@Jento

Shut-up, and Make yourself useful! *****“Where is your God?!!!”***** Bang! Our beautiful blue-eyed expat boss announced to the “world” (our office) after the storm Yolanda hit the Northern part of Cebu! And everyone really just, shhhh, heads down, eyes fixed on the monitor, afraid to move, comment or refute. It was a crazy day because many of our colleagues were worried of their loved ones were among the victim, hit by the storm that cleared and leveled structures to the ground. And it was troublesome to go north because, its wasn’t accessible for 3days. Oh yes! It wasn’t. It was one of the greatest storm that hit Cebu after Ruffing from the 90s, nothing compared, ‘til this. We thought, we were crippled since national government, oh you know as usual, nothing new! Tsk! *Help* The lights returned after sometime, of course, everything was expected in chaos but lo! Oh no! It was truly calm after the storm. And… Oh! Surprise! Little did we know people were pulling up their resources and bought supplies. Oh not home supplies but relief goods. No LGU, just citizen, friends, neighbors… raised funds and really bought supplies. One by one, people with SUVs, vans and the likes, commissioned their own relief operation. Bringing in supplies to the province especially those municipalities that were really affected. *The blocked road!* Was it really a problem? Oh! People bringing in supplies were stranded and was not able to pass thru after 3 days, so people were not moving. Those already arrived on the scene couldn’t help but stranded and helped clearing the trees/debris, straight 3 days. Wow! It wasn’t broadcasted but word of mouth, after 3 days, it was accessible and lo, everyone seemed to parade going north. Not minding the heat and exhaustion, everyone left the city and helped the north. And the city went ghost town on the weekends. Hmmm! On IT PARK, every building, every floor, easily organized relief operation and influx of supplies were parading. No one felt the overwhelming feeling of relief that even those penniless helped but giving out the used garments/blankets/coats, anything useful even plates, bags - everybody contributed. Like every payday, people give some, even as small as Php 50 goes a long way, no one complained. Ahhh! This wasn’t on the news. Everybody was just relieved that people lost their homes but never their spirits, dreams and especially their future, -hope that sun rises after the storm. *Rebuilding* Ahhh… Mama’s outreach…  Took about 2 weeks before we could organize and help rebuilding. Supplies were brought in. Additional construction materials were brought in to really rebuild their homes. Food supplies too, to support them while they recuperate. Oh Lord, the ways you helped, unfortunately, people chose to leave you. After all these... we are all human, hurt, broken, damaged... oopps! the looting was just embarrassing you know, that hit international news! But above! Pff! No but it was all carved in the hearts of every Cebuanos! It wasn't even a crisis at all. Beckering only helps loss lives and damages the damaged. Politicking, all the more! No one is asking for money, you can really give what you have available - spare shoes, time, your hand to help distribute. Really! And no need for publication, nor broadcast it... This was not even highly published on FB. We just really, do our part... Let's show God's work in our action. Good morning everyone! God bless Nov 23, 2021 Leas image all ours taken years ago

Fossil Dunes in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi Growing up, I was always fascinated by the stories and movies about outer space. Much of the hype of the Star Wars movies in the 1980s & 1990s about the story of aliens, humans, and robots co-existing in a galaxy far from beyond, as a child my imagination was always challenged on how nice it would be like if the stories were indeed true. Having seen fragments of the films, I used to wonder how spectacular it would be to explore those sandy and rocky landscapes as if we are on Planet Tatooine, the home of the famous Luke Skywalker. Although my inclination was not towards science, I grew up dreaming that one day I could come up-close-and-personal with these eerie & otherworldly surroundings. After almost four decades, who would have thought that my seemingly ambitious desire to visit places with similar scenes depicted in sci-fi movies would have come true. What’s more surprising is the fact that I had this amazing opportunity to explore these ethereal surroundings in an arid desert of Abu Dhabi. https://youtu.be/SAh_ZOMRCPw Located at the outskirt of Abu Dhabi in Al Wathba region is one of the city’s attraction and treasure trove of natural wonders, the famous fossil dunes. Having lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates since 2008, I never heard about the fossil dunes until recently when I was browsing an article in a local magazine that featured the amazing structures and formations that have thrived through centuries in this part of the capital. A nature lover myself and someone who is enthralled about beautiful places, outstanding landmarks and unique venous, I immediately prodded my husband to drive me to this place. True enough, you will never get enough of Al Wathba’s fossil dunes. It’s truly amazing, a surreal experience indeed. Walking through the vast desert surrounded by various formations and structures of fossilized dunes, I could honestly say that the experience was so thrilling & exhilarating. I stopped myself from touching the fossil dunes but couldn’t stop clicking my phone cameras to get the best shots and selfies with these spectacular scenes. Confronted by this nature’s beauty, it was like reliving a scene from the Star Wars movies. It was incredible, never had I thought I would be appreciating such breathtaking views and stunning sceneries. Coming over to Al Wathba will take only about 40 minutes from the mainland of Abu Dhabi or approximately 70km south of the capital. It is near the Al Dhafra Military Air Base and Google map will help you get to the place. The fossil dunes are just s are well-preserved, and the place is open for the public to come, camp, picnic and take wonderful photos and videos. To enjoy your visit, the ideal time to come here is in the cooler winter months from October to February. Enchanted by the natural beauty of the sceneries here and loving every shape, formations, size, and patterns of the fossil dunes carved through time by natural elements like winds, calcium carbonate and sands, my visit didn’t stop there. In 2020, I brought my 2-year-old son and my friends so they too could have a captivating experience that they will relish in their lifetime. In the eyes of the child, you can see the thrill in his eyes, who at his tender age, could even appreciate what nature has in store for us. Inculcating in his mind to appreciate nature, help preserve it is the best legacy we could ever leave to our offspring and the visit to fossil dunes serve as one of the best experiences ever. Although, my son would still have yet to watch the Star War movies, but I know he would relate his Al Wathba experience in a unique yet personal way. Nov 22, 2021 Image from Unsplash

Im supposed to be hiding but... I have a special guess writer... my sis, the tone of writing hence change... oh no! there is is really a huge difference... si Ate... she agreed to write and the next article im about to post is hers.

What lies ahead for our children?! How long are we going to watch and let the attack on our family go on? I’ve written this a few days back, didn’t know where this was heading but just the topic on my mind. Unlike before I usually hold a pen and write, now, I just open word and strike the keyboard and whoola, I’m writing. My thoughts earlier this dawn linger on the article that I have tipped largely mainly because of domestic violence. Then come across some reads about red flags in relationships, the one from bad to worst. Then my thought crosses across the endless rebuts on my dying friends case! *Family* Basic or core or foundation of a society? Eit! Has been bombarded by attacks from some time now. Not just recently but it already happen a long time ago! The desecration of marriage vows, from annulment to divorce, separation. What’s more to come? Hmmm, the most recent surfacing of teenage gun violence at home and at school. Makes me wonder the kind of world my boys are going to grow up to. Gladly, TV is not a popular device at home but youtube is and there is another of the same platform, -puretuber that shows a lot of what’s going on out there. Say, search “teenage gun violence at school” on google and it will show you the “TOP STORIES” and just read the caption that it happened just about 1 hour, 10 hours and a day ago. Wow! I don’t expect it to be happening still even in the middle of pandemic. The rising number each year contributed by what? I can only think of some but really. Increasing numbers of moms working due to increasing demand in helping bring food on the table is one Or “women” now more inclined to their career than take care of their husbands and children at home. Children have been easy prey for bad influences now because of parenting negligence due to alienation and development of other priorities than rearing children?! Development of anti-social behavior in children because they failed to connect well with other people because the parents are too busy doing other things, failed to spend quality with them? What could be more important than being with their kids at home and share meals, stories, laughs every day? Displaced anger by kids due to loneliness, leading them to either be bullied or bully, even depression is not rare these days. What happens now to the basic structure of our society? Rising complaints of children too young to have vices, -drinking and smoking and too early for substance abuse. Even early pregnancy since porn is readily available and no good parental guidance is available, highly rising these days! Ironic as it is since campaign was launched a long time ago to address the issue and now currently enhanced and promoted at school making it a curriculum, sex education but still failed. Not taking into account the decline of our educational system, contributed by so many factors? Like, where did teachers go wrong when they’re highly supported government by extensive trainings and seminars during summer? Can only asked, what went wrong? *Realization* Oh! Blaming won’t do any good. Parents should start taking their responsibilities seriously as children are really growing wilder each day! Bringing in censorship to social medias, I don’t think it’ll do any good. Building a strong foundation is really the key, and that is basically the responsibility of parents, not just merely bringing food on the table. Hmmm, I really have to watch what I am writing as I am about to rant! Arggg! I want to focus on my scope, I can only imagine the best and the worst and educate my kids as highly as possible. Hahhh! (sigh), I am just really glad they fear me and still obeys, the moment I am demanding all ears, they give. Oh! Building their self-confidence and coping mechanism is really something I trying to reinforce these days as they are getting older. Acceptance too is another. Aiyst, what more can I do? I can only pray for guidance. Who can stop the growing changing of time? I can only think of equipping them the right equipment for the battle up ahead! That’s the game plan, hope it works. Needless to say what those were, I think I already laid down the foundation on previous articles! God bless all and a happy weekend! Take care! *Hey! Parents step up! Our children is on the line here! (hahaha! and i actually dont have a title for this! lolz) di ni madala ug pa cute-cute oist!* Nov 20, 2021 Image from Unsplash

