carol's choco factory
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Another creation's creation
My daughter wrote this short story as an entry to a short story writing contest in 3rd grade. It didn't win but in my heart, it did!
Butterfloat, butterflip, butterfly!
One day, a pupa was hanging on a leaf of a mango tree. Right beside it was a building. And there on that floor near where the pupa hung, was a ballet class. And each time the pupa would hear the music, it would swing back and forth, back and forth.
One morning, as Tara was practicing her dance for her ballet recital, the pupa cracked open. Slowly the butterfly stuck out its left wing. After a moment, it stuck out its right wing. And in the next few minutes, the whole butterfly was out of its pupa. But instead of flying away, it just hang on.
It watched Tara practice; and slowly tried to imitate her. When Tara stretched her arms, it tried to stretch its own wings. It tumbled and laughed. When Tara put her arms together, it also tried to put its wings together. Luckily, it worked! As Tara was practicing dancing, the butterfly was practicing flying!
Little by little, the butterfly let go of the pupa. First floated. Then flipped. And then at last, it flew! What a graceful butterfly dancing in the air!
Butterfloat, butterflip, butterfly!
One day, a pupa was hanging on a leaf of a mango tree. Right beside it was a building. And there on that floor near where the pupa hung, was a ballet class. And each time the pupa would hear the music, it would swing back and forth, back and forth.
One morning, as Tara was practicing her dance for her ballet recital, the pupa cracked open. Slowly the butterfly stuck out its left wing. After a moment, it stuck out its right wing. And in the next few minutes, the whole butterfly was out of its pupa. But instead of flying away, it just hang on.
It watched Tara practice; and slowly tried to imitate her. When Tara stretched her arms, it tried to stretch its own wings. It tumbled and laughed. When Tara put her arms together, it also tried to put its wings together. Luckily, it worked! As Tara was practicing dancing, the butterfly was practicing flying!
Little by little, the butterfly let go of the pupa. First floated. Then flipped. And then at last, it flew! What a graceful butterfly dancing in the air!
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Crossings
slash... and cross!
I was up so many nights and mornings helping out on this girl's cross stitch project. The last time I did any cross stitch was more than five years ago when I once again attempted to finish the personalized Christmas stockings I started for her and her kuya when she was born. She turns 10 on Thursday.
Sadness
Four years ago, after a seeing yellow bells all over Subic, I decided to get one for my garden. I went to Claire's Greenhearts, and got myself not just yellow bells, but purple bells as well.
Four years later the purple bells must have grown four malnourished branches, each one measuring three feet. But the yellow bells? Oooh, they fluorished in the sunshine and in the rain, draping lazily on our front fence, creeping sneakily over our side wall, prettily guarding the huge empty lot. But the 'sneaking' was short-lived. Shortly after, a big new house rose from the barren land, now protected by a 10-foot wall. Were my yellow bells disheartened? After all, their 'growth room' was now twice as high, blocking their daily playtime with the sun. And so they climbed... higher, longer, up and over the 10-foot wall, where they finally held court, basking in the all-day sun, stretching in every direction, dozens of blooms dotting the curtain of green.
Nice as they looked, my husband felt uneasy about our one of our own trespassing in the neighbor's territory. But they look good, I protested, and they made their side of the fence look good as well. But there was a bigger, less aesthetic problem: the vines had viciously made their way up, in and around the neighbor's main power line, and would pose an electrical problem in no time. And he was right. After all, he'd seen the neighboor eyeing the yellow bells in a not-so-appreciative way a few times. And so we sent the maid to tell the neighbor's gardener to feel free to trim the traspassing vines should they really get in the way. But for many more months, the yellow bells still bloomed in full glory, their overstaying status simply ignored.
And then last Thursday morning it happened. First to go were their Japanese bamboo, their bouganvillas, and then MY precious yellow bells---all limbs that grew over the wall, 'round the post and up the dapdap tree. I ate my breakfast in deep sadness.
The next day I sent Claire a text message about the amputation of the yellow bells. She texted back a word that summed up the mood and tone of the entire experience. "Condolence."
Four years later the purple bells must have grown four malnourished branches, each one measuring three feet. But the yellow bells? Oooh, they fluorished in the sunshine and in the rain, draping lazily on our front fence, creeping sneakily over our side wall, prettily guarding the huge empty lot. But the 'sneaking' was short-lived. Shortly after, a big new house rose from the barren land, now protected by a 10-foot wall. Were my yellow bells disheartened? After all, their 'growth room' was now twice as high, blocking their daily playtime with the sun. And so they climbed... higher, longer, up and over the 10-foot wall, where they finally held court, basking in the all-day sun, stretching in every direction, dozens of blooms dotting the curtain of green.
