Worked an hour on thirtieth glaze.

Those without discernment easily get swept off their feet by pomp and circumstance.

Good morning, Cubao!

It is the sunshine that wakes you up when it streams through your bedroom window, pulls off your blanket, and gives you the first, warm hug of the day.

The November leaf falls off my planner.

Watched the SEA Games opening on YouTube. It was as entertaining as a cheer leading competition, and afterward, quite ephemeral and forgettable once you got down to your usual life's problems. It actually made me feel like I was in ancient Rome, when all it took to pacify the people were "bread and circuses".

Worked an hour and a half on twenty-ninth glaze.

Worked an hour on twenty-eighth glaze.

A happy retirement with financial stability gives you the freedom to sit back and relax, choose to do something or nothing as you please, and watch the rest of the world frenziedly trying to establish their presence everyday and constantly announcing to everyone else that they exist and have no desire to be bypassed and forgotten.

Worked an hour on twenty-seventh glaze while Angelique and J. had a very late lunch in the dining room.

Back from end-of-the-month jalan-jalan with Chito.

Angelique and J. are now getting ready to have a late lunch at home; Aubrey at university.

After all these thousands of years, no architect has as yet endowed us with the leak-proof roof and the leak-proof ceiling.

The clouds are white wind socks waiting for breezes from the east. 

Good morning, Cubao!

Slept eleven hours last night.

Go with the flow, but know that you can stop and land on any shore of your choice whenever and wherever you want.

Lucky indeed is the old writer and painter who finds a young writer and painter whom he can bequeath his unwanted and unused writing and painting materials to.

Worked an hour on twenty-sixth glaze.

Calling it a day for painting. Must wait for this glaze to dry.

Dinner at home with Aubrey.

J. went to Gateway to pick up Angelique for dinner and a movie out.

Asked Jerico to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Worked an hour on twenty-fifth glaze.

Worked an hour on twenty-fourth glaze.

Aubrey arrived from university and the family dentist's.

J. arrived. Angelique and he are having dinner out and watching a movie later after Angelique's last final exam.

A typical Friday at home.

Worked an hour on twenty-third glaze.

Saw Angelique off to college and her sixth and last day of final exams.

Keiko Kashigawa's dog food arrived.

A cup of green tea.

Getting ready to work in the studio area again.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey at university.

Worked an hour on twenty-second glaze.

When someone Posts a negative remark about someone else online and others jump onto the bandwagon with similar Comments, I am reminded of the lynchings performed by fundamentalist Christians of the Ku Klux Klan, and I see that they are no better, if not a lot worse, than the person they are ganging up on.

Moseyed over to D.'s store and the neighborhood grocery to stock up on stuff.

Alkaline water delivery.

Worked an hour on twenty-first glaze.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is dusted with confectioner's sugar.

Worked half an hour on twentieth glaze.

Calling it a day for painting. Must wait for this glaze to dry.

Your natural penmanship is an index of your karma in this lifetime. Know how to read beyond it and access as much information as you can.

To see your "natural" penmanship, write fast without thinking on a sheet of paper using a pen you are not comfortable with.

It is easy to be able to tell whether someone really loves you or is just pretending to.

Shells are treasures of the sea, but they contain living beings that are killed by enterprising businessmen, pretty much the way hunters collect head trophies to hang on their walls.

The person who loves you will also love and respect your entire family.

It is the person you are frequently with the whole year round, not just on Valentine's Day, who is your true, romantic love.

If you never long to see your former classmates, it is because they were never really your friends to begin with.

Every child will yearn to be treated as though he/she were an only child.

A person who truly loves you will consistently care about you in your times of joy and in your times of sadness.

Know how to look at darkness as you know how to look at light.

Aubrey arrived from university and took dinner at home.

Angelique arrived from college and her fifth day of final exams, and ordered her dinner via Grab delivery.

Dinner at home alone.

Asked Jerico to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Worked an hour on nineteenth glaze.

Saw Angelique off to college and her fifth day of final exams.

Two-hour, afternoon nap.

Worked an hour on eighteenth glaze.

Edwin finished up work for the day.

Lunch at home with Angelique and W.

Now W. arrived to resume work on our laundry room and service passage.

Two cups very black coffee.

Saw Aubrey off to university.

Worked an hour on seventeenth glaze.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a brass bell in the belfry of the sky. 

The werewolf crossed the street to the burger stand.

Gave a cheeseburger to the compound security guard.

Angelique arrived from college and her fourth day of final exams.

Dinner at home alone.

Asked Lennoel to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Calling it a day for painting. It was quite exhausting doing glazes in the studio and monitoring W.'s work in the laundry room at the same time.

Worked half an hour on sixteenth glaze.

