10.1 Aling Tining

San kaya ako kukuha ng pang matrikula ni Junior? Pwede pa kaya ako manghiram kay Ma’am Cecile? Hindi. Ang laki na ng utang ko sa kanya. Baka pwede ako bumali kay Sir Philip. Ah hindi rin. Hindi nga makapagpasweldo yun eh. Bat ba kasi dun pa rin ako nagtatrabaho? Bakit hindi na lang ako maghanap ng ibang pagtatrabahuan? Kung sa bagay, wala na rin namang kukuha sa akin. Matanda na ako. Mabagal na rin kumilos. Mahina na rin ang katawan. Siguro swerte na rin ako at kahit pa pano, may trabaho pa rin ako. Naku! Ano na ba ang gagawin ko. Ilang buwan na lang at kailangan na mag-exam ni Junior. Tiyak di siya papakunan ng exam kung wala akong pambayad ng matrikula niya. Diyos ko. Di pa ako makakuha ng tulong sa tatay niya. Katangahan ko lang din at nagpabuntis ako. Eh wala naman akong pera. Swerte na nga siguro ako at napalaki ko ng maayos si Junior. Onti na lang at makakatapos na rin siya ng elementary. Bihira na rin makapagtapos ang mga batang katulad ni Junior na ang mga magulang ay hindi malaki ang sinesweldo. Mag sideline kaya ako? Ay. Ang pangit pakinggan. Parang pokpok lang. Baka pwede ako magtinda ng Avon o ng Natasha. May bumibili pa rin ba nun? Malaki pa rin ba pera dun? Baka walang bumili sa akin. Kanino ka rin naman ibebenta kung ang mga kaibigan ko’y wala ding pera.

9.7 Teddy

He's chubby. He's like a giant stuffed toy. He makes me feel loved and protected. Whenever I have a problem, I know I can always count on him to support me and make me feel better. He will do everything in his power to make me smile on a bad day. He listens to all my stupid stories. He puts up with me whenever I'm cranky. He comforts me when I feel like I didn't do well on a test. He assures me everything will be all right. He makes everything better.

9.6 That Shit Cray

He had so much pimples on his face but he was the kind of person that didn't care about what other people thought of him. I met him during the most vulnerable and lowest point of my life. I was so ashamed to meet new people. I hated going out. I didn't want to talk to people. I was forced to meet him in some high school interaction. We started to talk. I thought that it would be okay because he wasn't part of my social circle. I began to have feelings for this guy. He paid so much attention to me despite the rumors going around. We eventually started to date. I wasn't embarrassed to be around him. I wasn't shy to show him my personality. In the back of my mind I just wished that he never heard any of the rumors because I didn't want him to think differently of me. One day, he told me that he heard people talking about me. He didn't like what they were saying. They approached him and interrogated him. They asked him why he was dating me despite the rumors. He told me he didn't care because he loved me and he knew that I was nothing like what people were saying. He stood up for me. He told them that he loved me and that it didn't matter if the rumors were true or not. It didn't matter to him. He taught me so much. He taught me not to care about what other people think of me. He taught me to find happiness despite the difficulties surrounding me. He taught me to be confident about myself.

9.5 Little Miss Smarty Pants

She has always been so intelligent. I've known her since we were in grade school and I've always thought she set the bar up so high that I couldn't reach it. But over the years, I tried to catch up. She was so smart. She said the smartest things. She liked the least conventional things. I wanted to be so much like her. She was different. More than a decade has passed and she's still that smart girl I've always known. She knew how to balance everything in her life. I wanted to be her good friend, not just some person she's known since grade school. I wanted to accept me. I thought that maybe if she acknowledged me, it would make me feel like I was smart too, and that I was just like her. I got over it in high school but it just goes to show that even if I'm not competing with her, I strived to be as amazing as she is. It helped me in a way that I didn't slack off and that I did my best in everything. She's still the person I look up to, until now even if we've stopped talking.