Nice as they looked, my husband felt uneasy about our one of our own trespassing in the neighbor's territory. But they look good, I protested, and they made their side of the fence look good as well. But there was a bigger, less aesthetic problem: the vines had viciously made their way up, in and around the neighbor's main power line, and would pose an electrical problem in no time. And he was right. After all, he'd seen the neighboor eyeing the yellow bells in a not-so-appreciative way a few times. And so we sent the maid to tell the neighbor's gardener to feel free to trim the traspassing vines should they really get in the way. But for many more months, the yellow bells still bloomed in full glory, their overstaying status simply ignored.
And then last Thursday morning it happened. First to go were their Japanese bamboo, their bouganvillas, and then MY precious yellow bells---all limbs that grew over the wall, 'round the post and up the dapdap tree. I ate my breakfast in deep sadness.
The next day I sent Claire a text message about the amputation of the yellow bells. She texted back a word that summed up the mood and tone of the entire experience. "Condolence."
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Friday, September 17, 2004
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
My creation's creation
(My son wrote this maikling kwentong pambata for his Filipino Honors class. The excercise began with the teacher asking them to come up with a list of things or traits that their parents had difficulty in teaching them when they were young. He chose not being able to talk in a loud voice.
Well, he still speaks softly but now he can speak out loud with his pen (or keyboard) as well. This piece was chosen as class entry to the year-level competion. I'm one proud mama!)
TILAOK SA BUKANG LIWAYWAY
Isang gabi, sa isang mapayapang baryo, may isang tandang na nag-aabang ng tamang oras para sa pagsikat ng araw. Siya si Onyok Tilaok, ang nanggigising sa lahat. Nang panahon na upang bumangon at gumising ang lahat, tumilaok si Onyok nang malakas, at ito’y gumising sa lahat ng mga tao’t kapwa hayop, kasabay ng pagsilip ng sikat ng araw… “TAK-TILAOOOOOK!!!” Ngunit pagkatapos niyang gawin ito, napansin niyang parang hindi ito kasing lakas ng mga nagawa niya noong nakaraang mga araw.
Tumilaok siya muli, at muli, at muli. “Hindi naman masama ang sumubok,” inisip niya.
“Oo nga, napapaos na ang aking boses,” sabi ni Onyok. “Siguro panahon na upang magpahinga na ako. Dapat ko na ipasa ang tungkuling ito sa aking anak na si Mulong.”
Si Mulong Pabulong ay isang binatang manok na tahimik at mahiyain. Natutulog siya nang magising siya sa na tilaok ng kanyang ama. Agad siyang nag-inat at tumuka ng kanyang agahang palay.
Nagkita ang mag-amang Onyok at Mulong sa harap ng kanilang kubo. Mukhang may mahalagang sasabihin ang tatay ni Mulong, kaya’t nakinig siya nang maigi.
“Anak! Paano na iyan, namamaos na ang boses ko. Oras nang ikaw na ang humawak ng tungkuling ito,” wika ni Onyok. “Matagal na itong ginagawa ng ating pamilya, kahit ang lolo mo, ginawa rin ito.”
“A-ako po?” Tanong ni Mulong. “Hindi ko pa ho kayang gawin iyan, mahiyain po ako…mahina po ang boses ko… at saka baka po…”
Sumagot ang kanyang ama. “Kaya mo ‘yan, Mulong, huwag ka nang mahiya, ako’y naniniwala sa iyo! Ang kailangan mo lang maalala’y ang pagtilaok nang malakas sa takdang oras, at magigising na ang araw.”
Noong gabing iyon, napasang-ayon na talaga si Mulong sa tulong ng kanyang ina. Maaga siyang nagising. Madaling araw pa lang, naghanda na si Mulong sa kanilang bakuran kung saan siya hihintayin ang takdang oras upang gisingin ang araw. Nang sumapit ang tamang oras, tinangka ni Mulong tumilaok. “Tak-tilaok, ”Isang mahinang tilaok ang lumabas sa kanyang bibig. Dalawang beses pa. “Tak-tilaok… Taktilaok…” Mahina pa rin.
“Naku, paano na ito? Hindi ako narinig? Bakit ayaw sumikat ng araw?” Tanong niya sa sarili niya.
