Tony Perez's Electronic Diary (March 12, 2019 - )
Continued from Tony Perez's Electronic Diary (October 19, 2018 - March 12, 2019) http://tonyperezphilippinescyberspacebook41.blogspot.com/

Photo by JR Dalisay / April 21, 2017
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
John completed the master file of Indakan Ng Mga Puso (Oktubre, Nobyembre, and Disyembre), Volume 15 of my Collected Works, today, and we forwarded it to the prospective publisher.
This is my second, major trilogy of full-length plays. It corresponds to the later episodes of the adventures of Don Pedro, Don Diego, and Don Juan in Armenya, where they meet Donya Leonora and Donya Juana.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Monday, March 31, 2025
Sunday, March 30, 2025
It was a Sweet 60
Then a Serene 61
A Solitary 62
A Stunning 63
A Superb 64
A Suave 65
A Soaring 66
A Spectacular 67
A Splendid 68
A Shining 69
A Sleek 70
Then a Serene 61
A Solitary 62
A Stunning 63
A Superb 64
A Suave 65
A Soaring 66
A Spectacular 67
A Splendid 68
A Shining 69
A Sleek 70
A Sparkling 71
A Sensational 72
A Starry 73
A Sterling 73
And now a Shimmering 74!
Exactly a year from today I will leave my Facebook account in cyberspace. Only my Friends will be able to reread its contents, most of which are now non-Public.
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Now on the final chapter of The House Without A Key, the first novel in the original, six-volume Charlie Chan series by Earl Derr Biggers. Such a different style from Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Brother Cadfael's Ellis Peters. and Judge Dee's Roberr van Gulik but I like, I like! They are all deliciously clever (not the sleuths but the authors, I mean.)
This read like a modern-day Wilkie Collins--the crime and the perpetrator take back seats in favor of characters, their relationships, and interesting subplots. In the end, though, everything is airtight and falls into place. What confused me at first was the time frame, until a Google search informed me that these novels were written long before World Wars I and II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Love the Hawaiian backdrop--words and phrases, food, drinks, and customs--and I would have desired to fly to Honolulu except that I already live in one, exotic, tropical country.
Reading The Chinese Parrot next.
A brief note to other Charlie Chan fans: these original novels are not to be confused with the teleplays and movie scripts that were later developed for popular viewing.
Sunday, March 23, 2025
The Crowning of Mary, work in progress for Maryhill School of Theology.
Seven hours, seven layers.
Layering, or color blocking, is my second step after construction lines. It lays the foundation for color and tone, but essentially remains flat pending the marking of the darkest darks and the lightest lights. Layering does not stop until the entire canvas is covered with paint. It is also the best time to clean up unwanted construction lines.
In this painting I included 12 crowns from 12 appellations of the Blessed Virgin, some of which are canonical crowns.
Aubrey sat for this painting, as she did for Descent of the Holy Spirit and The Assumption of Mary Into Heaven. Leah sat for the two angels.
The auditory stimulus I am using while working on this painting is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s. Do listen to it while viewing the work, but it has nothing to do with the subject matter of the painting.
Photo by Neil de Leon
Aubrey sat for this painting, as she did for Descent of the Holy Spirit and The Assumption of Mary Into Heaven. Leah sat for the two angels.
The auditory stimulus I am using while working on this painting is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s. Do listen to it while viewing the work, but it has nothing to do with the subject matter of the painting.
Photo by Neil de Leon
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Friday, March 21, 2025
The Crowning of Mary, work in progress for Maryhill School of Theology.
Worked a fourth hour on construction lines after lunch. For this painting I must have used the most number of reference photos, because I wanted to include 12 crowns from 12 appellations of the Blessed Virgin, some of which are canonical crowns.Aubrey sat for this painting, as she did for Descent of the Holy Spirit and The Assumption of Mary Into Heaven. Leah sat for the two angels.
Construction lines are done, Not bad for seven hours' work over two days. As you can see I do not use pencils/graphite for construction lines,. Instead, I use a brush and paint dilute, which is easier to wipe off. All of the lines are painted in initially in freehand.
