Cradle of verything

By: Norjannah Manalundong

(Written during the Marawi Siege)

This the cradle of my everything

This is our home
It used to be so healthy
It gave me so much recollections
I will implicitly hoard

Where families and neighbors harness love and peace

Where my young mind started to grow
Where life has taught me so much
Even though I was always in the continuum of yes and no

It was an exuberant vivacious abode!

I miss those days

Those little things that complete my everyday
Like the rattling kids at home
The calling of prayers from nearby masjids
Or simply to dress up
For school, conventions, for family days
For me time or with dear friends

Simple life, bigger dreams!

Which sometimes I had considered vapid and cliché

Yet the most invaluable blessings I have ever had
The gift of life, filled with chances
The gift of life, filled with trials

This is our home!

Now facing its darkest days and loneliest nights
It was always bright but now in fright
It’s left, perversely perplexed
Though we are impotent in this tribulation
Our hearts, our minds, are filled with hope

OH MARAWI, YOU SHALL RISE!

You have endured this test with fortitude

A test of faith you faced alone and strong
Please don’t give up and be steadfast
For this crisis won’t last
Adversaries may have the nerve to break you concurrently with futile attacks
But it can never tear you apart!

OH MARAWI, YOU SHALL RISE!

You stood bravely firm with honor and pride!

Amidst horrid hours
You seek refuge with Allah
We’ll get through this In Shaa Allah

You will be joyful again, In Shaa Allah

So be ready to embrace us against with your warmth
We’ll come home soon
And we shall rise together
In Shaa Allah!

Living Treasure
By: Abigail Joyce C. Cahiwat

It's such a wonder how we love each other

We feel a keen like we came from the same mother
It's the work of fate that our worlds have collided
In each other we have faith we can never be divided

Time is forgotten when we talk to each other

Poke me anytime, you were never a bother
I need no pretending when I am with you
You are part of my freedom, it's not enough to say thank you

Still it's inevitable that sometimes we argue

There came to a point that I wanted to punch you
But say that your sorry, I'd say that it's also my fault
And we will be okay faster than a lightning bolt

Laugh at my stupidity, still I'd cry four agony

Why I know you'd do the same so you can have my company
A summary of blessings that's impossible to measure
I won't exchange you my friend, you're my living treasure.

Solitude
By: Abigail Joyce C. Cahiwat
In a place where I can be alone
is what I call home
for solitude is the heart's desire
to release this pent up fire

To be with oneself
is my own treasured wealth
for no money can ever buy
this worth I thought once melt

Together with me
is my own monsters inside
and no one can ever understand
how many times I've died

Being alone is to keep other's safe

from the damage I've always made
and everything would be on tape
'Cause I can't be a hero with a cape.

Untitled

By: Jamaica Casidar

Don't crush a writer's heart

For she can turn words into bolts
Make everyone believe the seal
Of how worst you are to tune in style,

Don't crush a writer's heart

For her tears are the crystal cut
Where she molds exquisite swords
To stab rightly and concoct sorrows,

Don't crush a writer's heart

For she can make words cook death
Where she puts a flavor of dysphoric
And make your every part go sick,

Don't crush a writer's heart

For her words are ammo ready to shoot
To shower you with penetrating bullets
And scar you visibly like the moon's,
Don't crush a writer's heart
For her words are definite art
And, darling, from her cracked parts
She can make every inch of you torn apart,

So don't crush a writer's heart

If you can't live to find the path
Of her world's grand emotional power
That will gently have you shattered.

Lost
By: Dianara

Things have explanation

Some are unknown,
Some cannot be told,
And some are refused to be heard.

Thoughts are swirling in your mind

What to do?
Who to talk to?
And uncountable whys and hows?

Sighs are your hopeless response

Coffee is your comforter
Tears are your enemy
But smile is your weapon!

Endure! Do not give up, keep moving!

One day you’ll get there,
The place where the answers to everything are,
The time when everything are all answered.

