Category Archives: Art, Fashion Design and Photography

Sa Gitna Ng Malalim Na Pag-iisip

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Disclaimer: Mahaba-haba itong post na ito at hindi ko alam kung kailan ulit ako makakapost. 🙂

Nabanggit ko sa nakaraang blog post na magso-social media hibernation ako as part of my personal prayer and fasting, but I thought mas maigi sigurong sumabay na lang ako sa mid-year prayer and fasting sa church, which will most likely fall in July siguro.

Because the pain I mentioned in that article is, I think, my cue already to schedule a doctor’s appointment asap. Though I have no other symptoms, it may have been just part of my PMS since I just had my period yesterday.

But just so I have peace of mind, I am planning on getting a medical checkup tomorrow. Kaya nitong nakaraang linggo, panay research na ako ng anything related to breast cancer from PhilHealth’s Z Benefit package, the YAKAP program, palliative care, at marami pang iba.

As someone with OC tendencies, I have a knack for organizing stuff. I love details, and details love me back. Unlike Math. It just doesn’t love me back. Hays.

Sa sobrang dami nga lang nitong mga nahanap ko, hindi ko na tuloy alam kung ano ang uunahin kong gawin. lol Seriously though, ito na ‘yung sinasabi ng mga breast cancer patients and all patients in general na sobrang exhausting and draining, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually ang magkasakit. Andami mong aasikasuhin at iisipin. Siyempre, magastos din at goal ko na huwag magagalaw ang savings at huwag manghingi o manghiram ng pera.

So now, I am putting ChatGPT to the test again, kung kaya niyang i-synthesize lahat ng info na makukuha niya sa mga screenshots na ito na plan kong i-upload lahat sa isang prompt lang. Para mas comprehensive ang guide pero simplified and coherent version. Magagawa kaya ito ni ChatGPT? 😀

Acceptance As A Pathway To Peace

By the way, kasama na sa ginawa ko ang last love letter to my family na isi-send ko sa husband ko and sa family ko. It included steps on what to do kapag terminal stage na or palliative care here at home pati ‘yung sa insurances, medical and burial assistance, cremation, etc.

I also added a DNR (do not resuscitate) request if ever i-rush pa nila ako sa hospital, and that I prefer a 1-day wake and prayer vigil only. Yep, I am a nonconformist – I don’t follow cultural norms and traditions all the time. I also and always question the status quo, but I am very compliant naman with God’s laws. 😀

Ganyan ako mag-ayos ng mga bagay-bagay because I just love to plan. Pero syempre ni-remind na naman ako ni Lord na many are the plans of man, but it is God’s purpose that will prevail. I already planned everything kasi ayoko maging burden sa lahat ng aspeto sa loved ones ko when I get sick. Sobrang stressful on their end kapag wala kang habilin, and itong ginawa ko will make decision-making easier for them. Actually, for execution na lang talaga sya.

Right now I am doing a lot of mind conditioning for myself and si husband ay inuunti-unti ko na din. Kasama na din sa ni-research ko kung paano kapag hindi tanggap ng loved one mo ang terminal diagnosis mo, kasi siyempre dadaan din sila sa stages of grief at bawat tao may kanya-kanyang way and timeline to cope with a terminal diagnosis and eventually loss of a loved one.

ChatGPT Does It Like No Other

Now, let’s move to the fun part ng article kasi ayoko ito maging super heavy. Speaking of ChatGPT, ‘di ba nga ni-try ko ipa-edit ang 2×2 ID photo ko na gawin niyang bald dito sa article na ito kasi gusto ko lang makita how I’d look without any hair on and nag-malfunction siya. So, ni-try ko ulit kasi syempre favorite natin ang persuasion. Bumigay din si ChatGPT, and I was stunned by the result.

Kasi sabi ko lang sa prompt, eh breast cancer warrior ang babae, kaya dapat ang aura ay confident na sort of mala-women empowerment. Ayun, sinamahan na niya ng quotation sa gilid. O ‘di ba, winner talaga.

Parang gusto ko na magpagupit ng ganito next week. lol Ang galing na talaga ng AI mang-convince. 😀

Mission accomplished na sana, kaso napansin ko na sa unang photo na na-generate niya, ang laki ng ulo ko (mayabang daw ako sa tingin ni ChatGPT). Sabi ko kay ChatGPT, “Witchikels, sakit na breast cancer lang po ang meron itong babae, hindi po kasama ang hydrocephalus.” huhuhu

Naubos ang image creation limit ko (up to 5 only sa free version ng ChatGPT) dahil pinapabago ko ang poses pati ang details sa background at sa outfit. Para lang ma-achieve itong “Crazy Rich Asian” na datingan ng photo na ito. Pero kapag ako talaga ‘yan, “Crazy Asian” lang. lol

Sabi ko, i-adjust niya ang size ng ulo ng babae para mag-match sa body build niya. In fairness, nakuha naman ni ChatGPT ang tamang edits, and the photos above are the best results. At dahil natuwa ako sa resulta, na-curious ako kung ano kaya kung pagawin ko naman ang tousled crop look.

Hindi ko muna pinagamit ang 2×2 ID photo ko at baka magka-hydrocephalus naman tayo. Sinabi ko lang na Asian woman, and I included my basic facial features, i.e., heart-shaped face, chubby cheeks, dark brown hair, etc. At ang resulta ay maeenganyo ka talaga gayahin ang mga suggested looks ni ChatGPT. Galing, noh?

Kaya next prompt ko kay ChatGPT eh i-apply na niya sa picture ko ang hairstyle na ito. And voila, the AI-generated images look so posh, hindi na pinalaki ulo ko. Humble na daw kasi uli tayo. I styled this look and mga poses at nakuha naman ni ChatGPT ‘yung bet kong concept.

The top has to be pink, kasi ‘yun ang universal awareness color ng breast cancer. Although this will not be the first time kasi noong high school ako, I sported this short hairdo – part of my rebellious teen era, which I am not proud of, by the way.

Siyempre, dahil nag-e-enjoy tayo kay ChatGPT, umiral na naman ang creative side, kaya simula sa crew cut hairstyle na napunta sa tousled crop hanggang sa nilagyan ng headband, tapos ang ending ay fashion styling. At siyempre, background si Mt. Mayon. Slay ba, mga ‘teh? 😀

Bet na bet ko itong may headband na scarf. Although ‘di nga masyado nakuha ni ChatGPT eksakto ang sa prompt ko kasi ang instruction ko sa kanya na nasa left side ng leeg ang knot ng scarf para sa mas edgy look. But I still love this look.
❤ Chinitang Bicolanang Fashionista ❤

‘Yung ganitong aura-han actually keribels siya kapag nasa UP Diliman ka. I wouldn’t think twice about wearing this while inside the Diliman campus; normal lang doon makakita ng mga extreme—nakapambahay na getup like bagong gising at nakasuot lang ng shorts, t-shirt, and tsinelas kasi late na sa klase at meron ding may nakatakong ng almost 1 foot na. Seryosooooo?!?!

Siyempre joke lang ‘yung 1 foot, basta mga very unique choices. We celebrate freedom of expression and creativity sa unibersidad, basta siyempre hindi offensive sa ibang tao. Kumbaga may limit pa din naman.

I would love to wear this here in Bicol sana, but most likely, I’ll be getting a lot of stares. Baka matawag pa tayong Disney Princess na galing sa Maynila. Or worse, nepo baby. Nepopotamus po siguro, pwede naman. Pero maganda rin mag-social experiment. Malay natin the mindset has shifted already, given na madami na gumagamit ng internet and social media.

I’ve already been seeing a lot of photos of brave women who shared their post-chemo and surgery pictures nila, because of breast cancer. I joined breast cancer support groups, by the way, on Facebook in 2023 after Mom passed away because of breast cancer. And one of these beautiful breast cancer warriors is Ms. Cams.

Her photos are BEAUTIFUL. She has a very pretty face (Coleen Garcia look-alike), but there is something about her aura that exudes confidence and a quiet strength, which makes her even more beautiful. And if ever ganito rin ang pagdaanan ko, gusto ko rin ng ganitong photos. Though for me, dahil nurturer ako, and I am ready to go na talaga, parang gusto ko alagaan si cancer, and I will just let it grow. lol

Waiting On God’s Will And Instructions

Seriously, death is only terrifying when we are not yet ready to go. And we will only be ready to go when there is peace in our hearts because of the following truths:

  • we have been saved by the Cross
  • we know that this world is only temporary
  • we believe we will see and will be reunited with our loved ones again, together with God, in the new Heaven and new Earth
  • we have faith that life in eternity is waaaaaay better.

I have this quiet resolve that whatever the diagnosis, whether I have stage 1 or stage 4 cancer, whether I have months or years to live, my perspective about death will never change – it is nothing to be feared, and it is an answered prayer. Why answered prayer? Who wouldn’t want to be with God in a place where everything is perfect? 😀

But then again, this is my wish. But what if God has another plan? Kasi meron ding desire sa puso ko na, if ever I have cancer and God wants me to survive it, I really want to be a volunteer patient assistant/coordinator/navigator. Nga lang, volunteering will require a lot of resources, time, and manpower. Kaya ang prayer ko kay God na bigyan Nya sana ako ng different sources of income that will give me more autonomy when managing my time, so I can still volunteer on the side.

May isa kasing incident noong 2023 sa isang Facebook group ng mga breast cancer warriors na hanggang ngayon hinding-hindi ko nakakalimutan. I shared an infographic from the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology about how to get treated kapag na-diagnose ng breast cancer, at may isang matandang babae who PMed me kung pwede ko daw syang samahan kasi 68 years old na sya and walang available to assist her.

I really would love to say yes, kaso at that time, I am still grieving over my Mom, and from Batangas sya tapos nasa Pasig City ako. Tsaka marami pa akong hindi alam about navigating through a breast cancer treatment as a patient. Pero naawa talaga ako sa kanya, ang sakit sa puso na I had to decline her request.

Marami pa akong need matutunan, like, paano ba ang sistema gaya ng pagpila kung ia-avail niya ang mga free treatments na ino-offer sa ating mga pampublikong ospital. Kaya sa tingin ko, kung mag-positive ako sa breast cancer and kahit ayawan ko ang medical treatment dahil siyempre stubborn ako, pero doon at doon din ako nili-lead ni God, I have no other choice but to obey in the end.

Sabi ko sa asawa ko na dito ko preferred sa Bicol magpa-checkup o magpagamot if ever. Tingin ko, lalo akong mase-stress sa traffic sa Manila, plus the metropolitan pollution might aggravate my allergic rhinitis at bababa ang immune system ko lalo.

Mas madali rin sa akin mag-commute via public transportation dito sa Bicol since plano kong mag-isa ko lang lalakarin ang lahat kasi gusto ko talagang matutunan kung paano ang pasikot-sikot ng sistema. At para malaman kung ano pa ang puwedeng ma-improve sa sistema to make it easier and more convenient sa mga kapwa pasyente.

Sa kaka-research ko, ang dami kong nahalungkat, pati ‘yung uso daw na mga kabitan sa medical field. Anyare algorithm at nasama ito sa research ko. Paki-explain please. Or else, off with your head, too. lol

Caring For The Community

Hindi ako most likely makakapasa as indigent, pero ang gusto kong tulungan kasi ay galing sa group nila. Hindi sa akin prob ang pumila nang mahaba kasi siyempre graduate ako ng University of Pila. Like ‘yung dito sa SMMG Medical Plaza sa Bulan na pipila sana ako ng mga 3am para kumuha ng slot para sa ultrasound ni Dad at every Saturday lang schedule nila.

