kirei's spot

Why I unfriended you

You were one of those who got removed from my Facebook list, and I’m sorry. Well, no, not really, but excuse me. You can say I’m a coward for not letting you know, and I deserve that. They say things happen for a reason, and on this instance, I have lots. Yesterday, I “unfriended” 140 people from my “friends” list. Today, I took out 29 more. This is not the first time that I have done spring…

I thought I was going to die. It felt like fulfilling my bucket list in its true meaning.

I admit, I thought I was going to die. As I was making my list of things to do for these 12 days, it felt like making a bucket list in its true sense. It became even more apparent as the days went on because of all the good experiences I was collecting along the way. Today, the 12th day, I decided not to leave the house. It has been raining for two days now, and there are reports of damaging…

If this is God's will, then I will choose praying in the rain every time.

There are circumstances in life that test our faith. I have several of those for 10 years now, and my faith is the only one that’s keeping me strong. On the penultimate day of my 12 days of reconnection, I sought His mercy for a miracle. It rained the whole day, and I took it as a shower of His grace. I was hoping to catch the 9AM healing mass at Kamay Ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon for my ailing…

I can't wait to see what this place looks like at night. Welcome to the swaggering South!

After several attempts at meeting up, my old classmate from college and I finally saw each other again after a little more than 30 years. On this 10th day of my 12-day instant vacation, I made another reconnection that had me reflecting on openness. I have to admit I was cold to the idea of meeting up with her because we weren’t close back in college, so there’s really nothing much to catch up…

12 Days of Reconnection, Day 8: The Simple Life

Today being the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I decided to spend 8th day of my 12 days of reconnection in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church in Tagaytay City for some reflection. The photos I’m sharing will speak for the kind of serenity this place offers for the searching soul. A replica of the grotto in France. Candle Chapel where we light candles for loved ones who have passed. On my way…

This is how they should remain -- nurtured and sheltered from all the evils of jaded society.

Sometimes, plans don’t turn out as expected because something better is supposed to happen. My friend Doc Ronald told me he’s going to take me by the foot of Mt. Arayat to get a better view of Pampanga River. I got excited, and deeply touched by his immediate response when I first texted him that I want him and Pampanga to be part of this 12 days of reconnection. That Mt. Arayat trip didn’t…

Even vacations require a vacation. I originally planned to take my new bike for a spin, but the weather said “no”. It’s safer to stay indoors, plus I don’t want to bring in a wet bike inside the house. Kakalinis ko lang kaya ng sahig! Not just yet, baby girl, not yet.So, taking a cue from my friend with who I spent my 4th day of reconnection, I decided to go slow today. This is my version of a…

12 Days of Reconnection, Day 4: The Beauty of Life’s Changes

Who’s afraid of change? Is it change we’re afraid of, or is it more of the uncertainty it brings? On day 4 of my 12 days of reconnection, I decided to visit a friend who curiously made herself scarce after deciding to quit her job to be a full-time mom. In theory, she’s supposed to have more time on her hands; but in reality, she just got busier. Today, she’s reeling in a slew of life changes…

12 Days of Reconnection, Day 3: Heart for Art’s Sake

Not many people know this, but we actually have a Juilliard type of school here in the Philippines, and it can be found within the thick forests of Mt. Makiling in Los Baños, Laguna. On the third day of my 12 days of reconnection, I was fortunate enough to have seen the place myself. This is the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA). The school director, Vim Nadera (award-winning poet,…

12 Days of Reconnection, Day 2: My First Time to Watch a Ballet Production

Love for ballet unlocked. Art-inclined bones reconnected. This was what I did for my second out of 12 days of reconnection. I’m a ballet tyro, and I’m glad I got to watch Ballet Manila’s Ibong Adarna as my first ballet production. While I’m not exactly ignorant about ballet, I really didn’t put much thought into it. When it comes to performance arts, I’m more into musicals. (Who am I kidding, I…

12 Days of Reconnection, Day 1: Minor miracles at Parokya ni San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Sta. Maria, Bulacan

It’s not often that you find yourself suddenly faced with a 12-day holiday from work — like two days before it takes effect. While cheap flight offers to enticing Asia destinations kept coming to me by email (impeccable timing!), something was stopping me from biting into the temptation. First thing that came to mind was to do a road trip on my own to places where I could drive myself. I wanted…

When things won’t turn out the way you want them to, it’s okay

As you grow older, you’re supposed to get wiser.  Believe me, at 51, I still keep trying; but the more I advance in age, the more things keep changing around me. Sometimes, I find myself confused. At times, jaded. Most times, though, I keep up. Things do change, more often than I’d hope them to, and it’s okay. Because time doesn’t wait for anyone. There are just too many of us for time to bother…

Mother’s care is still the best medicine

I have never felt this sick before. So sick that I could only think of my mother. She would know what to do.  It started Thursday night after a moderate workout. I was still my perky self: talking to strangers, trying a higher box (and succeeding, oh yeah), trying skipping rope (where I suck big time).  That time, I had cough. I thought it was allergic cough because there was no wheezing or…

Why Batanes Should be on Everyone’s Bucket List

It almost didn’t happen. My friends and I agreed to go to Batanes, but our schedules and the available promo fare wouldn’t match. After several attempts, I decided to suggest the most workable date (meaning, those who are employed won’t need to take a long leave of absence) instead and get whatever plane fare was available. For me, it was a matter of “do we want to go, or don’t we?” And so we…

I probably did something right to have them in my life.

Let me just get this out of the way: I’m doing this piece because the title was suggested to me by an online quiz that I took out of sheer boredom. Took it three times to see if it would give me a different suggestion. It didn’t — three times. I can take the hint, so here goes. The “Storm” I resigned from the organization that I had been with for 10 years. After seeing colleagues leave one after…

On employee dignity and respect

Have you ever been embarrassed by your superior in front of other people? If you haven’t, don’t wait for it to happen. Eden had the chance to work as a course adviser for a speech development school based in Manila. The job was promising. Her task was to entertain walk-in applicants who wished to enrol in a speech development class. After interviewing them, Eden would then evaluate their need and…

Dream, passion and all that blah (*spoiler alert on La La land and Sing movies)

His passion was jazz, and his goal was to save it from deliberate desolation. Her dream was to become a successful actress. In the end, both the passionate and the dreamer got what they wanted. Well, one of them got the better end of the deal, depending on which one you’re rooting for. In this movie, La La Land, I give one point to the dreamer. The koala wants to preserve his father’s legacy,…