so I just welcome every guest.”
“What do you mean?”
“You really have no clue where you are?”
“Uh, nope.”
“You’re in the Underworld, for god’s sakes!”
“Wait, what?” Then I realize, “So you’re Hades?”
“You got that right, kid.”
“Wow! You look so… young and contented.”
“Well, you know. Sometimes, you just have to let
people think what they think of you. It helps you become
a better person... or immortal, in my case.”
“I knew it! I knew you weren’t as bad as they said
you were!”
“Stories,” Hades sighs. “They change context as they
change hands. Remember not to completely believe
99
 your history books, because the people who wrote them On that certain trip
during the night
never actually fought in the wars they wrote about. Just
like in Mythology; the stories are dreadfully different
from the actual events.”
“Right… Wait, you’re saying Mythology, so you’re
by Martin Diegor
not real?”
“I can’t say. But I can say that I am in your mind, and
that is real.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Don’t worry. You will.”
As soon as he finished, a cold wind rushed through
my entire body, and I sat up straight, breathing heavily.
I open my eyes and realize my little adventure was just
a dream. I look to my right and see my mother busy
having her own adventure in her dreams. Then I look to
my left and see something that was not there before I
went to sleep. It’s a black bonnet with a note that says:
You can hide from others,
But you cannot hide from yourself.
-H
I woke up on a journey to nowhere,
I wear the bonnet and look down to my body that is As the road snaked upon a mountainside.
not visible anymore. The sea was black, the night blacker,
And the asphalt lay, barely seen upon the moonlight.
I looked up and the heavens parted
Where constellations danced before valkyries,
The silence of their songs moving
To the rhythm of the borealis.
Awe was an understatement when Spica did a twirl,
Her silver dust showering the horizon.
She deserved an ovation and I asked for an encore.
But at that point, morning came
With the sirens humming their chorus,
While a chariot brought upon the golden sun.
I was lulled back to slumber with light too bright for morning eyes
And all I can think about is if this whispered soliloquy
Will be heard by the person sitting next to me.

100 101

A t the end of all things,
there will be no one to
remember. The people will be
gone, together with the gods,
and the stories. Only then will
the things with no name return,
for a little while, until existence
itself is gone. And that is the
end, the end of all things.
If only for a little while.
The boatman
by Tonichi Acenas
All aboard the inevitable
on an endless sea of pain
through chartered waters
that block the borders
between those who are
and those who crawl
in the menace of the dark.
Less than a captain
and more of a phantom in disguise
a golden coin should be enough
then again, what could possibly pay
for making a living from the dead?
The flags are all set
and the skies are dim
perfect weather for a sail.
I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen
but there’s no more room
on this boat of forsaken dreams.
103
The plan Green day
by Angelo Oyardo ni Dempson Mayuga

“Hey.:
“Yeah?”
“So the plan?”
“Yes, the plan—what plan?”
“You forgot again?”
“Ohhhh. That plan.”
“Yeah. That plan. We’ve been prevaricating
on it for too long, you know.”
“Really? Didn’t you promise that you’d
never do it again? Remember the rainbow?”
“Of bloody course I remember the rainbow;
but they’re just so—”
“So— ?”
“So unworthy. And I’m bored with them.
Look at the planet—look at what they did to
the planet! ”
“For Christ’s sake.”
“Plus, we told the Mayans that we’d kill
them this year.”
“So? We’ve been lying to them ever since

you created them out of your own image.”
“But—”
“I’m busy. Maybe next year.”
“But I’m bored. Come on, it will just take
a quick flood; probably a few comets;
how about some tsunamis? You do enjoy
making tsunamis.”
“And then what? Another Noah’s ark
scenario? Are you going to give them two
rainbows this time?”
“But—”
“Just shut up, mate.”
A
ko si Abdulasiz Makaliskis, isang junior student sa isang
eskuwelahang pangit ang layout ng ID. Ang course ko
ay Multimedia Arts (MMA). Sabi ng iba ay madali lang iyon,
pero du’n ako nagkamali. Sa kabuuan, ayos naman ang takbo
ng aking buhay-estudyante. Madalas mo akong makikita na
nakikipag-patintero sa mga pedicab sa kahabaan ng Vito Cruz.
Normal na rin pala sa kalyeng ‘to na may makasalubong kang
zombies lalo na kung finals week. Ayos naman ang buhay—
hanggang isang araw ay naging green ang lahat.

