The Journey

“You'll remember me somehow

Though you don't need me now
I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart
You'll remember one day.
One day in your life
You will find that you're always waiting
For the love we used to share
Just call my name and I'll be there.”
 Those lines from the song, “One Day
in your Life” by Michael Jackson seemed
to pierce my soul, while I was sitting
inside a bus that resembled that of a
forlorn hearse to carry me to my grave.
Before me was a wide, long and winding
road to nowhere.
 I wished I could have an ounce
of courage to see you for the last
time and bade you goodbye, but my
towering pride drowned my senses
to look ahead of me without turning
back.
 The once narrow highway seemed
a huge photo album of our bitter-
sweet memories that kept on
crisscrossing in my mind - those
lousy talks and crazy jokes that made
us laugh our heart out. But all the
sweet moments were gone, what
was left was the bitter part of it.
 I was hurt, so badly hurt by your
chain of lies that strangled me to death. I
told you I did no longer love you, that
what you did was beyond forgiving, and
that my life would be much happier
away from you. But all of those hurting
words were painful lies, for deep in my
heart, I knew, I didn't know how to live
my life without you.
 But I had to go while the pain of leaving
you was lesser than the pain of holding on
you. I had to accept the fact that I could
never let things happen the way I wanted
them to, that there were some good things
that never really last. I felt one day, I would
be losing you and I had to accept it no matter
how it would hurt, because that was the only
way I knew that I could let go and move on to
pick up from where I had left my life off.
 Suddenly, I saw the door slowly
closing like a cover of my own coffin. The
bus heaved forward. I closed my eyes to
brace the stubborn tears from falling. I
was dying, when I felt somebody sat
beside me. I opened my eyes to see you
offering your crumpled hankies and with
remorseful eyes whispered, "Can I still
go with you?” (GEA)
Lagi na lang Ako
“Ako. Ako. Lagi na lang ako …”

Di ba, talagang nakakatuwa ang

patalastas na ito ng isang sabong
panlaba? Cute na cute ang batang bida.
Pero, hindi sa pagmamayabang, parang
dalawang araw na paligo lang ang
lamang niya sa akin.Halos pareho rin
kami ng drama sa buhay.
FEATURE
WRITING
DR. GELLY E. ALKUINO
Senior Member Journalist
Royal Institution, Singapore
 Almost no one can give an exact
definition of a feature story. It is not a
news story written in inverted-pyramid
form with no opinion or other
embellishments. It is not a fiction story, for
most features deal with facts. While it may
explain, it does not provide opinion like an
editorial.
Figuratively, we can say that while
straight news appeals to the physical and
editorial appeals to the intellect, feature
story appeals to the emotion.
 Qualities of Feature Articles
1. It deals with any topic
2. It usually entertains more often than it informs,
instructs or advises.
3. It may be long or short as long as it covers the
subject adequately and keeps it interesting to
the readers.
4. It may be light or serious, depending on its
purpose.
5. It could be formal or informal and written in any
form and style, but well organized.
 Qualities of Feature Articles
6. It may or may not be timely.
7. It begins with a novelty lead.
8. It is written in ascending interest.
9. It is based on facts. Though sometimes,
the writer uses his imagination to play up
the details, it is still anchored on facts.
 Qualities of Feature Articles
10. It can be garnished with adjective,
figures of speech, dialogue, anecdote,
local color and idiomatic expressions.
11. It can be written in the first, second or
third person.
 Kinds of Feature
1. Human interest feature
2. Personality feature
3. Historical feature
4. Analytical feature
5. Seasonal feature
6. Travelogue
7. Entertainment feature
8. News feature
9. Informative feature
10. “How-to” feature
 Sources of Feature Articles
1. Experience
2. Observation
3. Reading materials like books, newspapers, magazines
and others
4. Special events like anniversaries, holidays
5. Advertisements
6. Speeches and commentaries
7. Movies
8. Casual conversation
9. Travel
10. Tourist spots
11. Fads
12. Interview
13. Imagination
 Steps in Writing Feature Articles

