ABC STARS Inspires

As an Inspirational Catholic Writer, I do not have to deal with criticisms or haters or trolls. People seem to scamper away when The Lord Jesus is mentioned in any of my essays or as to be aptly called, prose, I should like to say people who have evil intentions. Let's admit it people like Politics and other myriad topics. Now, my predicament is to have the inspiration to write and keep on writing. It is no easy feat. However, I like to keep it concise and precise. The least I would like to do in this field is waste time. Time is gold. Thus, I hope that I would be sharing nuggets of wisdom. In order to do that, let me share with you one simple rule I follow in my writing career and that is I promise myself never to be disturbed by anything or anyone. Once is enough. Two is too much. Three is a poison. In the final analysis, I learn from life's lesson's; my mistakes; other people's errors; from books, movies and TV or even radio: from my tra...

I lost my way in Malaysia.  A light hit my eyes and it showed a prism of my true colors. Don't Wanna Lose You Gloria Estefan Sometimes it's hard, to make things clear Or know when to face the truth And I know that the moment is here I'll open my heart and show you inside My love has no pride I feel with you I've got nothing to hide So open your eyes and see who I am And not who you want for me to be I am only myself, myself I don't want to lose you now We're gonna get through somehow I don't want to lose you now or ever Baby I've finally found The courage to stand my ground But if you want me I'll be around, forever We all make mistakes, we all lose our way But we stood the test of time and I hope That's the way it will stay It's all up to you, to tell me to go 'Cause it won't be me to walk away When you're all that I know And I know That I don't want to lose you now

My father forgot to mention it to me when he was alive, that he had European ancestry as well. No wonder in his old age his complexion became much fairer. He did not go outdoors anymore because he could not barely walk. When my sister went to Europe she said that she would pass by a Men's Clothing Line with the brand Ermenegildo Zegna. My name is a Spanish version which is Hermenegildo. H is silent in Spanish i.e. not pronounced. When another sister went to Italy she said that the Italians look like my brother Roberto and I. In Rome, when he was alive he went into class and the professor asked him if he understood English. He chuckled because he was mistaken as an Italian by a fellow Filipino. Just recently, a well-traveled husband of a family friend of my sister-in-law told me at the airport that he perceived me to be Italian. And when other nationalities would see me could not get it correctly, he insisted that I should have told them that I am Italian. Yes, I...

Fiction Mister Ibañez is just waiting for his own sundown. His light had been extinguished a long time ago. Like a fallen leaf into the river he is drifting with the rushing and running flow of the waters. After an expansive waterfalls he is now headed to the ocean. His resting place. He had seen one of his last remaining sunsets. His parents are watching over him as he reached the sea. The salty taste of the water reminded him of breakfast. A piece of a baking creation named in the language of Cervantes as pan de sal or a bread made with a dash of salt. It is all where the streams, the brooks and myriad gushes of water lead to... the ocean. In the final analysis, he wanted to meet The Living Water face to Face at last and be enveloped with Grace and Joy. photo credit: classic_film Kevin Costner, Field of Dreams, 1989 via photopin (license) License: (license)

Ascension Press  and  Ascension Presents   in collaboration with  Inspires   give you this riveting magnum opus.‎.. Condensed Reflection by James Z. Carpio The world, certainly, does not revolve around me or to any person for that matter. Having written that, allow me to share my story as a writer again if you failed to read my personal history. Just for emphasis. I knew quite young that I had been given the gift or talent for writing. Essentially, I come from a long line of writers in the family. Both my parents were writers and a few of my siblings, then, providentially, the next generation has promising aspiring writers. All in the family. Father Mike mentioned about Millenials as being the people who are prone to the dangers of entitlement. I do hope my nephews and nieces would come to a realization that it is indeed a wonderful gift. Furthermore, I have a natural inclination for a happy disposition about life in al...

photo credit: Grant MacDonald parked via photopin (license) License: (license) A Haiku a day... Keeps the gloomy blues away. -Soul elevated. bob

January 16, 2018, a golden year for you to celebrate. A ballroom party by the bay you chose to share With friends and family brought together by fate; In this blissful town by the sea with abundance of fresh air. Our two little ones growing in wisdom and grace Playing the violin at church lifting music and heart. Most Outstanding and Highest Honors in the academic race In pursuit of excellence for humanity, our contributory part. Eighteen years together, we venture on as a family. You and me, Migara and AB, with passionate intensity, Trying to balance leisure and the bare necessity Seeking meaning and fulfillment for all eternity. Many steps and struggles I take to venture in this my existential sleuth. Alas! In you, I found and am blessed with My Fountain of Youth!

