Joyeux Anniversaire!

Ako yung kulay brown na bansot sa dulo.

Anniversary. Tsk tsk, nde romantic, sa tarbaho. Merong policy in force, tahimik lang di naman overt - kung gusto mong umasenso kelangan bilingual ka. Mais mon francais, c'est mal! Hmmmmm...kakainis!

Under the Mango Tree...

"Under the Mango Tree." Acrylic on canvas. May 27, 2006.

Kelan ko kaya matatapos to? Tatlong linggo pa siguro. Napakaraming detalye ang kailangang idagdag, pero inip na inip na akong lagyan ng gloss and varnish. Anyway…sigh...

Psssst....I'm high on Ethiopian coffee....

I surely am talkin' Africanese nowadays, Daday might be right, the Lord might send me to Africa for some mission afterall...:) Anyway...

According to legend, Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. I'm not surprised, their traditional elaborate tea coffee ceremony has the qualities of an ancient art that could potentially become part of your relaxation routines once you get hooked on it. My first initiation to exotic Ethiopian coffee got me "intoxicated" literally! I blabbered like a drunkard and became extra talkative, but the intoxication felt more like getting a soaring "high" from some leaves (minus the hangover) rather than a gebena (coffee pot) of roasted coffee beans. It's been hours and I'm tellin' ya, I still feel extra happy, bubbly and highly charged - throw in some bursts of mental creativity in some areas of my brain as well. Surprisingly, I didn't have the racing heart and cold sweaty hands I normally would get soon after ingesting so much as a small cup of regular Starbucks coffee. Must be healthy stuff on top of everything else. Anyway, I had such a relaxing evening....


Admiring African Art at the Ethiopian restaurant - your typical "hole in the wall" with great exotic food, ultra-cheap price and excellent service.

Ethiopian coffee pot set(gebena maskemecha) with hand made wooden incense holder (Yesendel maskemecha). The incense probably added to the euphoric feeling. Notice the pot in a hand made coffee matt (Ybuna Mintaf). Not sure if the coffee is the famous Harrar or Yergacheffe though. If the penultimate art of tea ceremony is owned by the Japanese, coffee ceremony belongs to the Ethiopians.

Epicurean has a great article describing the Ethiopian coffee ceremony…
The lady who is conducting the ceremony gently washes a handful of coffee beans on the heated pan, then stirs and shakes the husks away. When the coffee beans have turned black and shining and the aromatic oil is coaxed out of them, they are ground by a pestle and a long handled mortar. The ground coffee is slowly stirred into the black clay coffee pot locally known as ‘jebena’, which is round at the bottom with a straw lid. Shown here is the freshly roasted coffee beans shown to Fanny and I before they made their way to the gebena.

A huge platter of yummy and exotic Doro Wat (spicy chicken dish) with side salad (ang sarap!) and Ingera (bread) - good for two people. Fanny, ready to eat. Errrr...it is a must to use your hands as you won't be given forks or spoons, washing your hands before the meal is therefore advised. I almost raised my right foot on the chair if I didn't think Fanny would pass out from embarassment...:).

Strolling along nearby Little Italy after dinner...

Fresh from Prophetic Ministry Training...

Precious in His sight by Greg Olsen.

I could be wrong or right. I'm activating my gift by faith however and would like to deliver the following Word of Knowledge from the Lord (as I sense it) to three of His children. Bato-bato sa langit, tamaan sana ay ma-bless...:).

You've felt left out for the longest time. You feel isolated inspite of company, misunderstood. I sense that God wants to tell you that He longs to fellowship with you and as you do you will find warmth and comfort in the presence of His company. As you fellowship with Him, He will give you creative ideas to carry out the plans that you have in your heart. You feel chained in certain areas of your life and you've been wanting to be unshackled. I sense the Lord telling me that you will slay the giants/hindrances/obstacles in your life as you boldly take steps of faith. Aim and sling them with the pebbles of your faith in prayer, much prayer, make arrowpointed prayers specifically casting them (the giants/obstacles) out of your life. He wants to encourage you to be courageous and to cross that bridge you've been wanting to cross, He promises to carry you like a child as you do, but make the initial step in faith. Shed off your fear and uncertainties then, for in Him you will have a safe and secure crossing over.

