Write and paint because they are easy, not because they are difficult. Otherwise enjoy life and do easy things instead.

His mousy, spinsterish mien makes him a poor candidate for negoitating with world leaders.

"The old boys" band together and uphold their traditionalist values.

It is unwise to let others dictate what is good and what is bad for you.

The artists made their political biases clear, and now they neither have sponsors nor audiences.

Now watch out for fhying insects in droves.

Now that the old director's heyday is over, he fears the onset of poverty and the mockery of his peers.

They can no longe beg for money from a dead producer.

Many men deny what does not conform to their idea of reality.

Never allow your religion to prevent you from being yourself.

Your body will tell you when to rest and when to rise.

Feel free to hex people who make you wait unnecessarily. That includes doctors and City Hall officials.

Romantic love will always distract you from your true mission.

Now that The Crowning of Mary is done, all of the paintings in the Reading Room of the Glorious Mysteries on the second floor of the library of Maryhill School of Theology are complete.

The paintings are:

--Adoration of the Magi

--The Glorious Mysteries: The Resurrection

--The Glorious Mysteries: Ascension

--The Glorious Mysteries: Descent of the Holy Spirit

--The Glorious Mysteries: Mary Is Assumed Into Heaven

--The Glorious Mysteries: The Crowning of Mary

--Saint Sebastian

--The Pauline Letters

--Peter Is Called to Ministry and Martyrdom

I will soon schedule a guided tour of the paintings in this reading room and the albeit still incomplete paintings in the lobby and four other reading rooms (three on the ground floor and another on the second floor of the library).

Will probably serve pizza and soda, but I cannot include the public in this initial tour, because the group will be quite rowdy and irreverent with lots of laughing and hooting. It will be comprised of my models, neighbors, friends, Spirit Questors, and Joy Luck Club members, many of whom are not art lovers and will be coming mainly for the pizza and soda.

_THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: THE CROWNING OF MARY_

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: THE CROWNING OF MARY

Oil on cradled canvas

March 19 - April 28, 2025

For Maryhill School of Theology

For this painting I used the most number of reference photos, because of the inclusion of 12 crowns from 12 different appellations of the Blessed Virgin, some of which are canonical crowns. 

Inner circle, Left to Right: Crowns of Our Lady of Penafrancia, Our Lady of Remedies, Our Lady of Fatima, the Immaculate Conception, and Our Lady of La naval. 

Outer circle, Left to Right: Crowns of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Our Lady of the Pillar, Our Lady of Guidance,

Several motifs are carried over from The Glorious Mysteries: The Resurrection: the motif of angels and the motif of sunrise, and, from _The Glorious Mysteries: Mary Is Assumed Into Heaven_, the Philippine Carnival Queen gown. After all, if the saints could be garbed in the raiment of the royal Renaissance Italians, I don't see why I can't do the same to them in tropical finery within the context of my own country. Maryhill School of Theology calls it enculturation. 

Aubrey sat for this painting, as she did for Descent of the Holy Spirit and  Mary Is Assumed Into Heaven. Leah sat for the two angels.

I no longer 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 freehand.

As with all other of my paintings, I followed a three-stage process:

1) Construction lines using photographic references, during which I completely enjoy the methods of groping

2) Layering and color blocking, ensuring that the entire canvas is covered with paint and thus eliminating the need for underpainting. At this point no matter how crude my images still are, everything is good as long as I know exactly how to refine them. 

3) Glazing on completely-dry layers. In this particular work, here is how 30 glazes on 15 opaque and semi-opaque layers looks like. The glazing process is always the longest of all.

Can you see the hidden messages in this painting?

The auditory stimulus I used while working on this painting is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s. Do listen to it while viewing the work, but the lyrics have nothing to do with the subject matter of the painting.

Photo by Neil de Leon

Construction lines took me two days to compose.

Layering and color hlocking. Seven layers were applied befpre this photo was taken. Afterward, the background was filled in with a mixture of alizarin and titanium white.

