Siquijor: It's Bewitching me
It was the glow of the fireflies that has made the Spanish colonizers before called Siquijor as the ‘Isla de Fuego’ or Island of Fire. But they were really right. Siquijor is really glowing, with all the magic in it—in places and in people. CONTINUE READING...
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My Soul's Restlessness
It is literally a long and adventurous journey for me to get here,
but its all worth the effort and the risk. Each moment spent with people
we have met for three days and some for just couple of hours was
equally as important and special as to the moments we have had with
people who had been part of our lives for three months, for three years
or even for years equivalent to our age. I constantly pray that God will
continue to use me and my life to be of help in any way I could and in
anywhere possible at any time, despite of my limitations and brokenness.
Oh Lord, let my soul's restlessness produce goodness and let love
overflow from it so that more beauty can be revealed by and through
it... CONTINUE READING...
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That 8th of November this year was supposed to be like any other day
that came into the lives of Filipinos. For the children I was able to
talk with last Friday, it was supposed to be another day of playing in
the fields and along the shores and for some, another day of learning at
school. But something happened that day that made these children hid
under their beds and when their houses got destroyed, made them run as
fast as they could to seek solace in the hills, in the houses of the
well-off in their community and then in the evacuation centers. There
was something not ordinary that day that has made the children tremble
with fear, cry hard and then pray on their bended knees. That day
typhoon Yolanda came in so fast and then left the country with
unimaginable destruction and deaths. That day came and has left these
children with awful memories. CONTINUE READING...
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This was another
travel that just came into Sahid's mind and I'm referring him here as
the photographer. We were actually planning to go to Baler, but the
time, the weather, and in my case the budget would not allow us to head
there. Well, I guess Baler is still waiting for its right moment.
Yet this trip has been just worth the change of plan. I tried to stop myself from expecting anything though, but I searched for the place too so that I will know what should I bring in my backpack. We are supposed to be three in the group, but we ended up with the two of us. We are supposed to meet at the bus station by 5:30 but we ended up meeting at 7:30. Those could all be bummers but there’s something I could not explain that time that made me say ‘yes, we will push through.’ CONTINUE READING..
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We
took on that trip without knowing how that trip meant to each of us.
For others, they traveled to places with people they had known for so
long--- people they had lived with since day one of their lives, people
they had shared precious stories before, people they had sense of
familiarity and a lot of similarities…
Walking along the cobblestone streets in the midst of the crowd
Thank you friends for
taking this pilgrimage with me and for being real pilgrims too… In that
bumpy and rough tricycle road while traversing in the hilly and dusty
path towards the rock formation, I was able to reflect on how the
fundamental principle of the sacrifice of Jesus is not the suffering but
the love. And as the rock formation got closer downhill, and we had
burnt our skins, it was just so stunning to be welcomed by Mother
Nature’s work of art. And as we head back, we may have left the place
already, but the landmark of that giant sphinx cutting through the deep
blue sky with all its whiteness will remain in us. Like how Jesus passed
the Mount of Olives, which is the one of agony and combat, to that of
Calvary, which is that of death and actual sacrifice, may we triumph
too; and prepare ourselves for all things and be people of unwavering
faith… May we never forget the essence of the sacrifice of Jesus done
because of love. May His every step, every sweat, tears and blood matter
to us eternally...
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What Yolanda has Done
That 8th of November this year was supposed to be like any other day
that came into the lives of Filipinos. For the children I was able to
talk with last Friday, it was supposed to be another day of playing in
the fields and along the shores and for some, another day of learning at
school. But something happened that day that made these children hid
under their beds and when their houses got destroyed, made them run as
fast as they could to seek solace in the hills, in the houses of the
well-off in their community and then in the evacuation centers. There
was something not ordinary that day that has made the children tremble
with fear, cry hard and then pray on their bended knees. That day
typhoon Yolanda came in so fast and then left the country with
unimaginable destruction and deaths. That day came and has left these
children with awful memories. CONTINUE READING...
