Christian Joshua Cacatian > Recent Status Updates

Intersection by April Timbol Yap. A gloomy story about a man, woman, and child with their tangled realities. It’s written to make the reader feel hopeful at first but the disgusted and shameful in the end. A quick reminder of how closely knitted we are to one another but at the same time very detached to being human.

Fallout by Ma. L.M. Fres-Felix. The short story unapologetically puts the reader through the lens of a privileged apolitical adolescent girl in the time where the Marcos regime is coming to a downfall. It’s frank, realistic, and strangely funny. It marries a balance of creative transitions and poignant reality. Fun to read nonetheless!

"The Death of Fray Salvador Montano, Conquistador of Negros" by Rosario Cruz Lucero. A peculiar short story about bigotry and change. It captures tropes from Philippine Catholicism and pre-colonial traditions of Filipinos from the Negros Region. Overall average, not the best nor the worst short story.

Lavender by Socorro. A short story that speaks volumes about the subtleties of mental illness, depression in particular, in one’s day-to-day. Witty title, really fits the theme of the story. The perspective changes from one character to another was spot-on! Very readable. The unexpected reveal of conflict will catch any reader off guard. Great story~

Days of Darkness, White Nights by Charlson Ong. A short story covering conspiracy, kinship, regret, and grim consequences from lust driven choices. The story takes place months before the turn of the new millennium revolving around characters with depth and color. Although with a few dirty page turners (aka confusing transitions) the story compensates it through visceral feelings from the characters. Okay read~

Days of Darkness, White Nights by Charlson Ong. A short story covering conspiracy, kinship, regret, and grim consequences from lust driven choices. The story takes place months before the turn of the new millennium revolving around characters with depth and color. Although with a few dirty page turners (aka confusing transitions) the story compensates it through visceral feelings from the characters. Okay read~

Alfred A. Yuson’s “Dancers.” A short story visualizing the constancy of change through the theatrical inner turmoil of Fatima towards Mr. Infanta’s change of choreography, and unexpected incident by Macap. Quite a bit confusing where the author wants the reader be but okay nonetheless.

Good Intentions 101: SY ‘72 - ‘73 by Menchu Aquino Sarmiento. A short story illustrating the realities present during Martial Law through the middle-class eyes of Jeniffer. It forces the reader to reflect upon the harsh realities of social class insensitivity, activism, and understanding. Full of picturesque references during the time of martial law to which people may or not appreciate. Calming story!