W. finished up for the day.

Worked an hour on fifteenth glaze.

You do not choose a spirit guide. It is the spirit guide who chooses you.

Happy 79th Birthday to one of my most proactive spirit guides, Bruce Lee!

He punishes those who try to put me down by giving them a dose of their own medicine. Perhaps even more.

Worked an hour on fourteenth glaze.

Two cups very black coffee.

Worked an hour on thirteenth glaze.

W. arrived and is now working on repairs in our laundry room.

Lunch at home with Angelique and W.; Aubrey at university.

Saw Angelique off to college and her fourth day of final exams.

When you build something that costs millions, no matter how stunning it looks when brand new, know that over the years its maintenance and upkeep will cost millions more, and millions more, and millions more, beginning with janitorial services alone.

Good morning, Cubao!

The clouds are a caravan of white camels in the sky desert.

Never judge a person based on hearsay. You will most likely base your judgment on incomplete or over-embellished information.

The soul of an aborted or miscarried child will always be reborn as the same mother's next, living child.

There is no such thing as having extra money as long as you have a family to take care of.

When the disadvantaged are emotionally wounded, be extra charitable.

Always favor immediate clarification, for misunderstandings have always been the cause of the breakup of the strongest friendships.

When the heart is obsessed, it has very little space for anything else.

The villain always loses.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi Tony. I had a really strange dream just before I woke up this morning. I remember I was in a barbershop and I had my hair cut. In the middle of it, the barber had a chat with someone and just left me with my hair partially cut. And I was ok with how it looked like. I had my hair cleansed and shampooed and left. Then I went inside my car only to find that my car key was hanging near the visor of the car. It hanged on something that looked like a time bomb. When I drove to my lolo's home, just when I was about to enter the gate, I saw a crowd bringing a dead girl to her burial. It was eerie since I saw the face of the dead girl (and I dont know who she is) and the crowd was staring at me. I rushed to get inside my lolo's house to find out that there is also a funeral inside the house for my lolo's death. The crowd stopped looking at me when I already entered the house. Remembering the details gives me goosebumps right now.

"What could this mean? This is the first time in a very long time that I can recall the details of my dream. Normally, I forget most details and in most cases, I cant remember any of them at all"


My reply:

Hello _____!

When a man has dreams of having a haircut by another man, it means that he is currently undergoing a deliberate or subconscious change in social image. That your hair was only partially cut indicates that you are unwilling to go the entire change. This is reinforced by the car keys hanging on a time bomb; being in a car means that one is in a state of transition, yet, you fear that whatever transition you may experience is dangerous or threatening, since you actually fear change.

The dead girl means that your feminine side needs to be revived and nourished, like an Inner Child--only then will your lolo, who represents all of your ancestors, will continue to live within you. Remember the African saying, "I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors". Allow your ancestors to live within you, for your success in life will also mean their success.

Aubrey arrived from university.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey. Then we all went to the neighborhood grocery.

I decided to go back on yogurt again.

Brought some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Angelique arrived from college and her third day of finals.

Worked an hour on twelfth glaze.

Worked an hour and a half on eleventh glaze.

Two cups very black coffee.

Worked an hour on tenth glaze.

When a nation laughs at its enemies because of the way they look and even likens them to animals and insects, it is a reflection of how that nation values physicality over spirituality and mental strength.

Saw Angelique off to college and her third day of final exams.

Worked an hour on ninth glaze.

Chito arrived from work and took lunch before proceeding to Mandaluyong.

We swung by the neighborhood grocery. Apparently it is open 24/7 again.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey at university.

The clouds are vanilla ice cream kiosks.

Good noon, Cubao!

Slept nine hours last night.

The werewolf crossed the street to the burger stand.

Gave a cheeseburger to the compound security guard.

Dinner at home with Angelique.

Worked half an hour on eighth glaze.

Calling it a day for painting.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Worked half an hour on seventh glaze.

Aubrey arrived from university and an early dinner out with friends.

Worked half an hour on sixth glaze.

Worked an hour on fifth glaze.

W. moved my painting in progress onto two studio easels set side by side. Now the painting is no longer set on two chairs.

Worked an hour on fourth glaze.

Lunch at home with Angelique and W.

Worked an hour on third glaze.

Meanwhile W. arrived to repair two of my heavy-duty, studio easels.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a diamond pendant on the chest of the  sky.

When I have Blogger and Facebook open at the same time and I am working on Blogger, do I show up on Facebook as being online or offline?

The werewolf crossed the street to the burger stand.

Gave a cheeseburger to the compound security guard.

Waiting for Angelique to come home from bar ops and salubong.

Dinner at home with Aubrey.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Worked half an hour on second glaze.