9.4 Antonio

It was his shoulders that I'd always remember. He had the broadest shoulders. He'd always carry me on top of his shoulders whenever we'd see each other. He was the kind of person who could lift you up, emotionally. He always made me happy and laugh with his corny jokes. I remember there was a time we played this silly story game on his laptop where we'd fill in the blanks with random words to complete a story. The stories almost never made sense but they were funny. It would always lift my spirits up when I'd be homesick. On top of his shoulders I felt so big and tall as if I was above everyone else. That's how important he made me feel. He'd always tell me I was his one and only grandchild, and ultimately his favorite. I had other cousins but he never acknowledged them just as my cousins never acknowledged him. None of my cousins knew who he was whenever I brought him up because we had a step-grandfather which they thought was our grandfather. I felt special knowing that I was the only one among us who knew him. And he never failed to make me feel special, most especially when I'm on his shoulders.

9.3 Papa

I can never remember a time he didn't wear his thinning white camiso-de-chino. Whenever I'd think about him, he'd be wearing this white shirt, khaki shorts, and Beachwalk slippers that you can buy in the palengke. He has always been the simplest man I have ever met in my life. Despite being a mayor for more than a decade when I wasn't born yet, he never seemed to live lavishly. I remember him wearing this outfit when I woke up at around 6 in the morning when I was around 6 or 7 years old. I was the only one awake aside from him. He asked me if I wanted to ride his 4x4 Owner Jeep to the farm. I willingly went with him. I never had spent a moment with him alone and I decided that that was the perfect time to get the much needed bonding I craved for. We rode in silence. The wind blowing my hair. We fed chicks. I got bitten by ants. I didn't mind. He introduced me to people that lived near his farm. We went back home at around 7. He made coffee for himself. He asked me if I wanted some. I said I've never tried drinking coffee but I wanted to try. He made a cup for me. He got the loaf of white bread. He offered me some. He told me to dip it in the coffee. It was so good. I haven't dipped my bread in coffee for the longest time but whenever I do, I always think of him.

9.2 MHL

Through the years, I've seen him wear different watches that each costs hundreds of thousands of pesos. His current favorite is his silver Ballon Bleu de Cartier with gold links. What's funny is despite his collection of watches, he never seems to be on time. EVER. Even if he sets his watches 30 minutes earlier than the actual time, he still ends up being tardy. I've heard him give the most ludicrous of excuses whenever we'd be late for something. There was one time we were in Cavite City, on our way to Manila, and his mother kept calling to ask where we were. He'd say we were in Bacoor when in fact we were two towns away from Bacoor. He'd say we're in EDSA when we were still in Coastal Road. There was one time he told me he was about to leave the house when I found out from the help that he just woke up. What's the use of expensive watches if you can't even come on time? Not even once.

9.1 Chickenwar

I'm not quite sure if he still owns the same black and bulky Canon SLR (the model, I don't remember) but when we were still best of friends, he used to take photos all the time (and he was pretty good at it). He'd take photographs of anything. But he loved taking photographs of people -- be it posed or candid. Everyone would ask him to take their photos. I remember he took some of me and some of us. He took photos while on his trips. He took photos in concerts and in gigs. We planned to go to college together, take the same course, and be thesismates. We planned to go on trips and gigs and start a business. We promised never to get sucked in by the system and to never give up art and our beliefs for the sake of money. Shame I never kept my promise. He has achieved everything we ever planned on doing together, but he has achieved it all on his own.

8.7 Trivia Seven

Kilts originated in France and not in Scotland!
CLAYGo was implemented by a Santugon leader.
Rubberbands last longer when they're refrigerated.
M&M stands for Mars and Merrie.
A spermologer is what you call someone that collects trivia.

