A REVIEW ON: LINYA, THE SPACE IN BETWEEN | ZINE

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A zine produced at the time of early pandemic. Matagal ko nang nabasa ang likhang ito at ang muling pagsilip dito ay pagbabaliktanaw. Tracing back the situations spilled from the pitcher of a disaster that made humans got really drunked. Parang alak na gumuguhit sa lalamunan na ininom kinagabihan, lumabo ang paningin, napagod, nagpainit sa lamig ng lumuhang maulap na kalangitan at sa paggising sa umaga ay nag-iwan ng sakit sa ulo. Ngayo'y naglalakbay tayo sa mahaba-habang siyam na buwan hanggang tuluyang maisilang ang bagong nilalang, bagong sarili, bagong pagkatao, bagong pamayanan, bagong tahanan, at bagong pananaw sa buhay... Lahat ay bago dahil di na natin maibabalik ang dati, ang tanging magagawa na lamang ay magmuni-muni sa isang malungkot na bahagi ng ating buhay at magluksa sa mga alaala.

—Banuy

A REVIEW ON: STORMS IN OUR MIND | ZINE

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Gaya ng mga isla sa Pilipinas, marami-rami rin ang mga bagyong dumadalaw sa ating isipan. May iba't ibang bilis, bugso ng hangin, tagal ng pananatili at laki ng iniiwang pinsala—mga bagyong tinatawag nating karanasan. Ngunit hindi gaya ng bagyong pisikal na mapangwasak, ang mga delubyo sa kaisipan ay minsan rin mapanghilom. Natatabunan ng mga lupang inanod ng baha ang mga butas na matagal-tagal ring hindi maisarado, naipatumba ang mga istrakturang nakaharang sa dahang tinatahak, nililipad ang mga bubong ng tahanang madilim na kailanma'y di nagkaroon ng kaliwanagan, nagsulputan ang mga lihim na nailibing at ang mga bagay na matagal nang hinahanap, at nadiskubre ang pagkakaisa ng mga hinuha upang magkaroon ng kapanatagan.

Personal ang atake ng mga piyesa, hahayaan kong ikaw mismo ang makadiskubre ng makatatama sa 'yo.

Kung nais n'yo pong magkaroon ng kopya, magpadala lamang ng mensahe kay Bb. Dawn Sinangote.

—Banuy

A REVIEW ON: 11:11 | ZINE

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What is your wish?

To Nancy: What ifs are beautiful, finding the way to its resolution is an adventure you might want to take—finding out an answer to a question and knowing you're right all this time feels like cloud 9. But buts lingering behind every what ifs are skillful thieves, be careful not to make them have you stolen.

To Allynna: You are blessed to have an unbothered family that offers their hands willingly, you are not and will never be a burden with love. Insecurities are like rotten banana peelings, mix them with the soil you are planted in—let your sprout peek and grow.

To Carl: As a person older than you, I have been with so many contracts and ties of deep friendships before that was suddenly cut. Please take heart and have might to walk again, people may come and go but everything that was taken will soon be filled. Tho soon may not be an exact time and date, surely, an airplane doesn't always fly—it will take its time to land to Another LLANd. Hopeful.

To Joash: You are understood, maybe not by everyone but the most important that should understand your situation is you. Listen and read your self, everything will just be light—backpacked, hand carried or in a suitcase. 

To Marlyn: Process are done before a bread becomes a bread. A bag of flour will be mixed with egg, margarine butter and kilos of water so it will strengthen and can be shaped, right amount of seasonings of trials and humps to taste, and cooked under a heart on fire to have it ready to be served. You are a delicacy valued by experience.

To Kristine: Pressure makes diamonds. Live and exist.

To Nash: Being grateful to a societal norm is still a gratefulness that is worth gold. Thank you for reminding us.

To Patrick: There's a creeping wholeness in between brokenness, you just have to figure it out while walking to a journey of longings and more longings to come. If the moment will come that you will no longer feel the missing and no more asking of being filled, that is the day you are reborn.

To Rusalita: Unfortunately, we doesn't have the right to choose on that. You won't remember your past life anyway, a hundred percent of living will turn into zero again and again and again.

To Aiza: We doesn't always allowed to have our comforts specially on moments living can't participate. Life's cruel, requires you to always make it get involved even it breaks or smash you into pieces and doesn't mind the fixing. You are your own mechanic.

To Michael: YOLO. You always have the choice, you've aged enough.

To Angel: You can answer a how by finding out first the why.

So now, what is your wish?

I wish for these artists well-being and will leave the ever-motivating word, padayon.

—Banuy 

A REVIEW ON: GINAPASAYA MO AKO AND OTHER POEMS | ZINE

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Ginapasaya mo ako...

Unang piyesa pa lang, gipangiti na ako and as I've read everything—my soul was filled but at the same time was hungry for more. Nabasa ko na siguro lahat ng zine na published ni Sir Gik and always lang ako ginapabilib sa mga piyesa niya. Valuable context presented in a unique way. Napaisip tuloy ako kung kailan magkakaroon o magkakaroon pa ba ako ng sariling tatak sa istilo ng pagsulat gaya ni Sir Gik. Sana. Puhon.

I commend Kabacan Blues, ang pinakanagpasaya sa akin. I am craving for more of this man's masterpieces. Tunay gid na legendary.

Kung gusto n'yo ng kopya, contact Candle L. Egg and Tridax Zines on facebook to avail.

—Banuy

A REVIEW ON: I, ALONE AND OTHER POEMS | ZINE

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    1 of the 4 zines bought at Philippine Book Festival Davao last August 19, 2023.

    Kung tama ang pagkaalala, ito ang unang zine ni Sir G!K and written in english. He shared na he felt not so good with this, I somewhat agree kasi masyadong maingay na hindi ko marining ang boses ni Sir. Hindi ko ma-recognize na siya ang sumulat, siguro sa language, pero there's a taste of Sir G!K's weirdness sa mga piyesa.

    I, alone... Didn't made me feel alone kasi may kasama akong maging alone. Like the cliche line: alone but not lonely. The pieces' stories are saddening tho. Hindi ko masyadong ma-explain ang feeling... Basta.

    If you want to have a copy of this zine, contact Candle L. Egg on Facebook of Tridax Zines.

—Banuy