Iced Water. Sip Slowly.

Remember the heat that sipped in so unexpectedly after the cold months of January and February, whooahhhh, the temperature soared so high the country is now toasted. Yup, the heat is so unbearable the Filipinos are begging the archipelago that seemed to have drifted towards the sun to come back to earth. Talk about Filipinos finding humor despite the inconvenient circumstances.

Of course our little brown brothers did seek all kinds of solutions: go to the beach where they only got more fried, stayed at SevenEleven for ready to eat meals that became unpalatable soon enough, tried McDonald’s or Jollibee a few hours till the food chains became crowded, bought cold beverages from Starbucks till their allowance for the month drained, or simply gallivanted from mall to mall till they realized time had been wasted doing nothing. The elderly were lucky enough to have free movies at the cinema Mondays and Tuesdays, so that’s where they are snoring.

As for my survival, I simply stayed put in the comfort of my home: sipped iced water every two or three hours, hit the shower for quick hot baths that cool the body, and sit with the electric fan directly at me throughout the day. I also got my hair braided and clipped, wore white shirts and shorts, and ate a lot of pakwan or watermelon. Believe me, I consumed one whole in just two days.

Hmmm, this heat spell seem to have taken my country aback and social media suggested to plant trees! Not now, folks. Should have done that years ago. But of course you could do so come rainy season.

Hay, my fellow Filipinos! So silly! The only situation that could be more disgusting than our shortcoming and absence of foresight is Dubai! Wow, that hot Arab city has no water drainage and with the huge volume of rain that flooded their city roads, sail on, sail on…

Good Friday Downpour!

Our Lady of the Abandoned Church or Dambana ng Ina ng mga Walang Mag-ampon

Church of the Holy Sacrifice

Interior of Santo Domingo prepping for Siete Palabras live streaming

Belfry at the Plaza de San Pablo ng Cruz

The float of St Mary Magdalene

Our Lady all black at Mary’s Garden at the posh Christ the King, Green Meadows

Nuns serenading a passion hymn at Mt, Carmel

The temperature is the talk of the town. It is extremely hot. Thus my daughters and I decided to keep our Visita Iglesia nearby, where we could easily dash home if the heat becomes unbearable.

We planned on a Pampanga trip so we could see the old churches, the flagellation and the crucifixion that has become local tradition. But a Kapampangan advised not to, because he himself was fleeing to Baguio to escape the heat. Advice well taken. Fact is, an fb friend, fit and healthy, had a stroke and died while playing soccer at the Ateneo field.

But it was good seeing the old churches we’ve visited for the most of the girls’ growing up years. The UP Church of the Holy Sacrifice was just opening up when we arrived around six am. It was quiet and serene, with only a faint sunlight illuminating the Tabernacle. And we went about the fourteen stations of the cross around the circular church.

Sto. Domingo de La Naval de Manila was steaming with people a little after seven. Felt disgusted with the grounds unkempt, garbage bins full, quite unbecoming and an eyesore. Yet, I was there to visit, not to complain.

The Shrine of the Divine Word was preparing for a national live streaming of the Siete Palabras. I had always loved this shrine.

The Basilica Menore de Mount Carmel held a simple cross with a ribbon as the altar of repose. Some nuns sang soft passion hymns. Very soothing to listen to.

Christ the King at Green Meadows is in full air condition mode. A church for the ultra rich. A recollection was taking place when we arrived. Very lovely, beautiful people. I would have stayed longer and listen had we not two churches to visit.

Our Lady of the Abandoned, a real old church, was surprisingly fully air-conditioned, too. Again, I would have sat longer if my daughter not said it looks like rain…….

Our final stop was at the Shrine of St. Paul of the Cross. The carozzas from the Maundy Thursday procession were still at the grounds, as if there was a fiesta.

Guess what? Half an hour after we got home, the rain dropped. Heavy!

Not a really good write -up but who can muster words in this excruciating heat!

Roses Despite the Summer Heat.

The heat has crept in but the Chinese roses continue to bloom, and amazingly, in clusters that look like bridal bouquets.

The American roses have also blossomed despite the searing temperature. Been tempted to cut one and encase in a glass jar, and care for it like the Little Prince, but might end up watching the petals whither like the Beast longing for Beauty, so I abandoned the thought.

So am just sharing the pictures with you friends, in the hope that the roses would brighten your day.

The clusters were best couple of days ago but I had pressing personal appointments, like an oral hygiene date with Doc April. Thank you for the prophylaxis and the gentle touch/

A Bubble of Life.

An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms work together to form a bubble of life.