Kaso, pag-research ko sa Fb, gabi pa lang na mga 10pm, pumipila na sila, tapos 35 lang daw ang slots, tapos 4am pa lang, puno na. I was shookt mga ‘teh. As in shakening shakening like that.

And yet, I am very GRATEFUL. Why?

May 35 na mga taga-Bulan ang nabibigyan ng serbisyong medikal gaya ng ultrasound bawat linggo. 35 na pasyente na ang nakatipid sa pamasahe para pumunta sa karatig na bayan at doon magpa-ultrasound. 35 na pasyente ang hindi bumyahe nang malayo o gumastos para sa pagkain nila.

Samantalang 10 years ago, marami ang deprived ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugang ito na, sadly, nakakadagdag sa mortality rate sa town. Kaya hindi na kami pumila, para ibigay na lang ang slot para sa mas nangangailangan na taga-Bulan. Dad can still travel pa naman at may sasakyan para comfortable ang byahe nya.

And another reason to be grateful is that may cardiologist na din sa Bulan, si Dr. Clarisse (Hi, Dra.!), Dad’s new cardio. She’s the first cardiologist, if I am not mistaken, in Bulan. We don’t have to go to Sorsogon City para sa follow-up checkup ni Dad every 3 months since kailangan ng close monitoring ang heart condition ni Daddy dahil 86 years old na sya and may Stage 5 CKD din.

Kaya hanga talaga ako sa mga doctors to the barrios and other health practitioners na mas pinili na manilbihan sa mga komunidad na malalayo sa kabihasnan. Hindi biro ang calling na ito, and it requires a lot of sacrifices. Sila na ang lumalapit sa mga komunidad para hindi na bumyahe nang malayo ang mga pasyente.

Parang ito ang counterpart ng Gurong Pahinungod, ang volunteer teaching program ng UP (w/ monthly stipend naman) na gusto ko rin sanang salihan, but I am only one, ang dami kong gustong gawin, and yet I cannot do everything. 😀

An Advocacy In The Making

Going back to BC cancer support groups, naghanap din ako kung merong breast cancer support groups sa Bicol sa Facebook. So far, Albay lang ang meron. Gusto ko gumawa din for Bulan or sa Sorsogon Province. Para mas madali ang breast cancer education para ma-raise ang awareness and ma-break ‘yung social stigma nila about having the illness or the medical treatments, in particular ‘yung chemotherapy kasi takot malagasan ng buhok or ‘yung mastectomy.

Isa sa nakikita ko na challenge ng mga galing dito sa Sorsogon ay ang transportation. Puwede magamit ang old Innova namin panghatid-sundo sana para sa lahat ng mga breast cancer patients sa Sorsogon if sa Sorsogon, Legazpi, or Naga pupunta. Need ko lang ng volunteer driver, kasi ayoko mag-drive when there are so many things running in my head tas sa pang-gas hanap pako ng magdo-donate, although may nakikita na akong prospect. 😀

Kausapin lang namin ang doktor namin kung puwede pare-pareho ang schedule ng appointments namin. Puwede kaya ‘yun? Sabihin ko, maggi-girl bonding kami sa ospital. Siyempre, maganda rin sana may free food and accommodation, especially if ang iba mag-u-undergo na ng treatments and traveling long distances nang tuloy-tuloy, e hindi advisable.

At kung indigents ang tutulungan, kahit basic needs salat sila, kaya hindi talaga nila priority ang pagpapagamot. Actually, if ma-diagnose ako with breast cancer, mag-a-agree lang ako to get medical treatments para ang libreng gamot na makuha ko, ibibigay ko sa breast cancer warrior who has young kids and ayaw na ayaw pa niyang mamaalam sa mundo because nafi-feel niya na madami pang pinapagawa sa kanya si Lord.

Altho sa accommodation, meron na akong nakikita din na host na possible can help us out. Kung nasa Manila ako, mabilis sana mag-organize ng ganito kasi ang mga friends ko doon, lalo na noong mga young professionals pa kami and single, ‘yung tipong kahit last-minute na invite para sa isang volunteering event, e go kaagad ang mga ‘yan.

‘Yung mga biglaang PM na “Hey girl, you free this weekend? Tara, volunteer tayo. No worries sa transpo and supplies, konting add na lang sa ganito ganyan.” 😀

Nga lang, feeling ko kami ‘yung mga grupo ng mga pasyente na maiingay kapag nasa ospital na. Kapag nakarinig kayo ng malalakas tumawa, alam na this. Siyempre, good vibes dapat, lalo na kung ang ibang pasyente e sobrang bigat talaga ng pinagdadaanan.

‘Yung tipong gusto ko silang biruin ng “Manay, huwag kang matatakot. Gusto mo sabayan kita papunta sa kabila. Pero syempre hatid lang kita. Kontratahin ko muna si Lord na bigyan ako ng return ticket. Kasi madami pa akong ia-assist sa Earth kaya need kong bumalik.”

Tapos bigla akong sinakal ni ate, noh, sabay sabing ayaw pa niyang mamaalam. Kaya ‘wag din basta-basta magbiro. Piliin ang tamang oras at tamang salita.

When God Plants A Dream

Pero honestly, ito talaga ang rason kaya nagkaroon ako ng hospice dream. I want patients to die with dignity because not all of us are privileged enough to die comfortably and surrounded by loved ones. Kahit man lang sa huling sandali, we give them the peace and comfort that they need lalo na kung hindi naman kayang mapunuan ang need na iyon sa bahay nila.

Right now, priority ko muna ang makapagpa-checkup, and I will let God lead me from there. Kaya ngayon, siyempre “ging-ot is life” muna ang motto natin. Panay gulay-gulay ang kinakain ko, kasama na ang 1 glass a day ng ni-blender na fresh malunggay leaves na may halong kalamansi, carrots, and cucumber. Being healthy means eating as much fiber and getting as many nutrients as you can.

Gaya nitong pinya sa aming bakuran. Benta ko sa inyo ng 300 pesos. Syempre, infleshun is realz. So yaaas, buy na plith. May kasama namang flying kick, este flying kiss ‘yarn. Joke lang, pang-garden-to-table lang po itong mga pinya namin.

Na hindi ko pa alam ang tawag. Sabi ko sa ate ko, ‘“Di ba Mariposa ito?” Sagot nya, “Ha? Butterfly kaya ‘yang mariposa.” Sagot ko, “Ay lam ko na, Hermosa tawag dito.” ‘Di na nya napigilan tumawa kasi apelyido daw ‘yun. Kaya to the rescue na si Daddy, Formosa pala tawag dito sa pinya namin sa bakuran. Maliliit pero super tamis.

Maganda din itong gawing smoothie. Parang kasing smoothie-fied ng mukha ko. Itong Oppo Kopong Kopong ko kasi pinagmumukha akong 20 years old sa filter nya. Buti pa si ChatGPT e pinagmumukha talaga akong 40 years old.

I-normalize natin ang bacon neckline of pambahay clothes because why not.

Wala po akong makeup dyan or anything. Kasi noong pumunta ako sa Watsons, nagpa-assist ako sa sales lady. Sabi ko, “Miss, anong compact powder kaya bagay sa akin kasi ang dami kong tan lines. Iba kulay ng mukha ko, iba din sa leeg, iba din sa braso, iba din sa kamay, tas iba sa binti, at iba din sa paa. Alin susundin natin?”

Tumawa na lang si Ate pero feeling ko gusto niya akong sagutin ng “Ma’am, bumili ka na lang po ng Johnson’s Baby Powder.”

Ayun, Johnson’s Baby Powder na nga lang talaga binili ko kasi naawa naman ako kay Ate sales lady. Hirap na hirap kasi siya pabalik-balik kakahanap ng magma-match sa zebra stripes ko. Mamaya hindi ko rin magamit kasi ayoko magmukhang nag-chinchansu.

Ayun lang po. End of the story na tayo kasi ang haba na nito. 99.9% na-convinced pala ako ni ChatGPT doon sa tousled crop look, kaya i-te-test ko one of these days ang predictive ability ni AI, na even without any 3D facial recognition involved, ang resulta ng tunay kong haircut ay tulad ng suggestion niya.

Kung hindi tugma ang resulta sa expectation, eh talagang hihingi na ako kay Lord ng sign kung will ba talaga Niya that I survive or exit na sa Earth.

Sabi ko kay Lord dapat ‘yung sign na ipapadala Niya ay kapag ang UP Diliman ay naging UP Liwanagan. ‘Yun, sure talaga ako na sign ‘yun na gusto pa Niya akong maghasik ng katatawanan sa mundong ito.

Siyempre joke lang ulit. Iba ang calling sa akin ni Lord na ihasik at ito ‘yun:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” – Luke 4: 18-19

I ordered this last week and got it yesterday.
The random Bible verse listed under the container was God’s clearest sign.

Please pray for me and all those who are sick, and for God’s will to be done always. ❤ And don’t forget to smile and laugh always. 😀

P.S. May nahanap pala akong bagong playlist ng mga worship songs na papakinggan at Filipino Christian artists sila. Please do subscribe to their channel to show your support. Ang gogondo ng mga kanta nila. ❤

https://www.youtube.com/@TindigWorship

P.P.S.

I also found these scholarly journals and research on the role of spirituality in the healing and recovery of patients with breast cancer. I am praying that more research will be conducted on this topic here in the Philippines, including Filipina breast cancer survivors as respondents. I volunteer as a respondent, if ever, and pwede rin akong mag-research assistant. Basta, wala lang computation. lol

“What Does It Mean To Die With Dignity”

“A Systematic Review of Spiritually Based Interventions and Psychoneuroimmunological Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivorship”

“Spirituality’s Impact on Cancer Treatment Outcomes”

“Exploring The Role of Faith in Survival of Breast Cancer”

“Effectiveness of Spiritual-Based Interventions in Enhancing Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review”

“Integrating Prayer and Faith in Complementary Alternative Medicine Into Treating Breast Cancer: Lived Experiences”

“Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Spiritual-Religious Intervention on Improving Coping Responses and Quality of Life Among Women Surviving from Breast Cancer”

“The role of spirituality in improving psychosocial well-being in women with breast cancer: a qualitative study”

“The Role of Spirituality and Religion in Improving Quality of Life and Coping Mechanisms in Cancer Patients”

More Music Videos For The Souls In Battle:

Just Sharing – My Unusual Energy Of Other-Worldliness:

I slowly integrated Torti, our twenty-something-year-old male turtle, into our garden. It looks like he is nestled in quite comfortably.
This is one of the baby fruit bats that have been falling off the house’s roof vent as the heat index here in our town reaches 48 degrees Celsius. The effects of (super) El Niño on our wildlife will be critical. I pray for these creatures that they will survive.
This dragonfly has entered my bedroom, probably to cool itself down from the scorching heat outside. It breaks my heart that these little creatures will be the first to go when the effects of climate change worsen in the coming years. 😦
Tarantula in the house – only in the prabens. 😀

When ChatGPT Writes in Bikol

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There is something about the Bikol language that I find particularly romantic. It’s like the local counterpart of French, which is dubbed as the most romantic language all over the world.

