engraved in wood and stone

On the trip to the western side of the island near Tanah Lot I saw these beautiful wood carvings




Below, while walking the streets of Sanur I saw these beautiful stone carvings

Images of Bali

These pictures were taken at Tanah Lot which is considered as one of Bali's most important coastal temples.

Darurat Nasional di Filipina

This is the headline here today of the Bali Post. That our dear country was in a state of emergency on the 20th Anniversary of the EDSA Revolution.

It is sad to read emails and newsupdates from INQ7 seeing the crowd giving flowers to the soldiers that image transported me to an old memory that even at a young age at that time was a memory to be part of a country whose people care for their mother land.

Just 30 minutes after the state of emergency we were informed here in our workshop. I thought we really are now a global village. In a matter of an hour I read blogs of friends, emails from friends and online versions of broadsheets with just a click I was virtually there.

It is really a sad time para sa Pilipinas.

Where we are at Bali

Singapore

The orchid garden at Singapore airport. Our flight to Singapore was delayed last sunday and spent a good amount of time waiting in line. Patience is being tried as always. I guess one thing that usually comes with age is that people start to "mellow" and in some ways grow in patience for glitches like this happen. Traveling I think makes you grow in patience and look at things in a better and wider perspective.

My compass

Today is a bit frantic, for I will be leaving for Singapore at 2PM today then later onwards to Bali, Indonesia. My head is aching and I am worried with the condition of our baby in my tummy but am reassured by two doctors who gave me the "go" signal for this business trip to Bali of 10 days. I'll be on the road for a while again.

Thank God that Amats and I were able to hear mass at Claret early today 7:45 rather than our usual 11AM. I just felt a bit more grounded. "Clinging on my compass" so to speak for the many directions that life and work is bringing me, I still hope and rely only on His grace to pull me through and give me direction.

Again my favorite author Fulghum comes to mind about clocks and compass. Like him I'd rather wear a compass than a watch on my wrist. Time is relative it passes by so quickly, countries have different time and people have different idea of time. But a compass gives you direction--but you need to have a bearing. I pray that God remain my true north. That He may always stir me towards the direction He wants me to take.

I consider this trip as a gift because I've always wanted to see Bali and experience the unique Balinese culture. Like my friend Mayang during her pregnancy she was still able to visit Europe for a vacation. I thank God for this blessing and opportunity.

35 years!

Three decades and five years. I can't believe it when I woke up today and that is my new year's age. How does it feel to be 35 years old? I really do not feel much older than before. It has been great the past years, there were ups and downs but still great. I'm thankful for all those years that shaped me today, all the places I've lived in (Alaminos, Los Banos, Tawi-Tawi and Palawan), all the unique places that I've visited (Kathmandu, Okinawa, Auckland, Brisbane, GBR, Madang, Tubbataha and many more), and all those who have stood by me through these years (you know who you are) - friends who gave me shelter and family who loved me for who I am. And the community that helped me renew and deepen my relationship with the One who loved us first! Thank you Lord for all Your blessings. Thank you for the gift of life.

I am looking forward to the coming years, of growing old gracefully. I still want to climb mountains, travel to unique places and dance until those golden years. Well it is not really my golden years yet but I understand when one of my friends said that we should celebrate growing old. There are many things that gets better with age, wine, cheese and other inner strengths and traits that can come only with the molding of the years.

At mass today, the final blessing was "go forth and continue to hunger for a better life". A message of hope that things could actually be better and to believe and yearn for that as your prayer was the residual feeling I carry from that blessing.

This year a diffent kind of realization of inner celebration came upon me. It is the first time in many years that I have come to really, really appreciate growing old.

"Thank God for you"

"I thank God for you"... everyday since we got married this is the short affirmation I say to my husband in the evening before sleeping and when I wake up in the mornings. An affirmation and prayer in one said everyday. Let me say it here to honor you my beloved "I thank God for you Amats".

*********

We do not really observe valentine's day and I was thinking of my blog entry of our non-observance of this day remembering our couple friends who make it a point not to date on this day. And after getting married I do not really expect anything special to happen. But after waking up this morning to a table of flowers and heart shaped donuts in pinks and reds I was really happy to be on the receiving end ( now thinking about it I do appreciate this things however cheesy! hehehe). Receiving the unexpected is experiencing His grace.

