The Abandon Building

By Alice Rodejero

      "Alexandra! Help me... Please help me! Help me, please! "
      Ugh! A bad dream. I woke up with that horrible scream of a lady in
my mind. It is the second time to dream with that kind of illusion. Well,
never mind! As if I care. It's just a chimera. 
      With drowsy eyes, I looked around and realized that I'm in a van
with my five workmates, we are on a road trip to do some research
about the property of the company we are working to. And yeah! I put
my earphones to stop hearing their nonsense conversation. I hate
people! 
      Suddenly, the darkness of the clouds swallow the entire place and
start to drop its heaviest tears. The wind blows brawnily making the
trees dance in a smoky-foggy place. There's a lot of floating and
detrimental object on the road so our team decided to look for a hotel
to stay in until morning. But unfortunately, we are in a Barrio and we
can't find a place to go. Then, our driver saw an abandoned building
and we go there with no choice. 
      Walls are coated by the black-gloomy charcoal, the ceiling with
ambient leakages creates a hair-raising sound that goes through my
spine, there's a lot of stray pieces of broken bottles that seems like it's
preserved there for a long time -- a totally creepy place! But whatever
it is, I'm going to sleep. And as the night goes deeper and the storm
gets stronger, the frightening moment begin. My workmates scream
causing to wake us. "Did you hear that? There's someone going up
and down the stairs! ", she said. My eyebrows raise and lines in my
face showed as she muttered that. I'm so pissed! Can't she see? I'm
sleeping! It's 2 is in the morning, I'm so tired so I just let them scare
themselves. 
      As I close my eyes, their words of trepidation keep on traveling in
my head. Flabbergastingly, the footsteps in the stairs blared loudly! It
continuously makes clangorous noise. I thought was the only thing
that dreads us, but again I'm wrong. Two children ages five to seven
unanticipatedly run around us and keeps on laughing in scary tone.
Their voice remains in my head and keeps on bothering me even
though they are gone. We also hear people crying and screaming in
pain. What a forbidding experience. My workmates keep on praying,
hoping that the storm ends to go out this hell. But I remain calm. I just
act like I'm sleeping but the real is it gives me goosebumps. 
      After few minutes, everything goes back into silence. We thought
that it was over so we decided to go to sleep. But it just the beginning
of the endless terrifying night. "Alexandra! Help me... Please help me!
Help me, please! ", the woman said with her cracking and broken
voice in my illusion. It's 3 am in the morning. I know it just my usual
nightmare. But I feel the cold wind embrace me and now she is
whispering in my ears. The whisper becomes shout. Then suddenly, it
forced open my eyes! As I look around, I saw the most horrendous
image of a lady that marks in my mind for the rest of my life. Het whole
body was burned and starting to decompose, her left eye was just
hanging from its socket, worms are eating her flesh causing to expose
her bones particularly her skull. And now, she is on my side and
hugging me. She keeps on screaming for help. I can't move. I can't
speak. Everything goes ghastly and terrifying. She touches my face
and keeps on saying my name. "Alex help me! Aaahhhh!
Aaahhhhh...", she said before giving her long-last breath. Then
everything goes black. I passed out. 
      I woke up in the next morning, the weather is fine. We immediately
leave the building with the allowance of horrible memories. We find
out that the building is a former hospital and a hide out of Filipino
soldiers from the Spaniards. The then year 1884, a blast came in the
hospital. Hundreds of people were burned alive. After that, the spirit of
the people who died there remain screaming in pain and begging for
help. But the question here is, why the spirit know my name? Who is
she?

Our Heavenly Father

By Alice Rodejero

He came on our darkest night

Like a white snow glared in the morning light
He helps us to glow like a flower bloom
That illuminates our murkey gloom

The melody of the heavenly dream

Echoing through a saintly gleam
His voice is a ravishing sound of silence 
Ascertainment of what is providence

He created everything for us to taste the sweetness of glory

That gratify our spirit with ambrosial spice of divine savory 
 His wisdom sanctify our mind and added flavor
To the innocent sapience longing for savor

When a plumb journey goes wrong 

His muteness bawl and make us strong
He lightens every hefty feel 
Touches our heart and make it heal

