Written by Gabriel Dan Lagmay

It’s amazing how this one word can trigger so much feels in you. It’s just one of those words that spark a conversation that leads from one nostalgic topic to another, until you realize that you are in the middle of an ocean of your memories. You try to get back to the shore of the current world, but then it’s too late—the waves slowly eat you and you sink to the bottom of that dramatic ocean with nobody to find you. You are lost forever screaming like a kid again, but nobody can hear you. Charot.

Okay so I guess I’ve made my point about how childhood memories can take you to places—so quickly that it hits you like a Faura-Sta. Ana jeep na ayaw magpatawid ng mga tao. Anyway, an integral part of these childhood memories are the numerous games we all played when we were kids such as the classic, patintero and tumbang preso. But as time passes, these games start to become all but memories to us, agree?

NO. Yes, it is a no for me, simply because if you look freakishly closer (and overthink), you’ll see how we’ve been playing these games from time to time in different kinds of fields.

Give “tagu-taguan” for an example. Aminin na natin, marami tayong pinagtataguan, may it be responsibilities, feelings or sobrang daming may gusto sayo kailangan mo na silang pagtaguan (well what do I know right?).

In this particular piece, written by my friend, we look into the perspective of the “pinagtataguan” in this one big game of “tagu-taguan” we play with friendssss *insert snake emoji*.

Tagu-Taguan

by Chicken McJoy

Tagu-taguan maliwanag ang buwan

Maglaro tayo sa kadiliman

Pagbilang mo hanggang sampu

Magtatago na ako

Hanapin mo sila, hanapin mo ‘ko

Inabot na ng gabi

Nakatago pa rin kami

Inabot ng ng umaga

Ayaw pa rin nila magpakita

Inabot ng magdamagan, lingid sa iyong kaalaman

lahat sila’y nagsialisan

Pero mayroong nanatili

Nagtago, nag-antay, inabangan ang taya na binibini

Ngunit sa pag-aantay ako’y naka-idlip

Nagising nalang bigla at ika’y sinilip

Naroon ka pa rin sa may kanto

Nakababa ang ulo, luha mo’y tumutulo

Heto naman akong si tanga

Handang magpataya

Sumipa ng lata

Malakas na tunog ay nilikha

Inantay kang magawi sa aking kinaroroonan

Sa wakas ako’y iyong nasulyapan

Sabay tanong mo sa’kin “Asan na sila?”

Sumagot ako “Hindi ko alam pero, halika.”

Nagkuwentuhan hanggang ang gabi ay gumapang na

Magkatabing inaabangan ang mga tala

Tumahimik ako, tumahimik ka

Maglaro pa tayo at ako naman ang taya

Tagu-Taguan maliwanag ang buwan

Maglaro tayo; hindi kita iiwanan

This poem goes to all the people who are currently feeling down or have felt the alone during their darkest times. Look further, you are never truly alone—you deserve to be happy.

For submissions, just contact me in any (urban) way you would usually contact someone. Slide on my DMs @LetThereBeGAB, Message me on Facebook, etc. or submit to the OrCom blog here. We can’t wait to read what you have in store for us!