Keeping that Love Alive

Wedding is Only a Beginning

Secretly you may have longed to count those warm and loving feelings between you and your special someone or spouse in decades instead of years or even months.

But changes in your personal life, career, and even temperament can make this romantic goal so hard to achieve at times… if not most of the time.

In the Philippines alone, between 2000 and 2005, marriages dropped from 577,387 to 518,595, or 10.18 percent in just a matter of five years. From 1993 through 2003, separation (officially and unofficially) grew from 1.8 percent to more than 5.0 percent while common-law arrangements increased from 5.2 to 8.0 percent.

We may have thought that, with the more information available today, people would get wiser in their decisions for partners. But statistics shows that we could still be quite foolish either towards the extreme of frivolity towards partner selection and fatalism towards marriage.

Spoken or not, all people longs for that long-lasting love, which for many remained very elusive and at times an impossible dream in a world that has lost its ability to give and receive love from from all the fears and insecurities of an age of confusion.

We found important tips that can help you weather the storm of changes.

Tips for Busy People

Never leave home without a kiss and a hug. Thus, said Alanna Webb, owner and founder of a large romance site on the Internet today, Lovestories.com. Kiss your spouse before stepping out that front door. And do that with the seductiveness that both of you enjoy. Remember that your wedding supposed to be your first day to be un-shy in kissing and hugging you spouse in public view. If you are not used to it, it would help to do it now.

Date regularly each week. Wrote dating expert Alex Carter. And take every chance you can find to do a “mini” date each time you meet before heading home. This means that do whatever it takes to drive home when the traffic is no longer desne. And mini-date while waiting.

Give each other a personal break. “There needs to be a calm, quiet period where everyone can think rationally,” Ezine Articles’ Leslie Cane wrote. YOur works are sources of stress that needs to be diffused each day. Let your spouse alone for 30 minutes or as long as she needs to relax and detach her mind from the memory of the day’s work. It is a sound stress management that you should encourage each other to do.

Minimize distractions at home. Eat dinner at the table without the TV running or the radio shouting political commentaries or news. Going home is an important time to regain focus to your self and to people important in your life. Play soft music that can set a de-stressing atmosphere. Enjoy dinner together. “Do  your best to be available when you say you will,” writes BellaOnline editor Emily Wilska.

Manage chores effectively. Never allow the chores to break the relaxing mood at home. Don’t do it while you’re still tense. Do it only when you have removed the stress of the day from your mind and body. It is wiser to leave a few chores for the next day than to not regain, or loss whatever calmness in mind you gained when you reached home. Break it in a way that will not add stress to you. If you’re a bit techy, the Chores software is available online for iPod for only $4.99.

Set aide time to dine out. “Going out can be a pleasant outing for kids and parents alike,” says LJ World writer Marlo Angell. Each week, in Fridays or Saturdays, set aside time to dine with your spouse (and kids, if you got one) after office horus to enjoy the weekend ooutside the familiarity of the home. The aim is to renew the relationship between you and your spouse and kids.

Eat more at lunch time. Eat sparingly at breakfast and supper. This make sense health-wise as your energy level can get depleted at midday. Many nutritionists suggest this because eating more at supper just ebfore going to sleep won’t allo the energy from the meal to be properly utilized. At the same time, it minimizes your time in preparing food at home, washing dishes and otehr kitchen works.

Maintain constant flow of communication. Done through constant communication, “emotional bonding,” advises India’s No. 1 lifestyle magazine Ayushveda, “is the key to many relationships.” Always take each available time to keep in touch with your spouse. Take a shower together, brush teeth together, or watch a film together while keeping an intimate conversation. A woman can help straighten his tie. A man can open her door or help hold her hair.

Respect each other’s needs. “Your spouse will be more willing to give you the love and respect back if he or she is respected and admired,” writes relationship expert Andrew Kristen. Always avoid imposing your needs on each other. Instead, open it up lovingly with a mind gearing at helping fill the other’s needs if you can.