Writer's block Everybody seems to be in high spirits today that everyone else went home early! Leaving me and two others in the office in the wee hours of dawn. Hmmm, I muse myself earlier on read.cash published articles and lo! Oh dear, I’m finding myself good reads even tipped my favorites tonight, not because I’m rich but rather I have to give good back to the community that helped me on my breaking hours! *Good reads* I’m happy to come across articles that are so well written that pops my eyes out. While many are writing on the surface trying to showcase their writing skills and show that world what “content writing” is. There are some I come across with the writes with substance! And I have thought that I will never find anymore articles that has so much substance on it, not just mere content! Oh don’t need to mention it. But there is one that catches the heart, mind and soul. Why? The message to the world was like, well, striped you off your clothes to be exact. I’m not saying those “content writers” are not talented. Hey! They are, what they do is actually not easy as I am not really leaning towards that part of the show. Same with “substance writer”, almost the same but not in character. Content writers are lovers of attention, attracts so much attention that even raises the dead?! Hahaha! Sorry if I put it that way, but you know the cliché! Its true. The thing is that I’m reading a lot of complains about all these reads, but they don’t seem to realize it that they doing it! Let me expound the reads they complain about, too much cliché to the point of almost an altered reality. Funny how it is, they seem to be in denial too of the kind of articles they write. Clueless to the point they’re deceiving their own?! Ouch! “Substance writers”, -though I don’t classify myself with such because like I said, im just starting… hmmm… bites their own pens, lolz. I mean, they have the tendency to scare people away from their articles because, it so profound that the surface is tearing apart, almost incoherent to the appalled reader! Hahaha! Its like pouring an acid to your skin that it only not itches but breaches the epidermis, burning it to the 3rd degree… Ek! Ek! Although, I love the sassiness and smoothness content writers do to their work. Of course, they put same effort like references, links and sources. But once you strip them off, its almost like an empty paper at hand. While substance writers, strip them off, and you see the architectural structure left behind –the backbone of their writing. Though I would love for the content on because they’re very entertaining to the point of humiliatingly embarrassing, -writing a comedy isn’t easy you know! Pretty entertaining, aren’t they?! *Overall* I grow up surrounded with good writers. My father is one hell of a writer, I requested to help my friend about 15yrs ago in her moving to Australia with her handicapped daughter. Other lawyers already refused because they said chances are, but lo! She resides there already. My sis, our eldest, was one heck of a journalist. While my best buddy in highschool, wow! Is awesomely great, a very versatile writer who confessed his love for me and I really thought he wrote our story in a movie with a satirical tone, -a comedy with whiplash! Though it will never be me and him because he loved his ego more than he ever loved me, and I laughed at it hard about 3years ago! And until then, its not my loss because I am truly happy where I am, -leaving him empty and disdain! Oh my, he is extremely rich by the way! My boys call him “yads”. Lolz. Really sorry for that, that’s what you get when you love your pride the more! ciao! Ciao! God bless! Nov 19, 2021 Image from Unsplash

Faith comes with a price I get invited to read.cash by a colleague at work and tried it. And I’m loving it. Originally, I think of writing a lot of my personal experiences which I did from my 1st month and still writing. While earning, really make me think hard because I thought it will be a lot of hardwork. It’s like this, I saw someone wrote an article and had to flaunt it on noise.cash, so I thought “wow, the effort of earning is a lot and just to be recognize and people to like your article!” So I dropped the earning part as I’m too lazy for the effort of posting it all over noise.cash which I only visited 2-3 times a day. And little did I learn about attracting “Rusty’s attention” and I’m glad it has and grateful for his visit on my articles.   *A decade has past* I was a widow on an early age. I was torn apart of living my parents, actually my mom since I didn’t have good relationship with my father, for all the many reasons in the world. One good thing though, my mom was already in the hospital and in a coma, so she can no longer stop me from living. I never really totally moved out since I was still living within the vicinity. Unfortunate things happened at home where our youngest sibling run away and that actually did have me thinking, if they were to leave me alone, why just not really move out? Yeah finally, yey! we had and survive 8 months on our own! Wasn’t it great? Yes, it was great. I didn’t expect it like this. Our place is upsy-turvy but we are truly adjusting. Knowingly this is expected as we still don’t have furniture of our own and a lot of things, still trying to figure it out. Already laid my plans for the rest of the year, personal debt pay-out. And its less than 8 weeks for 2022. Me ready? Oh no! Im not but im getting there! How can I be? When I hardly have a penny on me, just got my pay check and here I am going to work penniless, -already broke after receiving my salary. Shh, only you guys know this. Its really embarrassing to be around people and you have nothing in your pocket to spend on. And you may be wandering how I do this? Really literally, I only have some penny with me worth enough for a fare home. Going to office is free because our shuttle picks me up. Going home is a bit off and tricky because the shuttle was assigned to new location and I cannot wait for the other shuttle because I’m sleepy as hell after shift. So, I really just have worth of fare going home on my pocket. Lunch? Oh, packed lunch? Double my effort in preparing, lolz but it does the trick. *Worries and fears* Being alone in the world, implies worries and fears. Why? Of course! Definitely, especially when you have kids and no savings and money to mention. Who do turn to ask for help? No one gives money without due interest. Like, right now? Where will you get help? Everybody needs one. I am just really lucky for all the years I had lived with my parents I have developed prayer that invokes “protection and provision for widows and fatherless”. Which is why getting into a relationship troubles me because I could no longer invoke such prayer when I do so! And relationships has so much implications especially when the person you will be with is a half-baked Christian, and you will never know until it manifests too late. And frankly, in relationship abstinence/chastity is almost absent? And this has been my life for all these years? Both willing to wait until? Really? Hmmm… makes me wonder if it was even possible. My dying friend commented “you are definitely looking for a saint!”. Oh, well. You’re probably asking, what’s the connection? Well, it’s like this. Our body is a temple of Holy Spirit, cleansing it takes years. Worst if you really backslide you know. So you can actually ask/demand help from God when you’re all too lusty?! Especially when the need is now? eiyt!? I’m not rich and I’m just earning barely enough to enough, so… I’m grateful despite because even if I don’t have the richness, I really am not experiencing a lot of troubles because trouble just really fixes itself. So, this is actually what I’m enjoying right now. And I’m not really willing to give it up. The price of Faith? Exquisite if you learn to wait and see, and its not “all you’d expected it”, milk and honey, nope. But I get to see instant results on my prayers. And oh! I’ve read in one article that “demons flee when you know Jesus”. True but, there is a catch. True you can cast them away but they come back, unfortunately, stronger than he was before and now taking with him a few more demons, -its found in the gospel, be warned! Thanks u for taking this journey with me, God bless! Nov. 18, 2021 Image from Unsplash

Greatest fear, backslide! What I feared the most these days? Oh, oh! Honestly? It’s going into relationship. Something I have kept into the depths of my mind because I don’t want others to know. *Relationships* It’s a construed reality that we all fall into a realm where people interact and attract. It’s foolish not to acknowledge and many times attraction is strong and sometimes there to stay. And most oftentimes hopeful to last, may even thought of forever –dream on! Why am I afraid? I’m not afraid of the pain but rather fear that I have grown so much in my faith and had so much and in an instant, backslide! Yes, I am afraid, to humble myself again in this plight because I’d really love to learn once and move on.  And true, I will not be all too proud that despite of prayers, there is still a part of me –the tendency to backslide, this I what I am afraid the most. I don’t mind bending on my knees once again but if I were to start another relationship, may not be a perfect “You and Me” but at least it will be aligned with what I have learned with faith all these years. Another years of cleansing, waiting for another cycle for it to end, I’d like my children – my boys, to witness a relationship that starts right. Although many will be all be too loud about “once saved, always saved?”, I wouldn’t count on that since everyone has the tendency to backslide. I don’t want to lose and be drifted away from my faith, because I know living away from the grace of God is the darkest part of living and… I definitely don’t want to spiral downward. Which is why I left that all behind me and chose to be alone. Living alone and rely on God's grace for almost everything. Life is never easy but strife is almost just like a dust in the wind that drifts away without much ado! Oh, yes! God never let it stays for long. There may be dark days but the memory doesn’t linger and the pain doesn’t matter the most. I want it to grow in God’s loving presence, in our house and in our relationship. In love and in truth, takes a lot of growing in grace, -a lot of effort in knowing my Lord Jesus. Living to know Him is a very… simple but difficult. Difficult because the world we live in is material, inclination to material world is far simple that obtain spiritual bliss. Why? Because materialism is real, while spiritual bliss is an abstract, can only be perceived by the heart and mind of the bearer who sought to fill in the gap in there! Though, seeking it is abysmal and evokes contentment –material satisfaction is always easy to perceive but insatiable. *Worry?* What do I have to worry about? Relationship? Oh no! He has been waiting for a decade for this to happen and why should I worry about it? Its not that I don’t know what’s in store for me… It has been revealed. So, why fret? When tomorrow is another day… Thank you Lord, it has been a pleasure living under Your Grace! Nov ,2021

Oh! You got me thinking… Oh! Let me write about you, again. This time I’m letting it stay! You have occupied a space of my mind for some time now and I often wander and muse myself why, the interest? You fill in the vogue in me and never failed to thrill, - all the more each time. I still can’t figure out why? As you linger in my mind, you also lingered and stayed, though a part of me wants to let go but how can I when I knew all along we well be spending time in the near future. You have successfully blocked your presence to be known, as stealthy as you come and go, but left something behind that kept us wandering and asking “could it be you?”. Why? *Thank you!* I am grateful for your stealthiness as you have preserved and carefully protected my privacy. But you have really stayed all night long listening to our silly weekend nights and pried on to our serious affairs. Hearing the most private and intimate talks and laughs, witnessing the most embarrassing moments of our family life and that did not deter from staying. Even now, you have kept your silence all the more. That not even a trace of strides that you used to leave but always make sure I know you were there? You liberately come into our room while we were sleeping, watch us sleep and only awaken seconds after you left. You pass in and out with us noticing, like you passed through walls. You practically see all of me, -us. You watched over my boys when the lights were off and I was away at work. The other week, it takes me a day to understand you took my coffee. Oh my, you took another cup away! Last Sunday, you open our pantry door while I went back to sleep after cleaning – I’m thankful that you didn’t play tricks and ruined the pantry, I was really tired. How long must you keep this? Yes, truly depends on your pace! I know I did you wrong but was it really wrong when I didn’t recognize you when you appeared the 1st time after so long? You cut your hair and everything about you changed. You already make your presence known since April this year, after Easter Sunday, what is the motivation? What are your waiting for revelation? *Your resolve* I really hope someday you’ll stop but every time I thought so but you bounced back into life. And reason like flashes through my mind that "a decade of love is not easily replaced!" I don’t fully understand and I am afraid it has become your obsession but I will follow your resolve. In time, who knows. Nov 16, 2021 Image from Unsplash

