#FilipinoWriter

[ejaydoeshisbest]

My grandmother is as tough as nails.

My grandmother is as tough as nails, as the saying goes. It feels like no force on earth will stop her indomitable spirit. I wish I had that in me. The kind of fighting spirit that takes a beating before it quits. If she ever quits. The kind that defies the limits that nature imposes upon her. Her joints are as stiff as winter-touched poles. Her bones creak and crack like glass. Yet she insists on continuing her daily battles; the weeds must be pulled, and her gardens must thrive. Her hands—joints bulging, fingers coarse—pick stones, unclog canals, and cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My grandmother is ancient but insists on carrying on even with diabetes and arthritis. She will defy the odds age has given her; her tiny, crooked, bent self waddling along her property. She does this, I know, to feel useful; for her family to see that she is all right and still functioning, even as we all can plainly see that her strength is failing. We applaud her, but we are not fooled. She does this because to be a burden for her children would be unthinkable. We don’t want to treat her as an invalid, but we also do not want her to hurt herself. Even as the cruel fog descends to distort her memories, even as it obscures her judgment and rationale most days, the love for her family urges her to always move. Like a shark refusing to stop, because to stop would be the end of her, she fears. I want to be like her. Even as every step feels like climbing a mountain, I want to always find the resolve to move and act. I want to be the kind of person who forces themselves to walk and care for their garden, and cook chicken and fish for their grandchildren—this timeless recipe that flings me back to a time when I was smaller and bonier than I am now, with scruffy knees and dirt-encrusted fingernails. I want to believe that I still could do things. I want to shut the toxic voice in my head and ignore the limitations my body is warning me about and charge through. Because it isn’t about me anymore: it’s about what good I can do for the people I love. I wish the skies would smile on me like they do for her. I want them to bless me too. I would love to be unflinching in the throes of pain, to carry on like a soldier, to keep giving, and to keep sacrificing for my family. Let me be strong like Lolo was and how tough my Lola is. Let me honor them through that.

Words: Ejay Diwas

[nicolemarcina]

𝐀 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬.

I was born with three more siblings to a nurturing mother. But before our arrival, we already had an older brother. He was from one of our mother’s first pregnancies. He was the only one who remained in his siblings, and he took the challenge of being the leader of the pride.

A strong, tough build, perfect for protecting our home. Round, keen eyes that were quick to spot any intruder who was motivated to disrupt the peace and invade our place of tranquility. Although he was humongous upon our birth, one thing was certain.

Such a gentle giant, he was.

Read the full newsletter here : https://wordsoftheleaf.com/2025/06/04/a-gentle-giant-he-was/

[cmcstr]

Sa tapang at tahimik mong katangian

Sayo'y napahanga, may tanong sa isipan

Paano mo kaya iyan nagagawa?

Tila wala kang problemang dinadala

Ngunit sa likod ng katangiang ito

Nakita ka, isang araw, sa likod ng pinto

Umiiyak ng tahimik, ang hikbi'y pinipigil

Iyong binubuhos sakit ng damdamin

Bumukas ang isipan, aking napagtanto

Na kahit pala ikaw ay hindi perpekto

Na sa kabila ng katangiang ipinapakita mo

Isa ka rin palang tao, nasasaktan, humihingi ng saklolo...

04/06/24. 8:08 pm

[gunitaavenue]

masarap palang kumain kapag mainit ang kanin.

hindi na baleng isang takal lamang ng bigas ang naisaing. ang mahalaga, matapos ng halos 'di na mabilang na tiis bahaw at tutong, naihain din sa aming pinggan at lubusan ding natikman ang mainit na kanin—isang munting ginhawang tila kay tagal nang ipinagkakait para sa amin.