When a person you are in conversation with on Chat accidentally ends a sentence with a "/" instead of a period, he subconsciously does not want you to reply further and wishes that the conversation would end.

Worked half an hour on twenty-fifth layer.

Then worked half an hour on first glaze.

When asking a model to sit for you, don't just tell him how to hold his posture and how to position his arms, his hands, his legs, and his feet. Tell him also what he should be thinking of, and, if at all possible, what he should be feeling.

True gratitude is expressed not only to people whom you owe but also to the Creator, to Nature, and to the entire world.

Excellent work usually occurs in your third hour after rising from bed.

You learn more about yourself from friends who belong to other classes rather than from friends who belong to your own class.

Do not rely solely on your memory, because your memory is constantly being edited in your mind. Rely, instead, on the concrete words you recorded in your journal.

Never anticipate the arrival of someone you are waiting for. You will tend to see him in the crowd even if he is not there.

There are times when you have to carry a heavy load for someone.

Know the original source of anything.

Everyone has to wait his own turn.

You are in good health if, after dining, you feel like there is  big, cool, peeled grape inside your stomach.

Back from jalan-jalan. Threw time out the window because I needed a respite from painting. Spent an hour over black coffee at the Cubao Leaky Cauldron. Now need only four stickers. Bought two bundles of joss sticks.

Walked home leisurely. Let my mind unwind and rewind like a skein of alpaca yarn.

Now ready to paint again.

Worked an hour on twenty-fourth layer.

An early lunch at home alone; Angelique still at bar ops; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Will have to go jalan-jalan in a few.

Worked an hour on twenty-third layer.

Getting there and looking good.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a chest of gold coins on a sky pirate's shoulders.

I like it when "Chat is currently unavailable" and no one can send me messages.

Worked an hour on twenty-second layer anyway. If I finish layering tomorrow I can start glazing. But definitely calling it a day for painting now.

Dinner at home alone.

Then Aubrey arrived from dinner out with her friends.

Asked Lennoel to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Worked an hour on twenty-first layer.

Might call it a day for painting. Not that this layer needs to dry, but because I'm tired.

Glenn visited.

Afternoon tea.

Then worked half an hour on twentieth layer.

Worked an hour on nineteenth layer.

Angelique and J. taking lunch in the dining room.

Worked an hour on eighteenth layer.

Aubrey off to a Saturday out with friends.

Lunch at home alone.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi sir. nais ko lang pong itanong yung sa panaginip ko po kagabi. ang naalala ko nanlang po ay iyak ako ng iyak nung nabalitaan kong namatay yung dalawang ka-choir ko na hindi ko na naman nakakasama at hindi ko na nakakausap sa tunay na buhay. wierd lang po kasi sobrang iyak at lungkot. salamat po."


My reply:

Hello ________!

Your dream is incomplete and cannot be subjected to exhaustive interpretation. It lacks a dream narrative with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Based on the little information that I have to go on, the choir members in the dream are not "other" people but significant parts of your self. Your psyche presented them in your dream as "hindi ko na naman nakakasama at hindi ko na nakakausap sa tunay na buhay" to shield your ego from being hurt, by means of the defense mechanism projection.

Something in you has died, has been lost, or has been taken away from you. What is it? Only you know the answer.

Worked an hour on seventeenth layer.

The only persons we deserve are those who love us back.

Everyone else does not matter.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a yellow, porcelain dining set.

Aubrey arrived from university.

Dinner at home with Aubrey.

Worked an hour on sixteenth layer.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Worked half an hour on fifteenth layer.

The goddess of the sea is displeased. Place your bowl of sand, coral, and sea shells on a window sill.

Back from jalan-jalan and a rainy afternoon in Cubao. Paid our water bill, bought some stuff, and added one more sticker for a planner that turns out to be a journal, not a planner.

Lunch at home with Angelique.

Saw Angelique off to college and her second day of final exams.

Chito arrived from work and took lunch before proceeding to Mandaluyong.

Must interrupt this painting day to go jalan-jalan, pay our water bill, and do some shopping.

Saw Aubrey off to university.

A late breakfast with Angelique at home.

Worked an hour on fourteenth layer.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a security light left on through the morning.

Ideally, bedroom pillows should be not rectangular but semi-circular, like doughnuts sliced in half.

The werewolf crossed the street to the burger stand.

And now a glass of red wine.

We have a new compound security guard. The last one was too delinquent for our comfort.

Aubrey arrived from university.

Calling it a day for painting. Must wait for this layer to dry.

Dinner at home alone.

Angelique arrived from college and ordered food via Grab delivery for her dinner.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Worked an our on thirteenth layer.

Worked half an hour on twelfth layer.

A cauldron has three legs.

Worked an hour on eleventh layer.

