Sariling Laban ni Nowfredo D. Paglinawan

Credits to google images

Sariling Laban

ni Nowfredo D. Paglinawan

Sa pagsikat ng bagong umaga, panibagong laban ay muling karga.

Tila aninong nakaabang sa aking paroroonan, humaharang sa aking nais na patunguhan.

Hindi alam ang tunay na daan, bagkus ako’y nalilito sa aking nararamdaman. 

Sa pagnanasang magbagong anyo, mas nanaig ang magbalatkayo.

Sarili ay mismong kalaban, sarili ay hindi maintindihan.

Dalawang tandang ay nagsabong at naglaban, magkaiba ang hinaing at pinaglalaban.

Ako’y sabik sa inaasam na kalayaan, subalit ako’y duwag na nanatili sa piitan.

Duwag na husgahan ng kahigtan, duwag na lumabas sa kulungan.

‘Di alam kung ano paniniwalaan, sigaw ng karamihan o sariling kagustuhan.

Ayaw ko ng baguhin ang panahon, nais kong magpaanod pabalik sa kamusmusan.

Nang sa ganoon ay wala akong pagpipilian, sa labang walang patutunguhan kung ako rin mismo ang masusugatan.

Namimitig na ako sa pagsuot nitong mascara, pagod na akong makinig sa madla.

Nais ko ng maging malaya mula sa tanikala Sabik na muling masalat ang puroy ng kasiyahan Sabik sa kamusmusan ng kabataan.

Mahirap na kalabanin ang sarili, ngunit mas mahirap ang habang buhay na magkubli.

Pinapalaya ko na ang aking sarili mula sa pagkakatali, wala ng masusugatan at matitigil na ang laban sapagkat niyakap ko na ang aking tunay na katauhan.

"Eksena"

Credits to google images

"Eksena"

ni Mary Nestlie Denosta

“Ano ba ang problema at bakit lagi kang ganyan? Hindi ka na nag-rereply sa mga messages ko, sa messenger kahit na-seen mo naman!” pabulyaw na saad ni Rosie sa kausap nito. 

“Tatawagan na lang kita mamaya busy ako,” matipid na sagot naman ng lalaki sa telepono. 


“Tatawagan? Talaga ba Vito? ‘yan din sinabi mo last time, naghintay ako pero ni isang text wala man lang galing sayo. Pagod na pagod na akong intindihan ‘yong sitwasyon nating dalawa. Sa tingin ko sinasayang ko lang ‘yong buhay ko sayo.” Halos mapasabunot na lamang ng buhok si Rosie nang hindi man lang ito umimik.


“Ano bang gusto mong mangyari Vito? Nahihirapan na ako.” Garalgal na ang boses nito, nilalabanan ang luhang nagbabadyang lumabas.


“Pasenya na pero…Rosie hindi na kita mahal. Halos ilang buwan ko nang pinag-isipan ‘to. Hindi na ako masaya sa relasyon natin Rosie, hindi na ganoon kasaya kagaya ng dati. Sa tingin ko, panahon na para tapusin to. Maghiwalay na tayo." saad ni Vito sa kabilang linya.


Hindi makapaniwala si Rosie sa mga narinig nito galing kay Vito. Mahal na mahal niya ito, at kahit na nakikipaghiwalay na ito sa kanya, naroon pa rin ang pag-asang babalikan siya ni Vito. Hindi na nito napigilan ang sarili at unti-unti nang nagsipatakan ang kanyang luha.


Noo’y naabutan siya ng kanyang ina, nakakunot ang noo nito, tila sinusukat ng tingin ang mga mata ng dalaga.


“O, anong iniiyak-iyak mo dyan?” tanong ng kanyang ina ngunit hindi ito sumagot. Umiling-iling ang kanyang ina nang mapagtanto kung ano ang nangyari sa anak. Napahugot ng malalim na hininga ang ina nito.


“Sabi ko naman sayo diba itigil mo na yang kahibangan mo, ikaw lang din ang masasaktan. O sya, tayo na sa baba at matapos makapag-tanghalian ay samahan mo akong pumunta sa kaarawan ng Tito Miguel mo, nagluto ako ng pansit para sa kanya.” Medyo iritadong pagkakasabi ng ina nito sa kanya.


“Sige ho nay,” malamyos na tinig ng dalaga. Hinintay niya ang kanyang ina na umalis sa kanyang silid at nagpatuloy sa pinapanood nitong pelikula kanina.

Muli na namang umiyak si Rowena sa pangalawang pagkakataon.

