SIMPLY PRAY

THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER...

"Is this phrase that we grew up with, lies now, as a silent scream, in the hearts of the children of broken Filipino families?"
When my youngest brother got married three years ago, I was devastated of not being able to attend his wedding. I was here in Abu dhabi for only 2 months and was just finishing up my abinitio training as a cabin crew. Despite my privileges of free travels, I was so helpless. For a moment, I regret choosing to leave my family to find my higher purpose. I satisfied myself by making a short power point presentation that I can send back home, to make my presence felt in this momentous event. Being married for 15 years back then, I believe that I had more or less an idea what awaits my brother in this new chapter in his life. After the heartfelt and tear jerking messages that made my lolas, aunts and cousins sniff and sob, I ended my agenda with the one thing I know, on how one can make it through the toughest times of his or her married life. And that is through… P r a y e r !

Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human

A Tribute to my MICAEL

INFANTICIPATION (written April 27, 1994)

The life within me
Has grown so fast
A soul within my soul
Which God has entrust

The breath of love I now await
The last month of being one
The pain of love I give
To deliver my little one

With tiny hands and tiny feet
Pounding under my flesh
From a butterfly he has become
A human with bones and flesh

A few more days I shall await
A boy or girl to see
All I pray is God's love
For a mother and her child to be...

THE BIRTH (written June 19, 1994)

The whole day of the 18th of May
A tinge of pain I felt
It comes and goes, it soars and flows
And dies as it began to melt

Before the eve arrives
I prayed to our dear Mother
Please tell me if the time is now
And for this time not to linger

And as our Mother answered my prayer
One great surge confirmed
As if it happened to give a sign
The coming of my child I've earned

We rushed to my birthing place
Not knowing what lies ahead
After all the pain subsided
False labor I fear instead

As we entered the emergency door
Anxious, doubtful and excited
Funny I felt no fear inside
For this time I have long wanted

As I was wheeled to the preparation room
Five cm they have admitted
Then transferred to the labor room
Where I groaned, moaned and grunted

I then received a simple note
Which lifted my spirits high
From him who waits outside the door
Excited he can't deny

On that same spot, I then bled
And burst my bag of water did
They injected so much stuff in me
Thus the hours like seconds slid

Finally my bed began to roll
To the delivery room I suspected
The pain surmounted to its peak
Surrendering I soon intended

But when I was about to cry
To push I cannot manage
They say that tears they cannot allow
To be strong I was encouraged

My legs were up and back positioned
Prepared for every coming contraction
And finally when his head has peeped
I was curled up for my injection

After all the pain that pass
A little boy I can see
Cleansed and wrapped he then approach
With one eye open and one eye closed

Lying on the table half awake
A stroke on his cheek I gently take
So black is his hair and clear is his face
My little child left me with a smile on my face

All the pain I have now forgotten
I thank the Lord for the miracle that happened
The work of his hand for the world to see
He filled me with love, like a mother would be...

LUCENTE

The Spirit will be your guide
You are to spread the good news of eternal light
You shall illumine the hearts of those you meet
Touching strangers and foes shall be your feat

Scintillate my daughter of light
The angels will embellish you with the love of the Mighty One
Your sweet fragrance will overpower the rotting stench of sin
And your voice shall be soothing amidst the swearing of the hopeless

Believe and never falter
For your radiance shall never fade
Soft, gentle yet lambent
No wind can ever blow your luminescence away

METAMORPHOSIS

The BUTTERFLY is used as a symbol of transformation because of its mutation from a larva in a cocoon to a vibrant and colorful insect. During the ancient era, the Egyptians and the Greeks placed golden butterflies on tombs to represent resurrection, rebirth and immortality. In Christian symbolism in art, it represents resurrection through its process of metamorphosis:

Caterpillar – human form, Cocoon/Chrysalis – death, Butterfly – spirit

METAMORPHOSIS

The mystery of evolution

Life's continuous state of transformation

The turbulent voyage

While facing unpredictable uncertainties

Where do we draw our strength

What hope do our hearts possess

Which faith shall we believe in

Who shall we depend upon

For your answers will dictate

As your destiny awaits

To plummet or to rise

To perish or survive

There is only one way to endure

Life's incessant trials and tribulations

Draw, hope, believe, depend

On God and God alone

Then the promise of life

Like a ray through an aperture

From a chrysalis you shall emerge

A metamorphosed creature of light

Musique

MELODY

Sound of one's soul
Echoing of emotions
In its purest sense
HARMONY
Touching hearts
Reminiscing the past
Inspiring the future
TONE
Reverberating in its truest sense
A laughter of one's spirit
A pleasant cry from within
RYTHM
Soothing
Healing
Invigorating
Close your eyes...
Immerse...
Listen with your soul

GIFT OF FREEDOM

Our life is like an empty sheet at the mercy of our hands
We envisage and sketch the blueprint then carry out the plan
You can splatter all the colors or just choose black and white
Or you might want to draw circles or just lines from left to right
No matter what you decide on, your life is yours to keep
But in the end what matters most is it's purpose...
was it shallow? was it deep?