#Tagalog Novels

[jabberwockprince]

paveni outfit switch <3

#reverse 1999 #reverse: 1999 #reverse 1999 pavia #reverse 1999 OC #purinsu art #pavia looks like he comes out of some shit like. hypmic or paradox live #venison looks like they come out of some specific visual novel #anyway. homosexuals who wear each others' clothes or smth #PAVIA IN A BARONG TAGALOG GRRR BARK BARK BARK BARK #filipino pavia....i have to draw that...

[ameirysavar]

Billionaire's Dark Desire

She never wanted him. He had been wanting her for too long. She was forced to marry him. He waited for her. She despises him. He desired her. How long can she stop her feelings if she was slowly falling in love with the man who causes her pain? Would a man who had dark desires, can really fall in love… gently?

Billionaire’s Dark Desire © 2022 by Ameiry Savar

Chapter 2

I took a deep breath and focused my gaze on my legs. I could feel my hands shaking as we drove through the streets. I am now on my way to Bruce’s mansion to meet Matias Bruce, the man who wants to marry me. I don’t even know this man. I only learned about him from my stepmother. He came into our lives like an answered prayer because he suddenly wanted to marry me. My stepmother initially wanted Clementine to marry Mr. Bruce, but he specifically wanted me. I don’t know why.

“Are you nervous, Miss Litcher?” Sir Amadeus asked.

I flinched at the sound of his voice. He was sitting in front of the driver. Sir Amadeus was Mr. Bruce’s butler. He had rushed to the hospital after my stepmother called them. Thanks to him, my father was also transported to the next city for his surgery. He arranged for me to see a doctor too, as I had some bruises, although they weren’t as severe. Clementine had mistaken him for Mr. Bruce, and I could see the wide smirk on her face as we left the hospital.

“Ahm, y-yes,” I answered, my voice almost a whisper.

“Don’t worry. Mr. Bruce is a nice man. You will like him,” he reassured me.

I managed a bitter smile. How could I trust a man who was willing to pay money just to marry someone? I felt like I was being sold by my own family.

I didn’t respond to Sir Amadeus and instead looked out the window. Eventually, we arrived at an exclusive subdivision. The car entered through an enormous golden gate. While we had a large house, this one was even more elegant.

“Come in, Miss Litcher. Follow me,” Sir Amadeus instructed.

I nodded at him and followed him inside. We entered through the main door and walked into the foyer. I was amazed once again as I saw the large paintings on the walls. There were also sculptures scattered around. I couldn’t help but wonder who the artist was because the pieces were all extraordinary. We passed by the living room, which featured a massive chandelier hanging from the ceiling. If my stepmom saw this, she would undoubtedly want one for our house as well.

I paused for a moment as I spotted another painting above the stairs. My eyes widened, and I quickened my pace to get a closer look. I couldn’t believe it! It was a portrait of a woman with blonde hair. Her eyes were as blue as the ocean, and she was smiling warmly, her dimples on display. The painting was so lifelike that it could easily be mistaken for a photograph. But then, something struck me.

“W-Why do I look like her?” I blurted out.

Sir Amadeus cleared his throat. “That, I don’t know, Miss. But this woman is Mr. Bruce’s late wife. She passed away three years ago.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Questions swirled in my mind. Could this be the reason why Mr. Bruce wanted to marry me? Did he see me and think I was his wife? But she’s already dead! How could he think like that?

“Miss, let’s go to Mr. Bruce’s showroom. He’s already there,” Sir Amadeus said, bringing me back to reality.

I nodded, still lost in my thoughts, and followed him to the second floor. I kept stealing glances back at the painting, wondering about the woman who looked so much like me. Was she a relative? Perhaps a twin sister? I couldn’t wait to ask my father about it once he woke up.

We stopped in front of a closed double door, and Sir Amadeus knocked three times. “Sir, Miss Litcher is already here.”

No response. He turned to me with a reassuring smile. “You can enter now.”

I frowned, my nerves resurfacing. “Now?”

“Yes.”

Sir Amadeus opened the door for me and gestured for me to enter the room. I took a deep breath and stepped inside. This was it. My life was about to change forever. Whatever awaited me in this room would determine my fate for the rest of my life.

Sir Amadeus closed the door behind me, leaving me alone in the room. I took a moment to look around. There was only a partially finished sculpture in the room, and my amazement overtook my nervousness. I couldn’t believe that Mr. Bruce had such artistic talent. The room was also adorned with various paintings, though I quickly averted my eyes when I realized that they were all of women—naked women. Some were lying in beds, some seated, and there were even explicit images. I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks; it was both mesmerizing and embarrassing. Such artwork was definitely not something you’d see in everyday settings.

“You’re here,” a deep, husky voice said, startling me.

I turned to face him, ready to greet him, but my greeting caught in my throat when I saw that he was completely naked! I quickly averted my gaze, covering my chest with my hands.

“O-Oh my gosh! I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were… I-I should go out!” I stammered, panicking.

“No need,” he replied. “Why? Are you afraid, Miss Litcher?”

“Huh? I’m… N-No! I’m just s-surprised.”

“Have you never seen a naked man before?”

“No. I haven’t.”

“Oh,” he said, sounding intrigued by my response.

I had never seen a naked man before, as I was a virgin. The embarrassment was overwhelming, and my ears burned red.

“Look around, Miss Litcher.”

“W-What?”

“Look at me.”

“Are you dressed now?”

“Look at me, Beatrice.”

A shiver ran down my spine as he said my name. He knew me. Panic set in again, and I didn’t know how to respond. Should I look at him, or should I keep my gaze averted? Would he be upset if I didn’t comply? I struggled to decide, but before I could make up my mind, I felt his hands on my arms, gently turning me to face him.

My body tensed as I found myself gazing into his deep green eyes. His forehead was slightly furrowed, and his breathing seemed labored.

“When I tell you to look at me, you look, okay?”

#booksbooksbooks #book reviews #bookworm #writeblr #bookblr #books #book release #writerscommunity #poetry #tagalog stories #desire #dark romance #romance books #romance novels #romance #fictionreading #fiction #novel #novella #short story #short stories #book recommendations #currently reading #reading #books and reading #booklr

[stellarsong-official]

Umihip ang malamig na hangin mula sa hilaga, at humuni ng malungkot na awit ang mga ibon sa alapaap. Binalot ng ulap ang langit na tilang makapal na abo.

Umupo ako sa bakal na duyan ng palaruan ng aming eskuwelahan. Ang bakal ay umungol sa aking pag-upo. Ang mundo ay nagdalamhati sa pagkawala ni Harris.

Mula pa noon, perpekto nang bayani si Harris. Matapang, mabait, at matikas—nasa kaniya na ang lahat. Kaya ipinagtaka ng lahat noong ako ay kaniyang pinansin at kaniyang minahal. Dahil sino ba ang mamansin sa akin? Wala akong katangiang katangi-tangi para ibigin ng isang katulad ni Harris. Pero minahal niya parin ako—pero kinalimutan niya na ako. Simula noong niligtas niya ang ang aming bayan mula sa mga mananakop, lumayo ang loob niya sa akin. Sinabi niya na ang buong Usales ay kailangan niya nang alagaan, hindi lang ako. Ngayon ay patay na siya.

Ang buong kaharian ay nagkagulo, ang iba ay nagdalamhati sa pagkawala ng isang bayani, ang iba naman ay naghanap ng ipapalit sa kaniya. Hindi ako nabilang sa alinman; hindi ako nangulila gaya ng aking inasahan.

Pina-ugoy ko ang duyan at ito ay umungol. Pasira na ito; ang pintura ay natutuklap na at kinakalawang na ang bakal nito. Ang palaruang ito ang pabarito naming tambayan ni Harris. Dito rin niya ako unang hinalikan. Naalala ko ang pakiramdam noong idampi niya ang kaniyang labi sa akin, ang tuwa na bumalot sa aking katawan. Ngayon ito ay wasak na, isang duyan lamang ang natira.

Umupo ako doon ng sandali, inaalala ang lahat ng nangyari sa pagitan naming dalawa nang biglang magliwanag ang aking paningin at ako ay nasilaw.

Sa isang iglap, ako ay napadpad sa isang maulap na palasyong makinang at maputi ang mga dingding. Lumutang sa aking harapan ang bangkay ni Harris, ang kaniyang balat ay makinang at makinis. Guwapo parin siya kahit namatay na.

"Kay ganda niyang tingnan, hindi ba?" Sinabi ng babaeng boses mula sa aking likuran. Ako ay tumalon sa bigla. Nilabas ko ang aking mahiwagang baton at hinanap ang nilalang na nagsalita. Isang usang antropomorpiko na nakasuot ng puting bestidang mahaba na may mga kulay rosas na bulaklak na nakapalamuti ay lumabas mula sa likod ng isang marmol na haligi. Tumawa siya. "Huwag kang matakot, Aliya. Ako ay isang kaibigan."

"Sino ka? Anong gusto mo s'akin?" Itinutok ko sa kaniya ang aking baton, handang tumawag ng mahika kung siya ay aatake.

"Hindi mo ako nakikilala?" Kaniyang ipinagtaka. "Ako ay si Rusalia, ang diyosa ng sangkahayupan. Ako ang pumili kay Harris para maging bayani ng Usales."

Ako ay nagtaka. Hindi kailanman binanggit ni Harris ang bagay na ito. "Kung gayon," aking sinagot, "anong kailangan mo sakin? Bakit ako nandito?"

"Hindi mo pa ba nahahalata?" Bumungisngis siya. "Ikaw ang papalit sa kaniya. Ikaw ang bagong bayani ng kaharian ng Usales."

Ako ay natulala. "B-b-p-paano? Isa akong walang kuwentang tao na nagkataon lamang na minahal ni Harris!"

"Ilang segundo bago siya namatay, tinawag ko siya dito sa aking palasyo. Malaya niyang tinanggap ang kaniyang kapalaran at tinanong ko sa kaniya kung sino ang maaring pumalit sa kaniya. Ikaw ang pinili niya, Aliya. Ikaw."

"H-hindi ko kaya. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko at baka pumalya ako at—"

"Inaasahan ko na isasakatuparan mo ang iyong mga tungkulin na may katapangan at karangalan." Pumalakpak siya ng isang beses at muling nagliwanag ang aking paningin.

"Hindi! Hindi ko—"

Sa isang iglap, ako ay nakaupo muli sa duyan, may hawak nang espada. Nanginig ang lupa. Nagtakbuhan ang mga tao palabas ng eskuwelahan, at binalot ng mga tili ng takot ang paligid. Biglang dumagundong ang isang ungol at naaninag ko ang isang halimaw na binunot ang mga puno at tinapon ang mga ito sa malayo. Hawak-hawak ang espada, ako ay lumakad papunta sa halimaw, kinalaban ang daloy ng tao. Wala akong ibang naisip kundi pigilan ang halimaw na ito. Ang aking mga hakbang ay unti-unting bumilis, at namulat ko na ako ay tumatakbo na, dala-dala ang espadang kumikiskis sa sementong lapag.

Ako ay madaling nakarating sa kinaroroonan ng halimaw. Ito ay naghasik ng lagim—sinira ng buntot nito ang kaniyang mga paligid at dinaganan ng kaniyang mga malalaking paa ang mga taong walang magawa kundi sumigaw sa bigat ng halimaw. Inobserbahan ko ang halimaw na kahugis ng buwaya na may maputik na kulay. Napansin ko na may nakakimkim na galit sa dilaw niyang mga mata. Nagpakawala uli ito ng isang nakakabinging ungol.