1. Choose topic, which you know very well.

2. Limit your subject to just one specific area.
3. Think of a more interesting and fresh angle of
the topic.
4. Make a tentative title.
5. Make an outline.
6. Use appropriate and striking novelty lead.
7. You can garnish your article with anecdote,
dialogue and local color.
 Steps in Writing Feature Articles

8. Use graphic description. Don’t just tell, show it

to the reader through the use of senses.
9. Place direct quotation in the beginning.
10. Use simple words and shorter paragraphs.
11. Avoid being wordy.
12. Make sure the feature article contains dramatic
quality.
13. Give examples to make your article convincing
or easy to understand.
14. Tie up ending with the opening paragraph.
15. Make a striking title.
 Structure of Feature Article
Feature story follows the pyramid
structure. The details of the story are arranged
according to the ascending order of
importance, from the most important to the
least important ones. It begins with a novelty
lead.
The novelty lead has two objectives:
1. To draw the reader into the story
2. To set the stage for the material to follow
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
The following are the kinds of lead often used in
writing a feature stories:
1. Narrative lead. It draws the reader into the story by
allowing him to relate himself with the character of the
story.
Example:
In the old days, before the coming of the earth
satellite, my college professor told me, weather
forecasting was done by intrepid pilots, who flew their
one-engine small planes into the eyes of the
approaching storm to measure wind direction and
velocity.
Once inside the eye of the typhoon, however, the
pilot experienced an eerie calm while the winds swirled
outside.
2. Descriptive lead. It illustrates a mental picture of
the subject to the reader. This is effective in
writing a personality sketch.
Example:
The raging rain fell outside of the
dilapidated house. For the past 14 hours, no
one could ever hear anything other than
raindrops. Not one from the members of the
family uttered a single word, but deep within
themselves, they knew the gnawing shadow of
fear that slowly crept into their senses. For it
was the same ambience when a lethal flood
besieged their town two years ago, killing
hundreds of people.
3. Quotation lead. This statement uttered by well-
known speaker or celebrity in the community.
Example:
“I don’t care if I burn in hell for as long as
the people I serve live in paradise.”

President-Elect Rodrigo R. Duterte

said in one of his campaign materials during
the recently concluded Presidential
Election 2016.
4. Question lead. A thought-provoking
question to capture the interest of the
reader and lead them to find the answer
provided by the succeeding details of the
article.
Example:
When was the last time I told my
father I loved him?
5. Teaser. A device to deceive the reader in a
jesting manner to arouse his curiosity and
gently lead him into the story. It is generally
short, crisp and witty. Riddles are often used
and they do not give the readers any clue on
the nature of the story. They are mostly
suggestive and humorous.

Example:
What comes first, the hen or the egg?
Well, egg could not be made possible without
the hen. But where does the hen come from?
6. Punch lead. It is short, striking one-
sentence lead
Example:
Hungry farmers are selling not only
their plows and carabaos, but also their
children.
7. Astonisher. It uses an exclamatory sentence.
Example:
NSPC 2006 Champion!

Bold letters printed on a three-meter long

streamer was hung over the gate of Irineo L.
Santiago National High School of Metro
Dadiangas when the 2006 issue of Ang Metrian,
won as overall Best School Paper (Bracket A-
Filipino/Secondary) during the National Schools
Press Conference held in Kalibo, Aklan on
February 19-23, 2006.
8. One word lead. I uses a very significant word to
capture the interest of the reader.
Example:
BANG!
Sprinters from the different divisions of
Region XII zoomed like bullets to the finishing
line during the 100-meter dash of the Cotabato
Regional Athletic Association (CRAA) Meet, held
at Antonio C. Acharon Sports and Development
Center, Calumpang, General Santos City on
April 1-5, 2005.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
9. Parody lead. It consists of a parody of a well-
known quotation, song, poem, book or movie
film title.
Example:
“Morn mri as mri as da win mru
As mri as da ngras ngru
Morn mri to faro yur ngrem”