St. Valentine, Phil, Eros and AGape

I never thought that St. Valentine was a priest until today when I googled the History of Valentines Day. I guess I didn't look him up years before--I just had this idea that he is just one of those fictional characters and another form of Valentino ha!

Anyway, I was also thinking of doing a discourse about the many forms of love but I think there is enough here in the web to update you on that so I'll just refer you to this "Short Handbook on Love".

Lauds

Last weekend, we spent some time with close friends Melo and Jas. Since Melo needs to prepare for a talk the coming week he needs to go to LST in Ateneo to get some material. We tagged along Amats and I, spending a warm afternoon with friends. The JesCom shop was closed and I just kept looking at the all the nice readings and wonderful CDs-- silently inside I've been wanting a Lauds album but never had one.

Something good came up, we met Alan and told us as there was a talk and that the Lauds Seven album will be launched that afternoon. The shop was closed because there was a set up downstairs for the launch. Since I came in my slippers with no money Amats and I decided we cannot afford to buy the album.

All the while on the side Jas bought CDs and tapes. Later in the car, she gave a copy of the Lauds Seven CD as a gift to us. "Awww...thanks" was my reaction, as I did not really expect it. I was really happy and felt that God blessed this small unspoken wish. Now as I write and listen to the CD, I felt His warm reassuring embrace that I am His daughter.

fatigue

This bit of information page 114 from "What to expect when you're expecting", helped me get through my first trimester:

The concern is: "I'm tired all the time. I am worried that I won't be able to continue working."

Answer: "It would be surprising if you weren't tired. In some ways, your pregnant body is working harder even when you are resting than a nonpregnant body is when mountain-climbing..."

Sigh, no wonder.

Team Diesel

One of my last major climb (major climbs being multi-day climbs at least 3 days walk up the mountains at a certain elevation) I remember leading a team. There were 3 of us and the two team mates Xiel and Richelle are both newbies but strong and determined. Team Diesel that is what we call ourselves because we realized, we were really slow at starting up, always starting cold, walking at the slowest pace among the other teams... but eventually our winds will find us and will be walking with ease and catch up with the others. The joy of every climb is not just reaching the summit, it's each step taken, each breath, the trek, the journey and the revelations that the mountain has for the one who takes time to look and smell the pine trees.

I am writing this piece to acknowledge how really slow I am at the start of things, the year itself. This year, although is the second month already just seems to be beginning. No resolutions. I guess I never ever did stick to any if ever i thought of doing things differently. One of my favorite writers Robert Fulghum writes about thinking of all the good things done last year, put it in a list and label it as his last years resolutions. I think we have the same wavelength for I agree on that one indeed.

Slowly the year is just beginning--- as always I am full of hope that things will get better for each passing year. Looking back, it has really been great specially the past year.

Recently I posted here the year of the dog pics to remind me that "Hey! it is New Year already!" it is also fun to celebrate with our Chinese bros and sis they always look forward to prosperity and all that Chinese jazz.

Slowly cleaning my drawers, uncluttering our house and inner thoughts, finding my bearing, hoping for the best, nothing written on paper, prayers in my heart, breathing the air, walking at ease, knowing that He is leading the way is enough for me.

I believe it will be a good year.

Its the year of the dog

Happy New Year!

A book found me

The sky was overcast and light rain drizzled. After my appointment with the pulmonologist a week ago, we passed by a nearby second hand book store Books for Less along Roces Ave. While we came just to look for paperback and some good read, a book found its way to me. I am amazed how things manifest itself when you need them.

There is an old saying "when the student is ready, the teacher arrives".

Dinner with Mayang

It has been years since I spent some time with my really good friend Mayang. Since she migrated to the States in '99. She went home a couple of years ago with Isabella and this year we got to meet the latest addition to the family Dylan.

Thanks Dylan for all the gifts. Mayang said that being a parent to a child is one of the most selfless thing a person can do.

Mayang is one of my most cherished friends. We climbed mountains together, trained together as we are batchmates in a school mountaineering club before in the mid-90's. Even though now that our home are literally oceans apart and family and work has kept us busy, we kept in touch. It doesn't matter that there were time of long absence of emails and letters but when we get together, it feels as if it was just yesterday that we were spending an afternoon sharing tea and updating each other of our latest adventures.

Good friends are really for keeps, no matter where they are.