Ako ay nagalit at iwinagayway ang aking kamay para makuha ang atensyon nito. "Hoy!" Aking sinigaw. "Ako ang kalabanin mo!" Lumingon sa akin ang halimaw at tinitigan ako ng ilang segundo bago ako sinigawan ng napakalakas. Tumakbo ako ng mabilis papunta dito habang lumakad siya sa akin. Ang mga mata nito ay naging kulay pula sa labis na pagkagalit. Noong ako ay nakalapit, ang kanang kamay nito ay sumalubong sa akin. Tumalon ako ng napakataas para iwasan ito. Habang nasa taas, itinutok ko ang aking espada sa halimaw. At sa aking bulusok pababa, isinuot ko ito sa pagitan ng kaniyang mga mata, at tinamaan ang bungo at utak nito. Hinila ko ang espada mula sa kaniyang bungo at lumapag ng ligtas bago bumagsak sa lupa, katabi ang halimaw na wala nang buhay.

Huminga ako ng malalim. Ligtas na ang eskuwelahan,  ligtas na ito mula sa halimaw na nasa harap ko. Nagsilabasan ang mga tao sa kanilang pinagtataguan at tinitigan nila ang halimaw na may pagkamangha. "Isang bayani!" Tawag ng isang estudyante at itinuro ako. "Isang bayani," nagbulung-bulungan ang mga tao. Dumami ng dumami at lumakas ng lumakas ang tunog hanggang nagsimula silang magpalakpakan. Nakakabingi. Nakakatakot. Hindi ko na makaya ang tunog at kumaripas ako ng takbo. Kailangan kong puntahan ang kaisa-isang lugar sa eskuwelahan na alam kong ligtas ako.

Sa aking pagpasok, isinara ko ang pinto at hinarangan ito para walang makapasok. Ligtas na ako, aking inisip. Umupo ako so lapag at hinabol ang aking hininga. Nasa silid-aklatan ako. Dito makakahanap ako ng sagot na aking kailangan. Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali, tumayo ako muli at tumungo sa mga libro. Siguradong may mahahanap akong impormasyon tungkol sa espadang aking hawak.

Historya ng Mga Halamang Gamot. Historya ng Mga Mananahi. Ayun! Historya ng Mga Espada at Ibang Mga Sandata! Kinuha ko ang librong ito at dinala sa patungan ng aklat. Binasa ko isa-isa ang mga pahina. Wala akong mahanap na kahugis ng aking espada. Bumalik ako sa mga istante. Ang Historya ng mga Patay. Historya ng Mga Lason. Historya ng mga Diyos at Diyosa? Binasa ko ito.

Rusalia, Diyosa ng Kahayupan

Ang diyosang ito ay may anyong katulad ng isang usa at isang tao. Kaya nitong magbago ng anyo at baguhin ang damdamin ng mga hayop. Hindi niya napapasok ang isip ng isang tao maliban na lang kung pumayag ang tao, o mahina ang katawan nito. Walang may alam kung nasaan ang diyosa.

Pinasok niya ba ang aking isip kaya ako'y naging matapang? Pumayag ba talaga si Harris na magpakontrol sa kaniya? Binago ko ang pahina.

Al' Wira, Diyosa ng Mga Bayani

Isang matapang na mandirigma na pinatawan ng Maykapal ng katangi-tanging katangian, si Al' Wira ay tinawag ang kaniyang sariling "Diyosa ng Mga Bayani." May hawak siyang isang malaking espada (tingnan ang libro tungkol sa mga mahiwagang kagamitan) na ginagamit niya para paslangin ang kaniyang mga kalaban. Napaslang siya habang nilalabanan ang isang mabangis na titan. Walang nakaaalam kung nasaan na ang espada.

Tumakbo ako at hinanap ang librong sinasabi sa sipi. Mga Mahihiwagang Kagamitan sa Historya. Mabilis kong pinaraanan ang libro hanggang mahanap ko ang tinutukoy ng may akda.

Espada ng Diyosa ng Mga Bayani

Ito ang espadang ginamit ng diyosang si Al' Wira sa pakikipaglaban. Malaki ang talim ng espadang ito at may isang ginintuang hawakan. Ang mga disenyong naka-ukit sa espada ay batay sa kuwento ng pagkahirang ng diyosang gumamit nito. Sa bakal ng espada ay may naka-ukit na mga salita. "Maging Bayani ang Sinomang Humawak Ng Espada. Ngunit ang Magmataas ay Mawawalan Ng Dangal." Sinasabing ang mga salitang ito ay ang propesiya ng pagkamatay ng diyosa. Walang nakakaalam kung nasaan na ang espada.

Iginuhit ng may akda ang espadang kaniyang tinukoy. Tinaas ko ang aking hawak. Magkahawig ang dalawa. Pati ang deskripsiyon ay tumpak na tumpak. Nakakatawa. Isang biro lamang ito, di'ba? Nakakatawa. Papaanong nangyaring ako, akong isang walang halagang tao, ay ang hahawak sa isang dakilang espada. Isa lamang akong tauhan sa kuwento ni Harris. Hindi ako ang bida. Tumawa ako. Hindi ako pwede maging isang bayani. Tumawa ako ng tumawa hanggang ito ay naging luha. Hindi ko kaya. Umiyak ako hanggang ako ay makatulog.

Makalipas ang ilang oras, ako ay nagising sa aking kwarto, ang aking mga magulang ay pinapanood ako. Bumangon ako. "Huh?" Aking sinabi na may kahirapan. Masakit ang aking lalamunan. "Paano po ako napunta dito?" "Nakita ka namin sa silid-aklatan sa eskuwelahan niyo," sinabi ng aking ama habang pinapainom ako ng tubig. "Anong nangyari, anak?" Binulong ng aking ina. Nakita ko ang pag-aalala sa kanilang mga mata at ako'y muling naluha. "Hindi ko po alam, ma." Yinakap nila akong pareho habang ipinaliwanag ko ang lahat. "Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko po ngayon. Hindi po ako karapatdapat maging bayani. Wala po akong kakayahan para maging katulad ni Harris. Hindi ko po kaya. Hindi," aking niluha. "Aliya," sinabi ng aking ama. "Marami kang kakayahan, anak. Huwag kang papayag na may magsabi sa iyong hindi." Tumango ako. "At kailangan mong maging bayani," kaniyang idinagdag. "Kailangan mong siguraduhing hindi matutupad ang propesiya sa atin." "Ano pong propesiya?" Aking itinanong. Nagtinginan silang dalawa. "Sigurado ka ba?" Tinanong ng aking ina sa aking ama. Tumango siya.

"Noong ang Usales ay itinatag, pinaslang ng ating mga ninuno ang isa sa kanilang mga kasama dahil naging traydor ito. Bago mamatay ang lalaking ito, may mga demonyong pumasok sa kaniyang duguang katawan at may sinabi sa isang malalim na boses. 'Dadami ang inyong mga anak at sasakupin niyo ang isang buong bayan. Ngunit sa segundong ipinanganak na ang inyong ika-sampung libong kadugo, lalamunin kayong lahat ng mga halimaw mula sa ilalim ng lupa at mamatay lahat ng inyong mga anak. Malilimutan kayo ng mundo at walang sinumang makaka-alala sa inyo.'" Huminga ng malalim ang aking ama. "Malapit nang magkaroon ng sampung libong katao sa ating bayan," kaniyang idinalamhati.

"Kaya dapat mong pigilin ang propesiyang ito, Aliya. Ikaw lang ang makagagawa nito." Tiningnan ko ang espadang nakapatong sa tabi ng aking higaan at tumango. "Magiging bayani po ako ng Usales," aking binulong. "Ililigtas ko po ang ating kaharian sa pagkawasak." "Salamat, anak." Yinakap nila akong muli at ibinalik ko ito sa kanila.

Bumalik ako sa aking eskuwelahan kinabukasan. Lahat ng aking nakasalubong ay kinakausap ako.

"Ang galing mo, Aliya!" Sigaw sa akin ng isang lalaki habang ako'y naglalakad. "Bayani kita, Aliya!" Sinabi ng isang maliit na babaeng may matinis na boses. Bawat apak ko ay may tumatawag sa akin para pumuri o magtanong.

"Aliya," tawag sa akin ng dalawang babaeng aking nakasalubong, "hindi ba ikaw yung dating kasintahan ni Harris?" Tumango ako. "Grabe. Kaya pala pinatulan ka niya kahit panget ka." Inikot nila ang kanilang mga mata bago lumakad palayo. Ako ay napayuko sa hiya at ilang. Ganoon ba talaga ang tingin ng mga tao sa aming dalawa? Minahal ako ni Harris kaya ko siya naging kasintahan. Hindi dahil magaling ako o magaling siya. Minahal niya ako at minahal ko rin siya.

Sa pagpasok ko sa aking klase, nagbulung-bulungan ang aking mga kaklase. Nailang ako lalo at nakayukong lumakad papunta sa aking upuan. "Aliya," tawag sa akin ng aking guro, "pumunta ka sa opisina ni Punonggurong Farah. Pinapatawag ka niya." Agad akong tumayo at nagsimulang lumakad palabas ng silid. "At dalhin mo daw yung espada mo." Nagsimulang magbulung-bulungan muli ang aking mga kaklase at nagpatuloy parin ako sa aking paglabas.

Kumatok ako sa pintuan papunta sa opisina ng punongguro. Ang puso ko'y tumatakbo ng napakabilis na iyon lang ang aking narinig sa kaba. "Pumasok ka," sagot mula sa loob. Inikot ng aking nanginginig na kamay ang hawakan ng pintuan at pumasok.

Maliit lamang ang opisina ni Punonggurong Farah ngunit maraming mga abubot na nakapaligid dito. Mga simbolo ng isang usa, mga litrato ng mga guro, at iba pa. Nakaupo ang punongguro sa likod ng isang kahoy na lamesa, may binabasang mga papeles na napagtanto kong akin. Pinaupo niya ako sa harapan niya.

"Aliya Atilia, animnapung taong gulang, nasa ika-sampung baitang," kaniyang binasa. "Sabihin mo nga sa akin, Aliya: anong pinagmamayabang mo?" Nabigla ako. "Ano po?" "Ano bang kakahayan mo kaya apaka yabang mo?" Hindi ako nakapagsalita. "Dahil ba sa espada mo? Gustong mong ipagmalaki ito kaya inatake mo ang halimaw?" "Hindi po iyon!" Aking mabilis na sinabi. "Ginusto ko lang pong—" "O hindi kaya gusto mong patunayan na kasing-galing ka ni Harris? Desperada ka bang maging bayani tulad niya?" Umiling ako at bumulong. "Hindi po." "Wala ka namang ipagyayabang, Aliya. Hindi ka maganda at hindi ka malakas," kaniyang sinalita. "Hindi ba kawalan ng galang kung papalitan siya ng isang katulad mo kaagad?" Pinilit ko ang aking sariling huwag lumuha sa harap niya. "Hindi ko muna kukuhanin ang espada mo. Basta ipangako mong hindi mo uulitin ang iyong ginawa. Maliwanag ba?" Hindi ako umimik. "Maliwanag ba?" Tinaas niya ang kaniyang tono. Nagulat ako at tumango. "Opo." "Sige, makakaalis ka na."

Pagkalabas ko sa opisina ay bumagsak ako sa lupa at umiyak. Marahas ang kaniyang mga sinabi sa akin. Hindi ko naman kasalanan ang nangyari. Hindi ko pinili na maging isang bayani. Hindi ko ginustong mamatay si Harris. Wala akong kontrol sa anumang nangyari. At hindi ba dapat silang matuwa at magpasalamat sa aking ginawa? Walang mga utang na loob. Apaka damot nila. Tinitigan ko ang aking espada. Isang diyosa ang minsang humawak nito. "Maging Bayani ang Sinomang Humawak Ng Espada." Iyon ang nakasulat sa mga letrang nakaukit dito. Ako ay isang bayani dahil hawak ko ang espada. Magiging isa akong bayani at papatunayan ko sa aming punong-guro na may kakayanan ako dahil nasa akin ang espada. Tumayo ako mula sa aking kinauupuan at yumanig muli ang lupa.