These were the lines of the song I heard from

a very beautiful lady, who almost broke not only
my eardrum, but also my love struck heart.
10. Background lead. It describes an event in
which the background overshadows the
individuals who participate in it; often use for
stories about carnivals, festivals, dances and
others.
Example:
It was like the school was put in a
time machine and was led back to the past,
when teachers and students who participated
in the culmination program of the Buwan ng
Wika, gathered in front of the four-storey
building garbed in old Filipiniana costumes.
11. Freak lead. This kind of unique lead uses
typographical effects to enhance appeal.
Example:
For sale: a kidney
Ruben Tocal, 28, resident of
Taguig and a father of seven children said
yesterday that he was forced to sell his
kidney to provide his family a bright future.
12. Contrast lead. It is used to point up
opposites and extremes.
Example:
In the 1960’s, a ten-centavo coin
was already a treasure. Today, nobody
wants to give it a second glance on the
ground.
13. Staccato lead. A series of words or
phrases, punctuated by periods,
commas, or dashes.
Example:
Neglected. Denuded. Abused.
Abandoned. This is the real picture of
our forest today.
 The Body
After you have finished writing the lead, you
are now ready to organize your materials and
develop the body of your story.
Development of the story is sometimes the
most difficult of all, because it involves the
arrangement of the story materials in a manner
that will sustain or hold the reader’s interest and
flow smoothly from the introduction to the end.
While hard news stories are written in inverted
pyramid, formal feature story is in pyramid
structure with conclusion.
Some Types of Feature Ending
Dr. Crispin C. Maslog, during his lecture
in the National Training Program for
School Paper Advisers at Teachers Camp,
Baguio City has given the following types
of feature endings:
1. The Summary Ending. It simply ties up
the loose end of the story with that of the
lead.
Example:
With a contented sigh, the great
man closed his eyes in death fully aware
that he did what he had to do.
2. The Stinger. A surprising ending that jolts
the reader. The writer uses the body of
the story to set up the readers for the
unexpected conclusion.
Example:
Ramon, the shy, lovable Ramon, who
couldn’t hurt a fly turned out to be the
ruthless, vicious rapist wanted by law in
five provinces.
3. Climax. It stops at the point where the
outcome of the story is clear.
Example:
After belting the last note of the song, “Too
Much Love will Kill You,” Jovit Baldivino, a
former siomai vendor from Batangas, stood
petrified in the midst of a thunderous ovation.
In his heart, he knew he had finally arrived.
4. Unending. An open-ended conclusion,
leaving the reader room to speculate on
the ultimate ending.
Example:
And so the Operation OPLAN X
ended on a limbo. The police were
positive that Kuratong was the brain
behind the murder syndicate. But they
had no shred of evidence against him.
Other Types of Feature Ending
1. A thought-provoking question
Example:
If we are not going to save our
seas for our children’s future, who
would? And if we are not going to
start it now, when is the right time?

Title: Our Seas, Our Life

2. A proverb
Example:
Indeed, I have proven to myself
what I believe is true from the very start
of my nerve-breaking climb to where I
am now that “Behind the dark cloud, the
sun is still shining.”

Title: Survivor
3. Suggested results or significance
Example:
So, take a hearty bite for a healthier you.

Title: Banana Mania

4. A forecast
Example:
Someday, if we will keep on
selflessly denuding the dwindling forest
of our Mother Earth, we will be wallowing
in the midst of water, for all the
continents will be devoured by ocean
brought about by global warming.

Title: Reforesting the Future

5. A quotation
Example:
As one unknown philosopher puts
it, “We can never be great unless we are
good and we can never be good until we
are godly.”

Title: Building a Culture of Excellence

with Integrity
6. A repetition of a sentence or a reference
to the title
Example:
Mama, see, I was alive but not
anymore. So please let my baby brother
live. He could be as wonderful as me.
His life wouldn’t be like mine – a life that
never was.