“Thank you, Lord, for the friends you have given to me. Help me to cultivate these relationships, and to set you as their foundation. May we all discover your presence and your blessings through one another.” from Word Among Us

the blessing of friends

Last Jan 5, just the day before Mayang and family flew back to the US, we had dinner at Cafe Bola at GB3 with El, Earnest, Buddy and Veda, and of course Amats. Mayang brought 2 month old baby Dylan.





Amats playing around with Veda and Buddy taking pictures.


Isabella Mayang's eldest(who looks like a mini vogue model in her pink dress)first thing Veda said upon meeting her "can you skip?" and went about skipping around GB3 showing us her new skill.

Our most jolly meal!

Early this January just before we went back to Manila, we treated the kids to a trip to Jollibee to the nearest city. This is one of my most enjoyable time. This is the first time ever that I had my picture taken with Jollibee. You could see Genuine's eyes sparkle and I guess it rubbed on all of us as she plays around. One of the happiest moment a grown up can experience is to re-connect again with our inner-child. These children that we are with are not worry-free they been through real hard times and pain that some of us adults haven't experienced in our lives. But spending time with them and playing with them, as they let go of these concerns and believing they are cared-for. A degree of abandonment of worries knowing that the divine is at work in their lives. I could only guess that these are one of the reasons that God loves His children.

Spending time with old friends

The recent holiday gave us all a chance to spend time with family and friends. I just love the simple life. Simple things makes me really happy like gardening with friends, swapping plants for our own yards. Spending time talking and catching up on one anothers lives-- I love the laid back life and spend a lazy afternoon with friends at home (not in the aircon mall--I am not a mall animal) I love cooking for friends and eating home made mini pizza on pita bread.

Last December I caught bad cold that complicated my breathing that I had to be brought to the ER of East Ave Medical and missed baby Jane's party at Jollibee. But when I spent some time in Laguna, my colds slowly cleared up with the fresh air. I miss the trees around the old house. We spent time just swinging on the hammock and playing with the new puppy Brownie (don't ask me I didn't name the dog hehehhe).

Bakasyon sa Probinsya

Media Noche 2006!

Welcoming the New Year with a potluck of sorts Media Noche includes grilled liempo, chicken, cocktail hotdogs and vienna sausages with marshmallows for the kids, ham, carbonara which the kids did not recognize hehehe, buko salad and a donated crumbly cake we dressed with mallows.

Even if were ourselves were dressed up in pajamas, and the kids still are dazed because they just woke up almost at midnight, the cooks smelled of charcoal and kitchen scent all were very happy to welcome the new year!

I guess every family hopes to be gathered around good food sharing it with loved ones and friends. Hoping and praying that this joy can be tucked in our pockets to share the morsel each day of the year.

Araw ng Pasko sa Alaminos

On Christmas Day after morning mass, we traveled to Alaminos, Laguna. As far back as I can remember I always spend Christmas Day at the ancestral house in Alaminos. In the past, my main reason to spend Christmas Day there is to be with Inay and Lola Abeng. Inay and Lola have gone but even now, I make the traditional visit together with Amats to the old house now transformed into a foster home for children waiting for adoption. It is managed by a family we trust Aling Nimfa and family who has been with our family for more than 12 years. The kids are Ricric a special child, then John Eudes aka Dagul and the little lady Genuine is from Bantay Bata who recently replaced Giselle and Maricris who are both now in the US. This year we brought toys and gifts and foodies to celebrate Christmas with them

Pasko sa Santiago

We spent Christmas Eve at the Santiago household with Jinky, Julius, Baby Jane, Vico, Dad, Tito Philip, Rhea, RJ and the whole family of the Jaboli's Nanay Bacion, leah, Niknik and other guest.

It was happiest for the kids specially during the gift giving and gift opening they were happily surprised with all the toys. Julius with the rc and the light sparkled in rj's eyes opening the mini toy billiards. We had great food with crabs, grilled bangus, roasted chicken, crispy pata that took the whole day to prepare (Julius hoarded the crispy skin), biko and more biko, ham, sausages, for dessert Jinky's buko salad and a huge sans rival cake to top it all (if there is still room in one's belly that night).

A Child is born unto us

This season of advent would be one of my first to truly know the meaning of waiting,expectation, and anticipation. I feel blessed to experience being an active part in His miracle of creation.