He test us with suffering and sorrow

Because He want us to meet our lustrous tomorrow 
Teaching us not to set ourselves seems in prison
Because everything happens for a fetching reason

His blessings gave us inspiration

To strive hard and start a new inception 
He wakes us in every fulgent morning.   Flashing beam and reminds a
new beginning

When we grasp His nurturance

Wisdom disperse as a fine fragrance 
Profound serenity commence to whiff
As the scent of incense spread, we begin to sniff

His love for us is like a lofty tree

It grows and move so free
With His guidance be devoted together
Spread His words and live by His side forever
 Felicity is what He want to see in our faces
Liberty indulged in every places
Forget all the throe and flee
Embrace blessedness and worship Him with glee

He guides us with His eternal love

Letting us to live in His creations volitionally like dove 
All He want for us is to be save
And that's through the sacrifice of the son He gave

The Revenge of Franco: Untold

Story of a Serial Killer
By Alice Rodejero

EDIT

INFO

           I killed myself. Unintentionally, I killed the old me. Well, I have
to! Because I'm weak, coward, and fragile. Everyone thinks that I
can't. No one believes that I can do my best. I'm useless. Worthless.
Nonsense. But that was before, look at me now! I am strong and stout
to stand on my own. I can do whatever I want to. In fact, I have the
power to control everything because of my own abilities and skills. I
also have my mask called "smile" to hide my wicked plans. My angelic
face helps me not to be suspicious. No one blame me in every rotten
happenings around. Now, I used to forget the old me to fight for what I
am and to defend for what I have. It's payback time. It is the right time
for revenge! I killed myself, so it's the precious time to kill them.

           "Criing! Criing!"- I rapidly cease the alarm clock and go out of
my bed. With my drowsy eyes, I go to my closet and slowly open it.
Well, it's not the usual closet with different dresses because it has a
small bulletin board with the picture of my targets. "Enjoy your fame
Michael Perez, 'cause it's showtime!," I sarcastically smile and grab
the red pen and cross out his face. "You lock me in the CR before?
Now, I did the same thing to you but I just add some thrill," I smirked
and close it then ready myself to go to school.

            Maybe you're wondering who is the evil man I am, well I am
Franco Gonzales, a family-oriented boy and a 17-year-old senior high
student. I'm once a poor-pathetic young man with braces and thick
eyeglasses. I'm smart but everybody says that I am nerd or a geek. All
of my schoolmates know me for being a weak, a crying baby, a
famous campus bullied. I'm tired for being miserable. I'm so tired for
being me. But as I realized that I can do something about it, that very
moment, everything has changed. I modify my physical appearance in
order to stop the humors about me. I also prove that I can gain respect
through my achievements and school performance. And
unanticipatedly, now, everyone loves me! Yes, it seems that
everything is fine, but not for me. All the people who hurts me must
pay for all they've done.

          I'm walking at the pathway of the school as I notice a crowd

blocking the way to the main building. I heard some girls saying that
there's another victim of the serial killer, it is Michael Perez, a senior,
who found hanging at the comfort room. His flesh was scattered at the
floor and his eyes also left hanging from its socket. I smile and say to
myself, "another job well done, Franco." I passed the crowd haughtily
with my sweetest smile and chin-up. They smile back and greet me,
what a stupid people, they love me so much! And that love covers all
the dubious things about me. "Hey Frank! Did you heard the news?,"
my classmate Anna asked me when Im in the room. "What? About Mr.
Perez?," I replied. "Oh yes! It's so yucky and creepy! But at the same
time I felt a deep pity for him," she said. I just nod at her but deep
inside, my mind shouting "well he deserves that! ".

           Serial killer? Yes! I am. Well don't blame me, it is just a simple
revenge. A brutal and a lifetime revenge.  I feel satisfied as I kill the
people who laughs at me and done something that hurts me. I killed
them the way how they treated me before but of course it can't be
done without their bloods and flesh. It is my way to please myself. And
all the killings are done inside the school campus. I have access in all
the system of the school so I easily accomplish my mission. There's a
several numbers of students, teachers, and school administrators I've
killed and the latest is Mr. Perez. But now, as I stare at my bulletin
board I realized that all the faces are cross out. All of them are all
dead. I'm not satisfy. My fury is not yet done. It is not enough. Then,
an idea comes in my mind. I think it's the right time for the big show!