105
 Saktong alas-otso ng umaga ako nakarating sa
school (F.Y.I., hindi ako masipag na bata, kaya ko lang
kinuha ang 8:00 a.m. na class dahil sa hindi ako naging
D.L. at no choice na ako.) P.E. class ‘to, awkward pa kasi
puro frosh ang classmates ko. Pagdating ko sa dance
room, wala pang masyadong tao. Ako lang at ‘yung
weirdong Koreano na may color rainbow na bangs. Dahil
nga sa bored ako at bitter ako sa mga Korean, sinubukan
ko munang umidlip ng saglit para ‘di ko ma-feel ang
existence ng K-pop sa kuwartong iyon.
Naalimpungatan ako sa ingay na narinig ko. Parang
mga ungol ng mga naghihingalong aso. Kinilabutan
tuloy ako kasi pagmulat ko ng mata, wala na ‘yung
weirdong Koreano. Madilim na rin ang langit at tila may
nagbabadyang ulan (eh parang kanina lang bumubula
na ang kili-kili ko sa init.) Kita ko ‘yung langit kasi ‘yung
building namin sa school na ‘to ay covered ng salamin.
Samakatuwid, natakot ako sa katahimikan at ambiance
noong mga sandaling iyon. ‘Yung tipong parang ako na
lang ‘yung tao sa building na ‘to. Nag-decide tuloy akong
lumabas ng dance room.
Malakas ang hangin. Sumilip ako sa salamin ng
building, napamura ako sa pagtataka—ang weird. Walang
katao-tao, walang mga sasakyan, nakahinto ‘yung
LRT; parang hindi Maynila. Walang mga pedicab. “Tae,
anong nangyayari?” bulong ko sa sarili ko. Dali-dali
akong pumunta sa elevator. “Shet! Walang kuryente!”
Nag-decide akong mag-stairs na lang pababa at palabas
ng building.
106
Pagdating ko ng lobby, nagimbal ako nang himalang
wala rin sila kuya guard, maski janitors. Positive! May
nangyayaring kakaiba sa mundo. “Zombie apocalypse na
kaya ‘to?”
Palabas na ako ng building ng biglang sabay-sabay
na bumukas ang mga elevator at naglabasan ang mga
kulay green na tao na sugat-sugat at balot ng dugo.
Napatalon ako sa gimbal at nagmadaling tumakbo
palabas. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Dinig na
dinig ko ang mga ungol nilang parang mga asong gutom
na gutom. Confirmed. Naging
zombie ang lahat ng tao at May nangyayaring
ako ang The Legend. Pero kakaiba sa mundo.
bakit wala akong aso? “Zombie apocalypse
Lumingon ako sa likod
na kaya ‘to?”
at kilala ko ang marami
sa kanila. Pumasok ako sa aming main campus sa
pagbabakasakaling may iba pang survivors. Pumunta
ako sa building kung saan nandun ‘yung office ng org ko.
Pagbukas ko ng pinto ng office, “Waah!” Pati pala silang
ay zombies na rin. Naabutan ko pa ang mga kasamahan
kong busy sa pag-e-edit ng articles. Hinabol din nila
ako hanggang sa nakapagtago ako sa likod ng statue ng
aming patron saint. Biglang may kumalabit sa likod ko,
nanginig ang aking eyelashes ng tumambad sa’kin ang
isang Brother na kulay green ‘din.’ Ano ba talagang peg
ng mga zombies na ito? Avatar ba o Shrek? Kumaripas
ako ng takbo hanggang makalabas ako sa main gate at
napadpad sa kahabaan ng Taft.
107
 Tuloy pa rin ang paghabol nila sa akin hanggang
sa makalabas ako. May mga ekstrang madre at mga
babaeng naka-blue pa ang nakisali sa marathon. Takbo.
Wala akong ginawa kundi ang tumakbo nang tumakbo
hanggang sa marating ko ang building ng aming hotel-
The afterlife myth
school. Iniisip ko, if ever man na abutin ako ng gabi dito, by Adrian Ayuyao
okay lang kasi free accommodation naman since zombie
apocalypse na Hindi nga lang ako sure sa mga pagkaing
ise-serve nila sa mga katulad kong guest.
At nasa building na nga ako ng aming hotel-school.
May kuryente pa rin. Nag-elevator ako paakyat sa
rooftop restaurant ng hotel para tingnan kung may natira
pang pagkain. Pagdating ko sa roofdeck, ako pala ang
hinihintay nilang hapunan. Mabilis kong pinindot ang
elevator, pero pagbukas nito, mga naka-formal attire at
mga naka-chef uniform na zombies ang tumambad sa’kin.
Nag-stairs ako hanggang marating ko ang library ng
building. ‘Dun ako nagtago. Nanginginig ako sa takot.
Nararamdaman kong may papalapit sa’kin. Biglang may
humawak sa likod ko.
Nagising ako na kaharap ang P.E. teacher ko
nakasuot ng kulay green na uniform. Sa gulat ko ay
nasampal ko siya. “How dare you?” sabi niya.
Sayang, panaginip lang pala.

