unconquerable. . .

other people's words could also teach you resilience. and i, for one, love INVICTUS by wiliam ernest henley



Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

oh life!!

a feast of buzzing busyness in all aspects of my life. but where things have lately been flat, everything are starting to undulate most interestingly. as i speak, i love how they move me. i wish i could be as detailed here on what has been transpiring but i want to remind you to always hold on to hope, act upon to make things happen, believe that sometimes, you just have to let go and let time put things into its right places and continue those little whispers we do to someone up above. i'm happy even if my world gets topsy turvy.

one with myself. . .

i am now one with myself. not depending anymore on others for my sense of self. i am firm to take a step beyond without fear of losing my bounderies.

i do question this. . .

i question this photo which commented (or judged) about the relationships based on its nomenclature. please note that every relationships created between people are always based on love. not because the word "Friend" doesn't have ILY doesn't mean it's life is short. please do note that there are friendships created which are like a FAMILY to some people and this poster makes a mockery of those relationships which are true and sincere. i hope i made my point. to the readers.. all this are just created based on assumptions . what if i write the word this way> "FRIEND(LY)" well there's now LY in the word right.. which could mean LOVE YOU.

that little father in me. . .

honouring today that part of me that acts like a father to my girls; giving them a safe place and guiding them to experience the magic of life.  

to myself i say, happy fathers' day to me!

you satisfy the hungry heart. . .

...sharing this classic hymn which touched my heart yesterday at the sunday church service.

You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat, Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat. As when the shepherd calls his sheep, They know and heed his voice; So when You call Your family, Lord, We follow and rejoice. With joyful lips we sing to You, Our praise and gratitude, That You should count us worthy Lord, To share this heavenly food. The mystery of Your presence Lord, No mortal tongue can tell; Whom all the world cannot contain Comes in our hearts to dwell.


You give yourself to us, O Lord, Then selfless let us be, To serve each other in Your name. In truth and charity.

summer smiles at us. . .

colour has exploded everywhere the eye can see. summer is smiling down on us wherever we may be. (burchell

mothers' day greeting to all!!

privileged to be here again after having knocked down by an illness for a couple of days. i'm back on my feet, yet still on a mend, in time to stand tall and proud in celebration of mothers' day. being a mother is a career of all careers, a person who gets up to her feet at the drop of a hat to organize and mend a topsy turvy world. need i say more? happy is an understatement... so i say A BLESSED, BLISSFUL, JUBILANT, MERRY MOTHERS' DAY to all mothers!! mucho mucho love from bonette - - single mom of two adorable porcupines :-))

greetings to all mothers!!

privileged to be here again after having knocked down by an illness for a couple of days. i'm back on my feet, yet still on a mend, in time to stand tall and proud in celebration of mothers' day. being a mother is a career of all careers, a person who gets up to her feet at the drop of a hat to organize and mend a topsy turvy world. need i say more? happy is an understatement... so i say A BLESSED, BLISSFUL, JUBILANT, MERRY MOTHERS' DAY to all mothers!! mucho mucho love from bonette - - single mom of two adorable porcupines :-))

a word of thanks. . .

closing shop while thinking back how my week whizzed through. it's been very stimulating and productive and i owe all these to our heavenly father. i'm thanking him now because of the challenges i faced and surpassed, the moments when i felt sad and longing, helpless and needy. i express my gratitude more when i didn't receive what i prayed for, or when i'm in pain and tears and when the odds are in the toughest league to break me. these are the moments when my faith in him gets stronger. pray not because of want. have a wonderful weekend everyone!

on bragging. . .

i'm commenting on the link that a friend of mine posted on her fb wall. although the word "bragging" poses a negative connotation, which is synonymous to "showing off" or "being proud", in my opinion, what makes it sound unpleasant depends on how the listener feels on the success or happy story being told. do you feel a form of envy and jealousy and make you feel less of yourself? if you do, that negative vibes will be passed on the person you're talking with by labelling him or her as a "braggart". here is what i think. . .

bragging is not actually an awful thing to do. the sharing of joy and pride could only be twitched as bragging if the person being shared to a happy news of success wouldn't take it welcomly or happily. sharing stories of successes and achievements to friends and families could also mean well, only if we regard it as an inspiration or a guide to make our lives better! remember that these people who have accomplished their goals have worked hard and perhaps took some monumental steps to be successful. for most of us, we do our best to live well in our own places and if we did so, who wouldn't be so happy and proud about it? i guess for people who has the urge to share what they have achieved could speak openly but carefully. share it with a grateful heart and exude a sense of inspiration towards others. we do our best to carry on with God in our lives. but don't forget as well that we live with a community of people. hope this helps at some point! have a nice life everyone!