So I thought, why not ask ChatGPT to translate one of the poems I’ve written from way, way back about unrequited love? Because I’m a Lit major, that’s why. 😀 I wrote this poem some time ago, which is dedicated to all hopeless romantics, because let’s admit it, every generation has a hopeless romantic.

According to an article by the Cornell Daily Sun, the idea of hopeless romanticism can be largely attributed to American pop culture, where love takes center stage in most art projects, oftentimes influenced by artistic culture in every generation.

I also wanted to see how fluent ChatGPT is in the vernacular language. And I was once again impressed with its wide Bikol vocabulary, although some words were translated into Filipino, I think. I asked ChatGPT which Bikol language it uses, and it mentioned Central Bikol. From Naga area daw ako. Mukhang doon siya nagkamali. ahahay

I also asked ChatGPT to come up with an image that would best fit the poem, and voila, it already went ahead and incorporated the poem in the image. Very proactive, right? 😀

“Kun Sana Magibo Ko, Alagad Sagkod Duman” by Christine Lailani

ChatGPT included the Mayon volcano, possibly because it’s one of Bicol’s most famous landmarks. And the composition of details in this image is very fluid, no element is out of sync. The galaxy, the moon, and the stars also somehow added to the romantic feel of the poem.

Speaking of “shooting stars,“ it looked like Mayon wishes to end the month of May (please do read my previous articles for the MAY/Mt. Mayon Series) in a blaze of glory (figuratively). Because last night, PHIVOLCS reported a meteor sighting that fell towards the Mayon volcano, though the agency confirmed that the meteor dissipated in the atmosphere before reaching one of the volcano’s slopes.

Read more about it here: “WATCH: Meteor comes close to slopes of Mt. Mayon”

It looked like some Albayano’s wish was answered last night. 😉 Lakas nya kay Lord, meteor ang pinadalang sign. You already. lol

To quote:

In the Bible, meteors, shooting stars, and falling stars primarily represent divine judgment, the end of the age, and spiritual rebellion. While not using the modern word “meteor,” the scriptures frequently describe falling stars as signs of God’s power and the temporary nature of the universe. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Key Symbolic Meanings

  • The End Times & Judgment: In the New Testament, falling stars are heavily associated with the Second Coming of Jesus and the Tribulation. Jesus stated in Matthew 24:29 that after the tribulation, “the stars will fall from the sky”.
  • Spiritual Corruption: In Jude 1:13, false teachers are compared to “wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever”.
  • Cataclysmic Plagues: In the Book of Revelation, large celestial objects like comets or burning meteors are used to symbolize catastrophes. For instance, a great, burning star named “Wormwood” is prophesied to fall from heaven, poisoning a third of the earth’s drinking water. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Awestruck Reminders

Beyond doom and judgment, meteors in the Bible serve as stark reminders that the universe is vast, temporary, and completely under God’s authority. For a deep dive into the prophetic texts, you can explore the eschatological themes of cosmic disturbances directly on Bible Hub. [1, 2]

(Source: Google/AI)

Going back to ChatGPT, the potential of AI is ever-increasing year after year. Although we all know that AI technology uses a lot of natural resources. That is why I have been asking ChatGPT how they plan on combating resource depletion and avoiding environmental degradation on a massive scale.

And it is also my prayer that AI technology will be used for the good of mankind and the Earth, and not the other way around, because of selfish ambitions. Pope Leo XIV just recently expressed the church’s concerns about AI in “Magnifica Humanitas.“

Speaking of AI and Mt. Mayon, I had an idea about asking ChatGPT to create a level 4 Mt. Mayon disaster scenario and the corresponding emergency response during above-normal rainfall. It came up with a very comprehensive result.

Level 4 Emergency Scenario: Mayon Volcano During Above-Normal Rainfall

Scenario Title

“Compound Volcanic and Hydrometeorological Disaster: Mayon Volcano Alert Level 4 with Extreme Rainfall”

Situation Overview

Mayon Volcano is under Alert Level 4, indicating that a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within days. Simultaneously, the Bicol Region is experiencing above-normal rainfall due to a tropical depression enhanced by the southwest monsoon.

Heavy rainfall saturates volcanic deposits on Mayon’s slopes, significantly increasing the risk of:

  • Lahars (volcanic mudflows)
  • Flash floods
  • Landslides
  • River channel overflows
  • Ashfall remobilization

Several municipalities within the 6–8 km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and extended danger areas are affected.

Scenario Timeline

Phase 1 – Pre-Eruption Conditions (Day 1)

Indicators

  • Increased volcanic earthquakes and harmonic tremors
  • Lava dome instability
  • Sulfur dioxide emissions exceed critical thresholds
  • Continuous moderate rainfall (100–150 mm in 24 hrs)

Communities at Risk

  • Legazpi City
  • Tabaco City
  • Daraga
  • Camalig
  • Guinobatan
  • Sto. Domingo

Initial Impacts

  • River systems begin swelling
  • Minor ashfall reported
  • Road visibility reduced
  • Evacuation centers activated

Phase 2 – Explosive Eruption and Extreme Rainfall (Day 2)

Major Event

A moderate explosive eruption occurs:

  • Lava fountains rise 500–800 meters
  • Pyroclastic density currents descend southern gullies
  • Ash plume reaches 10 km high

At the same time:

  • Rainfall intensifies to 250 mm within 12 hours
  • Thick volcanic ash mixes with rainwater

Secondary Hazards

  • Lahars flow through major river channels
  • Bridges become impassable
  • Floodwaters isolate barangays
  • Power outages occur province-wide
  • Cellular networks become intermittent

Casualty Risks

  • Trapped residents refusing evacuation
  • Respiratory distress due to ash inhalation
  • Injuries from collapsing roofs under wet ash load

Phase 3 – Escalated Humanitarian Emergency (Day 3–5)

Emergency Conditions

  • Over 80,000 evacuees displaced
  • Evacuation centers overcrowded
  • Water contamination reported
  • Food supply chain disrupted
  • Local hospitals overwhelmed

Critical Infrastructure Impacts

  • National highways blocked by debris
  • Water treatment facilities damaged
  • Schools converted into shelters
  • Airport operations suspended

Emergency Response Framework

1. Incident Command Activation

Lead Agencies

  • PHIVOLCS
  • National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development
  • Department of Health
  • Philippine Red Cross

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Activated at:

  • Provincial level
  • Municipal level
  • Barangay level

ICS Functional Sections

  • Operations
  • Planning
  • Logistics
  • Finance/Admin
  • Public Information

Emergency Response Actions

A. Evacuation Operations

Immediate Actions

  • Mandatory evacuation within 8 km radius
  • Forced evacuation in lahar-prone river channels
  • Prepositioning of buses, trucks, and rescue vehicles

Priority Groups

  • Elderly
  • Pregnant women
  • Children
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Hospital patients

Evacuation Challenges

  • Flooded roads
  • Nighttime evacuation
  • Panic and misinformation

B. Search and Rescue (SAR)

Deployment

  • Swift water rescue teams
  • Urban search and rescue teams
  • Military augmentation units

Equipment Needed

  • Rubber boats
  • High-clearance vehicles
  • Thermal drones
  • Satellite communication systems

C. Public Health Response

Health Risks

  • Acute respiratory infections
  • Gastrointestinal disease outbreaks
  • Skin infections
  • Psychological trauma

Response Measures

  • Distribution of N95 masks
  • Mobile medical clinics
  • Emergency vaccination
  • Mental health support services

D. Relief and Humanitarian Assistance

Essential Supplies

  • Food packs
  • Potable water
  • Hygiene kits
  • Blankets and sleeping mats

Shelter Management

  • Physical distancing enforcement
  • Gender-sensitive spaces
  • Child-friendly areas

E. Engineering and Infrastructure

Priority Tasks

  • Clearing lahar debris
  • Restoring power lines
  • Temporary bridge installation
  • River monitoring

Critical Monitoring Areas

  • Miisi River
  • Bonga Gully
  • Basud River
  • Mabinit Channel

Warning and Communication Strategy

Public Warning Systems

  • SMS alerts
  • Sirens
  • Radio broadcasts
  • Social media advisories

Key Public Messages

  1. Avoid river channels and low-lying areas
  2. Wear masks and eye protection
  3. Boil water before drinking
  4. Follow official evacuation orders only

Recovery Considerations

Short-Term Recovery

  • Damage assessment
  • Debris clearing
  • Restoration of utilities
  • Livelihood assistance

Long-Term Recovery

  • Relocation of high-risk communities
  • Reforestation and slope stabilization
  • Improved lahar diversion systems
  • Strengthened early warning systems

Worst-Case Escalation Scenario

If rainfall continues for 5–7 days after the eruption:

  • Massive secondary lahars may occur even without further eruption
  • Additional municipalities may require evacuation
  • Long-term displacement may exceed 6 months
  • Economic losses may affect agriculture, tourism, and transportation across the Bicol Region

Recommended Emergency Preparedness Measures

Before Eruption

  • Conduct pre-emptive evacuation drills
  • Stockpile food and medical supplies
  • Inspect evacuation centers
  • Prepare alternate transport routes

During Eruption

  • Maintain 24/7 monitoring
  • Restrict entry into danger zones
  • Disseminate hourly advisories

After Eruption

  • Continue lahar monitoring during rainfall
  • Conduct structural safety inspections
  • Provide psychosocial support programs

P.S. I am praying more Bikolano artists will come up with a lot of art workshops (art therapy included), such as a paint-by-number Mt. Mayon art workshop. I think it would be a great way for artist wannabes, young and old alike, to learn about color blending (I am not good at this) using an actual paintbrush. The photo below is an example of a design template for the workshop, which I generated through ChatGPT. The more design templates, the better. Ipi-print na lang sya. 😀

P.P.S. I requested ChatGPT, by the way, to convert the Bikol poem to a song, and it came up with a creative rendition. Well, without the melody, of course. I am praying I get to play it on my guitar one of these days, God willing. 🙂

“Sagkod Duman” by Christine Lailani
(A Bikol Love Song)

Verse 1
Kun sana mahiling ta ka pa giraray
Nin saro pang pagkakataon
Dadal-on ko sa sakong isip
An lambang parte nin saimong ngonit

Kun sana makapaghimangraw ako
Asin masabi an nasa puso
Alagad ini na mga tataramon
Sa papel lamang nagtatao nin buhay

Pre-Chorus
Bako man kita magkarani
An sakong gugma dai nagbabago
Sa gab-i asin sa aldaw
Ikaw pa man giraray

Chorus
Sagkod duman, higugmaon ta ka
Maski harayo an saimong harong
Sagkod duman, hihingakon ta
An ngaran mo sa lambang panahon

Asin kun dai pa kita tinadhana
Mahapot ako sa Dios na bantayan ka
Ta an gugma ko para saimo
Magtitinindog sagkod duman

Verse 2
Kun sana mahiditan ta ka pa
Asin mayakap nin mahigpit
Mabatyagan an init nin saimong presensya
Na minsan nang nagtao nin kapayapaan

Kun sana maitao ko gabos
An sakong puso asin kalag
Alagad panahon muna an bahala
Na mag-ayo nin mga pilat

Pre-Chorus
Bako man kita magkarani
An sakong gugma dai naglalaya
Sa bituon asin bulan
Ikaw an sakong orasyon

Chorus
Sagkod duman, higugmaon ta ka
Maski harayo an saimong harong
Sagkod duman, hihingakon ta
An ngaran mo sa lambang panahon

Asin kun dai pa kita tinadhana
Mahapot ako sa Dios na bantayan ka
Ta an gugma ko para saimo
Magtitinindog sagkod duman

Bridge
Naglalampas sa dagat asin kabukidan
Dai matitinag nin unos asin panahon
Sa idalum nin mga bituon
Ikaw an awit nin sakong puso

Final Chorus
Sagkod duman, padagos ini
An gugma kong dai nauubos
Maski tahaw an pagitan ta
Ikaw pa man an sakong kahinguwan

Sagkod duman, sakong marahay na gugma
Mahapot ako na mag-abot kita
Sa tamang oras nin buhay
Sagkod duman…
Sagkod duman…

More articles in the “MAY/Mt. Mayon Series”:

Celebrating MAY-on
Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged In Fire
[Part 2] Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged In Fire

Pentecost Sunday Is All About Red

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Indeed, there is no coincidence in God. I got another wonderful surprise when Mom’s beautiful red lilies all bloomed this week in time for Flores de Mayo. All thanks to my 3rd sister and our house help for replanting and watering them. ❤

Red lilies are a classic emblem of passionate, romantic love.
Thanks to my sister for arranging them here!
This house, by the way, is also in its 50s – my parents’ greatest work of art, built slowly and lovingly since they got married 53 years ago.