Nang biglang mula sa malayo, may narinig si Mulong na tunog ng pumapagaspas na pakpak. “May nagising naman yata ako!” wika ni Mulong, at natuwa nang kaunti. Unti-unting lumalakas ang tunog ng mga pakpak. Hindi alam ni Mulong kung saan nanggagaling iyon, basta’t palapit nang palapit ang kung ano mang iyon sa kanya.
“Ikaw!!! Ikaw nga! Sa wakas! Nagugutom na ako! Gusto ko na ng dugo!” sabi ng boses, ang nagmamay-ari ng tunog ng payagpag ng mga pakpak.
Tumalikod si Mulong at nagulat sa kanyang nakita: isang paniki, na parang may masamang balak at tingin sa kanya. “Aahhh!!! Paniki!!!” Nagulat at natakot si Mulong.
“Humanda ka! Akin kaaaaaa!” Pasugod na sigaw ng paniki.
Agad namang tumakbo si Mulong sa takot ng humahabol sa kanya. “Hu-Huwag po!!!” Sigaw ni Mulong.
“Walang makakatulong sa iyo, tulog pa ang lahat! Kahit ang araw ay tulog pa!” Ito’y sagot niya, kasabay pa ng tawang may malisya.
Kumikitid at palapit na ang dulo ng daan na tinatakbuhan ni Mulong. Bigla na lang, may naalala si Mulong doon sa sinabi ng paniki, “Kahit ang araw ay tulog pa!” Humarap si Mulong sa humahabol sa kanya, at sa halo ng kanyang katakutan at katapangan, siya’y naglakas loob na lakasan ang boses niya. “TAK-TILAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKK!!!”
Sa lakas ng tilaok niya, biglang sumilip ang unang liwanag ng araw. Gising na ito! Humuni ang mga maya, bumuka ang mga gumamela, tumunog ang mga orasan, bumusina ang nagtitinda ng pandesal. Gising na ang lahat! Mabilis ang pagliwanag ng kalangitan, pati na rin ang buong kapaligiran. Nataranta naman ang paniki, nasilaw sa araw at matuling lumipad palayo hanggang mawala ito, at hindi na nagtangkang bumalik.
Pag-uwi ni Mulong, lumapit sa kanya ang kanyang mga magulang, at binati ang pagtatagumpay ng kanilang anak sa kanyang tungkulin.
Hindi lamang natutunan ni Mulong ang halaga ng lakas ng kanyang boses, kundi’t pati na rin ang pag-tupad ng isang napakalaking tungkuling ipinagkatiwala sa kanya: ang pagtilaok para sa bukang liwayway.
Well, he still speaks softly but now he can speak out loud with his pen (or keyboard) as well. This piece was chosen as class entry to the year-level competion. I'm one proud mama!)
TILAOK SA BUKANG LIWAYWAY
Isang gabi, sa isang mapayapang baryo, may isang tandang na nag-aabang ng tamang oras para sa pagsikat ng araw. Siya si Onyok Tilaok, ang nanggigising sa lahat. Nang panahon na upang bumangon at gumising ang lahat, tumilaok si Onyok nang malakas, at ito’y gumising sa lahat ng mga tao’t kapwa hayop, kasabay ng pagsilip ng sikat ng araw… “TAK-TILAOOOOOK!!!” Ngunit pagkatapos niyang gawin ito, napansin niyang parang hindi ito kasing lakas ng mga nagawa niya noong nakaraang mga araw.
Tumilaok siya muli, at muli, at muli. “Hindi naman masama ang sumubok,” inisip niya.
“Oo nga, napapaos na ang aking boses,” sabi ni Onyok. “Siguro panahon na upang magpahinga na ako. Dapat ko na ipasa ang tungkuling ito sa aking anak na si Mulong.”
Si Mulong Pabulong ay isang binatang manok na tahimik at mahiyain. Natutulog siya nang magising siya sa na tilaok ng kanyang ama. Agad siyang nag-inat at tumuka ng kanyang agahang palay.
Nagkita ang mag-amang Onyok at Mulong sa harap ng kanilang kubo. Mukhang may mahalagang sasabihin ang tatay ni Mulong, kaya’t nakinig siya nang maigi.
“Anak! Paano na iyan, namamaos na ang boses ko. Oras nang ikaw na ang humawak ng tungkuling ito,” wika ni Onyok. “Matagal na itong ginagawa ng ating pamilya, kahit ang lolo mo, ginawa rin ito.”
“A-ako po?” Tanong ni Mulong. “Hindi ko pa ho kayang gawin iyan, mahiyain po ako…mahina po ang boses ko… at saka baka po…”
Sumagot ang kanyang ama. “Kaya mo ‘yan, Mulong, huwag ka nang mahiya, ako’y naniniwala sa iyo! Ang kailangan mo lang maalala’y ang pagtilaok nang malakas sa takdang oras, at magigising na ang araw.”