“I t’s green,” Serah said. I sighed in relief.

Happy. That’s all I felt for Oliver. Just
happy. He’s dead now but I’m happy for him.

108 109
 “And here I thought he’d hit yellow for sure,” I joked. afterlife or the family of a cancer patient waiting for
“Me too,” she said. She gazed at her coffee, pushing greener grass ahead.
Oliver’s scan to the side of the table. The machine didn’t change the world. Some said the
I drank from my coffee. The hospital ceiling was just machine proved everything. Others said the machine
as uninteresting as it had been the last time I looked, proved nothing. Religious, atheist, and agnostic were
waiting here with Serah. split alike, with the conservatives staying conservative
Silence. I decided to break it. and the liberals staying crazy all their lives. For the few
“Can’t believe it’s been two years since they made the that thought it mattered, it mattered a lot. Like me.
machine, huh?” Serah stood, stretched,
Serah looked at me straight. She made a turn. then yawned. We’d been The machine didn’t
“It’s been three, I think.” here longer than we should change the world.
Serah stared at the waiting room’s TV. I decide have been. Some said the
against disturbing her newfound zen-like focus to “Oliver was doped up,”
machine proved
be uninterested. Serah said out of the blue.
everything. Others
Two years ago, scientists made a hypothesis. If they She turned again.
could scan live people’s brains for what they felt or “What?”
said the machine
what they saw and dead people would only feel that last “He was on painkillers proved nothing.
thought forever, then perhaps there could be a way to when he went. Heard about
know what someone dead must have felt; to see what it from the nurses.”
kind of afterlife was in store for them. I shifted in my seat. Something told me this wasn’t
The result of the hypothesis was a machine that going to a direction I would like.
would take a brain scan and pop out a color. Green was “What do you think about it?” I said.
heavenly. Yellow was purgatorial. Red was... bad. Serah put her arms in a cradle. She was thinking.
Of course, it wasn’t to the benefit of the dead “Well, if we were just aiming for the almighty green,
because, well, they’re dead. It was more of a comfort shouldn’t we just go all happy and quiet-like? Who
to those who were left behind, to know if a loved one knows if it really matters if there’s an afterlife, anyway?”
passed on pained or happy. Like people breathlessly “Life’s about more than dying, Serah. Oliver didn’t
waiting for a death row inmate’s decisively maroon just live and die. He did good; he left on a good note.”

110 111
 I took a sip of the hospital’s coffee. It was a little
too sweet. “It wouldn’t be a bad way to go.” Serah
stood by one of the pitch black windows.
“You can always go after you’ve done what you
need to. There’s always getting all the guilt and
regrets out of the way. I heard stories that at least
clears people from the red.”
I stood up to see her. The hospital always made
things seem a little more distant.
I walked up to Serah and saw that she was
holding a small orange tube. It was white capped
and empty.
“You never know,” she said.