When I watched this Sunday’s worship service, I realized only then that today is also Pentecost Sunday. And the liturgical color of the day is none other than RED. 😀

Pentecost Sunday is a major Christian holiday celebrated exactly 49 days (or 50 days inclusive) after Easter Sunday. Often called the “Birthday of the Church,” it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, empowering them to spread the Gospel. [1, 2, 3]

Key Facts and Significance

  • Meaning: The name originates from the Greek word pentekostē, meaning “fiftieth”.
  • Biblical Event: Described in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit arrived as a “violent rushing wind” with “tongues of fire,” allowing the disciples to speak in various languages so that everyone could understand the message.
  • Other Names: It is also historically known as Whitsunday or White Sunday because early Christians often wore white garments for baptisms held on this day. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Traditions and Liturgy

  • Color: Red is the liturgical color for the day, symbolizing the “tongues of fire”. Many churches wear red, decorate with red, and pray for the renewal of the Holy Spirit.
  • Ecclesiastical Context: It marks the end of the Easter season in Western Christian traditions and is considered one of the holiest days of the year, frequently celebrated with special hymns and Holy Mass.[1, 2, 3]

(Source: Google)

Speaking of “tongues of fire,” I am praying that this blog has helped spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth through storytelling. And I would like to claim that by God’s grace, it was mission accomplished.

Because 2 days ago, I received a notification from WordPress. I unlocked an achievement as a Globe Trotter. It means around 50+ countries viewed this blog. Yaaaay! To God be the glory! 😇

Thank you for visiting this blog, my brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world!

The irony? I have never been out of this country for the entire 40 years of my life. Yep, not once. lol

Though I’m not really into traveling if it’s only for the purpose of posting Instagram-worthy photos. My idea of a good travel whether locally or abroad is more like cultural immersion and getting to know the community on a deeper level.

And yet with just the internet and a laptop, the Good News traveled to so many different countries. Amazing God we have, right?

I guess I can now claim with such conviction that I have truly been a witness and have lived out this Bible verse:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

I would like to end this article with my all-time favorite classic hymn. There’s just something about this song that makes me (and also my late maternal grandma) cry every time I hear it, no matter who sings it.

A blessed Pentecost Sunday, everyone! 🙏

Such a very beautiful and powerful rendition. ❤

P.S. I’ll share a tip on how to recognize God’s hands when He orchestrates things. Did you notice this number in the paragraphs above, including the captions of the photos: 50? Try connecting it to Pentecost. I pray that your spiritual lens will also be opened so you can marvel at how great our God is. 😉

P.P.S. If you have noticed the other achievement I have unlocked, yes, WordPress got it right, too – I am a perfectionist when it comes to everything I post here in my blog. Because I serve a perfect God, He deserves nothing but my very best. 🙂

By the saving power of the Cross, I impart to you the spiritual gift that God has specifically bestowed upon you. Claim it in Jesus’ Mighty Name and proclaim His goodness and greatness to the ends of the world. Amen. 🙏

Modern-Day Seers And Their Role Beside A King

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Who are your favorite wizards and sorcerers? I think some of you will answer “Gandalf.” That is my answer, too. Or maybe some of you prefer Merlin or Dumbledore. If you have watched the Netflix series “Vikings,” Ragnar’s second wife is also a seeress.

Though I prefer Lagertha. Because I love to joke around, and if I am seated beside a friend of mine na bentang benta sa kanya mga jokes ko at mahilig manghampas, I have to ready myself with anything I can grab so when she starts laughing and hitting, I’m going to shout like Lagertha: “Shield wall!”. lol

This reminds me of my favorite niece (my eldest sister’s daughter), with whom I share the same sense of humor. She always gets my jokes and just laughs her heart out to the point that we are both crying tears of joy in the middle of our jokes.

Sometimes we don’t have to say anything to one another. Just one look, and she can read what’s on my mind. Then we would just start bursting into laughter.

Ah, yes, I love my pamangkins. They are my only niece and nephew in the family since it’s only my eldest sister who has kids among all five of us, siblings.

Speaking of my niece, I very much appreciate her for choosing this ARTherapy as one of their Christmas gifts last year for me (for all the ladies in the family, actually), because it came in very timely. And she’s given me a deadline for the artwork – I should be done before she comes back in December. Whew, tough challenge, but I’m on to it. 😀

Because when words fail, I do art.
Thank you so much, Ate Cilque! ❤

It looks like someone got the gift of prophecy in the family, too, a seer. 😉 Both my niece and nephew are very gifted, by the way. Their mental age was more advanced than their chronological age when they were growing up, and it remains so now.

I lift them both in prayer that they will be able to answer to God’s unique calling for them, too. It is because of them that’s why I am actively supporting advocacies and interceding through prayer on how to help in alleviating local and global social issues. Not exactly for my future, but for theirs.

What Are Seers?

Going back to seers and prophets (some articles claim that these two are different from one another), you might be wondering why I am writing an article on them. I was led to this topic during one prayer time. Some articles here in my blog were written to bring joy, but some were also born from tears.

And this article is one of them. This is, I guess, the downside of being given wisdom that bears too much weight – there are times you find it difficult to express it in words.

Having the gift of prophecy is a blessing. But it comes with a heavy responsibility, most especially when the news you need to deliver is not good.

That’s why I don’t talk, or I choose to be quiet when at the height of a certain event, because I remembered what Mom once told me that my words are like a weapon. When I wield it, it’s enough to kill someone. In Bicol, we call it “marara an surumaton.”

When I am angry (and because I am human), I blurt out words that are somehow a curse, and they come true. And I guess that is the punishment there for me. Because when I see people suffering because what I said came true, there’s always this urge to take them back.

But we all know, once words get out, there is no taking them back. This is no witchcraft where you can reverse a curse. Or a wizardry spell to change everything back to how it is.

And this is how I learned some of my most painful lessons. That it is better to speak life than condemn. That if you must oppose and call out a sin, do so with gentleness, respect, and love. That the goal is never to destroy people, but to win them to Christ.

But in sharing the Gospel, it’s the backlash that prophets and seers are expected to endure. In fact, it is a higher calling that requires putting even your own life at stake just to deliver the truth and what the king and the people need to hear.

Most of the prophets in the Bible worked closely with a king or a ruler of a kingdom. Some say that the church should never meddle with the affairs of the government and vice versa. But if we look at the Bible, the prophets did play a huge role alongside the king.

Our modern-day seers now oftentimes work away from the limelight. They usually don’t get the credit. But you’ll see them working in a team or at times alone, observing, analyzing, supporting, and predicting.

That is why I agree with ditching the “Savior” politics mindset. The success of a leader is always because of the team behind him. There is only one Savior, and that is Jesus Christ.

And yet it is God who appoints kings and rulers.

I highlighted it because there is a growing sentiment of outrage that is even creeping into our churches, and we must be careful enough to prevent it from causing any divisions.

Words can start a war or calm a crowd. I urge everyone to do the latter. We cannot afford civil disobedience at this point.

Because there are even “greater forces” that we need to be fighting against, and it will require ALL of us to work together. This is only the beginning, and there is more coming – far worse, and at a far bigger scale.

A quiet revolution is starting, which is why I am praying with and for the spiritual leaders to be able to lead their flock well.

Because it is starting.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:12

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” – Romans 13:1-2

I know. I know how it feels to be betrayed, multiple times, by people whom you trusted. And yet I also know how it feels to continue loving them despite it all because of the Bible verses above. It is extremely difficult to be able to endure it with no end in sight. And yet we are all answerable to this question when God asks us: What did I say in the Bible about love?

Last night, I randomly opened my Bible seeking clarity for the overwhelming things going on. And here’s where the Spirit led me: God Will Judge With Equity.

God says, “At the time I have planned,
    I will bring justice against the wicked.
When the earth quakes, and its people live in turmoil,
    I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.” – Psalm 75:2-3

“For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.” – Habakkuk 2:3

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

May it be a reminder. May it be our comfort. May it be our hope. May we continue doing what God asked us to do where He placed us and with what He’s given us. Because there’s a lot of work waiting for us to do – and it doesn’t include going against one another.

And for all others, we let God do the work. May we live out God’s calling for you and me, and this is my prayer for all of us in Jesus’ Mighty Name. 🙏

P.S. Here’s something sentimental to remember Lagertha, the most famous shieldmaiden. After you watched it, tell me you didn’t cry. Because if you didn’t, I’ll make you cry. lol I am just kidding. 😀

P.P.S. This is how I’ll make you cry – lipote or balig-ang, as we call it in Bulan, because it is very sour. This was one of my favorite snacks when I was a kid, and I plan on growing a couple of them in our farm.

Lipote Fruit
We shake it in salt and sugar to balance the sourness of this fruit.
Balig-ang

May nakita ako noong isang araw sa sentro kaya bumili ako at nag-crave. Kaya siguro ‘di ako nagkaanak kasi alam ni God na kapag naglihi ako, ‘yung tipong kahit madaling araw ganito ang eksena: “Hon, gusto kong kumain ng ‘kinagang.”

O ‘di ba, ‘kinagang’ sa hatinggabi, Teh. Saan ka hahanap ‘nun, sige nga. 😆

By the way, ‘kinagang’ is one of Bicol’s heirloom dishes. It is one of my favorite viands here in Sorsogon, but it’s now so difficult to find one. Maybe this is my cue to learn how to cook one. 😉

You may read more about it here in this article: “Recipe: Sorsogon dish called Kinagang.”

Movie poster concept of Daragang Magayon and Panganoron with Mt. Mayon volcano as a background.

[Part 2] Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged In Fire

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Because May is being “Mayon-ified,” I thought about creating a movie poster or book cover design for my “Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged In Fire” adaptation of “The Legend of Mt. Mayon.”

I first introduced an AI-generated image of Panganoron in the article, “Celebrating MAY-on,” without using a reference photo. I thought I’d let AI come up with its own version of Panganoron, and I just edited some details for the revised image. So, this guy is nonexistent in our world, but maybe he exists in the parallel universe. 😀

Here’s my step-by-step guide on creating the images of Daragang Magayon and Panganoron, which I generated through ChatGPT.