Isa nanamang halimaw, aking naisip. At tama ako. Iba ang itsura ng halimaw ngayon. Ito ay lumilipad gamit ang isang pares ng makulay na mga pakpak. Isa itong malaking paru-paro. Sa bawat pagaspas ng mga pakpak nito ay isang buhawi ang nahuhubog. Tumakbo muli ang mga tao palayo dito at naghanap ng matataguan. Ito ang pagkakataon kong patunayan ang aking sarili.

Gamit ang aking mahiwagang baton, pinalutang ko ang aking katawan sa ere. Lumapit ako sa halimaw at hinigpitan ang hawak sa espada. Nadama ng paru-paro ang aking presensya at humarap sa akin. Itinulak niya ako palayo gamit ang mga buhawi at ako ay nagpa-ikot-ikot sa hangin. May tunog ng paglagutok mula dito. Itinuwid ko ang aking sarili at inatake ang halimaw. Sa isang tama ay pinutol ko ang ulo nito at nahulog ito sa lapag. Dahan-dahan akong lumapag.

Biglang nagpalakpan at nagsigawan ang mga tao. Nakita ko ang mga ngiti sa kanilang mga mata at lumakas ang aking loob. Isa akong bayani.

Lumapit sa akin ang punong-guro, ngayon ay nakangiti. Walang bakas sa kaniyang mukha ang pagkamuhing ipinakita niya kanina. Pinatong niya ang kaniyang kamay sa aking balikat at hinarap and madla.

"Kamakailan lamang, nawala ang isang matapang na bayani sa ating bayan. Isinakripisyo ni Harris ang kaniyang buhay para iligtas ang ating kaharian mula sa mga masasamang puwersa. Inakala nating lahat na wala nang magproprotekta sa atin. Ngunit salamat sa Maykapal!" Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay at itinaas ito. "Binigyan niya tayo ng isang bagong bayaning marangal at matapang!" Pumalakpak at nagsigawan lalo ang mga tao. "Kaya ngayon, gamit ang kapangyarihang initaang sa akin ng mga diyosa, pinaparangalan ko ang estudyanteng si Aliya Atilia bilang isang bayani ng Usales!" Isang estudyante—ang anak ng punong-guro—ang naghatid ng medalya ni Harris at isinuot ito sa akin. "Purihin ang bayani!" Pumalakpak muli ang mga tao at hinigpitan ng punong-guro ang hawak sa aking balikat. "Nanalo ka na, Atilia," kaniyang ibinulong. "Nanalo ka na."

*-*

Tumakbo ako paikot sa halimaw, at nilito ito. Sa aking bawat hakbang ay pinutol ko ang isa sa kaniyang walong mga paa. Bumagsak ito at walang nagawa kundi igalaw ang mga nalabi sa kaniyang mga paa. Tiningnan nito ang aking mga mata bago ko hatiin ang katawan nito sa dalawa. Pumalakpak muli ang mga tao at ako'y pinuri. "Ang galing mo talaga, Aliya!" Sinabi sa akin ng isang tagahanga. Hindi ko siya pinansin at naglakad ako pauwi sa aking bahay.

Isang taon na ang nakalipas mula noong ako ay naging bayani ng Usales. Dumadami ang mga halimaw na sumusulpot sa aming bayan. Pinapaslang ko silang lahat. Ako ay binigyan ng malaking tahanan ng mga pinuno dahil sa aking istado at kabayanihan. Pumasok ako dito at sinalubong ako ng aking mga magulang sa loob. "Anak!" Sinubukan akong yakapin ng aking ina ngunit ako ay umiwas. "Kamusta ka na?" "Anong ginagawa niyo dito?" Pagalit kong tinanong. "Bumisita lang kami, anak. Matagal na nang huli tayong nagkita," sabi ng aking ina. "Nangungulila na kami sa iyo, Aliya. Umuwi ka muna sa bahay, anak," hiniling ng aking ama. "Ito na ang bahay ko. Umalis na kayo." "Hindi mo bahay ito, anak. Sumama ka na sa amin." "Mala-palasyo na ang bahay ko," aking sinagot. "Ayaw ko nang bumalik sa bahay niyong maliit at madumi. Hindi ba sinabi niyong huwag na'kong babalik don?" "Hindi ko sinasadya, anak. Nadala lang ako ng galit." Inikot ko ang aking mga mata. "Bahala kayo dyan." Dinaanan ko sila at umakyat sa hagdan patungo sa aking silid. "Aliya!" Sinigaw ng aking ama bago ko isinarado ang aking pinto.

Inimbitahan ako ng isang opisyal sa isang pagdiriwang sa kaniyang tahanan. Sinuot ko ang aking pinakamagandang damit at inayos ko ang aking buhok. Maraming mga makapangyarihang tao doon kaya kailangan kong magpakitang gilas. May kumatok sa pintuan. Andiyan na ang aking sundo. Wala naman na siguro ang aking mga magulang. Itinago ko ang aking espada at baton sa aking saya at lumabas ng aking bahay.

Habang kami ay naglalakbay, dinaanan ng aking sinasakyan ang isang ilog. Iba't-ibang klase ng halaman ang tumutubo sa paligid. May mga usa at mga unggoy na naglalaro sa tabi nito. Ang isa sa mga usa ay lumayo sa kaniyang grupo para uminom mula sa malinaw na tubig ng ilog. Mapayapa itong yumuko para makainom ng biglang lumukso ang isang halimaw mula sa ilalim ng ilog at nilamon itong buo. Ako ay nabigla at pinatigil ang karitela. Nilabas ko ang aking espada at lumabas para harapin ang halimaw.

Lumapit ako dito at ako'y agad napansin. Ipinakita ng halimaw ang kaniyang buong anyo at tila'y tumayo itong nagbabanta. May mahaba itong katawan na parang isang ahas. Ang katawan nito ay pinuprotektahan ng mala-armor na kaliskis. May ulo ito ng isang dragon. "Traydor," sinalita ng serpyente, ipinapakita ang matatalas na ngipin nito. Pareho ang galit na nakakimkim sa mga mata nito ng halimaw na aking unang pinaslang. Napalulon ako. Sa unang pagkakataon sa aking buhay, ako ay totoong natakot.

Wala akong ibang naisip kung hindi atakihin ang halimaw. Pinalo ko ang aking espada sa katawan nito ngunit hindi ito tumalab. Nagalit lalo ang halimaw at umungol, ang laway nito'y umulan sa akin. Biglang inilabas nito ang kaniyang mga pakpak at lumipad palayo. Napanganga ako. Kakaiba ang halimaw sa lahat ng aking nakalaban. Nang napagtanto ko na patungo siya sa bayan ay kumaripas ako ng takbo.

Naabutan ko ang serpyente sa eskuwelahan at tinatakot nito ang mga tao. Lumipad itong malapit sa lupa at sinungab ang mga taong kaniyang nadaanan bago bumalik sa taas na parang isang agilang walang paa. Nilulon niya ang kaniyang mga nahuli at inulit ang proseso.

Tumayo lang ako at pinanood ang karumal-dumal na mga pangyayari. Hindi ko na alam ang aking gagawin. Nilulon niya ang marami pang mga tao at sumisid muli pababa. "Aliya!" May tumawag sa akin. Lumingo ako at nakita ang punonggurong tumatakbo. "Si Daniel..." Kaniyang ibinuntong hininga. "Ano?" Aking tinanong. Maputla ang kaniyang mukha. "Nakuha ng halimaw si Daniel. Nakuha niya ang anak ko!" Tumingin ako sa taas at nakitang linamon nito ang mga tao, kasama ang anak ng punongguro. "Ipaghiganti mo siya, Aliya. Pakiusap." "H-h-hindi ko kaya!" Hindi niya ako pinansin. "Ipaghiganti mo, bayani, ang aking anak." Inikot niya ako palayo sa kaniya at itinulak ako. Hindi ko inantisipa ito at ako'y napatid sa isang bato. Napansin ako ng halimaw at lumipad papunta sa akin. Tumayo ako at hawak ang aking espada'y sinalubong siya.

Imbis na patayin ang serpyente, sumabit ang espada sa mga pangil nito. Lumipad ako sa ere, sinusubukang humigpit sa hawakan para hindi mahulog. Binitaw ko ang isa sa aking mga kamay at hinanap ang aking baton. Nang nakuha ko ito ay bumitaw ako at pinalutang ang aking sarili. "Traydor!" Muling sinalita ng halimaw. Nahulog ang aking espada mula sa kaniyang mga pangil at sinalo ko ito.

Sumisid siya muli at inatake ako. Gamit ang aking mahika ay gumawa ako ng pananggalang para protektahan ang aking sarili. Ngunit sa isang kagat lamang ay unti-unti nang nabasag ito. Wala na akong magawa. Malapit niya na akong lamunin. Lumiwanag ang aking paningin.

Nasa palasyo ako muli ng diyosang si Rusalia. Wala na ang bangkay ni Harris na naging abo. Wala na rin ang dating kinang ng mga dingding at kagamitan. Lumuluha ang diyosa habang ako'y kinausap. "Patawad, Aliya. Nagkamali ako. Pumalya akong pigilan ang sumpa. Binigo ko ang Usales." "Anong sinasabi mo? Anong nagyayari?" "Hindi ko siya napigilan. Mawawala ang Usales. Mamamatay kayong lahat para iligtas ang mundo," kaniyang sinabi. "Walang makakaalala sa inyong sakripisyo maliban sa Maykapal." "Ngunit wala ka bang magagawa?" Aking kwinestiyon. "Ikaw ang diyosa ng mga hayop. Hindi mo ba siya mapipigilan?" "Mamamatay lamang ako. Mas ligtas ako dito sa alapaap." "Hindi mo man lang susubukan? Anong klaseng diyosa ka?" "Huwag mo akong paparatangan, mortal," kaniyang isinigaw. "Inililigtas ko lamang ang aking sarili. Gagawin mo rin ito kung ikaw ang nasa posiyon ko." "Makasarili ka," aking sinabi. "Wala sanang magmahal sa iyo." "Katulad mo?" Kaniyang kalmadong sinabi. Ako ay nalito. "Anong ibig sabihin mo d'on?" "Gusto mo ba malaman kung bakit ka pinatulan ni Harris?" Naguluhan ako. "D-dahil mahal niya ako at mahal ko rin siya. 'Yon lang ang dahilan." Tumawa siya. "Hindi," kaniyang isinambitla. "Pinatulan ka niya dahil nakita niya ang iyong potensyal sa mahika. Ginamit niya ito para maging mas malakas sa iyo. Iyon lamang ang dahilan." Parang nadurog ang aking puso. "H-hindi totoo 'yan!" Aking idinepensa. "Mahal niya 'ko." Hindi ko pinaniwalaan ang aking sinabi. "Wala kang kamuwang-muwang, Aliya."

Naglakad siya papunta sa akin. "Mawawala ang Usales at hindi natin parehong kaya piggilan ito. Ngunit sa iyong pagkamatay ay hindi masisira ang mundo kasama nito." Hindi ko siya pinansin. Ang nasa isip ko lamang ay si Harris. Totoo bang hindi niya ako minahal? Kapag hinahalikan niya ako, laging nakamulat ang kaniyang mga mata. Ang kaniyang mga ngiti ay hindi kailanmang umabot sa kaniyang mga mata. Kay tanga ko. Lumiwanag muli ang aking paningin.

Malapit nang mabasag ang pananggalang aking ginawa. Ngunit wala na akong pakialam. Ayoko nang mabuhay sa isang mundong walang nagmamahal sa akin. Tuluyang nabasag na ang aking proteksyon at ako'y nahulog sa bunganga ng halimaw. Ang lahat ng mga nangyari ay nagliliwanag sa aking mga mata bago ako binabalot ng kadiliman hanggang wala na akong nararamdaman.

