Neither

Neither am I prim and proper

Nor am I meek and humble

Neither do I have the sweetest gesture

Nor do I have statistics that mumble

Neither do I look graciously

With features I proudly show

Nor do I speak words numerously

That on my aesthetic mouth flow

Neither have I sugared smile

That makes all boys bend their knees

Neither have I lots of pile

That makes all statements cease

I am but a sleeping duckling

Ready to rise at any meridian

Waiting for the clock’s perfect ticking

Of turning myself into a beautiful swan

-Jave A.Matugas-
April 7, 2012

I wrote this poem three days before my eighteenth birthday. I dedicate this "piece of art" to myself.

Da, Mayra!

DA, MAYRA!

Characters:

Samantha

Samara

Samuel

Samantha:       Hay, salamat. Nahuman na gyod intawn atong gipang-andam nga mga pagkaon para sa atong surprise nilang mama ug papa para sa ilang anniversary. After three hours, kompleto na gyod ang putahe nga atong giandam.

Samara:           Sakto gyod ka, Samantha. Gikapoy baya gyod ko aning buhata, pero para nilang mama, ako gyong giantos ang kakapoy.

Samantha:       Ang cake pud nga atong gihagoan, na-bake na gyod. Heart pa baya gyod ang porma ani. Chocolate pa gyod. Ug ato na sab na-design-an og mga icing nga mga buwak. Puwede na god ko makapahuway. Salamat intawn.

Samara: Bitaw. Lami baya gyod kaayo na nga cake tungod kay naa gyod ang sugar, spice, and everything nice. BAKED WITH LOVE pa gyod na. Kana baya gyod ang HEART AND SOUL sa atong surprise para nila karon. Di gyod na puwedeng makaon sa laing tawo. O, sige, Samantha. Moadto usa ko sa sala, mopahuway usa ko. Total naluto na man ang mga pagkaon ug naa na nabutang sa lamesa, taboni na lang na aron dili langawon. Mopahuway usa ko. Okey?

Samantha:       Oy, oy, Manang Samara! Unsa’y gikapoy ka? Ayaw gyod pag-iningon ana. Kita bayang duha ang nagluto, ha. Kon gikapoy ka, gikapoy sab ko. Ika’y tabon sa mga pagkaon. Mopahuway sab ko.

Samara:           Ayaw kuno paggara-gara diha, Samantha. Taboni na. Ug ayaw’g sunod nako sa sala.

Samantha:       Bahala diay ka. Mopahuway sab ko, uy. Ikaw ra’y gikapoy, ha. Ikaw ra? Baya. Ay. Naa ra ang sofa, molingkod na ko. Hay, kahumok sa among sofa. Mao ra og mga balhibo. Haaa-

Samara:           Kagahi ba gyod nimo, Samantha. Naabot na lang gyod ta sa sala, nakalingkod na lang ka diha sa sofa, wa pa gihapon ka naminaw nako. Balik kuno didto.

Samantha:       Di ko! Kitang duha’y tabon. Kagaan ra anang buhata, ah. Ako pa gyod imong patabonon. Seys!

Samara:           Gaan gani, maong ikaw na la’y tabon.

Samantha:       Di. Ko. Maglingkod na lang ko diri. Maayo na kaayo ni akong puwesto, o. Nakasandig na ko sa sofa.

Samara:           Aw, sige. Anion na lang ni nato aron maghuman ta. Mag-contest tang duha. Kon kinsa ang unang’ moistorya, siya’y motabon sa mga pagkaon. Sugot?

Samantha:       O, sige. Go!

(Speak through their mind)

Samara:           Sus baya aning Samantha, uy. Kapila ra gyod anang tabon, di pa gyod kabuhat. Isugo pa gyod. Pastilan. Pagkatapolana gyod bayhana. Ang mata baya, kalugwaon. Maka-head to foot, mao ra’g wa na’y ugma.

