eli

"Welcome to the Eliquarium᭝ ᨳଓ ՟"

“The art gallery is down the hallway to your right, the literature wing is right around the corner, and the observatory is located to your left

Before the grand tour begins, credit is given to @chrisssiren for the banners used throughout this blog.

Thank you for visiting!"

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐰

In halls where shadows whisper low, Two hearts once met in secret’s glow. A touch, a glance, as fleeting spells, In hidden spots, where magic dwells.

Through cobbled paths and starlit skies, With wand in hand and quiet sighs, My fingers ache, they long to trace The warmth once here, a ghostly place.

Like charms unwound and potions dimmed, The echoes fade, our moments thinned. Yet memories stir, like phoenix fire— A love half-told, yet full desire.

[literature wing]⋆.📎

𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

In shadows where our laughter played, A heart now aches, feeling betrayed. “Don’t want this” cuts deep and clear, Yet memories whisper, always near.

Thoughts spin round, confusion reigns, Mixed signals hide my hopes and pains. What was warm has turned to chill, In silence, love's echoes linger still.

Questions drift like leaves in fall, Searching for answers, wanting it all. “Is it really over?” the heart will sigh, Holding on tight, afraid to say goodbye.

Standing here, lost in the night, Wishing for truth, searching for light. With every word, I seek to mend, But doubt remains, will it ever end?

[literature wing]⋆.📎

𝐂𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝'𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐤𝐞

He said goodbye before too long, Left me wondering what went wrong. It was just a game, a fleeting glance, And I thought, for once, I had a chance.

In the crowd, I held back tears, But his words echoed, feeding fears. “I don’t want this anymore,” he said, And with that, my hope was dead.

I thought we had something real, But now I don’t know how to feel. Was it all in my mind, just a lie? I broke down, wishing I’d never tried.

I hate how fast I fell for you, I hate how quickly you withdrew. I hate the way you stole my heart, Just to tear it all apart.

Maybe I’m just foolish and blind, For trusting that love would be kind. I curse the day I took the fall, I hate you, Cupid, most of all.

[literature wing]⋆.📎

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

In laughter shared and glances bold, A spark ignites, a story told. Clingy moments, whispers sweet, A heartbeat races, feels complete.

Nervous words get tangled tight, Once easy chats now feel so slight. Thoughts scatter, the mind’s a race, Yet in his presence, a warm embrace.

A playful touch, a secret glance, A silent wish, a daring chance. Though friends may watch and tease with glee, This feeling blooms, just meant to be.

In every moment, joy and fright, With him, the world feels oh so bright. A crush that grows with each soft sigh, In this sweet dance, just you and I.

[literature wing]⋆.📎

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬

A spark lights up in every glance, A warmth that stays without a chance. Soft hands that fit just right in place, And leave a void in empty space.

Laughter fills the quiet air, No judgment found, just comfort there. A playful grin, a teasing sound, A kind of joy that's rarely found.

Though studying takes the lead, it's true, There’s still a wish to look brand new. But being near brings out the best, No need to chase, just let it rest.

A touch so soft, a warmth so kind, Without it, something's left behind. The giggles spark, the heart grows bold, In playful moments, love unfolds.

[literature wing]⋆.📎

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐟𝐚𝐫

I watch you from a distance, quiet, still, A love unspoken, yet it lingers on, We walk the world, bound by another's will, But in my heart, you are the endless song.

The weight of silence heavy on my chest, A secret love, forbidden, yet it grows, I'd give you all, and even at my best, I'm tethered by the world that never knows.

But even if the world should tear apart, And keep me in the shadows, far away, I'll love you from afar with all my heart, And in my soul, with you, I'll always stay.

For though we can't be free, I'll love you true, Across all space, all time, just me and you.

[literature wing]⋆.📎

𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥

Through quiet days and silent nights we stand, Not every word is spoken, yet I know, Our love, though challenged, strong as shifting sand, Endures through every storm, through every blow.

We may not always speak, but in your eyes, I see the truth, the love that never fades, A thousand words unsaid beneath the skies, Yet through it all, our bond, it never sways.

