Gentle breeze

Soft and gentle breeze fill my being
ready to fly up high with snowflakes
as its cold come down my nostrils
am but absorbed by its warm embrace.

O gentle but silent presence in the world
where thou essence covers the land
be to us a perfect blessing
as we offer our own humble being.

For what we have may we feel complete
heal us for the dilemna towards uncomprehensible
beyond our capacity to understand and accept
and our thankful heart be a manifest.

Day after Christmas

I feel the breeze of a daylight
swaying the grass grow
on a hillside where the manger is.

As I gazed at Jesus as gift
I begin to glow
as the moon envelops the darkness.

Gising, konsensya!

Ang malawakang pagbaha

sa dakong kamindanawan

sangkatutak na dahilan

pa'no naman si konsensya?

May pagbabago't pagtugon

dala ng trahedya sa 'kin?

o patuloy ang pagpuna

kabi-kabilang sisihan?

Sana ay may dalang leksyon

sa bawat isa sa atin

igalang ang kalikasan

upang tayo'y mahalin din.

Que la lluvia se pare!

La lluvia si no pare nos inunda

la tierra no tiene la capacidad de contenerla

en el tiempo que vivimos ahora

saturando y llenando los ríos y quebradas.

Que la lluvia se para

y tenga su sabiduria

como su circulo de vida

para que no destruya.

En muchas partes del mundo

la inundación es un desafio

para sobrevivir nuestro tiempo

nos salva por nuestro esfuerzo.

Desafiar la capacidad del gobierno

a dar viviendas a los pobres

que viven en las quebradas y ríos

justamente es un regalo.

La fiesta de navidad 

se va como siempre 

pero nos hace sentir que

faltamos la verdadera libertad.

La liberación de la gente

es sentir feliz y tener la plenitud

de la vida que siempre

le faltamos de verdad.

Una lluvia.... muchos recuerdos

Cuando llueva me lleva a mi tan lejos
mis pensamientos llena de recuerdos
mirando y escuchando atentamente la lluvia
cayendo en una sola harmonia.

Se escucha la llegada en el piso
 la tierra que ya esta mojada
esta regando y nutriendo las plantas
los animales ya estan bañandose.

Los niños estan preparandose
los botes hecho de papel
para cuando termine la llluvia
se van a flotar los botes en el canal.

Mientras tanto la mama esta preparandose
la comida de la familia
sin importar que hora sea
se sirve la comida cuando termine.

La lluvia termina en su punto
saturando la capacidad de preservarlo
por los arboles y vegetaciones
y llenando las represas para el consumo.

Es un sistema ecologico
que tenemos que conservar
para la vida humana y de todos
que son independientes de la bendecida lluvia.

Cuando la vida...

Cuando las cosas se van mal
ya es una buena señal
de rehacer la vida
y recoger las piezas
que me ha quedado.

Cuando las cosas no andan
como lo hubieran
desprendemos de nuestra mano
aunque le da un dolor
al final nos da nuestra libertad.


Cuando pasa el tiempo
olvidamos las cosas del pasado
empezamos a vivir con quienes estan
y con los que tenemos con nosotros
para continuar viviendo nuestra vida.

Days before Christmas

In jubilant expectation for Christmas
I start  making a list for gift giving
people who have been kind to me
my friends, collaborators and acquaintances.

None in the list reflect my affiliation
to uninvited and unknown individual
who out there needed more attention
why could my heart be choosy!

Christ jubilant coming to the world
an openness to embrace humankind
is enough to open my heart
to share Christ's love to everyone.

Bliss and Blessings

Bliss is a space of a pure happiness
though momentarily is a state of being
where a fullness of a particular moment
is fulfilled and experienced.with great joy.

Blessing and being blessed is more permanent
a state of being in a receiving end
but also passing your grace to another
a blessing of hope, love, joy and peace.

Gratitude to God's Acts of Love

Gratitude as a way of life
evoked in me an awareness
that all what I have
is but a gift received.

Gratitude as my expression of life
imbues deep inside my heart
an overflowing response of yes
a generosity and self-giving.

Gratitude to God, to Maryknoll
for the fidelity and company
for bringing out in me
gratitude to God's acts of love.

A Dose of Hope

As I look into the future
I have no fear but courage
to make another leap
to enable me to be present.

As to the future
I am but responsible
to make it happen
and be an active participant.

Why into the future
when the present seems clearer
and / but this vagueness
comes with a dose of hope.

