230/365: Mailman Still Exists! And He Delivered Lots Of Love From Verona

28th of August

So I was sitting yesterday in the sofa gobbling a variety of food of odd combination plus drowning myself with pure pineapple juice in the late afternoon after doing the (forbidden) laundry, when suddenly I was startled by a fierce knocking on our front door accompanied by the shouting of my full name that can be heard up to the next barangay.

I almost knocked down the foldable table that carries the food I’m gobbling while hurrying to check who the h*ll this intruder interrupting my glutton solitude. (I was eating a lot thinking that I could regain my lost strength for not resting while I’m unwell).

I peeked at the window and found a wrinkled old man with a bag dangling on his shoulders.  The bag looks like as old as the man who is wiping his forehead with his left hand while his right hand is holding a bunch of envelopes. 

Aaaah!  It’s the mailman!  I curiously asked, “Why didn’t you just leave the mail at the gate like you usually do? And the mailman’s reply was…

“Mam mukang uulan baka mabasa hindi mo mabasa ang message postcard kasi”.
(Ma’am it seems like it’s going to rain, this is a postcard and you might not be able to read the message if it got wet”).

My heart melt. So mailman still exist and this one’s got a good heart.  I handed him a glass of water which he gladly accepted.  He then took off whistling and his old shoulder bag seems like dancing with his whistling.  I watched him in awe as he walked away and vanished from my sight.

The POSTCARD!

It’s from my good blogger friend Tripster Guy (TG).  I remember he posted on his blog that he and his friends had this road trip to the northern towns and cities of Italy.

I was grinning from ear to ear while I’m reading the message. So my crazy friend visited the romantic setting of the most stupid love story ever written. Yep I’m talking about Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that happened in VERONA. Remember they died from suicide because of plain stupidity? But don’t get me wrong, I love Shakespeare. I am amazed how he came up with all his stories where almost all the characters died in the end then they became famously known as “Shakespeare’s Tragedies”.

Anyway, back to TG’s postcard.  The subject is “Saluti da Verona”.  Well the curious cat in me checked on a bit of history of the place and let me share with you what I found.

”“Saluti da Verona” – as famous as “Romeo and Juliet” is a lovely pink marble Roman Amphitheatre built in 1AD and still dominates the piazza in the middle of Verona.  It is now a venue for opera rather than gladiator battles and the third largest amphitheater in Italy.  Once it could seat 30,000 but these days it’s capacity is 15,000. (Source: Various web sites)

I love postcards not only because they are sustaining life to the dying postal industry which for me is a far bigger and sadder tragedy than Shakespeare’s. Plus it warms my heart knowing that a friend who is enjoying his vacation took time to buy you a postcard, handwritten (an almost unreadable/lol) message on it and mail it. It is some kind of wonderful thoughtfulness isn't it?

May I also share TG’s message to you which part is talking about his (no) love life which for me is another sadder tragedy than Shakespeare’s ha ha ha.



Okay I’m feeling a lot better now!  I’m not thanking TG for now because I know some more postcards are coming and I’m excited. Yipee!

239/365: Feeling A Little Unwell

27th of August

I’m writing this around 7AM in the morning.  The kids are already out for school. I’m supposed to be out for work also by this time but I decided last night when I woke up around grave yard time that I am not reporting for work today. I was feeling a little unwell for two days now so I thought of surprising my own body and give it a rest day (LOL).

There were number of people from work who were absent yesterday because they were sick.  The virus probably got me and my body decided to go along with it.  Or… probably not!

Why?  Here’s why.

So I slept early last night after taking paracetamol.  In fact too early that I am unable to eat my dinner.  Then what happened is that I woke up before the break of the dawn and I can’t make myself to go back to sleep to rest more as I planned to do the whole day.  I went down and thought of checking my emails using my lappy instead of my mobile phone while thinking that it would also be a good time to check on my blogs.  But that was a wrong move.

Before I am able to reach my lappy I saw the sink and saw that there’s some unwashed cups and glasses so I thought of clearing them first.  That was really a wrong move because before I knew it I found myself beating eggs, opening a can of corned beef, chopping garlic, mashing cold rice, grabbing a wok and spatula.  Then voila! The breakfast table is set up with fried rice, corned beef omelette, coffee and hot chocolate.

I got a uniformed frustrated facial expressions that says “Aren’t you supposed to be in bed resting?” from the whole family during breakfast. But that was automatically erased when they gobbled the omelette.

“So what are you planning to do this whole day?” hubby asked over coffee. I said "I’ll rest" convincingly while contemplating on doing the laundry. Sssh…

What can I say? I’m an OC! (sigh).