Samantha:       Kani gyod si Samara, grabeeeeeng katapolan. Hasta pagtabon sa pagkaon, di gyod mabuhat. Di gyod mosugot sugoon. Pastilan. Mata lang, ay. Nagsiga. Makatutok, wagas.

Samara:           Aba. Wa gyod moistorya, o. Huh. Nagtuo siguro ni siya nga mosuko ko ay. Di gyod ko papildi aning akong kaluha. Siya gyod ang makatabon sa pagkaon.

Samantha:       Istorya na, Samara. Ikaw ra gihapo’y mag-antos. Di gyod ko moistorya. Bahala ka, kaluhaa ka.

Samuel:           Hi,  mga Sisters! Musta you? K ra you? Yow?

Samantha:       Bahala ka diha, Samuel. Di gyod tika tubagon. Di ko palabot nga mapildi ko aning Samara kon moistorya ko.

Samara:           Hello na lang diha, Samuel, pero di ko puwedeng mapildi aning Samantha.

Samuel:           Wa’y tawo? Wa lagi’y motubag? Yuhoo?

(Silence)

Samuel:           Ayo! Palit ko’g ice!

(Silence)

Samuel:           Ay, ambot ninyo! Mao ra man mo’g mga amang. Naa man unta mo’y mga dila, di man mo maningog. Bahala mo, uy. Gigutom ko. Moadto ‘sa ko’s kusina.

(Speak through their mind)

Samara:           Hala, patay. Kaonon to ni Samuel ang mga pagkaon sa lamesa ron. Para baya to nilang Mama. Na, unsaon na man ni ron? Istorya na diha, Samantha. Badlonga si Samuel.

Samantha:       Aguy! Kani gyod si Samuel. Pahamak. Kon mokaon baya ning tawhana, hurot gyod tanang pagkaon. Di gyod lung-an basta naa pa’y mahabilin. Hoy, Samara! Kihol na diha. Badlonga si Samuel.

Samuel:           Oy! Daghana’g pagkaon da. Naa’y pansat, hmm, kadagko. Naa’y humba, uy pinakupsan. Naa’y danggit, shocks, giprito. Naa’y usa ka bandehadong kan-on. My peyborit. (Puzzled) Hala! Ngano diay ni? Wa man unta’y nag-birthday. (Talks to himself) Pangutan-on kaha nako akong mga Sisters. (Yells) Mga Sisters! Unsa’y okasyon?

(Silence)

Samuel:           Ay, ambot uy. Di manubag. Mao ra’g mga wa’y baba. Bahala mo, uy. Mokaon ko. Gigutom ko. Paniudto na. Bantay bitaw’g badlongon ko ninyo ha. Anha ra mo mangistorya kon mokaon na ko. Magsugod na ko’g kaon!

Samantha:       Patay. Kalimota baya namo’g ingon aning Samuel nga anniversary nilang Mama ug Papa. Di baya gyod ni kahinumdom sa mga okasyon. Hasta sa iyang birthday. Hurot gyod ning mga pagkaon ron. Grabeha baya gyod ani niya mokaon. Baboy baya gyod. Hoy, Samuel. Para na nilang Mama’g Papa. Anniversary nila karon. Kalabaaaaaad gyod nimo, Samuela ka.

(Samuel adlibs)

Samara:           Mao ra man ni’g wa’y kaon si Samuel, uy. Puno kaayong baba. Wa’y puangod makahungit. Naa pa’s kamot. Naa pa’s kutsara. Naa pa’s tinidor. Hoy, Samantha. Badlonga na si Samuel.

Samantha:       Katunga na man lang tawn na ang nahabilin, uy. Hunong na diha, Samuel. Maluoy ka. Para na nilang Mama ug Papa.

(Samuel burps)

Samuel:           Ay, excuse me. Hehe! Grabe. Busoga gyod nako, mga Sisters! The best gyod inyong mga luto, uy. Anak gyod mong Mama. Lami kaayo makada’g luto.

Samara & Samantha:  O, bitaw Samuela ka. Anak gyod ming Mama. Ikaw, anak sab kang Papa. Mao ra gyod ka’g nalawgan da. PG. Patay gutom.