This is how 30 glazes on 15 opaque and semi-opaque layers looks like.

Worked an hour on 30th glaze.

This painting is finished, March 19 - April 28, 2025, and awaits vernissage.

Now facing a lazy Monday afternoon.

Have fun, ensuring that it will not be the cause of your death. Almost everyone forgets that.

Many men hold fast to their religion because it is their only comfort in death and in journeys into the unknown.

A great disappointment due to internal politics and racial discrimination.

Rest adequately before meals. Never plunge into lunch or dive into dinner.

Be happy to pay karma in this lifetime. It frees up your future.

Slept well last night, and today, Easter Sunday, does feel like a brand-new day.

Now they with an F need to take especial care.

No news is good news.

An ice cube melting in your mouth really helps.

Great service on Good Friday!

We ordered an LPG tank and it arrived five minutes later.

A group of cheerful spirits will come into your bedroom tonight and greet you hello just as you are drifting off to sleep.

What happens next is up to you.

Shared from Elias:

Another month of unbearable heat and then the rains will come traipsing in.

Permanently avoid everyone--friends and non-friends--who expect you to give them paintings for free--or who haggle with you over the prices of your paintings. 

They have no authentic appreciation of art, and rhey will never have it.

Aubrey flew in from Bangkok.

A pair of diving flippers arrived for Angelique.

Our electrician installed our compound address and spotlight on our gate, Will turn the light on as soon as it gets dark.

Happy Birthday to Princess, the cafe baby, who turns three years old today.

Her third eye is open.

Friday, April 11, 2025

Pampanga-food lunch on a whim at Abe Restaurant Gateway 2 Araneta Center

Jerwin creates a miniature figure of me with the assistance of AI. Its accessories include my twisted wand from Australia, two paint brushes, and a quill pen.

His prototypes:

Chito in Occidental Mindoro, Aubrey in Bangkok.

Neil attending a cousin's wedding, Jerome on day off.

Bought two more bottles taba ng talangka and had Jerome's kinilaw na bangus for dinner.

My younger son Chito sailed in from Occidental Minoro to attend

a wedding as a sponsor in Navotas. He joined us for lunch at home Sunday April 6, our family mahjong day, and Monday, April 7.

Today, April 9, he and his companions made the rounds of Gateway and Greenhills. I treated them to sandwiches and red iced tea at M.'s cafe. He is sailing back to Mindoro with his companions this evening.

Be wary. Peanut allergy develops when least expected.

Fundamentalists are seldom truly sophisticated.

After attending a wedding as sponsors in Navotas, my younger son Chio and companions are sailing back to Occidental Mindoro by ferryn boat tonight.

Aubrey flies to Thailand tomorrow for a brief vacation. Her trip was booked and confirmed long before the big earthquake happened.

Gradpa is happy to stay home as usual.

My colleagues, especially those with estranged family members, could never understand this, that the greatest award I have ever received in life is a happy and loving family.

It is something that one must work sincerely, consistently, and hard for.

And, once you have it, you realize that the award was given to you, in particular, by God Himself.

John reported for work today. He is now encoding a second volume of my plays, Kapag Pahamak Si Kapatid_(Volume 8 of my Collected Works), comprised of  Ang Panginoon sa Driod, Isang Pangyayari sa Planas Site, and Ang Mga Berdugo.

This one's a dark volume, actually.

Fire, earth, and air have spoken.

Water speaks next.

The director, not considering his age and his physical limitations, is now allowing stress to bring him to the grave.

Some people are angels.

My "classmate" Bernadette is one of them.

I am positive about it.

In order to create clean and precise construction lines, you have to know how to draw. 

Therefore, you need to learn how to draw before you learn how to paint.

Left, Chito and Ivy's wedding portrait. 

Center, March 2025 portrait with my granddaughters Angelique and Aubrey, by Great Image SM Cubao Araneta Center. 