Step 1: Create a character profile (image version) by coming up with specific details for your initial prompts.

Panganoron V. 2.0
Daragang Magayon V. 2.0

Step 2. Recreate Daragang Magayon’s photo and change it to an active combat stance with a gritty expression.

Step 3: Combine these three images to create the movie poster or book cover design template.

I requested ChatGPT to adjust the lighting for this photo.

Step 4: Add the movie or book title. You can indicate which words in the title you want to emphasize, i.e., capitalized, bigger font, font style, etc. Then include other design elements you want to see in your image. In this case, I added the “fire” element around the title.

Design Concept #1 (Dark Theme)
Design Concept #2: I added a headshot of Daragang Magayon since this new narrative is about her. This is a great design concept, but the outline of the Mayon volcano is hidden, and methinks there are just too many details. Is this a yay or a nay? What do you think? 🙂

These are some of the design concepts I came up with, and I am still considering creating more, so there are more options to choose from. But I think the design concept above better fits the new narrative.

Here’s the new image I generated of the heroine and her love interest, which can be used as sort of a “teaser” copy. Though I think it is perfect as a pre-nup photoshoot inspo. lol

Version 1 (Portrait Mode)

Question: Bakit kaya si Panganoron naka-sandals at si Daragang Magayon ay nakapaa?

Answer: Naisip yata ni ChatGPT, para daw kapag tumuga si Mt. Mayon, kakargahin ni Panganoron si Daragang Magayon ala “hokage moves” para hindi mapaso ang paa ni Daragang Magayon ng hot lava.

Ay ambot saimo, ChatGPT. lol

Version 2 (Landscape Mode)

Seryoso na ngani. O di ba, no need umakyat ng Ligñon Hill para sa pre-nup photos nyo. 😀

Once again, ChatGPT just never underdelivers as long as you make very detailed prompts. The results always exceeded my expectations, and I only had to do some minor edits to achieve the designs that I desired.

Aside from the combat stances, I also tried experimenting with other actions, such as “bathing in the river.” In the local legend, Daragang Magayon fell into the river and was saved by Panganoron. This was their first encounter.

Unfortunately, ChatGPT cannot generate exactly what I had in mind about a woman bathing in the river. Or maybe I need to tweak my prompts a bit more. But I am still satisfied with the results.

And I took the left photo above to yet another level to test how far AI can go by asking ChatGPT to incorporate it in fashion designing and styling. I just had to request some edits later on, so I’d get my desired results.

This includes replacing the accessories with a tribal or Boho-inspired necklace and earrings, adding a woven brown belt, and changing the background to a soft and mellow ambiance. My first prompt included the black, tight-fitting long-sleeved top with Sabrina neckline, the cream-colored wedge shoes, and the A-line, long skirt.

First Attempt
Final Version

I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of “artwear,” or art that you can wear, particularly with paintings. If you ask me if I will wear anything like what the model wears above, my answer is “yes.” Well, depending on the occasion, of course.

Do you think my chickens will love me more when they see me wearing this? I mean, they’re the only creatures outside of the house who see me often here since I don’t go out often. 😀

By the way, if you want to use some of these images, please don’t hesitate to send me a message or just comment down below. ❤ Including my face in the AI-generated images is one of my strategies, so nobody would steal my photos. lol Oh, and yes, I am using the free version only of ChatGPT.

P.S. I mentioned in some of my previous articles that Mom designed her dresses when she was in her early 20s and had them sewn by a seamstress here in our town. She got her inspo from fashion magazines and made her own fashion creations, too. Sadly, these dresses don’t fit me anymore since I already weigh 58 kgs. lol

You may read more here:

“How My Passion For Art and Fashion Came To Be”

“SEVEN WEEKENDS MNL: Bringing Out The Fashion Versatility In You”

“To The Only Mother I’ll Ever Have”

When They Say Glam Up

P.P.S. I am grateful that the provincial government of Albay made considerations for preemptive evacuations of communities near the Mayon volcano in preparation for the rainy season. In case there are emergency evacuations during heavy lahar flows, I hope the LGU will prioritize less crowded and more evacuation sites. The Philippines is currently on standby for the possibility of a Hantavirus and/or an Ebola outbreak in the country.

Air ambulances might also be necessary if there are a lot of routes that are impassable due to lahar flows. If Mayon continues its activity for the rest of the year, we can expect more buildup of PDCs and other debris on the slopes of the volcano. This will increase the likelihood of path changes in the gullies, possibly extending beyond the 6km permanent danger zone. Weather experts have already warned that we will experience above-normal rainfall volume this year due to El Niño, which will persist until 2027.

I am also praying that no mining operations will be allowed near Mt. Mayon, whether privately funded or not, Filipino-owned or owned by a foreign investor.

Pirmi lang kirita magpangadyi, maghanda, nyan magsunod sa abiso. 🙏

Mt. Mayon oil painting using Earth and warm tones.

Celebrating MAY-on

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Earlier today, I just had an idea to create an abstract painting of Mt. Mayon using ChatGPT because I wanted to test the limitations of AI in art creation. Once again, I was completely stunned by the results.

But how we write our prompts really matters. And I’m going to show why. My first prompt went like this: “Create an abstract painting of Mt. Mayon with swirls.” I included swirls because I want it to be a Van Gogh-inspired painting using details from his famous artwork, “The Starry Night.” This was the image generated.

“Mt. Mayon And The Dreamy Sky“

It’s beautiful, right? But when I ran the image on Google Reverse Image Search, there was a painting very similar to this. I had to mention it here so I wouldn’t encounter any copyright infringement issues.

If you want the generated image to be unique, the prompt has to include very specific details. What I did, I created a new prompt by tapping the visual artist in me for the nitty-gritty details. It came just in time, too, because it’s been a while since I had any artwork done.

And this was the result:

“When Daragang Magayon Visits Mt. Mayon“

I was totally blown away by the result. I ran it on Google Reverse Image Search, and indeed, it’s a unique image with copyright belonging to yours truly, of course. Just ask for my permission if you want to use it, though. 😀

There are no other images online similar to it. I am not sure, though, if there are real paintings that closely resemble this one. Please do inform me if you know of any. I would truly appreciate it. You can contact me on my social media profiles in the About Me section of this website. 👍

At the start of the month, I also wrote an article entitled “Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged in Fire,” where I also used ChatGPT to create my images of Daragang Magayon.

Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged In Fire

So, I wondered, why is it that I feel like I am “Mayon-ified” this May? 😀 There must be a connection between May and the Mayon volcano. I typed into Google Search and voila, “Magayon Festival” is actually celebrated during this month. It started out as a month-long celebration in 1999, founded by former Albay governor Sir Al Francis Bichara.

Then I realized, my Daragang Magayon article is actually incomplete because it doesn’t even have a photo of Panganoron or him and Daragang Magayon when it’s supposed to be a love story. lol

Say “Hi” to Panganoron version 2.0.

This is not the first image generated because the first one looked more buffed with long hair. I requested ChatGPT to recreate a leaner version of the image with shorter hair because I think this character fits the new narrative better. 😀

But for the photo of the lovers, I thought the first ChatGPT version of Panganoron best fits the image composition because it resembles the original version of the local legend. I also made different variations since the first photo looked too simple, though it’s also appealing. So, I requested ChatGPT to add brighter colors and to increase the brightness and contrast of the first image.

First Attempt
I love this photo more, which is a painting version of the image above. This got me feeling so amused because my real hair is actually wavy, very much like the hair of Daragang Magayon here. ChatGPT, you tryin’ to mess with me?!?! lol I’m just kidding. Well, I don’t have a cleft chin. And of course, they have to have ‘matchy-matchy’ outfits. 😀

I also ran this image on Google, and it’s all original. Yaaay! 😀

Since I got inspired by Mt. Mayon’s AI abstract paintings above, I also requested ChatGPT to come up with an abstract version of the lovers’ painting. And the result is an entirely different but equally captivating work of art.

Which painting do you like best? 🙂

The “Magayon Festival” this year was cancelled, though, due to the energy crisis and the heightened activity of Mt. Mayon. Hopefully, it will resume next year. And maybe the PTCAO of Albay will include Digital Art as a sub category under Contemporary Art in a Mt. Mayon art contest if they ever have one.

I think it is a good way to entice the younger generations to have a deeper appreciation of local culture and explore digital art more, especially since they are more digitally adept. I believe all of us have an artist in us. We just have to find the right medium where we can express our art better. 🙂

And, of course, the greatest artist is none other than Him:

“How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.” – Psalm 104:24

P.S.

The Flower Festival or “Flores de Mayo” is also celebrated during May. The photos below show the flowers in bloom now in the garden. Mom had more vibrant flowers because she devoted so much of her time tending and taking care of our garden when she was still alive.

We celebrated Mother’s Day this year by placing some of her orchids that are prolific bloomers and some Birds of Paradise flowers. I bet Mom’s enjoying even more beautiful flowers in the heavenly paradise with our Creator. 🥰

Happy Mother’s Day in heaven, Mommy! We miss you. ❤

Fragrant Rosal flowers for you from ze garden. ❤

I planted these Bougies in 2022, and they’ve been transplanted several times already. lol They’re going to be transplanted again once the construction of the Chicken House starts. It is actually one of my dreams to revive a dying forest and turn it into a Garden of Eden, God willing. 🙏

P.P.S.

If you’re wondering why I am into creating images through graphic design, I have been working in the digital marketing industry since 2013 as a brand journalist and a copywriter. In my line of work, I pitch ideas to the graphic design team during brainstorming sessions for every ad copy that I write. Some of my former clients also requested images included in the write-up upon submission. I am currently on a career break, as circumstances are not in favor of balancing online work and obligations at home. But I can’t wait to be back in the workforce, once everything’s sorted out, if God wills it.

If you’re into fashion designing and styling, you might want to check out this article: “F” for Food & Fashion Fusion.

Read more: “Art Exhibit: Donation for a Good Cause.”

Here’s another article on creating art for a good cause: “Tabang Tambayan: Pin-Tayo’s Color Bursting at Sip and Gogh.”

Daragang Magayon in an active combat stance.

Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged In Fire

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If you could be your favorite movie or book character, who would you be? Me? I would love to be “Daragang Magayon,” from Bicol’s local folklore, “The Legend of Mayon Volcano.” You may also read another version of the legend in this article.

Yet another version is Dr. Merlinda Bobis’ retelling of this legend, which I am very much looking forward to reading, and it portrays Daragang Magayon as a warrior princess. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an original copy online, and it’s also out of print. *sigh* I am praying I’ll find an original copy of this book. ❤

“Kantada ng Babaing Mandirigma Daragang Magayon” by Dr. Merlinda Bobis, an award-winning Bikol poet.

So, I am feeling playful with ChatGPT again because I am physically tired, and this is one of my ways to destress. 😀 I asked it to create a “Daragang Magayon” version of me by uploading a 2×2 ID photo of mine. lol

I only use ChatGPT when I want to experiment with images. But for the article content, it’s all me. And once again, it exceeded my expectations – the results were downright impressive, the details are incredibly stunning. If a genie in a bottle exists to make your ideas come to life, AI is really it.

Without any further ado, let me introduce you to Daragang Magayon version 2.0 (or 3.0?).

