Fried chicken’s aroma

As I passed by the market something caught my attention. My senses of smell and sight functioned towards it. I almost wanted to buy the crispy fried chicken, but something in mind resisted. I remembered that I only had an exact amount of money to buy for house’s stuff and maybe it was unhealthy to eat such delicious food. I was grateful for my resistance though. I knew it was only an impulse and setting boundary was really important. So the next time I’ll pass by the place, I’ll just remind myself that something is more important than it.=)

Potato salad

“Is grandma there on the living room?” asked the small sister to her big sister.

“I think she’s upstairs now and taking a rest.” hushed the big sister.

“Come on now.” said the small sister

“Ok. But don’t be loud, so they won’t hear us.” answered the big sister.

Together they went down silently and vigilantly looking at their living room. They saw the clock’s time and it’s already 9:30 in the evening. Everyone in their big house was upstairs. Their grandma was taking a good rest and their maids were gossiping on their rooms. Then the 2 sisters reached the refrigerator. The big sister opened it while signaling her small sister to keep quiet. Then she opened the crisper, lo and behold, she found the potato salad there. Surely, the two sisters craved for it. But their selfish maids would keep it from them and only their Filipino-Spanish grandma could eat it. With the feasting eyes, the two sisters get few from the bottle the potato salad and put it on their small plastic ware plate. As they started to eat it, they were so hurried to do so. They were like hungry prisoners secretly eating their food.

 “Bang!” They heard it from the door upstairs.

 Hence, they doubled time in eating it, sometimes without chewing and just swallowing it. Then they hurriedly closed the bottle’s cover and immediately returned it to the crisper. They didn’t even drink their water as they heard the footsteps from above. They just even put the small plastic ware plate under the table.

The 2 sisters looked at each other; together they blurted “The heck!”

That’s it! Their grandma slowly went down the stairs and she saw her granddaughters outright, sitting on the kitchen’s table, painted a faint grin to each other. When she finally landed on the floor, she looked at them confusingly and straightforwardly asked, “Have you eaten already? The 2 nervous sisters who were left unmoved and speechless on their seats were wondering if they were caught; Suddenly the big sister saved the courage to answer, “Ah. Not yet grandma. We’re just talking here before getting asleep.” While she was answering it, her grandma opened the fridge’s door and crisper then grabbed the bottled potato salad.

The small sister bit her lips while the big sister observed their grandma’s movement.

Alas’ grandma invited, “Come on, let’s eat!”

           Upon hearing it, the 2 overwhelmed sisters get 3 small plates from their dishwasher and placed it on the table. Then grandma opened the bottled potato salad and all it’s freshness oxidized as they served each other the salad.

           They happily eat together which they rarely did before. It may look a small dinner, but in their hearts it was a great one. They sometimes have chitchat, the big sister was telling her antic jokes and the small sister’s giggle made their grandma realized what she missed out. Without noticing the time spent, the potato salad was already on their stomach, but the memory would last forever.

Gazing upon the cross

One lady seriously listened to her preacher’s teaching. She was amazed by the power of his words. It touched her heart and consciousness as her eyes and ears were set on the preacher. One man beside her noticed the glow in her eyes. He was wondering how focus this lady was. Though he already knew and saw how this lady grew up on her faith. As her faith grew-she also learned to outgrew her special feelings for this man beside her. What remained between the two of them were three important things that they both held in their hearts: Friendship, acceptance and respect-that made both of them shine and outstand in front of the cross.

Praising hands

A tall English man was swaying his body while lifting both his hands on the air as the music played with a combination of the singers melting voices and full band. If someone may look at him behind, others may think that he’s crazy. For crying out loud, who would do it? What adds up to a funny thing is that this man was doing it along with his wife. Oh come on! Both of them look crazy. Indeed, crazy and rocking in worshipping the one who’s crazy for them too. So, the next time you would look at them, for sure you’d do the same. Or perhaps you’d do more than what they can do and give.

Freedom

Alas’ she’s free-free from her cluttered emotions, begrudged attitude, corrupted mind, black silhouettes and mischievous voices of her troubled past.