The auditory stimulus I am used while working on this painting is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s. Do listen to it while viewing the work, but it has nothing to do with the subject matter of the painting.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Top, antique, sterling silver double-face pendant with miniature friezes on both sides, one depicting the Nativity, the other depicting the Crucifixion
Middle, labradorite cabochon set in sterling silver, a purchase from a loop shop in North Carolina. Labradorite is said to be a favorite stone of extraterrestrials.
Bottom, pewter Celtic cross clad in silver so that it can be worn as a pendant. It was originally designed to lie flat on a plate or saucer and function as a joss stick holder.
Monday, March 17, 2025
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Finally dreamt of Lito Bauza two nights ago. He looked like he does in his most recent Facebook account. We were glad to see each other.
In the dream, an unfinished, multistory structure is on our compound. Lito needs to go to the second floor, and I decide to accompany him in order to spend more time with him. I keep close to the left side of the concrete stairway, because the right side is wide open, I am afraid of heights, and I am afraid of falling,. Lito helps me along, however, and we easily get to the second floor.
On the second floor is the lobby of a college that reminds me of the college associated with the hospital I take dialysis in. Lito has enrolled in some kind of course. We stay together and chat before it is time for him to go to class. Before he goes, he very thoughtfully escorts me down the stairway.
My interpretation:
This dream seems to indicate that it is possible to delay reincarnation if one wishes to learn more about cosmic law on the astral plane, which, it appears, Lito has decided to do.
The timing of reincarnation, therefore, is up to the individual soul and not up to any higher authority.
Friday, March 14, 2025
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Sunday, March 9, 2025
My Friends,
I will be sending EARLY invitations to 13 of you (Spirit Questors and Joy Luck Club members) soon, knowing full well that only five or six will have their attendance CONFIRMED, will be COMMITTED to the event, and will actually be COMING.
The invitation is to stay overnight at my house 9:00 PM - 5:00 AM on THE FIRST NIGHT OF HUNGRY GHOSTS MONTH, which is on SATURDAY. AUGUST 23 this year.
The schedule will be as follows:
9:00 - 10:00 PM, arrivals and dinner
10:00 - 11:00 PM, making food, candy, drink, bottled candle, and joss stick offerings on the driveway.
The offerings you make will be considered offerings to the Hungry Ghosts from YOUR houses. I will, therefore, also be making my own.
Do bring a bottled candle, joss sticks in a can, and food, candy, and drink offerings in SEALED containers.
If mendicants or street children take the offerings away during the night, it is perfectly all right. The offerings will be counted as having been successfully made.
11:30 PM - 5:00 AM, back inside the house.
Ghost story-telling. Prepare as many ghost stories as you like,.
Alternatively, bring movies on your laptops for screening.
Or playing cards/dominoes/chess sets/board games/Tarot cards. The Spirit Questors can read cards for the non-Spirit Questors and for each other.
Bring a sleeping bag if you feel that you will need one. A blanket and a pillow will do. Everyone will have to camp out ON THE FLOOR.
Will serve pizza, chips, soda, coffee, and tea in the dining area through dawn.
You may Google-search everything you need to know about Hungry Ghosts and Hungry Ghosts Month before the event.
Departures can commence 5:00 AM, but everyone is welcome to zonk out and sleep through noon. Brunch wll be available, served from M.'s cafe.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Vegetable dumplings, a modern version of Judge Dee' breakfast of "salted vegetables." The dumplings are made of Taiwanese pechay, black fungus, carrots, and button mushrooms.
Many years ago my youngest sister, Sylvia, sent me an authentic recipe for salted vegetables, but I seem to have misplaced it.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Back home from bank day, escorted by Marvin and Neil, Paid our electric bills, sent some money to my younger son Chito, and bought an outdoor light for our gate.
Lunch out, then Neil brought me home in a taxi.