#tagalog #pinoy #pinoyako #nobela #novel #tagalog story #maikling kuwento #kuwento #fantasy #epiko #filipino #creative writing #this is a period piece

[jade-go]

Don't miss the chance to fall in love with Daxon and Reign's story! 😍

CLICK TO READ MORE

#my writing #jade go #book #books & libraries #fiction #literature #book recommendations #fall in love #romancenovel #romance #books and novels #bookaholic #bookworm #wattpad #story #love story #tagalog novel #yugto novel #novella

[mentisflatus]

Hope you like it! A page from (if ever I get lucky) my first-ever graphic novel. It's an updated story of the "Tagalog Creation Myth" as retold by Mabel Cook Cole in 1916. I finished a six-page preview in two-days time. 🔥🚀🌞🇵🇭

#Tagalog Creation Myth #Philippine Mythology #Philippine Legends #Mythology #Mabel Cook Cole #Graphic Novel #Art #Visual Design #fantasy #fantasy art

[lewis-winters]

I was just curious but do you have any recs for period dramas about the philippines? I want to expand my period drama watching and im not quite sure where to start

Oh, the monster you've unleashed. YES I do have so many period dramas from and about the Philippines. Unfortunately, not all of them might be accessible to you if you're outside of the Philippines. Some of them are found on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and MUBI though. I'll make sure to put a lil note next to each film if they are. Also! these vary in genre (meaning: not all of them are war films, and some of these are horror films-- because this is me we're talking to, heh). I also have copies of some of these and will make a lil note next to each film if it's available for sharing, though I'll only give the link via DM. Please note, however, that they are all either in Tagalog, Bisaya, and/or other local Philippine Languages and not all of them have subtitles!

I also have very nuanced relationships with all these films, since Philippine History was my undergrad of choice. But to keep this post as brief as possible, I'm not going to talk about them at length. Though I will be including trigger warnings. Also note... some of these movies kinda suck HAAHAHAHA but I had way too much fun watching them so like. Please don't tell me they suck, please. I love them too much.

Also tagging @emmylynnaa because I promised her a similar list.

This is sorted by eras in Philippine History. Enjoy! (under the cut because it got long):

Spanish Occupation Era (1565 to 1898)

GomBurZa (2023) – A film following the GomBurZa, the three native Filipino Roman Catholic priests Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora executed during the latter years of the Spanish colonial era. TW: period typical violence. Furthermore, this is a Jesuit produced film so like. Once again. Take it with a grain of salt.

Jose Rizal (1998) - Jose Rizal's life and works are recounted through a series of non-linear flashbacks which reflect on various aspects of his life - as writer, propagandist, lover, friend, brother, doctor, and the man that inspired a revolution. Available on MUBI. TW: depiction of sexual assault by a priest. I also have a love-hate relationship with this film because on one hand, literally shaped my love of history. On the other hand, it is the MOST idealistic depiction of Jose Rizal ever + very historically inaccurate in many places, please watch this with a grain of salt.

Maria Clara at Ibarra (2022 – 2023) – A series about a girl from the 21st century who is magically transported into Jose Rizal’s famous novels Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo (you know, the novels that helped spark the Filipino Revolution against the Spanish). The synopsis sounds cheesy but trust me, it’s very good. Available to watch on the GMA official webpage. I just don’t know if you can access it outside of the country. TW: rape, abuses of the Catholic church, period typical violence, abuses of Spanish colonialists. A personal favorite—the costumes? Divine. And the character arcs are also really lovely. Helps you understand Philippine contemporary culture, too.

Katipunan: TV Mini Series (2013) – A mini-series depicting the creation of the Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (or the KKK—no, not the white supremacist group; that’s unfair, by the way, we did it first), the revolutionary organization founded in 1892 by Filipino Nationalists against Spanish Colonialization. Available to watch on the GMA official webpage. I just don’t know if you can access it outside of the country. TW: depictions of rape aftermath by Spanish soldiers, period typical violence, torture, graphic depictions of a corpse. This is a personal favorite of mine.

Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis/A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery (2016) - Andrés Bonifacio is celebrated as the father of the Philippines Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. This eight-hour epic examines this myth, undertaking an expedition into history through various interwoven narrative threads, held together by an exploration of the individual’s role in history. Available on Mubi. TW: it is literally eight hours long. But that’s Lav Diaz for you. I love him, but oh my god is he an acquired taste.

Ang Kababaihan ng Malolos (2014) - The saga of the 20 Filipino women who petitioned for the opening of a school in a time when women weren’t given the chance to do so.

Ganito Kami Noon... Paano Kayo Ngayon? (1976) – Set during the end of Spanish colonization and the start of American colonization. After his mother's death, the simple-minded and naïve Kulas (Christopher De Leon) begins his much-awaited trip to Manila. On his way to Manila, he mindlessly takes on the mission of retrieving a friar's son and bringing him to the friar's residence.

Mallari (2023) - A horror film chronicling the deeds of the first recorded serial killer in the Philippines. This film spans decades, all the way up to present day. It's kinda stupid. Like. Really stupid. That's ok. We watch it because we want to see Piolo Pascual and JC Santos covered in blood. TW: oh my god so many bodies and so much gore.

Filipino-American War and America Occupation (1899 – 1940s) (this era has the best films, actually, if you want a place to start and start strong? start here)

Amigo (2010) - A local leader of a small Filipino barangay must decide whether to keep the peace with the American troops occupying his village or join the insurgency with his brother and son. TW: racism, sexual harassment, graphic depictions of corpses, gore, period typical violence.

Heneral Luna (2015) - Set during the Philippine-American war, Heneral Luna follows the life of one of Philippine History's most brilliant soldier, General Antonio Luna, as he tries to lead his countrymen against colonial masters new and old, and to rise above their own raging disputes to fulfill the promise of the Philippine Revolution. Available on Netflix. TW: short scene depicting the aftermath of sexual assault, period typical violence, and graphic depictions of a corpse. Again, one of my favorites. I have so many happy memories of this film + the fandom it birthed! I miss it sometimes.

Angelito (2018) – The short film that bridges both Heneral Luna and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, depicting the brothers Manuel and Jose Bernal – Antonio Luna’s aides-de-camp – and their youngest brother Angel, two days before the General’s assassination. This film you can find on Youtube!

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (2019) – The sequel of Heneral Luna, this film follows the story of Gregorio 'Goyo' del Pilar, one of the youngest Generals during the Philippine-American War who fought in the historic Battle of Tirad Pass. Available on Netflix. TW: short scenes of torture, period typical violence, and graphic depictions of a corpse. Again, a personal favorite for the same reasons stated above. Though it’s not as strong as Heneral Luna, I gotta say.

Ang Larawan (2017) - In a musical tale about standing together against materialism, two impoverished sisters anguish over whether or not to sell a painting, the final masterpiece by their recluse father. A bitter struggle for survival against betrayal set in pre-World War II Manila. A personal favorite, oh my god. This film. Oh my god, this film.

World War 2 and its aftermath (1940 – 1950)

Quezon’s Game (2018) - In 1938, Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon, military adviser Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with other notable figures, set out to rescue Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. Quezon simultaneously deals with a relapse of tuberculosis. Available on Amazon Prime. TW: talk of genocide and short scenes depicting the murder of Jewish people by the Nazis.

Tatlong Taong Walang Dios (1976) - A woman falls in love with a Japanese soldier during the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines; the whole town turns against her. TW: rape. Think Malena.

Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) - Set in the Philippine island of Negros during World War II, it tells the story of how two hacendero families cope with the changes brought about by the war. TW: rape

Kusina (2016) – Her kitchen. The silent witness to the life and love of Juanita. It is her sanctuary, the place where she creates dishes for her family, friends, even enemies and strangers. Through cooking, she gets to know the people around her. TW: violent child birth, death of mother in child birth, sexual harassment by Japanese soldiers. This spans multiple decades, all the way up to Martial Law.

In My Mother’s Skin (2023) - Stranded in the Philippines during World War II, a young girl finds that her duty to protect her dying mother is complicated by her misplaced trust in a beguiling, flesh-eating fairy. Available on Amazon Prime. TW: body horror, gore, explicit depictions of a corpse, period typical violence.

Markova: Comfort Gay (2000) – A coming of age drama film loosely based on the life of Walter Dempster Jr., the last surviving Filipino “comfort gay” (male sex slaves for the Imperial Japanese Army) from World War II. TW: CSA, wartime systemic rape, rape.

Comfort Women: A Cry for Justice (1994) – The story of how two sisters and the rest of the women of Sta. Monica are forced into sex slavery by Japanese soldiers during World War 2. TW: wartime systemic rape, rape, and period typical violence.

Seklusyon (2016) - In 1947, a group of deacons (aspiring priests) on their last week of training are sent to a remote monastery to live in seclusion for seven days to protect them from the devil, who on the last few days of training attempts to break the will of deacons to make them reconsider their choice of becoming priests. During their seclusion, a little girl named Anghela, believed by locals to be a living saint because of her healing abilities, appears at the monastery seeking refuge. Available on Amazon. TW: pedophilia, gore, body horror, Catholicism, religious horror.

Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang (2012) - A psychological thriller film detailing the psychological breakdown of a woman struggling with infertility in post-war Philippines. If you want to see women go feral, this is fun.

Martial Law (1970 – 1980) (actually, you know what? I lied. This era is the era with the best films. God, these are CLASSICS and are the ones that’ll help you understand contemporary Philippine culture the most; definitely start here)

Manila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) - Júlio Madiaga, a 'provinciano', arrives in Manila to search for his beloved, Ligaya. TW: coerced sex work, sexual abuse. Once again, a Filipino cinema classic.

Insiang (1976) - After a teenager is raped by her mother's boyfriend, she sets out to exact revenge on anyone who has hurt her. TW: I mean. It says it right there. Though it’s not actually shown on screen, it is very heavily implied. She doesn’t die in the end, if you’re wondering.

Dekada ’70 (2002) - A middle-class Filipino family struggles to survive in the era of dictatorship. This is a fucking classic in Filipino cinema. Available on MUBI. TW: sexual harrassment, discussion of torture, depictions of wounds and beatings, period typical violence. Martial Law was rough.

Aparisyon (2012) – A psychological drama film set in early 1970s, where the story about the nuns in the period immediately preceding the declaration of martial law by Ferdinand Marcos. The film’s director, Isabel Sandoval, is a transgender woman and an absolute visionary. Her other films Senorita (2011) and Lingua Franca (2019) are also very good, please check it out. All films are available for streaming through the Criterion Channel. TW: rape, religious trauma, period typical violence, Catholicism.

Lihis (2013) - Set in the 70’s during the darkest hours of Philippine History, we follow the story of two young NPA warriors who find themselves entangled in a web of frustration, despair and victory as they fight not only for democracy but also their love for each other. Available on MUBI. TW: Infidelity.

Barber’s Tales (2014) - In a rural town in the Philippines during the Marcos dictatorship, the newly widowed Marilou inherits the town's only barbershop from her husband- a business that has been passed down by generations of men in her husband's family. With no other means of support, she musters the courage to run the barbershop.

Dahling Nick (2015) - Dahling Nick is a docu-drama exploring the life and works of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, who only accepted the National Artist Award on the condition that the Marcos administration release a well-known writer who was being unjustly detained during Martial Law. I love Nick Joaquin. He’s shaped my understanding of the Magical Realist genre far more than any of his contemporaries have. This film is notoriously difficult to get your hands on, so I suggest going to read his anthology by Penguin Classics called the Tropical Gothic instead!

Respeto (2017) - Hendrix is a poor aspiring rapper who wants to make a name for himself in the underground rap battle scene and gain respect in the community. After attempting to rob a second-hand bookstore in the neighborhood, he is discovered by the owner, Doc, an old poet with a haunted past as a dissident. Not necessarily period, but definitely has its roots in Martial Law.

Liway (2018) – A film about the kip, a young boy growing up in a prison as the son of anti-Marcos dissident Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, better known as Commander Liway, during the waning days of the Marcos dictatorship. It is currently streaming on Youtube!

The Kingmaker (2019) - is a 2019 documentary film written and directed by Lauren Greenfield, featuring the political career of Imelda Marcos with a focus on the Marcos family's efforts to rehabilitate the family's image and to return to political power, including her plans to see her son, Bongbong, become President of the Philippines, and the alliance that Bongbong and Imee Marcos established with Rodrigo Duterte in his bid to win the 2016 Philippine presidential election. Available on Youtube! if outside of the Philippines, use VPN.