She’s now more on sailing on a smooth ocean, appreciating the blue skies, feeling the warmth of sunlight, playing guitar combining her melodious voice and running swiftly with her flying kite.

There were times when she’d look back on her past-memories flashed back randomly. For kindness’ sake the midnight trembles she once had from her black crows and snakes nightmares vanished in the light. That light opened one memorable day-when she finally and firmly said, “It’s over!”

Empty vessel

Forest are said to be a sanctuary of wild animals, chirping crickets, idle grasses and empty vessel. Yes, empty vessel. For a hundreds of years, this mysterious vessel was hidden and seated in the heart of this abandoned forest. Travelers from different races and nations desire this vessel. It is said to heal sickness, regenerate youth, and defense against enemies.

An old soldier with a white beard and thick moustache wearing his red and blue dirty uniform gasped this alas’, 

“Aha!” “I could fin’lly ventured this place alone. I could have it now.”

His wrinkled face equates to the number of years of service in a far-away kingdom. He rarely thinks of himself for he decided to offer it to his masters. One gloomy day, he felt a need to have his own family. For living in solitude life in his age meant survival for another lonely battle. So he sufficed his need through being a father to the kingdom’s servant’s daughter. Along taking care of her, suddenly everyone in the kingdom find out that she was sick. So as the lonely and worried soldier and keeping the story of an empty vessel as his mighty sword, went along the trip alone.

Meanwhile, a deep sigh was also given by a muddy with ruthless faced, middle-aged pirate. He was traveling on the sea all his life. His sturdy walk depicted a sign of fierceness he had. But it’s only seen in the outside, for he had an inner turmoil about his long suffering heart ailment.

In the heart of the forest was a glowing and golden empty vessel.. Surrounding it were the travelers who died upon grasping it. Some died out of tiresome. Some died  amidst the fight over the vicious creatures living there.

When the pirate saw the vessel, he run directly to it and his eyes feasted on its superficial beauty. He came first though along the way his sickness assailed, yet he ignored it and continued walking.

”

“Aaahh.. pain won’t cease me in getting this.” said the pirate to himself. His sweats were like pearls on his forehead. He was catching his breath. His palms were cold and a little shaking.

Then, the old soldier entered the place, face to face he saw the pirate with his suffering looked. There was an air of stinginess between these two eager men. There was a need to compete over the vessel. One man with a big fist and great stamina could win. Ironically, both of them are physically weak at the moment. But the truth was the vessel’s strength comes from a person’s faith.

Who would get healed? Was it the soldier’s servant’s daughter or the pirate’s sickness?

As they looked at the vessel, all the fierceness and eagerness to get their selfish ambitions melt down. It has a power to soften a heart of stone, to cleanse a malicious mind, to empty a heart of worries, lust and envy. 

The two men’s defenses were surrendered. No more swords, conflicts. Because the vessel absorbed everything until it became one in gold, glow and power.

A mystique smoke came out from the vessel and surrounded both of their worries. It washed away all of it. The secret was faith and humility. After the peculiar fortunate happened the soldier went home with faith that the servant’s daughter will get healed. While the pirate’s spirit was awed with the divine happenings in his heart and mind.

Both are saved.

Both are secured.

Both are one with the empty vessel.

When searching Harry meets Happy Sally

"Everyone seems busy today." gasped a handsome and slendered figure Harry to a stranger named Ludy. Then Ludy answered unhesitantly, "Yes, they're putting up an enrichment training for the kids."

Along the children's genuine laughter, the nervousness written on their parents faces and the staffs' hands on guidance to the kids, there goes Sally, who was outstanding among the crowd. She puts a happy face in dealing with the parents and the kids. She was extending her lovely arms to a young boy who initially asked her to play with him. Hers was a world of explosive laughter and cranky yet clever jokes. Though, she can be sometimes considered as an ADHD, most importantly she found passion in what she's doing.

Then Harry elbowed and whispered to Ludy. " I want to know that girl with a beautiful smile." Then Ludy said to him, " I think you find happiness in my bestfriend's personality. Come with me, I'll let you know each other." Then Harry's eyes sparkled as he approach Sally's busy yet down-to-earth lifestyle.