Yesterday ME
By: Dianara
Hey stranger! Wait!
I think I know you...

Right, I knew you!

You were me, YES! You were me…

And I was you.. how are you old self?

I still remember living like having a two me,

i like this, you like this.
I liked that and so you liked it too.
No! You do not like everything i like
But you endear me much, that’s it.

There were also many times

That I was like having mirror in my front.
Coz you’re there wearing the same dress as me..

Dear self, I miss having talks with you

With things that crashes my world.
You were always there for me.

But old me, who are you now?

What happened? Do you remember?
What did split us apart?
Why did it happen that our soul drifted apart?

Bestie, bes, bff, we were once one soul having two bodies,
But today I can only see a picture of me before in you.
Your existence is a photograph in the album.
I can only see you
but you cannot show me the memories,
If i do not reminisce it myself.

I can only see the yesterday me, walking in the road.

But she is not me today.
We do not share the same likes and interests anymore.
I do not know her.

I knew her.
She was my best friend...

She was me.

Me, The Great Pretender

By: Balindong, Junaina J.

I pretend that I don’t know,

But almost on things about you are impressed on me
I pretend that I didn’t notice you,
But every step you take is counted by me
I pretend that I’m not jealous with the girls around you,
But I’m just accompanying the pain
I pretend that can’t hear you laughing with her,
But I assumed be a hopeless deaf one
I pretend that I can’t see you when you’re closer,
But I do catch my deep breath
I pretend it’s all nothing when you look at me,
But it feels in heaven when our sight crossed
I pretend that I’m not looking for you everyday
But every single day has no since without you I pretend that it’s no big deal
when you call my name, But how I wish to have that one and only name in this
world.

My Ravishing Chum
By: Gandarosa, Jariah P.
Remember when we were young
I was enjoyably and happily with you
We painted a canvass of forever
With you and I as the subject of masterpiece

Hours run and minutes sprints

I was so lost with your care
I was drown in a spell
With your beautiful smile

Oh, and I woke up with a benevolence

As soon as I opened my eyes for truth
A ravishing faced woman flashed in my mind
Reminiscence the memories of chum turned remembrance

Now I woke up the day without you

I won’t ever cry and forget
To show everyone a smile you built up
To the gorgeous face you left

Sorry, I can only smile

Hapless, I can’t laugh with you
Pity, I can’t hear your voice anymore
Fortunately, I want to see you again

Remember when we were young

I was enjoyably and happily with you
You painted a canvass of forever Just to remain into treasure.
A Soliloquy On Death
By: Nur-Saleha D. Dadayan

Eyes have mourned and tired with tears,

Heart bowers the mourning din of a bier
But to defy Death its ominous sense,
A bier lies glinting, white, with gold lining
Imitating luxury, by all pretense!

And then deny the epitome Death

For there exists the belief of something after
And there are those who saves their breath
For they say after It, there is nothing no longer.

Dost Death holds life's freedom?

Dost it holds dreamings?
Or must be it all stilldom
Combination of all life's waitings?
But even so, even so, one thing is sure
When Death hast come, there comes a pause
As if contemplation is the momentary cure
To hearts grieving, shocked of, the loss.

Untitled
By: Rhay Sawat

Sumasabay sa alon
Kumikininang kahit hapon
Iba'y nagtatanong
Bakit ako ganon

Ako'y lalabas
Masigla at malakas
Sa mukha, ngiti'y bakas
Na akala'y wala ng bukas

Ngunit hindi alam

Isip ko'y kumakalam
Bagay na di dapat andyan
Pero ayaw akong lubayan

Akala'y natutulog
Ako pala'y nahuhulog
Ulo'y kumukulog
Kaya'y di makatulog

Hindi alam ng lahat

Gusto ko ng umiyak
Pero hindi dapat
Kahit puso'y biyak

Hiling ko'y makatakas

Sa kulunga'y makalabas
Pero di makawala
Sana'y buhay ay magwakas
Walang akong kaibigan
Wala akong masabihan
Na ako'y nahihirapan
Dito sa aking kulungan

