#likhaph

note: There may be some quotes that are non-verbatim as i really only have raw copies of what is available in the book. Before getting started, here's a little promotion: - 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐇𝐀 Facebook Page - 𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐇𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 (Personal Facebook Page) 𝘖𝘙𝘋𝘌𝘙 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄!

(from left to right, authors: Yel Hipolito, Nadi R Anchor, Patch Aviado, Daphne Reyes)

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to cheat my choice of book for this series of mine. Initially, I had 2 other books that I have started reading but failed to really find myself getting into it. For one, although the stories were interesting, I honestly had no brain capacity to read a full on Filipino language story. My brain needs the kind of story that does not require me to use my brain that much as I am utterly tired…Another is that September had so many things in stock for me, eating away at my personal rest time. And the reason for that was because finally, F I N A L L Y.

After years of waiting and finding a chance, a couple of friends and I have finally published an anthology (creative short stories) together called 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐇𝐀 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟏: 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨.

“But you can’t be everything for everyone, Tala."

Our journey, our process, was a mix of peer reviews and rounds of revision. Might I tell you, some of the "editors" and "reviewers" are not exactly professionals in editing (mostly, just me) and are really just in for the ride as we do need feedback on each story to somewhat have a more presentable story for print. So in a sense, some of us have pushed ourselves to be EVERYTHING for everyone.

Nothing wrong with that notion, really. It's heroic, if you ask me. But it's also draining especially if other factors are not going as planned.

"It didn't take long for Jon and Trish's relationship to blossom into a beautiful friendship."

During the process of peer reviews, I have met new people - albeit virtually - and to some extent, I could say we at least built on an initial show of CAMARADERIE. I could not exactly call it 'friendship' just yet as the concept of being friends have so much more to be explored aside from the occasional banter outside of our comments on the stories for the book. But as mentioned, the camaraderie was somehow built solidly with how everyone tried to be fair and critical to the stories without being offensive. That in itself, made me see a glimpse of their persona - they're not some stuck up who only praises their own and ignores others.

"The words sounded fancy and feminist…"

Now on reading the stories for peer reviewing, dare I say that these people - strangers to me, mostly - are using big words that my very-young-adult-reader brain cannot easily digest without the help of google. It certainly has its pros and cons, but mostly, I'd say is that I learned. I got to learn new words, new techniques, all the while I was giving a (hopefully) helpful and critical advise to these big-word writers.

“I could show you around…except I am a little limited.”

Because of these 'big words', I honestly felt some sort of three 'S'.

Small, silenced, stupid.

I was exposed to the reality that I wasn't the only one with writing as her passion. I was exposed to a reality where everyone has access to quick knowledge with how to make stories seem 'aesthetic' (as this concept seems to be the craze right now). I was exposed to a reality where I was reminded that I wasn't the jack of all trades with writing. I am no ace as there are others who are probably more well versed than me and are able to write 'prettier' stories than I can because 'words' are their power and not mine alone.

“Vaena and I, we come from a lineage of creatures that has long been forgotten,”

Now, allow me to go a little narcissistic as the dialogue above is from my own story that is part of the book anthology.

For some reason, as I was revisiting the copy of my story with comments from the other writers, I couldn't help but wonder, 'How?…How was I able to write something that was actually published?' Honestly, all the other 'wh' questions keep popping out of my mind because I still cannot believe that I achieved something that I only ever dreamed of. A dream I honestly already buried with the thought that I could never publish / get anything printed and out there for purchase. I already set my mind that I would forever stay in the realm of online platforms for writing my pieces.

But here I am, cheating on a September and used our anthology as my chosen book-talk entry even if I didn't read it for the whole of this month.

“Life is flooded with blurs, but you are the clarity that I sail with.”

Indeed, what comes next after the first publishing is blurry. But I think, every FUTURE is blurry, vague, unclear…simply because the present may always change.

On the other hand, there is a certain clarity as well in the future. It's that life - our lives - will keep moving forward because the world does not spinning around the sun. It will keep moving, like us. And with its spinning, so does our minds coming up and planning for what lies ahead.

For me, that blurry, vague, unclear vision of the future I have will always have a sense of clarity with the fact that I will keep being passionate and fighting for what I love.

I will keep writing stories.

“Do you think our entry would be chosen for the film festival?”

There's always a stirring question of uncertainty in life with all the choices and decisions to make. Choose one and it could either make or brake our next move. But also, these questions of uncertainty are the kind of questions that catapult us into something unexpected - our FATE.

My version of the uncertain question is: - Do you think any of my written works are enough to be considered for printing / publishing beyond online platforms?

With our book anthology, I can proudly say that 'YES. They are more than enough.'

Even in her quietness, her shyness, her uncertainty, they saw something luminous in her.

You know what really surprised me with the launching of our anthology? The fact that a number of my family and friends have actually visited me personally on the day of our book launch at the booth for a book signing.

I never really expected anyone (especially family) to really come as I'm the 'distant' type of relative. I'm always the quiet one, the shy one, the aloof one…I was - am - the one who didn't really bother to stay connected with them even through social media. I grew out of the phase of being always updated with what's going on in their lives. I've grown out the phase of really expecting them to fully understand me and my "silence".

So to see a number of them physically there and wanting / buying a copy of the book with my autograph, I cannot help but wonder what kind of "luminosity" they saw that they even made the time to come and visit me for a book.

Of course, I knew my mom had a bigger hand in inviting them. But also, they wouldn't be coming if they didn't see or believe in what I've written. And for that, I am thankful and will always be in awe how my "silence" have not dimmed their love and support for me.

“Yeah well, unlike you, my life is only eventful for certain people. And you."

I'd like to connect this thought to the previous dialogue / statements right above.

I honestly believed that the launching of our anthology was only monumental to me and my friends who are writers and editors of the book itself. But, as I've mentioned above, this belief holds a false notion because family actually came. Family gave me, or rather, they reminded me what it means to be 'FAMILY'.

No distance and silence could ever break the love and support they hold even if I grew up in a world different from theirs. Because even worlds apart, they find time in their busy lives to come and congratulate me for this feat of publishing something. They took time, effort, and even took out cash from their banks or personal savings just to get a copy of our book.

Really, there's no perfect words that I could write up to show how grateful I am for having them as family and friends.

Truly, the heart that loves will keep finding a way to come to you unexpectedly.