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Absolute Freedom
People should be free .I suppose there are few in this world who would disagree with that statement but I wonder how many of us really consider what it means. I don't get a day that goes by, that I don't hear someone declaring about how they are...
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Far From the Madding Crowd
It's been an interesting journey today.The quest for Shangrila has ended metaphorically.Between the daunting task of renovating my mother's apartments, gutted out and looked like both Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic bombs dropped,( I am serious)...
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Solo Travelling In the Baltic Scandinavian States and Russia
Travel Route Map For My Baltic States Adventure-From San Francisco to Stockholm,Sweden,to Helsinki,Finland ,to Tallinn,Estonia,To Saint Petersburg,Russia. Equestrian monument to Nicholas I at Isaakievskaya Ploshchad (St. Isaac's Square).St...
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An Extraordinary Birthday at Maitreya Mountain Village
Our home for 5 days. A 10 ft by 10 ft "A" frame log cabin. Mountain goats hanging around infront of our cabin were my early morning friends The creek below our cabin. Rough unpaved road going to the village. What a traffic! Can't go any faster...
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Between Art and Vulgarity
In the age where standards of art and vulgarity is not well defined, I am left to my own devices where to draw the line.
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In Search of Spiritual Identity
In the midst of our chaotic worldly existence, we will ultimately find peace when we return to our spiritual home.
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I Too Have My Own Story
Years ago before I began to form thoughts in my own mind, I had no idea where I should begin my life - a life guided by my own wisdom.My mind was limited and controlled with the thoughts that I have inherited from my culture ,my family and from my...
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PASSAGES
A tribute to my husband on his birthday.
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I Got Lost Going to the Pool in Iceland
Breaking down stereotypes. A short essay and a True Story
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The Monk in a Saffron Robe
Poem inspired by a recent southeast Asian trip.
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CONQUERING THE ARCTIC NORTH POLE
My thoughts on a forthcoming trip to the North Pole - Greenland and Iceland.Amidst the unforgiving weather and isolating icy wilderness,women solo travelers would not dare venture alone but I will.
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Friend
A poem inspired while reading a bedtime nursery rhyme about friends to my 5 year old nephew.
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Musings About Life
Has it ever occurred to you that we go through motions endlessly forgetting the redundancy of each action we do everyday? Sometimes I wonder why we do it .As we do it , we are oblivious of the fact that we have done that yesterday, the day before, a...
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OUR WAY
Adapted from Frank Sinatra's song My Way . Words inspired and revised for the Filipino politicians embroiled with the pork barrel scandal that has ignited a national rally.
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THE HILL TRIBES OF LAOS
Noodles painted in yellow turpentine. Food bursting at the seams Smoke filled air resonates with flair Men , women colored in coiled turbans Smoking rolled tobacco, gazing at the mountaintop. Long necks in glistening gold defies sadness masked in...
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Peace Be Mine
Peace is my inner nature A catalyst of my searching soul. Unburdened by sentiality Tranquility is my reality. A roaring soul easily consumed Deadly turmoil disturb my senses Creative forces leave my mind Road to nowhere not far...
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A LIFE OF IMPERMANENCE
We build castles ,we build dreams Trusting these are life's precious schemes. Oblivious of the ungainful gain Soon ,it brings excruciating pain. We cherish what we must not The bright lights of what we got Deadens the soul to our...
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TIME AS SILENCE
Cast your broken arrow to the wind It lands nowhere into thin air Not a whiff of sound discerned Galactic sounds fell on deaf ears. Synonymous with ominous dreams The state of mind wandered The sea of stars deadened the senses Dead...
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A FAREWELL LETTER TO A GOOD FRIEND
A tribute to a very dear and close friend who passed away with breast cancer. Mylene was 54 years old. She left behind a husband ,a daughter and a son. She was and still is my best friend .
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The Ties That Bind
I sit and watch our lives go by Reminiscing our days gone past Pensive and melancholy musings Good times are not built to last. Incredible how our lives intertwined Orchestrated by unfathomable circumstance Amused ,bewitched,...
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THE BALLAD OF ME AND YOU
It was summer of 84, by chance, we met We sat on the plane together ,you said hello Not much to say I turned my head I looked out the window ,I said Oh no! We were in Paris for different reasons You were in Paris for serious business ...
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Humility
My heart flutters as I looked up the sky Enchanted with hope ,I surge and fly To reach out and glimpse, those castles in the air The door is closed, I knocked but nobody there. Crushed and sad, I turned around Flapped my wings to earthly...
