The carroza of the Santo Entierro (dead Jesus). Photo by CallMeCreation.com
We went to UP today because the girls finished late with their review. We didn’t have enough time to go to Intramuros before the sun sets, so we just decided to have long walks for exercise in UP–the nearest open space. Since today is Good Friday, we were just in time for the carroza procession of the statues of saints in black and the Santo Entierro (dead Jesus). Traditionally there would be a mass before 3 pm afterwhich the Catholic church will go dark after the last carroza enters the church gates after the procession.
We watched this kind of procession in Pampanga in 2019 when we went to see the actual crucifixion of a man, which aas his annual panata (pledge).
There, the long procession with the grieving Mary at my back. Photo by CallMeCreation.comWhile my girls ran into the sunset. Photo by CallMeCreation.comCris-crossed the UP Lagoon. Photo by CallMeCreation.comAnd had their leisurely walk at the academic oval. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
They stationed themselves at the amphitheater while I had one lap around the oval to have my exercise.
Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Then we stayed at Quezon Hall so I can do my stretchings until the sun went down.
Photo by CallMeCreation.comPhoto by CallMeCreation.com
Tonight they’re staying with their dad and will just come back in the morning to clean their bikes so we can drive to Intramuros or Baywalk and bike there.
My exercise was short so I continued my workout at home.
This is a reminder that I can still reach my foot from behind. More yoga please! Photo by CallMeCreation.com
My yoga mat is still dirty I ought to clean it tomorrow. But my freshly vacuumed bedroom floor will do for now.
More muscles! Photo by CallMeCreation.com
This is a love letter to myself (and my girls when they get to read this in the future), reminder that I should take care of my body not because I need to attract men but to make me feel good and to protect myself from non-communicable diseases. Diabetes runs in my family and my father died of diabetes complications. I don’t post such photos on social media but posting this on my nameless blog is like an accountability to myself and for my girls to read when I’m already gone.
So tomorrow, Sabado de Gloria, we clean and oil our bikes and off we go to the Old City to see old churches. All the saints’ statues and even the cross will be draped in black cloth until the Easter salubong (Mary Magdelene meeting the Risen Christ) at dawn.
Here is Kimchi this morning, taking a nap with me. Squishy. 🐱🐾
Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Here is me a few hours later after giving her and Sushi a bath.
Photo by CallMeCreation.com
They hissed their way out of the towels when they were being dried. Sushi in particular wanted to kill us and acted like she’s dying at the same time.
Murderous cats. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
It’s Maundy Thursday today, (and in the Christian calendar) it’s when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. It was His act of humility and service and his demonstration that we must love one another and that there is no ranking in God’s love.
“I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).
Love hurts. Love is humility. Love is service. There shouldn’t be any hierarchy in love because—I don’t know, you just love. I would die for my children if it means I could save them. Just as Jesus died for us to save us, without any hierarchy of who among us he loved the most.
I loved even though I hurt, thinking that love could turn a heart of stone softer. However, there are just some things that love can’t conquer so I just leave it up to Him. I did not seek revenge but instead I sought peace because it’s hard to live with so much hatred. In the end, it will just be up to God.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21
card from worldchallenge.org
We didn’t go yet to Intramuros because the girls aren’t finished studying for their finals on Monday until Wednesday next week. They should clean their bikes tomorrow morning so we can go in the afternoon. Friends had been posting on Facebook that the provinces are clogged and the traffic even going to Quezon Province is intolerable. A classmate of my girls said it took them 9 hrs of driving to Baguio.
This is the reason why I love staying in Metro Manila during Holy Week. The roads are clear and we can just do cartwheels in the middle of Makati CBD 😂
In the meantime, I transplanted some of my flowers and sowed some petunia seeds.
I hope they don’t die. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
So far so good. My existing flowering plants are doing ok.
Photo by CallMeCreation.comThe morning glory that I transplanted to a hanging planter because it is starting to grow vines. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
And finally, I now have a yellow bell! I had been looking for this plant for a long time because this one creeps along walls and fences. By next year, this will be ready to be transplanted in my new house and creep along the wire fence that we had erected between our lot and the neighbor’s. I can make a trellis out of yellow bells.
Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Now that I’m done doing manual labor, my creative side is itching right now. I want to order more watercolors. I held back and just ordered Staedtler mechanical pencils because it’s easier to sketch with it and not bother sharpening my pencil all the time. I’m now impatiently waiting for it.
Makeshift easel. Photo by CallMeCreation.comYellow bell.Art and photo by CallMeCreation.comArt and photo by CallMeCreation.comArt and photo by CallMeCreation.com
Not enough media coverage because the government killed ABS-CBN, which has the widest reach all over the Philippines. People in affected areas are crying for media coverage and yet they are the same ones who had been after our blood, saying we deserve to die because we are biased against their idols, etc.
In any case, we still do our jobs, life threatening or not.
My former nanny who now lives in her hometown in Leyte told me their house is still flooded up to their knees. Baybay, Leyte is just an hour away from them.
At Robinsons Express mart. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
I bought boxes of instant noodles for the typhoon victims plus a box of rubbing alcohol. My neighbor donated some clothes and diapers.
Dropped them off. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
And we dropped them off at the Leni-Kiko Volunteer HQ. No word yet if Commission on Elections will allow the volunteers to give donations to the typhoon victims. But I was assured this will be accounted for.
