The Death of Cornelius: Gustavo’s Sanity, Basketball Fan, and Debt-Ridden Abstract Concept

Cornelius, the fragile embodiment of Gustavo’s sanity, officially expired on August 29, 2025. Known in the neighborhood as both a stabilizing force and a suspiciously well-dressed abstract concept, Cornelius balanced his days with basketball, motorcycle joyrides on his beloved 2023 Honda CB400, and occasional wrestling matches with his loyal pet komodo dragon, Alfred.

Once rumored to be a mildly racist ex-SS commander (though records remain unclear), Cornelius heroically contained the chaos of one man’s overcaffeinated mind. He is survived by 14 wives, 5 sons, 9 daughters, Alfred the dragon, and a mountain of crippling debt that would make even the most forgiving bank manager weep.

Cornelius will be missed, mostly by creditors.

Cornelius, sanity in a suit—basketball in hand, dragon debt unpaid.

Cornelius may be gone, but the absurdity lives on. For more chaotic tales, don’t miss Bang Bang, Bayan! — The Memoirs of a Sentient Pistol in WWII Philippines

Read here.

Nostalgia in Manila: Gustavo’s Story of Basketball, Gin, and Friendship

Gustavo, now in his 30s and working a corporate job, looks back on his Manila college days filled with basketball, cheap gin, cigarettes, and unforgettable friendships.

Once a backdrop to basketball games, cheap gin, and carefree laughter, the College of Fine Arts now lives on in Gustavo’s memories of youth.

A hot, unrelenting sun bore down on the cracked pavement of the College of Fine Arts parking lot. Yet a cool breeze, almost out of place in the Manila heat, drifted through the trees, carrying with it the chatter of birds and the restless whisper of leaves. The scene was tranquil—until Gustavo shattered it.

“HELL YEAH!”

The cheer tore through the air like a gunshot. A rotund student in a blue polo and Crocs, Gustavo threw his arms skyward after sinking a basket on a makeshift hoop. His victory dance was as graceless as it was excessive, hips thrusting into the wind, voice echoing with triumph.

“WHO’S YOUR DADDY, BABY? EAT IT! LOVE IT! GET USED TO IT!”

Friday at the Office: Corporate Coldness, SLAs, and the Countdown to Freedom

Brightly lit corporate office on a Friday afternoon with employees working at their desks

Intro:

Friday afternoons in corporate offices often carry a unique mix of pressure, exhaustion, and anticipation. This is the story of Gustavo, his team, and the clock that measures both their work and their freedom.

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The Pressure of SLAs

The chatter of voices, the clicking of mice, and the clacking of keyboards fill the office on a Friday afternoon. Employees push through the final hours of the week, racing to meet their department’s Service Level Agreements (SLAs) before the clock strikes five.

At his desk, Gustavo takes a slow sip of coffee. The cup warms his hands against the steady blasts of the air-conditioning that chill the office. He works at an even pace, glancing often at the clock on the wall.

Heaven & Hell Basketball Showcase Decides Ukraine-Russia Conflict

Photo from 2019's Heaven & Hell Basketball Showcase

CELESTIAL ARENA — Tuesday, August 19, 2025  

An electrified crowd of angels and demons packed Celestial Arena tonight for the opening of the seven-game Heaven & Hell Basketball Showcase. With the winner granted the power to sway the outcome of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, anticipation crackled through every halo and horn.  

Grand Opening Spectacle Dazzles Celestial Arena

The festivities began with a blistering set by rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, whose howl echoed off gilded balconies as pyrotechnics painted the rafters in celestial fire. Directly afterward, wrestling icons Hulk Hogan and Razor Ramon squared off in the center court, body-slamming each other beneath suspended hoops and sending the infernal faithful into a frenzied chant of “Whatcha gonna do when Heaven runs wild on you?”  

Recruitment Clash Sparks Satanic Outcry

Gustavo’s 4AM Filipino Morning Routine: Coffee, Cigarettes & Sarcastic Work Chat

Before sunrise, Gustavo fights exhaustion, cigarettes, and the weight of another workday. This story captures the grind of early mornings, corporate dread, and the fleeting humor we use to survive routine.