          "Goodmorning everyone!," I great my family with glee. "Oh good

morning Franco! You look so happy today huh?," my mother said.
"Well I'm just preparing for the most important event that may happen
in school Ma," I replied then drink my coffee and start eating my
breakfast. "Tomorrow is your Seniors prom night, right kuya? So is this
the thing you're excited about?," my grade9 sister asked. "Not really
Bea, but I know there will be a big surprise," I guaranteed. "You must
be the most handsome there, son, make that night a blast!" my father
said then laugh. I tap my father's shoulder and said, "I will Dad, I will."
We happily share some experience and eat our breakfast. It is a great
time to start my plan. Yes, my dear. Tomorrow's prom night will be a
big blast. A surprising and unforgettable night.

         Today is the day. Every seniors is ready and excited for the
event at night. Well, the same thing for me! I prepared and planned
well for this night. By means of this, all the people who make fun and
laughs at me before will all be vanished. At exactly 12 o'clock in the
midnight, the bomb I plant in the room beside the stage will explode
and all of the people in the function hall will shower in blood and their
body parts will scatter in different places. I will laugh at them as their
body explode. I will make the school a living hell for those devils! Their
lives are not enough to pay all the pain they leave in my whole
personality. They deserve all of these. No one is exempted for my
revenge.

           Dressed with my suit and packed with my evil plans- I can say
that I am ready for tonight's prom night. For them, it will be the night
full of fun and romantic scene but for me, it is the most awaited part of
my High School life because it is the final attack of the "serial killer". I
rapidly grab the key of my car and go down the stairs to see my
parents. "You look so good Frank! " my mother said as she kiss me in
my forehead. "Enjoy your night, son. But always be careful and
takecare ok? I know you are aware of the serial killings in your
school ," my father said with the worried facial expression. "Don't
worry Mom, Dad. I can handle myself, I promise to take a good care of
myself, " I tightly hug them and suddenly ask something. "Where's
Bea? I didn't see her yet," I turn my head in different direction to check
where she is but there's no sign of my sister. "Oh, I saw her a while
back. Maybe she is in the garden," my Mom said. I hug and kiss them
again and decided to go. When I'm in the garden, my mother is right!
Bea is there. "Hey Sweetie! Can you hug kuya as a goodluck for
tonight? " I smile at her but she just stare at me seriously. She looks
me with her most serious face and her eyes convey a message, but I
don't get it. "Is there any problem Bea?" I asked with curiosity. "Kuya
please stop, don't go there. Please, " now she is begging me. I think
she just miss me and worried so I kiss her in the forehead and
promise that I will go home early. My sister became weird fir the pass
few days but I don't takenit serious. I know she's fine. And now, let's
go back to my own business.

           Different light with different colors are dancing in the whole
place. Flowers and tables are aesthetically arrange. Everyone feels
the glee as they walk in the aisle with a red carpet. There's a loud
chants of happiness around. Yes, it is the night. I smirked, "those
happy face will be a faces full of sorrow, those joyful rhythms will be a
screams of pain." Everyone dances, but I'm just staring at them and
reminiscing all the painful things they've done. I'm just waiting for the
right time. For that special 12 o'clock when the big surprise occur, a
blast.

          "Tik-tok-tik-tok! "- I'm in my car now outside the campus, I

patiently waiting for the right time. My sister Bea keep on calling me in
my phone, but I just texted her saying everything is fine and don't be
worried. She just miss me. I guess. Oh! It's already 11:59pm! I can't
wait for the most tragic death of the year. Ten... Nine... I'm so excited!
Eight... Seven... Six... My heart beats so fast! Five... Four... I put my
glasses to protect my eyes in the explosion that Im going to witness.
Three... Two... "Baaaaaaaangg!"- there's a blast but what the! It is not
what I expect! The explosion is so dinky! What happened?!

