things familiar and not anymore

dinner conversation at our house in bacolod, one balmy night, centered on how certain things in our sagay childhood in the 60s, 70s and onwards interestingly came in twos. several of these “pairs” were within the block where we grew up, and almost always across each other. 

at the two corners along the national highway, where commuters got on or off the buses from bacolod and/or san carlos, were the two main restaurants -  salbel’s and blue dahlia.  a few steps down, on both sides of the corner of the road to barrio bato, were the two grocery cum snack shops and dry goods stores of mrs. pulido and tia felicing. felicing was our mother-side lola, whom we also called nanay, thus we’ve always been known as the ” apo ni felicing” - never mind whether they were referring either to nancy or to joy. (more…)

our piece of bora

      carbin reef - a very tiny strip of sandbar 15 minutes off the coast of sagay. our own piece of bora minus the commercial and touristy feel. make sure to visit every time i’m home. my nephew borge, niece felice and sister nancy snorkeled, baked ourselves red on the sand , cavorted in its clear blue green waters last saturday morning. had it to ourselves, which was absolutely fantastic!

the point is

being "in" love is NOT the point. 

Loving IS …. spontaneously, with no hesitation, no worry nor guilt, without waiting for something in return. 

and Union -  not in a permanently locked way but one that is dynamic and constantly flowing, one that allows those involved to grow, blossom and be….

if and when on a summer day

those whose days were grudging or confused may come back trapped in another life

              as a boulder, or a pane of glass

              or a door that suffers everytime its slammed…

if i return as a boulder, some summer day come sit by me

if i were a windowpane, gaze through to see

and if a door, come home through me….

                                                                - borrowed from leo stein