7/04/2024
Am I Late?
6/30/2024
Who Killed PINK Wednesday?
(PINK rose. That's how and where my PINK Wednesdays started--two years and eight months ago. And now, this is where it will end.So . . . my last hurrah.As of this year, there are about 60,000 varieties of roses and counting. Out of these, only 1,600 are PINK! And yet, it is already a mind-boggling number. Plantitos and plantitas say this number grows every year because of pollination and breeding. Wow!PINK rose to me will always be that in the largest photo. The tiny photos are just a few of the varieties of PINK, which are all lovely, too [and hopefully, not digitally enhanced]. The amazing beauties in nature multiply before we can even count them.PINK Wednesday it is. One last happy PINK post. ❤)
6/26/2024
Can’t Figure It Out?
6/22/2024
Old Habits Die
Let me delete “hard,” the last word from that idiom. Because old habits can die sooner or later.
When our three sons were young, up until the pandemic, eating out was part of our routine. There was not a Sunday (or some other day) that we did not go out to share a meal at our favorite or a new place.
I am not blaming the pandemic for that habit now dead. I am bragging about Mother Teresa, the househelp who has stuck it out with us since the beginning of the three-year lockdown and learned to cook every cuisine you can think of, courtesy of You Tube and authentic ingredients ordered by son #3 online.
She could actually mimic any cuisine served at our once-favorite dining places—and often does them better!
The only time we dine out now is when there is a celebration with invited guests, clan, or friends.
But there was that one time last year when we decided to spend our weekend at our favorite resort. Alas, the place has morphed into something unrecognizable and forgettable (especially the food). We ditched what would have been our last meal there and went instead to try an Italian restaurant that son #3 said be spotted on our way to the resort.
It was a decision we all enjoyed. And JR’s driver, Sammy, who has begun making money on vlogs, documented it. Two pictures show our joy and upbeat expectation of the food yet to be served.
6/18/2024
Saturday Nights: Five Years Later
6/14/2024
To Hell and Back
6/10/2024
Saying Nothing
6/06/2024
Instant Friends
6/02/2024
Brand Image
5/29/2024
Q&A on (My) Blogging
5/25/2024
Gen Z: Uncharted Territory
After the successful event 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘅: 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, let us share impactful moments that truly resonated with our Literature majors.
“ . . . [she] opened up with stories about her career. She shared a well-designed acronym to help in navigating the jungle which is the workplace. IMHO: Innovate, Move emotions, Hone abilities, and Overcome weaknesses. She highlighted the importance of excellence as the standard for working.
Grace enabled us to be on the same page!
5/21/2024
Inheritance Woes (2)
5/17/2024
Inheritance Woes (1)
“Sorry I’m late,” Troy apologized to his buddy, Paolo, in a coffee shop. “I was with my lawyer, signing away all my properties to my children.”
1) bequeath them, while they are still lucid, to their heirs;2) Keep them, so in their sunset years, they still have a hold over their children.
5/13/2024
The Language of Kindness
5/09/2024
I Don't Want to Judge
5/06/2024
Philippine Book Fest: Day 2
On day 2, I had book-signing assignments at both the Hiyas booth (children's books) and the OMF Lit booth (Inspirational books for adults). It was another hot day, and so to survive, I chose to wear a loose caftan I usually wear in the neighborhood. A little choker was a camouflage for the casual outfit.
Signing books for adults opens the door for conversations—I am told about the reasons for buying the book. These reasons border on struggles and coping, my very own when writing every page. Their stories resonate with me and in between we hug tightly.
I pray that grace may find all of us as we go through this precipice called life, especially these last days.
"Are you still writing?" they ask.
"Till the Lord takes me home," is my reply, which is also my wish and prayer.
"Please do," they encourage me.
Here are more memories that I will take to my grave:
I thank the OMF Lit staff for being there every step of the way, overly fussing about and making sure I had everything I needed for the "job." But book events are never a job. They are refreshments, precious gifts from the author of life.Photos by: Meljie Lorenzo
5/05/2024
Philippine Book Fest 2024: Day 1
5/01/2024
Sense of Entitlement
4/27/2024
Thick Skull
But Mas was obstinate. He took the route he was used to. When they reached the venue of the meeting, Tony’s friend had been there for an hour! By going through another route, the red car was able to cut the driving time in half.
Tony took the opportunity to talk to Mas about having a teachable spirit—about listening to and learning from the wisdom of others.
Unless it is specifically written in the Bible for us to follow, there is always a better way, a better route, a better idea in doing things. And these could come from anyone in our various circles.
Proverbs 3:7 reminds us, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”
We are told of the benefits of wisdom in Proverbs 2:2-4, “Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.”
Like Mas, sometimes we can’t see grace even if it it stares us in the face. We need a glaring illustration to open our eyes and be proven wrong.
The Bible is clear, we need to listen and search for insight outside of ourselves.
4/23/2024
Youngest, Oldest
4/19/2024
Why Should We laugh?
4/15/2024
The Wound that Wouldn’t Heal
“In grief nothing ‘stays put.’ One keeps on emerging from a phase, but it always recurs. Round and round. Everything repeats. . ."
“Oh that my head were waters,and my eyes a fountain of tears,that I might weep day and nightfor the slain of the daughter of my people!”