February Garden

Though I may be tired everyday, gardening is my way of 

being at peace with myself and the world.

Ciao!

Saturday in Manila

It was just a short visit for some errands and while I am done in a day, another day was spent tracing back childhood memories. 

From Quiapo Church where I asked for guidance 

                                  to Carriedo where I passed everyday to go back home. 

From Luneta, where we sat down and ate taho (Chinese mung bean jelly) 

                                   and to my first ever picnic with relatives at Rizal Park. 

And some photographs to the recently concluded Art Fair Philippines where I "elbowed" the rich and famous, ha,ha,ha!

Stories in Photographs

There were a number of photographs I had taken through the years that I am proud of. I looked at them not as mere photographs but as storytellers.  Our photographs speak to us when we fill in the space with our own stories. Allow me to share a few of them.

Kho Kred, Pakkred, Nonthaburi

An abandoned house, tattered and old, gave me a feeling of haunting melo-drama that can be filled with sadness, tears and regrets.  The scattered branches added drama with few leaves left, making the entire photograph looked nostalgic and mysterious.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

A wide pillar became a window where one can see the ruins of Angkor Wat. The effect of the structures with its colours and texture radiated a historical essence reminisce of royalty and monkhood.  A view with a majestic story welcomed that one person who peeked.

Bohol, Philippines

The fading cream colour of the tiles was a fitting reminder of how the ground became discoloured because of the number of visitors and devotees that flocked the church.  For each knee that knelt down or feet that walked on them carried a severity of one's burden of overwhelming trouble or a delight of gratitude and heaping appreciation.  The contrast alone spoke volume.

Taipei, Taiwan

Expansive and linear, Shongsan Park reflected the purpose and vision of those who built this place seeing throngs of people visiting now and in the future. They were visionaries and worked along the needs of the country and its people.

Pakkred, Nonthaburi, Thailand

And lastly, the branches stretched in the air reminded me of hands reaching out to heaven.  This became my backdrop to a letter I wrote for both my mum and my dad, after their demise.  The tree became my only elected tool of connectivity to a long lost form of communication.  It was, and still is,  a photograph filled with stories of regrets, hope and longing.

Stories in Photographs

There were a number of photographs I had taken through the years that I am proud of. I looked at them not as mere photographs but as storytellers.  Our photographs speak to us when we fill in the space with our own stories. Allow me to share a few of them.

Kho Kred, Pakkred, Nonthaburi

An abandoned house, tattered and old, gave me a feeling of haunting melo-drama that can be filled with sadness, tears and regrets.  The scattered branches added drama with few leaves left, making the entire photograph looked nostalgic and mysterious.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

A wide pillar became a window where one can see the ruins of Angkor Wat. The effect of the structures with its colours and texture radiated a historical essence reminisce of royalty and monkhood.  A view with a majestic story welcomed that one person who peeked.

Bohol, Philippines

The fading cream colour of the tiles was a fitting reminder of how the ground became discoloured because of the number of visitors and devotees that flocked the church.  For each knee that knelt down or feet that walked on them carried a severity of one's burden of overwhelming trouble or a delight of gratitude and heaping appreciation.  The contrast alone spoke volume.

Taipei, Taiwan

Expansive and linear, Shongsan Park reflected the purpose and vision of those who built this place seeing throngs of people visiting now and in the future. They were visionaries and worked along the needs of the country and its people.

Pakkred, Nonthaburi, Thailand

And lastly, the branches stretched in the air reminded me of hands reaching out to heaven.  This became my backdrop to a letter I wrote for both my mum and my dad, after their demise.  The tree became my only elected tool of connectivity to a long lost form of communication.  It was, and still is,  a photograph filled with stories of regrets, hope and longing.

Recollect

I have a lot of students ranging from aged three to eleven years.  I usually teach at their homes after school.  Most of them are affluent, living in big houses furnished with expensive furnitures and appliances.  Some of them are from the middle-ranged but they still have big houses and plenty of material things.

When I was younger, I do wish for a real-sized piano. It reminds me of home. It was the number of hours I tried playing in my cousin's house even though they were against me using their piano.  The conflicts I had with my cousins and our immaturities at that time will always come back to my memory.

source: www.derekspratt.com

The high tech CD players and booming sounds from their speakers remind me of home. My dad had a stereo set where we played LP records and listened to the songs of famous singers and later equipping the system with a karaoke component for all night singing.

source: junk-king.com

Nowadays, television screens are as big as the wall but it was the fun and agony of watching on our black and white TV screen that gave me a fine recollection of home when I was young.  My sister and I would take turns using a long bamboo stick to make the TV button steady as it was already missing.  Once we move, the screen will shut itself off. We watched our favourite cartoons with tired arms.  It was also where we saw our mum on television and learning she played bit roles in some movies.


And when I see a dog, or a pet snake or a chameleon that climbs a planted stick inside the aquarium, it reminds me of my childhood garden and pets.  My pet turtles would always go missing when floods come.  My daily walk with the dogs would be a disaster especially when they wanted to chase people or cats.

All these become remnants of what I remember back home but they are happy memories.  However, it is the familial relationships among my students that I yearn for.  It is the caring, the happy faces, the fights, the jealousy, and the love that makes me long for "home".