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A Journey with a Photographer, Jeepney Passengers and a Young Rider
This was another
travel that just came into Sahid's mind and I'm referring him here as
the photographer. We were actually planning to go to Baler, but the
time, the weather, and in my case the budget would not allow us to head
there. Well, I guess Baler is still waiting for its right moment. Yet this trip has been just worth the change of plan. I tried to stop myself from expecting anything though, but I searched for the place too so that I will know what should I bring in my backpack. We are supposed to be three in the group, but we ended up with the two of us. We are supposed to meet at the bus station by 5:30 but we ended up meeting at 7:30. Those could all be bummers but there’s something I could not explain that time that made me say ‘yes, we will push through.’ CONTINUE READING..
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When What Hurts You Make You Smile
(Excerpt from my After 64 Days)
Love could make life so confusing, but without love, would you really want to live?
Such words, perhaps I had read somewhere I forgot, kept on coming
back to me as we flew to Hong Kong on the 28th in November of 2012. I
was with a Muslim friend and classmate. It was a much needed trip for
her, but I didn’t know that until we were already heading towards Clark.
What she shared to me about her traumatic experiences during the war in
Mindanao and the struggle she had while growing up and how she get
through and still striving moved me in ways so strange. It’s always like
that, and I kept on wondering how unique each feelings and realizations
were in every new soul, new story, and new courageous act of
storytelling. CONTINUE READING...
Such words, perhaps I had read somewhere I forgot, kept on coming
back to me as we flew to Hong Kong on the 28th in November of 2012. I
was with a Muslim friend and classmate. It was a much needed trip for
her, but I didn’t know that until we were already heading towards Clark.
What she shared to me about her traumatic experiences during the war in
Mindanao and the struggle she had while growing up and how she get
through and still striving moved me in ways so strange. It’s always like
that, and I kept on wondering how unique each feelings and realizations
were in every new soul, new story, and new courageous act of
storytelling. CONTINUE READING...
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We
took on that trip without knowing how that trip meant to each of us.
For others, they traveled to places with people they had known for so
long--- people they had lived with since day one of their lives, people
they had shared precious stories before, people they had sense of
familiarity and a lot of similarities…
But God has special
ways of connecting people to each other. He has special ways of crossing
paths and when His ways work, and we start to realize it, then we will
just be left in awe. And one of the amazing ways of crossing paths is
the multiplier effect that friendship has. I think and had felt for
several times the beauty when the friend of your friends become your
friends too. Sahid or Toi, as what I would prefer calling him has been
my friend because of my graduate school classmate and Hongkong-Macau
trip buddy Dhitz. And as the multiplier effect in friendship goes,
Jaytee (I know I should call him Kuya, but his coolness seems to be of
same age as mine, and I actually don't feel younger talking with him
too) has been introduced to me by Toi. CONTINUE READING...
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Walking along the cobblestone streets in the midst of the crowd
Traversing Calle Crisologo and Mabini
Waiting for the sunset, enjoying empanada and cold drinks.
A glimpse of unique architecture
That fuses Philippine and Oriental designs
With colonial European architecture. CONTINUE READING...
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Thank you friends for
taking this pilgrimage with me and for being real pilgrims too… In that
bumpy and rough tricycle road while traversing in the hilly and dusty
path towards the rock formation, I was able to reflect on how the
fundamental principle of the sacrifice of Jesus is not the suffering but
the love. And as the rock formation got closer downhill, and we had
burnt our skins, it was just so stunning to be welcomed by Mother
Nature’s work of art. And as we head back, we may have left the place
already, but the landmark of that giant sphinx cutting through the deep
blue sky with all its whiteness will remain in us. Like how Jesus passed
the Mount of Olives, which is the one of agony and combat, to that of
Calvary, which is that of death and actual sacrifice, may we triumph
too; and prepare ourselves for all things and be people of unwavering
faith… May we never forget the essence of the sacrifice of Jesus done
because of love. May His every step, every sweat, tears and blood matter
to us eternally...
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