I Stopped Counting

Opps!

My interest in blogging is waning. Since this lockdown started, there is nothing much to write about. Staying at home  is slowly wearing me down.  I stopped counting the days since this lockdown. I wonder if this government is telling us the truth. There is a significant spike on the positive cases. Back when there were only around 60, we were told to stay home. Now that they have a total of 16,634 positive cases (3,720 of which have recovered and 942 died), we are now under GCQ (general community quarantine).Those sudden spikes makes one worry. Yes, most business establishments are now open but public utility vehicles are limited to MRT, LRT, AUVs, buses and Grab cars.  What about those who still have to take jeepney rides  before  they could take buses or MRT and LRT trains to reach their destinations?  I rest my case, there is no clear provision for those.

Loans left and right but we never see a downward trend on this pandemic. No mass testing is still being done. I presume with that big amount of loans and contribution from the private sector, they could at least show a small flattening of the curve so to speak. Where do those funds go?  And the man across the Pasig River is waiting for those vaccines from his BFF in china which they could experiment on the Filipino people. I say, mauna muna sila at mga alipores niya. They say our mortality rate is very low but we are the highest among Asian countries.  What a shame!!! A lost life is still a loss most especially to one’s family.

Everything has changed and we call it our “new normal”. Yes of course, you can still get in touch with some family members and friends but it’s kind of different when you get to talk over the phone. Sometimes, it is quite frustrating that you can’t see them personally and hug them. I miss my darling Nate, I miss Nissa and Obet. I miss their monthly visit.

I tried reading a love story in between my serious historical fiction but I could not relate to it anymore unlike in high school when I used to  devour M & B.  BTW, it might interest you to know that I have at least read a total of 53 books for this year’s challenge.  Not bad for someone who has become so lazy the past few days.

 

 

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Dreams and Escapes….Yes!

Back in 2011 when I joined WordPress’ Post a Day Challenge, they have these several topics which you can use and explore. One such was, “What’s The Title Of Your Blog And Why You Chose It?” May I just quote one of my entries back then? This was nine years ago when most of you haven’t found my blog yet.

—o000o—

Long before I started blogging regularly, I was into keeping journals,  and that was way back in college. Those were the times that I was a little too emotional and  a little insecure so  writing my thoughts was easier than reading a book. I got through college life meeting new friends some of whom had the same idea of keeping one’s self sane – writing. I have the following introductory blog here at WordPress, the very first one I wrote when I began my journey here more than two years ago.

The first time I ever laid my hands on pen and paper, I thought of becoming a writer someday. I was a dreamer – a helpless one. I guess it’s always like that, when one is young, you gaze at the world with childlike wonder, as if you could take it at a mere scoop of the hand. The world was bright, shining with a star-like quality that easily dazzles the eye. I found out later that it was like an icing on a cake, beautiful to look at but you’ll never really know what is inside unless you take a bite…

It comes when one feels quite nostalgic about things, it comes when you think that you just had to stop living in the present (or is it mere existing?) And go back instead…go back to childhood dreams? Maybe! After all, the past still holds some kind of magic, ‘though it’s nothing more now than an obscured vision.

Really, if I have to hold my pen again, I wouldn’t think of writing about love, not anymore. those lofty ideals must somehow be replaced by ongoing reality. The dreamer must somehow face the truth that not all dreams come true. And the writer? I guess, I have to try again, there is still that in-depth feeling to be recognized, anyhow, in any way. And if I have to choose my subject, I’ll write about you instead.

And I remember writing this quote in one of my dilapidated journals, the cover of which is now almost off the pages. It is a quote from Louisa May Alcott.

We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving. And we all have some power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.

Life starts with  a beautiful dream. Life starts in somehow believing that one day you’ll get what you wished and prayed for. Life starts with something you believe you can do and dream about.  My entries here are  mostly about my journey as a cancer patient, a cancer survivor, a mother, a wife, a friend, and about the books I read, places I want to visit and have visited, people I want to meet someday and mostly about the daily grind of simple living. Dreams and Escapes is about having enough faith to go on, the will to live no matter how difficult life may seem sometimes and grateful appreciations of all the things one holds dear. It is about the belief that I could share a little of my journey through writing and writing is an escape for me. When things get a little too hard to bear, I put them  into perspective by sharing them here.

Dreams and Escapes, why not?