The authors

112
Tonichi Acenas Eya Arceo
Tonichi is a happy child who lives under a Eya likes to be called Eya and not the
yellow submarine. She likes piña coladas nine-letter enigma that is her first
and getting caught in the rain. (Just kid- name. She likes to think she’s shy, but
ding, piña coladas are totally overrated.) everyone who knows her well says
She also never speaks in pretentious she’s the opposite of that. She loves to
third person but just this once, decided to read and draw, but her favorite hobby
make an exception. is procrastination.

Marielle Almario Adrian Ayuyao

He can speak a single language.
Sometimes I like to think I’m the overlord of He can draw all but a straight line.
an estrogen-filled empire where everyone He can state none of the digits of pi.
does my bidding while I watch over them from And he has no chance of becoming a pop star.
a giant hanging loft and reruns of Glee playing But he never forgets to DFTBA.
from a giant screen TV.

Aviana Baladad
Pat Arafol Aviana likes many things, but not immortality.
She’s been named queen of the Underworld
on more than one occasion—she enjoys the
“I will do everything for the
title and the power that comes with it, but
love of coffee, cheesecake,
sees no purpose of living when you can’t look
and red velvet.”
forward to death.

Marty Arnaldo Gennina Balana

“Whenever I hang out with my friends in
“I don’t want to clean bathrooms a mall, upon entering a store I always look
anymore, I’d rather climb a for a place to sit and read my e-books. I
sycamore tree.” swear reading is more fun than shopping.
Trust me!”
Jemmarie Bocalbos
When my pencil gets tired of creating pictures on
paper, it begins creating images with words.
Acy de Guzman
My mom named me ‘Tetrice’ since playing
the game, Tetris, became her hobby months
before she gave birth to me. Unfortunately,
I never learned to master the game and in
fact, I hardly win Tetris battles.
Oh, I cry easily, by the way. But worry not
‘cause making me smile is a lot easier.

Raphael Bulaong Patmai de Vera

“HRIM student by day, writer by night.”
This pleasantly plump and stout-hearted
little dust mite is responsible for the chaos
you see: in sanity. I love how guinea pigs
are grazing animals, they’re like mini-cows.
Banana split, yo.

Anne Beatrice Cruel Jimdrix Diaz

Can’t talk right now. The universes I have created are If I would be asked what my worst
at war with each other... or are they at war with me? ability is, I’d answer describing
myself. And if would be asked to
describe myself, I’d say I like tuna.

Motzie Dapul Martin Diegor

Watch and learn, child. He lives in the blurs between skip
trains but you can lure him out with a
bunch of french fries. Toss in a cup of
Coke float if you want him to stay for
a conversation.
Camille Estanislao Dempson Mayuga
Short self-descriptions are pretty hard, so I’m a “Hi. I’m Dempson. Yeah, weird name. I love
monkey born in the year of the fish, go figure. eating iced gem biscuits and hopia ube. Coffee is
my water. Hello world!”

Pauline Hermoso
“Strangers think I’m a short girl with big

Angelo Oyardo
city dreams. My folks think I’m an aspiring
I-will-wear-a-pencil-skirt-and-show-you-
that-Philippine-politics-is-fun girl. A lot of
my friends think I’m a total freak that just
keeps on drawing eyes and writing poems on When was sense ever made?
random sheets. All of them are wrong; I am a It is realized; always have and always
ninja from the planet Nebula with a pet llama will be.
named Whatchamacallit, and I do not regret
anything I’ve done in my life. Peace.”

Ko Hwe-Jeong Jan Sabado

You appeal to Reason? Reason!? “For now, the author is the human
Reason is overrated! I will only guinea pig of Morpheus’ products.”
consider appeals to Chaos!

Gianina Martinez Iris Trinidad

This is Maki. She hides in the lairs of Neverwhere. “The writer is a Ninja Unicorn from
Her noble quests starts with surfing the waves Robot Ninja Unicorn Land. She
of Tumblr and British television shows, slaying drinks coffee like water and hates
homework and projects and climbing the moun- carrots. Carrots are evil. (Don’t)
tains of writer’s block. Lure her out of the cave Trust her. She’s a writer.”
with cheesecake and calm her down with coffee.