Sublimity in print.

2GO Masagana
What's on and below the deck?

The school year is over. It was my first time traveling alone with 2GO Travel, and the first time experiencing a seven-hour delay before arriving at my destination. The vessel had some “technical issues,” so the supposedly night trip went to a day trip instead. I was rereading Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo during the waiting hours—just to kill the time—and I was between Chapters 1 to 2 which talks about the bapor tabo. In my experience aboard the Masagana, I noticed an invisible division between passengers inside the hotel-like interior of the vessel and those outside on the upper deck. The delay had caused this division, with passengers inside enjoying amenities while those outside were uncovered to the scorching heat of the sun, the banging sound of machines, and black smoke from the funnel. 

2GO is known for its massive ships, and this latest built Masagana was something I look forward to the most. Upon entering the lobby and stepping out of the elevator to catch my breath, I was greeted by the cool air of the facility. The staff welcomed me politely, and the porters, wearing 2GO shirts, slouched on the ground after having carried the passengers’ baggage. The dried-up sweat provided relief from my body’s strain, the staff’s smiles sounded like lullabies in the dawn, and the porters’ towels and handkerchiefs were filled with sweat like oceans of their strength. The presence of two stores facing the entrance caught my attention: Kultura and Miniso. To the left side is a salon. It just so happened that my room was only a few feet away from Watsons, so I couldn’t wait to check out what was inside after settling in.

In my tourist accommodation, I met a grandmother and an unmarried woman. The grandmother offered me her pillow when she found out that my bed didn’t have one. At that time, she had slept on her bed with only her piled clothes as her pillow, and I was very grateful for her kindness. Morning came and the unmarried woman joined me whenever I strolled around the vessel, and she even treated me to an on-board pizza with four mini slices. I paired the pizza with a David size Hazelnut Latte from Café 2GO. She helped me take pictures and was even generous whenever I needed an angle to capture things. The three of us enjoyed our complimentary lunch together at one table. The grandmother joked about my young age, saying I have the opportunity to marry ten times. Our laughter filled the air, reaching the same level as the spirited singing of a passenger in a lively karaoke session. Amidst our glee, it seemed like a serene tranquility to those voicing their dissatisfaction about the delay, especially the passengers lurking in the upper part of the deck. The used-to-be pale yellow sweet and smoother texture of the iconic squared baked delicacy served in the ship for years was now crunchy and quite hard, filled with an almost tasteless sprinkle of a moment unreturned, canceled schedules, and quick negotiations.

9
10
11
12
13

We strolled around the upper deck and saw a group of men watching a basketball game while most of the old people sat down in front of the transparent glass where the outside portion of the upper deck could be seen. Their faces were statues like the ship’s status. Babies were crying for milk, children were asking for snacks and others for a stuffed toy sold in Miniso, and adults were typing on their phones or perhaps looking for signals as I saw arms raised upwards while holding a phone. These were the movements happening on the deck. We went outside and looked around the ocean. A child asked to see a dolphin, but the mother said it had already passed. I didn’t notice one either, but I was hoping to see a dolphin, too. Some passengers who went to the lower deck treated themselves to coffee, a small cake from Goldilocks, a dessert from Brownies Unlimited, or a pizza. They couldn’t escape the crowd gathering in the karaoke as it was one of the first things to see when descending. There was also a charging station nearby where people took turns to charge their phones. 

14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

I wasn’t able to proceed to the next chapter of Rizal’s novel because my attention got rocked towards socializing around and wandering in the corners of the vessel. Instead, the book was left on my accommodation’s bed underneath the pillow. The invisible wall wasn’t about the poor and the rich nor the people on and below the deck. It was about the passengers’ resilience in weighing their frustrations and composure throughout the journey.

Well, the rest is history.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bhon Glory Jayn Cabilete

Ogim’s step-mother. 