Samuel:           Thank you for the food, mga Sisters! Uy, naa pa’y cake. Kaonon ko ni-

Samantha:       (Shouts) Samuel! Ayaw!

Samara:           Yes! Daog ko. Miistorya ka.

THE END

-Jave A. Matugas-

December 15, 2012

This story is inspired to the story of the newly wedded husband and wife who do not want to close the door of their house.

Matag Gutlo

Sukad nga king tigsuwat nahimugso

Tukmang kalipay, kaninyo mibutho

Batang babayeng resulta sa inyong panaghiusa

Jave ang gingalan ninyo kaniya

Karon ang batang babaye nagsulat

Mensahe alang kaninyo, unta madawat

Sulod adto mao ang naa sa iyang dughan

Mga pulong nga dili gyod ninyo madunggan

Ma ug Pa, salamat sa sakripisyo

Dugo ug singot, gipagawas ninyo

Aron saktong pagdako ug igong pagkat-on

Ang kanakong inyong anak akong maangkon

Sa paglabay sa mga katuigan

Pagmahal nga wa’y sama, akong nabatyagan

Sa pamulong di man ninyo masulti

Apan Ma ug Pa, kana akong nabati pirmi

Salamat gyod sa tanan

Sa kalipay, sa kagul-anan

Sa inyong sobra nga pag-antos

Ang pagtinarong, akong ikabalos

Paminaw gyod, Mama ug Papa

Madunggan kini ninyo, panagsa ra

Tungod sa hilabihan ninyong pagpangga nako

Pagmahal sa usa ka anak, alang lang ninyo matag gutlo

-Jave A. Matugas-

December 17, 2012

Chocolates and Indulgences

Chocolates. Shoes. Clothes. Gadgets. Bags. Jewelry. Cosmetics.

These are some things that we people die for.

Chocolates and Indulgences. Whims and Caprices. Wants that turn out to be Needs.

Goodness gracious, people! We ask for too much, when we couldn't even sacrifice a single.

We look for more. We ask for more. Always.

We crave for something, when we are NOT so worthy to be given.

We die looking for what's better, and when we finally get it, we once again look for the best.

We do not feel contented. We always seek for something MORE.

Couldn't we just settle to what's handed to us?

Because people, God gave us the best. What He gave us was more bittersweet than chocolates. What He gave us was more than the delicious indulgences that we always look for.

God gave us life... and that's what it is.

The Much. And. The Best.



-Jave A. Matugas-
November 29, 2012

Irony of Life

As we wake up every morning, we make decisions. The making of our days depends on the decisions we choose. Sometimes, we say, "Oh, what the... I won't let this freaking thing ruin my day!" or "Thanks for making my day. Don't worry. I'm being sarcastic".

As we go to school, we are taught of "academics", when in the real world, what we need is "practicality". What we need are money, diligence, and motivation.

As we save relationships, friendly or not, we are asked to tell the truth, but at times, what we need is to lie, white or not. We are left with no choices, or so we think.

As we live each day, we are told to be brave, but during the inevitable moments, we have to give way. We must put the welfare of others in front of us.

As we share experiences, we brand them as our friends' or other people's, when in fact, those are really ours. We are too afraid to tell things about our own.

As we enjoy ourselves, we laugh out loud, when in truth, we die in agony. We smile at our pains, we laugh at others aches.

As we fall in love, we deny, when in exactness, we would love to shout our feelings out loud. We are scared of being rejected because we know, admittance would only ruin us.

As we deal with other people's love affair, we act as the bridge, when what we really wanted is to be bridged. We hurt ourselves too much.

Now, my question is, do you get my point? That WE make the Irony of Life?



-Jave A. Matugas-
November 29, 2012

At The End of the Road

"Life is a script. Act it. Adlib it."

We all have our own paths to take. We all have different directions. We all have maps to guide us where to go. But despite of all that we have, we are still to go in one destination.