Meanwhile, my kids hosted their friends at home and they played the old school gaming console.
Such a pity. They can’t play the classic Super Mario Bros. 😁 They don’t know their mom and their titas were champion players of the game that we can finish the game by saving Princess Toadstool with just one life.🤣
What to do tomorrow?
I will garden until kingdowm come. I bought more flowers today. 😆
I just ordered stuff via Grab today so we can relax and we can attend to school work and my work. One of my good friends from the industry also sent the girls a cake, matcha strawberry.
This is for tomorrow. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Then they spent the rest of the day with their dad, who took them to Estancia Mall in Kapitlyo, Pasig. They came home in time for a shower and straight to bed.
The girls were happy. They’re easy to please and they don’t ask much. They’re happy with their bunnies and my sister offered to have them framed.
Twin I asked about their other twin sisters—the cats. They declared that their birthday is on the 12th of April 2020. So I said, Ok, I’m gonna make their sketches as well.
Kimchi, the fat cat. Art and Photo by CallMeCreation.comSushi. Art and Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Laziness has set in today because my body knew that this is supposed to be a week-long holiday…And yet I edited and interviewed somebody from Singapore whom I need to visit when I get there. I also set up an interview on Monday with an aviation company. I think I must draft today’s interview by tomorrow or else I may forget the details after this week. My brain cells are already protesting.
Tomorrow I will cook as my daughters’ friend is coming over.
My call with my new manager and outgoing manager will also be tomorrow for the turnover of duties. I don’t know when they will formally announce the transition so that all communication and PRs should be directed to me from now on. Drats, I just had 400 business cards printed with my old designation.
It takes a long time for paperwork to be settled 🙄
I want to have a week-long break before chaos officially starts.
Art and photo by CallMeCreation.comArt and photo by CallMeCreation.comArt and photo by CallMeCreation.com
All my sacrifices to bring you where you are now are all worth it. I’m sorry if I let other people hurt you. Never again.
May you always be happy, God-fearing, and understanding. I love you to the moon and back.
In the depths of my depression, you were the only reason that kept me going and made me want to get better. You two made me a better person. I didn’t know the kind of strength that I had been hiding until you came along.
And when you have flown out of my nest, I hope you always find ways to come back home.
Love, Mommy.
Since this sketch is in my sketchbook, I scanned it and printed it on Kodak photo paper so both of them can have copies.
Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com
And I left it on their desks so that’s the first thing they see in the morning.
Who ever heard of two typhoons/tropical depression during summer??? I mean who could even imagine we would be having typhoons in the middle of what NORMALLY is a dry and hot (summer) season?!
The Pacific Ocean has gone nuts, because of climate change, the waters are getting warmer and we have off-season typhoons. Floods in the summer!!! Gee.
Map from Japan Meteorological Agency
Tropical storm Agaton is staying put in the Visayas area because instead of going westward, it’s being sucked by the bigger typhoon that is supposed to head to Japan. So now Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Samar are experiencing floods in the middle of the supposedly hottest month of the year.
Climate change, people. Typhoons should be coming in August, not April!
Cropping seasons have gone haywire now and the poor farmers are now left in such a quandary . It’s either they have to gamble on off-season planting or normal season planting but risk getting destroyed by weird typhoons.
On a selfish note, this could derail our diving plans. Any disturbance like this makes for choppy seas and difficult diving in Sombrero island and Maricaban island. It’s disappointing if it happens…now that my flippers and free diving ring buoy have arrived today.
It’s super comfortable! Photo by CallMeCreation.com
The girls exclaimed, Mommy, why is it so long? I said so I can propel myself better underwater.
Twin A: But mommy, you don’t really go deep.
Me: I can now, because you’re already grown up and I don’t have to constantly watch over you. Nanay and Tita S are also with us so I can leave you and do my own diving 😂
Inner tube and case of the diving donut. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
The official diving color of orange was no longer available, also the neon green. I only have pink, blue, and red to choose from so I have to go with the brightest color to serve as an early warning device as well. Having a diving buoy will save us a lot of oxygen when diving infront of the resort. It’s taxing when battling the waves going to your preferred spot.
And of course I needed a bag to house these extra long fins. It’s hard carrying fins without a bag when going up and down Anilao slopes.
Only Php 300! Wheee! Kimchi is more interested in the plastic bag. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
I’m so excited. I missed the sea so much. It used to be that every year we go to the beach at least once, even when the girls were still babies. Thank you, Covid, for delaying us. 😑
Meanwhile, there were unsubstantiated reports about tampered ballots in overseas Filipino voting.
I’ve asked SG-based Filipino friends if they have experienced this and most of them have yet to cast their votes. We’re still looking for Filipinos who have personally experienced this and evidence of tampered ballots as some members of local media are working on the story. The Marcoses are pulling all the stops. They’re getting worried about Leni.
I’m supposed to do research and follow leads by reading news and now I’m caught in this fascinating story of Yohji Yamamoto, this avant garde fashion designer whose clothes I couldn’t understand but was considered tres chic. Vogue raved about him all the time. He is favored by a fashion journalist that I followed (Kitty Go). Whenever Commes des Garcons (Rei Kawakubo and eventually Junya Watanabe) are mentioned, not far behind is Yohiji Yamamoto, or vice versa.
I’m supposed to be sending emails now but here I am, buried in his story.