Kailan kaya darating

Ang tulong na hinihiling
Upang ako'y magising
At tuluyang magningning
~ Leigh-san

He, Who Promised

By: Rohayda A. Disangcopan,

We’ve met on the day that I’m lost

The looked in our eyes are sparkling like shimmered
Heart that beats loudly, I was scared at first
I didn’t know that that’s what we called “love at first sight”
You’re shy of approaching me and so I was at that time.
Moments that we’ve shared whom I always treasured every single of it.
We’re young and reckless
But it never bothered us to stop what we’ve had.
Picking me up after school, you’d never forget how it makes me giggled.
Little did I know that it’s vulnerable to your time at school?
Some of your friends told me to stop seeing after you.
Sadness and loneliness crept into my vines.
You’ve said priorities are always first in line.
You’d never failed how it flatters me every single time.
I’ve decided to go to the same school of yours and it really flatters you the most.
I have also my priorities and that’s being with you together with our goals in future.
Sitting at the bench waiting for you to come,
Assignments, projects and research papers you’ve been doing it for me like always.
Discussing every articles that we’ve learned,
Debating how it works, how it may sound so cute of you.
Years have passed; we’re still together the same.
We argued, you’re always jealous, possessive but that’s what makes you perfect for me.
You’ve hate me, I’ve hated you and then our love for each other keeps us going.
You’d never said that you don’t love me, because you’ve promise that it will still be me.
Your graduation came, you’ll be leaving, and I’ll be alone.
You’ve graduate but you’re still the same, picking me up at school, waiting for me at the
library.
But then fate is not always fair, you’ll be leaving for real, you’ll be going abroad for work.
Liquids are slowly trickles down to my face when I’ve read your message that you’ll be
leaving soon.
Updating me for everything that you do is what keeps me going through the day that I’m
alone.
You’re far, far from here, far from me, and it keeps my chest tightening every single time of
the day.
I’m the one who left behind, the only thing that I could do is to stare at our photos from the
gallery of my phone.
Thinking how I was so happy that time, how I smile every time you’re giving me a death
glare.
Imagining the memories that we’ve had for five years and months now,
I’m always waiting for you to come, always waiting for you to fulfill your promise to me.
That you’ll be coming back soon, that it still be me.
You’re one and only, the love of your life.
The girl you’ve promise forever and a happy life.
You who promise to be mine, I who promise to be yours,
He, who promised everything to me.

What to write?
By: Almerah O. Gasanara

I am sitting alone in a Ciaro (light)

painted place. Nothing more just me
and a mesa in front of me.
A pen full of black liquid and
a piece of paper were settled.
But, I can't write.

I don't know what to write.

Calling those words in the
four corner of my mind.
Instead of having an idea,
silence occupied the emptiness.

Still, I can't write.

I have nothing to say.
I don't even know where to start
The only thing I know is where to end.
At last, I'm not inspired to move my hand.

My Sweetest Agony
By: Hanifah D. H.Abdulfatah

Without you I’m lost, but with you I’m gratified

You’re my everlasting love and my sweetest agony
I hurt you, but my heart and bones break
I know you loved me too and
No matter what happens you will always take my hand.

At first we were like a foe

Everything changes,
Every time we spent,
Every moment we share
I will not forget it
Like it was forever there’s no need to say
Goodbye cause you make my life complete.

You’re the one who makes my life feel alive

Someone who makes me laugh
But if you try to look for me
I’m always there by your side
Even if you turn off the light in the night
You will always be a part of my heart
And together we will reach the heavens above.

I’m not perfect friend,

I can make mistakes anytime
Therefore, I love those people who still stay with me
After knowing my real personality.

Manalundong, Norjannah
-Written during the Marawi Siege