Oh no! Unsubcribe please! I was out by the weekend because its weekend, lolz. Honestly, I was out because lappy was dead and no way of writing via smartphone, I was not comfortable writing on smartphone so I decided to wait ‘til today. Though, I was able to check out account and lo!, got additional subscriptions over the weekend? Oh no! What I did? *Unnoticed* When I first started a month ago, I really love the anonymity the platform offers and I can really just write anything under the sun! Unlike facebook, everybody seems to know everyone and when you write something on your wall, people make fuzz and endless comments, may not surface on the comment section but chances are being a center for attention for gossip mongers on group chat! How convenient eyt?! Well, whether we like it or not, people meddle with other peoples’ affairs. The never ceasing comparison on their daily activities and the events in their lives. Many may not be aware but there are people who stalks and copy their lives or daily activities. Sample, like you posted you went shopping for supplies, well, they too went to shop for supplies and even more! hahaha, they bring the supermarket home with them! Ohh my! Not that I mind but it’s just so sad that no matter how the internet bridges the gap between spaces, people are really getting lonelier each time. For the month I have been absent at facebook that kuya updated me earlier that it’s no longer facebook but Meta?! Wow! It’s been like I have been absent for a long time ago! While I am present here at read like every day, well, there are few good reads I am looking forward and check my account from time to time. And lo, I never expected to incur subscriptions in a month’s time. From 4 to 7, then 13, back down 12 since one unsubscribed – which I was glad, and now 18? Oh! What can possible gone so wrong that I got noticed? Though lately, I am writing about spiritual inspirations but it’s nothing new to us, it’s been there for a while now and luckily the boys are simply growing up. By grace, I’m not sure but I’m trying to make a foundation since they’re gonna be kids just once and most of the time adults. We all grow up someday, we don’t stay young forever! Don’t get me wrong, getting subscribed means audience and having an audience is something heavy for me. why? Of course, it means I have to write explicitly to convey, have to have our facts right and correct, -in a way shepherding especially if I decided to go on writing spiritual contents, which is… Oh! God knows I was never into preaching or evangelize but healing. Like I already mentioned in many of my articles, I’m different, an outcast! I’m not in inclination to social ladder nor fame, have always avoided it and actually scare people who gets too close! Lolz, truly! I love being unnoticed. Im merely sharing a point of view and lifestyle that many are not inclined. *Add up* Although many will find it exciting that subscription has reached some numbers, saw someone posted how proud to have reached that number but hey! We all differ! While it’s nice to build relationships and meeting people from all over the world but I would like my articles real and unscathed. I don’t want to live to hold somebody else’s expectations of me, I am free to write what inspires me to write and even has the tendency to chew some heads if it meant to! I’m sorry. I’m just getting started. And in the end, you will find me unlikeable. Nov 15, 2021 Photo from Unsplash

Humility hits rock bottom I had been humbled all too many times because I was arrogant in so many ways, of course, mama was where else could I possible had that. Say an example would be employment and wasn’t employed until the 5th year after college. Wow, I had opportunities but somehow it was all elusive. True, it didn’t drive me crazy and depressive but drive me to a point to question. *Opportunities* Well, those were the times where opportunities were still the old fashion ways. Employment through connection. However, my connection was off, I had a rouge father to begin with – rouge in a sense he gave HR a hard time because he just didn’t give up on principle, labor advocate. OMG, we grew up relentless with good argumentative & reasoning skills, -many really think I would be a good lawyer but hey! I was not a fan! Then I had learned that all these skills were actually useless unless you were working in a government office that needed this skill sets but I was never inclined to. Working rank and file, these skill sets were not actually needed. Hmmm, I was not a professor because I was busy avoiding a professor that time and now I was considering it but, I’m happily employed for 10 years and laziness already hit rock bottom and it’s a long climb, an uphill battle – too tiring for an old bitch?, hihihi! No regrets though because I developed hidden talents and skill sets that many described it –unique. I was and am amongst the few who always ends up alone in the corner talking to myself because… hahaha! I grew accustomed to it already and no more offense, and loving it nowadays because I get to talk to myself all too often because of the face mask, and oftentimes I’m caught laughing at myself. A blessing in disguise that i hated the crowd. Well, I just really have a different wiring in my head that goes a lot on the wrong direction, hardly along or within the norms. For the years, I paid the price of being employed on the wrong skill sets, being clumsy and all went wrong but I am still intact!. I honestly have to play dumb most of the time especially we were on training and all too often playing dumb, I became dumb myself. Learned to mask it over the years by putting a blank face, not poker face, just blank. I couldn’t blame it to people, they usually acted different when they found out something different especially the ones beyond common or ordinary. If to be normal was simply to be clumsy and blatantly blank then be. I honestly still confused myself on which rules to play most often, I can never really get the hang of it – especially office politics, hate it.   *Present* Huh! (sigh) Perhaps arrogance is a common denominator between me and my dying friend. But unlike her, I have a friend with me all the time. I talk to Him all the time, I call prayer. When times get rough and rougher, well, I am glad to be alone in the corner and do my talk. And I’m glad to hate the crowd because I will be able to do my thing. What happens if I was always like everyone else? Grateful I’m not. Oh, what’s next scares me the most. Why? I truly don’t know what is stored for me? what’s next to humble myself with… and its scary! THANK GOD, I don't have to rely on someone to have my back, man is damn too unreliable and insecure! they leave in the middle of chaos! GOD doesn't, He stays! Thank u, and God bless. Nov 14, 2021 Image from Unsplash

Empty Cup While I wrote about being exhausted yesterday, I thought of reflecting on it more. Then messaged my (dying) friend and learned she was again in the hospital, and still is. Slowly, the disease is slowly eating her up or already in the process of swallowing her? Well her panel of doctors cannot exactly tell her so since her case is very volatile. Doctors say prognosis is “die anytime” with conditions pertaining to her bleeding, other than that if she remains healthy enough to go through chemo, perhaps. “Geng, I don’t feel like I’m dying!”, this is despite all the excruciating pain and bleeding episodes she had had. *The Cure* I have to admit I was taken aback with her attitude when she proudly told me she was in good hands. Taking into account that the medical advancement in Australia in taking care of their cancer patients, and that she is enjoying free treatment being a permanent residence there. I take her attitude as arrogance which saddens me because she is “paying the price of that arrogance”. If only… I no longer post photos of us on Facebook, me and my boys, since we left home. 2021 has been a lot of changes in our lives as I finally moved out from my parents’ house after a decade living with them and mama’s death really propelled the changes and like kuya said “no turning back” mom! Of course, now I’m mostly hiding because I no longer have to fill in the gap. So, I make it to a point to post God’s word on “my day” that my friend could read and with a little hope of extending. If only… If only I could show with her what hidden powers prayer has. How prayer is gift? How prayer helps. If I could only help her see what prayer can do, most especially when people are in fellowship, powerfully shown in “*****Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.,”***** where Peter escaped. For healing to commence, one has to hear the word of God. It’s a long process that’s why everyday, reading the Gospel, not reading but the speaking of the Gospel really helps and healing takes place as it goes. You have to speak the Word of God to get the desired effect. My schedule is tight which is why I make use of an audio book of the Bible so I can have it played while I’m doing chores and the boys sleeping, especially on weekends. Shared it with her but I don’t think she sees the point. It does its purpose. For the body to heal, the spirit needs to feed. To be filled in with spirit that nourishes the soul. Jesus says “ “I am the way and the truth and the life.”  (John 14:6) Where else shall we get the unlimited source of energy? Our body could really hold up to a point, while it contains the soul and needs this source to be nourish, then the body heals. I could only wish to explain it this way. https://archive.org/details/19bookofpsalms https://biblehub.com/greek/1473.htm https://biblehub.com/greek/1510.htm https://biblehub.com/greek/3588.htm https://biblehub.com/greek/3598.htm https://biblehub.com/greek/2532.htm https://biblehub.com/greek/225.htm https://biblehub.com/greek/2222.htm *Journey* Our journey. Everyday is a struggle. Every day is an opportunity to learn, we could only grow in humility knowing that life it too short to learn everything, for there is just so much to learn in too little time. We have prayer as gift, supposed to help us navigate our way. What use is that gift if not used? We often get lost because we are too arrogant to use the gift and instead tried navigating on our own. I too, sometimes too tired and often forget, that’s why I was too exhausted and also needed reminder. It's still a long way ahead, better fill those empty cups, else we thirst.   Thank u.  Love the comments on my article “Exhausted…”  and love to tell my readers, thank u so much and the prayer truly is something I am very grateful off! May you and your family be blest with good health and fortune in this lifetime. https://read.cash/@Jento/exhausted-cant-wait-for-a-fresh-start-c4a82b1b Nov 13, 2021 Image from Unsplash

Exhausted, can’t wait for a fresh start! The year is nearing to an end. Only 42 days left for Christmas and about 7 more weeks and its 2022. Its supposed to be a brand new year, a brand new life but it feels like my life force is draining. Its leaking from somewhere I don’t know. *Year End Plan* 2021 is a year I planned to pay all debts incurred last year when COVID 19 hits the country and little did I expect or anyone else that the cost of the pandemic was almost as devastating as many had lost their jobs in the process. Ironic as it seemed that on the start of the pandemic, government resource was still on its heights but as the pandemic continued and surged, little by little government assistance became scarce. I didn’t benefit from it though, despite unemployment from 4 months and that strucked me for a contingency plan. I could not afford anything close to that again. Then unexpected news. It was a pain knowing my friend got cancer, stage 3, in the middle of the pandemic. She was not around but all the anger and fear coming out from learning she was sick, it shook her world and could only utter “she had a good cry” to assure me she was alright. Lately, last September, her prognosis finally came and it wasn’t anything near good but worst, -she can die anytime. Who wouldn’t be torn apart with that news? With her little one and ate, she finally broke out telling she didn’t feel near death! This was more draining than I ever expected. Something positive comes up. Read.cash and Noise is later introduced to me by a colleague and took my time to re-invent myself. I had been in a cage for so long I needed to run along and do something new. And fortunate enough to attract Rusty’s attention and happily earning something that really helped me a lot with some few extra cash! Oh how grateful I am with the opportunity. Not only that, but grow in many ways in my 2 months with read&noise, I found friends and share life with all its follies and sadness without judgment. Unwanted Attention, oh this, is just too much! How can I possibly attract attention when I rarely dress up and make myself available for anyone except my dying friend. (sigh) I already tried ignoring him but every time, he just reminds me he exists - argg!. *Year Ends comes a new chapter* Year end is nearing and I’m as anxious as hell for all of these to end, especially the unwanted attention as it doesn’t do me anything good but distraction. While I do look forward for the debts to be paid off, I want a fresh start on finances, rebuilding and reconstructing. There isn’t much I can do with what happened in the past but I can definitely do something for our future. All this musing really got me exhausted that despite acquiring new hobbies – reading and writing, it really leaves me in almost total exhaustion. Anyway, at least I have some fresh start to look forward in the next 8 weeks and still hooray to me! Wish me luck! Thank u, and God bless! Nov 12, 2021 Image from Unsplash