1980s – 2000s Philippines

Misteryo sa Tuwa (1984) - The fortunes of three impoverished friends and their families abruptly change after an airplane crashes in a nearby mountain.

Alpha Kappa Omega Batch ’81 (1982) – A psychological drama film depicting the titular fraternity's harsh initiation of new batch members as seen through the eyes of pre-med student Sid Lucero. TW: hazing, torture, psychological torture. It’s fucked up, actually.

Himala (1982) – During a total eclipse Elsa, a young girl from rural Philippines, allegedly witnesses an apparition of the Virgin Mary on top of the hill where, as an infant, she was found and adopted by Saling. Said visions change her life and cause a sensation hysteria in a poor, isolated northern village in the midst of drought. TW: rape, religious fanaticism, religious trauma.

Adela (2008) - The story of Adela, which takes place in the span of one day, is a heartbreaking story of a woman who longs for the company of her loved ones. This isn’t actually period. This film just breaks my heart. And of course, it has acting legend Anita Linda in it. How could I not recommend it?

Now Showing (2008) - Rita is named after a famous American movie star whom her late, former actress grandmother once adored. She lives in one of Manila’s oldest districts with her mother and aunt. Years later, she is still the same girl enamoured with television, now tending to her aunt’s stall selling pirated DVDs.

Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution (2011) - A woman from the end of the 19th century visits modern day Philippines and observes three interwoven stories: that of a prostitute, a group of criminals and a musician. This is another Lav Diaz one. It’s long.

K’na The Dreamweaver (2014) - K’na is a young woman coming into her own in the mountains of South Cotabato, where the T’boli live, overlooking the majestic and mystical Lake Sebu. She is part of the royal family of the South bank of the lake, part of the clan that was banished from the North Bank centuries ago after what the elders call The Great Betrayal. At a young age, K’na, is trained in the art of weaving the T’bolit’nalak. The design of the t’nalak fabric comes from the visions granted by Fu Dalu, the goddess of abaca, only to deserving women who become dreamweavers. K’na’s grandmother, Be Lamfey, is the village’s last master dreamweaver. When Be Lamfey dies, the gift of dreamweaving is passed to K’na and her father, LobongDitan, decides to put an end to the warring clans of Lake Sebu once and for all by arranging a marriage between K’na and Kagis, the heir to the throne of North bank. Meanwhile, K’na has fallen in love with Silaw, a childhood friend whose family supplies the finest abaca fibers to the dreamweavers. Silaw leaves love messages for her by tying bits of abaca thread to a tree outside K’na’s window. As the marriage grows near, a revolution brews among those who do not believe in the union of the two royal clans.

Smaller and Smaller Circles (2017) - Two Jesuit priests, Gus Saenz and Jerome Lucero perform forensic work to solve the mystery revolving around the murders of young boys in Payatas, one of Metro Manila's biggest slum areas. While dealing with the systematic corruption of the government, church, and the elite, the two priests delve into criminal profiling, crime scene investigation, and forensic analysis to solve the killings, and eventually, find the murderer. Available on Netflix. TW: child death, talk of child sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church and at the hands of teachers, graphic depictions of a corpse, film also triggering to folks who suffer from claustrophobia.

Billie and Emma (2018) – An LGBT coming of age story set in the mid-1990s featuring two teenaged girls Billie and Emma as they grapple with topics such as sexuality, family, religion, unplanned pregnancy, and the uncertainty of the future.

#philippine cinema #filipino cinema #film recommendations #film rec #filipino period dramas #period dramas #philippine history #filipino history #please heed the tags there's a lot of violence in there #we have a very violent history

[inkcurlsandknives]

Am I learning baybayin calligraphy to test a book theory for 1 historically accurate throwaway detail in SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW? 🫣 Maybe?

And maybe I just spent 3 hours collecting banana leaves from a condemned apartment building, finding Tagalog Tanaga poems that fit thematically with my novel, SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW translating the tagalog into baybayin symbols then testing writing implements and copying out 4 different sheets to be stored in different environments to test the long term legibility of said poems 🤣 that's also possible!

But in my defense nowhere on the internet was willing to tell me more than the Wikipedia single paragraph of yes South East Asia and the Philippines used banana leaves as a writing surface pre-colonization. So really this was for science. I will likely be writing up a full blog post detailing my recent adventure into historical recreation and banana leaves, once I've finished using all my extra banana leaves to make suman 😋

Happy Filipino American History month 🇵🇭

#baybayin #tagalog #filipino #poetry #Filipino history #writeblr #writing research #calligraphy #banana leaves #science #filipino fantasy #filipino author #poetry translation #FAHM

[ilaw-at-panitik]

Banaag at Sikat (Radiance and Sunrise) by Lope K. Santos tr by Danton Remoto | Lope K. Santos’ novel, Banaag at Sikat, is a love story framed in the context of a political tale. Published in 1906, it became the fountain head of social realism in the Tagalog novel and hailed as Asia’s first proletariat novel. It revolves around Delfin, a poor man in love with Meni, a capitalist’s daughter. Delfin is a socialist while Felipe, his friend, is an anarchist. Delfin wants the citizens to have more rights in business and property relations. He believes that society could be changed through education. On the other hand, Felipe believes in tearing down society’s walls. Factories should be owned by those who work there and land owned by those who till it. Although he is a landlord’s son, Felipe hates his father’s ways. He wants to see a society with equal status for all, where the horizon of hope is limitless. Banaag at Sikat mirrors the clash of forces during the early days of the American empire. Its burning passages on race, class, and colonialism still resonate today. Translated by ‘one of Asia’s best writers’, may this modern rendering inspire new readers to shape their lives so they ‘can help change the world’.

#books #philippine literature #lope k santos #danton remoto

[beautifulsnake2162020]

Beautiful Anomaly (Part 1): Morpheus x FReader

Morpheus x FemReader (present day, its a little hard to explain)

A couple of disclaimers:

1.) This is all based on the Netflix show and I have 0 background on the graphic novel it is based on (so don't expect it to be faithful);

2.) This is a fan work, the only benefit I derive from this is sharing it with the community.

You have no memory of your early days. A common theme with many beings really. But even then, the earliest memory you have is when you were already a complex being made of smaller particles that somehow work together. Death, your best friend would share with you stories of the history that you couldn't remember. The days when you were still a strange cell that started being "alive". This was the day that she was born, and you were her first client.

An odd thing for a being who represents life.

She says that you were born from Destiny, or at least Destiny has helped you emerge from the then inanimate universe. And even then you somehow found a way to split your being. Somehow the other parts of yourself have found their way to separate worlds that now serve the same function as you do for this one.

To be in the cycle of life, until no life can exist anymore on the world.

"You are technically not mortal, but the way you exist and the way you fulfill your duties is within the mortal context." says Destiny when you wondered if you should consider yourself a part of the endless family. You were definitely not a deity; humans don't need to believe in you to know that they are alive and they have life. And yet whether or not you are a force of nature is still up for debate.

"You are simply you." Death says reassuringly as she pays a social visit to you as you are in the form of an intersex Babaylan in training in the Tagalog territory of what would one day be the Philippines. On her wrist she wears a beaded bracelet with semi-precious stones. She would wear one or more depending on her mood, and sometimes she would wear bracelets on both wrists if she knows there was a celebration going on. It' is how you know that her visit is a social one rather than a visit to escort you to the resting area before you were born into your next lifetime. "With all that we've been through, I'm just happy to be with someone who could understand the beauty of humanity."

"Easy for you to say, you're the one that gives me meaning." You rebut. While technically your end will be when no life can no longer thrive, you've seen first hand how people act when they forget that everything will change and therefore everything has an end. The ones who have made the most out of their lives know how to make the most out of it.

"You get to do all the fun things. I'm only there briefly when its time for mortals to depart and at most get a few glimpses of what people have done."

"Yes, but you're also spared from all the hardship and complicated things that people like to be in. Sometimes unnecessarily so."

"But that's part of life isn't it." She retorts with a grin. Of all the arguments you could have used, you internally groaned. Being complicated was part of being alive, some lifetimes were more simple than others, but dualities and ironies was part of being alive.

And your function was to live them out. To experience life, because life was meant to be lived out.

"If you're searching for an ego boost, I'll remind you that you are responsible for the births of my younger siblings. The moment you became capable of thought, Dream was born out of your unconscious thoughts."

"Desire and Despair, self-explanatory. Sometimes I feel like apologizing to Morpheus for their existence."

"There is nothing to apologize for, Destiny predicted their existence. You were simply living life, and that is something Morpheus would never dare to disturb beyond dreams."

Of all the Endless that you've encountered (aside from Death that is), your relationship with Dream is one with many ironies. Having lived in the mortal context, you could understand the dangers of Desire and Despair being out of control. And because of that, you could understand why Morpheus is strict about his rules of making sure that everything in the Dreaming did not go into the waking world. But sometimes his rigidness doesn't allow him the understanding Death has about humans. He is the collective unconscious of all humanity, has thought every thought that ever has (and probably ever will be). But this too only gave him fragments of what humanity is like from the realm of the Dreaming. It was almost like reading myths or seeing what's left of a now lost society and what people know of them are mere guesses based on what's left behind. Some are right, some are wrong, and some are missed by the moral standards of the time.

Still over time, it was slowly that you realized your romantic feelings for Dream. But knowing of his own romantic history and the traumas that gave him; you doubted if he would even consider it.

"Those were different." Death says as she pours you wine from a carafe, Lapis Lazuli beads hang in her wrist. This time you were a male scholar in the Eastern Roman Empire, you've just started service with the new Emperor Justinian after your friend Theodora introduced you to him.

"Nada ended up in Hell."

"And you're going to base his entire history on that?"

"Last time we spoke it was very clear that he still loved her."

"Coming from someone who has both male and female lovers in this lifetime."

"Its mainly carnal."

"And so, just because you have people you love now, doesn't mean you don't love the ones in your previous lifetimes."

"Those people are dead. The ones who are still alive have probably moved on."

"Does love have to serve something just for you to feel it?" She gives you a pointed look as she takes a large gulp.

"You're starting to sound a lot like Desire."

"Desire may be extreme sometimes but Desire also gets things right. I was expecting this from you as the being who actually lives out a human lifetime."

"That's the point, sometimes I can be very overemotional. I know first hand how horrible I can become when Desire and Despair are the only things you feel. Sometimes I feel too much. And the whispers around me degrade me for having a female tendency."

"From strangers. And you have been female. How is this supposed to be a deterrent from romancing Morpheus? You're not mortal, Destiny has already said that. You living out the cycle of life, death, and rebirth are part of your functions as life."

"I don't think he'll like me that much. Among all the Endless, you're the closest who understands the humanity within me." She sighs and pays for the lunch that you two have finished. She needs to leave to pick up the soul of one of the priests who is about to have his last meal from a nearby Christian Church.

"I can't believe I'm the one saying this to you, but have a leap of faith. Maybe Morpheus wouldn't mind and even appreciate your humanity."

"If it was other things, it seems possible. But with Morpheus, I doubt it."

"Which is part of thinking, and thinking is a part of being alive. Goodbye." She left you with some food for thought. It wasn't long after your talk that you found yourself within the realm of the dreaming. Taking respite amidst the stress of your waking life. You dine in a private dining area that has a cozy feel and is near the library. You ate your favorite meals that you miss from some of your past lifetimes that was impossible to acquire or really expensive in your current one. You sense him as he finishes speaking with Mervyn the Pumpkinhead about a construction or a renovation in the castle.

"Taking a break?" you ask as you take a bite out of a rice cake.

"Simply savoring the moment. I have finished all the tasks, and while I know there is more to come, it doesn't hurt to rest every once in awhile."

"I know the feeling. That's why I can't wait when this project that Justinian has for me to be finished. That way I can rest and moderate my visits here." You hide a smile as you take a drink and gesture for him to sit across you in the vacant chair.

