Poverty in a Big City

You know where this place is.

This is one of those cities where people have to ride MRT just to go to work.

High-rise buildings are everywhere in this city.

Look at those cabs. Middle to High class families are those who can afford to ride them.

And that hotel? Some might be having a good night's sleep inside their rooms, after enjoying the party and eating world-class gourmet.

But...

 

Awakening Interests: A Visit to an Art Gallery

I’m a left-brained person. I’m not an art student. I just learned to appreciate art – LATELY. Impulsively, I went to the Art Fair hours after my nose-bleeding agenda in Makati. Imagine the transition from a left-brained session to a right-brained activity within the day. It felt unusual.

Upon reaching the venue, I started capturing photos of portraits that amazed me. Two hours are not enough for me to document the artworks that stimulated my curiosity.

During the last minutes of my stay at the gallery, I went inside a room which had a “writing on the wall”. It says there, Jaime, then below it, the complete name, Jaime de Guzman. I wonder who Jaime de Guzman is. The room has paintings and crafts all created by the same artist. Then I saw an old man sitting on a wooden sofa in front of me. He was busy talking to a lady who looked like she belongs to an upper-class society.

I couldn’t leave the area yet, even if the venue is about to close. The paintings struck me. I didn’t know why.

After so much hesitation to leave the area, I asked a lady exhibitor who the old man is. She confirmed that the old man is the renowned Filipino artist, Jaime de Guzman. She introduced me to him and I had a chance to talk to him. He asked me if I was an art student. I told him that I wasn’t. But I could appreciate artworks.

We couldn’t talk much; the venue’s closing. All artworks I’ve seen were awesome. But the last room I visited was remarkable.

I Love Afternoons: Kite Flying with Amihan and a Pal

I admit I wasn’t able to fly a kite during my childhood years. Not even once. Not even attempted. That’s why now that I have reached adulthood, I’m filling my life with activities I have never done before.

During Amihan (Northeast Monsoon) last year, my mind was pre-occupied with kite-flying. But I never had a chance to do it.

And so Amihan came back this year. And I wanted to fly a kite. The longing for it was so intense. I didn’t want to let go of Amihan without flying a kite.

Until the day my heart’s desire was granted. I saw an online ad asking for volunteers to be with children with cancer on post-Valentine’s Day. One of the activities to be done was KITE-FLYING!

I immediately signed up.

And the picture of my heart’s desire came to life on Hearts’ Day. I saw how children battling with lifetime disease play and enjoy just like normal children. Everything seemed fine. I met one of them and we became pals on that special day.

I learned how to make a kite. And fly one. It was hard. I need to run. Mine got stuck on a tree branch but I managed to pull it. Its red tail remained on the branch. Aww.

Seeing big kites fly so high was so amazing. And my eyes saw how the children with cancer run as fast as they could. THERE WAS NO LIMITATION AS TO WHAT THEY COULD DO ON THAT DAY. It touched my heart.

I enjoyed flying the kite with Amihan and some children until sunset. I was thankful that it was a meaningful day. I gave my kite to my new pal. It had a message for him.

I Love Afternoons: Path of Detachment

And there was compassion. Suddenly, I saw his mother’s tears of joy fell from her eyes. So genuine. Yes, there was joy, yet I could feel she was still in dire need.

It was sunset. It reminded us that it was almost the end of the day.

As I walked along the path leading to the exit, arched tree branches swayed to the will of the wind.

I met so many strangers today but I shall go home alone.