229/365: Sunday Quote and Photograph: A Realization That I Got From A Snail

17th of August

Slow down and enjoy life.

It’s not only the scenery that you miss by going so fast

But also miss the sense of where are you going and why.

~Eddie Cantor~

Everyday that I wake up and look at the calendar I always ended up frowning.  It never fails to cause me to chuckle and ask the question “Is it really that date today?”  Everyday seems like I’m days behind to so many things and trying to catch up with time seems not possible.

Am I the only one who feels this way? That everyday that I checked on the calendar I get frustrated that I am unable to do the things that I should have done or accomplished because I’m still catching up with the ones I thought I’m behind?

Or are we all in the same frustration?

A trip, tidying a part of the house that has long been neglected, visiting someone in the hospital (who was discharged before you were able to visit), movie time, shopping time, or just simply buying a bike part or whatever for your son, daughter, sister or for whoever and for whatever? Or coffee time with an old friend, or even a social media status that you should had commented yet failed to do until it got lost in the feed?

Did we even ask ourselves “Why are we even in a hurry?”.  “What are we really trying to catch up with? BIG QUESTION? But so true. 

**~**

The photograph is taken this morning during my regular run this time with my young daughter.  My phone rang and I had to stop running and take the call.  I usually do not use phone when running.  But I was confirming an important seminar scheduled in the afternoon.  After the call I have yet to contact another person.

My daughter was pulling my running shorts to catch my attention while I’m on a call and she was silently pointing to something on the grounds beside my right shoe.  When I take a look I found a snail!

The snail was moving so slowly heading to my right shoe.  Too slow that even when I finished my call it did not even finished crossing the few inches distance between where it came from to my shoe. 

While looking at it, I realized it has been years since I haven’t seen a snail.  But then I thought, I’m not sure if I really did not see a snail for quite a while or I was just too busy to take a look around.  Actually the truth is, I had almost forgotten that there’s a creature called “snail”.

To my daughter’s persistence we observed the snail.  I decided to take a photo and to my amazement the snail stopped moving.  I’m not sure if it’s a part of its cautious instinct or what.  I don’t know anything about snail except that it has always been a simile for the word “slow”.  But it just stopped moving!  In spite of its unimaginable slow pace it can still afford to stop!

If I (we) could just be like the snail…

224/365: Remembering Robin Williams as Patch Adams. (Insert Sad Face Here).

12th of August

Who doesn’t know Robin Williams? And who is not affected by his sudden demise?

Robin Williams probably won’t get the highest score for a survey question “Who is your favorite actor? “ Not because he is not popular in the “heartthrob-kind-of-way” but because he is an automatic favorite.  One need not say that he is a Robin Williams fan because everybody is a Robin Williams fan.  And I’m sure everyone can “dig” what I’m trying to say here.

I guess the best question when it comes to Robin Williams is “What is your favorite Robin Williams movie or character?.”   Genie (Aladdin)? Mrs. Doubtfire?  Bicentennial Man? Or Mork (and Mindy)?  I bet you won’t be able to pick one quickly because just like the man, his movie character(s) is as versatile as the actor.  He has this extra-ordinary talent that leaves a unique mark to anyone who watch his movies.  It’s like an “imprint”. 

Isn’t that when you pick a movie to watch and you saw that it is a Robin Williams film you need not check who are the other characters in the movie right?  Or who is the director or producer of the movie.  It’s like if it’s a “Robin Willams movie it must be good!”  Yes I know you got me!

I love all Robin Williams movies (and character) but there’s one movie that I hold dear to my heart.  In fact it is one among the movies included in my personal list of My Top Ten Favorite Movies Of All Time - PATCH ADAMS.

My original CD of the movie Patch Adams

PATCH ADAMS is a character that I can not imagine being played by any actor other than Robin Williams.  Tailored-fit and perfect are understatements to say for Williams being Adams.  A character and story that is both cinematic and yet real.  A movie that can be entertaining and yet tragic at the same time.  A character that provides an equal amount of laughter and tears in just one movie.  All justified simply because Robin Williams is on this movie.

Aside from all the popular reasons, I have an extra personal reason why I love this movie and character.  I consider it as “healing” movie.

Some few years back I (almost) lost my trust in the medical profession.  It’s a long story that until now I don’t have the courage to completely share the details.  But let me just summarized that I almost died after undergoing a medical procedure.  I was trying to heal myself from the hatred to the country’s medical system and to the medical practitioners as well.  I found the movie Patch Adams and I was thankful. I was thankful that there’s a movie that the medical practitioners and its associations will (hopefully) chance upon to watch.  And I hope that they may get something out of it.