Tony Perez's Art of War: Always write with a Warrior's powerful punches and blows. It damages your enemies for life.

Worked an hour on tenth layer.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi Sir Tony,
"Good day! "Last night, I dreamed about attending to a ceremony. Parang graduation. I saw my professor in college (Dr Angel Pesirla, in Cebu Normal University if you know him) on the stage having his speech. He was wearing toga. The usual toga he wore as a professor pag may graduation. Di ko maintindihan yung speech niya but parang pinagagalitan niya yung isang tao on the other side who was wearing a headset at naka toga. And ako nasa gitna lang kasi parang nahati yung stage at may hallway . And nag shift n yung settings sa di kalayuan ng stage , I saw you po wearing white polo with other people na kilala mo at parang nagpalitan kayo ng regalo. And then suddenly may nanghuli na parang pulis pero they were not wearing police uniform. They escorted you and your friends going out sa venue, hanggang sa street and everyone of you calling your love one to pick up the gifts sa isang crossing and all of them(love ones) looked at me with questions on their faces. Dun ako nagising. Saw my clock , it was 1:59 am po. Ano po kaya ibig sabihin nun Sir?"

My reply:

Hello _____________________!

This dream indicates that you are undergoing a major transition in your life. A graduation scene usually reflects an elevation in consciousness or spirituality. The person with a headset is also you--the old you, who was usually inattentive to the development of the psyche. Angel Pesirla represents, to your dreamer's mind, an unconventional, perhaps radical, person.

The change you are undergoing reflects your subconscious fear. You see me and my associates being oppressed by fundamentalists, traditionalists, and conservatives--and you are asking yourself whether you want to be involved in that kind of battle.

The leitmotif of this dream is the triangle: the points are you in the audience, unconventional Angel on stage, and anti-fundamentalist me beyond the stage.

You are being shown potential choices and prospective directions.

Lunch at home with Angelique.

Saw Angelique off to college and her first day of final exams.

I wonder what would happen if I put together, in a discussion group that meets regularly, all the friends I have who've been seeing extraterrestrials. There are about five young men in that prospective group so far, and their backgrounds are quite diverse.

Worked half an hour on ninth layer.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi Sir Tony Perez, magandang umaga po. Sorry to disturb. As I progress with this ability, I saw some extraterrestrial races which are very benevelont. Tonight I saw someone is like a figure with a very light eyes, and I asked who are you and then he told me Sumerian. and then he showed me this symbol which is Star of David in my hand. This will help me to help people. Mejo na confuse lang po ako as I began my research. Some I read it bad and some are good. I always ask guidance from the Divine and spirit team before I go to sleep. Share a little meaning about this? Thank you"


My reply:

Hello _______________!

Extraterrestrials are indeed becoming more and more proactive in introducing themselves to humans at this time. This is possibly because we will very soon need their help and intervention in unimaginable disasters and crises yet to come. Since Earth and life on Earth are their special project, they do not want us to lead ourselves to complete ruin.

Like humans, extraterrestrials can be motivated either by dark or by light, and so you must exercise discernment and caution in interacting with them.

Just keep on reading--yet, remember that, again, like humans, there are reliable sources and there are unreliable sources. Some available books are essentially trash. So, exercise discernment and caution in your ongoing research as well.

Worked half an hour on eighth layer.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun's beams are arms and hands extending joy to the needy.

When a rash develops on any part of your body. investigate immediately what you'd been eating that caused it.

A Cubao Cocktail. All set for another night of sleep.

Painting exhausts me physically and mentally, and makes me sleep well at the end of the day.

Angelique arrived from her study session and dinner out.

Aubrey arrived from university and dinner out.

Dinner at home alone.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Never ensconce books on a shelf behind an arrangement of precious objects. You will never feel like retrieving them and reading them again.

Worked half an hour on seventh layer.

Might call it a day for painting. Must wait for this layer to dry.

Worked an hour on sixth layer.

Chito arrived from work and took lunch at home before proceeding to Mandaluyong.

Worked an hour on fifth layer.

Lunch at home with Angelique. She is now off to a study session at her favorite coffee shop.

Waiting for Chito to arrive from work.

The sun is the bold nib of a golden fountain pen.

Good morning, Cubao!

Slept nine hours last night.

Aubrey's much-awaited parcel arrived. The courier woke me up.

Can go jalan-jalan later and pay our water bill.

The bad news of the day is that the neighborhood grocery is no longer open 24/7. It wasn't making money from midnight to sunrise.

Just when I wanted to buy Magnum, Mug root beer, and Toblerone.

The werewolf crossed the street to the burger stand instead. Gave the compound security guard a cheeseburger. 

A glass of red wine. Feeling woozy now.

The real rebel is he who rebels even against rebels.