At 4:00 AM, the town still lay beneath its blanket of silence. Gustavo’s alarm erupted—a shrill, unforgiving shriek—yanking him from half-dreams. He groaned, limbs heavy as wet towels, and fumbled for his glasses on the nightstand. Each movement felt like wading through molasses; even blinking cost effort.

In the kitchen, he set the kettle on its burner, hands trembling as he measured three spoonfuls of coffee and three of creamer into his chipped mug. No sugar, because at this hour sweetness was a luxury. Steam hissed from the spout, and when the first drop of boiling water hit the powder, Gustavo flinched as if stung.

A quiet kitchen counter with coffee, kettle, and mug—capturing the weary solitude and morning rituals of a long workday ahead.

Holy Heist: Juicy Jesuits’ Safety-Pin Bank Robbery & Drunk Koala Getaway

VATICAN CITY (Not Really) — In what authorities are calling “the most sacrilegious stunt since someone tried to baptize a cat,” a rogue band of renegade priests known as Junnie’s Juicy Jesuits executed a bank robbery so bizarre it left law enforcement baffled, theologians speechless, and one koala slightly hungover.

🙏 The Leader: Junnie, the Unholy Heartthrob

The group’s charismatic leader, Junnie — a self-proclaimed “serial philanderer with a rosary and a dream” — reportedly orchestrated the heist using nothing but a stolen sermon, a Latin dictionary, and a suspiciously well-trained marsupial. Witnesses say Junnie entered the bank wearing a cassock lined with glitter and humming “Like a Prayer.”

“He blessed the vault before blowing it open,” said one stunned teller. “It was oddly respectful.”

When High Hopes Meet Low Bandwidth: Gustavo’s Tuesday Streaming Meltdown

After a draining 9-to-5, there’s nothing sweeter than clocking out and reclaiming your freedom. The Joyful Clock-Out follows Gustavo—your classic overworked office worker—on his chaotic yet hilarious after-work ritual. From dodging supervisors in the elevator to snacking like a king, and finally facing the ultimate anime-night disaster (thanks to a dead Wi-Fi box), this short story captures the comedy, relief, and pure absurdity of escaping corporate life at day’s end.

Joyful office worker leaving the workplace at 5 PM, symbolizing freedom from corporate stress and excitement for after-work relaxation.

The Joyful Clock-Out

Gustavo, the perpetually overworked corporate drone, slams his laptop shut at 5 PM sharp. He scoops up his coffee tumbler, earbuds, and half-eaten protein bar with a grin that would alarm a psychiatrist.  

He vaults toward the elevator, heart pounding with…something thrilling that isn’t paperwork.

Elevator Ambush: Background Noise

Doors slide open, and Ayan, Gustavo's supervisor,  edges beside him, clipboard raised.  

“Pah-per… plan-ting… Sat­ur­day… bus… waiv­er…” her words blur into elevator dings.  

Gustavo’s brain hits mute; he nods so vigorously Ayan beams—convinced he’s on board.

Shoes Off, Slippers On: The Great Escape

In the carpark, Gustavo peels off dress shoes and hurls socks onto the passenger seat.  

Alone at Night: A Short Story on Solitude, Memory, and Quiet Reflection

Late at night, Gustavo sits alone in his garage, cigarette in hand, lost in quiet thoughts. This short story explores solitude, memory, and the bittersweet comfort of routine—a glimpse into loneliness that lingers even when the world is silent.

Smoke from dying embers remain after Gusravo's quiet reflection

Gustavo sinks into the old outdoor chair in his garage, the one that’s slightly crooked but still holds him like it remembers. The street outside is quiet, save for the occasional flicker of the lamppost and the distant hum of a car engine. He unwraps a Snow Bear mint, places it on his tongue, and lights a Chesterfield cigarette with practiced ease.

The first drag is long. He exhales slowly, watching the smoke drift toward the dark corner of the property.

“Been a long day,” he says, voice low. “You seem to be in a good mood tonight.”

He pauses, eyes fixed on the shadows. No reply, of course. But he waits anyway.