Title: A Life that Never Was

Qualities of a Good Feature Writer
1. Inquisitive
2. Eager to learn
3. Sympathetic towards other people’s
feelings
4. Capable of seeing beneath the surface of
ordinary event
5. Keen observer
6. Wide reader
 A Life that Never Was

By Marilyn Sanchez
1st Place in Feature Writing
NSPC 1999 – Ilagan, Isabela

Come to me, Mama. Come, touch

me and feel my pain. Don’t be afraid now,
Mama. You weren’t when you killed me.
Here, touch this… can you feel it
now, Mama? The excruciating pain that
consumed my helpless body, you inflicted
that, remember?
 Look at my body, now a mass of
rotting flesh and coagulated blood - the dregs
of what was a tiny human body. A body that
was soft with a tiny head matted with sheen
of baby hair. A tiny body with a tiny heart,
that pulsated in time with yours. These
were my fingers and oh! … Here’s my thumb,
which I sucked while snugly tucked inside
you.
You see, I had long lashes just
like Dad’s. My sensitive mouth was just like
yours. And here are my ears, which heard
your quickening heartbeat when you’re
afraid.
 I could have been a wonderful child if
you’ve let me live.
I could have been a baby boy just what
Daddy wanted - a strong, healthy and
bubbly bundle in your arms. My
hypersensitiveness would have
exasperated you.
Daddy? Hmmm… He could have
coached me in playing softball. He’ll be the
pitcher and I the batter. I could have grown
into a writer. You would be proud of me
because I’m going to join contests.
 Mama, see I was alive but not anymore.
So, please let my baby brother live. He
could also be as wonderful as me. His life
wouldn’t be like mine - a life that never
was.
Kailan Pa?
• "Ang init!"
• Ito ang panay na reklamo ng bespren ko. Madalas ay
naguguluhan ako dahil bakit siya pa itong panay sa
pagreklamo na mainit daw, e, ako pa nga itong direktang
nakatirik sa araw. Minsan ay naiinis na talaga ako sa
kaartehan niya, pero dahil matalik ko siyang kaibigan,
hindi ko na lang siya sinusumbatan.
• Ako nga pala si Salakot at isang batang Pilipino
ang tinuturing kong kaibigan. Palagi kaming magkasama
umulan man o umaraw. Hindi siya makakaalis ng bahay na
hindi niya ako suot-suot. Sobrang paborito niya ako.
 Kahit na madalas ay tinutukso na siya sa paaralan niya, dahil daw sa ayos niya
ay hindi pa rin niya ito pinapansin. Sa halip daw na mag-ayos siya ng pormal at
magmukhang estudyante ay madalas siyang mapagkamalang magsasaka. Ang
pagiging sikat niya sa mga mata at bibig ng mga kaklase niya ay dahil sa akin, pero
hindi niya ito pinapansin. Katwiran niya ay sa ganoong paraan lang niya maipapakita
ang pagiging totoong Pilipino niya. Oo, masyadong makabayan ang kaibigan ko at
sobrang ikinatutuwa ko ito.
• Isa sa mga bagay na hinahangaan ko sa kaibigan ko ay
ang pagiging matatag niya, lagi niyang ipinaglalaban ang
kagustuhan niya lalo pa't wala naman daw siyang
inaapakang iba sa mga pananamit niya. Ang pangunahing
rason kung bakit lagi niya akong sinusuot ay dahil gusto
niyang magpapansin sa mga taong nasa paligid niya.
Partikular na rito ay umaasa siyang isang araw ay matanaw
siya ng mga nasa itaas ngayon, makita ng mga pinuno
ngayon na may batang Juan dela Cruz pa na nagsisikap na
makapag-aral. Maisip sana nilang ang mga estudyanteng
katulad ng bespren ko ang susunod na mamumuno sa ating
bayan at karapat-dapat lang na sila'y bigyang-pansin. Alam
ng kaibigan ko na ako na isang salakot ang magsisimbolo sa
