(Manila, Oct 21) -- I find myself back at my college alma mater, looking for old faces, but none to be found. so i eat at the historical mcdo beside it, and savor my chocolate sundae and finally accept...yes, i have grown old.
i have been silent for the past few days, the body suddenly decided to rest by default with a relentless flu. usually, i would go to work even with a bad cold. but this one stopped me in my tracks and confined me to home quarters. who am i to complain, i guess we do need to rest sometimes.hehehe. Now I understand what Eena says about the dichotomy of passion and peace, both are needed in heroism or in love, but cannot be felt at the same time ( read her beautiful description at http://eenakanapi.blogs.friendster.com/sinagtala/). all my passion went full blast on the recently concluded GK Global Expo (im sad i did not get to write a post review, but i will definitely show you some exhilirating photos...let them paint a thousand words because my words are not enough...) so the fire and all the fuel were poured on this one...and the body and spirit seemed to say after that, it was time to recharge and refuel...so it did. suddenly, it was time for peace...
after four days of resigning to my fate, i am back...and what a wonderful way to return to the world than to attend a delightful seminar on advocacy writing sponsored by a kindhearted benefactor, ms Lot. Ortiz (i thank God for the blessing!)
so early this morning, i find myself excitedly preparing for a learning experience even though i did not know where the old Finance building was where the workshop was going to be held...soon, i found out it was where the Museo ng Filipino or the National Museum is located... i was so happy! and not to sound too geeky, i do love museums! and you should too...it's a treasure trove...
i think i would go as far as to say, that you cannot claim to be truly proud of being a Filipino if you haven't visited the national museum since you have not seen the wealth of our heritage!(most of us have been there back in grade school or high school but i should ask you to visit it again now, there are plenty of new and beautiful things to see...you must know that some of the artifacts there are returned to provincial museums and displays are changed every six months plus of course there are new discoveries, new treasures being unearthed...)
i would go even farther to say that it's a great date place! just a a hundred bucks on weekdays (wed to fri, till sat) and free on sundays. some have held their wedding receptions there... and there are really lots of exciting things to see... maybe a half day to get to know your Philippine history and roots (to learn from the past and find your identity) is not an awful waste of time, oh not at all!
our workshop included a tour of the museum by the brilliant John Silva, a great writer-advocate and curator, who told us many interesting side stories of our culture. one notable of them, is that our national hero Jose Rizal was a lover of museums...when he went abroad it was the first on his agenda, whatever free time he had, he made sure he visited the museums...to understand different cultures and to better understand his own...i know we are not a museum going people, but that should not stop you from discovering these treasures just a jeepney ride away to Roxas Boulevard, and if you want to be brilliant like Rizal, museums are the best places to start.
...to look at the past...to make sense of who we are today, and to find lessons to apply for the future...is the best gift you can give to yourself and it's for free on sundays, you just need to visit...so what are you waiting for? let's go back together... :)
so this walk down memory lane, recharged my soul all the more, though the body is slightly feverish again from all the excitement and the walking...but it's all worth it...
...why my feet lead me back to my old school and decide to walk its path again, escapes me...but i know i just wanted to learn again...after all, learning is a lifetime process... i am happy that i have grown...i am glad of where i've been...and im looking forward to the future with hope.
one thing i've learned today: You cannot see a great piece of work and not be moved, and changed.
You know you are face to face with divinity... realizing God co-creating with mortals to create a masterpiece... that's what great paintings, writings, photos, ceramic pieces, indigenous weaved fabric are to me... an artist painfully goes through the process to bring beauty to the world inspired by his God. as a writer, i know it is not easy...often excruciating like giving birth...it is a labor of love...sometimes really painful...ah, but after all the struggle and once finished, the artist sees it is all worth it...the least we could do is appreciate...
art is beauty, and beauty inspires. beauty heals. God is a God of beauty. That is why we transform slums into beautiful GK communities so that our poor can be free to hope and dream ...
Art it is worth seeing, worth experiencing...so worth your time...
Walk by Roxas Boulevard and be swept away by the Manila Bay sunset, unsurpassed in the world. That's great artwork at your heels and without a cost! we are indeed God's country, as John puts it best, he who has travelled the world to see other sunsets...
...i am thankful to God for this day. for allowing me to rest so i can experience life again in all its fullness. i pray you would too! see you soon :)
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