Novela Review Novela… I am getting addicted to reading stories already, that I have to spend awfully a lot of time reading to a point I’m really losing sleep. Oh, I’m quite musing my thought with the previous comment on the novel I read and experimented to read novels written by the same nationality. ***Chose 3 Novels*** My aim of the experiment was to see if there was a difference in a way they handle ENGLISH. The way they write their novels, from setting to plot to characters and theme? There is common denominator, meaning, they are all similar in way or the other. **Language**. Medium is English. Hmmm! Ok, perhaps what I learned when I took master units in language that language is *“a system of communication used by a particular country or community.”,- by* google dictionary. So the way the handle English is just the they handle their mother tongue. OMG, that language is a something you should consider before you start reading. All of them really needs heavy editing. And like it written in another article “***Write! Just Write***”, my head was really shuffled there. Reading in context is necessary to understand. https://read.cash/@Jento/write-just-write-bf1e0a00 **Plot, character and theme.** They have delicious plots like an enticing chocolate cake that you really have a hard time resisting. And mind you, they bring tears to my eyes and really something that stabs my heart. Their plot, I can say superb. They have this tenacity and even to the extend, cruelty in the main character that when they portray hate it’s definitely nothing short from “rage to fury to wrath”. Wow, talking about anger management that the “supposed villain” would wish and chooses to die instead but the main character wouldn’t. The disgust is just something to really note. The antagonist is usually played as the “supposed protagonist”, as the plot is totally built in lies and controversies. It circled about love but the kind of love they have, is very interesting. Its highly gullible and deceiveable that the main object of the love has to suffer to the great extent. It’s a 3-party relationship where the guy-loves-girl and a girl friend who secretly loves the guy, the girl (lover) puts herself into danger framing the friend (3rd party), went into coma for years. Guy then marries the friend (3rd party) as a substitute and make her suffer. Of course, there is a marriage bed and results to pregnancy, which the guy doesn’t hesitates killing his own child for the disgust and anger. Hmmm, and this is the part where my heart bleeds because the amount of begging and the girl who is just, -well getting yourself pregnant is already something and having to be torture being pregnant is really something! Imagine, torture pregnant woman… its just so cruel! **Overall** I have never been so elated in reading novels especially in the resilience of the girl protagonist. How they survived all the torturous acts, losing one or two fetuses or just say torturing pregnant woman is just something in my culture not tried before or eyes-shut out? Wow, the culture is just overwhelmingly almost impossible on the cruelty on pregnant women like it was just nothing and how the women fought back to survive their baby is just truly amazing. If it was real, oh my, I will really hug the woman in total admiration. Plus, how resilient these women are to be so forgiving after the uncovering of the lies and losing a fetus or two, due to torture? While of course the language will keep you all on top of your head, hahaha, shuffle it one, reshuffle it, then again and more please. Resilience and perseverance is truly called for, and the gift of reading in context is really of great help! Its fun, adventurous and captivating with R-rated torture moments. A very good learning experience on the mix of culture affecting the very core values you hold dear! Aw! I am trying to figure out what’s next… comparison of two similar race and how they differ in language and plot? Well, lets see! Thank u, I have a great time doing. ‘til next read, God bless. Nov 11, 2021 Image from unsplash

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told! It was long ago when I used to work on day shift and cuddle my boys at night. So, before we go to bed, they asked me to read our story book. Kuya opened the story book and pick a story. And Kuya would request me to start the story “Once upon a time…”, and giggled as I started to read our story book, book title “Bible stories”, children version. Oh, kids, or shall I be specific, boys, who would have thought they’d come out like this? ***One of the Stories Told*** I want to go melodramatic today and start with a lyrics of the song that goes: **John 3:16** *“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son”* Whala! Unfortunately, I have nothing more to say. Honestly? Yes, the verse already says it all! You see, we all fall in love. Or say we loved all our lives, our selves, family, friends, relatives and even explored to love someone who may mean the world to us, -our behalf and children. In today’s world, well, so much has been said and done. We romanticize love, we explore and implore to know the best and worst of the object of our affection. Even tried to accept the very flaws and come to live with it in time. However, it all ends up on how much you know about the person that you are willing to accept the flaws embedded on this being? Then on the slightest act of betrayal, just about in any form: trust, loyalty, fidelity, it all swiped out clean like nothing had even happened between you two. This is just how our society has become, broken marriages through separation, divorce and annulment. On television, we see couples of broke up after 10-20yrs tigeth3, only to find out the husband was dazzled by a young lady and totally captivated his heart and break up with his wife, vice versa. I mean, for all the troubles they went through all those years, the strength of their love would have been able to… but unfortunately, it isn’t so. On the slightest test of faith in love, succumbs to temptation and embrace it. How folly? Well, even to this age I can’t say because there are still years to for me to overcome, while I already conquered almost a decade now (yey! Truly single) but there are still years to look forward! Others, yes, not may not end up broken marriages but ends up with a broken bone or two?! Or, ending up having several wives or husbands, like Filipino seafarer’s tag “every port, report” (having wives on every port, so they report every time they dock). Then I will be called “JUDGMENTAL” when I’m just really merely stating facts based on true stories of people I know who cried their hearts out. One friend I see through, accompanying her on her court hearings “begging” for financial support while committing adultery, -bearing a bastard. ***The Greatest Love Story Ever Told*** Why wouldn’t it be so? Me? I wouldn’t easily give up my son for the anything else, worst my follies. God even planned it, orchestrated it all for it to happen. Even witness His son has to endure all the humiliation, trouble when He could just let a lightning struck at the very act of insolence or disrespect. But no, He did not. And to think Jesus is the LORD. While us, the slightest sacrifice we had to endure for our loved one, fret and whine our hearts out to God asking “why me?”, wow, the drama we all acted on! And still have the guts to blame it all to God when it was all on us because “WE CHOOSE” – so called FREE WILL, we chose what we have become, it wasn’t God’s choice to begin with! Our LOVE to GOD’s LOVE? Oh no! I think I already made a clear description, needless to point it out again! Between HELL and SALVATION, everything is already there except our DECISION. To make HELL an ETERNAL ABODE or HEAVEN! I mean God already reached out, we have to make an effort on reaching out too! Its not a unilateral relationship, we must do our part and that’s for us to decide where we wanna go! Everything is already laid, choose:  ETERNAL LOVE OR ETERNAL DAMNATION. I didn’t wake on the wrong side of the bed this time, the title kept on flashing on my head since weekend. And the only way its gone tonight is writing it. Thank u for dropping by, God bless! Nov 10,2021

Capturing, in the passage of time. OMG, I am doing history now? Wow, like it feels like I lived thru the years gone by and fancy the thought of doing 30-minute narrative like the ones on National Geographic, - have been a fan for years and still marvels. ***Conquests*** Over decades ago, man is known for conquest and conquer. It’s been around for ages that even the Bible has its own narratives of wars. The Jewish history has been filled with a lot of these wars as accounted in the Bible from Babylonian to Persian rule, Greek, the Great Roman Empire, - however, do pardon me as there are many battlegrounds left unwritten as I am relying on memory for this account and most grandiose are easily remembered. Those were the archaic, how about the almost recent? America has to break a war for the States to be United. Well, we have some in Europe, Viking conquest, the famous Napoleon Bonaparte, amongst the famous. One war that lead to another, then came World War I & World War II, the 3rd is the most anticipated. ***World Domination?*** It’s been there for years! Why do you think there was war? “For the strong to overcome the weak.” –an old passage I reckon! Now we have United Nations, a council of allegiances of countries playing an important role in the World War I & II. Europe has its own European Union while the East also has their own, one I’m familiar with is ASEAN – truly been outdated all these years, I was occupied by caring for an elderly and children, and I don’t watch TV or all the more news. I can’t truly imagine how WWIII would be? China, Russia, US, Arabs are some of the strong anticipated players. Think, China’s population is 1B+ even if half of its population is part of its militia? Hmmm, if it were to invade our beloved treasured southeast Philippine sea islands –OMG! Philippine population only about 111M ONLY, and military power –nowhere to be found, honestly? US/Russia population is not even close, military power is superb – no doubt about that. But if truly China does, - as history would tell it too has it conquest adventures in the past, what will UN do? Smoke/Nuke the place? -Triggering an uproar of human rights violation? But to think about it, have it been explored if they can neutralize missiles/nukes? I don’t think it will allow that an easy attack. All these for? Control? Well, we are not ignorant in the casualties of war. For ancient wars, watch 300 Part 2 and there all too vivid causalities, war that leads to another and the next. Now, it’s all over the news, the most recent bombings in the city of Syria. Arabians fleeing, crossing borders never crossed before and wow! Children! We think the ANCIENTS are barbaric? Why? Haven’t we witnessed men, women and children, even the elderly, being slaughtered helplessly? We all witness that, its all over the news and internet. But no! why focus on outside war when we are fighting an internal battle ourselves? Our families now being attack by outsiders. Broken families due broken marriages. Children living in the streets begging for food. Teenage addiction to drugs and many more, oh, the school killings were just tragic! Missing/kidnapped children for trafficking, - for a lot of purpose: drug smuggling, organ harvesting, prostitution, et al. Well, watch “Trafficked” R-rated film says it all. How savagery has become despite the advancement in technology? Yup! The wars? Its been prophesied, -the Book of Revelation says, even the OLD BOOKS under OLD TESTAMENT does. Whether we like it or not, it is coming. Who are we to stop it? Even if we may be able to hold hand-in-hand at this moment and make it stop, we think we stopped it? Oh no! we only postponed it! Perhaps not in this lifetime, the next, but surely it will come and only time can tell. ***Future*** How ever we say it, we’re all gonna die, that's a fact. It’s a matter of when. Let us not worry about other people. Let’s manage our anxiety by focusing on our lives. We all encounter an internal struggles everyday, don’t we? Our bouts of insecurities that creeps every time without us knowing. Our children sick and no money for medz, food or so many concerns. Do we address that? There are many times we live thru. How? Well, I believe there is an inner voice in all of us that guides us. We even have our own demons that we chose to keep all these years because we like what it offers, safe/comfort zones, some provide escape routes -away from all these anxieties. We were given the FREE WILL to choose, and it all started from this “Free Will”. **Good news:** Either we feed the demon or the angel in us, it’s really our choice! **Bad News:** But it doesn’t change the fact that all of the above is going to happen. ***Where do we go from here?*** Whether you believe in Heaven or not, it may or may not matter! Well, it matters because if you believe in Heaven then you have to feed your FAITH. If you don’t, then you may also feed your DEMONS. Nobody really knows if Heaven is real, its truly an ACT OF FAITH. The catch is, if you fed your DEMONS and HEAVEN was real, then your casting yourself into the eternal abysmal fire! How do we know HEAVEN is true? Oh! Simply believe in the inner voice, it doesn’t fail. How do you know its true? Simple, the fruits is always good. You will never miss it. **John 16:7-15** "*Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you…"* https://biblehub.com/john/16-7.htm Sorry, I woke up at the wrong side of the bed! Thank u for the indulgence, God bless! Nov 09, 2021 *Lead Image from Unsplash