8.6 Trivia Six

I used to always say I don't have friends in my village but now that I think about it I am friends with over 10 people in my village.
It used to take me 20 minutes to get to school from my house but because of all the road renovations being done, it takes me 40 minutes.
Dayanara Torres is not a Filipino. I always thought she was. She was in so many Filipino films when I was younger!
There is this thing called "Manhunt International World Finals" idek.

8.5 Trivia Five

Two DLSU theses will be shown as shorts in the upcoming Cinemalaya 9.
One of them is made by my good friend, Adi.
Adi's thesis partner is my Narativ classmate's brother!
I am acidic.
I'm not allowed to drink coffee, to smoke, to eat spicy food
But I still do these things.
My body can suck it for now.

8.4 Trivia Four

Asian dicks' average length is 4 inches.
Manny Villar was the 18th richest man in the Philippines in 2012.
Imagine how many underprivileged people he could feed for the entire year.
My friend who graduated with a degree in AB-Psychology now teaches elementary students in a public school somewhere in Quezon City.
There is this thing called P-Pop, which is similar to K-Pop.

8.3 Trivia Three

My greatgrandmother was requested sew the last American flag that was lowered during the Philippines' Independence Day in 1946.
There is this historic guy called "The Black Hand" that had many attempts on Franz Ferdinand's life.
There is also a man called "Black Hand" aka Don Fanucci in The Godfather Part 2.
If you have an obligation to pay someone a debt you owe, you cannot compel your creditor accept a partial payment.

8.2 Trivia Two

May bagong America's Next Top Model, at hindi lang girls ang contestants, pati rin boys!
My friend's dad that owns a luxury car dealership was the 11th richest man in the Philippines in 2012.
My lolo's best friend owns Nickel Asia.
My lolo and lola are willing to give me 1 million pesos to invest in any stocks I want.
I realized that I don't know how the stocks work so I can't accept that money yet.
But hey, if I do accept that 1 million, I'd be a millionaire in my twenties and I don't even work.
Someone needs to hit me because my last statement is pretty bratty.

8.1 Trivia One

Barker ng PUV dati si Gloc9 bago siya sumikat.
Dapat pala kumain ng gluten-free food ang isang taong blood type O.
Iba-iba na pala ang members ng bandang Mayonnaise pero yung vocalist, yun pa rin.
Mura lang pala magpatayo ng business sa BIZ canteen, 10k a month all in kasama na utilities!
Ang bagong pangalan ng Zaide canteen ay "Br. Bloemen Hall"
Francis Ford Coppola rewrote the birthday scene of Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II because Marlon Brando didn't show up during the shoot.

7.7 Girl That Cried w0lf

My parents are in the province to meet with some people and I got left behind because I have school. I usually stay out late when they aren't allowed and tell them I just stayed at home the entire time and they usually believe me. This one time that I didn't go out, they don't think I'm telling the truth. Now I feel like the boy that cried world because now that I'm telling the truth, they don't want to believe me.

7.6 Multiplication of Loave$

Today I had 100 pesos left and I had to pay for materials for my various projects for school. I find it sometimes to embarrassing to ask money from my parents, most especially if they’ve been giving so much to me already. I mean, I know how to budget my money and everything, but in this case, kulang talaga yung pera ko. I really didn’t know where I’d get the money. Later in afternoon, I went to hear mass with my grandparents. My grandparents arrived before me so I sat behind them. During the offertory, I gave the last hundred pesos I had in my wallet. Half of me was praying for a miracle, and the other half thought that more people had worse financial problems than me. I mean, in my case, I was just too embarrassed to ask for money. After hearing mass, I told my grandparents I had to go back home to study and do my homework due the next day. Before I left, my grandmother gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and a thousand pesos.

I felt like it was the multiplication of loaves. The disciples were worried that they weren’t going to be able to feed everyone in the crowd so they told Jesus and prayed. Jesus presented them with a miracle of overflowing abundance of loaves and fish. With my prayer and act of sacrifice, God was able to provide me with the miracle and resources that I needed.

