to begin ....

I'm trying to delete photos on my phone. I have to do an album, an actual scrapbook.   I'm going to pursue a project as if I'm not busy enough. 

Is something physical good, or digital is better? 

at the backyard

We have a museum in our backyard, the Royal Air Force Museum.  There are a lot of things to read in the museum, the history of air travel, the story of heroes during times of war and a lot more.  There are actual planes in the building.  Very Cool.  Like most national museums in London, it's free. 

I took a lot of photos and it's crowding my phone's memory, the older one where I usually use for blogging, which contains the official blogger app.  As you know, I like going to museums and libraries.  I'm very lola in my upbringing.  I grew up so introverted despite my mom's good intentions of exposing me to a lot of people.  It's hard going to a party not knowing a soul (I wonder how many times I've mentioned that over the years). My colleague Raffy, using it in the work context, said that meeting other people might be an interesting aspect of life. I'm terribly paraphrasing. I guess I'm too old to change my ways.  Why be in an uncomfortable situation, when I can stay home and read a magazine?  Or tidy up, as I live with a four year old and the hubby exfoliate like a snake? 

cleanse

I'm not on Instagram, the less social media, the better, just for clarity and cleansing.  But sometimes we can't help but take a picture of our food. If it's not posted on any platform it didn't happen.  The one above is called Florentine. It looks good on photo but the vege tastes bitter and I've never been a fan of ampalaya (or amargoso, hurray ilonggo!), though it's a very good vegetable. 

I don't even do selfies, I need a few tweaks on my face in order to gain self esteem, as in really.  Or I need to go for a run in order to gain equilibrium for my health and perspectives.  I've not been looking at my blood results recently.  I've been feeling crap.  According to my friend, Joy from North Carolina (different from Joy, who's now in California, formerly of Baltimore), she has no time for physical fitness as she's too busy with school, kids and work.  But endorphins are good for us, full stop (American English says period).  Our muscles stagnate.  Our organs cannot fathom all the salt and sugar. 

So, although I'm too busy this week, I'm going to try a bit of Zumba, maybe yoga. Let's see if I'll sweat out the toxins.

Tears, sadness

There's no more Miriam.  I remember shortly before I turned 18 in 1992 and there she was running for President. I attended her Bacolod rally and all but I couldn't vote as the election was in May and I was turning 18 in June. I really thought she was going to win. She lead in the beginning and was overtaken, in a dodgy come from behind victory of the eventual 12th President. 

In '95, I wrote only her name in the ballot for senator and left the other slots blank.  Then I lost hope in the national elections when the electorate voted Joseph Estrada into power.  I realised majority of the people don't really like smart guys.  Miriam was too much of a brain -- the grades, the honors, the degrees.  That she  wasn't a bar topnotcher made her at least human.  She mentioned her academic accomplishments whenever she could and of course that turned off a lot of people who maybe couldn't even write a proper sentence.  She had difficulties embracing humility.  For the likes of me who's hardly smart, she could do with the bragging. 

She also sided with Arroyo and Estrada, that was a conundrum.  Edsa 2 didn't exactly transform the Philippines into Singapore. Neither did Daang Matuwid straightened the mess that was the Manila traffic or the National Bilibid Prison.  Maybe she believed she was in full health to run for president and had the son of martial law executor as running mate. Had they become friends as colleagues in the senate? I don't follow the logic of that decision.  But then Philippine politics is hard to follow.  There's always a bottom line. 

What she elucidated in hindsight has always been right, we should change ourselves and make good choices like when given the chance of an education, to strive to excel, or to read books, or to have that moral turpitude.  

It wasn't her destiny to be President.  When I think of Ramos now, I could only think of a place in Taguig. While Madam Miriam became a stellar legislator. She even survived voting against the popular vote in that impeachment process (when my friend Joy texted me, "are you still in awe with Miriam?), during the turn of the millennium which lost her the 2001 election.  But she bounced back in her next two elections I would only view from afar.  She became popular with young people and as a commencement speaker.  I wasn't really into those popular quotes but it made a few laugh and would lighten up events like graduation exercises or tv interviews. 

That is life.  She wasn't meant to reach 72.  She was a colourful character. Ahay. Kasubo guid. 

just a picture

ponder on health

It has been a trying month for my health -- from scans to procedures to symptoms of hypertension, to those pesky blood results and phone calls and correspondence that test emotions. I have a four year old. Nothing is more important than to guide my child through making it to adulthood and to be able to function in society. I'm reconfiguring the lifestyle choices, reducing the carbs and doing more exercise.

thirty-first August

summer blues. 

it has been really muggy.