"You are welcome to come here as frequently as you like. Dreams after all affect your waking life." He was about to leave but you called out to him making him glance back.

"Would you mind keeping me company, there's something that I've been wondering about."

"Of course." He then takes the seat across you, face still unreadable to you but you could feel he was more relaxed and open now of all times.

"I've always been curious, how do you and the other Endless know who I am in each lifetime? I don't see any pattern in my looks or my preferences. Even the genitals I am born with are highly random. And it still surprises me how you're all so certain its me when I haven't recovered all of my memories in my previous lifetimes." At this you see a hint of a grin before he spoke.

"Simple really, your being is highly unique." You find yourself raising an eyebrow.

"Unique how?" You see him close his eyes as briefly contemplate how best to explain. He then opens them and starts to take five brown cookies from the serving plate of 10.

"Let's say this represents the aura of an average mortal." The cookie's color turns from brown into yellow.

"From our senses, its very distinctive, their need to feed both their physical needs and their non-physical needs makes them crave for what can satisfy them. Once Death comes for them..." the cookie's color turns back into brown.

"They are then brought to their respective after lives depending on what they believe in. Now let's say this-" he holds up the second brown cookie, turning it into red.

"This represents the various deities and spiritual beings that mortals worship. They need mortals to believe in them in order to keep on existing. They may be subject to change depending on what needs the mortals have. But what is important is that there must still be belief, otherwise..." the cookie turns back into brown. You nod at him to show that he can move on to the next one.

"Just to clarify, do any demonic or malicious entities or anything not belonging to either...do they have the same energy as deities?"

"In a way, they are a mix of both mortals and deities depending on the belief system. Some malicious entities don't need belief but just prey on the fear of mortals or at the very least drain them of their energy. Possibly worse if mortals are not careful." The third cookie he holds then turns into black.

"But even these will cease existing if mortals stopped fearing them or feeding them their energy in one way or the other." The black color fades and the cookie is returned to brown. He then picks up the fourth cookie and starts turning it into blue.

"We the Endless have a distinct aura from all three that I've showed you before. We are beings that personifies the forces of nature that serves humanity. Unlike with deities or malicious entities, we do not need to be worshipped just for us to exist." The cookie remains blue before he puts it down and picks up the fifth cookie. The one representing you.

"You are unique in this sense. Like the Endless you are a force of nature personified, life. You don't need any worship, for by each breath any living being takes, they know they are alive." He turns the fifth cookie blue.

"But life by its very nature belongs among mortals. You are well aware that life can only exist within the cycle of life, death and rebirth."

"Yes" you replied as you watch as he turns the cookie yellow, but this time it was made to look like the color blue was still visible underneath the yellow layer.

"To a certain degree, you may be the most mysterious being of all. For without you, none of us-not even Destiny-would be here."

"How can that be? Destiny brought me to existence and probably the closest thing I have to a parent." He placed down the fifth cookie temporarily as he leaned forward towards you.

"Destiny may have brought you to existence, yes, but even Destiny knows that if you had not developed into the being you are now...if your existence would disappear along with all other life in the universe, then the Endless would no longer have a function and we would all simply wait and see what happens at the end of time." At this he holds up the fifth cookie now having a green glow. It was only then that you notice his reassuring expression and a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"You are a wonderful and mysterious anomaly that makes everything possible for all of us. Even this representation isn't enough to show how your energy...your aura...is easy to find. In a way it nourishes us because you continue to live." You find yourself smiling and touched by how he explained it you. You were already aware that your being was strange in itself for being both a force of nature and yet very mortal. And yet with the way he said it so calmly and reassuringly...it almost feels like he is the one courting you, even when you know that was not the case.

You weren't able to make an attempt at expressing your infatuation towards him then. You both felt yourself being awakened in the waking world.

For awhile you did contemplate of confessing it outright to him, but then you had an epiphany in your grief. Death allowed you to have one last embrace with Theodora before she entered her chambers to escort her to her afterlife. Justinian was not the same ruler as he was when Theodora was still alive. He was a mess, which led to less prosperous years for the Byzantine Empire.

"Justinian, she's gone and there's plenty at stake for the empire."

"Thank you" he looks up at you from his tear stained cheeks. Tonight was the one year anniversary of her passing.

"But without her, who am I? Without her who shall support me?" You knew better by now than to suggest yourself. He was still caught up in his grief even now. And you've seen first hand as you walked incognito among the people that if nothing is done, too many would suffer.

Too many who would die if you didn't do anything but your job. Perhaps even more since Justinian was not finished grieving for Theodora.

You weren't unmoved. You too had lost loved ones in your previous lifetimes. You know what's it like to have lost a spouse. Sometimes you moved on only for them to leave you too. Or perhaps you left them as Death escorted you out of that current lifetime.

But it was Justinian's grief and the people's suffering that made you realize that the world would end sooner if nothing was done.

If this was hard now, you cannot imagine what it is like for Morpheus who had rigid standards of how he created dreams and nightmares, controlled them, and managed other responsibilities he had in the Dreaming. Unlike Justinian who was mortal and who could just wait some years before joining Theodora in Death, Morpheus was an Endless being. His responsibilities did not stop for anything. To keep everything under control, he must hold the Dreaming together.

You have lived enough lifetimes to know that romantic love must give way to duty. Morpheus hasn't really learnt how to balance time for himself and for his duties. As Dream personified, he is his duty.

Even if he did return your feelings after you confessed them, there were simply more important things to do, to worry about, to hold together. He cannot be bothered by some of the mundane things that were beyond his concerns.

These things that you too had to endure as you cycle through lifetimes. Little things that gave you a nuanced perspective on humanity. They were just as complicated as you are (although you would argue that it is you who has the more complicated mind). Over time you've noticed that its these little moments that made you bond the most with humanity (apart from Death that is, but you two were two sides of the same coin). And the absence of such made Morpheus more detached from humanity and he viewed it through the lens of an observer.

This attitude lead Death to drag Morpheus into an inn wherein they decided to conduct an experiment over someone named Hob Gadling. Death would grant him his wish to be immortal, and he and Morpheus would meet every hundred years in the same spot for Morpheus to learn about humanity.

Unbeknownst to all parties at that time, this experiment had an effect on you.

The first lifetime you were born after the Hob Gadling experiment was made, you didn't bat an eye when you were born a female. It made sense at that time, its been awhile since you were female. And like always, you lived your life as vivaciously as you can. You may not be able to love Morpheus, but that didn't' mean you cannot live out life. Even for a being like yourself, every breath is different, every experience while often similar is also often different. You allowed yourself to grieve for what you thought was an impossible love.

So you poured that love into having a lust for life within the means and within your abilities.

The second time you were reborn female after the Hob Gadling experiment, you still didn't sense anything wrong. It wasn't uncommon for you to have two lifetimes in a row being in the same sex. In this one, you confided in your diaries that you were still infatuated with Morpheus and still held feelings for him. You were now reluctant to call it love. You thought it was admiration, and maybe at most it was infatuation. But you're no longer sure if it was love. Desire one time came to you in the form of a woman to sneak into the Harem where no fertile man may enter.

"If you like, I can make him desire you. Which wouldn't be too hard, you're the most beautiful woman here. It would be a shame if the best one went to the Sultan instead of the King of Dreams." You gave Desire a sad smile. Your relationship with Desire was better after you finally acknowledged that you still had feelings for Morpheus and you probably will still have them now. You still don't trust Desire completely but you were at least on speaking terms with them.

"Thank you for the offer, but if he is going to want me, I want it to come from him, not out of mere force. Maybe its what humans call a conscience, but based on my previous lifetimes, I would much rather end up alone or with someone else than forcing anyone to love me."

"And yet you still have feelings for him." They said in a tone that was attractive yet dangerous.

"I do, but those feelings haven't hindered me from also loving other people, making love to them and having children with them. Besides, the chances of him willingly returning my feelings are low."

"Well if you change your mind, you know how to find me." And with that they disappeared.

You never took up that offer, but a part of you suspects that Desire was scheming to do something anyway. You just hoped that it wasn't too dire on Morpheus. You offered a prayer to the Almighty God whom you called Allah on his behalf, even though he probably wouldn't need it.

But just in case.

And afterwards you went on to live your life, while it was a life of luxury, you were glad its a short one. Before she escorted you to the waiting space, Death helped you give birth to a daughter and allowed you to name her before you said your goodbye.

It was in your third lifetime since the Hob Gadling experiment that you began to suspect something, and so inquired about the possibilities of it with Morpheus.

"Hmm that is odd. Lucienne, where is her current book?"

"It is here, and yes it seems to have confirmed that she was indeed meant to be born female again."

"How can that be? That's three times in a row! It has never happened before." You start browsing your previous two books for anything that could have indicated why now it seems you were only reborn female.

"When was she born the first time as a female recently?"

"My lord it's on the year 1391." You see an epiphany slowly show on his eyes. He takes a look at the three books currently on the table, and then at you.

"I owe you an explanation."

"What is it? Is it bad news."

"That depends on you." Although he has a calm façade, you can sense a bit of nervousness from him.

"In 1389 Death and I decided to conduct an ongoing experiment."

"Is this the Hob Gabling experiment?"

"Yes, how much do you know?"

"He's essentially immortal until he wants to die and you two meet every hundred years." You see him nod slightly confirming what Death has told you.

"I believe the reason why you have been reborn only as female is because of this experiment." Suddenly it clicks in your mind.

Since now there was a male immortal doing the same thing that you were doing (without dying and being reborn), the universe probably wanted to balance this experiment. By ensuring that there was also a female perspective.

"I don't mind it. I was just startled why I was only female that's all. But now that I know, its refreshing to have a companion in this journey." You suddenly hear your words and begin laughing.

"I'm sorry Morpheus, I didn't mean to imply that none of you are with me-"

"None taken."

"Are you planning to tell him about me or is this more for yourself?"

"I did not even inform him of who or what I am. Just a being he will meet in the same place every hundred years." He places the books in a stack before he turns to face you.

"Well, if ever you or Death plan to tell him about me, please inform me before doing so. Unlike him, I actually will die...and have already multiple times." You give him a last smile before you find yourself waking up from your Dreams.

You didn't know how to feel and you were still processing that Death had granted someone immortality and to become a lab experiment for Morpheus to gain insight into humanity. You began to wonder if there was something wrong with you or if Morpheus didn't see how highly connected you are with humanity (probably even a little bit more than Death since you actually live through the good and the bad). Why did he felt the need to ask someone else?

When all this time you have been here living multiple human lifetimes and are more than aware of both the good and the bad and the grey in between.

Did he not feel like he could trust you or rely upon your own lived out experience?

A part of you felt a bit hurt that Death didn't think of suggesting you first for Morpheus to find out more about humanity. After all she was your best friend among the Endless. Your bond existed long before you've become infatuated with Morpheus.

Before you knew it, you felt tears fall from your eyes. And you were weeping.

At least Despair would be feeding off your misery for awhile.

So you weep.

And then you breathe.

And sought solitude where you can freely think and reflect without having to worry too much about the influence of the Endless for awhile.

Feelings may change. Death would eventually know of your pain as she would escort you to the brief waiting space. Perhaps in this way, Morpheus wouldn't have any biases he has with you and could satisfy his curiosity with the best chance to be closer to humanity. You knew her well enough that she wouldn't mind it if you and Morpheus became something more. You also knew she wouldn't do things if she didn't think that it may be what is best for Morpheus.

Whatever happened has happened. There's nothing short of turning back time to undo the currently immortal Hob Gadling from taking whatever deal the siblings may have offered him.

The best thing to do was to ask. Morpheus would eventually discover it anyway as someone who has already thought every thought there was to exist and who needed strict discipline to even handle that burden. There was no point in hiding this question for long.