ssssh.......

silence is my faithful ally. i wallow in it in times of uncertainty and it favours me greatly. it cures and teaches my heart to be profound. speaks more of truth and it is more eloquent and powerful than speech. silence cleanses my sometimes over-stimulated mind. i find humility in silence and it never fails me. never cracks never breaks but fulfills its promise to steer me to the gate of peace.

boredom

when i'm bored i think i am tired of my surroundings but i am really tired of my thoughts. it is trite, repetitious, unobserved thinking that is producing the discontent. adopting a quiet awareness, a kind of listening attitude, usually freshens my mind and brings the situation i am in to life.      (echoing prather)

humility. . .

when gabby concepcion returned to manila years ago he was asked of his life experiences during his stay in the US. he said it's been very humbling to live and work in america. i seconded him on that because i felt the same way when i migrated in canada to build my life, family and career. i met the first face of humility in victoria university during my very crucial first day at work through welcoming handshakes and gestures from my colleagues who, until now, remains humble and grounded. it's a breath of fresh air to be around people who are not enamored of their position, power and ideas. the humble experiences i go through is the thing i would like to pass on to my children and to the people i meet everyday. i won't elaborate the virtue of humility here as i continue to be cognizant about it. in the real sense though, humility is the way to achieve wisdom, perseverance, blessing and successful relationships. we all reek with pride, and so "humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God." (1 Peter 5:6).

post birthday

along with avalanche of well-wishers, my special day was celebrated with somethng gold and bubbly,something sweet and creamy and something citrucy and healthy. by mid-day a wonderful, intangible gift was given to me. and i just couldn't believe that it did happen on my birthday!! :-)) the next day, the 20th remains a special and important day. it was neil's piano examination at the royal conservatory of music which we were so anxious and excited about. munchkins and i celebrated my day and neil's musical accomplishment. i love birthdays especially when it begins and ends in pretty notes.

agree, disagree

whenever i find myself arguing for something with great passion, i can be certain i'm not convinced. i find it almost impossible to make a strong declarative statement in conversation without feeling little nagging doubts and reservations. "i agree" and "i disagree" are impossible states of mind. no two people can think exactly alike or anthithetically. sometimes i say "i agree", because i want to avoid an encounter; sometimes i just want to get the other person to shut up. i usually say "i disagree," when i want to exhibit myself. there is an important difference between telling a person how i experience him and adding arguments to support the correctness of my view. my feelings about another do not require a case. i don't notice them deductively. (echoing h.p.)

(birthday 2012) - timeless. . .

 today! once more, i am breaking through the clouds in order to breathe life into the horizon. a bit woozy though to think that i am aging. i have now passed mid-life and honestly, i didn’t want to but the process is inevitable. whether i like it or not i will continually age every year. i pray that God will always include me in his plans. yet even if i added another year i have always felt timeless. with my munchkins around, i feel youthful and energetic and always rejoicing with what the world has been offering me. at this age, i could say that i have achieved the fulfillment i wanted in terms of my harmonious existence, the vast knowledge i have acquired, and my steadfast commitment to reach out and inspire others. when i needed peace, it has always been easy for me to acquire that. i am also blessed with people who loves me dearly. a wonderful job, a life, a love and my children.

today, i ponder, once more, my greatest dreams in excitement and at the same time with wistful sense of longing. it seems my dreams are just within reach, waiting for me to walk into them. i feel like what i desire. i also value the life i was given, building, dreaming, living with love, writing about love, treading the path of love, sharing, encouraging people and experiencing. i had a year of wonderful moments and  of course, share of trials and deprivations. as always, i had some lessons learned especially on my interaction with my daughters. as they grow, rearing them gets more complicated but every complications i surpassed makes me more committed and self-assured. when i look back as well, i also couldn't imagine my life without so many of you.

i continue to be in deep gratitude and appreciation for what i have and for what i continue to receive. i am also in gladness and in anticipation for the life i am going to lead in the coming months which, as always, an enthralling mystery to look forward to. thinking of what lies ahead gives me a sense of urgency to pursue every ounce of my dreams with an unstoppable passion.

i am pleased to have been showered with well wishes from family and friends all over the continent. my smile has been on steroids for the entire week! to everyone who remembered me, your good words and well wishes and efforts to reach me out have been taken so happily and have been treasured and remembered deeply in my heart.

yes! another year older, yet timeless. . .

not wrong, just misinformed

no one is wrong. at most someone is uninformed. if i think a man is wrong, either i am unaware of something or he is. so unless i want to play a superiority game i had best find out what he is looking at.

