M.C. Tolfo - Storywriter

Labing-limang letra, mula A hanggang D. Ito ang laman ng kapirasong intermediate pad na iniabot kay Willie ng classmate niyang nakaupo sa likuran. Hindi siya tanga, alam niya kung ano ito. Tiningnan niya ang bond paper na nasa desk niya, 15 na tanong, multiple choice, 1st part ng quarterly exam. Pero hindi niya kailangan to. Consistent top 1 si Willie mula 1st year hanggang 3rd year, pero dahil sa iskandalong ginawa ng Nanay niya noong March, tinanggal siya sa Section 1. At ngayon nga, nasa lower section na siya, mas kumpiyansya siya na makukuha niya ang top 1, lalo na't mas mahina ang kompetisyon dito. Tiningnan niya ulit ang papel, tiningnan ang likuran nito, walang nakasulat. Tumingin siya sa Teacher, nasa pintuan ito, nakikipag-tsismisan sa isa pang guro. Dahan-dahan siyang tumingin sa likuran, isang payat na lalake na may maluwang na uniform ang nag-abot sa kanya ng papel. Nakalimutan niya ang pangalan ng kaklase niyang ito, pero alam niya nakakausap niya to. Ipinapaab...

Once there was a moth who fell in love with a caterpillar. It was the moment they met, and the feeling, though not foreign to the Moth, was instantaneous. The Moth began to get close to the Caterpillar until they became good friends. Each day, during sunset, the Moth would perch along the branches of the tree where the Caterpillar lives. The two would then talk for hours, until they both realize its midnight. The Moth would share stories of its adventures, beyond the forest, above the clouds, across the river. The Caterpillar would be fascinated with these stories, and it too will share stories of it's own: how it hides from the birds that rest among its tree's branches, how it watches the small animals that rest below the tree's shade and the other insects that flutter around. "Oh, how I envy you my friend the Moth", the Caterpillar said one day, "You fly from tree to tree, branch to branch. You can see the world from above, you can go wherever you ...

Gracenote's First Movement makes a lasting movement. I am a fan of Gracenote. Their music is reminiscent of the 90's pop-rock that I grew up with, combined with punkish-rock elements. They're not too heavy, and not too pop either, they're at the middle, and that's why rockers from both spectrum can enjoy their sound. The Gracenote, from left to right Alvin Ortiz (who, sadly, already departed the band), Chen Pangan, Eunice Jorge, Jazz Jorge and EJ Pichay First Movement , I believe, is their second album. The first one, self-titled Gracenote , was released independently some time in 2009. Since then, they have come a long way and their music evolved. Three years ago you might have dared call them a Paramore knock-off, but now they are Gracenote. First Movement consists of 8 tracks, the last one being an acoustic version of their current single, Amnesia . Kicking off the album is Knock Knock , written by the band's lead vocalist herself, Eunice Jorge....

He is the one you call when you have a fight with your Boss for not finishing that Monthly Financial report. The person you consult to when your crush suddenly starts flirting with you. He is the one you send a message on Facebook when everyone else is asleep or busy on a Thursday night. He is the one you text when you're feeling sad. And he never fails to cheer you up because he always texts back with some inspiring and uplifting advice, or maybe some sarcastic one-liners. Mind you, he is not gay, he's as straight as the the pole where they hoist the Philippine flag every Monday morning. He's considered 'one of the girls', some one who is not afraid to hang out with a bunch of ladies sipping coffee at a Starbucks down at Bonifacio High Street. He's perfectly confident with his masculinity, yet he's not afraid to use that obscure Beki language when talking with you. Whenever you find it hard to take down one last bite of that double cheeseburger you...

I met a girl with a hidden smile Her face is covered with scowl all day And forlorn eyes that stares from a mile But I saw bright colors beyond the grey Her body's a smile, each motion a grin Her hands are laughter, one stroke is glee Her soft silent voice full of bliss within She's always alone, but never lonely She'll hide her smile, her joy may not show But she's the happiest girl I've come to know Apologies for the art. I used it without permission. Hopefully, the girl with a hidden smile  won't get mad at me.