7.5 Lazarus

Today, I heard mass again after a really long time. I purposely avoided hearing mass because I felt like it was unnecessary and it wasn't the only way I could prove my faith in the Lord. But problem after problem, I decided to go to church today, hoping for solutions for my problems. After hearing mass, I felt enlightened as if my sprit was renewed. I felt like Lazarus in away that I was dead because I claimed to be a non-practicing Catholic but after hearing mass again, I felt like I rose from the dead.

7.4 Cinderella

Today I felt like Cinderella. I was allowed to go out for the first time in a long time but I had to be home by midnight. It just sucks because I was having such a fantastic time but I was given the same curfew I had when I was in high school!

7.3 Prodigal Son

I left my organization last March because of a lot of personal reasons. I left so many people behind with work that I was supposed to be in-charge of. Today, I came back. They accepted me with open arms and gave me a position so that I can continue to take charge of things. I felt like the Prodigal Son because despite leaving, they still welcomed me back with open arms.

7.2 The Good Samaritan

Today someone left their phone in class. It was an iPhone 5. I mean, I could have stolen it and sold it to earn money because I already have my own iPhone 5 but I contacted some people in the person's phonebook and eventually I was able to return the phone. I felt like the good Samaritan who was willing to help the man on the street without expecting anything in return.

7.1 Ugly Duckling

I'm finally dating someone. All along I've been feeling like an ugly duckling but eventually, someone saw something in me that attracted him. It may not be physical but it was something I could offer in terms of relationships, and hopefully it can further evolve and blossom.

6.7 Kwentong Barbero

Parati naman silang nag-aaway ngunit ma-amo talaga yung lalaki. Parati siya ang nakikipagbati at nakikipagayos. Haliparot kasi yung babae eh. Madalas na gabi na umuuwi yung babae at mukhang nakainom. Sabi ng iba naming kapitbahay ay may kabit daw tong babae. Nalaman nung lalaki at tinanong niya ng kalmado ang babae kung totoo nga ba to. Nagalit yung babae at nagwalk-out. Hindi ko na alam ang sumunod na nangyari kundi't nagbigti sa sobrang lungkot tong si lalaki. Pagbalik nung babae, siguro mga sampung minuto bago siya nagsisisigaw. Paglabas niya ng bahay, may hawak na siyang malaking backpack, puno siguro ng damit. Inayos niya siguro yung mga gamit niya para umalis at tila'y parang walang paki-alam na namatay na ang kanyang kasintahan.

6.6 Demonyo't Anghel

Hindi naman ganun si inay dati eh. Mapagmahal at mapag-aruga siya. Ngunit nung lumipat kami sa Project 8, parang may nagbago sa kanya. Hindi na siya ngumingiti. Palagi siyang tulog pag-umaga at sobrang nakakatakot siya pag gabi. Kung anu-ano ang kanyang pinagsasabi. Hindi ko nga maintindihan ang mga sinasabi niya dahil hindi wikang Tagalog ang lumalabas sa kanyang bibig. Hindi rin naman Ingles at hindi rin ibang wikang matatagpuan sa Pilipinas. Nung una, binubugbog lang niya ako. Kinakaya ko naman dahil parati ko na lang iniisip na mahal ako ni inay at baka naninibago lang siya sa bago naming tirahan. Ngunit nung maslumala ang kanyang pananakit, natakot na ako. Parang wala talaga sa sarili si inay. Para ba siyang sinapian ng demonyo. Nung gabing binigti niya ako, parang may bumulong sa aking hindi ko nakikita, sabi nito na magpanggap na lang ako na patay ako. Sinunod ko to. At makalipas ng ilang segundo, nagpakamatay si inay. May sumaklolo sa akin agad-agad. Sa loob-looban ko, sinapian si inay. Ang espiritung nasa katawan niya ay ang may gustong magpapatay sa akin ngunit tilang parang may anghel na tumulong at pumrotekta sa akin.