"you're wrong" means "i don't understand you" - i'm not seeing what you are seeing. but there is nothing wrong with you. you are simply not me and that's not wrong.

(echoing h.p.)

i choose to belive jesus walking in water. . .

there is so much going on around us today. storms, earthquake lurking here and there. fear and and frustrations threatening. i am a human being and I get scared. fear, worry is sort of crushing my spirit which i am trying to shake off. but I choose to believe in Jesus walking on the water. i choose to hear his voice as he commands the troubles to be calm and be still. i choose to trust. that is simply all I can do. i take God with me because i am helpless without him. dear God protect me, my daughters, my family, my friends, loved ones the entire world. calm our fears and take us to your safe embrace. amen!

live!!

play safe..yes, we feel secured with these words. but if you're not risking and trying something that goes beyond your whim, you deprive yourself from amazing experiences this world has. magic and miracles do surrounds us so live!! while you do, someone up there is going to live with you. ~bonette

keep hopes and dreams bright. . .

keep hopes and dreams bright. . .i'm sharing this thought with hopes that you will continue to hold on to whatever goals you have in life. there were moments perhaps when you feel you want to give up and to throw all of your dreams aside. i feel the same way, once in a while. i do my best though to steer my mind to this belief that every life story begins in a special, magical moment. every success begins from a turning point after which the situation completely transforms and all kinds of exciting possibilities begin to grow. as we never know when fate will strike or where it will lead us, what we need to do is to keep our hopes and dreams burning bright in our hearts until the day that fate launches us into a rousing new adventure.


continue to believe.....

accept your own truths. . .

trying days continue on. couple of minutes ago, i wallowed in silence in search of directions and answers to questions. a nagging question though came into my mind. what would it take for me to accept and consider my own truth? perhaps this could be your question and answer as well. that moment of quietness has been very significant to me. i needed that moment. . . . badly.

happy birthday mom!!

if i can be only half the parent you have been in my life, the lives of my children will be extremely lucky. i became what i am because of you who showered me with your wise advice and love. i love you so much mother and i am truly amazed at how you managed loving a lot of people all at the same time. here's a toast to you dear mother, a special and an important person in my life. wishing you a very Happy Birthday.

love and hugs, neil, cailean and me!

isang pagbati....

alleluia! alleluia! si kristo ay nabuhay muli para sa ating kaligtasan! nalulugod ang aming mga puso sa kanyang kabutihan at pangako. mula sa aming tatlo, pinaabot namin ang pagbati ng maligayang pasko ng pagkabuhay!! nawa'y punan ang inyong mga puso ng kaligayahan at katahimikan. :-)

on betrayal....

at this very moment there's this one word that keeps on creeping into my mind. it's the word BETRAYAL. judas iscariot's betrayal of jesus is of course very familiar to all of us and at the same time very troubling. indeed... it is very troubling. i know because i had been betrayed as well. and God knows how betrayal hurts so much from people who says love you. and i've been asking myself, who's going to betray me next?

semana santa. . .

mahal na araw, semana santa, banal na araw… anuman ang tawag natin hindi pa rin nagbabago ang tradisyon at obligasyon nating mga katoliko. isa na ang pag-ayuno sa mga bagay na nakakapagbigay saya sa ating katawan, pagtalikod sa mga bagay na materyal, sa gawang mababa at tiwali, taimtim at buong pusong pagdarasal, pangungumpisal, ang tapat na pagbibigay ng ating sarili at pagsuko sa kanya ng ating mga paghihirap para sa paghahanda sa misteryo ng hapis at ng tuwa. ginagawa natin ito upang maalala natin ang paghihirap ni hesukristo para sa ating mga kasalanan at maihikayat ang ating sarili sa buhay na malugod at ispirituwal. ibat iba ang pagunawa at pagpapahalaga natin sa okasyong ito gaya na rin ng pagkakaiba natin sa pagsunod sa kanyang mga utos at sa landas na ating tinatahak. sadyang tanging sarili lang natin ang maliwanag na makakasulyap sa totoong saloobin, sampalataya at pag aninag sa ating panginoon. ngunit sa ating puso at isip, nag-uumigting ang kagustuhang tahakin ang landas ng pagpapakabanal. maligayang pasko ng pagkabuhay sa inyong lahat!