Angelique and J. arrived from the basketball game and dinner out.

Worked an hour on fourth layer.

Aubrey arrived from university and dinner out.

Dinner at home alone. Angelique and J. having dinner out; Aubrey at university and having dinner out.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Worked an hour on third layer.

One-hour, afternoon nap.

I hate it when my cursor passes across Chat and, accidentally, I open a Chat box or Wave at someone.

Angelique and J. took a late lunch in the dining room, then went off to a basketball game.

Worked an hour on second layer.

Happy Birthday to my eldest sister Lourdes!

Lunch with Chito, who arrived from work before proceeding to Mandaluyong.

Worked an hour on first layer.

Worked an hour on construction lines.

Saw Aubrey off to university.

Three of my paintings are now available at 928 Gallery, on the LVN Compound. That is the gallery that has exclusive rights to my works.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a huge bowl of ripe peaches and pears.

Must go to the center tomorrow to add at least one more sticker to my card. If I can drag myself away from my painting.

A Cubao Cocktail. Feeling woozy.

We can't have everything, but that is normal.

All it takes is one person to read a book, fully understand its message, and accept it--and, because of cosmic consciousness, it will be as though the whole world had read it.

Calling it a day for painting.

Hoping to finish construction lines tomorrow and commence layering soon.

Dinner at home with Aubrey; Angelique having dinner out.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Aubrey arrived from university.

Worked half an hour on construction lines.

Someone accused me of being Dickie Greenleaf from The Talented Mr. Ripley again. Ironically, all I remember from the film is the bathtub scene.

Worked half an hour on construction lines.

Worked an hour on construction lines.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey at university.

Worked an hour on construction lines.

Angelique now off to a study session at one of her favorite coffee shops.

Worked half an hour on construction lines.

Worked half an hour on construction lines.

A male nude, whether in photography or in drawing and in painting, is always awkward when the lower half of the model's body is twisted to the side to hide his genitals. If you're going to photograph, draw, or paint a nude male at all, just go ahead and show everything.

Know who supports you in public and know who supports you in private.

Unfortunately there is no way of knowing who secretly supports you.

I learned, over the past four years, that there is something more effective than preventing others from discovering your mobile number. It is to have no mobile at all.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a friend's loving embrace.

Watched Seattle's Best Coffee's "Unboxing & Review" of its 2020 journal on YouTube. What a letdown--it was merely a notebook with a series of blank pages. I need a planner, not a journal, with months, dates, days, and marked holidays. Why should I save stickers for a journal when I can very well buy one bound in real leather at any book store?

It didn't help any that the man showing off the journal looked like a pizza delivery boy jerking the item in front of the camera while his face kept getting in the way. If you're making a video of a journal, show it laid flat on the table. And don't even bother to show the blank pages one by one.

The leatherette cover is refillable, but what for? Like all previous SB planners, the material is synthetic and will mostly likely start falling apart after three months.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Leaky water pipe in the kitchen of M.'s cafe fixed.

One-hour, mid-afternoon nap.

Sat with Angelique and Aubrey while they took their lunch in the dining room.

Set aside more dry-medium art materials to give away,.

Now Jolly and Jerome are working on repairing a leaky water pipe in the kitchen of M.'s cafe.

Two cups of Mawil's very black, Nairobi coffee.

Lunch at home alone. Granddaughters still resting upstairs.

The biggest mistake of practitioners of Philippine magic is to insist that there are no mistakes in Philippine magic.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is made of tapioca pudding.

Be careful about making Postings that reflect your transient feelings and fleeting thoughts. Long after you have Posted them, Friends and Followers will continue marking them with Notifications and Comments, and you will have no choice but see them over and over again.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Dinner at home with Aubrey; Angelique doing volunteer work once again for the bar exams.

When you do not see your enemy, you envision him in your mind as The Devil incarnate. When he is right in front of you, what you see is a human being with weaknesses, strengths, hopes, and dreams, and you wonder why he ever became your enemy in the first place.

Finally commenced construction lines. This painting begins today, November 16, 2019.

Where did this day go? I wasn't able to do any painting and now the sun will begin to set in a few.

A talisman from a deceased master will always prolong your own health and your own life.

A late lunch alone, then proceeded to the Cubao Leaky Cauldron to meet up with two brothers, a UAAP writer and a UAAP photographer, before they checked in to the basketball game at the Dome. We talked about basketball, psychology, and careers. Wish I'd taught them more from the very beginning, like, two or three years ago, but both of them have always been afraid of the Silver Wolf.

I need six more stickers.

The sun is a blue-and-white screen saver.

Good afternoon, Cubao!

Slept nine hours last night.

A month and a half left of the year, and I wonder how many paintings I'll get done by the 31st of December. Should do only one more Spirit Quest and be a hermit all over again. In the last analysis, it's the finished paintings that count.

