Raising Boys

In praise of Mactan March 26, 2006

Daylight brings a hotness that is sometimes uncomfortable, to this place I call home. The heat is searing, going deep into flesh, bone, soul. The warm air torments, yet I bask in it like a moth who can’t keep away from the flame.

I have walked its streets, this land of my childhood. No path in this flat, flat land has been spared from my weary feet. No nook of this island has been kept hidden from my prying eyes. No secret has remained undiscovered by my questing mind. I have walked away but have walked back.

I have swam its beaches, this home of Lapu-Lapu. I have lain on its sand, dreaming grandiose dreams. I have stood on its shoreline and wondered about the people who, on that very spot, battled invaders and triumphed, some 500 years ago.

I have felt love, hate, sadness, joy, in this spot of forever. Here, I have cried countless tears and laughed a thousand laughs. Here, I have fought and overcome demons. Here, I have loved and lost and loved again.

I have been seduced by its darkness, this city of clear skies and starry nights. I have looked up its heavens and have been overwhelmed by the blanket of stars spread across its face. I have welcomed its nighttime, that blessed succor from the unyielding light of day.

Other places beckon, but the island holds me firmly in its grasp. One day, I may yet leave but i will never be away.

(This is a very subjective description of Lapu-Lapu. To read more about the city and what it has to offer, click here.)

Everyday love February 14, 2006

I’m not big on flowers. They wither. You enjoy them for one or two days and then disappointingly they shrivel and leave this mess of dried leaves and petals.

But my husband brought me flowers–chrysanthemums–for Valentine’s Day today and they’re among the most beautiful things I’ve ever been given in my lifetime.

This gift of flowers and because it is Valentine’s Day made me think about the song “This Everyday Love” by Rascal Flatts, who sang about “ordinary plain and simple” love. This is exactly the love that my husband and I share–it’s “typical” and “nothing too peculiar”.
Further goes the song:

Wouldn’t change one single thing about it
No, it’s run-of-the-mill, still I can’t live without it

Neither would I. Neither can I.

The sun, at last February 13, 2006

Finally, the sun shone today after what seemed to be days and days (only 4 days really) of rain. I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to come out from behind stormy grey clouds.

To celebrate the return of sunny days, I took this picture of the horizon, from the old bridge that connects the island of Mactan to mainland Cebu, specifically Mandaue City. In the distance, beyond the new Mandaue-Mactan bridge, the glorious sky comes down to kiss the somber sea.

I pass by the bridge everyday on my way to work and I get to look at this view everytime but it never fails to take my breath away.

Free of POS December 2, 2005

Finally, some good news. My latest ultrasound showed I no longer have polycystic ovaries.

Looking forward to Constantine’s show November 15, 2005

Karen says she has two tickets to the Constantine Maroulis show this Saturday at the Ayala Center in Cebu and that we should go. I said yeah, we should. This is so cool (pardon the word). He was my favorite American Idol male contestant before I gave him up for Bo Bice.

It’s going to be a hectic Saturday because I plan to cram into the day dinner with a friend from Australia and of course the latest Harry Potter film The Goblet of Fire. I don’t know if I’m going to survive the weekend but my fingers are crossed.

Exercise against cancer November 1, 2005

One good reason to take up exercise again.