6.5 Trabaho

Nagmadali akong pumunta sa inassign na area sa akin. Napakahimbing ng tulog ko nung gabing iyon at hindi napa-aga ang aking gising. Pagdating ko sa area ko, may naamoy akong napakabaho. Kala ko basura lang dahil may nakatambak na itim na garbage bag sa gilid. Ililipat ko sana malapit kung saan pinipick up ng damtrak yung basurang naipon ko ngunit pagkabuhat ko ay napakabigat nung laman. Naisip ko na hindi to basura't baka may bangkay sa loob. Nang buksan ko ang bag, mas lumakas yung amoy imburnal. Patay na tao nga ang laman nito. Ang bangkay ay lalaking naka all-black at may tama ng bala sa ulo. Nagmadali ako sa police station at nireport ang nakita ko.

6.4 Bugbog Sarado

Pinara ng mag-asawa yung taxi ko. Di ko masyadong naintindihan yung sinabi nila dahil kinailangan kong dumerecho sa gasulinahan dahil mauubusan na ng gas yung kotse. Parang nagsasagutan na yung mag-asawa sa likod. Nagpaumanhin ako't sumabat sa kanilang sagutan. Tinanong ko sila kung okay lang ba na magpa-gas muna ako at baka tumirik yung kotse sa daan. Pumayag naman yung mister. Nagdahan-dahan akong pumasok sa PTT gas station sa may Regalado. Tinanong ako nung mister kung okay lang ba na jumingle muna siya habang nagpakarga ako ng gas. Wala namang problema yun sa akin. Bumaba si mister at hinablot niya yung kamay ng kanyang misis. Nagpapasama siya pumuntang banyo. Ayaw sumama ng kanyang asawa ngunit hinili niya ang buhok nito. Nang makalabas na ng kotse ang mag-asawa, naunang maglakad si mister at pumasok sa banyo. Sumunod namang pumasok sa banyo si misis. Sinirado ni mister yung pintuan at nagsimula na ang hiyawan. Humingi ng saklolo si misis. Sinubukan naming sirain yung pinto dahil naka-lock ito ngunit ayaw nitong bumigay. Tumila ang mga sigaw ni misis at agad-agad binuksan ni mister ang pintuan. Nagsisisigaw si mister na holdaper daw yung babae kaya niya pinatay at nagmadaling tumakbo ngunit agad kong nakita ang patay na katawan ni misis kaya't hinabol ko si mister. Hindi pa siya nakalayo ng maabutan ko siya. Pinagsususuntok ko si mister dahil ayaw niyang mapakali. Nagtangka pa siyang makawala ngunit ilang suntok ko lang sa kanya ay di na siya gaanong kumibo.

6.3 Patay

Okay, pinatay na nga ako pero ang hinihiling ko lang ay hustisya. Eto namang tatanga-tangang pulis, nahanap na nga yung isang suspekt, ayaw pa niyang hulihin. Eh kung makatakas yun? Sa sistema ng Pilipinas, tiyak ba siya na mahuhuli niya yung tatlo ng sabay-sabay? Sana hinuli na lang niya yung unang suspekt para malaman din niya agad-agad kung sino yung dalawa pa niyang kasama imbis na sa mga testigo pa siya manghahagilap ng impormasyon. Ano ang mapapala niya dun? Hindi na lang siya dumiretso dun sa taong may kilala sa dalawa pang suspekt, kundi yung kilala na nilang suspekt, hindi ba? At nagkakamali ang mga report. Hindi droga ang dahilan sa pagpaslang sa amin ng aking mga pinsan kundi't nagkainitan lang. Lahat kami'y nakainom at lasing. Sino ba ang talo sa labanan ng baril kundi't ang grupong walang armas. Minalas kami nung gabing nun. Sana hindi naman kami malasin sa pagkuha ng hustisya.