Never be sorry that you loved someone intensely, even if ever so briefly. It was what was needed at that particular time.

A second dollhouse is sheer madness, but it is so exquisite and I keep gazing at the photo I took of it.

Aubrey arrived from university.

Our weekend begins.

Dinner at home with Angelique and J.; Aubrey still at university.

Took reference photos of three models for my next painting for Maryhill School of Theology. Might commence construction lines tomorrow.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Know the difference between a sequence and a series.

Technically and mathematically, the Fibonacci series is not a sequence. It is infinite.

Manifest genius in your talents, and the world will fall in love with you.

You will always gravitate toward someone who loves you. When he no longer loves you, you will instantly know it, for the gravitational pull also ceases.

When you wake up from love, you wake up from a pleasant dream. Cherish both the dream and the waking moment.

There are times when joy and bliss are as brief and as fleeting as a lightning strike.

Always be genuine, generous, honest, and true. That way, when your love is rejected, you really lost nothing.

Know this, that the morning after loss of love brings you the most insightful thoughts of all.

Be a genius, but do not be a freak.

There are songs that are appreciated only when heard more than once.

It will always be difficult to see the ancient mythology of a country reflected in the modern lifestyles of contemporary citizens.

One-hour, mid-afternoon nap.

Jeffrey came and picked up two paintings for delivery to 928 Gallery. He wants me to exhibit the remaining pieces of Nightwalker in his gallery, but I said that I would rather make a new collection of 16 pieces for exhibit next year.

Chito arrived from work and took lunch before proceeding to Mandaluyong.

Angelique and Aubrey took their lunch in the dining room.

Saw Aubrey off to university.

Two-hour, morning nap.

An early lunch alone.

At last, Friday.

How many dreams were shattered since Friday last?

How many dreams came true?

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a camp bonfire in the forest of outer space.

Aubrey arrived from university and dinner out.

One of them Poked me again. And so, I Poked him back.

This was a long day. A long Thursday. Looking forward to staying home the whole day tomorrow. I need to wait for Jeffrey to pick up two paintings to sell in his gallery anyway. After he does that, I'll set up the 4.5' x 6' cradled canvas on the easel and commence my next painting for Maryhill School of Theology.

A Cubao Cocktail. Feeling woozy. Hoping to drop unconscious on my bed tonight.

Angelique arrived from college and ordered food from outside via Grab food delivery.

Dinner at home alone.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Waiting for Angelique to arrive from college and Aubrey from university.

Back from jalan-jalan.

Bought the small dollhouse dojo. It will do for Christmas for myself. Also bought a miniature Chinese table and two benches to place on the top level. Found tiny braziers among my miniatures and placed those too. I'm sure I have more chinoisserie, but will have to hunt for more dollhouse furniture.

The salesperson said that the doors don't open and close, but they do.

Hail, Bruce Lee! This is our Fist of Fury master's house.

Facebook seemed to do away with Birthday Notifications because, when someone greets you a Happy Birthday and you cannot remember why you accepted his Friend Request, your tendency is to immediately unFriend him.

Birthday Notifications WAS one of the best listings and aids for deciding whom to unFriend.

Saw Angelique off to university.

Chito arrived from work and took lunch before proceeding to Mandaluyong.

Lunch at home with Angelique.

Bought our lunch food at our two favorite hawkers' stands. Also bought papaitan, which I haven't had in a long time.

A dead cat in the gutter, presumably hit by a vehicle. And then a motor rider ran over a dog, and the dog died.

Not a day for street animals.

Now two fire engines wailed by, headed west of Cubao.

Bad Thursday.

Staying home today. Must work with three models for my next painting.

Saw Aubrey off to university. She's feeling a little better.

Good morning, Cubao!

The clouds are gift boxes wrapped in pearlescent paper.

You go out into the night with a glass of liquor in your hand, ice cubes knocking on each other like crystal dice in a dice cup. You listen to the orchestrated humming of air-conditioners on the compound. Beyond those walls, people are in bed and sleeping. Only the moon and the stars and the clouds and the black trees can see you. You close your eyes and ride on the sound of the night. And fly. To the person you love most.

The werewolf crossed the street to the burger stand. He always gives a second cheeseburger to the compound security guard.

Brandy night. Feeling woozy. Danger. Werewolf turning into werewolf.

A possible Spirit Quest December 7, 2019.

Dinner at home alone; Aubrey took her dinner out before arriving.

Asked Michael to send some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Angelique arrived from university with a take-home dinner.