Medical Troubles In a Cancerous World of Ours 5 **Mama** Diagnosed with breast cancer before hubby died 2010. It was expected, since she was the last of the “tres marias”. The lump was huge, almost like a growing breast inside her full-grown breast. And there was another, Gall stones, about a size of a 1peso Philippine coin. **Gall Stone** She was complaining a lot so she got herself an xray which a gall-stone was seen that is about a size of a peso on her abdomen. She told our family doctor she doesn’t want to be operated on. Argued with the doctor that she said she will try other alternative and the doctor agreed and gave her 1 month for it to vanish, else operation. **Cancer** Same, operation is a must then chemo. **Treatment** ·         **Gall Stone.** Somebody told her, an apple a day. True indeed, she took it to heart and an apple a day, especially green. Oh the apple. Each day mama would torture, mutilate an apple. She ground it, blended it, chopped it. Different execution everyday just not to make it boring in eating an apple everyday? Then the 5 lime daily regimen. One month passed and whola, the gall stone disappeared. This was resolved. ·         **Cancer.** Mama opted for Homeopathy because she really doesn’t want to be operated again. Went 6 months to 2 years, she was healed. **Support** ·         **Moral support**. My siblings we very adamant that she should be operated on. But mama refuses. Papa was basically absent, hayst! Don’t ever bother to ask anymore. So mama hopes and hides under my care. All knowing that she is untouchable whenever she seeks shelter under my care. Nobody really dares, not even my father. But this has created dispute on my work place since this was not acceptable to my manager, granting of course I have single siblings, “you shouldn’t be obligated”, she said. But hey! You’re talking about my mom, weeks after I quit –found another job. ·         **Financial support**. It’s all moms. Papa? Really none. Homeopathy treatment was expensive. And mama sold her properties just for cash to be available for her treatment. And it actually paved good results, cancer gone! **Family** Honestly? Ha! This is where things got complicated. My stand is always respect the individual perspective. Anyway none of them really supported her, physically. Not even presence, because I was already there. They all just whine and insisted to the point of thinking it was beneficial for me because mama will give me allowance for accompanying her. They whine because homeopathy has unspoken and no approved therapeutic effects. Healing was not guaranteed they say. Oh hell for the other reason, good if it was true but I bore the expenses especially when she runs out of money. When she wants to eat nice food and no money, I provide. They think? Wow! It is more detrimental for my budget, it already hit my employment badly. To really think I am not the favorite and still. Family. In the end of all these, what matters the most is how much u care and helped. It doesn't matter how big or small that mere presence is more than enough for a relief. Even good thoughts matters, especially holding mamas hand in a moment of fear and uncertainty. After all we live our lives according to how we want it to be. Important thing is mama was not in pain and was healing? Don't u think? Money is just money OK! It can always be earned. But life, if lost is really lost. U can't turn back time and rewind. We cease that moment by acting on the present, today, not be occupied with tomorrow. That's why it is often regrettable when reached tomorrow because we failed to do what is necessary today. When we can still say hi to each other and do something really nice. We really need to appreciate the little things in life, no matter how small, tiny, puny it is because like I said, once gone - gone! Can't bring back the dead! **Resulotion?** All cancer patients has their own resolve. They need someone they can count on whenever and understand its horrors since its not just physically tormenting but spiritually and mentally too,-not bother them with all the unnecessary buderns. The thought of dying and to think of the true physical pain. We can only help alleviate, then let's do it and make it happen until time will tell. Anyway who knows what will happen in the future? I could have it but importantly I want to be able to make my own decisions and be respected and cared for. We all die anyway, it's only a matter in time. November 8, 2021 Thank u so much for reading and God bless.

Lights Off! I arrived home from my shift and boys were still asleep. I mused with the thought of what breakfast would be, -hmmm just the usual. Scrambled eggs and ham, and oh, left-over rice. So, left-over rice, throwing food was never something I was fond of. Anyway, I could make fried rice out of it that the boys loved, especially kuya. ***Power Off*** Knowing I arrived, kuya complained of power shortage. It was off and on. He even took off his shirt because it was getting humid with no power supply. While still at the thought, the power went off,-again. Oh no! And the thought came at me like, how was I supposed to sleep? So I immediately took a shower to freshen up as my eyes were already drowsy, and it worked, I got to sleep 2 hours. ***Still Power Off*** So still no power when I wake up 2 hours after. The odd thing was that Door 1 was asking if I we had power because they too didn’t have power, while outside they were enjoying the benefits. So I started musing myself the thought that our landlord’s daughter didn’t pay the bills. Door 1 and the landlord fought over what happened and they confirmed, bill due was not paid, so power was cut. And oh, oh! It was already late in the afternoon and omg, another night with lights off? The only consolation we had was that it was cold and rained the whole night so it was just suitable for the boys to go to sleep while I worked that night. I didn’t message nor called the landlord’s daughter for explanation because I was exhausted thinking of a strategic approach to such. The one thing I didn’t like was we had to lit a candle and it was too dangerous for me to leave it when I went to work. So, I left home all dark. The landlord’s daughter message me all too apologetic about what happened but what can I do? And I don’t want to be stressed with what just happened but they gave me the reason they forgot to pay the bill?  I still don’t want to react but knowing their plan of paying it in the afternoon? Really? Like they don’t feel the urgency to mend what happened by not taking immediate action? So, I message back that if that was their plan, they should have told me earlier so I can go pay the bill in their behalf. But all of the sudden she messaged that it was paid, after deliberately said otherwise. ***Aftermath*** Sunday, the landlord’s daughter visited their father and got a fight with him because her father won’t allow them to occupy the house that was previously occupied by their mom, when she was alive. However, it was truly bad taste to punish their father by deliberately not paying the bills on time and unfair for the tenants as we paid all in time. While I learned very important lessons, like my sons were capable of adjusting, to the max, and do not complain and fight me over something I had no control off. To this, I was thankful but in a matter of decency, family feud shouldn’t be concern of the tenants because its completely off limits.  Just because they had a fight and we need to pay the price? Not fair. We had our own family issues but the way they were treating their father was something I nor my boys do not agree because elderly’s should not be subjected to harsh treatment. Though I hadn’t expressed my thoughts on it and not planning to. I just didn’t think it was necessary, the power offs! ***Then*** **after** People really has a way of… without thinking of the consequences. They’re trying so hard to save their faces but the reasons were obviously off, backfired and made a laughing stock out of them. I mean, they’re professionals, both dentists by profession and who would have thought they could do so? As adults, we really need to think harder, such a shame and distaste! Like, we really to grow up because it's not reason enough to act like idiots! Oh! My boys are asking for an action plan should this happen again. Oh my? Seriously, they are growing. And I should grow up too! Need to be ready for the next episodes of power offs, not that I have a budget for a grid! But hey, there are cheap gadgets sold on shoppee, like USB lights powered by power banks and solar chargers?! This way I won't have to leave for work all lights off! In the end, I'm glad this happened it pushes me to think beyond what I have and not settle for anything less! Just sharing, any thoughts? Thank u, and bless you! Nov 7, 2021

A Fun Review The sun is shining hot today and the air conditioning equipment here in the office is not working so we are bearing the heat. While my eyes are tired all throughout the night, my mind has lingered on the thought on what I’ve read for the whole 3 days, feasting on a novel of teenage romance. Omg, at my age! Well, can’t blame me! I currently have no resources and searching the net for books at home is somehow tiresome and like I mention, I still don’t have the gadgets. Oh please bear with me! I will move on to serious writings when everything is ready, aw! I know this will be a bit kinky but let’s be kinky anyway, hahaha! ***Title: When a Tomboy Falls in Love*** *By:Jasmine(Novela)* Teenage setting, rich dudes, not exactly the spoiled ones but rather independent ones. She is at junior high, high-spirited introvert who doesn’t believe in dwelling on people’s perception on the world. She has her own world and doesn’t like to be subjected otherwise. She looks like a beggar and more of a nerd, doesn’t like to play dress and make-up, hence a tomboy? Or merely just plain and simple. Or more of not wanting to attract unnecessary attention because her beauty alone has and rejected every boy that came her way with the intent. But changes as she met a boy and for the 1st time in her life she became a girl. Lucky to have a maid who walked with her journey and introduced her to whole new world beyond the 4 corners of her room. -But she was working as a waitress and prefers to spend her money than her family’s, she definitely has a life afar from those dependent sons and daughters of the rich and famous. With her maid, she finds an adventure never before dealt with. Tries new outfit as her maid tells her too, liking to experience something new and even got herself a boyfriend –rich kid not totally the usual but loves the convenience of money. **Review** Oh no! I loved the twist of the narrative because the plot is nearly and rarely presented like this. Like Jasmin of Aladdin went off the streets of Alibaba because she was sick of being told by the King of what to do. Here, she just wanted to be ordinary. She was enjoying the whole lot but was independent as she was working even if she could afford and daughter of the 2nd most riches man on the house. She met a girl, her maid and made friends. She was finally having a life of a teenage girl for the 1st time, having friends not just the maid, her 1st time to drink, party and love around her circle of friends. A turning point in teenage life where everyone gets to make a choice. It was nice. **My Take** Its not a perfectly written novel but it certainly has character. I’ve thought, why would a plot be always like “rich and famous”, -all too frequently used plot for a novel. But I particularly love the idea that a rich girl trying to make her own identity, not rebelliously but rather independently, rejecting the materialistic world she lived in. One part of the novel gave me an awe was when the writer presented a dilemma over “losing self-respect” or “love for her man”? And she has a choice and considering it well. We all have something for firsts and its not that very enticing all at once but its something we can hold dear. Because it helps us grow. Many will say, it changes us? But really? True, we all pass thru the stage where we try something new but not necessarily changes us. True indeed. We are given the choice to make and it is ours to behold and it all depends on the current priorities in life. Ah, life's choices, we all have to make that augments turning points on our lives. Yes, we all get to grow up every time we choose to. Thank u for staying with me! ‘til the next read, God bless. November 6, 2021 *Image by Unsplash

Folly Moments 3rd grade was the 1st encounter I had, he gave me a piece of a soap cover and told me “don’t forget me”, ok I think he referred to the scent of the soap. I was clueless about what it was, but upon reflecting, a couple of decades after, well I finally understood the gesture. Can’t blame me, I was a boy first before I was a girl. Most of my friends were boys (and he was one of them) which I very much had fun as girls were just sitting around and play with their dolls. Who would have thought, it was that! Then, followed by some advances on 5th grade but I gladly decline because I was still young. Then, prominent and bold gesture as I graduated elementary. There he was asking me to meet on the guardhouse because he has something to say! And lo, I was there and he spit this intentions saying “better start early than later”. And I was “huh?”, what just happened? I wasn’t clueless, so as he was stating his advances, I didn’t answer him but found an excuse to excuse myself and there I ran off. **High School** High school came and it was wholly different adventure. I was more confident on bearing my gender but I really had to make the boys stop, look and listen before advances were made. And true, I never had such advances but there I got a rose of 14th of Feb on senior high. And I quarreled the 1st boy I saw and he was my seatmate, I called him my “best buddy” that time. Oh, don’t worry, he was also a “bitch”, he handled it well by telling me “U should just accept things you received”. But no! No is a no and will never be yes! Oh, he pretty got it for sure to the letter. Then another attempt, same year, somebody got me a mango juice on prom night! Besties was out of reach so I couldn’t quarrel him - again, I was with the girls so ‘til today I still wander who that was! Oh, I did have a “crush of a life-time”, 1st year high but we soon parted as I changed schools. **1st Love Never Dies** I grew up loving plants. And along the way I fell in love with baking. Before I found my man but he died. When bore my kids, I fell in love with them and they had been a growing obsession since then. 1st love never dies because up to date I find myself obsessing with plants and even though I kill them most of the time, I still persist and grow them back. I have a love-hate relationship with them and in the passage of time, I just couldn’t let them go! My sons understand, so whenever I am angry, bunso says reminding me “mami, when your angry, be angry, just don’t kill the plants!” Oh! Bunso is also falling for them too! And that make me sober but to be fair, the reason why I’m losing my plants its because those I cared for 6 months ago were happy with full sun exposure not we relocated for work, they don’t enjoy the full sun anymore. Then its been raining almost everyday that I even forgot when was the last time I watered them. I’m losing the collection but, the sun still shines tomorrow, I could always start again. **In the End** Oh, I’m not afraid of boys. Its just the wirings in my head. Every time I get a feeling that made me uncomfortable, I kill it. I hate the dramas it brings especially when I grew up where my father was rather on the off side, so I really skip the dramas. What I had with ex was something I’d treasure and learned a lot from it. So, what’s next? It all depends on what’s stored for me in the next years. Thank u,‘til the next chapter, -a blessed day everyone. November 5, 2021