i thrive in april

april has come and spring has started niggling my brain, making me excited about the plans i have. i always regard spring as a season of change and transition which I believe is true for both humans and nature. for nature, the transition is from a lifeless landscape to plants shooting off green buds from the branches and birds starting to chirp and flutter by. for us humans, we normally transform ...ourselves to a better person and we tend to make our perspective even larger. we correct our emotional spills and make ourselves stronger in facing adversities.

i was born on april and will be growing another year older in a few weeks time. and yet no matter how many april birthdays i celebrated, i remain to feel young. i guess the growth i see around and the brightness and vibrance of the season have always helped put myself in a positive and happy disposition in life. i like thriving in spring and i always wait for this season every year. the month is about the promise of spring fulfilled, but also the promise of things to come and has always been given a romantic image of showers and flowers typifying colours and births. it's all about brightness and cheerfulness around and being free because it promises outdoor activities with friends and families.

change and transition in my life will be constant as i breathe. every day is meant to coming into terms with my flaws and improve it and think as well what are the flaws i want to keep. it is springing up over and over again. as i always say, i remain growing... happy april everyone!!

spring has sprung!

stepped out of the office smiling when the warmth of sun touched my skin and my smile was like on steroids for it didn’t fade for some time. university students were all out basking under the sun. mats and towels spread out on a still damp grassy ground and they learn and play all at the same time, wearing sun hats, shorts, flip flops, sun dress and what not! spring has truly arrived. this  post would show how I appreciate its coming!

better days...

my week has started to get better and better as it simmers and i promise to be at the top of my game for the next coming weeks. the brisk buzz of spring is in the air (thank god!) though the weather remains cool. i could feel the excitement as i imagine the possibilities that lie ahead. although the current situation isn't all what i want, i am steadfast to take bold steps in the direction of my dreams.

celebrating women. . .

again we’re in celebration of the day when crucial steps towards gender equality were made. this year international women's day marks 100 years since it’s first March 19, 1911 in austria, denmark, germany and switzerland. the decision t...o observe this day happened in 1910 at the second international conference of working women held in copenhagen where it was proposed that every year in every country to celebrate and to press for various demands made by women. being a feminist, i’d would always mark the day by sharing titles from my archives which might give you answers to some perinnial questions about gender equality. happy reading and happy women’s day!

ain't i a woman- the book is about intersectionality and the manner racism and sexism correlates and interacts. the book was written from a more scholarly and historical perspective.

singled out - talks about the lives of women during world war 2 and n deals with the generation of unmarried women that followed world war 1.

virgin - blank explores the historical roots of virginity as a cultural construct and some of its present day ramifications. this construct is inextricably linked to attempts to control women’s sexuality.

this thing called "expectation"

expectation, unrealistic or not, doesn't hurt. it is the unwilling heart that does. while people tend to lower their expectation each time it isn't met, i don't change mine. expectation inspires me. it is the force that pushes me to give my best. without it i have nothing to dream and hope for. if every heart is willing, loving and giving, definitely expectation wouldn't be thought as the culprit. but reality shows that that is not the case, and for me, this is one sad part of living.

how to love a woman. . .

I WISH ALL MEN THINK LIKE BOB MARLEY (ON HOW TO LOVE A WOMAN) “You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She’s not perfect – you aren’t either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her... and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break – her heart. So don’t hurt her, don’t change her, don’t analyze and don’t expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she’s not there. - Bob Marley”

philippine's shining moment in miss universe pageant

pagkatapos ni gloria maria diaz (1969) and maria margarita moran (1973) na naging miss universe, wala pang sumunod sa kanila. gusto ko lang ibahagi sa inyo ang napakagandang sagot ni moran na ipinanalo nia:

what’s the difference between being miss Universe and being a filipina?

"being miss universe is like having a birthstone, you may lose it. being a Filipina is like having a birthmark, its forever." – m. moran (miss universe 1973)

magazine rack made out of brown planters

 i found a use for my 2 brown planters which have been lying around for sometime in my balcony. i knew i would have some use for it so i kept them aside until today when i attached them together, spray painted and decorated for use as a magazine rack. it's just feels awesome each time my hands and brain do something creative!! ;-)

wire the bottom of the planters to attach them








spray painted with yellow and orange to add colours












added a plastic pine leaves and cone

run a ribbon around the attached bottoms of the planters

here you go!! a magazine rack made out of plastic planters.