Resolution

"Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment."

- Sydney Smith

Farewell to Cuteness

My 4-year old's teacher told him he was so cute and pinched his cheeks.

His indignant reply: "I'm not cute... I'm not a baby! I'm a big boy... I'm handsome!"


BWAHAHAHA!

People Power Lives On

There it was, weaving its way through the crowded city, a startingly simple truck carrying the simple coffin of a simple woman who in her own simple way succeeded in summoning the people's power to unite and fight to regain our country's freedom from dictatorship through peace and prayer.

Even the heavens seemed to be in mourning as the wet drizzles from the sky mingled with the yellow confetti showers falling from the skyscrapers of Makati. Everyone left their office buildings and sacrificed their lunch hour to wait outside for a glimpse of President Cory Aquino's casket.

She always had the gift of bringing together Filipinos from all walks of life, and there they all were... reuniting of their own free will, paying their respects, shedding tears for her, flashing the famous L sign for LABAN and reliving the moments of the 1986 EDSA revolution when we rallied to her cause and stopped soldiers and tanks with nothing but rosaries to shield us.

She strove so long and so hard for peace. Though the entire nation is saddened by her loss, our hearts are also rejoicing with the certainty that Tita Cory is now finally permanently at peace in the arms of the Lord together with her husband Ninoy.

Thank you. We will never forget you.

A National Treasure

“I don't have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It's always the people who make things happen.” - President Corazon Aquino

Rest in peace, President Cory. You will always be a cherished part of our country's history.

Burn

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live mad to talk mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing but burn burn burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'awww!' "

- Jack Kerouac (On the Road)

So be mad. Be passionate. Be extraordinary. Be the shameless star of your own life.

Promise.... I'll be right there burning with you.

Aisles of Paradise

"I have always imagined that Paradise will be some kind of library." - Jorge Luis Borges

I usually try to avoid entering bookstores because once I'm in I have a bitch of a time finding my way out.

I love bookstores. I love scouring the aisles in search of a good find. I love the feel and smell of a new page turned. I love unearthing a new title that I just know my son, my husband or I will enjoy devouring.

If I had tons of money, I would certainly put up my very own bookstore.

And I would make sure I visit this one located in Maastricht, Holland for inspiration. The store is called Selexyz and it is installed in an old Dominican church, with the coffee shop nestled right at the altar.

Hallelujah!

Gone Too Soon

"If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with." - Michael Jackson

Thank you for rocking our world.

Rest in peace. 

Falling

"Forget love - I'd rather fall in chocolate!"

                                                    - Sandra J. Dykes

Metamorphosis

It was early morning in our hotel room in Beijing and it was freezing cold.

I was preparing a warm bath for our four year-old son, so I proceeded to remove his pajamas and underwear.

After a few seconds, my son gives a squeal and his already very round eyes got even rounder.

Worried, I asked him what the matter was.

He immediately pointed to his protruding little penis and bluted out: "Look, Mommy! My turtle turned into a giraffe!"

I tried valiantly to keep a straight face, but it was impossible. I almost fell to the floor laughing.

I have never looked at a turtle or giraffe the same way since.

The Perfect All-Occasion Cards

BWAHAHAHA!

Turtle Family

My son has never before exhibited a great fondness for stuffed toys. Gifts of the fluffy kind simply serve as displays on exhibit at his bedroom, to be glanced over from time to time, maybe even patted or held briefly on a few occasions, but never really seriously considered as major objects of affection.

I was thus more than mildly surprised when, on a recent trip to the department store, my toddler gravitated towards the toy section and excitedly grabbed a stuffed turtle from one of the shelves.

It was Crush (...or was it his son Squirt? I honestly can't tell the difference...) from "Finding Nemo." His big eyes lit up with pleasure as he held the toy next to him. He even brought the cute and cuddly green thing next to his face and gave it a kiss on the cheek.

From that moment on, he absolutely refused to let go of Crush/Squirt. The cashier had to resort to cutting the price tag off for scanning because my son adamantly refused to hand over his precious find lest it disappear from him forever.

I was hugely amused to see how much he loved his new toy.


As soon as we arrived back at our condo, my litte boy suddenly looked for his real pet turtle, which he received a few months back as a present from his Uncle. He asked his Daddy to take it out of the aquarium and set it down on the floor. When the live turtle was on the floor, our three year-old got his stuffed pet Crush/Squirt and put him down beside it. A few seconds later, my husband and I were flabbergasted to see our son plop down on the floor as well.

Before we could say anything, our wonder kid looked up at us with a big grin on his impish face and said: "Look, we're the same! All turtles....we're family!"

And so that is how we found ourselves with a happy family of turtles living at our home.

i carry your heart

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

- ee cummings

Who do you carry in your heart? =)