You're going through the refining fire of trials - the Lord is using these experiences to strengthen your dependece,trust and faith in Him. You've been wanting to actually get rid of what you feel like "bad luck" in your life and been wanting to "burn it" and throw it out of your life for the longest time. You feel like you're drowning sometimes, but your courage and strength has carried you through and will continue to carry you through and will bring you to a place of freedom from your burdens if your persist. Have faith and take courage and be strong, for the Lord is with you. I sense the Lord telling you that He's going to cover you and your loved one with the blanket of His grace and will protect that union as you continually approach Him in His grace, love and mercy.

As your birthday turned, you felt like you were stuck in your journey through life and you wanted to get away from the winter cold (of your life or place?). You were tired of "playing games" with children and wanted to put the task aside. There were times when you were riding your bicycle that you felt like you wanted to give up control and simply "wiggle" your way through as you try to block off the feelings of emptiness from the daily routine. Your inner strength has carried you through however. You want God to give you a child and the desire for one sometimes eats at your soul as you see little children. You desire for a refreshing of a weary soul and you will, if you swim in the vast and refreshing cool Water of Life, the Holy Spirit, awaiting you. I sense that the Lord will deposit a little boy in your midst in the near future, if put your faith in His creative power.

Up in the rainbows with glee...

Goodbye Uncle Lauding
Your children thank you
For the solid happy years
You spent with them
As a loving father...

And now you're with the Father
I hope your journey
was full of glee
Riding through the rainbows
Gliding up the skies
Sitting on the clouds...

And as you touched
the sun
Oops you weren't scorched
But saw a glimpse
of those precious pearly gates...

Swirl and dance in His glory
Happy days are in
Only eternal sunshine
and no nights as you enter in...

Wear your white robe with joy
And sing with the angels
You always wanted to
Now you will...

Goodbye Uncle Lauding,
'til we meet again...

Heaven is Where You are Jesus.....

"Heaven is where you are Jesus, in the glory up above...I want to be there with you Jesus, coz heaven is where you are, for all eternity Jesus. Coz heaven is where you are...resting by your side, living in your light..."

Click here to listen to this uplifting song.

I couldn't agree more with the description on the mission's website:

The African drums resound and one by one the children come dancing down the aisles in their brilliant Ugandan costumes, with radiant smiles on their faces! Throughout Watoto's Concert of Hope, you experience the energy and sense the joy and hope that these beautiful Ugandan orphans have found!

Behind those innocent and radiant faces are sometimes harrowing experiences from losing either one or both parents to AIDS or the civil war. I was bawling while watching these kids perform yesterday. Infact, I wasn't really aware who they were or where they came from when I first saw them lining up on the church aisles. It was amazing however that while watching these confident, evidently well-taken care of kids standing where they were, my spirit picked up something that gave my heart a crushing sensation, squeezing the rain out of my eyes. Then I understood (what I picked up in the spirit) when they finally walked up on the stage and were introduced. This is one of the perks of being a born-again Christian, the Holy Spirit does not live outside of me. He is actually inside of me (yes, inspite of my heart needing a continuing major sanctification process - thank God for His grace!) and I could feel it when He Himself is moved by the plight of His children! My claims are not without basis mind you, read all of the New Testament for reference, if you believe the bible is the infallible Word of God that is...:).

Anyway, despite the unabashedly flowing tears, I thouroughly enjoyed the soulful blend of native African rhythms, contemporary gospel music and ethnic dance movements. I cultivated an appreciation for the African culture (my eyes were actually opened) after reading "God in the Midst of the Rwandan Genocide." I see a lot of similarities between them and our very own Filipino culture, especially strong filial love and commitment.

Later on after the church service, I made sure I bought an item from the souvenir table (I love the colourful necklace!) in support of this admirable missions organization (Watoto Chid Care Ministries) whose main purpose is to raise godly and well-balanced leaders of the future Uganda.

Mababaw na Kaligayahan...Tag ni Batikungkung....

Patak ng ulan, pag signal number 2 at walang pasok sa elementarya o high school habang nagbabasa ng Sweet Dreams Romance pocketbook.

