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“It’s November again folks! Better prepare for the rainy seasons! Put on your coats and roll with the weather, we’re going to give tips to ho—“ noisy TV, as Larry turned off the TV, here was a man who was in his late 30’s, divorced, wearing a weary demeanor, with a blank stare that could look through one’s soul in his face, “it’s November again huh.” November, that brings back a lot of memories for Larry, That fateful month, that fateful day, when He discovered, that not everything can be rescued, like gripping sand into his hands, his life went through “on November 7, 1994, 4 children played at the Bulacan ginto spring, when the waters current became too strong due to  typhoon Yollie, three of the children were miraculously saved, but one unfortunately was washed away…” Memories on Larry’s head flashed the news over and over, like every night in His life, He couldn’t sleep properly, bags formed hideous circles underneath His eyes, “Temazepam, you again.” He fell asleep with tears in His eyes, yet even His dream won’t let Him escape. “Tay! Tay! Tulungan mo ko! Tay natatakot na ko! Bat sila pinili mo! Ako anak mo! ‘di mo ko mahal tay!” "That’s not true!" Larry awoke with cold beads of sweat running around him. "I’m sorry son… the three were huddled together and, and they were easier to save! And, I didn’t know what to do, I tried to go to you, but you weren’t there anymore… sorry anak, sorry!" Larry sobbed, until He couldn’t cry anymore, He thought about His life, what if’s, His wife, how heartbroken she was, how she lose hope, and when He found her hanging there… all beat gone, with a rope to her neck, He shuddered, He thought that was the last incident in His life, He was dead wrong, series of failures troubled Him, He resigned, but no one accepted Him, due to His psychosocial profile, His depression was now beyond mild, His family, was back at America, and refused to see Him after losing His son. "No more, no more, I…I need to end this now, He should be 9 by now.. Maybe they’re together up there, or maybe down, I don’t know.” He wanted to end it now, with this rope, but He knew something better, to let that damn place finish its job. He grabbed a bottle of rum, His car keys, cursed His life, then went on His crappy 1976 car, then decided, was it for the best? Of course it is, this is what He wanted, He driven a long road, yet, in every turn He does, He remembers how strong the current swept Him along the river banks, how his son shouted for his help. “This day’s the perfect day! He’ll be nine today!” And remembering His wife hanging there, cold, like His son… He died, He felt nothing but regret, he should’ve been selfish that day, He should’ve saved His son, but now it’s too late. “Breaking news! A new typhoon is headed to the Bulacan area specifically St. Mary’s commemoration  area, where the tragic event that had happened.” Fitting, Larry thought to Himself, Let’s finish what you’ve started, you ruined my life, my son, my everything, He went near the river the river banks, and leaped unto the raging waters, He was drunk, with the current strong as His anger, driven Him downwards, This must’ve been what my son felt, I’d see Him again… Larry’s thought was all about His son, How fun it would be to be together again, He closed His eyes, yet, it would seem that in everyone, there were waterfalls, two where His eyes should be and in every one of them, He chose His son, "There’s no place for heroes in this world, only the selfish are left, if I’ve chosen my son, I would still be here…" Rather than a man who saved three lives, He was remembered as a quitter, a loser.