I've been staying home most of the time and bundling up against chills. When I have to go somewhere, I'm always transported in a Grab car or a taxi. There's been a three-day heat wave but, in my condition and my situation, I feel none of it. Outside our house, the world is suspending classes and people are complaining of the intense, searing heat.
Wondering whether I shall ever feel like everyone else again.
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Friday, February 28, 2025
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
John reported for work this morning. Lunch served by M.'s cafe,
Now cleaning up the encoded copy of Nobyembre. He reads the dialogue aloud, though under his breath, while encoding, but he seems quite stoic about it. As for myself, I end up weeping and blowing my nose while reading my plays silently because of all the emotions I have to go through all over again.
Because of Oktubre, Nobyembre, and Disyembre, Nonon Padilla calls me the Pinoy Strindberg.
Wake up! Do you revel in the shallow pleasure of being a popular Tarot card reader? Are you satisfied that people come to you to serve as an emotional crutch or to provide after-dinner entertainment?
Those people are just using you. They are not even providing you the money you need to pay your bills, go shopping whenever you want to, and walk into any restaurant of your choice to take your next meal.
Take on a lucrative job, preferably one with good retirement benefits. Work and save money for yourself.
It's about time your "clients" read their own cards.
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Friday, February 21, 2025
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
February 12, 2025
Pre-Valentine's Day visit from Henson. Brought me goodies from Vietnam.
Henson is the grandson of the Wongaihams, who translated _The Oracle of Kung Ming_ from Chinese to English. (Which I then translated to Filipino.)
https://tonyperezphilippinescyberspacebook4.blogspot.com/
He is also the last, remaining, Wongaiham in the Philippines. The other, his cousin Vincent and son of Tony Wong, lives in Germany..
I'm counting this as the 33rd Bilbo Baggins afternoon, since Henson selected an item from the table of give-aways in the breakfast area.
Photo by John Tigno
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Sunday, February 16, 2025
Friday, February 14, 2025
The 4:30 AM night class had a second session, on auras. I must say, auras are best viewed against a midnight blue background.
An aura is not just comprised of "one color." If you look very closely, it has rainbow-colored particles, like prismatic refractions on a cold, icy milk sherbet.
Consider having a blank wall in your bedroom painted midnight blue. where you can stand against it with a full-length mirror in front of you.
Dumpling plates for charcuterie, assorted dimsum, sushi, sashimi, tempura, sliced green mangoes, horseradish, water turnips, celery, fish fillet, French fries, breaded onion rings, sliced cucumber, chicken lollipops, pork barbecue. satay, omelets, chips, ham sui kok, taro pie, oyster cake, sausages, baked mussels, lumpia shanghai, fried spring rolls with sprouts, salted biscuits, rice rolls, and fish balls.
I will say it again here: If you love your family, you will take continued interest in upgrading your dinnerware.
Monday, February 10, 2025
Modern images of Eshu and Pomba Gira by Gabrielle Veronese of Design Toscano. Still wondering if she is a descendant of the Renaissance mural painter Paolo Veronse.
Bought the image of Pomba Gira for Karen, a former Spirit Questor, because she loved gothic art and I felt the statuette looked like her, but she somehow dropped off my Friends List and I haven't seen her in maybe 20 years.
Photo by Neil de Leon
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Friday, February 7, 2025
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Finally, a moment of solitude after the overextended holidays. My greatest wish now is, for the rest of the year, to be left alone to myself, my literature, my art, my jewelry, and my money.
To be left alone thus is the true meaning of "Resting In Peace," because it is resting from OTHER PEOPLE.
My necklaces: Above, faceted red amber; Below, black pearls interspersed with red, Chinese burial beads. The bigger beads are also antique and from the Mexican Galleon Trade. The carved, wooden female goddess pendant was a purchase from Ifugao Province many years ago. It reminded me so much of Eshu's consort, Pomba Gira.
The red scarf round my shoulders is a Chinese maiden's bridal veil.
Photo by Neil de Leon
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Monday, February 3, 2025
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Friday, January 31, 2025
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
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