Our lives start from the meeting of our parents, to their being acquainted, to their getting-to-know-each-other, to their being friends, to their being lovers, to their getting-stronger, to their being married, to their being physically one.

After our dear parents complete this process, we are conceived. We stay in our mothers wombs for approximately nine months, some leave sooner or later though.

We step out in this world, and we learn the dynamics of living each day. 

We are bathed. We are dressed. We are fed. We are sent to school. We are even taught academically, but irony of life is forever in our every step... we do not meet those academic elements in the real world.

What we need to survive is practicality. It's the only thing we are to consider, aside from love and intelligence.

You cannot report one plus one in show business. You cannot predict weather by knowing which spoon to use in proper dining. You cannot build a house if all you have are mere measurements.

You cannot and will not achieve anything if you would just sit there and watch the world spin around in its own.

Remember, life is a journey. Life is all about how you lived it while you were still breathing. It's all about doing what is morally right and learning lessons and values after every mistake.

But above all this, there is one thing that you and I have in similar. Death. The only destination that is so inevitable to go.

Death. That's the end of your journey. That's the end of your road.

-Jave A. Matugas-

November 28, 2012

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Which do you think is the best one? The First One, the Second, or the Third? (though everything is just the same... It's like a matter of "SPOT THE DIFFERENCE")

I'm practicing Photojournalism with my Canon DigiCam... How are the photos? Leave a comment, pretty please. :)



-Jave A. Matugas-
November 22, 2012

What I Look Up To

Sometimes, some people tend to or intentionally forget special occasions. Why? There are so many reasons why.

At some instances, it's maybe because they just don't literally remember, they repressed, they suppressed, or they just don't want to care a bit because special occasions don't give them the reason to celebrate it.

But as to me, special occasions are always special occasions.

Especially in this season of year. Christmas. I don't know, but I believe that my love for Christmas is an open book to every people who knows me. It's what I always admire to celebrate each year. Even right after a year's Christmas Eve, I look forward to celebrating Christmas once again, even if it would take for me another year to have it.






Christmas, it's what I always look up to. It's cool December breeze. It's each household tree. It's colorful twinkling light. It's shining shimmering splendid nativity scenes. It's dazzling balls hanging round the Christmas tree.

It's not really the gifts I would receive this Christmas (well, SLIGHT!) that I look up to, but it's the season itself.

I love attending and completing the MISA DE GALLO (for me to be able to make wishes!), though it saddens me remembering that I wasn't able to complete it last year. I made it to only EIGHT dawn masses.

I love celebrating my Christmas with my family. I don't know why, but my family is really worth c elebrating Christmases with.




 I love seeing Christmas balls, Christmas gift wrappers,Christmas bells, Christmas lights, Christmas trees, candy canes, Parols (Christmas lanterns, Christmas carols, Santa Clauses, Snowmen, Reindeers, Advent wreaths, and most of all, the NATIVITY SCENE.




I love looking at BABY JESUS in the manger right after He was born. I love the looks of Mary, Joseph, the Three Wise Men, and the animals while watching the peacefully sleeping or wide awake Jesus.

 Aaah. I just love Christmas. It's what I always look up to.

Hmm. What about you? What do you always look up to?







-Jave Augusto Matugas-
November 20, 2012

The Mistook Wish

"I made a wish... a mistook wish."

I wasn't expecting a lot. It just happened that we came across with each other right after I wished on the ninth Misa de Gallo.

I didn't know why that all of a sudden, you just went away. I didn't know the reason of your leaving. Was it my fault? Or was it just that you did want to go?

You left me hanging, wondering of what I did wrong.

And then, I went back to the time when we haven't met, when I was just wishing on the ninth Misa De Gallo. I made a mistake there. A mistake that I would really never forget.

I realized that it was just last year. That last Christmas mass.

I remember you accidentally bumped me. You held me firmly so that I wouldn't fall off the ground. You asked for my name. And later on, we became friends.