I love how the “medical practice” part of the movie is tackled.  I laughed so hard with the clown doctor character but his life and love tragedy broke my heart. 

Here’s a clip of one of my favorite scene from the movie Patch Adams.

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you straightforwardly without complexities or pride. I love you because I know no other way than this. So close that your hand, on my chest, is my hand. So close, that when you close your eyes, I fall asleep.”

I love you without knowing how…

RIP Robin Williams.  Thank you for all the memories.  The laughter… and the tears…  We are so saddened by our loss of one great talent.

Video credits: YouTube

215/365: Sunday Song and Photographs: Sorry Is All That You Can’t Say

3rd of August 

Why people find it hard to say “I’m sorry”?  Even for the most obvious reason?

Sorry

Is all that you can’t say

Years gone by and still

Words don’t come easily

Like sorry

Forgive me

Is all that you can’t say

Years gone by and still

Words don’t come easily

Like forgive me forgive me

But you can say baby

Baby can I hold you tonight

Maybe if I told you the right words

At the right time you’d be mine

I love you

Is all that you can’t say

Years gone by and still

Words don’t come easily

Like I love you I love you

The song is an original by Tracy Chapman released in 1988 which the boy band Boyzone released a cover in 1997.  I definitely love the original than the cover, it is sang more soulfully.  The most striking part of the song for me is the opening line “Sorry” which I dedicate to people who can’t make apologies even for the most obvious reason.

True that it takes a lot of courage to say I’m sorry, so if you can’t make yourself apologize when needed then you can call yourself a “coward”.

The photographs were taken by my young daughter using a mobile phone. She did not only inherited my love for cats but also my passion for taking random photographs.  The subject are the stray cats that roam around our vicinity.

214/365: Philippine Festivities in the Month of September

2nd of August

WAKE UP when September comes because here is the exciting list of festival for the first “ber” month!