Instagram

READ MORE
19 December 2024
In the English language, we say the word “love,” while most of the time being unconscious of the many meanings this may elicit in various individuals—one person’s definition of love will never be the same as the other. There may be about a million ways to define this phenomenon, but the word “love” acts as a multipurpose word that is meant to act in place of every variance of meaning one could possibly create. However, in the Arabic language there are multiple ways to express the word love. These alternative forms of the word “love” emerged from the plethora of romantic Arabic poetry over time. While many of these are used exclusively in poetic form, it’s still interesting to take a close look at these variations in order to understand just how vast the interpretations of love in the Arabic language is, especially in celebration of World Arabic Language Day.
Read More
10 December 2024
Do you know your rights as a human being? Have you ever felt that these rights were violated? These are the first questions that come to mind when human rights are mentioned. I wonder if everyone is aware of their rights and what they do when these rights are violated. Human Rights Day is observed every 10th of December to raise awareness about the importance of human rights and the ongoing struggle for their protection. It commemorates the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a milestone document in the history of human rights affirming the inalienable rights of all individuals regardless of their ethnicity, nationality, or religion. As the world marks this day, it is essential to reflect on the state of human rights in several countries such as the Philippines where challenges in realizing these rights persist.
Read More
08 December 2024
The play wasn’t anything grand, with what a small school and an even smaller amount of students studying in said school, but it was something that my mother and I thoroughly prepared for. I remember it clearly like it just happened; we didn’t have any of the garb the popular Western depictions of Mary had, so with cloth scraps my mother collected—or found lying around in our house, I’m not too sure on that detail anymore—she had a seamstress make the clothes for me. All for a one-day play that we’ve practiced for less than a month that ended in all of us dancing to Gangnam Style. It was wacky, maybe even something you could label as campy, but nonetheless, it was an experience that’s forever etched in my memory.
Read More
05 December 2024
“Ako ang amahan Luz, ako nang trabaho ang pag-sustenar nato. Dili na mao ang trabaho ni Luz.” “Bert, paminaw sa-” “Dili. Dili ko mosugot.” Sulti nako. Ni-hilom si Rosa ug ni-lakaw. Nisulod siya sa kwarto namo ug gi-sirado ang pultahan. Ako nagpa-bilin sa lamesa, ga-tutok sa akong anak. Ginoo ko, tabang. Unsaon man namo ni? Samtang nag-hinuktok ako, mihangad si Luz ug milingi kanako. Nipahiyom siya og nibalik sa iyang assignment. Kayahon nako ni. Wala ko’y lain’g mabuhat.
Read More
30 November 2024
In "Why Fell the Supremo?", a part of his collection of essays titled "A Question of Heroes," National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin calls Andres Bonifacio an "uncomfortable hero." This may be a jarring title to give, especially for the majority of Filipinos who view Bonifacio as the pioneer of revolution—the very essence of what it means to resist oppression. Yet, why did one of our National Artists dubb one of our heroes with such a shameful title?
Read More
29 November 2024
The 29th of November marks the 47th year anniversary of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. That very same day back in 1947, the General Assembly established the Partition Resolution. The resolution called for the creation of a "Jewish State" and an "Arab State" in Palestine, with Jerusalem designated as a corpus separatum - (a separated body)- under a unique international governance. However, to date, only one of these states has been established, which is Israel.
Read More
25 November 2024
Human | sa únos Ang kalinaw | mobanós; Tápos | sa bagyo Ang huyóhoy | mobaylo Ingon karon | nga búlan: Nga batobaláni | sa katalagman, Pag-alisdan | ra usab Sa taknang | kasadyáan Daw ako | sakayánon Naglayág | sa kagabhion Hiatlan ngadto | sa láwod Sa hánging | naghagurós
Read More
21 November 2024
My grandmother watches a game show intently. Wide eyes tucked behind loose skin. Skin much tighter in 1966; Ringo’s suit matched the screen.
Read More
20 November 2024
Each year, World Children’s Day is celebrated on November 20. It was first established in 1954 to promote awareness of children and their welfare. This date holds great significance as it marks the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly in 1959, as well as the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child In 1989. Thus, November 20 has been commemorated as the anniversary of these milestones.
Read More
20 November 2024
It's easy to say that there is nothing romantic about toilets. Being the main catalyst in disposing of human waste, it's only rational to find them filthy; the butt of low-effort jokes. What is romantic about pungent smells stirring in humid still air? However, toilets being treated as such leads to a further lack of care in comfort rooms. Only then is there really nothing romantic about toilets.
Read More
19 December 2024
