The songbird

It creaked! It squeaked! It screeched!

The rusting joint of a door? The waving sheet of a roof? 

Day one! Day two! Day three! Ah ha! The shrill of a bird!

The sound! The voice! The cry! A song! A friend! A family to me! 

But, suddenly, it stopped!, it stilled!, it's gone! 

Little jungle was home to her, but little jungle is little jungle no more. 

One man, two men, three men, slashed tall and tiny spiky green grass! 

Freshness is dryness: garden is desert!

A month passed, and another! Desert, once again, is garden!  

And I am hearing it again! 

The sound! The voice! The cry! A song! A friend! A family to me! 

Creaking! Squeaking! Screeching! 

The songbird is nesting midst of spiky green grass!

Palm of the Hand

If your problem is as big as the ship, know you have a God wider than the ocean, even wider than the limitless Universe so that Vast Space revolves only in the Palm of His Hand.

Self-emptying

A vessel can only be filled when it is empty. Once filled, it lets itself be used and flows its fill through other vessels, likewise emptied and open. But, sometimes, the vessel forgets and becomes a vessel of staleness. But the Source of Creativity and Enlightenment reminds that to be re-filled from Its Fount, the vessel must go through a never-ending process of self-emptying.

Leveled mountain

The greatness of a mountain stood in a big city by the sea.
Between the mountain and the seas, a man saw himself standing.
A blink of an eye and the mountain flattened. A bulldozer and a driver leveled it down.
No more mountain in his eyes, he could see the other side.
He turned his face to the seas and it became as crystal.
Candy wrappers of five or less and old wood of sun-dried fragments were afloat on only little surface.
And in the deepness of the seas, he saw the soul of a mother swimming like a dolphin in the speed of a bullet - jubilant - frolicking - spirited - but joy was unwritten on her face.
A mountain of struggle no more, a sea of almost perfect pureness, and a time of great rejoicing and peace.
But the soul aches for life beyond earth.

Dessert of the soul

Abandonment is a real desert, it pains you both interiorly and exteriorly: you are left all alone by those whom you think love you unconditionally, even Love Itself, God. A true test of faith! But when we find ourselves in such a situation, run immediately to your oasis: TRUST IN THE LORD! For, He knows what He is doing and He knows what He is about. And when we are through in this experience, we come to realize it is not a desert after all, but a dessert of the soul.

Joy amidst desert

Green is the color of a 'new beginning;' and pink, of gladness while lotus symbolizes spirituality. Spiritual joy or gift is born out of sufferings, trials or desert experiences. If you were experiencing such, be of good courage, rejoice, for gifts of the Holy Spirit are being processed within you. May you be divinely comforted in your spiritual desert at the moment and rest in this oasis of realization.

'Fish-tival': Abundance of the sea

'Fish-tival' is festival of fish. 'Fish day,' similarly, is 'feast day' of the abundance of the fish. Everyone has enough from the abundance of the sea. Today is 12th day of December, the 12th month of the year! And '12' is the number of abundance, a 'superabundant number,' in fact. Any significance to the coming year, 2012? A year of superabundance?

Standing on a way out

When problems press on you from all sides, from within and from without, lift up your eyes to Heaven; and, as you do, a way out is given, even without you noticing it as you are already standing on it. You have gone this far in your life and through many similar circumstances. Trust, it will evaporate like a mist -- resolved yet unnoticed!

Heart on the pavement

We know not what love is -- until Love Itself touches us.

When we realize we are loved, we begin the journey to share this Love that we, Its monstrance, are filled of.

But the road is not easy, the world is taught to hate what is lovely;

And question the motive behind those who try to love unconditionally.

We go on loving despite mockery and opposition.

It is full of thorns -- but thorns are part of loving.

Yet the fruits of love we begin to pick up, to love we never give up.

And the world will know the Love within us is but true.

Fish right

A bait, a hook and a nylon are simple fishing tools that a young man used for a catch to meet the day's need. Is this the right way of living -- living one day at a time? Living for the future is living present day in a haste which deprives us of happiness. To desire more in life is a temptation to resort to illegal practices that not only hurt us but the ecosystem as well.

Stubborn oysters

 

Why do you cling to a concrete seawall like you have found your place forever? 

Why can’t you be wandering — or be one with the sea instead? 