Touch each other any change available. iVillage associate producer Francesca Di Meglio advises. Hold each other’s hand when walking together. She may lean her head against his shoulder in the living room. He may embrace her while watching an “It’s All About You” episode.

Always move forward and not back. With regards to negative experiences and quarrels in the past, “never look back for whatever reason,” says world’s richest investor Warren Buffett. Let what was past left in the past and forgotten…really forgotten. And move forward.

Say “I love you” every day. Don’t ever let the day pass without saying “I love you” to your spouse at least once. And mean it with all of your heart and mind. It will refresh your love for each other each day.

Most marriages fail because couples failed to keep their relationship alive each day. Until one day they only discovered that it is dead. Don’t let that happen.

Valentine’s Day would be meaningless if you cannot commit to do all of the above for your spouse once and for all. By Zosimo Literatus

(This article appears in the February 2009 issue.)

 

 

Fun in the Mud

Greasy Pole Fun

If you think mud is no fun, think again! The recent yearly installment of Kalapukan Festival has brought the crowd down to its knees with laughter as team-games participants took the muddy fun to the max.

A community raised from the history of rice farming and daily dance with mud, carabaos, and rice, Calajo-an celebrates its roots this year on January 23 with the 4th Kalapukan Festival to precede its fiesta celebration in honor of the Holy Child.

Many centuries ago, way back when the place was under Spanish colonial control, Calajo-an earned its name “Kalapukan” among the small residents it had from the mud that brought its people a means of making a living in addition to its fishing activities.

Celebrating the mud is something. Remembering history is another. And making it so much fun to watch is something very memorable to the people of Calajo-an.

Just looking at thepeople holding their stomach in gut-wrenching laughter would be a picture to behold and treasure, perhaps, for very, very long time.

Kalapukan Festival has transcended the grossness of mud from the eyes of the modern community and its visitors. It injected fun to the pang of hunger and the short supply of food on the table. It reminds spectators on oen distinct Filipino trait that foreigners could readily wonder at–humor at the face of daily survival. By Zosimo Literatus

(This article appears in the February 2009 issue.)

 

Words to Remember this February 2009

Thoughts for the Heart

Gravitation is not the reason for people falling in love. ALBERT EINSTEIN

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. HENRY VAN DYKE

Love is not singular except in syllable. MARVIN TAYLOR

You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love. The running across fields into your lover’s arms can only come later when you’re sure they won’t laugh if you trip. JONATHAN CARROLL

Love unlocks doors and opens windows that weren’t there before. MIGNON LAUGHLIN

Loving is not just looking at each other; it’s looking in the same direction. ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY

Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. ROBERT BROWNING

My whole heart for my whole life. FRENCH SAYING

For it was not into my ear  you whispered; But into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed; But my soul. JUDY GARLAND

(This article appears in the February 2009 issue.)  

 

Showing Love in Many Ways

M Feb 2009 issue

It’s the month of love this month and our articles in this issue were selected to somehow reflect love in many ways it can be expressed.

In the Community Insider, we would share the Filipino’s inherent love for fun even amidst the symbolic mud of life. A right atmosphere is what most of us need. It’s attitude of fun, not situation.

The photojournalism in A Thousand Words tells us with humor a peculiarity in relationships that developed in the changing winds of modern culture.

The Beauty Blend column mentions some useful “Hip Tips for Valentine’s Day.” Dateless girls, committed ladies and married women may find the ideas there useful for the special day.

In Pagtuo, we run a Cebuano article on the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, the Feast of which will be celebrated on Feb 24. The Gospel in Focus gives us a look into what could happen once we let the seduction of the world gent into our soul, and losing our soul to the Prince of this World.

In addition, the Office of the Immaculate Heart Parish announced a gearing up of activities designed to further spiritual growth among the parishioners.

Kabatan-onan proposes a group activity for youngsters who have no interest of spending Valentine’s Day dating. The activity however can be used in any occasion with family or friends. Yiny Ang shared an ethical quiz in Bouncing Off.