You Keep on Pursuing Me

I was watching my footsteps before getting into the Happiest place on Earth, Feast. My eyes looked directly on the trees' green leaves while the calm wind touched my face. Then, I heard a voice deep within me. I ceased on focusing on my surroundings and decided to listen to my heart. Your gentle voice whispered, " I would pursue you forever. I'll never stop loving you. I'm yours and your mine."Those words melted me for I truly believe on that promise. Hence, I continue walking gracefully, sharing eagerly that promise especially to those who deeply believe.=)

My 7th birthday

7 years is a perfect year. Well it comes from a biblical teaching about the seven days of CREATION.

But when my 7th birthday came,typhoon Rosing hit Manila. I was watching the raging wind
made the roof outside thrown and flown away. There was no electricity all over our
 place,the only light that illuminated our house was my big 7 candle.



And this is mine.:( That's how it was, gloomy, of course. But who hadn't share any sad moments? I'm sure. Everyone does.  It was a perfect DISASTER as I was thinking wayback then.
I even went outside to buy my cake with my mom and I remember holding
her and asking her to hug me because it was really cold outside.
When I went home, my legs was muddy and I had to clean it inside
the washroom. Then my aunt asked me to prepare myself because we had to
eat and celebrate(?)then. I remembered singing a less enthusiastic "Happy birthday" song. I blew my candle's light, so apparently we have to light up a real candle to enlighten our house.
I ate my cake with an uncomfortable feeling. I can't remember if I cried. But I was aware that I was sad. My family was there but I can't invite any other friends.

Recalling Trina Paulus' Hope for the flowers

I always have this spontaneous fondness for butterflies, especially yellow and white ones. I remember as a grade school student, I'm interested with "metamorphosis" or a "caterpillar-transformed-into-a-butterfly" thing. As I reminisce my anecdotes for this, lemme' share 2 wonderful experiences about butterflies.

Lola's pure soul

 August 1, 2008

I sat in front of my blue and brown eyed, curly chestnut brown, grayish haired, Spanish- French grandmother, who sat on a mono block chair as my mom put an ointment on her back bedsore. I held both her knees to support her as she faced and felt this overwhelming and terrifying pain. As my mom applied another ointment it equates another lola's affliction. Lola Violet looked up in the ceiling, closed her eyes, without uttering any painful words, just seeing her face's exasperation almost made me asserting my mom to stop it. But at the verge of ceasing her, death did my supposed action.

I diverted my shocked eyes into mama and said, " Ma, tingnan mo si lola." ( "Mom, look at lola.") Lola bowed her head with this yellowish, bluish fluid in her mouth and paled face. As my curiosity grew, I even lifted up her face, sometimes slapping it, assuring myself if this was true. And I'm sure it was. Mama said, " Nakatulog lang sya, dahil wala syang tulog kagabi." ( " She's just sleeping, cause she doesn't have an enough sleep last night." ) There was an air of denial floating in our once loud house.

Until lolo Nitoy decided to put her on her death bed (as for counting, lola was bed ridden for 4 years). As she lied down on her bed. I assumingly looked at lola's lifeless body. Then lolo instantly picked up the phone and hurriedly dialed our doctor's number. He discussed how looked like, telling him that she has no pulse rate anymore. Silence enveloped our house, yearning for lolo's announcement. Until he uttered, " 15 minutes ng patay si Violet." ("Violet is already 15 minutes dead .") I heard Tita Mary's loudest cry, everyone followed, and me putting my calmest and graceful posture over my family's grieve. 

While everyone was having  a commotion with sobbing cries, I went in my room, picked up 25 pesos from my coin purse, got my cellphone and went out to consume a load in texting my friends and relatives. I left our gloomy house with my certain alertness. I walked straight up ahead and then one bright yellow , big sized butterfly flying up and down and circling on our leafy masetas (plants), and it caught my attention for few seconds, then flew vertically into the sky. All my stiffed emotions softened as I realize how beautiful my lola's soul was.

She turned into a yellow  butterfly is my heart's belief.

While walking along our compound, no single tear fell, I was filled with amazement. As I continued walking tears surrounded the corner of my eyes, letting few drops of it to fall.