Manliness vs. Mason Lid: A Surreal Humorous Poem on Masculinity and Everyday Struggles

Struggling with a stubborn pickle jar has humbled many men, but in this surreal and satirical poem, it becomes an epic battle. “Manliness vs. Mason Lid: A Surreal Humorous Poem on Masculinity and Everyday Struggles” takes a humorous look at masculinity, ego, and the absurdity of everyday struggles. Blending poetic storytelling with absurd comedy, this piece transforms a simple kitchen frustration into a larger-than-life saga about strength, identity, and the fragile myths of manhood.

Muscular, Adonis-like man psyches himself up before tackling the unflinching picle jar

In the land of cracked knuckles and midnight grunts,  

Where shirts feared buttons and hygiene was a front,  

There dwelled a legend—a tempest, a king,  

Joey the Man’s Man, unyielding as spring.

No napkin dared touch his caveman maw,  

Plates were but weakness—he scoffed at such law.  

Toilets wept silently when Joey was near,  

For his exit left echoes, but wiped nothing clear.

Diary of a Damp Towel: A Sentient Rag’s Sweaty Revenge in the Philippine Heat

The unrelenting Philippine sun punishes a man and hit towel

🌞 Chapter 1: The Moist Awakening

Dampthony had once been a proud towel. Fresh off the shelf at SM Department Store, he dreamed of spa days, gentle dabs, and maybe a cameo in a TikTok skincare routine. But fate had other plans.

Sir Chonkulus, a man whose pores wept like broken faucets, had claimed Dampthony as his personal sweat sponge. Every morning, Dampthony was dragged across a face that resembled a glazed ham left out in the sun. Every afternoon, he was shoved into the armpit crevices of a man who believed deodorant was a government conspiracy. And every night, he was left damp, crumpled, and forgotten—like a soggy ghost of his former self.

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🔥 Chapter 2: The Heat-Induced Hallucinations

Fried Chicken and Existential Crumbs: One Man’s Lunch Break Meltdown at Lawson

Gustavo had conquered his morning workload like a caffeinated warrior—half a shift’s worth of spreadsheets slain before noon. But victory came with a greasy price. His go-to lunch savior, Gaspar the home-cooked meal hustler, had ghosted the office. No adobo. No sinigang. Just silence and hunger.

So Gustavo descended the corporate tower like a man condemned, muttering curses at the culinary void. The elevator doors closed slowly, trapping him with his thoughts.

“Why did Gaspar have to be absent today? Here I go again. Fried chicken, fried siomai, fried bean sprouts, fried longganisa, fried luncheon meat… what’s next?!

Micromanaged and Alone: One Man’s Drive Through Office Life and Traffic

Corporate pressure, endless Manila traffic, and the weight of solitude—Micromanaged and Alone follows Gustavo’s weary drive home after another draining day at the office. This short story captures the frustrations of modern work life, the longing for freedom, and the quiet ache of loneliness in a city that never slows down.

Lonsome view from the driver seat of Gustavo's daily commute after work

Gustavo’s fingers were still stained with printer ink when he slid into the driver’s seat of his aging sedan. The dashboard blinked its usual warnings—low fuel, overdue maintenance—but he barely noticed. His mind was already elsewhere, tangled in the knots of another exhausting day at the office.

The engine hummed as he merged onto the freeway, Manila’s traffic already thick with impatience. He gripped the wheel tighter than necessary, jaw clenched, thoughts spiraling.

“What’s her problem?” he muttered, thinking of his supervisor.  

Bang Bang, Bayan! — The Memoirs of a Sentient Pistol in WWII Philippines

A crazed World War II guerilla fighter unboxes his new pistol

Chapter 1: I Was Born in a Box, Not a Battlefield

They called me Lola Bertha. Not because I was old, but because I had the temper of a grandmother who just found out her favorite soap opera was canceled. I was forged in a dusty American factory, shipped to Manila, and promptly forgotten in a crate labeled “Miscellaneous Freedom.” That is, until he found me.

My wielder was a guerrilla warrior named Mang Isko—a man with the hygiene of a jungle boar and the tactical finesse of a drunk carabao. He wore banana leaves as camouflage and believed that shouting “BANG!” before shooting made the bullet faster. I adored him. Mostly because he was too stupid to use me properly, which meant I got to monologue internally while he missed every shot.

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💥 Chapter 2: Humans Are the Real Ammunition