pagiging Pilipino niya at ako rin ang makakaagaw ng
atensyon ng mga namamahala sa atin ngayon.
• Ang kaibigan ko ay hindi isang ordinaryong
estudyante lang. Isa rin siyang manunulat sa paaralan
nila. Tahimik subalit napakamapag-masid niya. Pluma
ang pangunahing sandata niya upang mailabas ang
mga katwiran niya sa buhay. Ako na laging suot niya
sa ulo ang unang nakakaramdam ng bawat tulo ng
pawis at luha niya sa pisngi sa tuwing sinusulat niya
ang kanyang mga hinagpis at pasakit sa buhay.
 Hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay patuloy pa rin ang hangarin ng kaibigan ko.
Kahit daw konsensya na lang at hindi pagmamahal sa bayan ay sana maging tuwid
na ang mga pinuno natin. Walang dapat baguhin sa nakasanayang halalan, ang
dapat magbago ay ang mga inihahalal. Ang eleksyon na lang ang natitirang
karapatan ng mga mamamayan at sana'y huwag ipagkait sa mga ito ang makapili
ng kung sino ang gusto nilang mamuno para sa kanila. Subalit paulit-ulit niyang
mga tanong, kailan pa nga ba makakamit ang tunay na pagbabago? Kailan pa
matatauhan ang mga pinunong ito? Kailan pa maimpluwensyahan ng mabubuti
ang masasama? Kailan pa? Kailan?
• Ngayon ay batid ko na kung bakit laging
masakit ang ulo ng kaibigan ko. Ang tinutukoy niyang
init ay hindi dulot ng mainit na panahon, ito ay dahil
sa mga maiinit na isyu ngayon na mga pinuno natin,
ang mga naglalagablab ng mga bangayan ngayon sa
senado at ang nag-aapoy na mga problemang ating
kinakaharap na tila wala na ngang katapusan. Sang-
ayon na ako sa kanya, lubhang napakainit na talaga ...
sobrang init na!
• (Fainor D. Taug, Kampeon sa Pagsulat ng Lathalain, NSPC
2014 – Lungsod ng Olongapo)
Magkabilang Mundo
• “Magkalayong agwat
• Gagawin ang lahat
• Mapasaiyo lang ang
• Pag-ibig na alay sa ’yo…”
•
• Tila’y matatalim na punyal na tumutusok sa
aking malumbay na puso ang bawat katagang aking
binibigkas at nilalapatan ng tono mula sa awitin ni
Jireh Lim. Malaya ko namang hinahagkan ang aking
gitarang regalo sa akin ni Papa noong ako’y sumapit sa
edad na labindalawa.
 Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata’t hinayaang sakupin ng karimlan
ang aking paningin at sinimulan ko ang pagsariwa ng mga alaalang
hindi ko na maibabalik pa. Gumaan ang mabigat kong damdamin nang
muli kong masilayan ang matatamis na ngiti ng lalaking una kong
minahal at nagbibigay ng kulay sa naninibugho at akromatiko kong
mundo. Pumanting ang aking mga tenga nang maulinigan ko ulit ang
napakakwela niyang paghagikhik at pagbungisngis sa tuwing siya’y
tawang-tawa ukol sa mga bagay-bagay.
Sa aking imahinasyon ay nadama kong muli ang init ng kanyang
mga haplos sa aking likuran sa mga panahong ako’y namamataan
niyang nakabusangot at halos hindi na maipinta ang mukha. Naglalaro
sa aking isipan ang mga salitang kanyang binibitawan bilang pang-
engganyo sa mga panahong ako’y nababalot ng dalita’t kasawian.
 Upang matigil ang pagmumulto sa akin ng mga
alaala ng nakalipas ay iminulat ko ang aking mga mata.
Biglang rumagasa ang maiinit na luha mula sa balon ng
aking emosyon na kanina pa nagpupumilit kumawala.
Lumala ang pagdaloy ng mga ito nang aking
masulyapan ang imahe ng isang lalake na nakapaloob
sa bintana ng aking kompyuter.
“Happy Father’s Day po!” Bati ko sa aking amang
mangiyak-ngiyak na sa harap ng computer screen
matapos kong awitin ang unang bahagi ng kanta. Pinilit
kong panatilihin ang mga ngiti sa aking mga labi
