A REVIEW ON: KALIMUDAN—LITERARY WORKS FROM SULATAN KUDARAT

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by John Gied Calpotura

—Shoebox, there's a figure of innocence greatly affected by greed and pride. Currently happening. I commend the storytelling of this piece.

—10:33 AM, the "what if" story with bitterness of coffee.

—Sugercoat, ang mapaklang aftertaste ng magic sugar.

by Bryant Lee Niervo Morales

—Bahaghari, the title and first line gave a hint that's why I wasn't surprised, overdosed with words and lines, spoonfeeding. I like it being creative and poetic but this might not be a prose but a wordy/data bombarded story.

by Mariz Leona

—First Aid, good story and use of language, lines catches emotion, and best narration. A realization was brought and justified by the whole piece.

by Mark Vincent M. Lao

—A Walk on the Ramp, there's a better title somewhere but a good essay with a lesson to keep.

by Kiel Mark C. Guerrero

—Barya 'Yan, great word play, and story flow with the rhymes is good to read.

by Grace N. Aprosta

—Anak, salamat sa paggamit ng lokal na linggwahe na siya ring nabigyang buhay sa pamamagitan ng isang mahusay na katha.

by Precy Kaye E. Distor

—I and You, you and me against boundaries, creates harmony.

by Gerald Galindez

—San Gerardo and the Exocoetidae, I have read this piece from his other zine: very creative and metaphorical.

by Gerlie M. Cariño

—Tsuper ng Buhay Ko, a letter.

by John Dominic Arellano

—Hide and Seek, I think I have read this one too: creepy and still curious about the back story.

by Mary Antonette P. Fuentes

—Dark Adaptations, I pictured cats' eyes.

by Yumi Ilagan

—Mother Kept Me Awake, the very emotion driven piece, nabigyan ng hustisya ang titulo and creative af.

by Florence Diane D. Samson

—Astral Demis, alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.

by Irish Shari Berbano

—Why I Hate the Moon, nadamay pa ang buwang walang kasalanan.

A REVIEW ON: LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY

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Life Cycle of a Butterfly - Carlou Barroca Espedillon.

Never jud ako nadis-appoint sa mga purchase ko kay Kuya Carlou. Every piece he creates are all worth to read jud always.

This is the first I bought a book from him because I was hesitant back them to buy the Takoyaki Boys for the reason that, other than being broke unemployed graduate without graduation, I might can't easilly grasp his literary works specially they're almost written in English...

But here I am enjoying LCOAB na binili pa sa Philippine Book Festival last August, 2023 held at SMX Lanang. Dinayo ko pa talaga sa Davao na mas malapit man si Sarangani pero joke, I had the chance to buy it sa isang event on MSU months before PBF kaso naubusan ako ng kopya so I bought another local writer friend's book instead. It may look like wala akong choice but t'was a choice I didn't regret to choose. Kahit gina-bash siya sa iban dinha na feeling entitled (chesmes), I would say that it was the first novel closest to my heart.

Anyways, balik sa LCOAB. Indeed, it is a life cycle not only of a Butterfly but every living being. From an egg to the crumbling of those beautiful wings—from birth to death but some are without worthwhile life. I am always amazed by how CBE tell stories, from the first paragraph to the bomb end. Daw pirme gakarabuto akong mind ug dughan reading piece by piece, kay tanan best and what I love most—some are relatable and nostalgic maong lingaw kaayo basahon.

If I were to choose 5 among these best pieces na bet ko maging short film, here they are: STORIES FROM A MURDERER, DIFFERENT FACES OF MAN, LAST HOURS OF A ROBOT, THREE BLIND PEOPLE A TRAVELER MET ON THE ROAD, and I WAS HUNGRY AND THE NOBLEMAN GAVE ME FOOD. 

If you want to inquire about the availability of the books, leave a message to Carlou Barroca Espedillon's social media accounts and page.

—Banuy

A REVIEW ON: LUWAL | HATI

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Luwal | Hati, mga tula ni Agatha Palencia-Bagares.

The only chapbook I bought last August, 2023 in Philippine Book Festival held at SMX Lanang. As I was buying this, ang nasa utak ko ay para ito sa mga nanay. Kept on my shelf until I had time this year to read at hindi ako nagkamali dahil para nga talaga ito sa mga nanay as the author qouted: alay sa mga nanay... Pero napagtanto ko pagkatapos manamnam ang mga tula—hindi lang ito para sa mga nanay.

Para rin ito sa mga magiging nanay, naging nanay, muling gustong magdalang-tao at sa kailanma'y hindi na makabubuo. Ang karanasan ni Bb. Agatha ay magiging aral para sa hindi pa dumarating na sakuna, dilim, o kalungkutan na siya ring magiging ilaw. May mga payo para sa nais na sumubok ulit at pangako para sa (mga) bunga nito.

Ako, bilang asawa (bana), ay nagkaroon ng kaliwanagan at insights sa kung ano ang nangyayari sa isipan ng isang ina habang nagbubuntis at pagkatapos. Matagal na akong nakabasa ng mga artikulo ngunit mas may tatak talaga ang malikhaing paglalahad at nasa anyo ng literatura na naeengganyo akong basahin. Alay rin pala ito sa amin.

I have no idea if available pa ba ito o kung magpo-produce pa ang author but you may browse her social media accounts for ways to inquire.

—Banuy

OCTOBER 10, 2023 CROSMAKAARAWAN 4

October 10, 2023

LEA R. DELICANA

(Accounting Supervisor)