5. Ikaw ang aking lihim
Walang pangalan, walang uri

Kandadong may susing
Tinapon ko sa bangin

Saliksikin man
Di kayang hanapin

Kalawanging susi sa paanan ng bangin
Isang araw, may pupulot din

Pagtatakhan kung sino'ng nagmay-ari
At kung pulubi ba siya o hari

Pagdating ng araw, wala na itong awit
Sa tinagal ng panahon, ako't ikaw rin

Kayraming lihim na dinala sa libingan
Kayraming langit na walang pintuan

Aubrey arrived from university. Still feeling under the weather.

Di kita dadalawin nang walang pahintulot
Pero sasanggain ko ang bawat mong bangungot
Kukumutan kita ng tulog na mahimbing
Kunot ng noo mo'y maingat kong hahaplusin

Paggising mo sa umaga, di ako ang nasa isip
Kundi ang buhay mong napakalayo sa 'kin
Di mo rin makita, ngiti ko sa hangin
Bulong ng pag-ibig, di mo rin marinig

Sometimes the sign is the absence of a sign.

You can read the dregs of black, instant coffee the way you can read tea leaves in a cup.

1) Place your normal amount of coffee powder in your cup.
2) Pour a little hot water into the cup. Do not stir. Instead, gently make the liquid swill at the bottom of the cup.
3) Add as much hot water as you want.
4) After consuming the coffee, you will note an image at the bottom of the cup. Interpret properly.

You will be surprised at the myriad of images the coffee cups will give you. 

Know how to jump-start a magical reversal for things to go in your favor.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun opens the pages from the Book of Lights.

Claimed something from M. for Chito.

And now a Cubao Cocktail. Feeling woozy. Danger. Turning into werewolf.

Sino

ang mahal mo
kaya't di mo 'ko mahal
ang nagmamahal sa 'yo
at ang mahal mo rin

Saan

ang nagmamahal sa 'yo
at siyang mahal mo na
at ang di mo mahal
kahit mahal ka pa

Ano

ang patutunguhan ng mahal mo
at nagmamahal sa 'yo
at saka ng nagmamahal sa 'yo
pero di mo naman mahal

Bakit

ka pa rin mahal
ng di mo mahal

At alin

Sa pag-ibig namin
ang totoong walang hanggan

Look, Dick, look.

The framers deliver another 4.5' x 6' piece of cradled canvas for another painting for Maryhill School of Theology. Will do four paintings in a row for Maryhill before resuming my series of portraits of contemporary Filipino writers.

Back from a one-to-one tutorial with a student. Lunch and an exercise. Brought him to his ride after.

And then went shopping.

Saw Aubrey off to university.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is the god of your favorite convictions.

Now a glass of red wine.

Feeling slightly woozy.

Danger; do not converse with me on Chat.

Angelique and I rode to the center together after lunch today. She went to a Starbucks  coffee shop, I to the Cubao Leaky Cauldron, and then I did some shopping after.

Took a taxi home.

Aubrey arrived from university.

J. picked up Angelique in the evening and they came home together.

Dinner at home with Angelique, Aubrey, and J.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

For 15 solid minutes everything in my Newsfeed was in Cyrillic, Chinese, Khom, Arabic, and Hindi.

Ang matagumpay na tula ay yaong lubos mong naiintindihan bagamat hindi mo rin maintindihang lubos.

A brass owl for our youngest kuman thong, Daw (Shining Stars), and three owls for the kuman thongs' parent guides: Left to Right, owl carved out of the pink sapphire "Star of Siam" from Thailand, ceramic owl from Mexico, and crystal quartz owl from Brazil.

Back from jalan-jalan. Successfully controlled myself from over-shopping.

Aubrey's card is almost full because there is a Starbucks coffee shop on campus; Angelique's has a long way to go because she prefers studying in a coffee shop other than Starbucks.

As for myself, I am making slow progress. I can't get enough sexy coffee dates to have sexy conversations with.

Sat with Angelique while she took her lunch in the dining room.

A cup of green tea.

Thinking of going jalan-jalan. Might go to the center in a few.

Never make long-range plans with someone you don't love, with someone who loves you but whom you do not love, or with someone you love but who doesn't love you. You will only be facing a series of disappointments.

Lunch at home alone. Angelique still resting upstairs.

Your skin is chapping in your navel and orifices because your body is not receiving enough oil. Never look down on oily or "greasy" food the way pretentious people do. It keeps your skin supple, wrinkle-free, and moisturized. It is oil, not water, that moisturizes skin.

Saw Aubrey off to university.

Two cups very black coffee.

Once a chapter is done, edit and proofread it and then move on to the next.

So it is with life. Do not linger forever on one chapter no matter how much you love being there. Know how to say goodbye. Otherwise your novel will never get done.

Know that the hermit comes, but also know that the hermit goes.

Art and literature are the bread and water of the people.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a convoy of yellow school buses.