pagkatapos punasan ang aking mga luha upang
maramdaman niyang kahit papaano ako ay masaya.
 Sa kabila ng ga-bundok kong mga gawain ay sinikap
kong gawin ang lahat ng aking makakaya upang mabati
ang aking ama na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Gaano
man karaming kape ang kailangan kong inumin para
manatiling gising hanggang bukang liwayway ay kinaya ko
upang gawing espesyal ang okasyong ito, kung saan siya
ang bida.
Muli kong nilapat ang aking mga daliri sa aking gitara
at sinimulang patugtugin ulit ito. Sa mumunti kong
paraan ay sana naipadama ko sa kanya kung gaano ako
nangungulila sa kanyang presensya at kung gaano ko siya
kamahal, kahit nasa kabilang panig man siya ng mundo.
 • “Ang awit na ’to
• Ay awit ko sa ’yo
• Sana ay madama
• Magkabila man
• ang ating mundo”
•
• (Erika San Diego, Pangatlong Pwesto sa Pagsulat ng
Lathalain , NSPC 2015 – Lungsod ng Taguig)
 Repleksyon
“Kailan ka ba makukuntento?”
Bakas ang labis na pagkasuklam at pagkairita sa
aking tinig habang isinisigaw ko ang mga salitang ito sa
babaeng nakahalukipkip sa aking harapan. Sa hindi
mawaring dahilan ay nanatili siyang nakatungo na tila
ba isang mahinhing babae na sa totoo naman ay hindi.
Hindi ko naman maipagkakailang masyadong
matatalim ang mga salitang dumudulas mula sa aking
dila, ngunit ito lamang ang naiisip kong paraan upang
pukawin ang natitirang bahagi ng kanyang utak na
maaari pang makapag-iisip nang matino tungkol sa
kanyang pagkatao.
•
 Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay ang taong siyang
nasa aking harapan ay siya ring taong noo’y lubos kong
hinahangaan. Tinitingala ko siya mula sa kanyang
buhok na kasingkulay ng mapayapang gabi at
kumikinang gaya ng matitingkad na bituin sa langit.
Papunta sa kanyang ilong na may kapanguan, ngunit
bumabagay naman sa kanyang marikit na mukha.
Tuloy-tuloy sa kanyang di kalakihang hinaharap
patungo sa kanyang balingkinitang pangangatawan,
hanggang sa kanyang malilinis na kuko at sa kanyang
mga paang laging tsinelas ang gamit bilang sapin.
• Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay ang dating kilala kong dinaig pa ang
kahinhinan ni Maria Clara, ngayo ay mas pakawala pa kay Miley Cyrus. Ang
kanyang buhok ay naging mas makulay pa sa bahagharing nasa alapaap. Biglaan
namang tumangos ang kanyang ilong at lumobo ang kanyang hinaharap.
Kasinghaba naman ng sa aswang ang kanyang mga kuko at mga sapatos naman
na matataas ang takong ang gamit-gamit niyang sapin sa paa.
 Ang babaeng dati-rati’y karugtong ng aking bituka’y biglaang
naglaho na parang bula sa aking paningin at pinalitan ng isang katauhang
ni minsa’y di ko minithing makasalamuha. Sa labis na pagbabagong nais
niyang makamtan ay naisawalang bahala niya ang dating siya na mas
gusto ng nakararami. Ang hangarin niyang lubos na magtaglay ng yumi ay
siya mismong humihila sa kanya pababa.
• Inihakbang ko ng dalawang beses ang aking mga
paa nang sa gayon ay masaktan ko nang pisikal ang
babaeng hindi ko na kilala sa layuning sana’y magising
ko siya mula sa kanyang kahibangan. Ngunit bago ko
pa man ito maisagawa ay sumalampak na ako sa sahig
dulot ng pagtama ko sa isang malaking bagay sa aking
harapan… isang salamin.
• (Erika San Diego, Pangatlong Pwesto sa Pagsulat ng Lathalain
, RSPC 2014 – Lungsod ng Pagadian)
 Why?
Who never dream to have a happy family?
I guess every child wishes to have a perfect one with a
very loving and responsible father.