—o000o—

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Finally….

Two days ago, I posted a photo of Nissa and Nate. Nate’s hair has become a little long for summer wear.

Yesterday, his dad attempted to cut his hair. It was the first time that Obet held scissors in his hands to trim Nate’s hair. Here’s the new look, haha 🙂

One becomes a little enterprising when there is really a need to be. Kaya naman pala.  Nissa says he likes it.

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When Saturday Comes

Oh, the usual  reason, been so lazy again. The weather is still hot here that you couldn’t think of nothing worthwhile to do except read and point the hose sometimes on your face while  you are watering the plants. I stopped counting the days since they declared a lockdown here.  What is deeply annoying is that after those more than two months of not being able to go out, they are still not doing mass testing. I bet even the official tally  broadcast everyday by The Dept. of Health is understated.  Their only way and the easiest one for them is to continue this quarantine. Such a shame and they expect the private sector to do the job that they are supposed to do. This government sucks big time.

Three days ago,  JP Morgan delivered two brand new HP laptops for Jovy and Josef’s use. They are still working from home. And those employees within the five-kilometer radius to their office are allowed to report to work. They have shuttle service to and from work with two free meals daily. This might go on for more days than we expect.

 

And take a look at this, Nate is getting chubbier everyday.  His hair is getting longer too. Barber shops  are still closed. He is happy that Nissa doesn’t report to work yet until the end of the month but she said it is harder to work from home than in the office. Starting next month, they are required to report to the office twice a week.

 

Done with two books in the last three days that I didn’t blog. I love Nora Roberts’ The Witness. An entertaining thriller interspersed  with a little romance, believable plot and an extraordinary heroin. A great summer read.  Ten books in advance for this reading challenge at Goodreads.

Take care everyone! May we be all safe from this pandemic.

 

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Wednesday, Is it?

Aren’t I lucky? I found a sequel to the book The Bark Cutters by Nicole Alexander called A Changing Land. It is as engrossing as the first book. How I wish I could find more of her books in the future.

You know one good thing that I appreciate being on quarantine for more than two months now? I am able to attend daily live streaming of masses online. We need to have a stronger  faith in these times of uncertainties. We never know when everything goes back to normal again. We ask for the grace of strength and fidelity to you Lord.  We ask for endurance in our daily battle with this pandemic.

I spent an hour in the garden very early this morning. The silence was unhampered by  cars and motor vehicles passing by.  How lovely it is to commune with nature when silence is all around. You are alone with your thoughts and sometimes, they are rich with things that you want to do, things you want to write about and things you dream of still becoming. Your thoughts wander beyond and you think of the times walking every morning  behind the house, a  vacant space  which is now full of houses.  Silence awakens that sleeping creative side of you. And you wish everything is back to normal. But what is normal nowadays?

There is one thing positive though that the days brought us, pollution has lessened. Family bonding is an everyday affair although sometimes you get to talk only via Viber or Messenger.  it is better than nothing though. Technology certainly has its advantage in these trying times.

Be safe, Be well. Be happy 🙂

 

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Have A Nice Week Ahead

I haven’t been here for……What? Five days? Has it been that long?

I got so lazy again. Don’t get me wrong, I was just so lazy to blog. I was so lazy to open my computer and write. I was more focused on my tab to read some e-books, converse and get in touch with friends from the other side of the world. I was more focused in finding some online sites where I could buy supplies and other necessities without asking Josef to go out. I was more focused on finding sites where we could order cooked food. Lately, we’ve been ordering food online almost every day since it is still too hot here to stay in front of the stove for too long. We cook though once a day, either lunch or dinner. Breakfast is usually just bread and coffee for mom and a cup of hot tea for me. Josef and Jovy don’t eat breakfast. We have ice cream and silvanas in the freezer, piyaya and ube halaya in the ref. Haha, I told them, we don’t want to get hungry. But when you are cooped up at home, sometimes all you think is about food, right?

We enjoyed the week-long dip in the inflatable pool. It’s now clean and kept in its original box for next use. The other day, I took some shots of the garden after the storm which we had last week, the first typhoon this year. Just checked them if they were destroyed by the strong winds. I’ll be harvesting another jackfruit maybe in a month. There are three more at the other tree.

I found this lovely book called The Bark Cutters by Nicole Alexander, a gripping family saga about early life in Australia interwoven with the future from the great-grandfather to the great-granddaughter. Did I tell you that I have always loved historical stories? This is one of them.