Ecstatic to know my garden now fits the definition from google, for today a tiny green head turner, supposedly camouflaged, had emerged to eyeball the humans.

Yup, the praying mantis can rotate its head 180 degrees so we can politely acquaint ourselves with one another.

I yet have to name my new garden dweller. Most likely Asher because according to. ancient beliefs, the mantis is a bearer of good fortune. Yay!

As for the busy bee that loves kissing my Rosal flower, I shall name it Jarah, meaning honeysuckle.

Received Twenty Likes! And a Heart! Wow!

I felt like a child surprised to see a notification on youtube, a red dot that when I clicked on it, saw that a simple expression of appreciation for a free movie I watched garnered twenty likes and a heart. That felt really good, like getting an ice cream treat on a hot, hot day.

Took a picture so I would remember, and here it is, where I could always go back to and smile.

I love receiving likes as much as I like giving it. Though I do it in other platforms where users need appreciation. With the like comes a prayer, of course.

Mother Mary

From memories this photo and this literature about our Blessed Lady. Just sharing.

“Mother Mary comes as Our Lady of Grace with her hands outstretched. Rays of light emit from her hands piercing your body, healing you and filling you with graces. This is your inheritance which was poured out from the heart of Jesus on the Cross, when the centurion pierced His Heart with the spear. As you pray the Rosary, or even just recite one Hail Mary, you receive your portion of these graces.” – Father Gabriel Amort

Roses! Roses!

A different kind of energy I find my self waking up onto each morning with the prospect of watering my garden and seeing the lovely roses, even if it is still cold outside. Indeed, the roses are a delight to see especially so when I quietly sit still on my spot and await for the bumblebee buzz around the red and white flowers. The white butterfly comes a little later, floating from petal to petal and finally resting on one. The sparrows are also in zigzag flights, just perching near the roses for a moment, perhaps wary of me, while I believe I have become part of the ecosystem in my garden and the little feathery friends have no reason to be afraid of me. Gosh, I change their water fresh each day, with grains of rice for their nourishment. Hmpf! Chirp and Tweet and Flit are not so trusting…

January ends today and tomorrow begins the love month. Sharing the roses with you for a hearty February.

The Cold Has Come To My Healing Garden.

Brrrr. Been shivering in utter cold the past two days. Where did that cold come from that it rendered me frozen like a popsicle! And for the first time these many months, I dared not go out yesterday to water my plants. Sigh! And missed my corner spot where I watch the cumulus clouds against the blue skies, and the family of tiny maya fly from tree to tree while inhaling the freshness of the earth. Yup, the birds sing for me all day. Thank you, Flit and Chirp and Tweet, the music fill the soul.

My daughter snapped some photos of me at that quiet corner after an exhausting morning sweeping the cement dust from the rain drain repair. Wish I could have brushed my hair and dressed up instead of the work shirt and shorts for the pictures. But my daughter argued the candidness of the moment would have been lost. So the shabby images live forever.

A Dill Cutting for a Christmas Tree.

Doing my best to cheer my self up from the horrible news that came out of Israel. Why so? Because it’s the day before Christmas. The massacre of 7 October rendered me so sad that not a day passed that I did not drop tears for the Israelis who perished so brutally. But in the spirit of Christmas, I did a little cleaning and decorating to cheer up my weary heart.

Did trim the dill in my garden and put it in a glass vase to serve as my Christmas tree. Somehow the wrapping of gifts has become trifling an activity. Just prepared a few angpao for those who really need it. Angpao are little red envelopes that supposedly bring prosperity to the recipient.

Darling of a Wolf.

All my life I’ve always had dogs. Big, furry ones. But I probably have not reciprocated their love and affection as much as dogs would hope for. In fact, I did regard them as guards instead of pets, And many of these selfless creatures have come and gone, leaving me memories of sweet moments that they were there to defend me from danger and protect me with their very lives.

Ungrateful as I am, I behold them as ‘Royal Canines’ I serve and protect instead. What with the endless meals I prepare, food more expensive than mine, and the endless belly rubs….. Yes, your highnesses, I am here your servant for your beck and call….

But for all the complaints I make after stressful sweeping and mopping to eliminate furs that cause me to cough, at the end of the day, the doggies were there beside me, guarding me, watching me, breathing me, sniffing my white night shirt as if its the sweetest smell in the world.

This time and age when food delivery has become a fad, my dogs have assumed another duty – a barker when the ‘grab driver’ has arrived for my nourishment, Yet feedback has it that these poor delivery guys had been threatened by my wolf Bucky. Every one claimed they did cower by the mere wolf stare. Ha ha. But really, inside my home, Bucky is a darling of a wolf.