          I immediately run to the function hall. I saw people who are
screaming, trembling with fear, some of them are crying. But the
crowd beside the stage caught my attention. I go further towards their
direction with curiosity and anger! "Another victim of a serial killer! ,"
people keep on saying. Then, when I saw the happenings inside the
room. My world stop. With my jaw obviously dropped, I cry and cry. I
keep on shouting. Why is this happened to me? I can't believe it. It's
impossible. The reason why the bomb don't explode on it's usual
intensity is because someone covers it's own body to save others live.
Body parts, flesh, bloods! - scattered all around the place. And guess
who is the person behind this brutal accident- it's Bea, my beloved
sister. My only beloved sister.
          Now, Im staring at the vase where the ashes of my sister are in.
Speechless. I can't believe it. Why? How? What happened to my
precious plan for that night? And why do my sister is there and do this
thing? I know! This is the revenge of someone, maybe one student
know the things I've done in school. Maybe they know my secret. With
these thoughts, unawarely, I'm in the room of my sister. As I roam
around, I notice a red big notebook under the cabinet of Bea, I get it
and lay on her bed. It's her diary. I open it in the middle and start
reading.

           "Hey diary! I don't know what to do. I caught again Kuya Franco
stabbing Mr. Perez in the CR of school last dismissal. It is not
surprising anymore. It is the 8th time to see kuya killing the people he
hates. I know how he suffered so much last year, that's why I can't
blame him for all of these. All I can do is help him to hide all the crimes
he have done, again secretly. " I'm really shocked as I read her diary.
That's why people don't caught me because my sister helps me.
Sometimes she deactivated and hacked the system like CCTV in
school. Sometimes she make way in order to secrete the crime and
helps me to escape. Once again, tears fall in my eyes. My heart torn
into piece. With my shaky hand, I slowly turn the notebook on its last
page.

          "It is the night. My brother is planning to plant bomb in their

prom to kill all the people there. This is too much. I must do something
to stop him. I can't take to see people explode or people who are
burning alive. I will stop kuya."- This is her first note then out of
curiosity and eagerness to know the truth, I continue reading it. "I tried
to talk to him in the garden before he go but he didn't listen. Now, Im
on my way to the school and keep on calling him through phone, but
he don't answer any of my call. Then suddenly, I receive a text
message from saying 'don't worry, I'm fine', I don't know what will
happen but I'll assure that the disaster he is planning will not happen. I
do everything just to save those people. It's time to correct the bad
things I've done. It's time" - and that's her last note on her diary.

             Tears keep on racing down in my eyes. It even hurts me now.

Because of my evil plans, my younger sister is now gone. It's my fault!
I want to scream but there's no voice to get out of my mouth. I
payback on my own revenge. I killed myself. I killed those people.
Now, I killed Bea. Is this what I really want? Do Im happy now? I keep
on asking myself. I used to defend myself from those bad people then
look at me now! I became worst. Again, I'm angry. But for now, in
myself. I stand and decided to left the room and the diary in the bed,
but unexpectedly, a picture fall from it. I get it and stare for a couple of
seconds. It a picture with Bea, it's Halloween, she dressed like
superhero and Im with my old look, so nerdy because of my
eyeglasses and braces. I smile as I remember our happy moments
together. Then, a note at the back of the picture make me realized
everything. Again, that very moment everything change.

           "Sorry kuya. Sorry if I didn't defend you from the people who
make you cry. Now, I promise to protect you like your young
Wonderwoman. I miss the old you kuya. Please come back! I miss
you! -Bea."