It's nice to be home

Home is where my heart belongs
where my body feels at ease
being home is coming home
to the place where there is warmth.

Warm greetings and embraces
from people who care
whose friendship and being a family
is worth coming home to.

It's nice to be home
and share stories of life
journey and live together
then, part away to be home.

To my sister, Amelita!

On your 3rd anniversary I feel better
knowing that you are in a safer and happier place.

On this day, I know you have lived life
to the full 50 years, realizing what you wish in life.

I say a lot of gratitude for having been a good sister
a good daughter and a good example to us.

On your 3rd anniversary of birth in heaven
may your happiness be to its outmost limits.

All I know

There is a yearning in a person's heart
trying to listen  to it's beat and rhythm
although I am not sure what it is
my yearning leads me the way.

There is suffering but our minds
change the patterns of our responses
our aversions may lead us to maturity
our own self keeps on changing.

There is a turning point in our lives
that seems to complete the circle
connects spaces that hanging up in there
all I know there is more revelation.

TODAY, I PRAY

Today I pray from within
begging God to grant all my desires
my wishes be extended
to people who I care for.

Today I pray for you
knowing God is there to hear me
from this emptiness
God fills out space and time.

Today I live out my prayer
trusting the very action
rests in this great God
who makes things possible.

Life is too fast

When I am slow and not able to capture
each moment and live within it
I am slow and life moves fast for me
I am compelled to slow down
sit with my experiences and be present
this allows me to be at my own center.

How to survive floods?

How do we able to survive floods?
a reality that we all face at present
a future we are directed to living with
being able to survive effects of climate change.

How do we survive floods
when government budget is nil
to mitigate effects of climate change
where would people go?




Under the bridge, not an answer at all
to poor indigenous filipinos
on the roof, waiting for rescue teams
without proper gadgets and training?

We shall survive it all, we need to move on
to the future like Noah
making changes and innovations
to our means, be prepared!

Magandang Araw

Isang magandang araw ang bumati sa akin

may init at may dalang hapyo ng hangin

nagsilbing yakap at halik sa sandaigdigan.

O kay ganda, may ligayang tunay na taglay

bawat kanyang dampi ay s'yang pagpapalang bigay

upang damhin  ibayong ganda na alay.

Sa pag-ikot ng araw

Sa pagdaraan ng mga araw
at s'yang paglaglag na mga dahon
mga luntiang tanawin ngayon
taglay ang pag-asang susungaw.

Sa sutsot ng hanging amihan
may taglay sa 'ting kasiyahan
kapayapaan sa 'king dibdib
katarungan ay siyang siklab.

LIVING NORMAL LIFE

If some days are overwhelming

with doings and feelings

we need to move and respond

it might be exhausting.

If some days are energy draining

listening ears and compassion

we lend and give

so others may live.

My continues gratitude giving

to folks who stand by

and help in order for me 

to live a normal life.

Saying Thank You's

Is it easy to say thank you

when you receive something?

Something you cherish and love

from someone you know.

Do you utter thank you

for a thing that's denied of you

you feel you deserve

from someone you know?

Are you a thank you person

that every gift you receive

wrapped and unwrapped

from someone you don't know?

Saying our thank you's

more often and constantly

draws a positive energy

for people around us.

GRATITUDE

An overflowing gratitude
to human relationships
that create families, friendships
and working relations
that support our living and being.

A continues gratitude
to my everyday waking up
with all that is around me
that gives color and beauty
to my inner world.

The Universe and I Exist

An overflowing surprises

around my existence and its purpose

is a mind boggling state

but not anymore.

I look with the gaze of love

my own creation

mirrored in the universe story

my humble existence.

Each part of me is a universe

of which 13.7 billions years ago

slowly life came into being

and drawn from the same life.

Life comes from the Divine / God.

galaxies, animals, plants

human beings, languages

we are connected and related.

September 13, 2011

Panama City, Panama

I SHOULD KNOW

Why could my mind
not able to capture a simple truth
and live in deception?

I should know now
who I am, what I stand for
a beautiful learning experience!


.

To feel hope

When many times I've tried
to live up to my name
hope and to always have hope
in an instant I've lost hope.

To something I have hope for
something I wish a dream
will come true, I lost it
fear I would not hope anymore.

I don't know how to trust
and hope for another time
a second chance makes it difficult
to move on and hope.

I hope that one day I shall regain
the lost hope and feel healed
to hope that I will be whole
hopeful as ever be.