In Panulat, we continued to tell a condensed version of the story written by the late Fr. Malachi Martin, SJ on the exorcism of a person pseudonymed Jamsie from Ossining, New York, who was possed by a “familiar.” A “familiar spirit,” in the classic terminology of diabolic possession, is a devil that “do not normally subject the possessed to the conditions of physical violence, repugnant smells and behavior, social aberrations, and personal degeneracy that characterize other forms of possession,” as Fr. Malachi explained.

In this issue, our local and budding writer, Marites Opsima-Puyod, expands her horizon into poetry, which we feature in Random Quill.

Our Agik-ik section finds Cupid’s fun stupidity with the biting and stingy Cebuano jokes on the heart’s affairs between on-steadies and couples. Our jester this month, Mary Ann McKissick, tells of fun peculiarities of her beloved husband in the Jester’s Corner.

We also include in this issue our first Profile article, this time talking about the life of Tulay Barangay Captain Inocentes L. Secuya. We did not feature business articles in this issue to give way to the Profile article.

The centerpiece of this month’s issue, the Cover Story, looks into certain ideas which can prove helpful in Keeping that Love Alive in this busy age. I personally love the photos in this article. I wish you would be fascinated as well.

(This article appears in the February 2009 issue.)

 

 

Mga Eksenang Jeepney

SABAKA

Konduktor: Noy, sabaka na lang na imong anak kay daghang pasahero ron.

Amahan: Pagtarong diha, Konduktor, ha! Misakay man gani mig jeepney kay nagdali mi. Sa baka na hinuon nimo siya pasakyon.

WAIS NGA DRAYBER

Juan: Bai Pedro, problema dah!

Pedro: Ngano man diay, Bai Juan?

Juan: Atong kwarta P7 ra gyud. Dili ta makaplete ini.

Pedro: Ayaw kabalaka, Bai Juan, kay ang drayber libat.

Juan: Mao ba, Bai? Sige, palihug kog tunol ining atong plete.

(Tuod man, gitunol ni Pedro ang kwarta ngadto sa drayber.)

Drayber: Hoy, Dong! Kulang man ni inyong plete.

Pedro: Unsay kulang, Noy Drayber, nga P14 man kana. Busa plete na namo nang duha.

Drayber: Ayaw binuang diha, Dong. Unsay duha. Ilara ko tits, upat mo kabuok!

PLETE

Pasahero: Noy Drayber, plete o.

Drayber: Asa gikan?

Pasahero: Nako.

Drayber: Asa paingon?

Pasahero: Nimo.

Ubang Pasahero: Pag-chure mong uy!

 

(This article can be found in the January 2009 issue.)

 

Once You Find Jesus

John 1:35-42

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah (which is translated the Anointed).” Then he brought him to Jesus.

 

 It is one thing to find the Lord; it is another to go and follow Him. He is the Lord who has nothing to lay His head on. He is the Lord who invites us to deny ourselves and follow.

There are so much in ourselves to deny from–our own world we all have reasons to serve; interests to defend and expand. Following the Lord would mean wrenching ourselves away from all those tings that we came to love and enjoy by way of habit and perception. Following the Lord can mean a radical turning away from all tehse and follow only what the Lord wants us to be, and only do what the Lord wants us to do.

If circumstances ivite you to love your neighbor as yourself but you cannot bear to part with those pesos to buy food for the needy or do something to help them learn good things, the pain you feel would be a measure of how much your soul has been bound to passing things you lvoe, and not join the Lord in His work of redemption.

No amount of kneeling for hours and fasting can substitute true change of heart. The pain of the heart hurts more than that of the knees. By Zosimo Literatus

(This article appears in the January 2009 issue.)

 

Ang Gahom sa Diablo

Amorth: The Chief Exorcist of Rome

Mohisgot lang kog mga puntong matuki isip resulta sa exorcism. Ang exorcist nga naay solidong kahibalo sa pagtuo, sa ma ni Padre Candido nga nakigharong nag demonyo sulod sa 36 ka tuig, maoy pinakaangayang mohimog pagbanabana sa tulikiong sama sa sala sa mga masupilong anghel, nga giwakli lang sa mga teologo sa pulong nga “wa sila kahibalo.”