The sea is yet beginning to grow; and small splashes of low tides intermittently kiss you on a lower dyke. 

I can see you in your shell spitting water after every splash of sea wave you are stroked with. 

You are alive. 

What if the sea is even nowhere in sight? Can you survive the scorching heat of the sun? 

You seem to be dead when dry and resurrected when hit by the waves. 

Is that your permanent abode, oysters? You’re not, little stubborn creations. 

Your flesh will soon be rooted up and eaten. Is that what you are called for? 

Oysters cannot hear me, for the great waters have come.

Solitude

A lone, pensive bird perching on a street wire, a note of music to a soul in solitude.

Unconditional love

If you keep on 

hurting 

the heart 

that loves you, 

it will still 

love you 

but will love you 

from afar; 

and when you do 

realize 

you are at fault 

and come near, 

it will love you 

again 

the way it loved you 

before.

All is well

Problem is symbolized by water and is often regarded as negative but the photograph shows it positively. The boy, who accidentally tossed the ball into the waters, was able to get it back by the help of the waves that, slowly, shove the ball towards where the boy is situated -- the seawall. Similarly, any problem we encounter is for our own benefit -- it shapes our character while wisdom is gained.

Upgrade

Self-improvement is necessary. Man, in fact, should dream higher dreams; but to achieve such loftiness is far away for those who keep on resenting their present selves. Love yourself. Accept it and do what you are capable of doing. And use what you have in hand to propel you to upgrading yourself. Can you perform well when you do nothing but compare yourself with others?

'God is love' in pineapple business

Pineapple is a bitingly sweet and sour, watery tropical fruit that balances the warmth Filipinos experienced within a relatively all year-round hot-weathered Philippines. Available throughout the year, the demand for the many-eyed yellow fibrous fruit is limitless.

One couple ventures into peddling fresh pineapples in two identical wooden carts with inscriptions "God Is Love" in separate routes.

Ed, 51, a widower with four children, and wife-to-be Norie, 48, a single mother of three, are soon to get married.

When both of them tie the knot early next year, God Is Love indeed, in the business they choose to provide for their big family!

Nothing is missing

Something was missing; or was it someone she missed? Someone came, she loved, thinking it could fill her emptiness. But no! She sinned because it was a sin to love him. And yet, she stayed. 

Something was still missing inside; or was it someone she wanted? Life went on; but it was a life of sufferings. A harvest of seeds sown in the past. Unable to walk, unable to eat, unable to speak; but able to shed tears.  

Something was still missing within; or was it Someone she needed? She remembered the Lord because the Lord let her remember Him. She repented; accepted Christ Jesus into her heart; served Him in silence; and b.r.e.a.t.h.e.d. her last. 

Nothing is missing now, for the Lord fills the longing of the soul.

Snake: Fear factor

Snake gourd

My first experience to touch a live python was two years ago.

It was a four-month-old pet python, the size of a diameter of a finger, owned by a neighbor of a close relative.

I ran the tip of my fingers through the back and belly of the snake. It was unbelievably soft and smooth!

I was snake-phobic before (I still am!) as almost everybody else is; but it was a long-time personal challenge to be able to touch it.

Many opportunities passed and two years ago was another chance.

"Now or never," I told myself.

Finally, I did it!

Speaking of snake, I have a story to tell.

One school day in my senior high, I and my classmate were stationed to guard the back of City High from intruders. It was part of our civilian army training course.

We were guarding the wire fence whole day when we spotted a big-headed, slender-bodied, green baby snake crawling in front of us!

I can't remember if I participated in but the snake was stoned to death!

Fear crawled through our spines when we came to a realization: if there's a baby snake in this place, a mother snake is just around the corner!

It was creepy and more when we thought of eyes of a huge snake looking at us stealthily somewhere on that grassy field beyond the fence!

We were not guarding the fence from illegal entrants anymore -- but from a dark-green anaconda to suddenly appear.

We knew already what to do -- RUNNN!!!

Fear only stopped when school that day was over.

Fallen angel?

Fallen angel? Due to a fall from the sky and impact upon ground, parts of the body of an angel are shattered: head, leg and left wing severed – yet, alive via other leg implanted upon earth. Once a being of light, now a black, headless, right-winged entity standing beside the street!