It was only this Christmas season that I truly felt how difficult it is for Mama Mary to be carrying the Child Jesus in her womb, experiencing all the physical stress of coping with daily stress of an expectant mother, traveling to visit Elizabeth, then that 9 miles travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem on a donkey to think that they were not just traveling on flat land. Never have I felt so sad that they have no room to stay but just a stable.

I could just imagine her having the difficult time of her life and yet she and Joseph was able to overcome all of these. I can imagine the stress that she might be feeling. It is difficult enough to be with Child and all those physical challenges that an expectant mother have to bear add to that they have no where to stay for the night. Only this year that I have felt how palpable this aspect of Christmas is.

Always I was wondering why God chose to come in such a humble setting. I thought I understood this in various ways but yet this year it revealed again a new insight. Our God is such a loving God that He wants to show us that it is not the physical and material things surrounding us that define us. And that the true meaning of our lives is that we were created with His divine purpose. He lets us know that He truly understands how hard it is to be human. A reassurance that wherever we are, whatever difficult situation we are right now, still He takes care of us His children.

Every Christmas season there is always a mix of emotions that floods upon me, they come in waves that sometimes I am unable to see through it clearly at once but God is good He sends His message in forms that is fitted to us alone. Now more than ever, the distinction between external hardships, anxiety, poverty is miniscule compared to the internal joy, hope and love that this Christmas has yet again reaffirmed in my life.

Merry Christmas everyone. Rejoice our Savior is born!

Parol

Parol is the local name for the star that was seen by the three wise men. This is one of my favorite symbols of Christmas. The Parol is also very Filipino (not Santa, not the tree nor snow flakes in a tropical country hehehehe) the parol usually is made up of thin strips of bamboo tied together to form a star with thin colored papers and paper cut outs for its two tails to symbolize its bright shining rays showing the way to baby Jesus.

Though the parol had taken on many forms some dressed with dancing colored lights, many still use the traditional simple five point star. I guess I do have a bias for parol because i used to make one when I was young and always happy to hang it in the most prominent window of the house.

I love it becaise it is also a symbol of light and hope. It brightens and shows us the way and points to the One why we celebrate this season.

Simbang Gabi

Simbang gabi has already started. This marks the traditional masses in the early mornings usually 4am held everyday nine days before Christmas. I used to asked my grandmother why it is held so early in the morning and she said that beccause the farmers in the old days have no time during the day because they are out in the field. The farmers also like to work really early when it is nice and cool before the sun is high and it gets too hot to work.

I grew up in the province and I always look forward to this time of the year. When I was young my Inay and I would start walking the 2 km walk to the church around 3am to make it in time and find ourselves a seat in the usually fully packed church. Along the way we would see the blinking parol in the houses, and when were near the church the smell of bibingka and puto bungbong will greet us. I remember I used to bring a rag doll back then to keep me company along the seeming long walk to town and to keep me warm also. That was the only year I was able to complete the nine early morning mass. It was believed that when one completes the simbang gabi a wish will be granted. I still remember the wish I prayed for that year a long time ago-- for my family to have our own house. After a year our very small house in Frisco was built but it was an answered prayer indeed.

I also love the community we have there in our small town. We had a big church overflowing with people and each celebration was sponsored by a barrio was grand. Always there were joyous singing each day I got more more excited in anticipation of Christmas. I guess thats when I learned what anticipation is of the Child that is to come and bring us joy.

Tiangge

This time of the year is when you'll would find almost everywhere in the city here in the Philippines the"tiangge" or flea market (I have to do my research on why they call it flea market). This is the place where you can buy all sorts of food stuff from cake, candies and other local delicacies, there are toys, clothes, gift items, bags, shoes and anything. It is amazing though that the products mostly are sold for just $2.00 US about a hundred Ph Pesos. It sounds like a garage sale but the items like the toys and small gift items are new, while the food stuffs are really good most of them home made for those people wanting to earn extra this season.

Yesterday was a first for me because I helped a friend sell her wares at the Claret Bazaar aka a local tiangge. Since the venue was just about a couple of blocks away from our apartment, I couldn't refuse not to pass by. Eventually I stayed on to help her sell her cakes, pastries and spreads. Also with us her 9 year old daugther Isabel. I enjoyed myself spending the day with them. I was also reminded how difficult it is to earn money. I saw that it was the best way for Ina to teach Isabel the value of work and money and be responsible for the blessings and resources that we are blessed with.