November by Matthew Marella

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There was once a small village hidden among the trees up north where four adventurous young hunters lived. Their names were: Art: the selfless and the leader, Cu: the wild card, Gil: the brave but arrogant, and lastly Alexander: the gentle giant. These four boys were the perfect embodiment of true friendship because no matter what happens they will always succeed as long as they have each other. Every day the boys will be off hunting and everyday new discoveries were made about themselves and their comrades. In one hunt they encountered a large rabid dog about a size of a full grown man that attacked Art while Alexander and Gil were away, but Cu stepped in with a make-shift-spear covered in thorns and killed it and collected its fur for clothing. The following week they stumbled upon a golden sword in a middle of lake but anyone who steps in the lake would immediately drown even animals, all would drown except Art since the lake will only allow the worthy. Art picked up the sword with ease; one could not have imagined anyone trying to lift it in such a way but if anyone who is unworthy, dares to lifts the sword it would result in failure for it has unbelievable heavy that even machinery can lift it off the ground. Another time while the three were unconscious, Gil wrestled a mighty but slightly wounded bull to the death and came barely half-dead but still was able to walk to safety. And lastly, several days after, Alexander learned that he was a natural with taming animals and began training wolves and horses as his pets for fun. After every hunt they will always go to a nearby waterfall where the water is clear as glass. They bathe in it to wash the blood away from the hunts as the food cooks. The villagers would always wonder why would the boys returned unharmed when they see the unbelievable trophies they bring from their hunt. But one day after a dangerous expedition, Alexander was gravely wounded and poisoned by an extremely venomous snake who is known to kill a man in seconds, but due to Alexander sheer size, the poisoned took a few minutes before it could work its magic. Art brought Alexander to the waterfalls to clean the wound while Cu and Gil find medicinal herbs. As Art washed the gaping, infected wound, he noticed that instead of slowing the poisoned down, it vanished completely at a minuscule second. In utter shock, Art dragged his unconscious friend under a tree and searched for Cu and Gil and told him everything. As the three returned to tree where Alexander was left, they couldn’t find him or the tree; heck even half of the forest was missing until they a loud thumping came roaring against their scratches of their hearing. They followed the sound when suddenly they found Alexander--alive and breathing--in his primitive state: his rigid arms reaching for the mountainous trees for firewood for their food and construction material for the village like it was nothing. Alexander walked around as it was nothing. The trio were all baffled about the sudden change of pace. On the way home, a sage with a warning for the boys and the falls, he told everything he knew and said that great destruction would happen because of the falls. The boys took this warning lightly at first until they saw another sage in the village proper. Preaching about the falls, the sage would mention that a goddess bathes at its peak with a mythical flower that grants immortality as her soap and the very essence of the flower is carried in the water and whoever bathes in the water would be immortal too as long as they continue to bathe in it and would be healed of every and all illnesses instantly, never to return again, but as it crashes down the falls to the river, the essence of the flower would be so diluted that it would not work. Some of the villagers believe but questioned while most believed it was lies. But the sage is not discouraged by this and continues to preach and was able to convince several villages that the falls was real and commence planned raids at the villages for the “immortal falls”. With all their might,the boys successfully defended the village without a second though before going to battle. With the boys success in the defending the falls their name grew, so did falls which attracted more raiders to attack, the people of the village now believed that the falls is true and rallied under their command and as months bled out to years the boys were given the title “guardians” and would continue to fight until they were boys no more. The wooden hut of the village would later turned into bunker-like-houses and is surrounded by a large stone wall with archers ready to fire, this is was no peaceful village no more but a fortress. One day a powerful empire heard and the sage’s words, believing this, the king began amassing a large war party they traveled to the village. And on their arrival at the village they wasted no time in attacking the walls, the injured and the villagers were forced to evacuate and the guardians with half of whatever is left in their army, stalled while the other half were ordered to retreat to the falls with the wounded to heal there but this did not last long because of the enemy kingdom’s advance technology and massive army count, Art ordered the army to retreat all together and as they make their escape Alexander called his forest pets to stall them. Upon arrival at the fall, Art immediately ordered all men to leave after helaing, leaving only the four behind, Alexander gathered his army of animals and ordered them to wait behind the bushes and above the trees, Art would be lookout while Gil would look for possible entry points and Cu would plug those entry points with explosive traps. The sound of animals howling and roaring along with the screaming and sword-clashing of the empire would slowly die down... until a loud explosion could be heard; it was one of Cu’s traps! The empire losing the element of surprise rushed in and face the guardians head-on which was a terrible mistake as none of those soldiers would return. While preparing for the next wave, Cu thought of a brilliant but crazy last resort, he told it among his brothers in arms and all agreed but as a last resort and last resort only. But that came sooner than expected as burning boulders would come from the sky. Cu wasted no time and began climbing the face of the falls while the three defend. The three put up a good fight but was later surrounded and bounded by chains, as Cu reached the top he saw the goddess sitting on top of a boulder, Cu told everything and begged her to enact his plan. The goddess reluctantly agreed. At the foot of the falls, the king arrived and asks them a proper surrender as looks down from his horse; Gil began looking around and saw some men gathering water from the falls to sell. All denied the kings demands and no surprise, Alexander suddenly snapping his chain even if it was made with thick and hardened steel with a simple tug and shattered both of the horse’s front legs with a punch, Art took this opportunity as he sees the king eye-to-eye, Art and decapitates him sending some soldiers running, Gil rushed to the people at the falls killed them of one by one, Alexander called onto his animal friends and swarmed the soldiers, suddenly a loud explosion from the peak of the mountain as they fight could be heard, it was Cu falling from the skies as it ran red with fire for he burned all of the flowers and where the river flows was no more as the goddess evaporated it to make sure no essence  would escape. The battle would rage for another day on belief that the king is still alive only to quiver as they see his head on a pike stuck to the ground... They were sure to follow their king. After the bloody battle, the guardians were heavily wounded and unable to move, Alexander ordered his wolves to leave one soldier to tell the horrors to his kingdom and as proof he brought the king's head. As soon as he left the four all collapsed under the exhaustion and with no water clean their bodies from the blood they looked up to sky slowly fading, curious, they asked Cu why would the goddess allow him to burn the flowers and evaporate the falls. He explained that she only uses the flower for soap and soap only and had no need for immortality for she already is that and because it very soft on the skin, Cu jokingly mentioned. With a smile on all their faces, they began talking about their cherished memories to ease the pain of death. After another day the villagers returned to see the bodies of the enemies and the guardians. The village people in grief, buried the guardians’ bodies on sacred grounds and etched their face on the side of the falls where their legend would remain forever.

