I posted this photo in Facebook. I am thrilled to know how it brought my friend Angelie to a world of memories and stories! Yes, just one photo…and these are the words she penned…

“There are places I remember all my life though some have changed.” – Beatles.

I concur to the Beatle’s song. There willl always be places that will remain special in your life no matter where you go, what you’ve become.

A friend of mine posted a picture of a place in our elementary school. I didn’t really expect that memories will come flooding as I see it. The fact that this place didn’t really matter to me before quite amazed me in some way why it made me nostalgic. It’s just a place- a place I didn’t know special for me until I saw the portrait.

We used to hang out there as third-grade students because it’s where our so-called Science Garden was located (actually, it was just a sweet-potato garden and I don’t know why we called it Science Garden). Memories of classmates and friends flashed back. I can hear laughter and screams of wonderful childhood. I’ve seen familiar faces, not just of classmates but of teachers as well.

…..though some have changed…..

The picture is totally different from what it used to be. My friend Aurelia told me that the big globe was taken out and transferred to another spot in school. Right now, all you can see is a kiosk.

A big globe used to be there- the globe that made me wonder why the earth is round and not square. It actually formulated a lot of why’s and how’s in my young mind. It made me interested in traveling and seeing the world. But most importantly, I have shared a lot of funny memories with childhood friends. It always makes me smile how this place became our “fighting place” where girls meet up with boys to fight. It may seem silly then but it’s worth remembering now.

I was reminded of people who have been part of my life and made a greatest impact in who I am today. My first best friend jogged my memory. She was my best friend from Grade 1 to early years in College. I learned from her how to love dearly and let go because we have to grow and follow the path that we want to go. The memories of my teachers whom I will always be grateful to because of their dedication to education flooded back. They will always be a part of who I am. I can never thank them enough.

When my memory about the special woman in my life was refreshed, I can’t stop my tears from falling. I just miss her so. She was my Mama Abing. She was part of this place too. She was always there to help me in planting those sweet potatoes, in cleaning up my garden, in watering the plants and in picking up flowers planted near “the globe” in time for Flores de Mayo(if my memory serves me right, there were lilies around the globe). I miss her so much. In my life now, she’s like “the globe”- it used to be there but now it’s gone. And so is she but her memory is engraved in my heart that no amount of time can erase.

How can I forget elementary graduation day? It’s funny to think that I didn’t have a solo picture of myself graduating because I was too busy taking pictures of my classmates and friends. Too bad because I can’t remember where those pictures are now. If only I could turn back time and if only I knew that this day of reminiscing will come, I should have kept them safe in a box.

It’s just a picture. A picture that made me think how lucky I am to have met those people, how lucky I am to be part of a place that I will always call home even though I have been to some of the places/countries in that globe.

A home is always a place where you can find yourself again when you’re lost.

A place where every part of it has history for you.

A place amidst the chaos and political issues will always be a retreat for a tired heart.

Thank you Aurelia Castro for posting this picture in your facebook because it is more clear to me now that a part of me will always be in our hometown and no advanced country can surpass the memories, the learning and the love I have for our hometown and I certainly can’t wait to be home soon.

It’s been more or less 14 years since I first heard her music. Until today, she’s never failed to intrigue me, engage me. Yes, I’m a big fan of Alanis Morissette! So delighted to see her sing at the X Factor Finale Night with finalist Josh Krajcik. Their duet was simply breathtaking! Alanis, you’re in my bucket list! ;-) Would be so thrilled to watch you perform live.

Together with our classmates, we grew up together. We were friends. We played. We teased. We fought. We laughed. We learned. Elementary and high school days – how could we forget? Eusell, as you reach your final resting place, in behalf of our friends, classmates, and batchmates – I bid you goodbye. May your soul rest in peace.

Climb Every Mountain -our graduation song. Now we want to sing that for you; but as we do this time, we pray that you will climb and cling to the arms of our Father in heaven. We will miss you!

J.K. Rowling’s speech at Harvard’s Commencement touched two subjects that never fail to make me respond, wonder, and think…

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

“I had failed on an epic scale…I had no idea then how far the tunnel extended…Why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant stripping away of the inessential…I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena where I believed I truly belonged. I was set free…and so rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

“Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you failed by default.”

“You will never truly know yourself or the strength of your relationships until both have been tested by adversity.”

“Imagination is the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared.”

“We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside us…We have the power to imagine better.”

She ended with a quote by Seneca: “As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.”

Duh. It took me a while to update my site, and this is obviously late. But cheers! My niece Bea made it! She got the Mutya ng Pilipinas 2011 – Overseas Filipino crown. Made it to the Top 10. Got the Best in Gown title. Made it to the Top 5 in Swimsuit Competition and 4th in online voting. Wonderful! Thanks for all your support. It’s been fun and a great experience for all of us especially among relatives, friends, and kababayans.

All the best to my Ford model niece Bea Monterde Santiago – candidate for Mutya ng Pilipinas 2011. Bea, you have all the love and support of your family and friends. Proud of you! Go, go, go, Beatot! Love you!

Please VOTE for BEA SANTIAGO. She’s from Cataingan, Masbate. Contestant #26. Please click this link and vote for her. Thanks!

“…I see a boy and his storyteller. Dad didn’t just tell stories, he created a world in which I lived…”

A digital story by Bernard Lee produced in DSA’s digital storytelling workshop, 8-9 and 15-16 April 2011, Singapore.

“I hope your dreams take you… to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.”

Finally, my younger sister made it! She graduated last 22 March 2011. It’s been quite a journey with her all these years. What a bonus to be able to make a trip to Cebu and actually see her march and go up the stage to receive her diploma. Every step she made brought so much joy to my heart. I always knew this day will come.  It made me think about my own journey, too. How I have taken some detours. How I have lost my way. How I have failed. But there were people who never gave up on me. And I, too, was stubborn – I pressed on despite all the dark days. And yes, I, too, made it!

Congrats, Gen! We love you and we are proud of you! All the best!

“Where is home for you?” A digital story by Michelle Anderson. Via Affirmativa 2010. Digital Storytelling Workshop, 17-19 August 2010. Colorado Springs, USA.

I was at the Esplanade couple of nights ago and saw this performance. Thanks to my iPhone. I took this video for YOU…

“I promise you I’m always there when your heart is filled with sorrow and despair. I’ll carry you when you need a friend. You’ll find my footprints in the sand…”