Right, with my granddaughters Angelique and Aubrey circa 2015, some ten years ago, when they were still in school, by Hedwig de Leon.

Photo by Neil de Leon

Tea from Angelique's work-related trip to Batanes, goodies and Lappish stone pendants from George's work-related trip to Berlin and Stockholm, Sweden

From the Internet: "'Lappish stone' or 'Lappish blood'[ refers to the mineral eudialyte, a type of mineral often found in Lapland, and is used in jewelry and other crafts by the Sámi people."

Photo by Neil de Leon

Like Chad's, Jerome's third eye is open. Less than a month ago I dreamt that I was going down the staircase late at night and was surprised to see that all of the ground-floor lights were on. When I entetred the living area I saw the white, boy-mannequin dancing with Prtincess, the cafe baby.

I told Jerome of this dream, after which he disclosed that the white, boy-mannequin had been disturbing his sleep several times.

We are both glad that our neighbor Glenn is now the new owner of the white, boy-mannequin. for he claimed it on a recent, Bilbo Baggins afternoon.

Jerome continues to be visited by transients at night, though.

Ten years after I retired in 2015, everyone thinks I still care about so many things I used to care about.

Today is the Qing Ming Festival, also known as the Brightness Festival and the Sweeping of Tombs.

It is a day to honor, show respct to, and revere one's ancestors.

They should start replacing the 20-peso bills with new ones. They've become as floppy as dead lettuce.

One of our favorite restaurants is moving out soon from the old Shopwise/Fiesta Carnival building to Gateway 2. The old building, which is massive and an entire block long, will soon be demolished and give way to a new, high-rise, commercial building.

I was only in seventh grade when that building was launched. It housed the Japanese mall Matsuzakya, among other establishments.

Will surely be missing it, since it was part of my boyhood in Cubao.

Bank day with Marvin, Neil, and LM. Paid our electric bills, bought some hardware for a huge armoire, and had lunch out.

Photo by Neil de Leon

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. 

 John reported for work today and brought me an unexpected, rainbow cake.

Yum! Love the strawberry and purple yam layers!

Mico sends me a bakeshop goodie.

Vannie sends me savories.

Family mahjong day

M.'s cafe sends us fried noodles to add to our supper.

March 30, 2025, the day before my 74th birthday

Angelique treated us to lunch at Conti's Gateway 1 Araneta Center. 

Joel sends me a chocolate cake.

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

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.

March 30, 2025, the day before my 74th birthday

Angelique treated us to a photo shoot at Great Image SM Cubao Araneta Center, then to lunch at Conti's Gateway 1. Marvin was my caregiver that day, and so we included him in some of the shots.

My family is my greatest treasure.

And, all of those girls who participated in reality-show fashion model competitions--after all the adventures, misadventures, and engineered bitching, where are they now? What are they now?

The changing of the seasons always prevents one from being consumed by boredom.

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.

Remember this, that the majority of voters do not think and reason like university graduates.

University graduates are always a minority.

Painting is a heavily mental and a  heavily physical act.

 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

A very enterprising "classmate" in hemodialysis sells food to the nurses, technicians, and even the elevator girls.

So far I have bought from her bottles of home-made Salinas sardines, sinardinas na bangus, two bottles burong Kapampangan (one plain and one spicy), and two bottles taba ng talangka.

Never sell to officemates. They're some of  the biggest cheapskates in the world.

Worked an hour on first layer.

Went to bed 5:00 PM yesterday evening and rose 7:30 AM this morning, though I recall rising briefly three times in the night: once to take a light supper, another to go to the bathroom, and a third to work an hour online.

So strange, but the two female Abba singers always make me think of Dagwood and Blondie.

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.

Calling it a day for painting,

Will probably commence layering and color blocking on Sunday.

Photo by Neil de Leon

Finally turned my back on Charms sour candy balls and Life Savers in favor of sugar-free drops. Of the 28 flavors, these six are my favorites.

Photo by Neil de Leon

John reported for work this afternoon.