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A Life Beyond
Can I dream of onother Life? Can I dream that l am a spirit disguised as a human body? Can I ever fathom YOUR mystery that sorrounds my misery? Can I see beyond the clouds, lining the sky? You asked if I live I staggered in my reply Take...
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Anatomy of my Soul
My heart sighs as I gaze at the world in view.So much pain and suffering , I cannot believe this is true.Endless misery and strife abound.Wounded world, I feel you.Your hurt is my hurt.Your grief is my grief too. My compassion is challenged and my...
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THANK YOU
Thank you for the all the people who walked into my life, people who have hurt me and loved me , but who , I needed to fulfill the life I was meant to live.Without them, I would not have learned Love,Patience and Understanding. Thank you for giving...
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SOLITARY HOME
A prisoner of the mind ,I am Convoluted thoughts , trapped Hurling,twirling in strained velocity Neurons' synapses left unbind . Radars and claws of heavenly grip Me , a restless child of the cosmos Thrusted into the enigma of the...
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CHRONICLES OF MY ASIAN ODYSSEY- CHAPTER 6
We checked into our hotel suite at The Renaissance Marriott Hotel at around 2 am in the morning. Emy was the gatekeeper in our hotel accomodations for a week and it is an understatement when I say she made a very excellent choice.The hotel is a very...
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CHRONICLES OF MY ASIAN ODYSSEY - CHAPTER 5
Prior to flying to Kuala Lumpur ,Malaysia for a week ,I met Thomas ,a good friend of a monk friend from Marseille ,France who nicely introduced me to him a few years ago in France.Thomas lives in Manila now and works as an economist at the United...
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I HAVE NO CANNONS ,I CANNOT ROAR
A place I would have not ventured A place I would have not been Unforeseen circumstances, we met Thus ,your story began. The life you lived , a country you still love You're woven into its fabric and nourished your soul. The ravages of...
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CHRONICLES OF MY ASIAN ODYSSEY- Chapter 4
We arrived in Laoag, the capital of Ilocos Norte Province on a Friday afternoon.It was a short 55 minute flight from Manila with Cebu Pacific Air, a new airline that specializes in Asian and Philippine domestic routes.My hometown's claim to fame is...
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CHRONICLES OF MY ASIAN ODYSSEY -Chapter 2
Three hours and a half after we left Guam,we touched down at Manila international airport .Same old airport I land to almost every year.Honestly, I am tired of landing in this old airport every year I come home. The Philippine government just...
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CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TOWERS OF MALAYSIA
. Heavenly bodies dominate the sky I am in awe for such a sight Bright little stars light up my eyes Cosmic creatures ,loving you, I can't deny. Alone I am ,I dreamed to reach you To silence my thoughts and carry me through My mind...
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CHRONICLES OF MY ASIAN ODYSSEY-CHAPTER I
For the last 15 days,I have taken a total of 8 international flights.I started my journey from Sacramento International Airport to Manila as my first destination.In this trip, I have my 89 year old mother,my sister and my sister's former colleague...
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TRAPPIST MONASTERY,BED AND BREAKFAST WEEKEND GETAWAY
An unplanned impromptu weekend getaway .
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Mother Teresa,Saint of the Gutter-Sinner or Saint?
A very troubling article directed at Mother Teresa .This article makes a very bold and controversial claim on the integrity,dedication and sincerity of Mother Teresa.
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MY AGONY
In moments of despair,my God,my source,my tao,my krishna,my Buddha, is who I run to..
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MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERES-DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS- A HEALTHCARE LIKE NO OTHER
A tribute and reminder to the unending dedication of doctors who still value and hold dear HIPPOCRATES motto of the purpose of pursuing medicine as a career.
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A PLANNED WRITING PROJECT ON A SATURDAY MORNING
I woke up this Saturday morning with my normal routine and a slightly different twist.Pj's,robe ,slippers, your usual morning attire,tussled hair, rubbing my eyes as i climbed out of bed . Had a long hard week this week at work and I am looking...
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My Mother and Me - A lesson about Pain and Aging
A reminder of our fragility exemplified by our aging parents and lessons we learned through their guidance.
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ANTIDEPRESSANT
Poem inspired by my sister in law who is amazed how I keep my always upbeat and positive attitude.
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MALAYSIA ,MANILA -my SHANGRILA
A poem written with anxiety and excitement for an upcoming trip to the Philippines and Malaysia.
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FLY WHITEBIRD FLY
A poem written about how time goes so quickly and we don't seem to have enough of it.