Category Archives: Poetry, Feature and Fiction

Liebster Award

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First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to my fellow blogger, Herbirthmarks, for having the time to go through and appreciate my blog, and nominate me for the Liebster award. Thank you! 🙂

The award aims to promote up-and-coming, interesting blogs with less than 200 followers. Here are the guidelines:

  • Post eleven facts about yourself
  • Answer the questions posed by your nominator
  • Pass the award on to eleven new recipients
  • Post eleven new questions to your recipients
  • Post a copy of the badge on your blog. Notify nominees and include links to the originating blog, as well as the new recipients.

11 Facts About Myself

1. I am a Christian.

2. I am a Filipino, by blood and by virtue.

3. I love the sun, sand, sea – beach lover.

4. I have been creating poems ever since I was in high school.

5. I dread recitations and public speaking, thus, I became a writer.

6. I am passionate about learning – I crave for it.

7. I support a lot of advocacy that promote a good cause.

8. I am an artist, but not yet a master of his craft.

9. I love the outdoors, nature is my best breather.

10. I dance and sing – they heal the soul.

11. I love and enjoy life – to the maximum. 🙂

My answers to the questions of Herbirthmark: 

1. If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

I would like to be a cat. I have always been a cat-lover and felines are very sensual creatures. They love to be cuddled and I love cuddling them.

2. If you had one day of secret free time, how would you use it?

I would use it to have a personal, quiet time with God.

3. What are your go-to conversation starters?

Just the typical “Hi! How are you today?” 😉

4. If you could have one wish that didn’t earn you money and didn’t magically fix something, what would it be?

To be able to slowly but successfully promote an advocacy.

5. What is your favorite travel destination and why?

Philippines. I have always loved my country.

6. What is your favorite childhood memory?

When my cousins and I would go to our grandfather’s farm to play.

7. Beer, wine or neither?

Wine. Both red and white.

8. What type of music do you listen to?

Christian music, gospel songs, acoustic and classical

9. What’s number one on your bucket list?

Bungee jumping/sky diving.

10. What three words do you think your closest friends would use to describe you?

Emotional. Purposeful. Joker.

11. If your house were on fire, and your family and pets safe, what three items would you attempt to save?

My eyeglasses, guitar and important documents.

Here are the blogs that I nominate for this award:

Mastermind

ShinkzLive91

Whittier Strong

HP Photography

DTBarron

Books Education and Learned Things

The Culture Connoisseur

Middle East Moments

Taking A Deep Breath

Chronically Chic

What Drives The Weak?!

Here are my questions for the nominees:

1. How do you envision the world 100 years from now?

2. What is your favorite expression when you are surprised?

3. Provide 5 things you love to do.

4. Where is your most memorable place?

5. If you will be given the opportunity to become a scientist, what would you invent? Why?

6. What color would best represent your favorite mood? Why?

7. What places in the Philippines would you love to visit or your favorite?

8. If you are to involve in a community affair, what would it be?

9. What are the 5 things you used to hate about school?

10. Where do you see yourself when you grow old?

11. What was the first instance that you could recall when you felt sad?

 

CONGRATULATIONS! 🙂

As I Was Thinking Back

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If only I can be whimsical of my imprudence and settled to be less reckless, then impediments would have been easier tackled. Ahhh, the repercussions of a risk taker, it is. More failures than success.

I craved for vengeance, I was given forgiveness.

I claimed to be stonehearted, I was given pity.

I longed to set barriers, still, I was guilt –stricken.

I am humbled.

I repented.

I accepted.

I was given life, did I honor it? NO.

But God was so loving I was given a second chance to live life well. Thank You for this wonderful chance, Father God. I, indeed, aim to use it well. 🙂

The Weather May Change But The Feeling Will Not

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Was there a time during your childhood when a storm would scare you to your bones and leave you running to your parents’ room? Oh yes, and that is a definite. I am sure of that. Sometimes, that is what I want to do the past few days. Not because I am scared and have this dire need to head to my parents’ room, but because it feels gloomy and I crave for the solitary comfort of my own bed. December  has always been a cold month here in Bicol and rainshowers and thunderstorms are a common weather during this season.  But to some extent, I was able to recall a Christmas season wherein it was celebrated with sunny skies and slightly windy days. Chilly, definitely yes, but not as much as what they have in Baguio.

As far as my synapses could accommodate, I remember, still, that sunny Christmas day wherein I greeted the crisp, cool morning air with a smile and watched the ray of light seeped through the window curtains as the warm sun starts to occupy the room with its heat.  I would change my clothes, having that bubbly, Christmas-ie feeling, excited for the gifts and excited to go to Church with my relatives. I suddenly missed that feeling. Just so to prove that yes, there was indeed a Christmas season wherein everything was dry, clear and pleasant, I was able to unearth this old picture of mine two decades ago. Yes, there indeed was a time when Christmas day was celebrated with blue skies and a smiling sun.