Omnipotent Treasure: My
journey in Writing
By Alice Rodejero

EDIT

INFO

           Every man's life is a fairy tale written by God's fingers and
every written literature starts in a single word made by a courageous
writer. They say that a writer is a world trap in a human body because
writing is creating a new world of knowledge, imagination, creativity,
love and passion beyond your ink. 
            Writing will never be 'writing' without a writer, and I'm proudly
to say that I'm one of them. As a writer you should care what words
mean, what they say and how they say it. Words are the way towards
truth and freedom and as a writer you must use it with care in
thoughts, with fear and with delight. Everybody has the ability to write
and create a pieces literature, however, I used my skills to write what
is true and right. I choose to be a young journalist. 
            Writing is like creating a masterpiece in a plain white canvass.
When I was a kid, my mother used to teach me how to hold pencil and
how to write. My first ever writing is my name! And when I'm in grade
school I used to copy the lecture in the board to study it at home.
Then, I realized that you give essence in a plain paper as you write
something on it. It's like adding life in a colorless world. 
           A great writer starts from being a good reader. I love to read
stories especially a fiction and mystery genres. This hobby inspires
me to dream that someday I will write my own one. And luckily, in
elementary days, our teachers introduce to us the "journalism"
wherein we are trained to write news or other articles of print and
broadcast media. There is also called "Schools Press Conference," a
competition in writing the best articles in different categories and
mediums. As days passes by in the training, I find out that I'm not for
the field of writing, therefore, I enter the world of journalism packed
with my beloved category and that's photojournalism! However, their
weapons are more powerful than mine, so I lose the battle. 
              Writing is an art and not everyone is an artist. When I'm in
secondary, I decided to give up journalism and just focus on my
academics. However, in order to be on top of the star section, you
must have extracurricular points and I failed in that aspect. So in
grade8, again, I joined journalism but this time as a writer of Editorial.
I'm not into it but I have no choice because I need it. During the
School-Based Schools Press Conference, I give my best! How come it
is not enough. Failure drag me in a thought that I'm a big mistake in
writing. 
            There's a winding road that lays ahead, no one knows what
beyond the bend. We don't know what future will bring, but that very
moment I marked to my mind that I'm not good enough. Again, I give
up in journalism. But one day in grade9, school paper adviser of our
school called me and said that I will compete in the next day for
Feature Writing Secondary English in Cluster IV Schools Press
Conference. He wanted me to experience the competition because he
knows that I can. But I protest, "I'm not a writer Sir," but he smile and
said that just try. And here comes the day of the competition. No
training, no idea. I don't know why I'm there but I just write a story that
inspires me. Unexpectedly, I won! As a first timer I won! 
              Be courageous enough and try to write in a way that scares
you a little. Once, I dreamed to be a writer but I just forget about it
because I don't believe that I can. I'm wrong. Someone believes that I
can be an artist in an art called "writing". After I won in the Cluster, I
became a qualifier for Division and I got the 9th place in feature writing
who bested about 80 campus journalists around Tarlac Province. In
Grade10, I decided to continue my journey in journalism and now,
aside from feature writing, my coach listed my name for the delegation
of news and science writing. In the day of the competition in Municipal
level, which is the former Cluster, a big surprise came. I lose feature
writing. I'm not even in the top10. However, I got the 2nd place in
News and 1st place in Science Writing. I'm still a qualifier for the
Division, but I didn't get any place there. 
The best thing you can do for the world is to make the most out of
yourself. I started to love writing especially journalism. And my path
towards success will not end here. In Senior High, I still joined the
competition in the categories of News and Science Writing. I won 7th
place in Science and 2nd place in News Writing English Secondary.
Again, I advanced to the Division but then again I lose the battle.
Maybe, I'm just a poor soldier who just can fight in a lower level. In my
three years of being a Campus Journalist, I didn't experience to win in
the Division and advance to the Regionals. Well, I know that I'm not
still the best that I can. Even now I have troubles in my grammar
particularly in tenses. But I have to do something on it. 
              You must learn to be three people at once: writer, character,
and reader. I imbibe these three to improve myself and of course
some spice a eagerness and hardwork. Now I'm Grade12, and in the
previous months I still compete for News and Science. I just got both
6th place in the Municipal level but still in for the Division. Luckily, I'm
ranked as one of the top10 best News writers in the whole Tarlac. But
the battle is not yet over. There's still a final round for the top10 to
know who are the top three best writers who will advance in the
Regional. And finally! I'm one of the top3. Not just in the rank but I'm
the first placer! In November, Regional Schools Press Conference,
here I come! 
           Being a writer is not easy, but I write to give myself strength. I
write to be the characters that I'm not. I write to explore all the things I
am afraid of. I write to read it and inspire myself. At this point, I'm still
enhancing my writing skills and very much open for corrections.
Improving is my goal. I know it is for myself. Because I am not just a
writer, I am also a herald of truth and balance Journalism. Well, this
Alice Rodejero and this is just the beginning of my journey in writing.

