A Day in Greuthungi, Fireflies, Whale Sharks & Coconut
by Ting | Maria Antonieta Pimentel-Elger | From Issue One (Fall 2025)
Listen to Ting reading their piece!
Isang Araw sa Isla Greuthungi (Another Day in Greuthungi)
Greuthungi is alive and well, slowly descending over the Timbuktu alps, bringing good
tidings while Kayumanggi was a little preoccupied munching the sweet octopus cake that they baked
in 1861, but then it is still stinging like crazy-vibrating and rapping, ice, ice baby. The perineal
false weather forecast proves itself, this milleneal pouring banana catsup then spiced rhum
affogato, when the little Giant Samonella appeared and summoned all the macaroni balls and
spaghettini peoples known to intergalactically sky flies, space-crater hike and sudden bungee
drops, and I believe they are entwined by Apamea Myrlea, and they spoke Phoenician with a
Filipino accent, spoken like a true warrior of Constantinople.
Why are you staring at my balls?
One of the majestic queens stopped looking up and within
the next breath magically instantaneously transported to the planet of pigs.
There were pig’s hula hooping, pigs doing hatha yoga, cool and hip looking BWBie (Black White Brownie) alien piggy
that speaks fluent Latin and dance Kizomba in bamboo poles (ala Tinikling).
Last two minutes.... the universal speaker announced, happy hour with diversified flavored
edibles, the Universal Trading Commission approved and curated, ethical curry incense, sage,
calamansi smudge and skin enhancers are now ready to be dispensed telepathically and via
airwave with your Global QR code – she can also fix your shoulder and sciatica pains. Shaman
Penelope piggy can also unblock your chakra and prescribe your crystal signs and read your past
life and fixations with a bonus five-minute hypnosis.
Also, in case you have forgotten, gratuities are appreciated, and we do accept bit coins and
trade in spaceship detailing and air cleansing.
*Fireflies, whale sharks and coconut trees
I thought you are a falling star but you are
flying in the dark, like you know your way around
here. Magical, enchanting like a fairy godmother in the
rooftop. I can feel you po.... Ama namin, Mama, Lolo, Tatay......
While you are a friendly giant
A gargantuan monster,
and that scary looking
mouth “mwah, mwah,
Mooh ahh IKAWW.....”
you moaned.....
Wait YUCK! your skin
feels like a very runny,
dollar store gel – ouch!
Naku! You whipped me
once, twice three times
With your giant tale and
your heavy belly rubbed
on my legs –
K, you have my
attention now. But wait,
I am forbidden to
touch you
Fireflies, Whale
Shark & Coconut
(buko, langis at
bunot’) : Kabanata Ikalawa
But you’re free to
touch me
Humans are
complicated
I know –
Ako’y sobrang nai-in
love sa ‘Yo! (I’m
falling deeply in love
with you)
Kung puede lang
ibalot kita papuntang
Canada!(If only I can
take you with me to
Canada)
Coconut is simply
amazing! I must have
consumed more than a
bucket of your juice
Ate your white flesh-
Ting’s body of work represent diversity and multifariousness, intermixture of words, images, moves (including dance & yoga), languages, cultural traditions and a variety of innovation and invention and tons of fun. She embraces openness, diversity, equity, inclusivity and is a certified trauma-informed Yoga instructor.
Her most recent collaboration was with the Polyglot Magazine, Hungryzine, Alberta Writers’ Guild Horizon Circle, Filipino Artists of Edmonton, Gallery @501, AGA (Art Gallery of Alberta) and The Shoe Project (amplifying the voice of immigrant women using shoes as metaphor) with the Workshop West Playwrights Theatre in Edmonton-
When Ting isn't interpreting for the Canadian government or engaged in development work and as a volunteer Sign Language interpreter, she advocates for self-care through activities such as yoga, intuitive arts, walking with puppies, hugging trees, or foraging in the nearby forest.