Saturday, November 17, 2007

Sacred secret


The covenant, yes, that I would say set things in motion for these two souls who were not really in search for something better but stumbled upon an answer to their hearts' unvoiced quest.

Love for both in their past was never, in a sense, satisfying or sublime, I dare say. There were relationships and there were affairs in between relationships. In their traipsing through love's recondite labyrinth of betrayal and pains, victories and pseudo-loves, hypocrisy and kindred spirits, breakthroughs and dead ends -- they learned a lot of things that never last forever and that time, most especially, can never be repossessed.

How were they to know if it were the one intended for them or not? How were they to distinguish its authenticity? How, oh how would they even dare to think that truly there is only one destined for you? They both settled for second best thinking then that it could not get any better. After all, life is not just a fixated search for one's soulmate.

That day started with a caress on her cheek from him who approached her from behind. She was quite surprised with how the gesture felt -- like sunshine peering through cottony clouds. Curious about the myriad of euphoric emotions that seemed to swirl in and around her whenever they were together, quietly she admitted for the nth time, he was like no other in her life.

She looked in his eyes and saw there, hoping perhaps, a reflection of the same affection that has been named but needed more signs of affirmation. Spontaneous, the love was, it is unlike fondness that grows day by day, layer by layer. It was there all along palpable even from a distance, constant in its intensity, waiting for the only one it was meant for. In her sight, his face always had this glow, revealing him only to her as her soul's other half. A beacon from the depths of his soul only for heart to see.

Limited by self imposed restraints both went through the day with thoughts of the other in mind. Very much like when they found the thread that led them to each other. Thinking they hold the thread, they followed, each step of the way realizing they were bound not just by a thread but something more impervious, something solid but unseen. And that truly they had no control, no choice, for their hearts, the masters of their character buried the meaning of resistance.

Why things happen when they do remains a mystery. People have this propensity to schedule the commencement or termination of every event in their lives for convenience. When free-spiritidness takes over complications usually arise. As to why impulses are there and why we give in is yet another unanswerable question.

A kiss, that was the prelude to the recitation of their covenant. The intimacies of a kiss is truer than the words that come out of one's mouth. No one can mask their true feelings in moments like this and no one can be mistaken in reading the other's condition either. You know and you show. A revelation and a discovery happening at the same time. There is always that afterglow to confirm your impressions or the aftertaste. There can never be faking involved for there is too much of the soul that is involved in this union.

When one proposes to that special someone or to anybody of a thing that you know will affect the rest of your lives one would prefer it be done somewhere formal. A staged performance. But their covenant was executed in a most unlikely manner. No papers. No pomp and pageantry. Informal as it can get. Simple and unplanned.

Just words true and sincere. Naked meanings spoken reverently while the world spun around them. A forthright agreement and quiet, awe struck confirmation. A promise, a commitment, a pledge that was not new but only remembered and renewed. Here was when they knew there can never be life without the other. That in fact, there was no life before the discovery of the other. Here was when they knew there was no letting go however hard they tried to.

Twas night then and they were in contemplative silence. Both were moved and amazed that something like that would happen. Not in that present time, not in the midst of what he called the harshest constraints. Their silence included a prayer for the consummation of their promise, the realization of their souls' fervent beseeching.

He was listening and stood as the lone witness to their vow.

Him who made everything possible and continue to do so. Him who perfectly understood what they shared. Him who sealed it for them for they are blinded by cynicism at times and their faith waver in the sight of plain reality. Him whom from the start made them for one another.

Fervent indeed their heart's desire and their soul's longing for to this day they continue to traverse the path cleared by their indubitable commitment that lead to the fulfillment of their covenant.

And the love, well last I heard, it just keeps getting better.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Tut to Ponder

There's always a deeper reason for the emotions you feel, the doubts you have, the questions you raise, and the fears you entertain.

It's called "Wanting it all."

What a system, huh?

Thoughts become things... choose the good ones! ®
© www.tut.com ®

Malu sent me this site that emails you "thoughts" in the frequency of your choice (I chose daily) as she said, "swak na swak ngay."

Check it out. So far, I agree with Malu's comment and it is worth your while.

After the main thought (like the one above) you are given a personal picker upper.

Friday, November 9, 2007

For the Record again




"I am an Igorot. Let me be treated as I deserve—with respect if I am good, with contempt if I am no good, irrespective of the name I carry. Let the term, Igorot, remain, and the world will use it with the correct meaning attached to it."
– Jose Dulnuan


The term Igorot include the ethno-linguistic groups of, the Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga, and the Kankana-ey. The Cordillera Region is their ancestral domain wherein the "politically correct " term Cordilleran was derived.

The Cordillera Region is made up of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Kalinga and the cities of Baguio and Tabuk. Each ethno-linguistic group adhere to their own set of rituals and beliefs.

Igorots are different from Negritos and/or Aetas nor are they called Ilocanos.

Remember that.

For the Record




Let me just get this straight.

Baguio City is NOT the capital of Benguet Province, La Trinidad is.

The municipality of La Trinidad was labeled the Salad Bowl of the Philippines because the famous "Baguio vegetables" are actually cultivated there. Yes, even the strawberries, coffee and "Baguio walis" are all from Benguet.

The mislabeling of the produce being identified with Baguio is attributed to tourists who avail of the said goods in the famous Baguio City Market.

If you look at it, Baguio being more popular than its neighboring towns functions as the marketing arm.

The local government of Baguio and Benguet are distinct and separate. However, Baguio City is situated within the area of Benguet Province. You cannot enter Baguio City without passing through Benguet.

The earliest settlers in Baguio are the Ibalois not the Ilocanos. The Ibaloi (or Nabaloi) group is one of the two ethnolingual groups in Benguet the other is the Kankana-ey tribe. These two sub-tribes are included in the more general tribal group called Igorots.

The municipalities of Benguet are, Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Mankayan, Tuba, Sablan, Kapangan, Kabayan, Kibungan, Tublay, Itogon, La Trinidad.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Suicide at Twelve

















It has been said that poverty drove Mariannet, a 12 year old girl from Davao, to end her life.

The girl's hunger I dare say ate not only her stomach but also her heart and spirit. She was sapped of strength and the will to survive. It seems not even a glimmer of hope nor help was available. Nothing and no one, not even her family, inspired her to go on and fight.

I cannot begin to imagine the answers as to what gave her the fortitude and courage to choose death over life.