Tanang gibuhat sa Dios nagsunod sa harmonious design; busa, ang pinakagamayng nilalang maka-influence sa tanan, ug ang kada anino naghatag og kangitngit sa tanan. Ang pagtuon bahin sa Dios dili kumpleto ug dili mahisabtan hangtud nga kini itutok ngadto sa kalibutan sa mga anghel. Ang pagtuo kang Kristo nga wala manumbaling ni Satanas bakol ug dili gyud makasabot sa gibug-aton sa pagpangluwas nga gibuhat sa Ginoo.

Ang tanan gihimo alang ni Kristo, ang taliwala sa uniberso ug alang sa iyang Pag-abot, didto sa kalangitan ug dinhi sa kalibutan. Ang pagtuki lamang ni Kristo di uyon sa iyang mga gitudlo ug mga lihok, ug di gyud kita makasabot niya. Ang Balaang Kasulatan nagsulti bahin sa Gingharian sa Dios apan usab sa gingharian ni Satanas. Nagsulti kini nga ang gahom sa kangitngit. Nagsulti kini bahin sa mga anak sa Dios ug mga anak ni Satanas. Imposibleng masabtan nato ang makaluwas nga buha ni Kristo kun atong ibaliwala ang makagun-ob nga bihuhatan ni Satanas.

Si Satanas mao ang pinakahingpit nga hinimo sa mga kamot sa Dios. Ang gihatag sa Dios kaniya nga gahom giila sa tanan, busa ngatuo siya nga anaa kaniya ang otoridad sa tanang mga binuhat apan dili gayud niya masabtan tungod kay ang plano sa pagbuhat naa nagtumong ni Kristo. Hangtud nga moabot si Kristo sa kalibutan, ang plano sa Dios dili gayud mahibaw-an sa kinatibuk-an. Busa nagrebelde si Satanas kay gusto iyang magpabiling pinakauna sa tanan, taliwala sa pagbuhat, bisan pag iyang batukan ang plano sa Dios. Mao ni hunungdan nga sigeng gusto mo-dominate si Satanas sa kalibutan (“ang kalibutan ubos sa gahom sa Dautan,” 1 Juan 5:19). Gikan sa atong pinakaunang mga ginikanan, iyang gipaningkamutang maulipon ang katawhan pinaagi sa pagpasunod niya ug di pagsunod sa Dios. Nilampos siya sa atong unang mga ginikanan, si Adan ug Eba, ug nagalaum siyang molampos sa tanang katawhan sa tabang sa iyang mga anghel nga nibatok sa Dios.

Di gyud masalikway sa Dios ang iyang mga binuhat. Busa bisan pag nisiak na sila gikan sa Dios, si Satanas ug ang iyang mga anghel naghupot gihapon sa ilang gahom ug ranggo bisan gigamit nila kini sa dautang hinungdan. Apan tungod kay dili sila makapatay kanato, naningkamot si Satanas nga “himuon kita niyang sumusunod batok sa Dios, sa samang paagi nga mibatok siya sa Dios.”

Ang kamatuoran sa pagpangluwas mao kini: Mianhi si Hesus aron “pagguba sa mga buhat sa yawa” (1 Juan 3:8), aron pagpalingkawas sa taawo gikan sa kaulipnan ni Satanas, ug aron pagtukod sa gingharian sa Dios human maguba ang kagamhanan ni Satanas. apan, taliwala sa iyang una ug ikaduhang pag-abot, ang yawa naningkamot pagdani sa pinakadaghang tawo nga madani ngadto sa iyang kiliran. Mao ni ang gubat nga iyang gipakuyanap ubos sa kahibalo nga napildi na siya, nga nagkamubo na ang iyang panahon (Pinadayag 12:12). Busa, nagsulti si San Pablo kanato nga “nakigbisog kita dili batok sa unod ug dugo kundili batok sa mga gahom sa kalibutan nga mangitngit, batok sa mga anghel nga daotan” (Efeso 6:12).