Though life may test us, twist us in its tide, I'll hold you close through all that comes our way, For you're my heart, my home, my constant guide, And in your arms, I'll always choose to stay.

Endlessly, I love you, come what may, In silence, still, we'll find our way.

[literature wing]⋆.📎

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧

an opinion article I wrote for an assignment || [literature wing]⋆.📎

The separation of religion from the state is a cornerstone of democratic governance, meant to ensure that public policy serves all citizens regardless of belief. In the Philippines, this principle is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the establishment of a state religion. Yet despite this legal framework, religious influence—particularly from dominant Christian institutions—continues to shape political discourse and policy decisions. This disconnect between constitutional ideals and political reality raises a crucial question: can the Philippines truly call itself a secular state if religion continues to guide its laws and leaders?

Research shows that excessive religious influence in politics often undermines democratic freedoms. According to the Pew Research Center, countries with high levels of government involvement in religion are significantly more likely to restrict personal freedoms, including freedom of expression and minority rights. In its 2019 global report on government restrictions, Pew found that nations where religion strongly influences lawmaking consistently score higher on social hostilities and lower on protections for civil liberties. This indicates that when the state favors religious doctrine, governance tends to become less inclusive and less rights-based.

Comparative data further strengthens this argument. Freedom House, an independent watchdog organization, reports that countries with strong secular institutions—such as Sweden, Norway, and New Zealand—consistently rank among the “freest” nations in the world, scoring high in political rights and civil liberties. In contrast, states that intertwine religion with governance often struggle with democratic backsliding. The pattern is clear: secular governance correlates with stronger democratic performance, not moral decline.

Economic and social outcomes also reflect this trend. According to the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, secular democracies tend to perform better in areas such as government effectiveness, rule of law, and control of corruption. A study from the University of Oxford’s Department of Sociology analyzing governance across democratic states found that institutional secularism allows policies to be shaped by empirical data rather than doctrinal belief, resulting in more consistent public service delivery, particularly in health and education sectors. This evidence challenges the claim that religion is necessary for effective or ethical governance.

In the Philippine context, the consequences of blurred church-state boundaries are evident. Policy debates on reproductive health, divorce, and marriage equality are frequently framed through religious morality rather than public welfare. The long delay in the full implementation of the Reproductive Health Law, despite strong support from medical associations and international health organizations, has been widely documented by scholars as a result of sustained religious opposition influencing lawmakers. This demonstrates how religious dominance can obstruct evidence-based policymaking.

Advocating for the separation of religion from the state does not mean rejecting faith. Rather, it protects religious freedom by ensuring that no single belief system dictates national policy. As political philosopher John Rawls argued, a just society must be governed by principles accessible to all citizens, not doctrines held by some. When the state remains neutral, religion is free to flourish privately, while governance remains accountable to reason, evidence, and the collective good.

If the Philippines is to strengthen its democracy, it must move beyond symbolic secularism and enforce a genuine separation of religion and state. Public policy should be guided by data, human rights, and social welfare—not by religious authority. Only then can the government truly represent all Filipinos, believers and non-believers alike, and fulfill the democratic promise outlined in its own Constitution.

ART GALLERY — ᨳଓ .

FANART᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

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OC ART᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

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OTHER ART᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

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©eliquarium — All content is mine. If my art is reposted, please kindly give credit.

LITERATURE WING — ᨳଓ .

ARTICLES AND ESSAYS᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

✧ 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧 || an opinion article

LONG STRUCTURED POEMS᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

✧ 𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 || a poem of devotion

✧ 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐟𝐚𝐫 || a poem of silent love

✧ 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 || a poem of gentle romance

✧ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 || a poem of innocent affection

✧ 𝐂𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝'𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐤𝐞 || a poem of betrayal

✧ 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 || a poem of romantic uncertainty

✧ 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐰 || a poem of cherished memories

SHORT STRUCTURED POEMS᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

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FREE FORM POEMS᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

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CHECK OUT MY FANFIC ACCOUNT᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

©eliquarium — All written content is mine. Any form of copying, reposting, theft, and processing my work through generative AI is strictly prohibited.