ABC STARS Inspires

That's the most similar photo of what happened that led to my Saudade . I was not walking my dog. I was carrying him. People would always tell me that he looks so thin. But, as I was carrying him, I said to myself, he is a heavyweight. I had to halt for sort of like a pitstop to rest on our way to the animal hospital. I was ruminating on the sentiments of people who saw me during that day. One elderly man, actually, asked, 'Is he sick?" And, I said, 'Yeah". It was the last day I saw him. He's a good dog. Here people eat dogs and cats. I got a lot of flak because I had a cat and three dogs. I do understand where they are coming from but they protected the property. They were a deterrent. Now, I don't own any pets. People looking from the outside would feel a sense of curiosity of what my life was like. Maybe, if they had only known that I spent in a place where there were iron bars made with the window frames they would have be...

The Team of Inspires gives the freedom of speech to a child's own perspective on the current situation of our world. It may be colorful but everyone is entitled to one's own opinion. And, The Team of Inspires respects that whether you agree or not that is also your own right which in gratitude we respect in return. Our Beloved President, Sr. Lucy Mendez; Vice-President, Sr. Elona I. Cueba; Sister-in-charge, Sr. Zennia Guerra; School Principal, Mrs. Teresita C. Cuaresma; Assistant School Principal, Mrs. Teresa Gina Ranan.  Our distinguished guest, Mrs. Josephine D. Eronico; Our dear teachers, school staff, beloved parents, relatives, guardians, friends, fellow students and historic first batch of elementary graduates, Good Morning! About a hundred and twenty years ago, in 1898, our modern world came to know of the “Story of a Soul”. This story of the “little flower” inspired many to go forth on a mission to bring heaven on earth, scattering flowers all ov...

At 57 years of age, Himtor, finally, saw his departed father and mother. He saw his father wearing a shiny red garment. And he forgot what his mother was wearing because he kept looking at her face. His mother died quite young. When he, at last, had seen her. Her hair was white as snow. Nonetheless, or a mysterious phenomenon, her face was as radiant as ever. His father led him towards the throne of Our Lady, and Mama Mary gave him a loving embrace. It was perhaps, his most lucky day ever. photo credit: Candida.Performa It's all about love via photopin (license) License: (license)

She is a parking girl, earning a living to make ends meet, in the heat of the sun, and of the glare of the moon, or a rainy and drizzling day. Yet, there is that glimmer of hope in her eyes. There are a lot of them. Selling candles. Selling rugs. Then some, begging for, metaphorically, crumbs that had fallen under the table. I watched a documentary about Filipino people who would go to restaurants after closing time, i.e. Fast-Food-Chains, then, they would collect the leftover foods. They would boil them. Then, consume them. Just something to fill the stomach. With those being said, I live simply. Do not get me wrong, please. It is not a holier than thou attitude, but rather, having compassion for the poor. For instance, my pair of pants just cost 180 Pesos. From a Clearance Sale. That is 3.46 U.S. Dollars after currency conversion. I do not go quite often at fancy restaurants. I am a Grocery Man. I hope that by writing about them would be a bea...

I remember my Mama when she was alive, she would always tell us... as long as there is a raucous between siblings then there would not be peace among nations. My family is uniquely Eurasian: European- German etc. and Asian- Chinese etc... Well, I am the assigned Officer for the Public Relations of the family corporation which is ABC STARS. However, then again, I would always be the last to know of current events. Moreover, it is funny, I know. Presently, I am busy with the historical archives of the family. Thousands of photos to be restored and transformed into digital copies. It is a daunting assignment. So far, So good. Hence, the legacy continues...

I was named after the Apostle... Saint James, the less, who was a cousin of Our Lord and a brother of the apostle, Jude. He wrote one of the Epistles. He was hurled down from the terrace of the temple and clubbed to death. 'JAIME' I was named after the Martyr... Saint Hermenegild who was the son of the Arian King of the Visigoths in Spain. He was put to death for refusing to receive Holy Communion from the hands of a heretical bishop in 586. And, Abuelo Hermenegildo A. Carpio Senior, of Tabaco, Albay. He was a Division Engineer of Camarines Sur and Quezon Province. A good and just Man. 'HERMENEGILDO' The poor dead rabbit tells my mother for certain someone is there, needing her. A small strawberry of blood that is alive and growing and so very real. She was frightened too, she said to The Lord, Not because of the pain to come, but because so much can go wrong to prevent me from being born or to make me born badly. Fr...

