sweet tooth

by Rona Geraldo

Video by Rona Geraldo

"I can show you the world. Shining, shimmering, splendid " I can't help on singing these lines whenever I had a chance to stare at the skies full of bedazzling stars scattered around with a luminous moon.

Stargazing is an incredible hobby, as you take the time to learn more about the universe you live in. But, aside from what comes in our minds when we heard of stargazing, this requires more than looking at the sky, you must know more about its entails, and that is what made me more interested on it.

At the age of eight, was the first time I fell in love.

I fell in love with the beauty of night sky. When my parents brought me at the fish port at Navotas City, in the middle of the night, I witnessed some of glamorous members of the solar system. They caught my eyes. They made me see the bright side of a darkest night—my peaceful rest after a busy stressful day.

And what excites me the most was the day that my first love meets hers, the sun, that creates a beautiful eclipse. Once in a blue moon event and I may not seen them close, but they surely give me pleasure.

I just love it. I just literally love the way it gives me peace, makes me calm, and serves as my escape. A hobby watching the skies helps me to have the best minute of my life to escape from reality, to travel inside my fantasies.

A hobby I wouldn't be tired of doing. Hobby turns out to be my coping mechanism. Introduced me to a world I didn't expect to be this great.

by Rona Geraldo

Photos by Rona Geraldo

Kamangha-mangha. Mapagmahal. Matiyaga. Ilan lamang iyan sa mga salitang makapaglalarawan sa babaeng nangangarap na makapag bigay ng magandang buhay sa kaniyang mga anak sa pamamagitan ng munting mga papel na karaniwan niyang dala-dala.

Sa ilalim ng tirik na araw, tagaktak ang pawis at bakas ang pagod sa mukha ng isang babaeng kilala sa tawag na "Rose." Hindi alintana ang pabago-bagong panahon, sakit ng katawan, at sikmurang wala pang laman maihatid at maibigay lamang ang mga sobre na siyang bumubuhay sa kanyang pamilya.

Isang huwarang ina sa pitong mga anak. Nagtatrabaho bilang 'messenger' sa isang maliit na kompanya, katuwang ang kanyang asawa. Sa kabila ng mala-kayod kalabaw na pagtratrabaho ay hindi niya pa rin nakakalimutang maglaan ng oras para sa gampanin niya bilang isang maasikasong ina at mapagmahal na asawa.

Papalitaw pa lamang ang araw ay naghahanda na siya upang ihatid ang mga sobreng marahan niyang isinilid sa kaniyang bag. Mabusising isinaayos ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng bawat isa ayon sa address ng tatanggap nito. Matiyaga niyang nilalakad ang higit-kumulang labin-limang kalye sa Fairview sa loob ng isang araw at mahinahong kinakatok ang mga pinto ng kanyang pag-aabutan ng yaong mumunting papel.

Tinitiis ang init ng panahon, at kung hindi naman ay ang malalakas na pag ulan na ang tanging sandata lamang ay simpleng payong at katatagan ng loob. "Ito po, meryenda po muna kayo." Kalimitan niyang naririnig sa mga taong nakakasalamuha niya. Mga simpleng salita na nakapagdadagdag ng kasiyahan at pumapawi sa kanyang gutom na sikmura.

Hindi rin matatawaran ang magandang pag trato at marespetong pag bati niya sa mga tao. Kung kaya't ganoon na lamang ang paghanga ng mga ito sa kanya at ang naibibigay na inspirasyon sa bawat isa. Sa mga simpleng pag ngiti at pag kaway naitatago ang pagod na iniinda sa buong araw na halos walang pahinga.

Sa taglay na sipag at tiyaga, at sa tulong ng kanyang asawa ay napagtapos nila sa kolehiyo ang apat na anak at patuloy naman na sinusuportahan ang tatlo pang anak sa sekondaryang paaralan.

Hindi maitatanggi na walang katumbas ang pagmamahal ng isang ina sa kanyang mga anak. Ika nga nila, "Hahamakin ang lahat" para sa pinakamamahal na pamilya. Kaya naman lubos na lamang ang paghanga ko sa aking ina.

Photos by Google Images

Blue Diamond

by Rona Geraldo

"My identity is not an obstacle. My identity is my super power." A few lines yet, hold a powerful voice for everyone. A voice from the successful American actress, America Georgina Ferrera who experienced stereotypes at a young age.

Ferrera had the urgency and the burning desire of a nine-year-old kid, who did, have a dream. Her dream was to be an actress. But it wasn't as easy as pie, she had to deal with an overwhelming challenges to pursue her dreams.

At the age of fifteen, she got her first professional audition. There then, she faced a lot of stereotypes from the tone of her voice to her physical appearance, and she didn't passed the audition as the industry gives more opportunities to those who they see a perfect figure with white skin and blonde hair.

That was her first and unforgettable experience of an unintended discrimination that did not stopped throughout her journey. But, for her, every cloud has a silver lining. She just focused on her dreams and turn a blind eye for every criticisms that comes on her way.

Security and confidence in who she is, is what inspire a lot of people. This security is what enabled Ferrera to successfully portray and play roles that others wouldn't even dare to, as well as given her a connection to a lot of teenage women who were affected with weight issues in today's society.

Her life story is an amazing eye-opener and inspiration to all of us. To believe that we can reach an fulfill our dreams no matter how high it is, we can make it, step by step, if we truly willing to make them happen.

Photos by Google Images

My patience, My Bridge

by Rona Geraldo

Beep! Beep! Beep! An unending beeping sounds woke me up. As I opened my eyes, I saw tons of cars aligned by one another. But, as what my creative writing teacher always says, from a famous quote—"patience is a virtue." I know after this traffic I got to see the beautiful and the longest bridge of San Juanico.

And here it comes! Time to unwind with the shining surface of San Juanico Strait, that separates the islands of Samar and Leyte, and connects the Carigara Bay with the San Pedro Bay.

I place my head along in the window to sight the beauty of the nature. I could feel the warm breezes as the sun shines real bright. It was a long ride, but there was no single time for me to get bored as I was amazed and in loved by the wonderful view.

Time passed really fast, we arrived at our destination, Leyte Province. Leyte is most famous for its role in the reconquest of the Philippines in World War II, the biggest naval battle between the Americans and the Japanese in world history.

Photos by Google Images

And what's imprinted in my mind was the hospitality of each person that prevails. I have no words for their kind treatment. They introduced us with their traditions and delicacies. I won't forget delicious binagol and chocolate moron, that gives satisfactory in every bite.