My father and I did many things together.

We used to play, if he had free time, after his work. He
accompanied me to the park, bought me some ice
cream, cotton candy and balloon and took pictures of
me with my mother. We went shopping at the mall,
too. We dined together in a popular fast food chain. He
would buy me some toys, clothes and anything I
needed in school. I felt so blessed having a father like
him.
 Well, this was before she met his new friend, a
woman younger than my mother. Since then, we
were no longer playing together, no going to the
park, and no food trip at the mall anymore. He was
already interested with his new found friend.

In silence, I asked, “Why, Father?” and I cried.

One day, while my mother and I were at the store

to buy some groceries, I saw my father carrying a
newly born baby with his woman friend. I called my
mother and told her what I saw. She tugged me by
my arm and hurriedly walked out of the cashier lane
and asked me to lead her to where my father was,
but we no longer found him there.
 My mother was so angry that when my father
got home at night, she was so mad at him. She
told my father that I saw him carrying his child
with his new friend. They fought each other.

I ran to my room and cried. Then, I asked

God, “WHY?”

(Marlo Gel P. Alkuino, Grade IV, Dadiangas South

Central Elementary School, General Santos City)
 Sana, Ngayong Pasko
Ilang Pasko na bang hindi ko kasama si
Tatay?

Magsasampung taon na. Magsasampung taon

nang hindi ko kasama ang ama ko. Iniwan niya
ako sa aking tiyahin bago pa man ako
nagdiwang ng aking unang kaarawan.

Kriminal daw kasi ako, tukso sa akin ng mga

pinsan ko. Kasi namatay ang nanay ko nang
ipinanganak niya ako. Kahit na biro lang iyon,
masakit pa rin para sa akin.
 Iyon ang lagi kung naiisip na dahilan kung
bakit nagtatrabaho sa Saudi Arabia ang tatay ko.
Ayaw niya akong makasama dahil ako ang
dahilan ng pagkamatay ng aking ina. Kaya
siguro hindi siya nakauwi kahit minsan man
lang.

Inggit na inggit ako sa mga pinsan ko dahil

kasama nila ang kanilang mga ama.
Kakwentuhan. Kasama sa pamamasyal at
pagsisimba. At kasama nila sa masayang
pagdiriwang ng Pasko.

.
 Noong nakaraang Pasko, nagapadala si Tatay ng
malaking halaga ng pera na sobra-sobra sa
pangangailangan namin ng aking tiyahin. Panghanda
raw sa Pasko. Pinabilhan niya ako ng cellphone na
Samsung Galaxy. Regalo raw niya sa akin.

Pero hindi ako ganap na masaya ng Paskong iyon.

Pakiramdam ko, laging may kulang tuwing Pasko. Para
sa akin, hindi na mahalaga kung wala kaming handa at
wala akong matatanggap na regalo mula sa aking ama.
Ang makapiling ko siya ay sobrang sapat na.
 Ngayon, magpapasko na naman. Sana,
mapatawad na niya ako kung kasalanan ko ang
pagkamatay ng nanay ko. Sana maisip niya na
higit ko siyang kailangan kaysa sa salapi at
mamahaling bagay na regalo niya sa akin. Sana,
siya ang ireregalo sa akin ng Diyos ngayong
Pasko. Sana . . . .

(Marlo Gel P. Alkuino. Baitang V,

Pangalawang Pwesto sa Pagsulat ng Lathalain, 2015
DSPC – Lungsod ng Heneral Santos)
• FOR PRACTICUM:
• Direction: Write a feature story about the topic below (English or
Filipino).

• THE FEELING OF REJECTION

Pointers on How to Design
Feature/Literary Pages
1. These pages must have a literary and feminine
appearance.
2. All of the columns may be wider than the rest of the
paper. Often, columns are set in one and one-half
columns wide.
3. Learn typography. Know for example, what type looks
best for certain article.
4. You can use Roman and italic types for text, except for
poetry, but do not use more than four font types on the
page.
5. Different styles of titles in different faces, sizes and color
may be used for feature stories.
6. Usually fewer articles appear on these pages than on the
news pages. Pictures are used to capture interest and
highlight the story.
7. Captions are optional for pictures on these pages.
8. Feature columns ordinarily appear in the same position
of the same page every issue.
9. For emphasis, especially on a magazine type school
paper, a color backdrop can be employed on the article.

NOTE: CONTENTS MUST BE OF LOCAL, NATIONAL AND

INTERNATIONAL SCOPE