In a Cancerous World of Ours 4 **Maretis** After a decade, she is enjoying life. Travelling to place she never been before and seen her children grow. True, cancer was definitely not a life sentence. She lived through the storm. **Cancer** It was like the movie “fast and furious” because one day she felt something and the next was her breast was removed. Then proceeded with Chemo sessions. She only felt numb on her side or arm and a lump on her breast. So she decided for a check up. She wasn’t sure of what it was but her mind was opened for the possibilities. **Treatment** Oh! There were a lot of treatments. Ranging from minor surgery to a major one, with Chemo sessions. Laboratory exams to fishbone diagram. She only used her sick leave only on the day of the exams. She was working while all the other exams were performed and while waiting for the results.  *Finances.* Being sick means financial support and darn it’s not all the time it is available to all. The minor operation, removing her lump. Her doctor arranged for a very minimal expense surgery. Lucky enough she was able to fix some financial help from her manager lending her about 10K for the surgery. The fish bone diaphragm cost some amount too and we could only pray where we were going to get the funds. Oh no! I volunteered to do the work, working on processing her documents at our cooperative to outsource funds and make a work-around to produce funds in time for her major surgery. And she was just, faithfully praying and entrust everything. We used her medical insurance later for the general surgery and it was only worth 150K and there were others to be considered along with other expenses. Her hubby was only a jeepney driver who tends the needs of the kids while she worked. **Magna Carta (Womens Reproductive Health Bill)** Guess she was lucky at that time that Magna carta was implemented to support reproductive help for women? Oh no! We applied with HR and was turned down for so many reasons. Frustration and despair mixed up that time when she was about to be operated. My main concern was that no funds, no extra funds for her to use in another emergency case. I was not the most influential person in the plant but I made good connections with influential people which was why I thought I was placed there to process her papers for things to go smoothly? Oh please, I had no time to think like this. All I know was she needed all the help she need to get through the storm. Luckily I directed myself to her ma’am, senior manager who was so eager to listen to my plea. Little did I know she worked it out with HR, thankfully it was approved. She enjoyed a lot of benefits including monthly allowance for 24 months during her chemo sessions and healing period. Not only monetary but also enjoying the leaves. **Recovering** I could still recall her undergoing chemo therapy. I went to visit after all the documentation were processed. It was her 2nd session and her hair started to fall. When I combed her hair, a lump of hair was immediately on my hand and how she loved her hair. So not get depressed, she immediately shaved her hair and invited me to shop for wigs with her. oh how gullible she was! Despite all the loss of a breast to hair falling, it was immediately replaced with happy-jolly her. Yes, the entire breast was removed to ensure no spread to the follicles and to the other breast. Amidst the trials, she remained. Strong? If this was the definition of strong… I don’t know, she was, like I said gullible. She had moments of emotional bouts and tears streamed down her eyes every now and then. I witnessed the whole process. Now, she doesn’t even look like she went through all these. And when I posted our pictures on FB, a former colleague really asked if she really had cancer. And I am truly thankful to be given the opportunity to share and witness the experience together. Thanks again for being here to share this story. God bless. November 04, 2021

Hello November, Goodbye October Oh! I didn’t have a cake! I told kuya, buy me cake! And he told me, “no money, no cake.”. Oh, my! We celebrated our birthdays together since its just 6 days apart and we hang out whole day together in our room. We watched his favorite T.V. drama and I thought he liked it. He was happy he got a gift from his aunt, my “best friend” they say. And got him his favorite cake, the new flavor since it tastes and melts like ice-cream. October Is a very busy month. His birthday and mine, so we are year old now than ever! He got what he prayed for. Game perks, tickets for ML diamonds and coins and Call of Duty coins with his gift. While I was busy musing about the renewing my records, have to renew my license and my voters since its been a while since I had voted and with the upcoming election, I can only wish to participate. And additional perks, most importantly is that I have another ID available to present. ID’s has been very scarce and very difficult to obtain these days. I have to admit, I did neglect to take care of my voter’s ID because about 10 years ago it wasn’t a proper ID to begin with a long time ago, it was barely used because it wasn’t considered valid that time. Now, its considered secondary identification. With my UMID lost, I have no other except for my driver’s licence and TIN. Compliance is something that I’d like to adhere else I will have problems accessing just about anything, even my bank records. Online transactions with wallets needs verification that included ID’s. Who would have thought, over the years, fraudulent transactions have incrementally increased, -scams too has its known contributions? And lo, I’m happy last day of registration was a success. Back to goal and plans, getting my Voters, now wasn’t a goal because it has been a goal for some time now but failed, since I transferred into the city. So, planned it out, surveyed it and executed. And so was the plan to write, at least I wrote 25 articles, I survived. November Oh no, November! Thank u November I pretty much attract an attention and increased sponsorship to 2 and subscription too, from 9 to 11, yey! Thank you so much for the support. And lo, I have several comments to reply to. I'm glad to be given this opportunity to share my thoughts., thank u. I do plan to explore to explore a mature topics and discussion. I do hope to be able to pull it thru. While at the office, busy as always, closing a month and opening a month is as always through the years. And I'm glad and blest because it brings food on the table while many lost their jobs since last year due to pandemic. I can imagine how lucky I am to be working still, God really provides. A bright new day awaits us, 'til then. God bless, ciao.

Write! Just write I have very few friends and this friend is what my family refer her as “bestfriend”. Ok. Well, she is the writer and I truly look up to her when it comes to writing because… Oh my, if I could write well it’s her forte. Like we played word games, I only scored 600 in 1 minute while she scored 2K+, so in comparison? Oh no! I’m not half of what she has! She stopped sending me write-up works because, well, I really think I failed her that much. One of course is I truly failed in practicing the craft. ***October*** ***Writing*** Well, the entire month I have been writing and I’m getting the hang of it. Ideas flow swiftly like never before. Sometimes flooding and it has become overwhelming that my eyes tires a lot these days. Granting of course, my eyes really hurts since I’m wide awake all night- working on a graveyard shift. ***Reading*** Well someone I stumble upon on read, to be a good writer is that he reads a lot, and a lot more and so much more. Me? I barely read and only watch movies and most seldom these days, oh! I also stumble on read about applications that helps you earn money while at it, and glad it has something about reading. Downloaded the app and begun using it. The app is about novels and started to read. One novel I like was still unfinished so I was forced to look for another novel. True and I tried that one that was written by a foreigner. I wouldn’t mention the nationality but definitely not Filipino. Oh how I loved the story but my mind was shuffled so much that kuya took time to read a paragraph and exclaimed! “mami, how can you read this?” and I said “huh?”, my mind was still really shuffled. When I was collected, I said, oh! I was reading in context not in text because if read in text, omg. Like I don’t think the author will appreciate it if I offered her editing because the novel really needs heavy editing, seriously. I finished it though. Then another novel, it was nice, written by a Filipino. However, I found it off, like how can CEBU CITY in CALAMBA LAGUNA? Ah??? Hahaha! It shook my world, I can hardly find geographical references… Like hey! Its still important you know! If your writing somewhat historical romance! And “Divorce”, really at this time in the Philippines? And another one, Philippines is “REPUBLIC AND NOT FEDERAL”, oh my, na highblood ko oi! Writers really need to get their facts straight even if it was just fiction. ***Realization*** There are many writers out there who wants to show their work and in fact already published. I may not be able to write a good fiction novel and not nearly as good as my published friend, but hell I can write articles and someday I can also publish a work. I won’t resign yet and I’m still young. I want to work ‘til I age! And I just really badly need a lappy. I have it already on my projects for 2022 and other gadgets, now the funding. Arggg... Well... What's next? November! Nov 02, 2021 Thank u for and have a blessed day! *photo from unsplash

COVID 19 Stories - Office The office is quiet in the wee hours of the day. Wednesday, most agents are out already because they are on “early out”, and those that are left ended up saying “sana all”.  So, I went out because my stomach complained its hungry, tried to ignore it but it only grumbles a lot and my budget only allows inexpensive food as I was already out of budget days ago! **Sites** Since lockdown in main cities of our province, the company had open other sites, 2 off sites to cater the dire need of other offices since the threat of shutdown was at hand before vaccines were available. Logic behind it was when main office was put to shutdown due to increase number of COVID positive agents, then the other off sites were still operating. Work from home was only offered to selected few, while many or half of the population were still working at the offices, which was why shuttle vans were provided for our transportation. Although WFH was convenient but considering the internet services of the country, well, never mind, I would rather work in the office. **Our Site** Hmmm… I have to say I have enjoyed the dress-down privilege for this site. Considering that we can just wear shorts and t-shirt with matching slippers going to work is something I am truly grateful of. While other says they’re loving the free parking space and the convenience. Well, who can ask for more. We are enjoying it more than a year and a half, going 2 yrs this march 2022. I am grateful to wear only shorts because I just moved in the city and sad to say it has been raining since I moved in and I take too long for the pants to dry out. So, convenience.  Then the space is most private, though fast foods are located afar but still its nice. **Main Office** Its located at the heart of IT Park, so its busy and for the past quarter it has been subjected to a lot of contact tracing due to heighten covid infections in and outside the premise. Its strictly business attire and tattered jeans are not allowed during dress down days. Oh! Bad. Dress code is something I’m not very fond of. **Buzz** There has been buzz or gossips circling about moving in to the main office since last year. Of course, many from our sites are not open to the idea because of the inconvenience especially for those with parking fees to consider. While us, the normal employees only have to consider the dress code, which is already overwhelming to think of. The work from home employees will only be considered after 2 years? So, they don’t need to worry but continue the worry free work from home. **Vaccination** Well, its good to know that many of the employees are really considering and have themselves vaccinated while there are a few who didn’t. And I asked my seatmate if he was and he is but they (him and his wife) regretted it. But still, cant turn back the time now so. And now I’m reminded to have my son register for vaccination, oh! Just a quick clicks and it was done, just waiting for the schedule then. Main office is not wavering on the pursuit of 100% vaccination of employees. Well, who would want to worry over pasaway employees who only think of their desires to go outing and mingle like they used to? Not really minding the hassle of contact tracing and surging infections is just way too high. Can we just go to work and go home safely please!!! And oh! The cost of the swabs and if found positive, well, a 14-day leave – good if with pay, what happens if all leaves were exhausted after all the series of contact tracing done because of above mentioned misdemeanors. Oh! The price to pay, they never learned. **Over-all** Our site is currently @ 83% vaccination. Perhaps only few are left unvaccinated, why? One is still not scheduled or doesn’t want to. Whichever is the reason, it's theirs to take. But I’ll take my stand on this. My family, boys, are still safe even if I don’t have myself vaccinated. However, in the long run, vaccination will become a must. For now, it is still not mandatory they say but how can it be when almost everywhere you go right now asks for your vaccination card even as simple as making a meal purchase on a fastfood and take note this is take-out meals, I was asked for my vax card. It will not be long until our site will be fully vaccinated but there are really people I talked with doesn’t want to for some reasons. I don’t know how it will be but by far, main office is really looking forward for the realization towards the end of the year. But wishful thinking, hope it extend to next year. Would love to stay a bit longer with these privileges. Thank u for staying. 'Til next time, God bless. *Lead image from Upsplash.com