I Can Do It

I am glad I can do stuff

I never thought I could

physically exhausting myself

could be fun and fulfilling

as I work out to lose weight.

It is the will to do more

arrive at something I aspire

to become a different person

it's inner drive 

that makes me say I've done it.

BE TRUE TO SELF

This takes a lot of sincerity
and a good dose of honesty
to be true to oneself.

I cannot force nor fool myself
otherwise I am going against
and resisting my true nature.

Being true to oneself
is accepting the purpose
and destiny of my humble existence.

Looking at the Blessing

I need to consciously see and look
the blessings of everyday
looking back still may be necessary
to count the blessings of each year.

This conscious act allows me to count
and feel the gratitude in my heart
the contentment that overflows
the richness this earth offers us.

New steps

I got a rebound energy to walk 

to be in harmony with the world 

as I make my sensitive new steps 

I breathe the air of hopeful synergy.

New steps to carry on more steps

as I am carried by the speed 

and every pulse beat of my heart

the new steps shall carry me through.

Changing Pattern

I started changing a thought pattern
of one persistent trouble
naming it to be a blessing.

Blessing now I rename
any problem causing anxiety
and affecting me physically.


Changing pattern is my response
a way of coping
and facing life-challenge.

I wish I could

As regrets somehow intertwined

with my daily accomplishments

positive thinking alligns my goal.

I wish I could 

the same person I am

but detachment is necessary.

I wish I could

continue be the same

but growth brings new horizons.

I wish a harmony within

then I could fly high

and be carried by winds.

Today

On my 49th birthday
I wish myself a happy day
happy years of vibrant living
years that will be given me.

I wish to be alive
and know the joy of living
when living is meant just for today
then my gratitude overflows.


My heart is filled with gladness
as family and friends surround me
their love and loving thoughtfulness
meant so much to live for.

Gratitude to the great Creator
who gave me right to live
and be in the right moment
the right time to exist.

Come Sing Along

May our journeys continue 

to where our heart belongs

I listen to that voice

that takes me to my home.

Let's come together

and sing this song

that takes us along

a long way to that home.

When that time comes

we shall celebrate

the freedom that frees

to take us home.

Di ba nakakasawa?

Kapag paulit-ulit ang pagtatanong
paulit-ulit na sagot
at palaging ganyan na lamang?

Nakakarindi minsan
kung bakit ang di mo nais mangyari
ang siyang nangyayari?

At ang bagay na gusto mo
at talagang gustong-gusto
ang siyang di makamit?

(isang drama sa buhay lamang ito).

Kapayapaan ng Pagtitiwala

Pagtitiwala sa sarili
sa aking kapwa-tao
lalo na sa lumikha
may dulot na kapayapaan
sa aking pagkatao.

Walang nawawala
walang itinatapon
bagkus ay may hatid
kapayapaan ng buhay
sa mundong ginagalawan.

Kay sarap abutin
lasapin yaring kapayapaan
sa kabila ng kaguluhan
di matitinag ang kalooban
sa tiwalang abot-kamay.

Un Amor Loco

Un amor loco

te das cuenta es necesario

para aprender nuevamente

y amar como nunca amaste.

Un amor loco

te amargas y te endulzas

pero nunca tú caigas

tal vez te apoyaras a crecer.

Un amor loco

te haces sentir muy estupida

te das cuenta es necesario

para aprender amar

y valer esta necesidad humana.

Stopping and Seeing

It takes time to open
and  receive our gifts
the gift of knowing
what word means
stopping and seeing in zen.

In my own experience
of not knowing
not thinking what you know
stopping means cessation
and seeing is contemplation.

Stopping my delusions
and seeing the truth
is quite a mind shaking
spinning and twirling
until I reach the axis.

Always Different

Today is not yesterday

this moment will not be the same

there is difference 

and always be different.

Yet I still need to compare

and expect it will be the same

there is difference 

will always be different.

It's my mundame mind and eyes

that see the sameness 

but there is difference

is always different.

Urging and Surging

When I want to do something
or be someone else
it comes from an urging
a forceful movement
that needs to be responded to.


From time to time
the surging of the creative
and positive energy
open to us the horizon
to become a new person.

My Mom is Smilin'

I saw her smile from out there
looking at us with great fondness
around her, my father
and 2 other siblings.

My mom is smilin' at us
from out there triumphantly
joyously had conquered life
a promise now at hand.

My mom is smilin'
happy where she is
happy where we are
my mom is smilin' at us.