One Sunny morning at the garage, my older brother was driving his car in reverse and I was getting something on top of the trunk, then the vehicle, literally, ran over my feet. I hollered his name, and, told him to move forward again because I was ran over by the wheel. He felt so sorry that it happened.  From then on throughout his lifetime, whenever he would remember, he would always say, "I’m sorry about the accident". I would just laugh it off. Then, I would say that happened years ago and don’t say sorry anymore because now my feet don’t hurt at all. Even then, if it pops up in his memory he would say sorry again. Then again, I would say forget about it. And, I would laugh about it. Now, I am looking at it from his perspective. Maybe, he felt so terrible that he ran over his own brother. And, now I am thinking what if I was the one driving the car and I ran over my own brother? Then, I understand now, why? Because he loves his brother. ...

Somehow it made sense. Did it make me feel better after being told that I have a serious illness? Yes, it was a relief. And, would you believe that I see it as a blessing? Why? Because I had to go through a process that is beyond words. Methodically, I had to go through stages of dealing with what’s on the horizon. I went through rationalization. Then, denial. Then, fear. Then, acceptance. I am not perfect. No human being is perfect. Hence, I had to move closer, then closer, then much more, so that I would be One with the Unmoved. Why? I realized that it was only me who was moving away. Moreover, something happened. He has a grand scheme. A plan. I surrendered my inadequacies to Him. After all, He is the Divine Healer. Well, after being sick for 23 years. I am a Veteran.  That is amazing. My Doctor said I recovered 100 percent. Why? I really do not know. Maybe only God knows. When I shook someone’s hand before. She said I have a healing hand. ...

It was a good run.... Well, I just walked. And, walked and walked. For years... In the rain... In the heat of the sun... I hope that what I had written had and would resonate in the depths of our soul. I began with the premise that man is, intrinsically, good. And, humanity is indeed a reflection that God is so Good. With heartfelt gratitude, this series will end, however, do watch out for the next level of another approach to writing. May God keep you in His Heart in your own journey, your own walk, forever... photo credit: Cloudtail the Snow Leopard European pond turtle via photopin (license) License: (license)  Bob

Thanks be to God, it did not happen, my face would have been like that, well, that is as close as it could get, a photo of a shattered face. My eyes have been saved. He still is a good man. photo credit: Stephen Poff August 27th 2008 - Fractured via photopin (license) License: (license)

The pivotal moment happened when my former officemates ganged up on me and told me that I am not really from the Philippines or I am not Philippine/Philippinen. I felt disowned. I resigned from that company. I felt I had no country. From then on, I do not say I am Philippine. Yes, citizenship is Filipino but that's about it. Growing up, I always felt like an outsider and the Single Ancestry phenotype group which are Austronesian would really make you feel that. I have no grudge at all. That's just a fact of life! C'est la vie! Danke schön...  photo credit: JiBs. TIFF 2017 George Clooney via photopin (license) License: (license)

You just have to keep the Faith. Remember the time when you came home and I accompanied you to that small Chapel? Whatever happens God will find you! And, I am just here. photo credit: classic_film Latina Magazine Cover, Actress Génesis Rodríguez, April 2016 via photopin (license) License: (license)

Grandma looks so elegant, Esperanza exclaimed while  being mesmerized by her picture on the wall. She does, I replied with a nod. But, how was she like, I mean, what was her character like? Well, her heart was full of compassion, hope, love—e legance as you noticed — and she had the best laugh. When she laughed, the room was filled with life. She laughed even to the point of tears. Tears of joy. And, she prayed a lot. You are blessed because you inherited her eyes... photo credit: pom.angers Ronda, Andalusia, Spain via photopin (license) License: (license)