In a Cancerous World of Ours 3 ***Aunt Nene (Lourdes)*** 2nd to the eldest, Aunt Nene was conservative, shy, strict aunt. Calling her “dalagang Filipina” is just befitting the description, single to the end. She wasn’t the happy-jolly type, that was mom, who was liked by everyone. She was the type who sits in the corner and just behave. ***Growing up*** I wasn’t sure how to start. Hmmm. Grandpa was a farmer and a war veteran, and at that time granted with land was one of the benefits in being a war veteran. The land wasn’t small but wasn’t large, just enough for them and it was mostly submerged on water especially on heavy rains. One of the benefits was that they were able to harvest prawns for their meals, sustaining their daily meals. Tilapia was another since they were near fish ponds and eventually made themselves one. Grandma was a good cook. She was invited to every parties held by her rich friends as a cook, and the perks were marvelous according to mama. Well, it sent them to school and gave them work through connections. And grandma made it happened. ***Career*** Ah! She was government employed, for her lifetime. She was really meek and rather kept to herself so nothing much about her I could relate and write. She had friends and enjoyed a lot of time travelling. True still, she was also supporting us financially. And I honestly couldn’t write more. ***Cancer*** Years after Aunt Rebecca’s death, a lump grew on her chest. It was humiliating to her when a lump 1st appeared on top of her trachea. It was huge about 2.5cm rectangle in shape as I still could recall seeing the xray results. She was misdiagnosed with TB. Having TB, oh! TB, it was absurd. To ever think she had TB considering how careful she was about hygiene and cleanliness. It was a such a shame. So she went for a 2nd opinion and lo, there the diagnosis “BREAST CANCER”. Up to date I still couldn’t figure out her reaction. I was there during the time, though wasn’t there when the diagnosis was given. Her reaction all throughout, I couldn’t see any trace or emotional bouts. Not even turmoil, just calmness and composure. I could only sense fear and doubt behold her heart. Fear because she survived Aunt Rebecca’s death. Perhaps she was terrified. Of course who wouldn’t be, she was went thru hell those days by just being there and now, her. ***Treatment*** Same happened to her but worst. She asked the same sibling for financial assistance for her chemo and was promised to be given the next day. It was Sunday. So we all woke up early went early went to claim the promise of financial assistance and to the mass right after. Ah! All the promises in vain and another promise was proposed, the healing through drinking cobra blood, as told of its amazing healing prowess. Anyway, we left and went to hear the mass. While attending the mass she almost lost consciousness because she was fasting. Even after the promises in vain, she still tried and approached. She accommodated the proposal of drinking cobra blood as some sort of bridging the gap between her need and their approval. I guess it worked and she had her 1st series of chemo but the assistance was not enough. I proposed to process medical assistance from another government agency. I was discouraged by all of them but I was glad I pushed thru before we went home because I only got the confirmation that she received the check a month after and aunty send her thanks. ***Her Resolve*** After the check disbursement, I heard little about her and found out she died. I guess she stopped the chemo treatment and just lay in bed in surrender to her fate. Still little did was mentioned about her death. Perhaps she found her peace! And happily accepted to meet with creator then. ***The Family*** Shame! She doesn’t have any heirs and it’s a shame to learn and know how they fought about who gets to get the lump sum of her retirement. Even went thru the pains of manipulating the issuance of check to those who thought they deserve it more. Wow! Greed and corruption. Sad how people benefits from the dead. But it doesn’t matter now, she is well rested. I cannot let them know I write this, recalling the events for surely they all will get mad with how it is presented. I am not to judge their actions and decisions. It is their burden when they die because eventually we all die. It’s just a matter of time. ‘True, a very sad story to tell. Thank u and God bless.

Yey! I have sponsors! Thank u @rebeysa85 & @ErdoV. I'll continue to write. God bless.

Pregnancy 101, Basics Oh hell! I have children, all boys! Ok! I have come across some reads about pregnancy and all the appraises, -negative and positive. Though, this doesn't make me an expert, but let me share some I learned. **Science** Before sex education was available, during our days sex was in a form of sciences. At grade school we learn about reproductive organs. Who says pregnancy is uncertain? Certainly not 100% perfection but when you learn the secrets then perhaps you’d probably enjoy playing the game of probability. Oh! This is just basic make up and all depends on how the fetus was nurtured in the womb, the baby manufacturing machine! And true, all is important to me. o   Future sex of the baby o   Inherited traits o   characteristics o   Gifts and talents o   Intelligence o   Skill sets I never like kids so it never occurred to me to get pregnant, which was why I called myself late bloomer. So when I was pregnant I researched and really took my time. Then I learned a lot especially the basics, folic acid contributes so much in developing the fetus IQ. EQ has something to do on how stable your pregnancy was? Blue baby often results when mom’s heart beat fluctuates while in the womb. This is the why expectant moms shouldn’t be depressed (but hey! Moms, its our duty to our baby, the fetus, growing inside us, to detach ourselves from those who causes us stress! My way of thinking). And there are a lot of other things that complicates as the baby is born. This I’m sure, drink calamansi while pregnant and your baby’s skin will be shining like porcelain or something that doesn’t come out like cobwebs during delivery. Then I learned from other mothers that intelligence is 80% from mom’s intelligence, probably? I think so. While skill sets are from fathers. So, genetics really plays a good role in the make-up of our child. Why? We all see the result in mix marriage, usually father is Caucasian and mom pinay = nice looking child, would anyone agree? **Results** Hubby was furious when he learned of the gender was boy because he wanted a girl, he was angry at me. And I only laughed at him, told him to blame himself because it’s the sperm that dictates the future gender of the fetus! Watch again National Geographic and relearn the basics! Oh, how it backfired. And please relearn the techniques and the conditions! Of course there were, definitely. For those father who had all girls or boys, you need the tutorial. Lolz (giggles). And there are a lot of results when I learned of the basics. Mind you, the fetus already has a mind of its own. Connect while the baby is still inside you. I talked often to my babies, with kuya when I don’t feel his heartbeat, I usually ask him to come out so I wouldn't be worried while bunso was a little bit “leave me alone attitude” but still comes out. And when both are ready to come out, I told them to wait for momi’s signal ok! Be ready when we have the cash! And whola, I told them we have the cash and they we both born the next day! Oh no, they are born hours after - less than 10 hours. Well, it was great for me! I got the results I wanted and while growing up, there were influences but still, mine prevailed.   **Thoughts on Early and Unwed Pregnancy** o   **Protect yourselves!** Oh my! Girls, please… if you were still at school, behave! If you can’t behave and get yourself protected. Do something about it! You just can’t cry and whine you know! It’s certain and it will always be a predicament because we all know the moment we have sex, its will always be a possibility. May not be now, but tomorrow, next day or by the weekends or next month. Sorry, I was a girl too and have 3 girls for siblings, none were pregnant before we graduated! So please! And boys, it’s partly at fault too. You may not love the girl, please protect yourself too. Not just about pregnancy but also STIs/STDs, worst HIV. Ok. I never engaged until I was 25. o   **Shame. P**lease, save yourselves from humiliation. What? Be mad with the society for the treatment? You practically placed ourselves as part of the statistics. You made yourselves available for the criticism, grow up, you are about to be a mom. Bottomline is you brought the humiliation to yourselves. o   **Responsibilities and obligation.** Most likely, unwed and no one is going to take care of the baby but you. What? Expect our parents to take care of the baby? Really? Did you tell them when you decided to have sex? o   **Abortion?** Well, it will never be an option for me! I’m scared with how God is going to deal with me even with just the thought. Fear God, for wrath is… Faith is still strong in me! You may think my take is harsh, I wore those shoes on my 2nd child – unwed pregnancy, hubby died when 1st baby was 7 months old. Why would I pass the responsibility to the guy or society for treating me so, when it was I who decided it. Just my thoughts really. Lucky me, I was working. I wasn’t really misbehaving, kuya ask for a sibling – preferably a girl. An opportunity present itself, which I grabbed? Well, thank u and come again? God bless!