[samthefrustratedwriter]

#lgbt #wattpad #author #filipinowriter #lesbianromance #brat #aviation

kindly follow me on Wattpad, and if it's alright----I'm inviting you to read my stories, too. I'm an LGBT author, by the way. I write stories in tagalog and English. Thank you.

https://www.wattpad.com/story/360824939?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details_button&wp_uname=sammy211992

[biennedator]

Tag-ulan sa Hulyo 310722 20:58

Sinarado ko ang bintana pero ang lamig ng gabi’y sumasakop pa rin sa mga kanto ng aking kwarto, sa puwang ng aking kama. Pinikit ko ang mga mata  at nadatnan ang bumabalot na init,  dala ng eksena ng mga nakaw na ngiti, ng nauunawaang katahimikan, ng balikang pagtatangi.

Ang tunog ng ulan ay katulad noong  narinig ang boses na umaawit nang palihim sapagkat mainit ang yapos nito sa bumabagabag na problema. Mahinahon ngunit sigurado ang pagkanta, tulad ng pagkakahulog ko. Tinanggap ang nararamdaman nang may pag-aalangan, dahil sino ba ang hindi matatakot sa kawalan ng katiyakan?

Ngunit sinugal ko, sa kabila ng mga boses na pumipigil, kahit minsa’y hindi makapagsalita; sapagkat sa pagkakataong ito,  hindi ako natakot sa ulan. 

Sa kalauna’y unti-unting nabatid ang gumagapang na pangamba. Sanhi ng ginaw,  ang kawalan ng kakayahang makalapit. Bakit hindi na maabot ang kamay?  Ang mga kamay na bumubuhat,  na umaakay at kinakapitan. Bakit mas sumisikip ang dibdib kahit lumalapad ang distansya?  Bakit pilit na inaaninag ang anino sa lalim ng dilim? 

Tila napagpasiyahan na ang malayó sa init ng mga bisig,  sa espasyong inuuwian, na ating sinubukang ingatan. Marahang hinandugan ng pasensya  at ng pag-unawang ipinagkakait sa sarili ang binhing namunga. 

Nakikiusap ako’t humihingi ng palugit  kahit iilang minuto lang ang ibigay  nang maranasan muli ang awit, ang sinasabayang ritmo pauwi, bago maglaho ang alingawngaw ng dati. Subalit nawala na ang hangin,  At natangay din ang mga sana’t siguro.  Tumila ang bagyo,  at nandito na tayo: ikaw na waring tinatakbuhan ang totoo,  at ako na tinatakbuhan ang nararamdaman. Wala na ang mas sasakit pa  sa pamilyar na naging malabo,  sa hindi inaasahang kabiguan,  sa magkaibigang nagpapanggap na estranghero. 

Marahil hindi na talaga ito maiiwasan,  dahil sa pag-iba ng panahon,  sa ulang naging bagyo,  tayo rin ay nagbago. 

Baka kinailangang magbago. 

Umaga na.  Binuksan ko na ang bintana.

[makatang-igorota]

Uran (Rain)

Malekna'y teg-in, singa embulinget pay ja pasiya Emeki-ing-ingshas shi embel-at ja dekna Ngem eg maytudok ja a-kasen to'y saya Mesked et ali sekit ja mengikan ni namnama Ngem nu eg onbo-day ali sekit ni agsapa Nu uran to ni ulay ingkatod mashem da Pangemag ka et ni apoy ja mengikan ni silow Tan mengiptang ni teg-in iren akow Egmo kuma ikuwan ya uran to ni ulay Ngentoy si sekit ngaaw ton onbu-day Ta say kinmenteg ja duta ampet mesibugan Ma-jusan i mula nu kanayon ja meskitan

~ M.K. Sueño (05/2021)

[lunasteasonne]

12-08-20

i am a strong independent woman & i am manifesting that i will graduate with laude. i can only call myself successful with my career when i am happy. then i will enter law school self-sustaining. will complete my bucket list, will ride a train around cities in europe & will settle down in a lovely european city once i am financially stable. i am a strong independent woman and i will make it happen by the love of God.