White Water by Kiran Ganesan

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Tick tock, the bell goes off. Four small boys heard it as a signal of the water rushing down the Montgomery dam. They ran as fast as they could, seeing if who can grab the “Cheetah of the Week” trophy this time around. Gabu, the youngest of the group, aims his eyes at the prize, even if he acknowledges himself that he is never the fastest. On the other strip of the road, the self-proclaimed energy pill of the four struggles to catch up with the others. Harvey, who playfully drags his legs like a clown, did not care whether he places last or face some kind of gross punishment for it. For him, having his friends by his side is more than anything he can ever desire of, more so than a mere prize’s worth. Indigo sped up over the two in a matter of milliseconds, his eyes lighting up, furthering his feisty determination. Without notice, he slipped off at an incognito mud puddle as he splashed big upon sticky water--his old, wretched clothes wet on all the liquid that has seeped through. He has already warned himself that running with a fractured foot is detrimental for his recovery, but nevertheless he still tried--and for him, it is all that matters. As minutes pass by, Gabu was shocked that he was already ahead of Harvey and Indigo at the race. His lean face wore a slight smirk on its mask as a symbol of his growing courage to beat Javu, his better brother. He witnesses the horizon inch closer to his destination which means he is close to the finish line. As he gallops across in unprecedented speed, a montage of moments of him and Javu appeared on his mind: he remembered all the times when his brother was always favoured, idolized and praised. While him? He stands behind the casts of his brother’s shadow: unwanted. “Maybe winning this race would make me feel a little better about myself”, Gabu eased his anxious mind. But as he landed his foot on the dam’s cold cement, he was disappointed to discover that his brother was already there, playing by the water like some bored lion on a jungle that it has always owned. Dismay pours across his face, he felt so empty and insecure and so inferior. Gabu was a footstep away to go back but he was stopped by the two boys behind him. Harvey was carrying Indigo with the support of his shoulders, laughing at the misery and embarrassment of the latter. Gabu chuckled at the sight, when suddenly his brother puts his arms over his shoulders and wondered jokingly. “What kind of friends do we have, huh?” He was about to get stingy towards Javu but it worn off completely when he spoke to him, “At least you are here, little brother. You are the only that makes my life a little better than backyard junk." Gabu smiled, pondering over the words said too him. All along he felt that he was nobody compared to his older brother, but all along he never knew that he was and will always be special to Javu. By the end, the four young boys got their own little dippers to have their own splashes--each pointing out at its own direction--that regardless of their differences with their views and their little own insecurities, they are still the boys who have fun under the cascading dam waters.

The Boys under the Cascading Dam Waters by Kalvin Lleva

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I live on the mountains Right at the top of the sky’s curtains I see a beautiful view But I never seem to get anew I throw all my baggages away So these rugged rocks may be a place to stay I hope for my fragmented heart to heal To eviscerate the past and be surreal And I go through all of these Before the memories start to breeze That when I open my eyes, I am glad Moved on enough to finally sing my own Hyper-ballad.

Hyper-ballad by Kalvin Lleva

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Ever since my early youth I've known you It was those days and night, so gay, so true The flowery scent of the olden days The emotions brought by bright sunny rays From the mountains to the sandy seashore You make me forget what I was before You symbolize everything I stand for Love, growth, family, the things I adore You are a friend, providing me with wealth You are mother, nurturing my health You are a father, strict, stout, yet caring Thou relieves my aches, distress and longing All love given to me, healing my fad Beauty is nature, perfected by God

Beauty is Nature by Matthew Marella

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The innocent chilled beautiful Sunshine lay lonely abaft the ravenous-globe Curvatures chained in manacles Of dusk

Untouched by Kiran Ganesan

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Hazy eyes, meteorites Candy, ice, astral knights Narsian drive, mellow dye Charon yawns, quasars yawp Sundry stars crave their cry

Celestial Youth by HJ Carpiso

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The Sun outstretches his arms of regal, Wrapping, yapping, custard rays on meadows With a swoosh and a splash, waves inveigle, Tittering, tongues rolling thy midday vows; Children walking, heads that of tinker pots, Clinking, clacking, their bashful grins obscure; Aged trunks loom over fresh flowerpots At the hill peak, where plights place, pass demure Limbs slender, graceful, sway along the turf Its hollow pith hounds the pretty field's kiss; Lips weaving waning smiles, eyes drowned in surf; As irked clouds, winds, anchor skies and hiss The waters sigh as the Sun murmurs bye Alas, when the Moon awakens, they die

A Summer Day Sorrow by HJ Carpiso

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Something sweet, something bitter, something green Been with mothers side for generations ' Tis thing that removes all of childrens grin But is well-known for giving nutrition When you cannot see in the light of day Sickness and affliction all around us Fruits and vegetables are here to play Removing all the dirt, and gunk and rust Greens and reds a day, keeps doctor away Keeping our muscles strong, stout with fitnesss Making the sands of time all kept at bay Rejoicing, o happy day, o jolly Life's tastiest magic at the table

Vegetables by Matthew Marella

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can’t wait to be healthier than before If only I had the energy to move I hate it when my body disapproves, If only back then I could adore, But no. all I can do is sit and bawl. Greasy, salty, crispy potato chips I cannot live without, thou art help me. No! I can help myself, no more, no more. The vitamins I loss, come back to me, I have come to regain my dignity I will endure, with strength of a boar Your help I need not, like a lion, I roar.

No More by Kiran Ganesan

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