"Is that a sort of divine intervention?", I asked myself.

If it is so, I'm blessed, for God gave a sign that lola's soul is already in BEST HANDS.

Struggling to catch the bouquet of flowers

 January 25, 2010

It was Ivy's, one of my special friend, wedding. Pressing fast forward to the scene. The emcee at that time asked all the single ladies to stand and and be geared up for this wedding tradition, catching the bride's bouquet. Admittingly, I was one of those who wished to catch it. As I walked along the way, surprisingly one yellow and white butterflies playing around or maybe accompanying my footsteps. Then, my imagination worked parallelly with my heart's desire. I think I was hearing those butterflies telling me that I could catch the bouquet. 

Yes, I was  partly hopeful and almost lunatic lady.

Finally, my beautiful friend and bride enthusiastically threw this whitish, reddish, peachy rolled into a bouquet. Every single women including me and my friends, Sab, Mean and Claud rolled our sleeves up. (Though almost all of us were  wearing sleeveless dress). Unfortunately the bride threw the bouquet at the farthest corner of the earth. And we sighed or maybe solely  me or few of us. 

But since no hands caught the bouquet, no smile painted on one lucky lady and no teasing of "You'll be the next bride." Second attempt was made, this time the bride was both apologetic and reassuring that someone might catch it and secretly glee was in my heart.

This time, I was equipped, same as my expectedly vigilant friend, Sab. Then, "pack!" the bouquet was on the ground and me together with Sab looked on it and struggled to get it. I think, Jake, Sab's beloved boyfriend captured that combating bouquet catching. While Mean and Claud were at the back ,maybe silently betting who could get it. And Madz was busy taking pictures.

Then..

I caught the flowers. Whoah! Later on my imagination functioned again, "Were the butterflies right or was I so focused on catching it?" Then I almost jumped for joy.

And, I was luckily (?) teased. (blush. blush.)

Lending one book means getting 2 books

After months of doing all my routines. I met a wonderful friend in our office named, Leah. She has an average lenghty hair with a rounded eyes and face. She has a very sweet and melodic voice and my hunch was right. She's a Christian, God's warrior by her gracefulness. As I kept on sending to all my co -teachers Julianne Tarroja's (Christian, indie and underground artist) songs "Grateful," "Choose to believe" and "Queen in me" in our message popped-out. She always gives her endearing comments. She loves the song and the singer too. Then, I know I would put her close to my heart.

Nevertheless, one of my proudest habit is the exchanging of books, and Leah became my instant customer.

I impulsively lent her one Christian and challenging book and she entrusted me 2 lovely books. One was Trina Paulus' Hope For The Flowers and Philip Yancey's When Life Hurts.

Wow. I lent her one and hers was 2. Whatta very generous lady.

Giddily reading and understanding Hope for the flowers

The main characters from the story were the 2 caterpillars named Stripe and Yellow. Both of them just met at the caterpillars pillar hoping to find out what was there at the top. As they continued climbing and smashing one another together with millions of caterpillars. Yellow blurted out that there must be more than knowing what's on the top, she wants to go down. Stripe wasn't convince so he unstoppably climbed, sometimes ignoring Yellow. Then she was hurt and cried for Stripe's behavior to her. She taught that Stripe was her companion and she taught wrong. Stripe felt guilty and said sorry for her, so he decided to climbed down with Yellow. They both curled into one , so that the smashing caterpillars won't stepped on their body, stomach and eyes. Alas, they were on the ground and took time to look at each other. 

As they walked along the grassy ground. They did the normal routine that they once had before getting into the pillar, like eating the grass, sleeping on the ground but never they realize that they would become couple. They were happy being together, but Stripe a normal hunter was never satisfied, so he looked again at the pillar, began to wander "what 's on the top?"

Yellow became worried again with Stripe's determination, but since she loves and supports Stripe, she lets him feeds his curiosity.

He climbed up again and this time, he's fiercer. While Yellow was left alone, thinking how is stripe doing. Days passed by and Yellow met a caterpillar surrounded with cocoon. She asked the newly acquainted friend what was he doing. And he said he's waiting to become a butterfly. Yellow wandered what's a butterfly and the butterfly wannabe answered. " That's what you're supposed to become." So Yellow is amazed and she told herself that if she has this stuff in becoming a butterfly.