Simply live

When life is young, joy is simple – mind, innocent;

when life grows up, joy is inhibited; mind, sophisticated;

and when life grows old, wisdom is gained:

life is more beautiful when

simply lived.

And the long wait is over

You had waited long enough and – now – see. 

Had you not stretched your waiting, you would not have seen the one you are seeing today. 

One thing that must keep you from waiting on is fear of night. 

Just be; but do wait, for waiting does pay and repay the ‘wait-er.’ 

It may only be delayed but it will surely come – even before the night comes.

Ode to Tonette

Beautiful, indeed, it is that we discover each other in this journey called life. And the discovery that has taken place between us is divinely ordained. It is a connection between our two souls. It is the Spirit that is alive between us -- the Spirit of God -- that connects us to each other. We are both inspired with each other because we are of the same spirit. We will still be friends even in the beyond.

Man is an island

I am a man and I am an island -- but an island which builds bridges to reach out to other islands, isles and islets in the ocean of the world. I am connected, I re-connect. Interconnections take place. I am loved -- thus, I love. I am a man and an island interconnected to other islands of the globe becoming as one big whole continent.

A crucified Christ tree?

A crucified Christ tree? Two long, stretched branches of a Talisay [tuh-lee-sigh] tree and its body (right upper trunk) look like a Crucified Christ! Amazingly, the nut tree with two trunks grows, takes root and stands within the compound of a Catholic church in a particular city in the Philippines.

Does it say something? A wood from a tree was used wherein to crucify a Man; and the wood, in the process, suffered. This time, it's the other way around: the tree is one crucified to a Man -- or, mankind!

A century-old acacia tree, older than the city itself, was cut down and uprooted to build a Pagoda Bell Tower in its place. A tree crucifixion? And humanity, in this part of the world, suffers because another oxygen-producing shed tree which cools down global warming, is lost.

The leaf

A soft, delicate and pale-green bud pops up from a bough and grows into a thick, wide and darkened leaf. 

Its tender stalk makes a sturdy branch in age. And from there sprouts seven other outgrowths – one after the other. 

The leaf outlives storms and droughts, but not its hues. It turns yellow, gold and orange. Its grip fails; it falls to the ground. 

The sun smiles at it. The moist is lost; its weight, light. It browns and it burns. 

The white smoke rises and kisses the leaves still green and clinging. It goes up to the blue and turns into a cloud. 

It rains down drizzles; the leaves wash off dust from its faces. Drops drip; roots sip all. 

It roams in the veins of the trunk and branches; and it exits through the pores of the foliage as pure air.  

It ascends the heavens; and the Big Nose finally breathes it in.

Know fear!

Why are you afraid of fear when fear itself is afraid of you and everything under and above the sun: it is powerless; only, we give it power when we let ourselves be afraid. Then, fear itself magnifies. We may be afraid at times: or, most times, if we are honest; be afraid – yes! – but let fear see it not.

TV networks and rainbows

I was walking one sunrise in the latter part of the year that passed and I was thinking about the No. 7.

In the street, a man on a T-shirt was coming to the way of my feet: on his front was a print that seemed to jump out into my spirit. 

A print of a logo of a TV network! 

A step or two and my eyes landed on an ad of a new year calendar by a printing shop. 

And my heart throbbed like it knew what it was all about. 

Days before the end of the old year, I saw the grandest rainbow I had seen in my life ever -- wide and vivid, it arched from the sea to a big city. 

And on the tenth day of the year just birthed, on the same spot as before, two rainbows appeared: one bigger yet pale; the other, slender yet thick. 

And side by side with each other, they curved mightily together!

A plant breaks through concrete

A plant breaks through concrete! Why so when a plant is soft and concrete is hard? Ah, one thing we, humans, take for granted — a plant is a Divine creation. So is the rest of its clan, Nature! Thus, man cannot outdo the Divine: either human works must blend with Nature or humans must leave it untouched.

Rise above mediocrity

Rise above mediocrity. See things from a higher point of view or from within you. Be different yet simple -- as a green, wide-winged butterfly in the photograph that rises above past self, the forever-crawling-caterpillar notion of life.

Nature is the gauge

It is good to dream and to accomplish dreams; but when, in the process of accomplishing our dreams, Nature is sacrificed, such accomplishments can NEVER [!] ever be considered good accomplishments. Humans are already accomplished in Nature since human needs are provided in Nature. For dreams to be good, dreams ought to be thought of and accomplished without ever sacrificing the interest of Nature -- us.