Flowers For Me?

It was a dreaded day as gazillion of lovers all the world celebrated and showed the world their love.  I hope that they do it everyday and not just one in a 365 days cycle.  And to think that this year, we get to have one extra day for love. Enough sweetness!

why am I keeping these?

As I teach in a school, it was just normal to receive small tokens from students of different grade levels.  And as a pack rat, I had accumulated some as shown in the photograph above.  They do not mean anything as they were only symbols of love, but the true feeling of being loved by students can be felt a hundredfold.  

This forgettable day became an unforgettable experience.  As I was watering the garden early in the morning, my routine every Sunday, I noticed something that moved from atop some greens.  Lo and behold, an unexpected visitor was slithering.  I was frozen, Elsa style, and realized that a photo shoot was the next thing to do.  Running towards the house, I got hold of my phone and quietly but quickly snapped a pic of this lovely green reptile.  I felt I was Eve, looking at the snake telling me to take a bite at the apple. I answered by saying I already ate one, it's stuck on my throat! 

Hello! Adam's apple!

who wants one for Christmas?

The rest of the day was spent indoor, blogging and writing more posts to last the year.  Yeah, that's how my mind wanted to forget about this special day, Valentine's, not the snake.   After some good old chatting with a friend that I professed my love to (it's Valentine's you know so only one day), I was hungry so I left to take a bite.  I sent all my friends a heart's day greetings and waited patiently who will return my love.  Yipee!, got three and one from someone who broke my heart some years ago (though that person doesn't even know, ha,ha,ha). 

While I was eating at a nearby restaurant rice porridge and all, I felt alone and unwanted.  If tears could drown, the whole road was now inundated with water. Just kidding, what the heck, I am no longer a drama king, CDR King maybe, plugging!

I went back home and upon reaching the house, something caught my eyes. Not the snake as it was gone but a plastic bag with a bouquet of flowers inside it.  It was for me!  I took it and threw it in the bin.  Not really, I took it inside and smiled, not a big smile but a smile that meant, things end well when we least expect it. 

though not real roses, the essence was there
essence of chicken, ha,ha,ha!

What's your story?

Friend's Day

Facebook made a video for Friends' Day and I am grateful as it reminds me of my family and friends.  High five to FB!

And Valentine's Day is also a celebration of friendship and family so if you are celebrating, have a great Valentine's Day wherever you are. 

Getting to Know You 9

Me by JT

Amazingly funny and ridiculously rude, these are some of the moments in class and outside the classroom. 

Student: I don't know how to draw a girl!
Me: Why don't you think of your sister.  She's a girl and she's pretty.
Student: She's not pretty but I can draw her.


Me:  I know you have a big house.
Student: I know, we have lots of money! 
Me quiet. 


Me: You use them for walking and you put your shoes on them.
Student: I know, foot!
Me: But we have two, what is the correct word for it? 
Student: Foots! 


Me: What did you see along the way coming to school? 
Student 1: I don't know, I don't look outside the window.
Student 2: I don't know.
Me: Fair enough, let me change the question.  What did you eat for breakfast?
Student 2: Rainbow! 
Me: Where is this going? 


Me: Can you write something in a full sentence.
Student: Fine! You are an asshole!
Me: Shut the Front Door!


Student: I have many houses in my candies.
Me: HUH?


And the biggest HUH! 

Me:  If you had saved money to buy yourself a Christmas present, 
       what would it be? 
Grade One student: A dildo! 
Me: WHAT?!?!?!


Leaving you my dear readers to think whether you also want it or not for Christmas as my student might know where to get one for you.  Have a nice day! 

Life's Vicissitudes

Mines View Park, Baguio, Philippines

Not everyone will understand your journey.  That's okay.  

You're here to live your life, not to make everyone understand.

As we grow wiser, we will find that the answers to our questions can be found not through internet searches or consultations with others.  The richness and depth of our experiences, be it good or not, will answer them.

I was a lost soul when I was much younger, not knowing what I really like. Would I pursue law or continue with Theology and as I fall in indecisiveness, I ended in a straight path, a profession I learned to care and love.  My experiences taught me to take my time, to feel where my heart is, and dig deeper. I needed to sink roots and I did. 

 I had loved a few people but rejected by many.  My experiences taught me to love myself fully rather than offer myself to despair.  I wasn't able to marry, a regret I had, but my single blessedness is giving me opportunities that I might not be able to do if I have my own family. 

I met so many people in my life both locals and international.  That nationality is not a factor in friendship, but sincerity in its pursuit.  That wealth is a measurement for others but not for those who stayed.  That distance is not important to those who continue to reach out.  Friends come but many will go and for those who will stay, keep them in your hearts.

That whatever choices I make in my life is mine.  If you do not agree to my decisions, you can give your opinions but it is still me who will walk the walk.  If  I choose to go a different path, it is because I wanted to show that I can be myself, and not a follower of others' dreams.  My short stay in this world is measured by the journey I will take so I wanted them to be filled with joy. 

There are three things I learn in life: 

My journey is my responsibility, not anyone else's. 

My sharings in life is my choice and legacy, that nobody can erase.

My decisions, though with regrets, are my life's scaffolding.

So believe and conquer. 

Twas a Delightful Week