Down to 513 from 520.
I must say, it's getting harder and harder to weed out Friends, so I'll go with this number for a month or two.
Photo by JR Dalisay / April 21, 2017
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey.
Asked Q to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.
Brian showed me a jar of organic fertilizer he concocted. We are to apply it on the vegetable plants tomorrow.
My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then spending some time watching online videos.
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Neil and I went up to the roof deck to water the vegetables. The sprouts are not yet big enough to be transferred to individual boxes.
To view the photos, go to my Facebook Wall at https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3764608830292483&set=pcb.3764610370292329. If blogger does not enable you to open the link, go to Facebook and Paste the link on your browser.
Strawberry sponge cake with tres leches delivery.
Neil takes Yukiko Taka on a Saturday afternoon walk.
To view the photos and captions, go to my Facebook Wall at https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3764580723628627&set=pcb.3764583436961689. If blogger does not enable you to open the link, go to Facebook and paste the link onto your browser.
Friday, February 26, 2021
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Your Messenger message:
"Dear sir Tony.. Pagbati po
"
I hope it is alright to share these dreams with you, and to ask for guidance as to their meaning. These are dreams of my younger brother that he received on the same day (Feb 24) in 2017 and then again this year 2021.
"Feb 24 2017
"The asteroid was humongous. It became bigger as it got closer. Then it hit us, and it was fast. There was a loud, fiery explosion. I saw everything flying towards me and then I felt nothing anymore. No pain at all.
"The afterlife was calm and quiet. Almost nobody was talking. Finally, God reigns again.
I tried to fly like how I used to do in my dreams. It was an effort at first and then I could fly low. Two old ladies joined me. I saw them go up. I looked at my surroundings and I was amazed. It was exactly how it looked like in my dreams. Everything was how I saw things in my dreams. And then tears of joy fell down my cheeks. Everything seemed real and not just a dream anymore.
"Feb 24 2021
"I, together with some people, am watching from afar the huge burning in the horizon. Great balls of fire hurled down from the sky. It was like the explosion of nuclear bombs but far more devastating than what is shown in videos. It was scary and we knew we'll be dead any moment.
"Suddenly, a huge, burning thing like a mountain came towards us. I thought we were getting a direct hit, but it went past above us and it exploded from behind us. Then the atmosphere changed, I felt the earth move. I knelt down with my head on the pavement and I placed my hands against my nape and waited for things to fall down on me. I was so scared and I knew the time has come and death was coming to me. I was scared of the pain.
"I heard the wailing of people, everyone was scared like me. People were shouting and crying and there was no refuge. It was the end of the world.
"Suddenly it became windy and cold, perhaps because of the shockwave from the blast. But it became freezing cold, and from my crouching position, I moved my index finger and wrote something on the pavement: 'I love you, God. Jesus, I will see you soon.'
"I didn't feel anything after that. I was suddenly brought to a place where young people were seated, watching someone speak from the front. It was Jesus. I knew it was Him. Maybe because He looked like the illustrations in the books. Jesus had a beard and looked really handsome. I asked the young man seated next to me what that place was. He shrugged and whispered, 'Another earth'. He was Caucasian and I noticed then that we were a mixture of different races. However, one thing was common: we were all young, like teenagers. I felt young as well. I touched my face and it was smooth. My hearing was perfect and my vision clear, unlike the usual that when I would look at things I needed my eyeglasses to see clearly.
Somebody talked to me and told me there was one thing Jesus didn't like in here: We should never think ill of anyone. 'Never think that someone took something from you. Never complain about anything because the Lord provides you with everything.'
"Next scene I was back on earth like the normal days, as if nothing happened and no destruction happened. I was playing with my nephew but I was still thinking about how happy I was to see Jesus.
"SALAMAT PO...
My reply::
Hello ________!
Your brother's dreams indicate major changes he is undergoing in his life due to a loss or to losses, whether material, social, or romantic. In both dreams, the afterlife is a wish-fulfillment state of peace and well-being. His psyche/higher consciousness/superego manifests more explicitly in the second dream as Jesus.
The statements "Another earth" and "(T)he Lord provides you with everything" should make it clear to your brother that his dreams clearly state his problem and its solution. Tell him to lean back, relax, and allow things to happen.