It's too late

By Alice Rodejero

EDIT
 INFO

      Feelings are the top reasons why we say something we don't want
to. Extreme emotion pushes us to shout the words inside us, but
sometimes not all we say is good to hear. We always depend on our
own opinion and perspective, not considering others and the reason
behind things.
     "Wake up! You might be late at school. "- my mother tells me when
I'm still sleeping, as she plays the role of walking alarm clock in my
morning. Oh, it's Monday. Again?! Time run so fast! I'm not in the
mood to go to school today, I mean every day. I'm in grade3 and I
don't like to study all day long. I hate school. And maybe I'm one of the
pupils who come to school just to have their allowance, to be with their
peers, and just for them to be called "student".
     With drowsy eyes, I go the dining table to take my breakfast. I see
my mother who is gracefully set the foods and she looks even more
excited for me in going to school. As I stare at her, I realize that my
mother never fades. She still dressed in her apron called "simplicity,"
shines with her ladle called "Felicity," blooms with her fragrance called
"dignity," and still known for her pleasing personality. She's beautiful
with her long shiny hair, you can also notice some signs of aging on
her face but as she smiles, she can conquer everything. But not my
interest in school, even she cooks so great it doesn't change the fact
that I hate school. 
     "Piiip! Piiiiipp!"- my imagination stop as I heard my service outside,
it is already time but I'm not prepared for school. Today, I'm late again.
I'm tired of going to school, listening to my teachers, having the
lesson, making assignments and projects, and taking the test. Is it
tiring? Of course, it is. In the age of eight, I imagine my whole school
life,  three years at preschool, six years at elementary, another six
years at high school, and if ever, other several years at college.
Imagine, in more than 180 months, 782 weeks, 5,475 days, 131, 400
hours, 7,884,000 minutes, and 473,040,000 seconds that we spent
studying, what we will gain? It's a major waste of time. 
After I stare at my teacher while she's talking in front of the class in
the whole morning and take the quiz which I got the second to the
lowest score, I proceed to my tutor's room to take my lunch and to
start our daily session. See? Even my break, I'm still studying. They
even gave me a vitamin syrup called "Memory plus", and I take it
every day. That's how my parents show their eagerness for me to
learn. Am I fool? Well, maybe.
In the afternoon, I have few minutes to play with my classmates. We
decided to play "paper dolls" and "text" a mini card game. As we play,
I notice that my text decreases! And unfortunately, I lose everything I
have. That's unfair! I think they fool me. "Give back what all mine! I
don't want to play! " I said but they just show their tongue and raise
their finger forming a letter 'L', saying "bebe-bebebe! Loseeer! " I'm so
angry that time so I pull their hair. They do the same thing on me. We
are in that situation when our teacher came. She calls our parents that
very moment. 
     "I'm very sorry ma'am for what my daughter did, please don't bring
them to the principal's office," my mother is now begging our teacher.
It's not my fault! After they talk with the other parents, we go home.
Now, the eyebrows of my mother are meeting each other. It's quite
obvious that she is so mad at me. As we reach our home, she asks
me with the loud voice "what happened to you?! Is this what you learn
in school? To fight with other students? ". I just remain silent. But deep
inside I'm screaming my anger. She keeps on asking me several
questions that I don't understand, but all I know is she doesn't know
how it feels to be a student who is tired in going to school and doing
such educational stuff every day. 
     "Education is so important! We don't steal the money we use for
your study so please, be responsible enough! " her words hurt me. I'm
so tired in school and I just play now I'm irresponsible? Who says I
want to study?! No one! They just push me to do so. I can't take this.
Strong emotion pushes me to face her and raise my voice at her.
"Who told you that I want to go to school?! I'm so tired doing
everything! You push me there? Now, go take my bag and you study
there! "
     One... Two... Three... A moment of silence. After I said those
words, my mother suddenly stops. She just looks at me with pain.
Little drops of tears fell from her eyes. What have I done? Seeing my
mother cry makes me feel that there's a fragile thing that is broken in
small-tiny pieces inside me. That very moment I realize that they just
want the good for my future and the key to success is education.
Going to school is for knowledge, that I can use for a brighter future.
But it's too late, I already hurt the woman who cares for me a lot. I
apologize for what I've done. Because of what happened, I promise
myself that I will never do things that make someone hurt and I don't
want to say again the words "it's too late. "