Then Yellow took risk, made a cocoon around her and waited till it's time for her to have wings to fly. And the day came, she turned into a bright and yellow butterfly.She flew high and remembered the Strike at the pillar. She went to see him there while struggling to get on top. Then Yellow finally saw him looked him deeply in his eyes and Stripe felt unworthy of her glance. He remembered the words, "butterfly alone." And he decided to climbed down the pillar.


He didn't bother the commotions from other crawlers. Alas he was down, he did his normal routine, and of course he searched for Yellow. But he failed. Until one night, this familiar creature glanced at him and might be telling him to follow her lead. Then Strike followed. He saw other crawler's cocoon wrapping around him and he imitated.


While Yellow was drinking the flower's nectar and waited for him.


Alas' he became a striped white and black butterfly and the place was surrounded with many butterflies wherein the flowers add another beauty on it.


The end.

 Lemme tell this story to the world

Right after that, I'm fond of telling this story to anyone who's lending an ears to me. Seeing butterflies along Edsa, taking with friends who love butterflies, reading stories about butterflies, imagining how this beautiful creature made me cry, and recounting my friend's stories about butterflies.


I would spend time in looking at them.

An exchange

“Pearls are the only jewelry that I have, so I need to take care of this and keep them safe.” said the girl to herself. Then one day her dad asked her, “Daughter, do you love me?” The daughter replied, “Yes, dad!” He smiled and said, “Hence, give me your pearls and I won’t return it to you anymore!” The little girl got mad at her dad and said, “No, I can’t. This is the only treasure that I have. Please don’t take this away from me.” 

While the girl was sleeping, her dad got into her room and took the pearls, then kept it into his drawer. When the girl woke up, she kept on searching for her pearls and because of her keenness; she saw it on her dad’s drawer. Since, she had an idea that her dad might get it again and she avoided conflict. She decided to get it everytime her father was sleeping or off the house and then return it to the drawer when he was already awake or staying there. As she was holding the pearls, admiring its beauty and taking good care of it, she didn’t feel any guilt on what she was doing. She was very happy.

Then, one day her dad caught and reprimanded. She got hurt. As the time went by her heart became soft when her dad asked for forgiveness for his valid anger. She understood fin’lly his reasons and let go her pearls with peace in her heart. After few weeks, she celebrated her 12th birthday. Alas’ her dad gave her a diamond earrings, true expensive and beautiful treasure that she could keep forever.

She hugged and thanked her dad for his generosity and patience in waiting for her to let go her cheap and fake pearls.. And accept the genuine beauty of diamond.

Deafening cry

There was a one woman,
holding a black bag with a plastic bag in it.
Every tear that fell from her rosy cheeks
 equates to her step towards the altar. She joined her hands together,
Then ceased crying, went out from the
church and rode on her car.
When she fin'lly got into her room,
She took out the plastic bag from her bag
Then, she went to her bathroom carrying something
and when noone heard her. She cried again
and then another deafening cry followed with blood
flowing from her going to the white tiles.

Quiapo

Quiapo already saw unusual twists and turns in people visiting him. One crowded day, one man and woman struggled their breath as a people passed by, back and front of them. As they gathered thoughts and wonders to the story they're about to make. Quiapo saw that it's not solely their mind working, but their hearbeats too. How will they make their story appealing? Or how would they tell each other how they feel? Or they would just paved way to the beauty of each of their lifestory?


They left Quiapo a big question? But Quiapo would find out the answer in a surprising way. Once the 2 decided to return hand in hand and with smiles looking at him.

Rusty 25 cents

There was a blind boy in front of church begging

 for money in every people who passed by the place.

An old woman accompanied him have always prayed,
 "God, please let the people give this

 child even a single penny." The boy taught that the woman
 was a nun and said to himself.

"I'm glad someone is praying for me to get
 money because if there's nothing,

 I'll get my legs cut after Master gouged my eyes."

 As the day passed by, the boy became disabled
and a loudest 'cling clang' of

rusty 25 cents was heard from his can.