Picture this: a young man sitting beneath the shade of a guava tree, lying restfully with its native hat covering its head. He sleepily sits there, waiting for the guava fruit to fall instead of picking it. This image of a familiar folklore character has been known for ages across generations of many Filipinos. He […]
Read more "Is Juan Tamad Really Lazy?"Here in my place, I can see from afar Mount Makiling, the famed mystical mountain of Laguna province, about two hours south of Manila. Since my childhood, I have seen the mountain nestled in the east, giving birth to the rising sun everyday. Locals here know that the mountain is the home to a diwata, […]
Read more "The Divine Face"The other day was my first time to roam around Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown, to celebrate the eve of Chinese New Year. The sights were a vivid red in every corner, from lanterns to red envelopes to charms to shirts. The sounds were a loud repertoire of lion and dragon dances and powerful drums, plus the […]
Read more "For the Spirit"On the last day of a recent retreat, me and other participants were asked by our mentor and facilitator Ms Leah Tolentino to collect some small stones and leaves outside the room. Later, we gathered them all in the room’s center, laying them down carefully on the floor. Then, we were asked again to scatter […]
Read more "Creations, Not Obstacles"We have quite a number of various drinking glasses and mugs in our kitchen. But in the recent years, none of the glasses has ever managed to survive. I estimate that around 5 sets of glasses got broken one by one. My mother bought new sets just to replace those she broke. Her eyes recently […]
Read more "A Glass of Wisdom"Paveli is the first baby girl in the family. My younger sister gave birth to her the exact day when I posted Return to the Inner Child. That was really a timely moment. Five months have passed and it has been a continuing magical journey for all of us in the family to watch how […]
Read more "What Babies Teach Us"I was 12 when I became hooked on origami. My ninong (godfather) taught me my first lesson, the famous origami crane, some weeks after he arrived from Japan. I was in sixth grade and it was a creative adventure. At the time, aside from cheap plastic toys sold along the sidewalks near the school entrance, […]
Read more "Folding, Unfolding"In college, I rarely use pencils. But I always make sure to buy a good pen. I take note of its brand and quality. I also often fancy pens with expensive brands, but I looked for something more affordable and practical. Merging erasability with appearance, I was grateful to find a pen whose ink is […]
Read more "The Wisdom of Pencil"Christmas for many In this frenetic air of holidays, people are busy shopping, gift-wrapping, partying, eating and drinking here and there. The means to define Christmas is to celebrate it. Most of us refer to Christmas as a break we deserve, a time to spend money for gifts and foods. We decorate our houses with […]
Read more "Defining Christmas"Warning: the content of this post may offend you due to its delicate topic. However, I request you that as you dare reading this, please open your heart and mind. Insights can also be found in the most mundane and unlikely things. Where wastes are hidden I learned a new word from a trainer […]
Read more "The Restroom"
Pathfinders' Commune 