Your Messenger message:
"Hi Sir Tony. Hope all is well. I always look forward to your posts. Thanks for all the guidance.
Just want to share with you my dream yesterday. "A good friend of mine told me that he just visited Padre Pio shrine. He asked me to accompany him somewhere in South -Tagaytay Batangas area. I agreed and we passed by a small road which is not cemented. No houses on both sides but full of grass. "We decided to stop and grab some food for takeout. He told me that we will go to a place wherein he will show me some kind of magic later. So I asked him what type of magic. He said that he will throw something then I will see his whole body covered with neon green color. "When we were about to leave the fastfood, I said that I saw someone who looks familiar. So I stopped and moved closer to a group on the other table. I was surprised to see my brother (he passed away already years ago. I think I mentioned him to you last time Sir). To make sure, I took pictures of him and sent copies thru messenger to my family and they confirmed. I had this in mind when I saw him - How come he is alive? So he is just here all along?Who was the dead body that was given to us by the hospital a long time ago? In my dream he was busy talking to a group. "When I woke up I mentioned during lunch that my brother was in my dream. My eldest son suddenly reacted and said that he also had a dream that morning and my brother was in his dream too. "I am just wondering Sir why he appeared on both our dreams. If you may just give your insights. Thank you very much. Keep safe always."My reply:
Hello _____________!
Your dream summarizes your present state in life. The friend in your dream represents your psyche. He accompanies you on your continued, spiritual journey. He promises you a kind of magic that interests you.
Your psyche then indeed transforms, not to a neon green color (the color of enchantment, if you recall the green light that Princess Aurora followed as she ascended the tower where a spindle would prick her finger and cast her into a deep sleep of 100 years) but to another character--your deceased brother. It is possible that part of your journey is coming to understand his life, his personality, and his overall mystique. It is part of your objective to be able to explain your brother to your family. Your deceased brother, then, has become an element of your spirituality.
That your eldest son also dreamt of your brother is, to me, a mere coincidence. Whatever his dream was, your brother represented something else to him.
Spent part of the afternoon on the roof deck with Brian. We watered all of the plants and planted more vegetable seeds.
In the meantime everything we planted is growing, especially our garlic, which is growing fast.
I could stay forever on the roof deck. I love the songs of the birds in the dragon tree. I love the open sky. I love watching the sun traversing the west and beginning to set.
On the roof deck, I feel that I am in some rural area, not in bustling Cubao.
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Monday, February 22, 2021
"You have to love everyone," Bruce said, "not only women, but men as well. You don't have to have sex with a man, but you have to be able to relate to his separate physicality. If you don't, you will never be able to fight him, to drive your fist through his chest, to snap his neck, to gouge out his eyes."
--Bruce Lee in Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Saturday, February 20, 2021
Your Messenger message:
"Good afternoon, Sir Tony. I am sorry to bother you. I am writing this to seek for some advice if it's not too much to ask from you.
My reply:
Hello _________!
It is really quite sad; a friend of mine lost one pet cat after another to the same, apparently mysterious,virus.
The only advice I can give you is to bring your one, surviving kitten to the vet and ask him to her to save it as best they can.
Friday, February 19, 2021
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Angelique and Aubrey came down to lunch in the dining room.
Went jalan-jalan at the center. Had money changed, sent some money to my younger son Chito, paid our water utility bill, upgraded the granddaughters' bedroom pillows, bought two large mason jars to store our ground coffee in, and bought some trivial things for myself.
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
I suppose that puppies and kittens still cannot differentiate between spirits and those who live in physical bodies.
Since Yukiko Taka and I are always on the ground floor, she follows my every move and listens to everything I say, even if I am not addressing her. Tonight I caught her, once again, not paying attention to me but gazing, instead, at a tall entity invisible to me. She held her gaze as though listening intently to what the entity was telling her, and even rose and raised her paws as though she wanted to follow whoever or whatever it was. At first I thought that she was being visited by a deceased human being or one of her siblings who recently passed away. After a focused scanning I saw that it was the spirit of our peepal tree finally inviting her to the next elfin ball inside the dragon tree.