"on the 85th birth anniversary of my mom"

Empty Cup

When my empty cup
is filled with my morning coffee
I feel the warmth
as it reaches my empty stomach.

There is the movement
of pouring and emptying
a satisfaction of life
and the perk of the day.

Life needs to be empty
left to be filled with
what is there inside
that gives the perk of life.

Our Strength Comes from God

Left alone we get withered

the power we have as own

is limited by human elements

and extended by will power.

However our strength 

comes from our God

who is the source of our being

and our becoming.

When my faith fails me

God still believes in us

a power that perhaps save us

from self pity and destruction.

All shall be well

When overcome with anxiety

thinking of what is to come

and our plans seem not to materialize.

When overcome with grief

for the death and loss of loved ones

they occupy a better place than where we are.

When our hopes are gone

and all what we see is an obscurity

All shall be well.

All shall be well, all shall be well.

A promise we hold on

for all shall be shall.

A Fixation, a Challenge!

When time restricts

my movement and my thinking

I feel that something

should be freed in me

it is not liberating.

When I open my eyes

I wish to see 

my present and not past

the dual states of realities

bring sadness and pain.

When night comes

I want to be absorbed

by pleasant feelings and memories

how the day passed

and a new morn's coming.

Enough to Live By

Our life is never static in nature
the different movements and responses
give us sufficient data and information
to process and to give us a push
in our desire to grow and be different
we got enough to live by.

We learn our lessons hardly enough
but will not cause our death
it is the dying of something in us
that needs rebirth and regrowth
life is like a bonsai
we do need pruning and manicuring.

Weeding out and taking in
are movements we need to anticipate
and life is a constant learning
constancy in awareness
is a way to reaching out
the self that constantly changes.

I sing a song

In a melodious harmony of notes

I sing a song 

a song I'd like to sing.

It's a song that fills my heart

My ears begin to listen

it is a simple song.

A song I'd like to sing

To all beings 

who made life beautiful.

There's harmony, an integration

a song that lifts up the soul

it is a song I'd like to sing.

IMPERMANENCE

Impermanence is of profound importance
it's not something easy to learn
it's practical to learn to live.

Impermanence is an invitation
not to cling on anything or anyone
we live on a temporal basis.



I try to live on a daily basis
nothing to hold or keep me
from moving onward.

Like a river with its flowing water.
I allow my soul to be flown
to its resting place.

TO ALL MOTHERS

A million thank you's
each mother deserves to receive
from children you reared
to become who they are
architects of the future
sailors in the journey
neophytes in the profession
victorious at the end.

To all mothers
we love and adore you
a life of selflessness
sacrifices and care
to the children and grandchildren
who came from you
and wherever you are
we keep you in our hearts.

I SMELL THE EARTH

I took the earth on my hand
touched and smelled its fragrance.

I smiled at the earth
as I performed my tai-chi.

A wondrous gift in spring
with meadows green.

Birds melody never ends
welcoming the day.

FLIGHTS AND REALITIES

My recent flight to Guatemala

scared the living daylights out of me

a dream in the evening

made me screamed "Oh my Gosh" 

3 times I did

and 3 times I did in the actual flight.

A sudden lowering of altitude 

on a turbulent mountain area

cooled down my body temperature

and a sweltering sensation

made me pray endlessly

but confident it won´t be the last.

I tend to flee realities

when pain goes beyond my capacity

and reasons could not explain why

Now I do believe that reality 

is meant to make us strong person

and in the Divine that holds us through.

AKIN NG MAKAMTAN

Abot kamay na langit
akin kitang pagyayamanin
pipilitin na di mawala
kasaganaa´y maging angkin.


Kaloob na katapat
tatanggapin kitang maluwat
upang aking makamtan
init ng ´sang tagumpay.

Tagumpay na isang hamon
ay di magiging mailap
bagkus ay parang ulap
na hihimlay sa kanluran.

Hangal na Puso

Ang puso ay may pakiramdam

paghahangad na nagpupumiglas

gustong abutin pero madulas

nagpipilit kahit panandalian.

Hangal na puso, walang isip

Di natuto ayaw lubayan

Bakit kahit lamang apuhap

ng sandali mangyaring angkinin.

At sa bawat paglipas ng bukas

ang ngayon ay siyang pagyamanin

upang ng sa gayon 

bawat sandali ay walang bakas.

O pusong hangal, nawaý matuto

kalokohan at kabobohan

itapon at mangyaring tapusin

karunungan ay likas sa ´tin.