6.2 Droga

Kung tutuusin, mali nga naman talaga ang pagpapasok ng iligal na droga sa ibang bansa. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kinukunsinte to ng gobyerno. Alam kong dapat protektahan ng gobyerno ang bawat Pilipino pero kung mali naman talaga ang ginagawa ng mga Pilipino, paano sila mapoprotektahan ng maayos. Pero sa palagay ko ay hindi lang naman ang mga drug mules ang may kasalanan. Hindi naman sila papayag sa ganung klaseng trabaho kung may maayos na trabaho dito sa Pilipinas. Kung mabibigyan ng gobyerno ang bawat Pilipino ng trabaho, wala nang eskandalong magaganap katulad nito. Wala nang bitay ang magaganap dahil ligal na lahat ng trabaho ng mga Pilipino. Ang hirap nga naman talaga ng buhay. Minsan talaga ay natutulak tayo sa maling direksyon dahil wala nang ibang paraan para matustusan ang ating mga pamilya.

6.1 Aids

Hindi ko naman alam na may sakit pala ako. 35 years old na ako at isa akong bading. Swerte na ako sa kalagayan kong may nagmamahal sa aking binatilyo. Pinakita ko rin ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng pagtustos sa kanyang matrikula at kung anu-ano pang kailangan niya. Wala naman akong anak para suportahan kaya lahat ng ipon ko napupunta na lang sa aming dalawa. Bigla na lang napadalas ang sakit ko. Nagsimula sa ubo tapos tuluyan na akong masugatan sa iba't ibang parte ng aking katawan. Una, akala ko galis-aso lang ang mga 'to dahil maraming askal sa aming barangay. Ayoko rin sanang isipin na may aids ako dahil ibig sabihin nito, nabigyan ko rin ng sakit ang jowa ko. Nagpatest kaming dalawa, pero ako'y nauna. Pareho kaming positive na may HIV/Aids. Iniwan niya ako. Hindi ko naman siya madadamay. Lahat to'y kasalanan ko. Ang nakakasakit lang talaga ng loob ay nagmahal ako at binigay ko ang buong pagkatao ka sa kanya ngunit ako rin pala ang magiging rason sa kanyang paghiwalay sa akin. Imbis na pagaaruga ang maiibigay ko sa kanya, napakalubhang sakit ang naidulot niya sa akin.

5.7 Spotted

Girl1: Gago nakakahiya I saw your mom while walking!
Girl2: Ano ngayon?
Girl1: May hawak kasi akong yosi *laughs*
Girl2: Ahh oo nga. Sabi niya sakin kanina nagkita kayo. Sabi mo daw you were walking to school.
Girl1: I was walking nga to school!
Girl2: Landmark? Hello noh! To the MRT kasi.
Girl1: Oo nga, same shit. I walk pa rin naman *laughs*

5.6 Heartbreak

Boy: Tara na para kumpleto tayo.

Girl: Gusto ko na umuwi eh

Boy: Bakit?

Girl: Tangina lang ng life

Boy: Tungol ba to sa guy?

Girl: Oo...

Boy: Ano ginawa niya?

Girl: Ginulo niya buha ko, mehn! Oks na ako na walang love life tapos dumating siya.

Boy: Tapos?

Girl: Eh ginago niya lang ako. Sabi ba naman sa akin kanina, "Friends na lang talaga." Bwisit!

Boy: Wow! Bakit ba kayo nag break?

Girl: Di naman naging kami eh. We just had a thing 'cause we liked each other. Tas biglang sasabihin niya sa akin na confused siya.

Boy: Ano yan, bading?

Girl: Tanga hindi. Confused siya kasi he likes me but he also likes another girl. Kupal!

Boy: Kupal talaga sobra!

Girl: Diba? Tapos 112 lang siya. Ang tanga ko lang, mehn!

Boy: Tangina ano bata! Upakan na yan!