Ah yes, it’s a good thing AI did not change a single bit on my face. I was worried it wouldn’t capture my signature flat nose. lol The beehive hairstyle, though? I’m totally digging it.
ChatGPT got just the right image I had in mind. Mayadon talaga mag-imbento. lol

I also asked ChatGPT to recreate the image above and change it to an active combat stance with a gritty expression. I requested several edits because I preferred the active combat stance set with Mt. Mayon erupting in the background. But I wasn’t satisfied with the lighting on the 2nd image, so I requested another edit, and AI nailed it with the 3rd image.

1st Attempt
2nd Attempt
Final Image

By the way, using these photos for commercial purposes without my permission might still fall under copyright infringement issues because my face is in these images. 😀 Though I am still currently reviewing OpenAI’s Terms of Service for this. I do highly encourage generating similar images by creating prompts that are as detailed as possible. You may want to conduct your research first on the elements that you want to see in your AI-generated images.

For example, when determining what your avatar or model would look like, try experimenting with specific facial features, i.e., aquiline nose, round eyes, prominent cheekbones, etc. You might want to avoid coming up with prompts that are too general. The more specific, the better. For unique images, take note of techniques that photographers or artists use in their artworks, i.e., lighting, rule of thirds, foreground, background, rendering, color blending, etc.

Meanwhile, this is Daragang Magayon in the parallel universe. I can hear this version shouting: “Tsk, tsk, tsk, men. Off with their heads!!!”
Chinitang Mandirigma 😀 Nag-“chinchansu” ada ini kay mapution an pandok kesa sa lawas. lol

By the way, I upload my photos on Google’s Reverse Image Search to find images on the internet similar to mine. This is how I make sure that all original images (including AI-generated) I post online aren’t stolen. 😀

To be really honest, I was laughing out loud when the photos were generated. I was just totally amused. I felt like if I were to rewrite Daragang Magayon‘s story, it’s going to be a romantic comedy instead of a romantic tragedy. lol

I did rewrite it, though, but I tweaked the ending so it wouldn’t end tragically. As for the rom-com version, it will just have to wait. The outline below is my own version of the legend of Daragang Magayon, which I entitled, “Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged In Fire.” 🙂

***UPDATED: This photo I generated from ChatGPT a few days after I wrote this article really got me thinking. Why is it that Daragang Magayon is barefoot and Panganoron has sandals? 😀

Here’s how the new narrative will run through:

  • Daragang Magayon not only survived one challenge.
  • She overcame different obstacles that turned her into a Warrior Princess.
  • She lived in different places, but came back to the place where she was born to lead the native’s revolt against foreigners who wished to conquer the land.
  • She is not just a damsel in distress; she fights alongside Panganoron, her Army’s General, and also her lover, to defend their people and the community from those who will take advantage of them and their resources.
  • Pagtuga, a rejected suitor of Daragang Magayon, secretly made a deal with the foreigners.
  • A battle took place between the natives and the foreigners.
  • Though the natives won, a lot of them died, including Pagtuga and Daragang Magayon‘s father.
  • These fallen natives were buried on the exact battleground, wherein a few days later, a volcano rises.
  • The people called it “Mayon” to honor Daragang Magayon’s bravery in leading her people to victory.
  • Panganoron proposes to Daragang Magayon with a beautiful ring that has a natural lava stone taken from the volcano’s first eruption – a symbol of the love forged through resilience and courage.
  • She lived through until old age with Panganoron, and were blessed with many children.
  • BECAUSE A HAPPY ENDING IS A MUST. Periodt.
Daragang Magayon, the protagonist, @ 40 years old. 😉 This version is already more modified than the others when it comes to facial features.

And the Bible verses that best fit this heroine’s character are the following:

A Wife of Noble Character

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
    She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
    and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax
    and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
    and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
    with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
    a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
    her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
    her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
    and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
    for everyone has warm clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.
    She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
    where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
    and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
    and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
    and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
    and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.
    Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
    but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
    Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

– Proverbs 31: 10-31

It’s been a year since I got so close to Mt. Mayon and was able to touch the soil in one of its slopes during my first Mayon ATV Adventure last May 5, 2025. You can read more about it here:

Mt. Mayon ATV “Green Forest Trail” ADVENTURE & More of ALBAY

I came up with this write-up because it looked like Mt. Mayon reminded me of my first anniversary with it. Last May 2, 2026, there was a lava flow collapse more than usual in the gullies, particularly in the Mi-Isi Gully. Thousands of families were evacuated due to heavy ashfall and dangerous PDCs (pyroclastic density currents).

If I am not mistaken, the Green Forest Trail, where we had our last stop near the volcano last year, is located in Brgy. Mi-Isi. I think that trail is now gone with the new debris from the recent lahar flow in the area.

I wrote this article solely for fun and entertainment. But on a more heartfelt note, I am lifting all Albayanos who were affected by ashfall and might be affected by lahar, especially those living near the volcano, in my prayers. May God’s protection and provisions be upon them amid the ongoing activity of Mt. Mayon. Magpangadyi tabi kirita pirmi. 🙏

P.S. Which Daragang Magayon character version is your top choice? And if it is going to be published in a new book or as a movie, I already asked ChatGPT to create a movie poster or book cover of this new version. Check it out below. What do you think? 🙂

P.P.S. Methinks the music video below by dwta is the perfect soundtrack for my version of Daragang Magayon‘s legend.

PANGANORON (BIKOL VERSION)

[Verse 1]
Mari na
Ibahan mo ako sa sakuyang dudumanan
Mari na
Dai ta ka man wawaraon

[Pre-Chorus]
Tumubod ka sakuya
Sakuyang padaba
Dai ka maghadit
Ta dai na saimong mabaya

[Verse 2]
Mari na
Ano pa an nagpupugol sa imo?
Mari na
Sabay niyatong hahampangon
An nakaabang na peligro

[Pre-Chorus]
Tumubod ka sakuya
Sakuyang padaba
Dai ka maghadit
Ta dai na saimong mabaya

[Chorus]
Anion ako
Dulagan ta an maribukon na kinaban
Yaon ako
Dawa abuton pa kita nin kadipisilan

[Post-Chorus]
Promisa ko saimo
Dai ko nanggad ika bubutasan

[Instrumental Break]

[Pre-Chorus]
Tumubod ka sakuya
Sakuyang padaba
Dai ka maghadit
Ta dai na saimong mabaya

[Bridge]
Lalanguyon, ririrupon
Lalakawon, dadalaganon
Dawa ano, kayang gibuhon
Kun pwede sana ngani ini lalayugon

Lalanguyon, ririrupon
Lalakawon, dadalaganon
Dawa ano, kayang gibuhon
Kun pwede sana ngani ini lalayugon

Lalanguyon, ririrupon
Lalakawon, dadalaganon
Dawa ano, kayang gibuhon
Dawa ano, kakayanon

[Chorus]
Anion ako
Dulagan ta an maribukon na kinaban
Yaon ako
Dawa abuton pa kita nin kadipisilan

[Post-Chorus]
Promisa ko saimo
Sakuyang padaba
Dai ka maghadit
Ta dai ta ka man nanggad bubutasan

[Outro]
Yaon na
Kitang duwa sa lugar
Kun sain daing ribok

Huni na
Su promisa ko saimo
Papadabaon ka
Hanggang sa hudyan

PANGANORON (FILIPINO VERSION)

[Verse]
Tara na
Samahan mo ako sa aking pupuntahan
Tara na
Hindi naman kita ililigaw

[Pre-Chorus]
Magtiwala ka sa akin
Aking mahal
Wag kang mabahala
Dahil wala na sa ‘yong mang-iiwan

[Verse]
Tara na
Ano pa ang pumipigil sa iyo?
Tara na
Sabay nating haharapin
Ang nakaabang na peligro

[Pre-Chorus]
Magtiwala ka sa akin
Aking mahal
Wag kang mabahala
Dahil wala na sa ‘yong mang-iiwan

[Chorus]
Andito ako
Takasan natin ang maingay na mundo
Nariyan ako
Kahit abutin pa tayo ng suliranin

[Post-Chorus]
Pangako ko sa iyo
Hinding-hindi kita bibitawan

[Instrumental Break]

[Pre-Chorus]
Magtiwala ka sa akin
Aking mahal
Wag kang mabahala
Dahil wala na sa ‘yong mang-iiwan

[Bridge]
Lalanguyin, sisisirin
Lalakarin, tatakbuhin
Kahit ano, kayang gawin
Kung pwede nga lang ito’y liliparin

Lalanguyin, sisisirin
Lalakarin, tatakbuhin
Kahit ano, kayang gawin
Kung pwede nga lang ito’y liliparin

Lalanguyin, sisisirin
Lalakarin, tatakbuhin
Kahit ano, kayang gawin
Kahit ano, kakayanin

[Chorus]
Andito ako
Takasan natin ang maingay na mundo
Nariyan ako
Kahit abutin pa tayo ng suliranin

[Post-Chorus]
Pangako ko sa iyo
Aking mahal
Wag kang mabahala
Dahil hinding-hindi talaga kita bibitawan

[Outro]
Nariyan na
Tayong dalawa sa lugar
Kung saan walang ingay

Narito na
Ang pangako ko sa iyo
Mamahalin ka
Hanggang sa dulo

His Second Coming Will Be A Spectacle

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I was compelled to write this article today while the ideas are still fresh in my mind and relevant to what is happening around us lately. If you’re wondering why I chose this topic to write about at the start of the year, events led me to make one fascinating discovery after another.

Why Now, Mt. Mayon?

If you’ve read the article before this, I mentioned the numbers 888, which, in Biblical numerology, represent a fresh start and Jesus’ resurrection. I just didn’t expect that personally, the fresh start would be painful, although not as painful, since I had seen it coming. I think it isn’t a coincidence that Mt. Mayon also started erupting again. And yet Mayon is the only creation I know that remains admirable even in her fury.

Last year, I was able to check one item on my bucket list, which is to get as close to Mt. Mayon as possible. I believe it isn’t a coincidence, too, that the Grab driver in Legazpi City who fetched us while we were having the new tires of our car aligned shared with us out of the blue about the quarrying projects in Mt. Mayon.

He said it’s easy and more money for the local government. I just had no idea of the extent of these quarrying sites, and I was able to see one during the ATV ride going up to Mt. Mayon (jump to 4:16 in this video).

Since January 6, 2026, the lava flows on Mt. Mayon have continued, and the gullies have widened and deepened with each pyroclastic flow, according to experts. I think the Albay government is already considering extending the 6-km permanent danger zone if alert level 4 is raised over Mt. Mayon. Given the unpredictable weather patterns that we are experiencing now, which are expected to worsen as we are in a climate emergency, heavy rainfall will pose a major threat to the communities near Mt. Mayon.

Beauty In Ashes

Quarrying plays a vital role in the construction industry as well as in creating local employment, but it also destroys the natural habitat. I hope the quarry sites were assessed properly before the start of the project, making sure each quarry site won’t contribute to biodiversity loss. Quarrying also changes the topography of the area, making the soil unstable and prone to soil erosion and surface water runoff.

Now that the gullies are wider and deeper, and combined with the high volume of rainwater coming from the mountain, lahar flows will be the bigger problem. I am hoping and praying that the local government will double its reforestation and rehabilitation efforts at the foot of the volcano to increase natural barriers and make the soil more compact as more roots grow.