"Mag try-out ka sa varsity" "Ha?" "Si Sir Romualdez ang coach ng Badminton team natin, mag-try out ka sa kanya, magaling ka." Nag-blush ang pisngi ni Kristine sa sinabi ng binata, at nagtawanan ang lahat ng matamaan ito ng shuttlecock sa noo. Nag-uusap sila Kiko at PJ nang pumasok ang tatlong dalagang ito sa USG office, nanghihiram ng mga raketa. Isa ito sa mga project ng grupo, kung saan Vice President si PJ. At kahit busy, kita pa rin ng peripheral vision niya ang mga ito. Matinik sa mga babae itong si PJ, palibhasa'y tisoy at guwapo. Matangkad, matangos ang ilong, chinito ang mga mata, bilugan ang mukha, at may isang pares ng dimples sa pisngi. Kilala sa pagiging ladies' man, lahat ng babaeng matipuhan niya, siguradong nakukuha niya. At ngayon nga, nakita niya ang sunod niyang prospect. Naghintay siya na makaalis ang mga babae bago kimulos ang binata. "Ahh, Kiks", sambit nito sa kaibigan pagkatayo, "usap na lang tayo...

My old friend, Ranz, suggested that I should just blog my torment. I told her I could try but I couldn't think of anything to write in spite of the emotional stress I'm facing. Then I heard a familiar song from Eraserheads, so here it is. Torpe Complex    Weather. Maybe I should ask about the weather. No, too cliche. No, no, no, I should think of another topic. God, why do I always find it hard to talk to her? I mean, I'm a loud-mouth. In school, when I'm with my friends, I never run out of topics to discuss. But with her...    Quite a funny weather, isn't it?    Huh?     The weather. Earlier this morning its cloudy and gloomy, but now its freaking hot.     Yeah, I noticed that too. Its the middle of October and its as sunny as a fried egg.     Oh good, good, its working. Small talk, I finally did it. We've been walking for minutes and we only shared 'uh huh' and 'oh'. Now, from that topic, maybe I should expand or....

"Siya yun." "Sino?" "Yang papasok", sinenyasan ni Armand ang babaeng kaibigan para tingnan ang estudyanteng pumapasok sa front entrance ng eskwela. "Yung kinuwento ko sa 'yo", tiningnan ni Armand ang kausap, kinukunot ang kilay, kinukumbinse na alam dapat nito ang tinutukoy niya. "Ah", gets na ng kausap. "Ganda 'di ba?" Tumingin si Armand, sa kaibigan, nakataas ang dalawang kilay, hinihintay na may sasabihin itong maganda. Sinipat naman ng kausap ang dalagang tinutukoy, habang pinapakita nito ang ID sa guard na nakabantay sa pintuan. "Ok lang. Maputi." "Sus, di ka marunong tumingin," dismayado si Armand sa reaksyon ng kaibigan, muli siyang tumingin sa babaeng tinutukoy. Naglalakad na ito at papunta sa direksyon nila. "Hello Kristine!" Lumingon ang babae kay Armand, na hindi inaasahang may tatawag sa kanya. "Naalala mo pa ko?" Tiningnan siya nito sa mukha, "noon...

You'll see I'm crazy for you, touch me once and you'll know it's true, I never wanted anyone like this, its so brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss, I'm crazy for you... Magta-tatlong buwan na ring nakapatong ang gitarang iyon sa kanyang mesa, ina-alikabok na nga at kinakalawang na ang mga kwerdas, may ngatngat na rin ng daga ang liigan nito, at may bahagyang lamat sa likuran nang minsang nahulog ito sa sahig. Ang dati nitong makintab na kulay ay unti-unti na ring nangungupas, marahil nga ay hindi na ito makakalikha pa ng magagandang awitin, sa itsura pa lamang ay mukhang wala na ito sa tono. Lagot! Siguradong magagalit nito si Anthony, lalo na kapag nalaman niyang pinababayaan ni Rona ang kanyang gitara. May tatlong buwan na rin mula ng huling hawakan ni Tony ang gitarang ito. Tumugtog siya ng magandang awitin, na sinabayan naman ni Rona ng magandang tinig. Isang napakagandang rendisyon ang kanilang nilikha, ngunit ngayon ay hindi ko na naririnig pang inaawit n...