Apart from the Crowd, in a Quite Place

Villa Consuelo, c. 1990

Recuperating. Reading a lot. Meditating in silence in a solitary place and yet in communion with all.


Searching. Remembering a path once trodden by. Retracing and going further beyond and into the cloud of unknowing.  
Trappist Abbey, Guimaras

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SOOTHING AS NIGHT WINDS ARE: An Interpretation of the poem by that title by Salvador B. Espinas

Image
Love is gentle, love is quiet Like any distant star; In loving by which we approximate the nature of love, we do not coerce those we love—as much as possible we give room for freedom to grow and respect each other’s independence, i.e., each other’s time of searching. In loving, the lover is like the distant star, manifesting his presence and yet quietly, not trying to obstruct or block the path of the beloved. He stands besides quietly assuring her of his gentle presence and constant attention. Love is beauty, love is music Soothing as night winds are. Lovers are enchanted by the wonders of creation. One who is in loved would often quips that everything seems beautiful and that “ life has music, rhythm and rhyme” –which actually is. Somehow, love enables man and woman to see reality as God sees it. As even in times of trouble, loves comes like night winds, soothing our weary mind and aching heart. ...
Read more

Something About Tumbo (Cara y Cruz): A Hypothesis

Image
They say that mahjong is just a diversion, a recreation of some sort of the bored and the retired. But they say that cara y cruz is a different case. However you look at it--in both sides of the coin (pun intended), it is gambling and therefore those who indulged in it (read, the poor ones) are playing in conflict with law. And so, since yesteryears, people accepted those facts. Mahjong is recreational while cara y cruz or tumbo is gambling and illegal at that. An Alfonso showing its head and tail or if your prefer its "hari" & "corona" But I was amused at the scene of a group of individuals by an "island" at corner T.M. Kalaw and Taft Avenue I happened to pass by while doing research at the National Archives of the Philippines sometime in August 2010. I just alighted from the Light Rail Transit (LRT) at UN Station and was finding my way to cross T.M. Kalaw when I noticed a bunch of lot playing cara y cruz on the elevated concrete "isla...
Read more

The Ballad of the Mamumugon

Image
I was once asked--no, was forced actually, to sing one of our songs in an international gathering (in the sense that with the group were a couple of Hispanic nationals, a Tanzanian and several Filipinos from all over the country-Bisaya, Bicolanos, Karay-as, Warays, Ilocanos, Tagalogs). The agreement was that each "race" was to sing a song that best describes his culture. Alas, I was the only Aklanon in the group and was compelled to raise the banner of Aklan high among those "kings and nobles". So when my slot came about, I stood up grabbed the microphone and touched their hearts (even if it irritated their ears) with the Ballad of the Mamumugon: Mamugon ako, mamugon Sa baeay it manggaranon Alas Dos ako pakan-on ay, ay Orasyon ako pauli-on. Pag-abot ko man sa baeay Dayon pangayu it humay Ginturo ako ni Tatay ay, ay Sa eusong una rong paeay. Alinon mo rong paeay Eawas ko karon ginabudlay Kon buhi kunta s...
Read more