The next time he was free and he was present in your dreams, you would bring it up. You manage to meet with him privately in your part of the Dreaming realm that was accessible to the castle but was far enough from it to afford some amount of privacy. Both of you were in the living room, this time the table was filled with Chinese and Japanese sweets such as the Zunda-Mochis heavily associated with Date Masamune, and your favorite lotus flavored moon cakes that you wished were available beyond the autumn season. Both products from your previous lifetimes that was inaccessible to you currently.

"I would like to know why you needed to go to someone else to ask about humanity when you could have came to me." He remained silent for awhile. You're not sure what to make of it. He either just realized it just now, or he was trying to think of the best way to tell you.

"It was an impulsive decision that was made. I thought Death had told you this already?"

"I know about how it happened, but not the why. And please don't make me go to the Fates about this one because I prefer not to be the one to approach them." He took a breath. Probably to prepare himself for he did not need to breathe.

"He was bragging to his friends that dying was simply done because everything else was doing it. A part of me was hoping that once he has lived through the harrowing lows of life, he would voluntarily choose to die and end it all." His face was unreadable but your intuition tells you that he wasn't lying, but perhaps he wasn't telling the entire truth either.

"Why did you want him to choose death? Was this experiment about how long would it take before people would choose to die? Did you even learn anything about humanity that you couldn't have asked me about?" You do your best to keep your voice calm and as non-judgmental as you can be.

"Because I couldn't help but think that if I was in his place, I would instead wish for all of it to end and regret the choice to accept that agreement. True, I only have an inkling of what humans actually experience, but if I as a personification of their Dreams could make the choice to pass it on to someone else, I would take that chance."

"Well, you never liked to take a rest when it wasn't necessary even if it actually helps you."

"It's more than rest. Perhaps it is because of the nature of dreams to explore and imagine beyond what is always possible. Even though I don't hate my duties and responsibilities, I can't deny that a part of me does wonder what I am capable of beyond what I can currently do."

"And so you projected your own wants onto Hob. Who has proven you wrong time and time again." You see the corner of his lip move up slightly proving that you were right.

"Hob is his own person Morpheus. His own being. I don't want to preach to you because I feel it would be useless on you - but by declaring that he will not die already should give you an idea that he won't be anything like you." You keep your voice level, even though you instinctively want to raise it. But that would get you nowhere and would only lead to Morpheus closing off to you.

"I recognize that."

"You recognize that now."

"How insightful of you." He shakes his head as he takes a breath before looking back at you.

"He still manages to see the beauty of life even when he has experienced tragedy first hand. He has changed over time. I doubt he has noticed it."

"I can tell you from experience that a lot of changes are rarely noticed by the being changing from it. Unless the change is so drastic that there is no other choice but to change."

"Time does that. And I am learning so much more than I once expected." You take a sip of your chosen beverage for this dream, white tea, before once again asking.

"And what have you learned from him that makes his now immortal experience different from mine?" No answer, you feel the air become tense.

"I'm not angry or upset that you consulted someone else. I'm confused about why I wasn't asked about my own experiences before you went and asked someone else. I already know that I am unique in my perspective with the cycle of life and death. I already know that although I am life personified, I'm still incapable of truly representing the experiences of all humans, much more all living beings." You place down your teacup and saucer on the table before looking up and meeting his eyes unflinchingly.

"Why didn't you ask me Morpheus? That's all I want to know." Silence. His body and face become even more unreadable which makes you infer plenty of things.

He forgot about your experiences.

He forgot that you were the very being that created consciousness and the subconscious domain he rules over is a reaction to it.

He has forgotten that you were there all along.

You may at most be only a friend to him and nothing more.

"I don't want to delve into what your silence mean. Some assumptions are worse than the actual answer. And I respect you too much to rob you of what you might actually mean." You stand up and dust have a brief stretch before turning back to face him.

"If you're ready to give me an answer. Even if that answer is simply that you've forgotten my own functions as life personified. Then come back to me. Until then, please respect my wishes of not wanting to interact directly with you until then." You leave the room just as you hear him command that the dream is over.

You wake up

You grieve a little for the heartbreak you brought to yourself.

But it was necessary.

Change was the only thing constant.

Maybe things were better this way than to have false hope.

After this point he respected your wishes. You still had dreams here and there but none of them featured him or any workers that works closely with him. You miss them, but you were still angry and upset at Morpheus.

For awhile this rage and anger fueled your energy into being more present in the life that you had and to turn your lust for dreams into a lust for living.

To savor being alive.

And it resulted into some of the best experiences you've had. Maybe desire was right in telling you that it didn't matter what you looked like. Without most constraints, you find yourself naturally drawing people in. Almost a little to effortlessly but their energy fed yours as you lived both the victories and tragedies of the time.

It was at this time that you've explored yourself more and have slowly harnessed your power into life giving and healing. You feel the energy from all beings who are alive, and how it differs from beings who simply survive. Neither one is superior to the other, but the energy from those who truly live is much more preferrable to your tastes.

You soon subtly use your powers to help those who don't have access to medical aid. And you lived out your life. Your feelings toward dream didn't remain for long and you couldn't find it in yourself to stay angry with him. But this was perhaps the first time that you didn't feel like waiting around for Morpheus and truly just savor being alive.

He still respected your wishes when you were reborn. For which you were thankful for. By now you also no longer have any hard feelings towards Death's involvement. She forgives you and even said that your feelings were valid. You know how sometimes she can be impulsive. Like you it was to savor life, but she's doing so in appreciation of it from the perspective of the one who ends it.

You on the other hand are in the present and in the moment.

But it all changed when Jessamy, his raven appears to you one night. Using your powers you were able to translate her thoughts in human speech.

"Ma'am, please you need to help. Lord Morpheus has been captured." You feel your jaw drop and you felt shocked.

How can he be captured? He's one of the Endless one of the most powerful beings that ever existed.

"Ma'am I know you do not want to see him right now. And you have good reasons for not helping him. But I'm begging you to help."

"Jessamy why are you telling this to me instead of Lucienne? She's his second in command."

"True ma'am. But she was also right in saying that Lord Morpheus as well as other Dreams and Nightmares are not as powerful in the waking world."

"She could inform the other Endless."

"You know who Lucienne is ma'am. She would manage the Dreaming but she wouldn't go against the wishes of Lord Morpheus. He prefers that the other Endless not interfere." You hate how right she is as you take a large gulp of your Green tea.

"Besides ma'am, I think you are one of the few beings in the waking world that he still trusts and respect. I know he hurt you and your feelings. But isn't he the first one who called you a beautiful anomaly?" Your eyes widen. He told her that?

"How do you know that?"

"That's what he calls you sometimes when mentioning you. Of course he would call you by the name you were born with in each of your lifetime. But whenever I would ask how sure he was that it was you, he would reply 'The energy in this being is a beautiful anomaly, it could only be life personified, the creator of the conscious thoughts.'." Jessamy could tell that this was all news to you. And she too was surprised.

"I always thought you knew about the moniker. He told me that he has been calling you that since you asked how he and the other Endless know its you in each lifetime."

"He did, but he never called me that to my face." Once again you learn something that challenges what you have known about Morpheus.

But you have those thoughts some other time. And despite your recent history, you can't deny that without Morpheus, the waking world would suffer from his capture. Lucienne and the other dreams and nightmares could only do so much from where they are.

The least you could do is to help out.

"Where is he being held?"

"London, in the basement of a mage called Roderick Burgess. Before I left to get you, I saw that they have robbed him of his tools of power. They have enclosed him in an ritual circle." You nearly dropped your teacup.

"How did you get here in Quebec all the way from London?"

"I briefly went back to the Dreaming realm and used it to cut my travel time." You take a breath in relief. At least she didn't exhaust herself by flying across the ocean. That wouldn't be efficient if the two of you were going to formulate a way to break Morpheus out. You take a breath and lean towards Jessamy.

"Jessamy, if we are going to do this, you'll have to be my eyes and ears. I don't know anything about the layout of his prison. This could be dangerous." She was silent, but her eyes still followed you.

"You might be killed. You might even be tortured. I'll do my best to prevent that, but please be careful."

"I will ma'am. But even if it happens, then at least I died saving a dear friend." You hold out your hands open palmed as you feel her jump into them.

"Do I have your permission to be a presence in your mind Jessamy?"

"You do ma'am, but why ask?"

"Consent is very important to me Jessamy. It is the difference between a loving act and assault."

After placing a connection between the two of you, you send her on her way with strict instructions to prioritize safety. As much as you want to just break in and free him, it would mean nothing if either you or Jessamy would just die in vain and he was recaptured again. No matter how powerful of an Endless he is, you and Jessamy knew he can't do much without someone asleep in his presence. And based from your past lives as both soldier and a commander, a lot of times it was information that made the difference between victory and defeat.

#Morpheus #The Sandman #The sandman netflix #the sandman (2022) #Dream of the Endless #dream x fem!reader #Morpheus x fem!reader #dream x y/n #dream x you #morpheus x y/n #morpheus x you #you are the embodiment of life #Beautiful anomaly

[aeternallis]

It's been hanging out in the back of my mind for the past few months, but I think the reason why it's so hard for me to interact with the kpts fandom on here (with the exception of a very select few people) is because fanon has taken over to such an extent for kpts that subsequently, a lot, and I mean A LOT of the cultural context in this show has been erased because it's just easier to do so to a story with a modern setting, as opposed to a historical one, yknow?

And with that ease comes the resulting of some of the most...colorful interpretations and HCs that ngl, definitely hints at a more western mindset, than anything else.

Which is not necessarily...a surprise, based on what I've seen this site do to Asian media in general. Hahaha. After all, this is the site that said Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha is a pedo for marrying his ward, that Kaname from Vampire Knight is "ewww incestuous" for being in love with his distant ancestor. This is the same site that said JGY from MDZS did nothing wrong (ever), and thinks LWJ can't talk properly and speaks like Netflix's terrible subtitles.

And last but not least, this is the site that thinks dom/sub and top/bottom discourse is #immature and #feteshization when in reality the Asian BL subculture is literally built and maintained on this very important distinction of pairing order, which transcends who's sticking who in the ass, and has more to do with interpretation of characters as the author's explicit intent.

MXTX isn't being a whiny bitch when they say they hate it when their pairings are switched, it's because by switching up their pairings, you erase the literary importance of the gong love interest, and why MXTX positioned them that way. There's a reason why every single one of the MXTX novels is written from the POV of the shou, yo.

But, anyway.

I'm not Thai. I'm Filipino-American, who grew up in the Philippines for a good portion of her life and regularly goes back, and who is still somewhat fluent in Tagalog. And the borders of SE Asia contains within it a wonderful blend of so many different cultures that there are some scholars who, although dedicate their entire lives to studying this region, will never be able to fully grasp the cultural nuances that just aren't easily translatable to English sentences.

Having said that, there is still a set of cultural values and norms that unites this region AS Southeast Asia. I will definitely say for my own experience with kpts, one of the biggest factors as to why I fell in love with this show is because there were so many things about it that reminded me of my own upbringing, the cultural values and experiences that I grew up with, that makes this show special to me.

But Tumblr being Tumblr, it's no surprise that as always with non-western media, the cultural nuances are minimized or outright forgotten entirely.

In which case, KPTS is yet another victim to this inevitability, alas alas.

#kpts #my own personal thoughts #so please don't come for me #look i even hid it all under a “keep reading” tag ahahahaaa #:'D

[cookie-arts]

19th Century Philippines Clothing (Upper Class)

Featuring William Shakespeare (Ikemen Vampire) and Auburn (@azulashengrottospiano)

Full photo:

Just a guy from overseas visiting his ladylove 🤭

Fun facts:

– The traje de mestiza (translation: mestiza's gown), popularly known as the Maria Clara gown, is a type of traditional clothing in the Philippines worn by the upper-class Filipino women during the Spanish colonial era. It got it's name from Maria Clara, the heroine of the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo by Dr. Jose Rizal.