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Brian, Bertod, and I resumed work on the roof deck. More cleaning, more replanting.
We moved all of the decorative plants to the Kwan Yin shrine, where Cerefina's and Kichiro Mayuzumi's graves are located.
Planting of vegetables began, and so this is Day 1 of our roof deck vegetable farm, a joint project of our family and M.'s cafe. Brian, who grew up doing farm work, planted string bean, Chinese celery, bell pepper, chili pepper, bitter melon, and garlic.
We plan to buy more vegetable seeds sometime soon, including some that might involve the construction of trellises. Can't wait to take photos when everything is growing.
Perhaps on the downside, our roof deck has begun to lose its Tennessee Williams atmosphere, the same atmosphere in the garden-with-Tampinco-bagneuse-fountain of the old Army-Navy Club in Ermita. Yes, the lanterns and statuary and park bench and marble table and Vietnam stools are still there, but the place is no longer as poetic as it was. Years ago, with the overhead and spot lights on, Angelique and Aubrey used to read their textbooks there at night.
Monday, February 15, 2021
First saw this enhanced close-up on Jocellyn's Wall, which she shared from Bogart the Explorer on Twitter. I Commented that I wouldn't recognize the man had I met him in the street. His face never looks the same in other photos, paintings, and statues, perhaps due to constant editing, the way people in authority edit the lives of saints.
I like the friendly grin and mirthful right eye, but am disturbed by the cold, almost ruthless, glare of the enlarged left eye.
Saw another electronic announcement asking for financial help for an artist who is gravely ill. It is truly sad that there are no real arts industries that keep artists employed and give them regular salaries to cover their food, utility, and medication bills.
There are no real arts industries in the Philippines because of the ancient Chinese "Third Wife" mentality. In ancient China, prosperous men usually had three wives. First wife took charge of household administration. Second wife took charge of the education of the children. And third wife--to her was assigned painting, music, dance, calligraphy, flower arrangement, and interior decoration, almost as an afterthought and even as though none of it were necessary.
That is the subconscious mentality that pervades society today, especially in times of hunger and economic survival.
Sunday, February 14, 2021
Down to 539 Friends from 5,000. I am stuck at this number for now. Feel free to unFriend me so I can have less. But, I will not add more.
These are the Friends I can hopefully grow older, share my innermost thoughts, and spend my last days with.
Another way of putting it is that you are my guests on a private yacht that will take us on my strange adventures.
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Friday, February 12, 2021
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Your Messenger message:
"Good afternoon po Sir Tony! Mag share po ako ng panaginip ko kagabi. We were in a big event center tapos upon arrival may security tapos sabi bawal daw po naka tsinelas then i opened my bag meron pala ako dala nagpalit po ako. Then nung nasa loob na po kami medyo feeling uneasy na ako tapos sabi ko po mag banyo ako. Then nung nag CR po ako may bata na gusto pumasok tapos nakita ako kasi hindi maayos lock system nung cr. Tapos otw pabalik sa area po eh may nakasalubong kami na natapunan ako ng juice sa damit. Tapos pag akyat po namin sa event center nagdecide na icheck ang mga gamit na iniwan sa baba pagbalik namin eh nanakaw na po yung ibang mga gamit. Yung buong panaginip po eh ang kasama ko ay pamilya ng boypren ko po. Nagising po ako sa halo halong emosyon nang nanakawan na may sense of relief may mga importanteng bagay na hindi nanakaw kasi hindi naman po lahat kinuha at iba pa ponh emosyon sa ibang nangyari sitwasyon dun sa panaginip. Ano po kaya ang ibig sabihin nito?
"Salamat po sa inyong panahon sir Tony."My reply:
Hello __________!
This was a mild anxiety dream. You may have been making wrong decisions in your life lately, particularly in connection with your work. Your current feelings of insecurity are reflected in the dream: having to follow others' rules, bag inspection, the need to go to a rest room, being intruded or spied on by a stranger-child, having juice accidentally thrown on your clothes, and being stolen from/losing things. All of these indicate that you are not in control of your life at the present time and that you may even be, in a sense, clutching at straws.