Asked Michael to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Back from dinner at the center with Angelique and Aubrey and my sisters Alice and Sylvia.

Retouched one painting to be installed at 928 Gallery.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun has 12 golden arrows in his quiver.

A BLTC sandwich and a root beer at M.'s cafe.

Now a Cubao cocktail. Mixed Ed and Yen's red wine with something else.

Must go to bed now. Might be meeting a student for a one-to-one tutorial tomorrow.

Ikaanim Na Pagsubok Ni Haring Salermo Kay Don Juan

Hatinggabi, dinig ko'y hinagpis
Kulog na pumagpag sa ulap
Kidlat na kumiskis sa ulan

Inisip ko, mula iyon sa 'kin
Pero tumingin ako sa puso ko
At walang lumbay roon, pag-ibig lamang

Akala ko, mula sa 'yo
Pero tiyak ko rin namang, hindi
Paano kasi magmumula sa 'yo

Bakit ikaw ang magtatangis
Samantalang ikaw ang naghagis
Sa dagat ng mahiwagang singsing

Ang singsing ang naghinagpis, at ang dagat
At ang kulog, at ang ulap
At ang kidlat, at ang ulan

At ang hatinggabi, at ang susunod pang
Mga hatinggabi, kahit ayaw ko nang marinig
Sa lahat ng panaginip, sa lahat ng daang madilim

Aubrey arrived from the family dentist's. She bought take-home dinner food.

Dinner at home alone.

Angelique doing volunteer service for the bar exams again.

Back from a Spirit Quest in Makati City.

Reserve your smile of love only for those who deserve it.

If Facebook Poking were a sexual act, I'd be all sexed out by three Friends by now.

Lunch at home with Aubrey; Angelique in college.

Countdown: Six hours to Spirit Quest.

When a door closes on you, do not knock on it again, for it was meant to be closed on you. Instead, walk on down the street, no matter how far the street takes you, until you find a door that is already open for you.

Slept nine hours last night.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is a new page in a leather-bound journal.

A fish fillet and vegetable dish and a root beer at M.'s cafe.

And so to bed. Must be well rested for a Spirit Quest that is scheduled tomorrow.

Angelique arrived from college and Aubrey arrived from university.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey.

A fist owl made of iron from South Korea, for our sixth kuman thong, Kittibun (Famous Fortune).

Kittibun is in charge of my creative writing, which I now publish in cyberspace.

Note that, from this angel, he looks like me.

Back from lunch, holiday-drink stickers, and a visit to Cubao Diagon Alley with a friend. 

One-hour, mid-morning nap.

An unexpected gift of brushes from Peter and Christine Bellen Ang. I love flat brushes.

Am painting their husband-and-wife portrait eventually.

First blood, November 4, 2019

Meeting a friend for lunch today to gain more stickers.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is covered with bubble wrap.

The werewolf crossed the street to the burger stand.

A Cubao Cocktail.

He is drunk and woozy again.

Getting ready to clean and retouch one painting and have it picked up by 928 Gallery, hopefully within the month.

Dinner at home. Then Aubrey arrived from university and Angelique arrived from college and had dinner at home.

Saw Angelique off to college.

E. visited. We discussed our pending, secret projects again.

Lunch at home with Angelique and J.

Chito arrived from work and took lunch before proceeding to Mandaluyong.

A moment in the kitchen with Chito and J. in which the presence of three men from three different generations was palpable.

Cubao rain.

The framers just departed my house with Tiger Lilies (Portrait of Genevieve Asenjo).

I love it whenever an art work departs my house and frees up my studio space.

My friends ask me why I don't like exhibiting. The fact is, I have nothing to exhibit. I have no paintings in storage. When my works leave the house I almost never see them again.

If you want your iced drink to be as cold as an arctic lake:

--The bottom third of your glass should be comprised of frozen, drinking water (therefore placed in the freezer beforehand)
--The glass should then be filled with ice, and your drink poured in.

Saw Aubrey off to university.

Took a morning nap immediately after breakfast with neither the air-conditioner nor the fan on, and slept in room temperature for four hours. Woke up at noon.

Lunch at home alone.

Now waiting for the framers to pick up Tiger Lilies (Portrait of Genevieve Asenjo) for delivery to the subject's condo unit.

Good morning, Cubao!

The clouds keep files of all the dreams your teacher sends you.

A fish fillet and vegetable dish and unsweetened pineapple juice at M.'s cafe.

Aubrey arrived from university and dinner out.

Dinner at home alone. Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Angelique and J. arrived from college and dinner out.

Waiting for Aubrey to arrive from university and dinner out.

Back from the center. Accomplished three very important things.

Walked back home in the drizzle.

Saw Angelique off to college.