Noong gabing iyon, napasang-ayon na talaga si Mulong sa tulong ng kanyang ina. Maaga siyang nagising. Madaling araw pa lang, naghanda na si Mulong sa kanilang bakuran kung saan siya hihintayin ang takdang oras upang gisingin ang araw. Nang sumapit ang tamang oras, tinangka ni Mulong tumilaok. “Tak-tilaok, ”Isang mahinang tilaok ang lumabas sa kanyang bibig. Dalawang beses pa. “Tak-tilaok… Taktilaok…” Mahina pa rin.
“Naku, paano na ito? Hindi ako narinig? Bakit ayaw sumikat ng araw?” Tanong niya sa sarili niya.
Nang biglang mula sa malayo, may narinig si Mulong na tunog ng pumapagaspas na pakpak. “May nagising naman yata ako!” wika ni Mulong, at natuwa nang kaunti. Unti-unting lumalakas ang tunog ng mga pakpak. Hindi alam ni Mulong kung saan nanggagaling iyon, basta’t palapit nang palapit ang kung ano mang iyon sa kanya.
“Ikaw!!! Ikaw nga! Sa wakas! Nagugutom na ako! Gusto ko na ng dugo!” sabi ng boses, ang nagmamay-ari ng tunog ng payagpag ng mga pakpak.
Tumalikod si Mulong at nagulat sa kanyang nakita: isang paniki, na parang may masamang balak at tingin sa kanya. “Aahhh!!! Paniki!!!” Nagulat at natakot si Mulong.
“Humanda ka! Akin kaaaaaa!” Pasugod na sigaw ng paniki.
Agad namang tumakbo si Mulong sa takot ng humahabol sa kanya. “Hu-Huwag po!!!” Sigaw ni Mulong.
“Walang makakatulong sa iyo, tulog pa ang lahat! Kahit ang araw ay tulog pa!” Ito’y sagot niya, kasabay pa ng tawang may malisya.
Kumikitid at palapit na ang dulo ng daan na tinatakbuhan ni Mulong. Bigla na lang, may naalala si Mulong doon sa sinabi ng paniki, “Kahit ang araw ay tulog pa!” Humarap si Mulong sa humahabol sa kanya, at sa halo ng kanyang katakutan at katapangan, siya’y naglakas loob na lakasan ang boses niya. “TAK-TILAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKK!!!”
Sa lakas ng tilaok niya, biglang sumilip ang unang liwanag ng araw. Gising na ito! Humuni ang mga maya, bumuka ang mga gumamela, tumunog ang mga orasan, bumusina ang nagtitinda ng pandesal. Gising na ang lahat! Mabilis ang pagliwanag ng kalangitan, pati na rin ang buong kapaligiran. Nataranta naman ang paniki, nasilaw sa araw at matuling lumipad palayo hanggang mawala ito, at hindi na nagtangkang bumalik.
Pag-uwi ni Mulong, lumapit sa kanya ang kanyang mga magulang, at binati ang pagtatagumpay ng kanilang anak sa kanyang tungkulin.
Hindi lamang natutunan ni Mulong ang halaga ng lakas ng kanyang boses, kundi’t pati na rin ang pag-tupad ng isang napakalaking tungkuling ipinagkatiwala sa kanya: ang pagtilaok para sa bukang liwayway.
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Pop star
This little girl went to a pop star party and her mom couldn't find a unique visual look identifiable to hillary, lindsay, mary-kate, ashley, and all other teen stars so the little girl went as a sweet young pop star-ry thing.
braids twisted by mom using the con-air hair twister and clips from previous parties, a pretty new guess shirt, and a hot pink mini feather boa from SM megamall. ain't she pretty?
braids twisted by mom using the con-air hair twister and clips from previous parties, a pretty new guess shirt, and a hot pink mini feather boa from SM megamall. ain't she pretty?
Friday, September 03, 2004
NOTHING
nothing much created over the past week. just putting the October issue of Code Red together... kuliting my art director... procrastinating proofreading... starting on two bracelets and not even getting halway with either... brainstorming and doing a presentation... meeting with clients who have too many requirements for too little budget... attending a class parents officers' meeting... going to a class mass... researching & looking for my daughter's costume to a pop star party... going to Divisoria and not getting to my favorite street because of the rains...
haaay, nothing talaga
haaay, nothing talaga
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