Kantahan at gitara playing pag brownout sa Pinas habang kandila lamang ang nakasindi.

Inihaw na pinitpit at hinog na saba ni Mama.

Watching romantic movies in big punit Ts and crisp pajamas while nibbling on fresh from the oven choco-macadamia chip cookies, sipping hot green tea interspersed with eating heaving spoonfuls of hagen-dazs coffee ice cream.

Driving through a drizzle in Scarborough Bluff (winding roads inside a mini-valley like enclave).

Inter-island ferry ride while watching school of dolphins make a play at the waters.

Christmas at snowy and picturesque Whistler Mountain .

Watching DVD Gaither Gospel concerts with my Pop.

Wrapping Christmas gifts for kids and anticipating their reaction.

Expressing my feelings on canvas.

Street side café coffee.

Dami pa eh, kulang sampu.

Work in Progress...

Sampaguita in Diaspora. Acrylic on Canvass, May 16, 2006.

It was pouring wet outside this afternoon and I wasn't able to drop by Curry's along Yonge St. to buy some more paint supplies. For one, I ran out of white acrylic paint and I still need to work on the petals of the flower to bring them into a more realistic ivory white colour. Also, can't wait to add shadows and contours on the petals and some yellowish green touch ups on the leaves. And I musn't forget to make some ripples on the lower background to make it look like a deep ocean. Ooops, gotta apply that gloss and varnish finish as well, this is one of those where a glossy look is most appropriate.

I was thinkin' of me when I painted this last night. A Sampaguita in Diaspora suspended somewhere in between the blue and purple depths of feeling so alone in a faraway land I still refuse to call my own even after over a decade of living here. Diaspora, afterall to me is almost equivalent to transient.

Oh well, might as well, let me sing the song....

Sampaguita ng aming lipi. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Bulaklak na sakdal ng yumi 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Ikaw ang mutyang pinili na sagisag ng aming lahi　　　　
Ang-kulay mong binusilak ay diwa ng ating pangarap　　　
Ang iyong bango't halimuyak sa tuwina'y aming nilalanghap
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
O bulaklak na nagbibigay ligaya. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
O paraluman mutyang sampaguita　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Larawang mistula ng manga-mga　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
ikaw ang tanging bituing hiraman ng kanilang ganda　　　　　
Ang iyong talulot ang s'yang tunay na sagisag　ng sa dalagang pusong wagas kayumian
at pagkamatapatpat...
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Ang Harvest ni Mama...

"Ang Harvest ni Mama." Oil in Canvass, May 15, 2006.

Di pa tapos tong proyekto ko pero gusto ko nang i-blog. Marami pang dapat gawin sa background para magkabuhay ang kulay at anyo, one dimensional pa lang ba. Anyway, pumapatak ang luha ko habang nilalagyan ng mga detalye ang mga bulaklak ng Bougainvilla. Namimiss ko yung buhay namin sa Sibale (island) at sa Novaliches. Hitik na hitik sa bulaklak ang puno ng Bougainvilla namin sa harap ng dalawang bahay. Matingkad sa alaala ko nung ako'y munting bata pa lang at nakikipaglaro sa harap ng bahay sa Sibale, maraming mga bulaklak ng Bougainvilla ang nahulog sa kalye. Tag-init nun, at nakakagalak gunitain ang saya na dulot ng halos mapupulang Bougainvilla. Yun namang sa sa Novaliches, maraming mga nagdadaan ang namamahinga sa ilalim ng puno nito kapag tag-init. Parang malaking payong ang kanyang anyo. Sa gabi, naaaliw akong tingnan ang dahan-dahang pagbagsak ng mga bulaklak sa aming balkonahe. Ang buhay pampamilya namin para sa akin ay sinisimbulo ng mga Bougainvillang yan. Makulay at masaya, may mga halong kalungkutan din ,lalo na't nagkahiwa-hiwalay kami, pero pinatitingkad ang anyo at kulay sa awa at grasya ng Panginoon habang lumilipas ang mga panahon.



