As the first episode of the Philippines Graphic Literary Workshop (PGLW) slowly came to its conclusion on February 28, we knew that we had one more thing that we can offer our bright young fellows: a starting platform for their creative endeavors. Here, we present one of their final outputs from the workshop. We also asked them to provide an artwork that they think best represents their stories. Read on.
“Come back here!” I heard her scream, but I was already too far ahead of her. I did not look back.
I struggled to get a good grip of this new, unstable ground, but it was my excitement that kept me going. Who knows when they’ll let me out for this long? In this new space filled with sand and water? Full of strong, salty wind?
And then I saw it. Something I can claim as mine. It looked a lot like the dozens she had at home—what she sometimes puts under her feet. She probably won’t be too mad if I take this. Not like last time, when I used hers to rest my head on as I slept. Besides, this isn’t hers.
“No, put it back,” I heard her say, out of breath. She finally caught up with me.
I let out a small whimper as I dropped it from my mouth. I watched as she raised her hands, moving towards me, but I was fast—I was always faster.
I continued running, letting my tongue hang loose in my open mouth.
“Miko” Miguel Lorenzo Peralta is an independent filmmaker from the University of the Philippines Film Institute, whose experimental documentary short films have been a part of several film festivals. His latest short, “Please Keep This Copy,” was a finalist in the 21st Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, and was exhibited in international film festivals. He participated in a Southeast Asian creative documentary storytelling workshop, AsiaDoc, organized by Forum Film Dokumenter and Docmonde-France, to develop a project on his personal experiences and reflections on flooding in Marikina. Once an editor for his high school literary magazine, he wishes to revisit writing again.