In the English language, we say the word “love,” while most of the time being unconscious of the many meanings this may elicit in various individuals—one person’s definition of love will never be the same as the other. There may be about a million ways to define this phenomenon, but the word “love” acts as a multipurpose word that is meant to act in place of every variance of meaning one could possibly create. However, in the Arabic language there are multiple ways to express the word love. These alternative forms of the word “love” emerged from the plethora of romantic Arabic poetry over time. While many of these are used exclusively in poetic form, it’s still interesting to take a close look at these variations in order to understand just how vast the interpretations of love in the Arabic language is, especially in celebration of World Arabic Language Day.
Read More
10 December 2024
Do you know your rights as a human being? Have you ever felt that these rights were violated? These are the first questions that come to mind when human rights are mentioned. I wonder if everyone is aware of their rights and what they do when these rights are violated. Human Rights Day is observed every 10th of December to raise awareness about the importance of human rights and the ongoing struggle for their protection. It commemorates the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a milestone document in the history of human rights affirming the inalienable rights of all individuals regardless of their ethnicity, nationality, or religion. As the world marks this day, it is essential to reflect on the state of human rights in several countries such as the Philippines where challenges in realizing these rights persist.
Read More
08 December 2024
The play wasn’t anything grand, with what a small school and an even smaller amount of students studying in said school, but it was something that my mother and I thoroughly prepared for. I remember it clearly like it just happened; we didn’t have any of the garb the popular Western depictions of Mary had, so with cloth scraps my mother collected—or found lying around in our house, I’m not too sure on that detail anymore—she had a seamstress make the clothes for me. All for a one-day play that we’ve practiced for less than a month that ended in all of us dancing to Gangnam Style. It was wacky, maybe even something you could label as campy, but nonetheless, it was an experience that’s forever etched in my memory.
Read More
05 December 2024
“Ako ang amahan Luz, ako nang trabaho ang pag-sustenar nato. Dili na mao ang trabaho ni Luz.” “Bert, paminaw sa-” “Dili. Dili ko mosugot.” Sulti nako. Ni-hilom si Rosa ug ni-lakaw. Nisulod siya sa kwarto namo ug gi-sirado ang pultahan. Ako nagpa-bilin sa lamesa, ga-tutok sa akong anak. Ginoo ko, tabang. Unsaon man namo ni? Samtang nag-hinuktok ako, mihangad si Luz ug milingi kanako. Nipahiyom siya og nibalik sa iyang assignment. Kayahon nako ni. Wala ko’y lain’g mabuhat.
Read More
30 November 2024
In "Why Fell the Supremo?", a part of his collection of essays titled "A Question of Heroes," National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin calls Andres Bonifacio an "uncomfortable hero." This may be a jarring title to give, especially for the majority of Filipinos who view Bonifacio as the pioneer of revolution—the very essence of what it means to resist oppression. Yet, why did one of our National Artists dubb one of our heroes with such a shameful title?
Read More
29 November 2024
The 29th of November marks the 47th year anniversary of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. That very same day back in 1947, the General Assembly established the Partition Resolution. The resolution called for the creation of a "Jewish State" and an "Arab State" in Palestine, with Jerusalem designated as a corpus separatum - (a separated body)- under a unique international governance. However, to date, only one of these states has been established, which is Israel.
Read More
25 November 2024
Human | sa únos Ang kalinaw | mobanós; Tápos | sa bagyo Ang huyóhoy | mobaylo Ingon karon | nga búlan: Nga batobaláni | sa katalagman, Pag-alisdan | ra usab Sa taknang | kasadyáan Daw ako | sakayánon Naglayág | sa kagabhion Hiatlan ngadto | sa láwod Sa hánging | naghagurós
Read More
21 November 2024
My grandmother watches a game show intently. Wide eyes tucked behind loose skin. Skin much tighter in 1966; Ringo’s suit matched the screen.
Read More
20 November 2024
Each year, World Children’s Day is celebrated on November 20. It was first established in 1954 to promote awareness of children and their welfare. This date holds great significance as it marks the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly in 1959, as well as the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child In 1989. Thus, November 20 has been commemorated as the anniversary of these milestones.
Read More
20 November 2024
It's easy to say that there is nothing romantic about toilets. Being the main catalyst in disposing of human waste, it's only rational to find them filthy; the butt of low-effort jokes. What is romantic about pungent smells stirring in humid still air? However, toilets being treated as such leads to a further lack of care in comfort rooms. Only then is there really nothing romantic about toilets.
Read More
error: Content is protected !!
Scroll to Top