[exposingmytruth]

Now on the youtubes! The moments I believe achieved this laurel! #youtube #sytyca #twoactors #awardwinning #filipinowriter #filipinofilmmaker #filipinocreatives #lgbtqia #lgbtqiashortfilms #femaleartist #femalefilmmakerfriday #lesbian #bipoc #bipocartists #bipocwriters https://www.instagram.com/p/CHjCtzxHT_P/?igshid=1l7a569uux7cg

[praviarts]

Kung wala naman nang natitirang pag-ibig, dapat bang sabihin na? O ituloy na lang ang pagpapanggap? Alin ang kung saan hindi labis na masasaktan? Sa labi ng katotohanan o sa yakap ng kasinungalingan?

[aniehart]

“Healthy relationships feel boring to people who are used to relationships filled with toxicity and drama. They are not sure what to do with love that is calm, kind drama free, non toxic and doesn’t require them to constantly make painful sacrifices.” (@gloryosei ) Thanks for sharing this @_____futz - I was inspired by it ♥️ . . . #aniehart #previewapp #quote #poetry #poetscorner #poetryporn #word #wordporn #writersofinstagram #writing #toxicrelationships #drama #poetssociety #expressionist #belletrist #filipinowriter (at Oslo, Norway) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fobEGHyLu/?igshid=1kn4kipxgkmgh

[nicolemarcina]

Hello, fellow Marcians! Time for our daily Novelber entry!

I feel reenergised after taking a dayoff yesterday. And I was able to write a lot faster and earlier today. I hope you enjoy today's Novelber excerpt! xx

L I N K : https://wordsoftheleaf.com/2024/11/11/novelber-2024-day-9-excerpt/

Follow My Trail on Social Media : https://linktr.ee/nicolemarcinawrites

[cmcstr]

"kinakaya nga ng iba, ikaw pa"

Narinig kong tugon ng isa

Napangiti ako, ngunit sagot ng isip

"Hindi ako binuhay para lang ikumpara"

Siya iyon, ako ito

Iisa mang personalidad ngunit magkaibang tao

Iisa mang lugar ang kinatatayuan namin sa mundo

Di maipagkakailang magkaiba kami ng pagkatao

Magkapareho man kami ng pinagdaanan

Hindi pa rin masasabing pareho naming masosolusyunan

Magkaiba kami ng pamamaraan

Magkaiba kami ng nararamdaman

Hindi siya ako, magkaiba kami ng pag-iisip, desisyon, at pagkatao

Kung kinaya niya ang pagkatalo ko

May kahinaan din siya na pagkapanalo ko

Magkaiba kami, di nararapat na maihambing, sana'y maintindihan mo

04|10|24

7:02 pm

[nickxzo]

He saw the feelings in the abyss of her eyes,

And in that very moment he knew that he shouldn’t fall for it

Nickxzo, Wattpad

[biennedator]

Presinto 190716 17:19

Isang bilanggo sa piitan Tahimik na nagdadalamhati Hiling sana'y di maulinigan ang ungol ng pagkasawi

Patak ng mga luha Bakas ng lumbay Isang bilanggong balisa Sa dalagang nagbabantay

Wag sana siyang matyagan ng diwatang nagmamasid Ganda'y hindi mapapantay Ngayo'y hindi mapalagay

Isa lamang siyang alipin Sino ba ang bilanggo Para siya'y mahalin Ng dalagang totoo

Ngunit hindi niya nakikita Ang nililihim ng dalaga Hindi nagsasalita Umiibig pala sa kanya.

Ang mga nararamdaman Hindi kailanman magbabago Ngunit ito'y kahiya-hiya, Patuloy na lang itatago

Pareho'y umiirog nang tunay Umiirog nang walang malay Ngunit hindi na inamin Ang maglalaho ring damdamin

Itong bilanggo, Ako. At ang dalaga, Ikaw.

[ofpagesandchapters]

What are the chances of finding a book written by a Filipino writer at an Oxfam second hand bookshop here in England? The odds are indeed very slim. That's why I couldn't contain my excitement when I found Jessica Hagedorn's Dogeaters (which is in my long list of TBR). My heart literally skipped a beat because I feel a bit closer to home now.