Human Rights Day today!

Join the celebration! Free Concert today at 8 MRT stations. Salamat kay Mae for posting the anouncement na may Rock and Roll sa mga MRT stations called Rock the Riles.

This Saturday, Dec 10, 2005,
RockEd Philipppines
will ROCK-the-RILES
from 4pm to 6pm
to advocate the 8 UN Millennium Development Goals and
to celebrate Human Rights Day and
to support the 3rd international White Band Day
8 MRT Stations
each campaigning for 1 MDG
each providing an art feast.
music. dance. art.verse. photography. poetry.
band performances. mural painting. story telling. poetry
reading.photo exhibits.

click here for your invitation.

Remembering Inay

Today is Inay's birthday. Inay actually is my Tita Ching who helped my parents in raising me up together with my Lola Abeng. I think I won't ever forget her birthday because her name is "Concepcion" named after the feast we are celebrating today.

Inay was a simple woman who didn't have much in life but I grew up under her care and love. I was witness to her generosity, patience and struggles in life that made her strong. It has been over a year now since she passed away. I've seen four deaths in my family, all of whom women very close to me, my youngest sister (1984), my mother(1989), my lola (1988) and Inay (2004). I would like to honor these women who have gone before me. Today, I realized that the way they lived their lives have helped me to be the person I am today. I thank God for the lessons I learned from them and the love that nourished me through these women.

Today, we celebrate a woman whose life is an example of simplicity, humility and love Mama Mary.

Mabuhay ang bagong kasal!

Congratulations Ria and John!

We enjoyed your truly Filipino wedding. From the Alibata invitation, to the sapin-sapin rice wedding cake, the buko and gulaman, isaw, bibingka, fish ball, lechon baka, dirty ice cream of an original mamang sorbetero. Thank you also for entertaining your guest with the "Sayaw sa Bangko" a festive native dance of love. We also had a great time singing with Middle C's rendition of VST hits.

May God bless you both...magpakailanman ahaha aha awitin mo at isasayaw ko!

Mabuhay kayo!

Basahin ang blog ni Ria at JohnXXV: Republika ng Pilipinas (trivia: an essential read link ni mlq3 mismo)

Rhythmic Gymnastics at 23rd SEAG

Finally I was able to watch a world competition in gymnastics at the 23rd SouthEast Asian Games. Last Saturday, Amats and I went to see the games. We went to watch for a while women's single tennis, then baseball Philippines vs Myanmar but the highlight of last Saturday's games for us was the Rhythmic Gymnastics Women's Finals. The competing countries are Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Since I was a kid I always watched the games on TV only because I lived in the province and it is expensive to go to Manila. In recent years when our country was host to SEAG, I wasn't able to find time to go.

The past week, I kept telling Amats please check the schedule specially the gymnastics. For the longest time I wanted to watch and thank God we had a great time at the games all for free. We even saw Rocky de Castro in the sponsors booth, who called us on our mobile just to wave and say hi.

Here are some of the pictures of the gymnast. They move so fast, I could barely focus with my old cam. Amazing what these girls can do with their bodies. There were four events where all the gymnast had to compete these are rope, ball, clubs and ribbon. It took almost an hour each. Although Philippines did not win in those events, still we cheered the Malaysians like true sports fans. We went home happy with our small Philippine flag.

See the latest news at the SEAG website

Pilipinas mag sindi ka rin

Today is World Aids Day. Know that there is much suffering in the world but in the confines of own comfort zones at home or in the office, we can still do something to help and make a difference.

Please help raise funds for AIDS research. You can help by just clicking on the button
Click here to donate.

Visit www.lighttounite.com, click where you live on the globe(wait for it to draw it with the ribbon), and choose the reason you want them to make a donation[strenght, hope, love, etc.]. They will donate $1 to HIV/AIDS research for each person. This is available only tonight. Spread the word.

Pamilya Danao: isang pagpupugay

Welcome to baby Toni!!! (aka Amihan Antonia Ibanez Danao)

Mama Nina gave birth to Baby Toni on November 23, 2005 and Papa Louis backed up by lamaze was able to be inside the O.R. We visited them last Sunday to celebrate with them one of life's greatest miracles and God's blessing.