Impossible dream

An impossible dream -- yes, it is! -- for three men to finish up the 'Big Dome,' yet more impossible if they, the only earth specie to give it a try, did nothing at all to initiate its accomplishment. Initiative of a few fires up the indolent majority.

Endless waiting

Waiting all day, but still waiting at the approach of twilight. 

Will you stop and resume tomorrow? What if it arrives a minute before night tonight and tomorrow doesn't come at all? 

Ah, waiting still, you must to catch up with the one you are waiting for.

Out of place?

OUT OF PLACE? Two buildings are closing in on a tree. Is progress shooing away nature from the city?

Two men of one mind

TWO MEN OF ONE MIND. Is the man wearing a native hat mimicking man's action below? Or are they simply two men having same interest or need at the moment? Or of the same wish and prayer to be able to provide for the family?

Wide-winged

Wide-winged

butterflies 

of green 

and large petals 

of orchid pink 

swarm leafless 

branches 

of a tree, 

a tree 

almost 

whole.

Hard-earned or simply needed?

Hard-earned or simply needed? A coin fallen in the canal removes fear from the boy to go down and pick it up amidst uncleanness and danger.

Construction, aborted

A house
built on sand
is never
home

Fallen in love

Leaf

loses grip,

falls on

the ground --

fallen

in love

Michael Jackson, Ben and me

It was probably three days before the end of the singer.

BEN, THE TWO OF US NEED LOOK NO MORE
WE BOTH FOUND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR

It was night, I was walking by the street, and I heard the song on the radio.

WITH A FRIEND TO CALL MY OWN
I'LL NEVER BE ALONE

I did not know the exact lyrics of the song but it seemed to have a bond in my soul.

AND YOU MY FRIEND WILL SEE
YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME

It seemed to be speaking about me. It seemed to be I am he.

BEN, YOU'RE ALWAYS RUNNING HERE AND THERE

But I am not running, I am walking "here and there" -- and everywhere.

YOU FEEL YOU'RE NOT WANTED ANYWHERE

God knows it is the longing of the deepest of me to find a friend who likes and loves me as I am.

IF YOU EVER LOOK BEHIND
AND DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU FIND

Yes, many like me because of my "innocence" and "meekness."

THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW
YOU'VE GOT A PLACE TO GO

But when this "many" know about the "secret," it is better they have not ever liked me before.

I USED TO SAY "I" AND "ME"
NOW IT'S "US," NOW IT'S "WE"

It is better they leave me alone because, in the end, I will always be alone.

BEN, MOST PEOPLE WOULD TURN YOU AWAY
I DON'T LISTEN TO A WORD THEY SAY

I understand why Michael changed color -- the change of the face.

THEY DON'T SEE YOU AS I DO
I WISH THEY WOULD TRY TO.

It was but to be liked and to be loved.

I'M SURE THEY'D THINK AGAIN
IF THEY HAD A FRIEND LIKE BEN

But, Michael, no matter what we do, people will never ever like the thing that is inside of us.

LIKE BEN

But when I hear the song, I feel it was not you who sang it for me: but Someone -- Who loves every bit of us -- and Who can change everything for us.

LIKE BEN

And, as I remembered you in the past, I can only pray for your soul to meet Him there.

One of my dreams happening: 'Pac-man' wins over 'The Golden Boy'

 A showdown was in the offing. 

A bout between a son of a small torn nation and a son of a great one land. 

As it neared, seven thousand and more islands trembled while fifty and more States triumphed in advance at the coming event of the clash. 

A fist fight of a David and a Goliath! Of island-born "Pac-Man" and mainland-born "The Golden Boy!" 

I, too, am a son of islands and seas and I began to do something for a brother -- daily, I prayed; daily Masses, I heard. 

On the seventh day, a vision came to me in a dream. 

A clean and fresh-faced, a fair and pinkish-skinned, a smiling and chinky-eyed, a focused and faith-oozing Manny Pacquiao! 

Seven more days and the fight would begin.
So the fight was on. 

And the rest is history -- his story. 

Seven and one rounds were more than enough proof. 

And a towel fell from the camp of the giant, Oscar De La Hoya!