My advice is for you to step back, relax, and be a passive observer for the meantime until you have fully gathered your wits. Do not multitask or try to accomplish more than one thing at the same time. Ground yourself with a nice cup of coffee or tea. This is the right time to think of raindrops and roses and your other favorite things.
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Monday, February 8, 2021
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Your Messenger message:
"Hi Sir! Just worried about an aunt who passed away last month. She died alone in a pension home in the States and was discovered only 2 days after, lying on her sofa. She was in her late 80's.
"It is sad that during her later years, she was most of the time bitter and always picked fights with some relatives on social media and private message. "My last contact with her was through messenger last Jamuary. I greeted her happy new year. She greeted back, 'Happy birthday! I love you!' I found it touching as it was only five days before she passed away. "But now I am concerned because her daughter asked for prayers this morning. As she was organizing my aunt's clothes, she was able to smell a strong odor like vomit. It disappeared as she put out my aunt's medicines from the same bag. "Do we need to pray particular prayers? Or is it ok to mentally talk to her to ease her spirit? She may have been sometimes difficult to other people but she remained sweet to me in the past years. "Thank you for interpreting my dream the last time. Have a productive week ahead, Sir!My reply:
Hello __________!
Prayers and spoken messages are both in order.
It appears that she'd been especially hurt by that daughter for some reason in the past, but all of that is water under the bridge.
Your aunt chose to have this life before she was born, and she is currently making her choice for the next one.
One-hour, afternoon nap.
Then Brian, Neil, and I went up to do some serious work on the roof deck. We are retaining the Kwan Yin shrine, but are transforming the rest of the roof deck to M.'s vegetable garden. The produce will not be for sale but for our own consumption.
Exhausting, but it is quite therapeutic to work in soil and mud.
Watched the sunset from the roof deck. After dusk fell, the halogen lamps on P. Tuazon Boulevard went on, glowing beneath dark clouds and an orange sky. Should have brought my camera. The scape looked like the back of a Bengal tiger.
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Saturday, Saturday
UnFriended more non-interactive Friends.
Now down to 2,476 from 5,000. Yes, I am more than halfway through my original List of 5,000 and am going further down to 500 or 200.
I have already sworn to myself never to have more than 500 or 200 Friends again. Going through the List is a real and a literal pain in the neck.
Friday, February 5, 2021
Every year during Arts Month, instead of mounting exhibits all over the place, make an effort to encourage private institutions to create legitimate arts industries that will ensure employment for all arts graduates.
The arts are not just all about creativity and self-expression. They should be means of livelihood, profitable businesses, and sources of lifetime security.
A mug of pure, chamomile tea. Turned on the Turkish lamp on our writing table and the faux Moroccan lamp above our credence table. Sat in the foyer watching compound tenants pass by. Now Lydia is sweeping dead leaves off the driveway and I love the soothing sound, like the sound of waves on a shore.
Dusk is descending on Cubao. A peaceful Friday evening.
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
I am saddened by the demise of Naty Crame-Rogers, truly a grand lady of Philippine theater. She and her husband, Colonel Joe Rogers, were proactive contacts of the Embassy of the U.S.A. in Manila during the time that I was employed there. Her life turned bleak when Joe passed away some years ago. She had to sell their fabulous house in Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig--a house I will well remember for its huge, white, Thai spirit house that guests were invited to pour water on, her life-size portrait by a famous Thai artist, their son's wonderful oil paintings, their framed, batik collection, the awesome, rustic, open-air buffet parapet along the side of their dining room, and, of course, the living room where her Sala Theater Group performed a variety of chamber plays.
Before I retired from work I was able to help Naty out by purchasing from her the Thai bed and two side tables that were located in a corner of their master's bedroom and an ornate, brass, Thai cremation urn. In turn she gifted me with her mask collection from Indonesia and Thailand, including a pair of comedy-tragedy masks from New Orleans, a bronze image of the goddess of fire that she instructed me to hang somewhere in the center of our house, a set of hand-painted, clay, katakali dancer statuettes, and a pair of hard-rubber statuettes from Borneo. Most of these were gifts to her by her admirers from Asia.
I should have visited her, but I thought that she would live forever.
Monday, February 1, 2021
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