Local legend has it that when Mt. Mayon erupts, Pagtuga is disturbing Daragang Magayon. I can hear myself telling her, “Tahan na, Mayon. When all of this is over, we will be refined. As experts say, through subsequent healing, your cone will be new again – perfect as ever. God will rebuild what was damaged, He will restore what we’ve lost. You will be back in your original beauty and will continue to be a spectacle.”

But for now, there will be a battle. We are going through a battle of some sort. Mine is a spiritual warfare – letting go of what God is asking me to let go. Because there’s a part of me that is resisting, and yet God was saying, it is about time – be firm and keep the faith.

ChatGPT Warrior

I wanted ChatGPT to come up with an image I have visualized, which best describes the season I am in, and it is an image of a woman warrior dressed up in a full body armor similar to knights in the Medieval Ages, or more like Joan of Arc. I initially asked ChatGPT to come up with a video.

I made a prompt with the complete details of the video concept showing a woman warrior in battle, but she’s exhausted. She kneeled and, with bowed head and sword lowered to the ground, she whispered, “I am tired, I cannot keep up with this fight.”

Then an angel appeared, kneeled down beside her, whispered something in the warrior’s ear, and left. The warrior stood up, and with an even fiercer stance, charged towards her enemies and let out a battlecry – Jehovah Nissi.

Unfortunately, ChatGPT is unable to generate a video but recommended an app. So I asked ChatGPT to create an avatar in my likeness instead, dressed up as a female knight, and I uploaded a smiling photo of mine. I was so amused when ChatGPT generated an image of a cute warrior instead. lol

So I asked ChatGPT again to recreate the image and change it to a warrior in the middle of a fighting scene. The image generated was a smiling warrior while in battle. How I wish I could still smile while fighting with all the strength I could muster. 😀

Ang gondo naman ng warrior na ito, sana ganito itsura ng anak ko kung magkakaanak pa ako. lol

I then requested another edit, and this time ChatGPT got the right facial expression. I would like to applaud ChatGPT, though, for capturing my flat nose perfectly – it’s my most prized asset, just in case some of you don’t know yet. lol

I do wish this image would be used as an avatar in a role-playing game similar to Assassin’s Creed and combined with Rurouni Kenshin’s sword-fighting techniques. Methinks it would be an awesome game. And I will name this warrior “Caden.” 🙂

Ah yes, I am so in love with my flat nose. It’s so cute, right? GGSS lang ang peg, saree. ahaha 😀

I also asked ChatGPT to create another warrior version of me (a local one); you can check it out here in this article: “Daragang Magayon Version 2.0: A Love Story Forged In Fire.” Just for fun. 😀

The Feast of Tabernacles

Seriously, I am in a spiritual battle, and I know why – no fellowship, no physical church, less quiet time, no actual Bible reading – all because I am becoming like Martha at home, God’s reminder that spiritual devotion is more important than busyness. I am also isolated, which makes me more vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks.

I decided to cut back on some tasks and randomly opened my Bible and stumbled upon the book of Numbers about offerings. When I read the chapters, none of them made sense to me, and to what I was currently going through.

Then I thought maybe it is about time I start watching the Morning Worship and Prayer at Victory Philippines on YouTube again regularly. I guess it was the Spirit’s tugging, because the message for January 22 was about the Feast of Tabernacles. I remembered reading it earlier in the Bible.

I opened my Bible again and read through the bookmarked page, and that’s when I realized why I was brought to the verses about the Offerings for the Feast of Booths – the Feast of Tabernacles is also called the Feast of Booths. This prompted me to do my research on what the feast is all about. It commemorates Israel’s release from 40 years of captivity.

I just turned 40 in December of last year, and the start of 2026, for me, was also a liberation of some sort. I’m sure that this isn’t a coincidence. The numbers 888 I mentioned in this article signified not just a new start, but also a resurrection.

And the receipt that was mistakenly dated to October 21, which I thought was referring to the birthday of this blog, because I was relating it to the past, also made me think that it might be referring to an event in the future as well. Some say that Jesus’ birthday actually falls during the Feast of Tabernacles, but there is just not enough data to prove this.

Why We Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles

A Trumpet Or A War Horn?

I also found out that the Feast of Tabernacles refers to Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. And I just want to share an experience I had during the recent typhoon Ada. News reports said that it’s not going to make landfall, but it will come near the land mass of the Bicol region, especially Southern Bicol, which includes our town.

We didn’t receive any NDRRMC updates of a rainfall warning or very strong winds. But around 2am of January 19, I woke up to the sound of very strong winds and a blowing horn. I thought it was the howling winds, but no, this was different. I can tell the sound of a howling wind during a very strong typhoon since our town is frequented by very strong typhoons.

I went outside to check on the chicken coops and made sure their covers were still intact. And there went the sound again as if someone was blowing a trumpet, similar to the sound of a ship’s horn. I went back to bed and thought that maybe there’s a ship docked near our port since we are a coastal town. But then again, at around 2am? The port is already closed during this time.

It was also the first time I heard it, and I never heard it again. It looked like I was given a first-hand experience of what we could possibly hear when Jesus starts descending during the Second Coming. 😀 Or if it signifies the start of battle, then maybe God is building an army, a huge one. If this article resonates with you, maybe you are among God’s warriors being called out to lift His banner high.

Padayon, Padagos, Paraoma

The Feast of Tabernacles also included a celebration after the agricultural harvest. For last year’s wet season, we harvested on October 23 in one of our rice fields. This rice field is located inside a farm, an agricultural property that’s been passed on from one generation to another, starting from our maternal great-grandparents.

Though we no longer grew up on the farm, we felt like we were still called to be keepers of that property, tend it, develop it, and utilize it according to God’s will and plans. Unfortunately, the income generated from last season’s harvest hit an all-time low, prompting me to ask Dad if we should still continue with palay production or not.

Hi, Daddy! I am taking a photo of you, errr, your back. 😀

We are among the micro agribusinesses that comprise the 2.9 million palay/rice farmers who feed this country. It wouldn’t create a dent in the rice production numbers if we stopped farming, and yet Dad’s answer was that if none of the other rice farmers stop, we will continue regardless of whether we hit an all-time low or not.

Padayon, padagos (move forward), even if my siblings and I feel like it’s a losing battle – the farmers are just not making enough profit from their produce. I was apprehensive, I had my doubts, my worries piled up, and I think God felt my need for an assurance.

When God Watches Over

Because right after we harvested the palay and we were waiting for the sacks of palay to be transported to the buyer’s warehouse, I went out to walk on the rice paddies. When I looked up, I witnessed this particularly interesting and beautiful cloud formation. I have never seen anything like it in my entire life.

And after I took the photo, I zoomed it in, and I can see an outline of a face or a creature, sort of like looking down on me peering through the clouds, which is why the clouds were somehow parted in the middle. Or it’s just my very imaginative mind working. lol But what do you think?

This farm is under God’s care, supervision, and protection, and no weapon formed against it will prosper in Jesus’ Name. ❤ This is a raw and unedited image, by the way. I only added my watermark.

The message from God was crystal clear, though – “I am with you always.” I have also been seeing perfect rainbows lately, similar to what I saw in Albay back in 2020, along with these promises:

“The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever.” – Genesis 9:12-13

“What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” – Genesis 28:15

Tending the Old Earth To Usher The New Earth

Going back to the Feast of Tabernacles, there’s also a mention of the new heaven and the new earth. My family and I have been planting new coconuts, fruiting plants, and flowering trees in this farm. My siblings and I also plan to add fruit-bearing trees that no one would eat because they’re too sour, etc., to discourage trespassing inside the farm, since we don’t have a caretaker yet. But these fruit trees will be a perfect addition to the food web of the wildlife inside the farm.

We also discussed the possibility of partnering with an investor (whoever God will give us) who will help us utilize the property on one condition – environmental conservation will be at the heart of the mission. God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. Unfortunately, man has now altered so much of what nature has, or had.

Do you see the coconuts on the left side? That’s the slope where I had the vision to integrate the hospice I was talking about in this article: https://thejourneymansmoments.wordpress.com/2023/12/27/not-just-an-advocacy-but-a-higher-calling/. If you’re standing on that slope, the overlooking view is biophilia at its best. 🙂
3-Year-Old Fire Tree
Palawan Cherry Blossom (before the typhoons)
3-Year-Old PCB
Palawan Cherry Blossom (w/ cracks after the typhoons)
Farm Gate
Gerolao-Ginete Family
Coprahan/Niyugan House
Oyango Creek / NIA Dam
The Pond
The not-so-hidden Japanese tunnel.
Bamboo to Mango: I will bend, but I will not break. Says our faith, too. 🙂
I’m currently experimenting with different sustainable planting solutions in our garden.

I traded the hands in this article for the hand below. And yet I have no regrets because the hand below accomplished more in terms of purposeful and meaningful work.

As a poultry keeper, I also traded the photo on the left below for the photo on the right. I am not sure if you get the connection, but if you do, please refrain from commenting about it. It’s our dirty (literally), little secret. lol 😀

Thanks to my siblings for these lovely gifts. ❤
This is an AI-generated image.

Kidding aside, let’s wrap this article up. After reading this article, some of you might diagnose me as someone who is depressed, a narcissist, has Bipolar Disorder, has anxiety, has ADHD, has Autism, or even delusional. And I will not be mad at you because it might be true that I could have all of them. But they are just labels. I know who I am in Christ, and that’s what matters. 🙂

(You may want to read this article about discovering your identity in Jesus Christ: “Sentimental: Who Am I?”)

Thus, I will continue to share the message if that is my calling, and those called by God to also get the message will know what the message is. This is also why I keep on asking God why, why choose underqualified people, people that society sees as not normal, or do not fit in with the standards of this world, to deliver His message to the world?

Spikenard Magdalena, Anointing Oil, Jerusalem,
Who will I be anointing? 😀 You may read more about the Spikenard Magdalena Perfume and the Anointing Oil in the “Mary Magdalene” hyperlinks below.

I got the message – just like Mary Magdalene, who was possessed by 7 demons, we are the kind of people who need God’s saving grace more for us to be delivered from the afflictions that we go through. Most of them, as I have mentioned above, are battles unseen. And yet when we overcome them all by faith and with the proper support, ours is a great testimony of what Jesus did on the Cross, and God’s glory, authority, and power over all creation.

Just like Mary Magdalene, it would be an honor and a great privilege, too, to be the first to witness the unfolding of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming and to celebrate the news that He is finally here with us for all eternity – it will truly be a spectacle. ❤

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

I can’t help but mention my cute, flat nose again in this photo. lol

Pangadyi Para Sa Paraoma

I will be ending this article with a prayer, which will be entitled “Pangadyi Para Sa Paraoma (A Prayer for the Farmers)”. Why the farmers? I feel like the Spirit is leading us to pray fervently for farmers as we encounter more environmental challenges and geopolitical tensions in the coming years, and food security will be one of the pressing issues that every nation all over the world will be tackling.

Why in Bikol? I kind of miss my maternal grandma and how she would always pray in the vernacular (Bikol-Albay) – she lived for a couple of years (half of her life, if I’m not mistaken) in Daraga. Her father, my great-grandfather (a former Protestant pastor), was also born in Bacacay, Albay.