HANDURAW FESTIVAL, Leon, Iloilo - September 1
HINIRUGYAW FESTIVAL, Cabatuan, Iloilo - September 1- September 10
VICTORY DAY, Kiangan, Ifugao - September 2
TUNA FESTIVAL, General Santos City - September 5
SINAB’BADAN TRIBAL FESTIVAL,  Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur - September 5- 6
SIPONG FESTIVAL, Bais City, Negros Oriental - September 7
SARAKIKI-HADANG FESTIVAL, Calbayog City, Western Samar - September 7
PADUL-ONG FESTIVAL, Borongan, E. Samar - September 7
TAMBOBO FESTIVAL, Ajuy, Iloilo - September 8-10
MINULUAN FESTIVAL, Talisay City, Negros Occidental - September 8-10
PANAGDADAPUN FESTIVAL (ARAW NG QUIRINO), Cabarroguis, Quirino - September 8- September 10
LINGGO NG BULAKAN, Malolos, Bulacan - September 8- September 15
PARADA NG KAKANIN / FESTIVAL OF NUESTRA SENORA DE ARANZAZZU, San Mateo, Rizal - September 9
BANOK-BANOK MARADJAO KARADJAO FESTIVAL (STREET PAGEANTRY), Surigao City, Surigao del Norte - September 10
SAYAW LAHI FESTIVAL, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental - September 10
BUYLOGANAY FESTIVAL, Ivisan, Capiz - September 6-10
SURIGAO CITY FIESTA (SAN NICOLAS DE TOLENTINO-PATRON SAINT), Surigao City - September 10
ANNIVERSARY – BATTLE OF PULANG LUPA, Torrijos, Marinduque - September 13
ARAW NG SIQUIJOR WITH SOLILI, Siquijor, Siquijor- September 17
BISLIG CITY CHARTER DAY, Bislig City - September 15- September 19
VOYADORES FESTIVAL, Daraga, Albay - September 15
PENAFRANCIA FESTIVAL, Naga City, Camarines Sur - September 17
TALAKUDONG FESTIVAL (STREET DANCING), Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat - September 18
PATABANG FESTIVAL, Tapaz, Capiz - September 21-30
DUMALONDONG FESTIVAL (Tribal rituals), Salug, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur - September 23
ANIHAN FESTIVAL, Dueñas, Iloilo - September 25- September 30
DALIT FESTIVAL, Tangub City - September 29
BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GEN. MIGUEL MALVAR, Capitol Site, Batangas - September 27
ANIHAN FESTIVAL, Lobo, Batangas - September 27
MEGAYON FESTIVAL (Thanksgiving), Zamboanga del Sur - September 27 - 30
BANIGAN FESTIVAL, Basey, Samar - September 28
BALANGIGA ANNIVERSARY, Balangiga, Eastern Samar - September 28
ANGEL FESTIVAL, San Rafael, Bulacan - September 29
KASADYA STREET DANCE, Anahaw Amphi-Theater - September 27
KAPAKYANAN FESTIVAL, Victoria, Mindoro Oriental - September 14-15
AGAL- AGAL (SEAWEEDS) FESTIVAL, Tawi-Tawi - September 25
BURDANG LUMBAN FESTIVAL, Lumban, Laguna - September 21
KAWAYAN FESTIVAL, Maragondon, Cavite - September 7
BAÑAMOS FESTIVAL, Los Banos, Laguna - September 17-23
DIYANDI FESTIVAL, Iligan City - September 1 - October 2
AM-AMONG FESTIVAL, BONTOC, MT. PROVINCE - September 7-16
MA-TZU FESTIVAL, San Fernando City - Sept 23-25
COCO FESTIVAL, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan - September 20-27
PAGAY FESTIVAL, Alicia, Isabela - September 28
TAMBANIPA, Bonbon - September 9
LANGARAN FESTIVAL, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental - September 10
GOLDEN HARVEST FESTIVAL (Rice and corn Festival), Public Plaza / Gym, Valencia City -
September 14-21
BUNGAG DAGTABINAL FESTIVAL, Misamis Occidental (Aloran) - September 15
GALAAN FESTIVAL, Don Victiriano, Misamis Occidental - September 17
PAGPAKANAUG, St. Michael’s Cathedral, Iligan City - September 20
KASADYA STREETDANCING AND MERRYMAKING
Main streets of the city / and culminates at the Anahaw Amphi Theater
September 27
KOMEDYA DE SAN MIGUEL, Rizal Park, Iligan City Iligan - September 28
HINUGYAW FESTIVAL / COTABATO PROVINCE FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY, Capitol Complex, Amas, Kidapawan City, September 1
FLOMOLOK FESTIVAL, Polomolok, South Cotabato - September 9-11
KASADYAAN FESTIVAL, Tupi, South Cotabato - September 9-11
PEÑAFRACIA FESTIVAL, Peñafrancia Village, Cotabato City, September 18 (3rd Sunday)
PASSINI KAT ABORLAN, Aborlan, Palawan - September 28-October 1
PANGALIPAY FESTIVAL, Magsaysay, Palawan - September 29
TINU-OM FESTIVAL, Cabatuan, Iloilo - September 1-5 (1st week)
TUMANDOK FESTIVAL, Robinson’s, Iloilo City - September (3rd week)
PASALAMAT FESTIVAL, Dao, Capiz - September 20 – 22
UNANG SIGAW NG NUEVA ECIJA, Nueva Ecija Convention Center, Palanan City - September 2
SINGKABAN FESTIVAL, Malolos, Bulacan - September 8-15
FEAST OF THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS, Church of the Risen Christ, Monasterio de Tarlac, San Jose, Tarlac - September 14
SAMBUKLOD FESTIVAL, Pleasant Hills, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan - September 25 (last Sunday)
BUSIG-ON FESTIVAL, Labo, Cam. Norte - September 7-8
LAPAY BANTIGUE DANCE FESTIVAL, Masbate City - September 29
KINAIYAHAN FESTIVAL, Dauin, Oriental Negros - September 7
KARANSA FESTIVAL, Danao City Cebu - September 18 (third Sunday of the month)
KABUHIAN FESTIVAL, Ronda, Cebu - September 18 (3rd Sunday of the month)
PITLAGONG FESTIVAL, Argao, Cebu - September 28
SINU-OG ESTOKADA FESTIVAL, Jagna, Bohol - September 29
KARATONG FESTIVAL, Dulag, Leyte - September 7
BEACHURERO FESTIVAL, Tacloban City - September 10
KAPLAG FESTIVAL, Mahaplag, Leyte - September 28
ARAW NG DIGOS, Digos City, Davao Del Sur - September 8
BANSAULOG FESTIVAL, Bansalan, Davao del Sur - September 12-18
ARAW NG BANSALAN, Bansalan, Davao del Sur - September 18
SINAWUG FESTIVAL, Asuncion, Davao del Norte - September 19
PISTA KADIG’GARAN, Digos City - September 8
BANSALAN FESTIVAL, Bansalan - September 15-18
BINULIG FESTIVAL, Panabo City - September 19-25
KIALEGNON FESTIVAL, Magsaysay - September 28


Photo source: Google images / Info Source: DOT website