Emotions in Poems

Motherhood… a privilege

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We double the time.
We double the efforts.
We double the love.
We double the care.

At times we are worried
But on our face is courage
For we mothers are children’s
Citadel of faith.

Our touch is their healing.
Our kiss is their strength.
Our hug is their blanket.
With our nod, they feel great.

The selfless love we share.
And unfailing care we give.
Our unending affections
Nurture, nourish their confidence.

Fellow mothers let us rejoice.
And take pride and honour.
To be a mother is a privilege.
Not everyone can enjoy.

Nobel Peace memories, ironies, and fun

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The recent #Nobel Peace Award extended to journalist #Maria Ressa took me back to the time when I covered the 2008 awarding of #Martti Ahtisaari, considered the father of #Kosovo. Mr. Ahtisaari was recognized for brokering peace between Kosovo and Serbia. He also contributed to peace talks in Namibia, Indonesia, and Iraq.
This brought more ironies to Ms. Ressa’s winning because nowhere I can find in my research that she has brokered peace either locally or abroad. #Rappler, the news agency which she heads, spews news reports that cause more confusion rather than peace and divisiveness rather than unity.
Rappler has also no qualm in exposing its biases. It recently launched an online survey asking the people who they will vote for president in the coming May 2022 elections. It immediately withdrew the survey when its result favored a candidate other than it is rooting for.
If the Nobel Peace Award is true to its title, I do not think Ms. Ressa deserves the award. She has also the propensity to paint the Philippines to the world as an unruly state without press freedom. She is not promoting peace; she is ruining instead the reputation of the country and its people.
So much to its ironies, that 2008 coverage was one of those great experiences I had when I was in Oslo. It was also here where I learned that even if you are in the toughest phase in your life, good things still happen.
Covering the awarding ceremonies was a humbling experience. I was with the group of reporters from all over the world who I presumed must be the best from their respective publications and media organizations.
I met a lady reporter from New York, whose name I could not remember. We became buddies during the coverage, we had our lunch together. We were both excited witnessing the event that was graced by the king and the queen of Norway. We were there close with the royalties.
After the ceremonies, we played like children, we sat on the chairs occupied by the royal couple. To have a feel how to sit on a royal chair, she said. We also alternately stood on the lectern pretending we were awardees.
Such a funny way to end the coverage of a prestigious event…innocent acts void of ironies.

Month-end thought

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Capping the month of March with this thought: Why expect an excellent result when you know one’s limitations.
I had a breathing test for an hour today. I am connected to a machine, stuffed with a mouthpiece, and my nose clipped while I sat inside a closed cubicle.
I have to breathe through my mouth only; breath in, breath out, and blow. We did these several times depending on the speed and the length. Aside from feeling tired, I was perspiring because my claustrophobia seemed to have catch up on me.
The attendant gave me then three puffs of Ventolin. She asked me to rest for 10 minutes. We redo some of the procedures.
After going through the same routines, the attendant finally told me, you could have done better. My mind shouted: WHAT?
Trembling and feeling dizzy, I told the attendant, “Thank you and sorry. That was the most I can do.” I left and looked for a corner where I can regain my strength and compose myself.

Friendly Filipinos

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There are Filipinos anywhere in the world who love to connect to their fellow citizens. They are those, who the moment they hear anybody speaking in Filipino or any Philippine dialects they know, will approach the person, and ask “kabayan?”
Meeting “kababayans” make them feel they are not alone in the place where they are. That they will have a fresh connection to the Philippines. And there is the possibility of making friends with people of their same culture.
This displays Filipinos inherent attitude of being friendlyy, hospitable, love for family, and some degree of nationalism.
My family had experienced meeting Filipinos when we travelled to Venice few years back. While exploring the lovely city, a kababayan approached us upon hearing us conversing in Filipino. She even invited us over to her place when we introduced ourselves and found out that we have common friends.
Through her we managed to connect to a former town-mate. She was kind enough to host our stay in the city for a week.
Another recent experience was while walking along the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan (Old town) in Stockholm, a lady approached my company and asked if we are Filipinos. She introduced herself and coincidentally, she and one of my companions, speak the same dialect. They ended up as FB friends and promised each other to meet constantly.

Dreams

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There are those far from real.
But in our minds, they thrive, they live.
When we sleep, they are within our reach.
Once we are awake, in flicker they vanish.

There are also those elusive
Much as we hold them, they get lost.
Tie them with chain and they will choke!
Loosen the grip and they break loose.

Dreams take us high; some take us down.
Others impair and make us dumb.
But for the naught dreams are the force
To live, to breath, to exist.

Twenty-twenty three

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Blaring sounds of trumpets and firecrackers can be heard this early in my neighbourhood. People are eager to welcome the new year and bid goodbye to 2023.

Any beginning is exhilarating. And this, to many, is the excitement that the new year brings…a time for new beginnings; gone with the old, ready for the new.

A fresh start for me, meanwhile, does not mean discarding the past. It is more on making good with what happened; picking up the broken pieces and patch them. It is creating a new me, stronger even bruised, and standing even battered.

The year 2023 was conspicuous, it ushered me to my senior year. It was also peculiar because it was only this year that I levelled up my travels, I now do cross-country explorations. It heightened its peculiarity when I finally uncovered lies and betrayals hidden from me for over the years. The discovery, while it continues to cloud my days, has balanced the events of the year. I had fun, I had adventure, I had frustrations, and I had emotional challenges. Summing up, I had a very fulfilling year. I am beyond blessed; I am complete.

Moving on to the coming year, I look forward to more travels and explorations, enjoy the discount benefits that come with my senior status, have time with my grandchildren, and accomplish the tasks set for the year. Days and events are unpredictable, I pray for strength, for faith, and for wisdom to conquer the challenges that will come my way.

To everyone, wish you all a blessed New Year. May we all have stronger faith, good heart, and better opportunities.

I Wish Things Would Have Been Different

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I wish things would have been different.
Seconds have been minutes.
Minutes have been hours.
Hours have been days.
Days have been months.
Months have been years.

I wish thing would have been different.
Noises have been music.
Rants have been flatteries.
Shouts have been whispers.
Grunts have been laughter.
Insults have been praises.

I wish thing would have been different.
Doubts have been trusting.
Voids have been fullness.
Problems have been thrills.
Quarrels have been fun.
Discords have been conformities.

I wish things would have been different.
Feelings have been expressed.
Individualities have been enjoyed.
Talents have been honed.
Greatness have been attained.
Unity has been restored.

But things turned differently.
Hatred altered kindness.
Familiarity bred animosity.
Harmony turned cacophony.
Chaos subdued serenity.
Egoism, narcissism reigned incessantly.

The four seasons and me

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As colorful as the changing leaves
And as sturdy as the forest trees
I remain standing amidst adversaries.
And enlivens when the cold season ends.

In the darkness of the cold winter
I fall like dust of twinkling star.
The fields I turn like frosted cake!
Delightful sight yet numbing inside.

Slowly the ice melts as the season shifts
As the warmer sun spreads its rays
Like waking up to the morning light
I begin to bloom, rebirth, alive.

Scorching in times I can be.
But I embrace you warmly.
Your rosy cheeks ooze with energy
With my bursting sunlight all is happy.

Hello September!

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To majority of Filipinos, the onset of the “ber” month signals its preparation for the Christmas season. Many will start prepping their houses, even stores, with yuletide decorations. Christmas carols will also fill the airwaves.

It has become a tradition; the Philippines is dubbed as the country with the longest Christmas season.