Excerpt from Alex & Georg, my latest Nanowrimo novel

Photo taken at Fundacion Pacita, Batanes

Georg: I think there’s enough love to go around for everyone. It’s just that people...they’re stupid. They don’t know any better. They close their hearts and choose not to receive love.

Alex: You think?

Yeah. We say, I want love. I’m looking for love. But that's crazy, you don’t search for love. You have love right there in your heart. So, you just love.

And?

You just love. Be loving and lovable. Before you know it, it’s right there in front of you. 

He was still puzzled.

Georg: But we can’t tell what’s good for us. We can’t tell if it was staring us right in the eye and ready to strike at us.

He looks at her with amazement.

Georg: Words of wisdom. Think about it.

Alex: You just love. Those are your words of wisdom? 

Yes!

I say, you’re drunk.

No!

They look at each other and both laugh.

Georg: Think about it. When was the last time you found love? Or love found you?

Alex: You’re really pushing this?

Yes, I am. Come on, tell me. Tell me the whole story, the details, the circumstances. Were you exactly looking? 

No, I don’t think so.

Right! Because you don’t actually plan these things to happen. It just happens. Bam! And you’re hooked.

Artist Date

I can’t remember the last time I went to a museum, which is embarrassing  considering the fact that I claim to be an art enthusiast. My most memorable trip is when I went to Artscience Museum in Singapore where I saw Van Gogh’s art installations. It was like going in a candy store or a shoe store. I could have stayed there all day if it weren’t for my friends.

Yes, I like paintings most of all. I appreciate looking at the artist’s interplay of colors, first from a distance. Then going up close to see the strokes and to examine how the painter covered the canvas with colors. I try dissecting with my eyes which color was laid first and which came next. I am like a child at wonder, wondering how colors side by side create something and this something becomes a part of a picture.

I’m glad our office had an Artist’s Date today. I particularly liked Paco Rapagos’ works. The highlight was seeing 2 of Fernando Amorsolo’s murals. But it wasn’t what I expected. I like his familiar yellowish paintings with farm landscape. But just the same, I was in awe to see the maestro's masterpieces. The very fact that the murals are lifesize, was in itself amazing. 

Steve Jobs said, real artists ship. I have a half-finished painting at home, which I started a few months back. I keep telling myself to put the final strokes but haven’t till now. After an exposure to a world of colors, I am inspired to get back to my canvas. Maybe tonight. 

A Day in the Life of Sandy with her dog Dodo: On Rejection

Sandy: Rejection is God's protection. Where did I hear that?

Dodo: From dating coach Marni Bassista?

Sandy: Oh, so it's meant for people in the dating scene, huh? 

Dodo: Yeah, the idea is that as soon as you're rejected, you move on and say, next! It's better to think you're better off without him. Or at least, it's better for your morale to think that. Besides, why obsess on what could have been? Why bother when you're date is a no-show, a creep or a loser? It's better to work on yourself and just look forward to your next potential date. 

Sandy: Wow! You're sounding like a dating coach. How many Dating with Dignity videos have you seen?

Dodo: Just enough to know something. 

Sandy: Does it apply to other rejections in life? 

Dodo: Huh?

Sandy: You think it's God's protection too that my book got rejected by those snotty publishers? Because, I don't get it. I couldn't for the life of me understand how it's supposed to be helpful.

Dodo: Are you going to cry? Do you need a tissue?

Sandy: And I thought I was done with this issue. You know, not becoming published book author. I thought I have accepted the fact that maybe this is not the right time, not the right book... 

Dodo: How about a glass of water?

Sandy: I agonized over this a few months ago already when I got my latest rejection email and now, I have to go all over the pain again. All because I came across someone's careless generalization. 

Dodo: Maybe it's good to remind yourself of how you got over it the last time. Try.

Sandy still sulking and close to tears.

Dodo: It was a character's line in that TV series you don't like and have stopped watching after 3 episodes. The lady said something like, you just do what you can, put it out there and allow for the universe to respond. If it doesn't happen, it's not on you. It's not your fault. Sandy, it's not your fault.

Sandy: So I wrote a novel and sent it out to publishers. And the answer is a resounding and a consistent no-no-no-no. Every time I receive a no, it's like a stab in my heart. How could God plant a dream like that in my heart and not do something? I don't know what to do anymore. 

Dodo: For now, it's better to stop overanalyzing. So what if they didn't like it, they don't know anything. But you know what, cheesy as it was, I actually liked it.

Sandy: You read it?

Dodo: Yeah.

Sandy: My dog read my book and liked it. But he thinks it's cheesy. You think it's cheesy? 

Dodo: Yeah, soooo cheeeessssy! But I liked it.

Sandy: Hah! Thank you, Dodo. You just made my day. 

My Missing Pair of Scissors

God hears our prayers. 

But of course, everybody knows that. It's just amazing and unbelievably incredible when something you prayed for comes to life, jumps on you and says surprise, I'm here!

Am talking about this guy, David (not his real name) whom I prayed over at a retreat in July. Saw his post on FB recently that he now has a girlfriend! Wow! I'm so happy for him. And for me for I was used as God's instrument, sort of. God, you really listened to our prayer. And that was quick.

The thing is and the reason I remember him among the quite handful I prayed over that day was that during the talk and exercise, I noticed he wasn't really into it.(Or so I thought. Maybe I was being assuming and judgmental again. But that's another blog altogether.) And when he came to me for a prayer, he seemed a bit cool and nonchalant about it. Can you pray for me, he said and gave me a tight hug. He didn't elaborate on the details so I asked for healing, for peace, wisdom and prosperity and my favorite prayer for singles, that they find their one true love and start their own family soon.

