LETTER TO THE READER
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A Triumph of Democracy or
a Mob Rule? If the polarization that characterized Edsa 2 can agree on
one point, it would have to be that the recent popular uprising was a brilliant
display of Filipino creativity. Posters & banners were vehicles
not only of anger, and patriotism, but also of entertainment; which made
the political statements all the more effective.
In this issue, these visuals
serve as a backdrop to the survey of written expressions of protest.
And if there is a seeming lack of pro-Estrada visuals (which is only because
we have not recieved any through e-mail), readers are advised to proceed
to the written works to fully experience the diversity and division
of opinion in Edsa 2.
But personal opinion is not
the only variable here. These protest writings take on various genres,
tones, and themes. In the end, it too becomes a showcase of Filipino talent
and creativity which we do hope you enjoy. |
WRITING AS PROTEST
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In hills, / Haunted hollow with
blurs of bullets, / Burs of kris and bloodshot eyes, / As talks trip-falter
on two feet too big, / And ransoms roar / For human life:
“Puuuuuutang-ina!” Malutong
pa sa balat ng chicharon. That was how crisp my girlfriend’s contempt
was for what just transpired in the Senate. I was doing my nightly
round of email check when she blurted this out. |
When he finds his wife in bed
with another man-- / The conservative politician feels an ache in his stomach,/
remembers the longanisa and the tapa he had for breakfast. |
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Madame Senator, / sorry for
barging / into your good office./ I am aware how / occupied
you are / gobbling up/ little insects / and inferior life forms... |
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You are part of this vast longing.
/ If you were at the stations you came with a jilt. / If you were helpless
the box opened with a shaking of the soul./ If you were at the door you
abandoned one sub division/ For a glimpse of this medieval miniature. |
Copyright: Likhaan: The U.P. Creative Writing Center
2/F Bulwagang Rizal, U.P. Campus - Diliman, Quezon City
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