The camisa (blouse) and pañuelo or alampay (neckerchief) are made of piña, a type of fabric made from pineapple leaves' fibres. The saya (skirt) and the tapis (overskirt) are made of more opaque material like cotton or silk. Brocade and Jacquard fabrics are also used to make saya skirts worn by the upper-class women.

– Women at the time accessorize themselves by wearing peineta or payneta (decorative hair comb), necklaces, earrings, and abanikos (hand fans).

– Men who studied overseas (also called as Ilustrados, meaning "enlightened ones") are usually shown in photographs wearing late Victorian-style clothing. Upper-class Filipino men who lives in the Philippines during the 19th century wear barong tagalog which is also made of piña cloth. Canes are also a symbol of wealth amongst the upper class.

– Unmarried women are not allowed to meet a man alone without an older female relative watching over them. This is to ensure that the pair will not do something that is against the customs of the time (will elaborate on the next bullet).

– Unmarried couples are not allowed to hold each other, let alone kiss each other (kinda forgot but I think it has something to do with keeping a lady's purity until marriage or something).

If a man accidentally kissed an unmarried woman, he must take responsibility for it and marry her.

That's pretty much it! I had fun drawing these two— er, three, if the lady in the background is counted.

#can you even consider this an au? maybe?? #cookie's art/doodles #ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikemen vampire fanart #ikevamp fanart #ikevamp shakespeare #ikemen vampire shakespeare #19th century Philippine clothing

[jadevine]

Novel drafts! Please check them out!

Note: This is copied from my main blog's pinned post, so don't worry about plagiarism!

--

What’s up folks, I just reblogged one of my really old posts about trying to get people to read my novel drafts. But here’s a shiny new one so I can pin this to the front!

So I originally posted these works on Inkitt and Inkshares, but Inkitt is most likely a scam that is often described as “a shittier version of Wattpad.” Inkshares is POSSIBLY a scam, but also an extremely new and experimental website even if it wasn’t, so I decided to move these drafts to Wattpad in hopes that a more established website had more people to read them.

Moonflowers is in-progress and The Crocodile God is completed, but I’ll just let people know that both “Moonflowers” and “The Crocodile God” are built on a LOT of outdated knowledge where Tagalogs/Filipinos all had tattoos and that Mayari is a Tagalog goddess. In “The Crocodile God,” I draw from a lot of Maori/Pacific mythology as well, and I’m not sure if I should keep that aspect in there.

If these ever make it to Draft 2 stage, there’s gonna be a lot of changes.

Summary: When Alima Song's parents vanish for no reason, she eventually thinks that they're dead, so she moves from her home in California to the tourist town of Cloncarrig, Ireland to get away from her grief. Aside from issues with the Fair Folk, she gets to know some Malachy Bray and his friends, finds a job, a house, and adopts a stray dog.

Unknown to most people, the dog is Ned Song, her cursed but very much living father. He and her mother Lucy have not been killed--they "just" got kidnapped and cursed by the Wild Hunt, who are also the ones that keep trailing Alima after she moved.

The Irish gods do not enjoy thinking about why a whole gang of fairies are messing with the Song family, but since their leader is a force of nature, they'll have to start improvising their help.

--

Summary: If a god loses his community, his rituals, and most records of his existence, what is left of him to call divine?

On a windy beach in California, Mirasol finds a shipwrecked man and takes him to the hospital. With no phone, no ID, and barely any clothes after the sea got done with him, the most information they can get is that his name is Haik, and for lack of better options, he's discharged to Mirasol's place.

Dark-skinned, covered in tattoos, and hailing from Australia, Haik is not the typical Filipino. He tells her stories of the Tagalogs' far past, a foreign and unknown country--and soon finds out that he is Haik the sea-god, constantly searching for his mortal wife, and they are both stuck in a loop of reincarnation after their whale-goddess daughter was stillborn.

Unfortunately, she also finds out that he's an undocumented immigrant.

--

IF ANYTHING ABOUT THESE DRAFTS CAN PIQUE YOUR INTEREST, PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CHECK OUT THE DRAFTS AND LEAVE A COMMENT TO SHOW SUPPORT!!! I get so many people just saying my writing sounds cool EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT THE ACTUAL WEBSITE, and that’s not really getting my audience boost up.

#the crocodile god #moonflowers #urban fantasy #filipino #filipino mythology

[dailyhistoryposts]

World Literature Series: Noli Me Tángere

Friday, December 30th, is Rizal Day in the Philippines!

TITLE: Noli Me Tángere (Touch me not, translated from Latin)

AUTHOR: José Rizal (José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda)

DATE: 1887

COUNTRY, REGION, OR PEOPLE: Philippines

TYPE: novel

BACKGROUND: Noli Me Tángere was written during the end of Spanish rule in the Philippines. Spanish laws had created a nation ready for revolt on the other end of the planet. A system of mass deportations, human zoos, and educational brain drain led to a strong Filipino community in Europe, including strong Filipino nationalists and educated Ilustrados. 

Among these Ilustrados was José Rizal, now considered a national hero in the Philippines. Rizal was bright from a young age and grew up to be an accomplished writer, astute political thinker, and ophthalmologist. He finished writing Noli Me Tángere while abroad in Spain, to immediate controversy. Rizal was sentenced to death for rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy and excuted by firing squad on December 30th, 1896, largely due to his two books..

Noli Me Tángere, along with its sequel El Filibusterismo, is an important book in the birth of the Philippine nation. The Rizal Law (Republic Act No. 1425) mandates the teaching of Rizal and his books in all “public and private schools, colleges and universities”, though Catholic authorities were unhappy with this.

SYNOPSIS: Noli Me Tángere centers on Crisóstomo Ibarra, a young Filipino man returning home after studying in Europe. Seeing the difficulties of those in his community, Ibarra resolves to help by building a private school to provide a more secular, modern education.

Before the school can be completed, Ibarra is caught up in the politics and oppression of his country. He is set up as a revolutionary instigator by a sting operation and arrested.

Ibarra tries to make his escape, and those around him try to live in a town attacked on all sides by self-serving policemen, corrupt governments, and hypocritical clergy.

THEMES: Colonialism, Phillippine history, power, religion, education.

[A black and white copy of the original front cover of the book Noli Me Tángere. It has the name across the cover, diagonally, over faint patterns and the silhouette of a woman. The impression is that it was carved into stone.]

Noli Me Tángere can be read in its original Spanish here An English translation of Noli Me Tángere can be found here A Tagalog translation of Noli Me Tángere can be found here

Main post for the World Literature series

#history #world history #philippines #jose rizal #book #bookblr #Noli Me Tángere #don't touch me #imperialism #colonialism #religion #catholicism

[leng-m]

3, 4, 22, and 25 for the reading asks!

What were your top five books of the year? Ohh, I haven't thought too much about this yet, because I'm still holding out hope that I might read something really good over the holidays. But five books I really enjoyed this year are The Lightstruck by Sunya Mara, The Fire in the Glass by Jacquelyn Benson, All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry, The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison, and Memories of Ash by Intisar Khanani.

Did you discover any new authors that you love this year? Jacquelyn Benson! She's a self-pubbed author of historical fantasy. Her characters are endearing and her plots are tightly-woven. I was super impressed with Fire in the Glass, and the sequel, The Shadow of Water. So impressed, in fact, that I've decided to pause reading the rest of the series, because I'm just overwhelmed with feels! Lol, I mean, if you have more tolerance for self-sacrifice than I do, then you probably won't have the same issues I did. However, I don't often read historical fantasy, and this series kind of exemplifies why -- like, I feel that fantasy rooted in real historical events just doesn't have as much room for catharsis of punishment! You sorta have to be satisfied with the slap-on-the-wrist that, unfortunately, a lot of bad people get away with in the real world. Fortunately she's coming out with a lighthearted adventure series next year, so I'm eager to try that.

What's the longest book you read? Page-wise, probably The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien. Sentiment-wise, probably Lirael by Garth Nix. Lemme tell you, two teens wallowing in self-pity doesn't make for the best paced novel.

What reading goals do you have for next year? I want to finish off the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I've sorta been taking it easy by just trying to read one book a year. They're not exactly my cup of tea, but I wanted to know what the hype was about. The writing is exceptional and there are some valuable themes, even if I'm not super into the actual story. Likewise, I want to continue reading Narnia as well. This year I finally got around to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Finally, I say this every year but it's a tough goal to have: I want to read more Tagalog books. Sadly, there really just aren't many around, so while my personal demand is there, the supply is severely lacking.

Thank you for the asks!

[cullenakingirog]

I was just trying to figure out how I'd want to illustrate Mangkukulam in my verse Seven Souls since he's a character in one of my novels. Mangkukulam is the Tagalog god of fire who works as Sitan's agent. So red lighting with smoke coming out of his mouth was a pretty fun thing to practice on. I'll be doing a proper portrait for him once I figure out the perfect hairstyle and accessories for him and if I decide to give him tattoos of any sort which I might have to considering he's a precolonial god.

Interested in commissioning me? Click the source!

#original story #the seven souls #the would be lakan #mangkukulam #filipino #Filipino artists #filipino mythology #tagalog #pre colonial philippines #pagan #Marh Art #my art

[introvertbard]

Novel drafts! Please check them out!

What’s up folks, I just reblogged one of my really old posts about trying to get people to read my novel drafts. But here’s a shiny new one so I can pin this to the front!

So I originally posted these works on Inkitt and Inkshares, but Inkitt is most likely a scam that is often described as “a shittier version of Wattpad.” Inkshares is POSSIBLY a scam, but also an extremely new and experimental website even if it wasn’t, so I decided to move these drafts to Wattpad in hopes that a more established website had more people to read them.

Moonflowers is in-progress and The Crocodile God is completed, but I’ll just let people know that both “Moonflowers” and “The Crocodile God” are built on a LOT of outdated knowledge where Tagalogs/Filipinos all had tattoos and that Mayari is a Tagalog goddess. In “The Crocodile God,” I draw from a lot of Maori/Pacific mythology as well, and I’m not sure if I should keep that aspect in there.

If these ever make it to Draft 2 stage, there’s gonna be a lot of changes.

-- MOONFLOWERS - https://www.wattpad.com/story/324856549-moonflowers

Summary: When Alima Song's parents vanish for no reason, she eventually thinks that they're dead, so she moves from her home in California to the tourist town of Cloncarrig, Ireland to get away from her grief. Aside from issues with the Fair Folk, she gets to know some Malachy Bray and his friends, finds a job, a house, and adopts a stray dog.

Unknown to most people, the dog is Ned Song, her cursed but very much living father. He and her mother Lucy have not been killed--they "just" got kidnapped and cursed by the Wild Hunt, who are also the ones that keep trailing Alima after she moved.

The Irish gods do not enjoy thinking about why a whole gang of fairies are messing with the Song family, but since their leader is a force of nature, they'll have to start improvising their help.

--

THE CROCODILE GOD - https://www.wattpad.com/story/324254621-the-crocodile-god

Summary: If a god loses his community, his rituals, and most records of his existence, what is left of him to call divine?

On a windy beach in California, Mirasol finds a shipwrecked man and takes him to the hospital. With no phone, no ID, and barely any clothes after the sea got done with him, the most information they can get is that his name is Haik, and for lack of better options, he's discharged to Mirasol's place.

Dark-skinned, covered in tattoos, and hailing from Australia, Haik is not the typical Filipino. He tells her stories of the Tagalogs' far past, a foreign and unknown country--and soon finds out that he is Haik the sea-god, constantly searching for his mortal wife, and they are both stuck in a loop of reincarnation after their whale-goddess daughter was stillborn.

Unfortunately, she also finds out that he's an undocumented immigrant.

--

IF ANYTHING ABOUT THESE DRAFTS CAN PIQUE YOUR INTEREST, PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CHECK OUT THE DRAFTS AND LEAVE A COMMENT TO SHOW SUPPORT!!! I get so many people just saying my writing sounds cool EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT THE ACTUAL WEBSITE, and that’s not really getting my audience boost up.

#the crocodile god #moonflowers #urban-fantasy #filipino #filipino mythology