 What Does It Take to be an Ilongga Beauty Queen

                  by Charlie Esimos

photo taken from google.com

Elegance and humility have catapulted Rabiya Occeña Mateo to rise above other beauties and ended a trailblazing finish as Miss Universe Philippines 2020.

This biracial half -Filipino, half -Indian beauty is a bearer of an Arabic name which translates to “queen” or “princess” and is a proud Ilongga.

“I want to show the world that I am a queen today because of my province and with that being said, I want to prove to everyone that I am a true Ilongga with a heartfelt beauty”, with a resounding confidence in her voice, the phenomenal woman stated during a Q and A portion with an evident fondness to her humble roots.

As Ilonggos celebrate this flourish of triumph, another empowered Ilongga deserves to bound the spotlights for being the very first “Queen of the Orient” 1908 precursor to Miss Philippines today – Purificacion “Pura” Villanueva-Kalaw was another phenomenal woman and a firm advocate of women empowerment.

Being a native Ilongga queen, she spearheaded women's rights movements more than living the pleasure of wearing the coveted crown.

In 1906, Kalaw was in her 20’s, she managed to organize Asociacion Feminista Ilongga which of a sole purpose of liberating Filipina women. “What a man can do, a woman can do as well” was a credo Kalaw formulated that labored the first women suffrage movement in Iloilo and in Philippines and thanks to her, the right to vote was bestowed to women in 1937. 

Hailing at such a huge platform is an overwhelming opportunity to amplify desperate whispers and promote equal and better chances to every member of society is what marks a true beauty queen.

When asked about the relevance of pageants in a pandemic, Mateo sincerely said:

“As a candidate I know I'm not just the face of Iloilo City, but I am here carrying hope and as a symbol of light in the darkest times, and as of the moment, I want to help my community, I want to use my strength to make an impact, and that is the essence of beauty pageants, it gives us the power to make a difference.”

Kalaw and Mateo, as the epitome of an Ilongga beauty and an embodiments of hope for Ilonggos,have hoisted the humble city of Iloilo to fame and admiration.  They proved, Iloilo is no lesser than the extravagant cities and municipalities in the Philippines. When it comes to beauty, brain, and will, Ilonggas are something to deck with jewels.

Dr.Honey Lee Casa: Pursuer of Something New

by: Ma. Angeny Joy Villanueva

             Dr. Honey Lee Casa,a native of Brgy. Tacas,Pontevedra,Capiz has been serving CapSU for almost 32 years and last September 8, 2020,  she was appointed as the new campus administrator of CapSU-Pontevedra. 

            "During my term, I would like to promote public service with a heart through good governance.I will also focus on the quadro-dimensional function of the campus Instruction,Research,Extension and Production so I will just anchor my plans to the goals of this campus".

             For the first two years in service, her first plan is to make a proposal on building additional classrooms and to have a repair and maintenance of the existing classrooms to accommodate the 3, 073 enrollees of the campus. She also highlighted the need of having laboratories and enough comfort rooms. For Research, Dr. Casa aims to develop a strategy of giving incentives to the faculty members who conducted, presented, and published their research to recognize their hard work. Further, she wants to encourage students to indulge in collaborative researches. Her wishes include developing an extension activity which is relevant, responsive and sustainable.

        Furthermore, she firmly believes that CapSU Pontevedra has the potential in the field of production since the campus has wider land area compared to the other campuses. “It is one way to strengthen the resource generation and an avenue to have a viable agro-industrial entrepreneurship. One of our goals is effective and efficient administration,” she added.

            “My dear students, rest assured that you are the number one priority of the strong teaching force of this campus. Just continue to adapt and adjust with our current situation because this pandemic will come to an end. Be safe and be healthy." Dr. Casa stated for inspiration.

 

One Billion Rising: Breaking the Chain of Violence through Dance
by Jacquilyn Butalon

             Students and faculty members of CapSU-Pontevedra danced in unison during the One Billion Rising, a symbolic dance and global movement that calls to end sexual violence against women and children, at the campus field, February 17.
              The said movement began on 2012 and was done during Valentines day however, due to the schools' hectic schedule it was concluded earlier in the morning after the flag ceremony.
              "It was fun, and I have seen majority of the students of CapSU-Pontevedra who took part for the success of the event. I am happy as well, because this enable me to move my body, somehow. It was nice to know that we unite to end the violence against women", said Nollaine Arabia, BSABE student.
               The concurrence of the event was headed by the selected teachers and faculty members of the campus.
               Altogether, rise and raise the vibration.
               Rise! Resist! Unite!