I remember my very first answered prayer. I was in gradeschool and I had this new pair of scissors for art class. When I got home from school, I checked my pencil case, emptied it and so with my schoolbag, but no shiny pair of scissors. I was worried sick, my mom just bought it. I couldn't tell her it's missing, she'd think I'm irresponsible. I had to find it but I couldn't. So that night, I prayed to God to pls. put it back in my pencil case. I also prayed to Mama Mary for help and slept. The next day, when I got up, jumped right next to my study table and took out my pencil case. I held it and prayed over it. With confidence, I held and felt it. It was not the boxy type but the fabric type with zipper on top. And I felt something made of metal. Quickly, I unzipped it and there was my pair of scissors. My first miracle. How it got there? I don't know.

Remind me to ask God when I see Him face to face in Heaven. Right then, my young heart couldn't contain the joy I was feeling. I was elated and grateful. Just as now, when I receive God's precious answered prayers, be it simple or great. Be it for me or for others.

It feels good to have facilitated David's blessing, in a way. So, when I'm feeling dejected thinking God is not there or not listening, I have this and all the other answered prayers in the past to go back to and remind myself that God hears my prayers.;p

Fancy Flying Like A Bird

As a kid, like any other, I've always wanted to fly. I don't remember when and why exactly I dreamed of such but I suspect the picture hanging on the wall near my dad's drafting table did it. http://leefoster.photoshelter.com/image/I0000t88UO0OrPmw It was a simple picture of a colorful hang-glider soaring the sky and a man hanging and balancing himself. But I didn't just see a glider and a gliding man, I saw freedom. I felt the gust of wind on my face, the exhilarating joy and exuberance of flying like a bird. Every time, I'd look at the photo, I can't help but smile. I told myself, one day...when I grow up... Thus started my fascination on flying. That and watching birds soar the skies. Later, I changed my mind. I didn't think I can ever fly that hang-glider. Looking at the photo, I also felt a tinge of fear. I didn't think I could maneuver the thing, it was enormous for my frail body. And it's not exactly safe, I think. But it's the closest thing to flying like a bird. Maybe if I grew some muscles...  Then there was bungee jumping and later, sky diving. I never fancied free falling like a log with my feet tied to a rope to hold me back. I have this crazy idea in my head that if I do, I'd puke my intestines out. Although my lungs and heart might go first before my intestines.  But, the idea of jumping out of a plane thrilled me. And some ten years ago, with some friends, we talked about it no end. There was supposedly this short course program that will teach you the basics in the morning and let you jump in the afternoon. Then we were all pumped up and ready, the program was stopped for safety concerns. So, to this day, none of us have done it yet. Losers.   Good thing man invented planes. It's not as thrilling as the others but soaring the skies just the same, in a secured and comfy seat with movies, music and in-flight service.

#Tindog Tacloban

When Yolanda struck in November 2013, I gathered some old clothes, wrote a check and walked to my neighbor, GMA Kapuso Foundation. I handed over my and my family's donation to the victims. But giving cash and in kind wasn't enough, with my sisters at the Light of Jesus Family, we went to Kapamilya Foundation to help in packing relief goods for our fellowmen in Leyte and Samar.

But I wanted to do more. I wanted to fly to Tacloban, to join the victims and help out in whatever way I can. I wanted to be there with them, to comfort them somehow, to pray with them, to reassure them of God's love. Thanks to World Vision's volunteer program, I got to go last April 11-13.

Together with 18 other volunteers and staff, we flew to Tacloban City.  Unfortunately, we were welcomed by bad weather. It was raining when we landed. The dark cloudy sky and light rain added to the gloomy mood of the place.

At least,  the place is green now. I heard back in November, the place only had 2 depressing colors - black and gray.

The airport was still in bad shape but the porters were in high spirits as they greeted the airline passengers with a cheer. Too bad I didn't get to video their ala-SM clap and cheer.

The devastation wrought by the typhoon is still very visible. Everywhere I looked showed ruins and marks of the fury that came to pass.

The Palo Metropolitan Cathedral was not spared. But repairs are on-going.

Palm Sunday Mass held inside the church

We went to 2 schools -

where we helped repaint classrooms and did some gardening work.

And Amandangan Primary School, also in Tabontabon,

Tent classrooms

where we met Kyla, Aisa, Chirstian and about a hundred kids, all sponsored by World Vision. They came to attend our simple program of storytelling, singing and a lot of singing.

It was heartwarming to see these kids receptive and even volunteering to perform.

Hope I can do more.

Another Year, Another Boracay Experience

I've been going to Boracay every year for the past 7 or so years, that I told myself I'll skip it this 2014 for a change. In fact, when my travel/beach buddies booked their flights for October to my favorite beach, I stood my ground and said no.

But, while it's true that I'm not going with my beach buddies for our annual pilgrimage to Boracay, by some stroke of luck and Divine design, I went on April 2-5 with another set of friends. And did we have fun!

Kuya: Best ride ever!

Kuya's funny face breakfast

And did I get lots of beautiful photos!

Boracay is so beautiful it brings out the artist in anyone. Your photos will always be perfect, even if you're an amateur photographer. Even if you have a point and shoot digicam like mine, you can't go wrong. 

This visit, I did something for the first time in my life. I learned to fly a kite.

I never thought I'd enjoy it and get so tired running.

Thanks to the master kite flyer who taught me everything I need to know about flying kites - Sensei Sophie.