I love great food. Well, that is an understatement. Here, I listed down all the calorie-infused foods and delicacies I stuff myself with in the Gastronomic World of The City of Naga in random order. Some are healthful but a few are definitely not, others are endemic to the City while others are World renowned  i.e. international food chains. 1. Sbarro The Chicago deep dish pizza is undeniably filling to your heart's content. 2. Naga Garden Restaurant The chicken or pork asado mami with toasted siopao are meals to remember. Worth a try and you will be coming back for more. 3. SM At the supermarket, the best seller turon is a must try. It seems to be everyone's favorite. 4. Obscure Crispy Ulo and Crispy Pata restaurant It is along diversion road and it is just, relatively, newly opened. The name even escapes me but the savory tender meat lingers on until now. 5. Obscure Kinalas restaurant I tried it one time with a group of ...

As he looked out the plane window, he heaved a sigh of relief, he missed one important meeting, he mumbled to himself, "It's alright, I'm not perfect." He looked at the plane route, he is almost there, he had forgotten everything.  He dealt with the ghosts of his past. They were all virtually annihilated. He thought of two words. Tabula rasa. The svelte flight attendant whispered to him... "Mister Mac Arthur..." He opened his eyes. He has arrived.  License: (license) photo credit: sullen_snowflakes In viaggio verso la Norvegia. via photopin (license)

James Z. Carpio, writer Feeling excited and I am holding to that and keeping on believing. I hope it will happen. I am not entertaining thoughts of losing the dream. My faith in God is strong. I keep telling myself why am I doing this again, and, practically, I gave up my love life for that one in a million chance. No hesitations. I only have my little nephew in mind. I have to make it there, I was able to make my dreams in New York happen. That song that says if you make it in New York, you will make it anywhere. I was able to see The Statue of Liberty in the island, Times Square and I have seen The Phantom of The Opera. Lady Luck is on my side. However, I do not believe in luck rather I believe in miracles. God's miracles. Now, I know how my countrymen feel when that opportunity is served on a platter. It feels wonderful. I am at awe. Who would have thought? A writer? There? At the back of my mind, I am thinking, how come I have to leave to achieve my goal...

Ascension Press  and  Ascension Presents   in collaboration with  Inspires   give you this riveting magnum opus.‎.. Condensed Reflection by James Z. Carpio I do not complain most of the time, I remember when I was a young boy my father told me, "you have to speak up Son, because I cannot read minds and I need to know what I could help you with, okay?" From then on, I would tell my father when I would need his help with anything. The Lord's Prayer, succinctly, has a line which states: give us this day our daily bread. I believe that this is the time that we ask gifts from God. Ask and you shall receive. Divine Providence. I am blessed and because of that I am truly grateful to God. "In all things I give thanks to God," just like what Father Mike advises.  A gift and an opportunity? The fact that I had been able to use my gift of writing has turned this out into a wonderful opportunity to share my blessing...

STATE OF THE WORLD (April 15, 2018) ABRACADABRA… Crystal Ball, Who’s the greatest of them all? Over a hundred missiles rained down on Syria, From the triumvirate of U.S., U.K., and France in euphoria. Boasting “Mission Accomplished!” against Bashar Assad, “He used chemical weapons!” their endless ballad. The use of deadly chemical weapons is an abominable atrocity. But to strike before an actual investigation is greater barbarity! ABRACADABRA… Crystal Ball, Who’s the wisest of them all? These allied nuclear powered nations made their declaration  The Syrian Government must be held accountable on mere suspicion! They claim to have clear evidence to justify their unilateral attack. Evidence as conclusive and infallible as their evidence of WMD in Iraq! Disregarding International law to punish a non-nuclear sovereign state. Their supreme suspicion is synonymous with guilt; that, one cannot debate. ABRACADABRA… Crystal Ball, ...

In the world, the people I belong to, the ones that I, truly, identify with are the broken people. I am broken. There was one day, that I became sick and tired of it, that I threw away all the broken things. I threw away the broken chair, and everything broken. Nobody would listen to me. Hearing is different from listening. Listening with love is what broken people need. When I was a young boy. I was robbed of my sanity. Then, it became downhill from then on. You may know Kurt Cobain, Robin Williams and many others. I know how they felt like to have a broken spirit. Yes, they were successful. They had a family, a rewarding career.  However, it is an illness. Some want to live more after being diagnosed with Cancer or something else. With my people, we had it so bad that we just want to stop the anguish and the pain and the suffering. How do you fix a broken spirit? It is a jungle out there. There are wolves in sheep's...

It was a long queue at the arrival immigration area. The lady in front of me is British, she may be of Persian or Turkish descent, and the three other people behind me are British. A gentleman who is having a holiday and same with a senior couple who is also from Britain.  We talked about Brexit, BBC, New Zealand. Then, I told them I am from the Philippines. The wife said, "Oh! When we went on a cruise, your people were the ones who assisted us, but, we feel a bit forlorn because they are away from their children and they are guided by the grandmother". I nodded, and I replied, "Well, at least they have jobs, and it would pay for the bills". Then, the discussion became a little bit about Politics, so we decided to talk about the weather. They wanted to escape winter. I said the weather conditions are getting more bizarre than usual. I was alluding to Climate Change.  Then, I told them to enjoy their stay in Kuala Lumpur. They, actually, invited me to c...