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December 1991

I missed that time. When now, waking up on a cold, dreary, wet Christmas day can simply snap the Christmas spirit out of you feeling all too gloomy and lazy to even go out of bed. But it was a tradition: waking up early, dressing up, going to Church and opening the gifts. I sort of cursed the howling wind, the hard splashes of rain on the rooftop and the puddle of rainwater everywhere for ruining everything — my attire, my day, the celebration. We asked Daddy to drive us to Church and when we arrived, settled ourselves inside and prayed. Really, wonders are made by prayers.  I never asked for a miracle. But I asked that the true spirit of Christmas be felt. The service went on until the part came wherein our Pastor has to deliver the Christmas message/homily. I began to smile.

Why would I even bother  if it rains heavily, if thunderstorms are out there, if winds are strong enough to uproot a tree? I wasn’t up today for that. I am to celebrate and rejoice. Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ to be exact. I prayed for Him, that may His special day be treated as such — bountiful, glorious and filled with joy. The prayer was answered. I saw kids, dressed up all in red getting ready for their presentation after the service. I looked up and saw the ceiling, the windows, the altar adorned not just with regular flowers but with Christmas decors that seem to twinkle with every sway. I heard the piano playing Christmas songs and the congregation singing to it. I saw SMILES everywhere. This is the true Christmas spirit. Ahhh yes, this is indeed it. I thanked the Lord I felt it. Thanked Him for making me feel it.

Every memory of all the Christmases I had in our Church seemed to have filled me once again. I imagined myself being in front of the crowd, reciting a poem I have memorized for a hundred times or performing a dance number  followed by a loud applause and cheers from the crowd. Of course, how could I forget the wide smile everytime the gift was handed to me by Auntie Flor and Auntie Belen as well as to the other kids…I saw all of them in the kids present at the Church now. How one memory could evoke a feeling of happiness is already a gift. Let it rain. Let it thunder. Let it be. Some things just never change. 🙂

A Dream

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It all started in a flash,

I felt that sudden rush.

A certain feeling within,

Where I have never been.

How could I forget those eyes

Searching where my soul lies.

Deep as if we’re in a trance,

Hoping for that one chance.

The first time I felt this way

I hoped that it would stay.

From all corners of my heart,

Wished that we would not part.

Though you’re just a dream,

Far to reach it may seem.

I’m waiting for that moment,

Time with you would be spent.

I’ve waited and I have yearned,

But bridges have been burned.

Chances that seem to be lost,

Changes are at the worst.

Tears of doom started to well,

Moments lost I could tell.

I just could not bear the pain,

To be close but in vain.

I asked myself how and why?

Can’t we give it a try?

But I can never have you,

‘Cos you’re a DREAM, that is true.

A Meandering Passage To A Hidden Alcove: The Lost Soul

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A drop or two.

Tears started to streak on your face.

Blinded, groping, you headed yourself through the light.

Alas! You saw the light, it’s finally over. Panting, heaving, breathing heavily, you slumped to a rock. You looked around you, no traces or signs of the struggle. You’re finally free. That’s what you thought. Suddenly, you felt the pain. Striking, grueling, biting every part of your body. You shook uncontrollably and then you felt yourself running, again, fast, until you’re exhausted. You dropped down to your knees, you screamed and then everything went dark.

Your mind started to drift. Jumbled memories of maybe the past, the present or the future, you can’t really tell, came into view. You felt yourself as if you’re in a trance, a light feeling and then you saw him. You can’t help not suppressing the joy you felt. You smiled at him. A blank stare. Nor did he even look at you. What is happening? You started to panic. Why can’t he see me? He wouldn’t look at your direction. There he was, a solitary figure, head bent, shoulders slumped, a grave look on his face. You approached him, but then he abruptly stood up, walked away leaving you there, stunned and speechless. As you saw his figure slowly disappearing, you whispered his name, “I love you, please come back”. He continued to walk on, slowly disappearing until there was only you, standing, rooted to your place. You’re alone, he left and then there it was again. The pain! It’s suddenly creeping into your veins. You frantically screamed. You need to escape. You ran wildly as if chasing something like a mad man. Then you stumbled. Far, so far, you couldn’t even remember how long you were stumbling.

A voice, you thought you heard a voice. A man’s voice. Crooning, whispering something in your ear. You slowly opened your eyes. And you saw a face bending over you. A blurred face. Who are you? Hope started to well in your heart as you thought that it could be him. You heard your name. You thought it’s over. Drowsiness started to get into your head, you fell asleep and then.