There’s something very heartfelt in her prayers, even though I can only understand a couple of them. If I am to pray like her, I can only utter a line that goes “Ini po Kagurangnan an samuyang pamibi ngunyan…” and I don’t know how to continue that prayer because my Bikol-Albay vocabulary is very limited. Or maybe it’s Bikol-Naga (Central Bikol)? Libong much. lol Any Albayano out there who can help me out? 😀

Let’s pray for the safety of everyone in Albay who will be affected by the ongoing activity of Mt. Mayon. ❤

Here’s the Bikol-Bulan version of the prayer for the farmers:

“Pangadyi Para Sa Paraoma”

“Amang Kagurangnan, nagrarani kami saimo para sa intero na paraoma na nagpapadagos sa pagtanom sa butnga san mga kalamidad nan distroso na indadara sadi sa mga pananom. Naiimod namo an pagtios san kada paraoma para lang makatanom nan makaani para sa kakaunon nan ikakaayad san bilog na komunidad. Sa mga masunod na taon, hatagan mo tabi kami sin dunong kun pan-o masolusyunan an nagdadaghan na problema san saamo kapalibutan, nyan sin kusog san lawas nyan san boot para magpadagos lalo na sa panahon sin kaperwisyuhan. Inpapangadyi namo ini sa ngaran ni Hesu Kristo, Amen.”

My handwritten (cursive) version on a 2020 journal that I will be using just now. 😀

P.S.

I stumbled upon this playlist on YouTube, and it summarizes my faith for the start of 2026. ❤

P.P.S.

Since I just turned 40 last year, I am also praying for deliverance from yet another “generational illness.” I have been praying hard that our generation and the future generations be healed from this in Jesus’ Name, since genetics plays a huge role. Though we are not dismissing environmental factors and lifestyle choices. Kami na sana ang huling henerasyon na makakaranas nito sa pamamagitan ng dalangin at mga praktikal at medikal na solusyon galing sa mga eksperto.

Experts recommend a yearly mammogram to monitor any cancer cell growth, given a family’s breast cancer history, such as ours (both sides of our parents). Ah, yes, it will truly be a miracle if none of us (my siblings and I) have it. And yet, let God’s will be done. At age 40, I have nothing more to ask. God already gave me more than I asked for, and I am ready to go any time. My prayers now come down to 2 choices: let nature run its own course or allow Science to intervene should I have cancer. 🙂

When They Say Glam Up

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Here’s a little throwback to those days when we were advised to glam up and dress to impress when meeting and interviewing business owners for our articles (one of my career highlights). These were also the days when I was chasing a lot of things, but ironically, I just didn’t know what I was really chasing. 😃

Circa 2014 taken at UP Diliman for a fashion review. These are the days when I weighed 10 kgs less than I weigh now. 😀
2014
2014
2014

I became a “jack of all trades, master of none,” and yet back then, I felt like none of what I was doing made sense. I was trying different paths because I wanted to challenge myself, and I was constantly looking for the next challenge to conquer. Until came the time when I asked myself what my purpose really is, what I am doing all of these things for, and is this all there is to life? In the Bible, King Solomon also had a similar realization at one point in his life.

Circa 2013: Photo taken during my graduation pictorial’s creative shot (master’s degree in Special Education @ UP Diliman) na hindi ko natapos ang thesis because married life chose me. 😀
2013
2013

It was when I realized that it is part of human nature to always chase something and that the chase becomes meaningless when you lack the purpose for doing it that I went down the wrong path. Nope, I did not do drugs, just in case you’re wondering. But it was on this wrong path that I found God.

Circa 2010 taken in Boracay.
This will be the first and last photo of me wearing something like this that I’ll be posting here because I am now living out Romans 12:2. Even if it’s summer, you won’t see me wearing something like this in public. If God says my body is holy and sacred, then I have to treat it as such. There’s no need to flaunt to the world that God has given me a beautiful body and try to earn the world’s approval. I can still wear thongs if I want to, but only my spouse can see it.

When I was saved and became a born-again Christian in 2013, I started immersing myself in Bible reading. I was so hungry to learn more about the Bible, and then everything just made sense. Now I know why I had to meet a whole lot of different people and experience a lot of things, which I am all grateful for now. This Bible verse, in particular, changed my perspective on what a life’s purpose should be:

“Seek God’s will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:6

In the past, I was looking for a specific purpose in life, like I wanted to do this and be that. It was only when I became a born-again Christian that God made me realize I got it all wrong. Because the truth is that we only have one purpose in this world – to honor and glorify God.

I am wearing one of Mom’s clothes that she designed herself in this photo. ❤

Everything that we do and whatever we may go through, whether it’s good or bad, is always for the purpose of glorifying God and testifying to the world that He is real and He is the one and only true God. Seeking what God wants us to do every single day from the moment we wake up and following Him where He leads us is what gives our lives meaning and purpose.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” – Proverbs 19:21

Circa 2010: I look more like a 38-year-old woman here than Sisa Girl (2024). So, maybe I really am aging backwards. I hope that doesn’t apply to my cognitive abilities. lol 😂

Only God knows His purpose for us, and it is not for us to know beforehand. Our only duty is to wait until He finally discloses to us what He wants us to do and instructs us on the way we should go. Because this is how God teaches us to have faith in Him. This is how God tests us: how far are we willing to trust Him? And this is why we have to have a deep relationship with Him.

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” – Hebrews 11:1-2

We just have to constantly communicate with God when it comes to what He wants us to do. Thus, prayers must be a constant in a Christian’s life. We can’t be Christians and never pray a single prayer in a day. This is how we communicate with God, and this is how we resist temptations when they start to distract our minds. Prayers help us focus on God’s tasks for us and realign them when we’re led astray.

I know some of you will be asking, “But how secure is our future with God?” I will answer this question with these Bible verses because I have proven them so many times in my life since the day I got saved:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

“LORD, You give me stability and prosperity; You make my future secure.” – Psalms 16:5

So now, I would like to dare you to dare God to prove to you that He is God. Are you up to the challenge? 😉 Because that’s what I did, and I can say that it was the best outcome – more than what I expected. Ah, the love of the Lord is just incomparable. 🥰

P.S. Salvation isn’t an overnight process where, after you surrender your life to Jesus, your life will be free from any troubles. It is a lifetime of sanctification – a grueling transformation where every day you subject yourself to constant discipline and self-control by saying “no” to the things that no longer honor God.

I am still struggling with a couple of weaknesses now, and I can’t claim that I have mastered controlling them. But I am glad that by God’s grace, I am no longer doing most of the bad things that I did before. Even though the enemy will remind me of my past, I can now confidently say that it is no longer my present and my future. Then, I let my mind shift its focus to the beautiful promises of God waiting for me when I obey Him and only Him. 🙏

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

LAYA 2019: The Arts and Music Festival That Was

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Hello, my beloved readers! My apologies for the long hibernation here on WordPress. I had a lot of things going on lately. But I promised myself I can never miss a post here on my blog. So, for my comeback article, I’ve decided to share a photo essay instead.

Hubby and I weren’t able to celebrate our wedding anniversary nor went out on a summer vacation as a couple last year because we had a lot of constraints. This year, we were given the opportunity to have a summer getaway and I told my husband this will be our advance wedding anniversary, too. lol Do take note though that we were married on August 17. 😀

While I enjoy traveling, the practical me would still want to save money for other (more important) things. It’s a good thing hubby also shares the same sentiments with me. Since we saved up for this vacation, I told my husband that it has to be a collective experience and we’re not just going to have a summer vacation for the sake of Instagram-worthy photos. Because we can do that at any time of the year.

I had no idea where I will find an event that’s going to give us a collective summer experience but maybe God heard my prayers because I stumbled upon the LAYA Arts and Music Festival. This was our first ever music beach festival that we attended so I must say that the experience was indeed one for the books in our travel adventures as a couple. Do continue reading and find out why. 😉

LAYA Arts and Music Festival (May 31-June 2, 2019)

Day 1

We left Manila at 6:30 am and arrived in Zambales at 11:00 am exactly under the midday sun, which was perfect for taking photos of the event place. The art booths were also set up but hubby and I decided to take a nap by the beach first and stroll around. I haven’t slept the night before but I guess the excitement just got me going. 😉

 

Came nighttime, there was a short drizzle before the night one concert started. But it didn’t stop the crowd from enjoying the music performed by the awesome lineup of talented artists such as Ben and Ben.

 

For our accommodation, we availed the “Glamping” package at Crystal Beach Resort. The resort’s glamping feature exceeded my expectations. It’s very comfortable set up with a light bulb, a fan, two comfy mattresses, toiletries, blankets, pillows, a locker, a socket, a wet clothes rack, and your own set of benches and a table.

Our tent was also pitched facing the beachfront so it was such an adorable sight for us either at daytime or during nighttime. The resort has quite a number of bathrooms, showers, wash areas, and comfort rooms in every corner of the campsite. Though there were a lot of guests during the event, there’s no need to wait in line and they keep the wash areas clean always.

 

We had buffet breakfasts as part of our event package and if you’re going to buy food from the resort’s restaurant, their serving is good for sharing at an affordable price. But if you prefer a cheaper alternative, the Bamboo Food Strip located just outside the resort offers your regular Pinoy favorites such as ihaw-ihaw, snacks, and lutong bahay.

The resort doesn’t allow any single-use plastic inside the site so this means you will have to surrender all the chips and bottled water or soft drinks you brought with you at the entrance.

This is part of the resort’s effort to keep the beach clean and plastic-free, which is why I totally love Crystal Beach Resort. I believe this is one advocacy that all resorts can adopt to better protect our environment.

This is actually more effective, I think, than doing a beach cleanup every now and then to lessen the plastic waste. As they say, “prevention is better than cure.”

Day 2

For the second day, the activities were jam-packed with a long lineup of fun things to do and hubby and I felt we just had so little time to try them all. What we’re able to try out though are the Drum Circle workshop hosted by Anima Tierra and the Tie-Dye workshop facilitated by Yana Ofrasio.

They are such talented and amazing artists. Brian and I were very excited about how our chosen designs in the tie-dye workshop will turn out. To our surprise, the outcome of my chosen design kind of looked like a Cross (orange and purple). It does look like a Cross, right? 😀

 

Aside from the Drum Circle and Tie-Dye Workshops, the following are the other daytime activities:

– Flow Arts Session
– Sound Bath Session
– Yoga Session
– LAYA Talks on mental health, gender equality, etc.

– Mask-making Workshop

– Watercolor Workshop
– Dream Catcher Workshop

 

For the night two concert, something amazing happened and that I will share in the next article about miracles. Oh, and before that, we had the Sunset Bonfire Jam and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. 😉

 

Day 3

This was our free time and we can do anything we wish while waiting for our check-out time at 2:00 pm. We just spent it basking under God’s beautiful creations – sea, sun, and nature.

 

***

We would like to thank Travel Factor for arranging everything for us and making sure we enjoyed the LAYA event from Day 1 until Day 3 as well as the freebies! ❤

 

Always enjoying God’s creations may it be the sea or the mountains,

P.S.

Hubby and I availed the round-trip bus transfers from Manila to Zambales and vice versa just to get the summer vibe with fellow campers and festival goers. It was fun but we’ll bring the car next time for a change. 😀

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P.S. (2)

Thank God for a hubby who just waits for me patiently all the time. ❤ Indeed, he has a master’s degree in waiting. hahaha Nah, that is why I love my man to pieces. I just assured him that ladies are really like that. It’s part of every husband or boyfriend’s duties to wait for their ladies in anything – long shopping, long time taking a bath, long time dressing up, etc. He posted in his FB Stories the photo below with a written text. 😀