Keep safe everyone! Good morning!

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Things Happen

This was just delivered this afternoon. Gosh, it eats up a lot of water. Good luck Manila Water. It’s all of 659 gallons, three times the size of our overhead tank. Good thing that we have bypass water faucet directly connected  to our water supply. Josef is now enjoying a dip.

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Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima

Today, 103 years ago, Our Lady appeared before three shepherd children at Fatima in Portugal. Here’s a picture I took of the image of Our Lady of Fatima nine years ago in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite. Proud of this shot, just reduced its size to save on space.

Here’s another photo that one of our volunteers took  early this morning during the Marian procession at  our village, an image of our Blessed Lady.

Another image of Our Lady of Fatima

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Happy Mother’s Day

It’s that time of year again when moms all over the world greet each other  Happy Mother’s Day.

I started blogging about Mother’s Day celebrations back in 2010. We usually go out for lunch in different places every year, exploring new eateries in the metro.

To think, this is the first time that Nissa and I won’t see each other on Mother’s Day. And I am wondering when it will be. She sent me this message a while ago accompanied by a lovely photo.

Happy Mother’s Day to my Mama Arlene. You truly are irreplaceable because you have not only been good but a GREAT mom to us. We owe you everything! I love you and miss you so much!

Happy Mother’s Day din sa lahat ng mga naging nanay sa buhay ko, to all my friends who are also Moms and to their wonderful moms as well. Mabuhay tayong lahat! ❤

I commented back:

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY too anak. You’re the kind of daughter I’ve always dreamed of – thoughtful, loving, smart and kind. The best daughter in this side of the universe. Warm regards to everyone there at pakibati mo rin ako kay balae. Kisses to Nate. May GOD BLESS us all❤💐🎈🙏✌

Yesterday, the early morning started with a Marian procession in our village. May is Mama Mary’s month so all Saturdays of the month, there will be early morning processions.

There were only  a few of them who took charge of the procession passing by every street in our subdivision praying the rosary and alternating it with the song Heal Our Land  sang by our talented local artist Jamie Rivera. It was so touching.

Yesterday I also ordered two kilos of mangoes, Jovy placed an order of two pizza boxes using Lala Move. I made pickles out of the green mango and the ripe ones are for dessert.  Imagine my surprise when I received my order of two boxes of siomai  and the guy greeted me “God bless po”.  I smiled and greeted him the same. When complete strangers greet you that way, you can’t help but be touched. I use those greetings for my friends and family members when they are online and when I am at church,  we usually greet each other “Peace be with you”during the peace offering.

Happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow mothers out there. Special mention to the three ladies who always visit  and make comments on my blog – Elizabeth, Anne and Wilma.

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Yeay, It Is Almost Two Months

Staying home for more than two months now. I don’t know, since the enhanced community quarantine, I’ve been reluctant to go out even just at the nearby talipapa  two streets away from our house inside our subdivision.  It is where we buy our food, necessities in the kitchen like pork, chicken  and other veggies. I learned to transact online the last two or three weeks and they deliver them here right at the gate.  Eggs are sold by trays (30 pieces). Many homeowners have become small entrepreneurs providing necessities to homeowners who don’t want or cannot go out because of the lockdown.  You can order cooked food for lunch or dinner along with different kind of snacks on the go. Most of them deliver for free but when you order from a different place aside from our town via Grab Food, delivery fees are included in your bill. But that is just to be expected since they spend time outside risking their health to go grocery shopping for you or to buy cooked food from open establishments that only provide take-out, no eating inside their places.  Just have enough cash at home to meet your needs.

I miss going to the church and attending Sunday masses.  Although masses in different churches are held almost every hour online via live streaming, you cannot go to communion and I miss that. There is a talk that they will extend this lockdown for another two weeks, I am all for it but barangay and local town mayors should also be strict in its implementation. So many people are still on the streets. So many people still go out every day.

It’s getting harder to imagine when we start to begin life “normally”  again. Until they find vaccines for this virus, we are left thinking how many days more we have to get through  this “new normal” aspect of our lives.  I want to share with you this photo I took nine years ago when we celebrated Mother’s Day.  It’s of Nissa and Josef, now we have Nate.

Keep safe friends! Be mindful of your health 🙂

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