Our Trips: Bohol Bohol, is located at the heart of the Visayas neighboring Cebu. My father originates there and for the 9years we stayed there we never get to tour the place. We were hard on cash back then, so it wasn’t easy. However, years later, we were blest to have a tour at least. ***Carmen*** Oh! Its famous for its Chocolate Hills. It is so called because once the land dries out, it resembles hills with chocolate brown color. It’s located in middle of the island. It is a long ride coming from Tubigon Fort going to Carmen. Ok, they charge entrance and car fees. I believe it’s busy on weekends so if you are truly interested, better plan for week day visit. It’s more of a hill top view. Top of a mountain hill, providing a 360’ view of the hills and plains that surrounds. While approaching the area, of course, the usual views to enjoy. Rice and plain fields, a lot of domesticated herds and of course the hills. But the top hill view provides an amazing presentation of the hills and the plains. And mind you, it’s way way up top. I don’t like heights I’m getting goosebumps looking down the trail. ***River*** The color of the water is green. I don’t really know the reason behind, its truly green. It’s featured on any trip and they accessorize it with boats where you can enjoy meals floating about the river. Relaxing and we didn’t take the boat meal because we didn’t budget for it and there still other places to go! ***Tarsier Sanctuary*** We used to label them “the world smallest mammal or primate”, now no longer. Well, we had our days. We visited the sanctuary and we were really lucky to witness at least one or two visible tarsier during the day, being nocturnal. ***Man-Made Forest*** Along the road we passed by the man-made forest made of mahogany. Its stretches more than a kilometer away and doesn’t stop me from being amazed. Even though its man-made, it’s still possible to restore rainforest. It could be something we can do if we put our heart and soul in doing it. It’s refreshing and nice. Perhaps we can grow some of the native trees instead of mahogany, like “Tugas” since its rapidly depleting nowadays. Acacia too is good for “side-road display” especially when it flowers, oh, it almost resembles wisteria. Was this an attempt to show the world that man-made forest can be done amidst the deforestration in the country? Well, I can say, surely this attempt serves its purpose and more! ***Spots to Visit*** Oh no! there are still a lot of places to visit. Like when we visited Bohol years back, along our sail, we were lucky to be accompanied by dolphins. They were playing on the sides as the ship passes by, jumping on the sides. We haven’t gone island hopping and we haven’t paid attention to the churches. Baclayon Church is one site to behold because of its antiquated look, founded in 16th century and has undergone some restoration since then. Beaches, caves and falls are some site to look forward to visit one day. We were lucky to visit Hinagdanan Cave in the earlier years but truly look forward for another land tour for Bohol. Although mama will not be around anymore but its nice to reminisce the place where we used to run during our residence there. Bohol isn’t exactly like Cebu, people are more conservative and traditional in perspective. A small island with a lot of attractive beaches to visit. The white sands and crystal clear water, I really hoped to visit Dauis Panglao where these beaches populates and hopefully water is still as clear as it used to  be. Thank u and do come and visit for a read. God bless.

Covid 19 Stories – Vaccination I don’t watch t.v.. Our t.v. has no antenna and I didn’t bother buying one. The only purpose of buying a t.v. is watching movies on weekends with my bogoys, 2 boys. So there is no way I’m updated with the latest news events, happenings even with COVID 19 updates, -its really out of reach for me. **Vaccinations** It was in the middle of the year that management initiated registry for covid 19 vaccination. Well, some agents already received messages for their appointment. I was stricken with envy because I’m still a nomad in the city and not a registered voter. At the time walk-in are accommodated since vaccination was not a very famous, it took a while before it gained attention and fame. The 1st attempt on walk-in was when a friend invited me to go with him on a Monday where we exchange messages for updates. Then Monday came and it was a big disappointment because walk-ins by that time was already discouraged. The vaccination gained attention and fame in such a short notice. **Hesitations** I have my hesitations. Well, my preference is not vaccination. I am truly confident that we can get through Covid with none. I am only taking the strong advise our family doctor about FLU vaccine, -not to take it. And since Covid is similar to FLU but in the passage of time, a small voice inside me told me to proceed with caution. One of the hesitation was the vaccination type. If it was the binding one or the typically vaccine types. All the more, I didn’t research since there were a lot that is available and I don’t think I will have the privilege to choose. So, when the company initiated the registry. I prayed first before proceeding, this is my inner voice saying “proceed with caution”. So praying was my way to get through vaccination. And it all went well for me, the registration and I was told to wait for the text message and wla, it came on 7/5/2021. And all the more, I was registered with PBB and vaccination they give was Pfizer. Oh! What a good timing. I had co-morbid that was asthma, so I was really worried of what kind of vax they will have for me. Others may comment “what can a prayer do?”. Well, I cannot definitely blame them for their unbelief but hey! It guided me to take a vaccine I think suited me, because each day has different schedule of brands depending on availability. **1st & 2nd Dose** Comes the day, 1st doze, the usual. Coming in early while the line already looks exhausting. All finish by 1pm, took a day off.  2nd day, took 2 days off because I was expecting a surge of reaction. Well, good enough, not on the 1st week, experienced it a week after until September end. Allergies and asthma resurfaced and I was like an addict for my asthma/allergy tablets. Then October came, and not all was lost but my body had regained its composure. I informed my sister, a nurse – local and US registered. She was worried over me going for the vax. She told me to update her always on the progress since she was aware of someone who took the vax with co-morbidity like mine and was rushed to ER due to breathlessness. It wasn’t a baseless worried and I’m glad all the prayers worth it. **Benefits** Benefits? Vaccination card. I was excited to receive my vaccination card with the ID# on it. To think I got lucky with only few adjustments at hand. Despite my hesitations, I’m glad I prayed and listened to my inner voice. The vaccination card comes with some perks. One is an entry for registration for minor’s vaccination which I am registering my kuya as he just turned 12. Then another is discounts on gas, food and I’m not sure of some. Dining in is another since there are really restaurants who asks for the vaccination card. Hopefully, it will give us a lot of allowances and exemptions during contact tracing and some more perks down the road. Oh! I really have to register myself to vote. I really wish I have time. Thank u and God bless. *Lead image by Unsplash

Crypto – My Collection History I started early collection when eth was still a paper proposal (I forgot the term). I got interested with crypto currency that I searched the web for a good find to understand what it was about. Never really understood how it was, so I joined every wallet that was available free online and started the collection without full understanding. All I knew was it has cash equivalent. My hands were really full you know, so I’m a half-baked crypto collector. This is why I failed? Lolz. Then I accidentally found a local wallet which I am using Coins.ph. **Coinpot** I started with Coinpot, years back. I stayed with coinpot because its for me a good start. I could come on and off the site and my collections were just there waiting for me. I remembered I had Doge, Lite, Dash, Bitcoin, BCH. ‘twas not complete but I had the basics. My Doge at that time was 45Doge but I was really eyeing for DASH which was unfortunately Coins.ph doesn’t have a wallet for dash that I had to convert all to either BTC or BCH. I had collected some but I really just didn’t mind it. I spent it all. Well, it was most of the time I really needed money, it wasn’t much of a choice. Worst was that when coinpot announces they were closing. Oh! I made the transfer but I don’t think I received it. This was why I am claiming “failed collector”. I didn’t expect coinpot would close. It closed with BTC hit around 50K. hayst! (long sigh). I loved coinpot, hopefully another with the same platform arises. **Trouble** Recalling the days. Oh my, I had few shares of trouble collecting. I was collecting crypto in the office while doing work. Of course, the faucets contained ads that I didn’t click but download itself. And whala! IT detected I download something. It was a huge issue but then again I got away clean. Unsolicited comments surfaces like: “why I clicked the ads”, and I'd like to answer, “why should I?”, I didn’t talk back though. I was sent to the room to explain. All I said was that I collected crypto and that was it. My director then explained it all to the higher ops, for all I care how she did it, I was grateful though. The trouble I had was when I explored other possibilities of collecting crypto especially ETH. Then it led me to sites that were really collecting ETH and another site that had the wallet. Unfortunately, they had viruses embedded on some ads, so, that was the problem. It was not safe to explore noting of course my understanding was only half-baked. **Read.cash/Noise.cash** I was introduced to Noise&Read before August was gone. I tried but there were basics. I loved Noise but terribly failed on Read. And recently made another try, I could not say it’s a success but to attract Rusty was already an accomplishment. **Collecting** I have intents to stay in Read for the betterment of me, -enhancing writing which I failed to do tremendously all those years. My noise is also flourishing and no intents of letting go. These two had been part of my daily routine that in my absence in one is surely something to miss. I also meet nice people around, some rude, some skeptic, some really good and entertaining writers, many has a lot of need for improvement. I also relearned plagiarism, intellectual property rights and facts. I come across articles where I find the facts seems off- way off because it’s not soliciting opinion but plainly in science context. And I’m not sure how the moderators address it. Factual in a sense that its science, it’s studied and all the basic content needs to have basis, -not just a mere opinion. All in all, it’s a good mix of points of view and concepts. Some warm, some cold and there are a lot of mixes in between. Important is I’m learning, a lot. Thanks for staying and ‘til the next article. God bless. *Photo credits Unsplash

A Visitor in our Patio – A Python **The Storm** The sky was dark almost a week now and the patio was never dry. Tw’s because a storm hit our country and it passed by near our province. So, it was all dark every day and cozy as winter in the tropics – either you go drowsily all day or catch cold. **Daily Routine** It was weekend and I didn’t my usual weekend routine. I usually just do the usual chores, cook, wash the dishes and do some cleaning but I always sleep early because water supply was only available in the early hours of dawn. If I were to do laundry, I have to do it at dawn. Then, I went to bed early as usual while the boys played all night. It was the same cozy night so I didn’t have problems with ventilation and the boys miraculously went to bed early too. To which I was so happy because they went to bed early without me making a fuzz. **@ Dawn** I was awaken by the sound hassling chickens outside by our neighbors. I didn’t get up immediately, was waiting for my eyes to settle in. Then I heard a denting sound on our roof, I was thinking of looking but my eyes were still sore. Then minutes passed and another denting sound on the roof, still intended to look but my eyes was really still sore. It was about 15 minutes that passed then I was able to get up and check and lo! A snake hanging by the jackfruit tree, the first time I saw it wild this big. It didn’t look hungry because it didn’t eat the cat that was watching it climb. The cat was amazingly shocked watching the snake climb, wandering how it’s playmate grew so humongous in size. He had some playmates, all too small that it killed all of them. **The Snake** It was really my first time seeing one on the run because he seemed to have feed on the chicken as he passed by. Amazingly, instead of hassling my neighbors to catch it, I just watched it climbed even failed to take a photo as a souvenir because I find the snake nice to look at. It’s head, body and tail was nicely curled up on the tree. It was like 15 minutes until I could no longer see the tail. Me, afraid? I wasn’t I was more calm and composed, thought it was better than small snakes because big snakes were slow as I saw it and very visible to the eyes, giving me plenty of time to see it first and react. I was just glad it was cozy because my boys were already asleep, didn’t have to share the horrors with them. The aftermath of seeing one and be left in the evening when I had to go to work. **Aftermath** I kept on thinking what and where it came from. Though the jungle fronting our patio may be the source but it was the 1st for 6 months. It didn’t look hungry. In fact, I thought it stayed a while on the roof because its smelling like dead rodent up there. I messaged the landlady to inform them so if they planned of catching it. Then she was ranting about rodents and pest, unfortunately, we didn’t have rats down there, I don’t know where the rats the roof came from. **Realization** Although it was a good encounter but I don’t want unnecessary worry in the future. There really are no rodents on the floor but still something like that visited. Well, there isn’t much to do but vigilance and keep the things in order and for safety, kids are not allowed to spend a lot of time in the patio. If to find another place is necessary, be it. Its better safe. Thank you for staying, ‘til next article. God bless. *photo credits from upsplash.