Worked a fourth hour on construction lines

Worked an hour on construction lines.

The Crowning of Mary begins today, Wednesday, March 19, 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.

Above, faceted, oval amethyst encircled by a brass serpent

Below, antique, sterling silver cross pendant encrusted with faceted amethysts and marcasite

Photo by Neil de Leon

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.

A collection of jewelry is precious in more ways than one, because each piece is associated with at least one, wonderful memory.

Look, Dick, look!

A new piece of cradled canvas arrived this morning. Now I can start working on The Crowning of Mary.

Will need to finish two paintings after this: a religious painting for Ces's school and a portrait of Yvette.

I lose my appetite when I am surrounded by too much food.

Jerome's day off. He spent most of last night helping the cooks for M. and Rose's wedding celebration, which will be held today. All of their wedding sponsors were invited.

Friday, March 14, 2025

Lunch at Bellini's Cubao Shoe Expo, our favorite oasis in the district

Friday, March 14, 2025

Third eye injection

My father's birthday

He was a Tiger.

"Though I see the danger there/
If there's a chance for me, then I don't care/"

Aubrey went jogging with a friend. Angelique arrived from Thailand. George picked her up at the airport.

I am turning 74 this year and my granddaughters are close to their 30s, but I still worry about them when they're not home.

I wonder if my parents did the same for me when I was young,

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.

Friday, March 7, 2025

The Joy Luck Club meets again for lunch and the 34th Bilbo Baggins afternoon.

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.

Sometimes you look forward to eventually reuniting with a deceased, loved one, without considering that he or she actually may not want to see you again.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Lunch out, for a change of place

Wearing embroidered, silk scarves from France via Rustan's Gift Pavilion

Photo by Neil de Leon

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.

Angelique in Thailand. Just saw videos of her feeding an elephant and eating at a sumptuous Thai buffet.

My elder son Nelson's death anniversary (1998)

Lighting candles at our family altar and columbary.

Today my eldest baby Angelique earned her open-water certificate from Scuba Diving International. She aims to go for advanced eligibility, and then apply for another certification at DENR.

In photo, Angelique and George.

Angelique and Aubrey are leaving soon on separate trips to Thailand.

Organized religion will always be the death of authentic culture.

Prolonged anger and resentment cause cancer.

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.

Akoya blue pearls for my granddaughters Angelique and Aubrey. The pearls take their blue color naturally from the blue interior of the shells the oysters are in. Not all of the oyster shells are blue, that is why blue pearls are rare.

Middle-class students manifest erratic and violent behavior because they frequently take energy drinks, especially when they ae cramming for exams.

Teachers who are ahead of their time are always resented by their educational institutions--and then sorely missed, years later.

Work hard to achieve the best reward of all--a happy, loving, close-knit, non-dysfunctional family--and you will also have achieved treasures greater than what other men have.

February 12, 2025

John, I, and Henson. We are standing in front of the bookshelf containing my treasured, Judge Dee volumes.

Photo by John Tigno

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

The voting public is comprised of ungrateful children.

It is her refusal to pay up that makes her lose out on many deals.

The warm breezes forebode an early summer.

At the workplace, it is all right to lose the battle if you will end up winning the war.

White dumpling plates

I gave the green set to my sister Alice, because she also hosts meals for our sisters and brothers-in-law whenever they come visiting from Sydney.

All of these will do. I don't need any more dumpling plates.

Photo by Neil de Leon

George sends Angelique flowers for Valentine's Day.

 Always light joss sticks round the house.

Live to continue living, not to wait for your life to slowly deteriorate.

More dumpling plates

The shell-shape honors the goddess of the ocean, the color green, her son, the god of iron.

I will say it again here: If you love your family, you will take continued interest in upgrading your dinnerware.

Photo by Neil de Leon

Your enemies die first because he who dies last will always have the last word.

When light is turned off, it just goes. It doesn't trail off like sound or like liquid.