Pag summer naman noon sa Novaliches, hitik na hitik sa bunga ang puno ng Indian Mango namin. Si Mama ang malimit mag-harvest sa aming backyard. Ganyan ang Mama ko, napakamasigasig maghanap ng pampuno sa hapag ng pamilya. Actually ang mga manggang yan sa bilao ay sinisimbulo ang kanyang pamilya, hanggang kaapu-apuhan sa tuhod. Hitik, puno, may pagpapala ng Diyos na gumawa ng araw. Malayo na rin ang aming narating magmula ng kami'y lumisan sa isla. Sa paglipas ng panahon, matatag pa rin ang pundasyon na dulot ng aking ama at ina. At saludo ako sa Harvest ni Mama...:)

What a DaY...

There are times when I want to hide from the wretched gal that I am...

Minsan di ko kilala sarili ko at minsan nakakagulat ang mga tao, lalo na ang matanda. I encountered a bigot of an old man today and he was not only rude but downright nasty. The moment he sat on the lounge chair beside mine inside the lakeside coffee shop, I could sense "evil" and animosity. He grabbed the newspaper in front of me and literally threw it back where it was (right in front of me). I chose to overlook the offense and ignored him. And to think that all along I was simply quietly reading where I was, not even giving him a second glance when he approached. When I finally got up to leave after about thirty minutes, he stood up to move to my prized spot (with the lovely lake view) and angrily motioned for me to pick up my empty cup from the center table (di pa nga ako nakakaalis!). My blood was really fizzling by this time but I managed to apologize albeit sarcastically, "sorry, I almost forgot." I picked up the cup and my used tissues leaving behind straws and other trash. He made a sweeping motion for me to pick them up as well (as if I were some lowly dumb servant), to which I stonily replied with, "they're not mine," and started to walk away. He snorted, "yeah right, whatever." Super kulo na ang blood ko by this time so I answered back, "EXCUSE ME???" Anyway, I could be razor-like feisty when my blood reaches boiling point in a given situation, I acted on this brilliant idea of going to the washroom, bringing out the semi-wet balled-up crumpled paper towel I used to dry my hands with, aimed and threw it his way (the best insult I could think of for a bigot who thinks Asian gals could be treated like trash - that's what I strongly perceived as the reason behind his puzzling behaviour) while exiting. He gave out this loud snorty laugh which earned him the best dirty finger I could muster(grabe sa sobrang di sanay I fumbled - didn't exactly know which finger to stick out..he he). Anyway, that was the end of the story. I had this heavy feeling inside of me as if I violated something or Someone as I stepped out the coffee shop's glass doors...

The Lord didn't like how I behaved I know, but I kept on arguing that the man deserved it....deserved it, deserved it...Darn, some men are just plain evil.

Proverbs: It is wise to ignore an offense.


Tambay at the Westin...

Mural at St. Lawrence Market...

Wall decor at the hotel...

I miss going out to the farm and seeing red barns (Vancouver)...

Anyway, my day may not have started right but it sure ended well...I'm busy painting on a canvass...:)

Spring Flowers and Dandansuy...

Dandansuy

Dandansuy, bayaan ta icaw

Pauli aco sa payaw

Ugaling cun icaw hidlawon

An payaw imo nang tan-awon

Nabuyong ray ako. Gusto nakong magpauli sa payaw. Ugaling miskan ako hidlawon, uya ra ako't mahuhuman. A tan-awon yangey nako ka payaw.

Sabado....

Sa tapat ng tirahan ko. Tumira daw dyan si Ernest Hemingway at nanulat for a season.

Tapat pa rin ng tirahan ko. Namumulaklak na ang mga puno.

Masarap matulog sa may lawa.

Gusto kong bumili ng Condominium unit diyan when I grow up.

Peace at last...

Meryenda muna.

Namumukadkad na naman ang mga Tulips.

Magpipintura akong muli.

Talaga lang magpipintura akong muli.

Sana pumayat ako ng ganyan.

Kaysarap ng malaya. Lakad lakad lang.

Ito na ba ang langit?

Panandaliang pagpapahinga ng mga mata sa opis one Spring day...

Serenity at the lobby?

Busy or not so busy intersection? A view from the French Class room window.