For the straight twelve months, we were good together. The people around even called us The Inseparable Two... because we hang around with each other every time.

Now, as I reached to this point in time... to this December twenty-fifth, I get back to reality. And like the speed of a lightning bolt, realization hit me. It was on my wish. The mistook wish.

Why mistook wish?

Because I only wished of having someone until the next time I celebrate Christmas.

Ugh!

There it is now. I know now the reason why you... left.

The wish of only asking a year, and not a forever.



Jave A. Matugas
November 14, 2012

Falling Star

Hindi ko maintindihan ang pakiramdam. Madilim ang paligid ko. Nilalamig ako. Nalulungkot.


Nandito ako ngayon sa aking kwarto. Pinakikiramdaman ko ang paligid. Tinignan ko ang kalangitan sa labas ng aking nakabukas na bintana. Ganito ang aking ginagawa gabi-gabi. Titingila sa ulap at maghihintay na sana ay makakita ulit ng isang falling star, tanda na ako ay minsan ding nagmahal.

Ngunit wala akong nakita, kahit isang bituin man lang. Umuulan. Maitim ang langit.

Sinarado ko na ang bintana. Umupo ako sa bangkong kaharap ng aking mesa. Hinarap ang diary at hinawakan ang ballpen.

Nag-iisip ako ng kung anong isusulat na pwede ko sanang balikan. Na pwede ko sanang basahin ulit dahil may nakasulat na ikaw.

Oo. Ikaw. Ikaw na siyang pangalawa kong minahal.

Inisip ko ang mga pangyayari sa isang araw na lumipas na naman sa buhay ko. Inisip ko ang mga pangyayaring may kinalaman sa iyo. Kaya lang, sa paghalungkat ko sa bagay-bagay na nangyari sa akin sa araw na ito, ang lungkot. Walang nangyaring nag-uugnay sa akin sa iyo.

Kahit man lang sa pagdaan ko sa corridor ng school, wala akong nakitang ikaw. Kahit sa pag-upo ko sa canteen sa dahilang nagpapatay ng oras, wala pa ring ikaw.

Ano ba, Mahal? Kahit isang bakas ba, ayaw mong ipakita?

At ngayon nga ay nagsimula na akong ilapat ang dulo ng aking ballpen sa diary ko. Sinimulang isulat ang mga pangyayari mula paggising ko. Sinulat ko pati ang nararamdaman ng puso kong wasak sa araw na ito dahil hindi kita nakita.

Pati pait at hinanaing, hindi ko pinatakas sa puwersa ng ballpen ko.

At heto, sa huling talatang isusulat ko sana sa aking diary, bumalik na naman ako sa linyang gabi-gabi na yata ay nasusulat ko sa bawat pahina.

"Ano ba, Mahal ko? Katulad ng falling star na nakita ko minsan sa buhay ko, hinayaan mo ring mahulog ang puso ko sa iyo... mahulog sa isang parte ng aking walang kasiguraduhang mundo."

Ang Akong Unang Balak (My First Cebuano Poem)

ELPEDIO “ELLY” AUGUSTO

"Ang akong nag-inusarang apong' gwapa"


Likod ning katawa ug pahiyom
Anaa ang kaguol nga giluom
Tungod sa paglakaw mo ug pagbiya
Atong pamilya, di na gyod ingon ang pagmaya

Lolo, sukad sa pagkahanaw mo
Kasingkasing ko, ingon og nangabubho
Sa mga apo nga aduna pa’y kalipay
Tungod ilang lolo anaa pa sa ilang banay

Sakit nga handomon nga ikaw wala na
Kon akong mahunahuna, panahong’ gikuyogan ta
Hapdos sa pamati, sakit sa paminaw
Balatiang mitungha, magwagtang mao ikaw

Kon ako hatagan og usa ka tsanse
Ikaw gyod, Lolo ang akong isulti
Nga kita sa panimalay, magkauban
Balikon tanang katawa ug tanang gisaw-an



Jave Augusto Matugas
August 15, 2012