Ang Balaang Kasulatan nagsulti nato nga ang mga anghel ug demonyo (ilabina si Satanas) mga binhuhat nga espiritu apan usab mga binuhat nga ginasahan og kalantip sa salabotan ug kagawasnon. Ang mga teologong nagtan-aw kang Satanas nga samang ideya lang nasayop gayud. Ang ila maoy tinuod nga heresy kay nisupak kini sa Biblia ug sa mga Magtutudlo ug Pagtudlo sa Simbahan. Ang kamatuoran mahitungod ni Satanas wala gayud duhaduhai sa miaging panahon. Busa kinsa kadtong dili motuo nga tinuod si Satanas nagsalikway usab sa sala ug wala na makasabot sa gibuhat ni Kristo.

Ato ning klaruhon: Gibuntog ni Hesus si Satanas tungod sa iyang mga pag-antos. Apan gibuntog usab ni Kristo si Satanas sa wala pa siya namatay, pinaagi sa iyang gipangtudlo. “Kun pinaaagi sa tudlo sa Dios nga nagpapahawa kog demonyo, busa ang gingharian sa Dios naabot na” (Lukas 11:20). Si Hesus mao ang pinakakisgan, kinsa maoy nigaid ni Satanas (Markos 3:27) ug niguba sa iyang gingharian nga talitapos na. Gihatag una ni Hesus ang iyang gahom pagpadlas sa mga demonyo ngadto sa iyang mga apostoles;p unya iya kining gihatag sa 72 ka mga disipulo, ug sa katapusan iya kining gihatag sa tanang nagatuo kaniya.

Ang mga Buhat sa mga Apostoles nagsaysay nga human mikunsad ang Espiritu Santo, ang mga apostoles nagpadayog pagpamadlas sa mga demonyo, ug ang tanang mga Kristyanong nagsunod nila nagahimo usab.

Kay napildi man ni Krsito, nakig-away si Satanas sa mga sumusunod ni Kristo. Niining panahona, kada tawo kinahanglang mabinantayon samang naa sa gubat tungod kay ang kinabuhi sa kalibutan usa sa pagsulay sa atong pagtuo sa Dios. Sama sa pagkatumpag sa Empiryo Romano kaniadto, kita karon kabungkagon tungod sa sayop nga paggamit sa mass media ug tungod sa Western consumerism ug materialism nga naghilo sa atong sociedad.

Sa unsang paagiha nga mibatok ang yawa sa Dios ug sa Manluluwas? Pinaagi sa pag-ako nga iyaha ang pagsimba nga alan lang sa Dios ug pagsuhidsuhid sa Kristyanong institution. Si Satanas mao ang Anti-Christ ug ang Anti-Church. Gigamit ni Satanas ang dios-dios sa pakighilawas, nga maoy nakadani sa lawas aron mamahimong gamit sa pagpakasala, batok sa Pagkatawo sa Pulong aron maluwas ang katawhan pinaagi sa pagkatawo. Gigamit ni Satanas ang iyang simbahan, kulto, mga deboto (apil pinaagi sa pagpabanawg dugo), mga sumusunod aron pagbiaybiay sa pag-ampo nga alang lang sa Dios. Sama sa paghatag ni Kristog gahom sa iyang mga apostoles ug ilang mga sumusunod alang sa kaayuhan sa lawas ug  kalag, si Satanas usab mihatag og mga gahom sa iyaha aron pagguba sa lawas ug kalag.

Samag sayop ang paglingiw nga naa si Satanas, sayop usab nga modawat sa hunahuna nga anaay laing mga espiritu gawas niadtong nahisulat sa Biblia. Mao kini ang mga hinimuhimo sa mga espiritista, sumusunod sa mga katingad-an, nagdawat sa reincarnation, ug nagtuo sa mga nalaroylaroy nga mga kalag. Walay laing maayong mga espiritu gawas sa mga anghel; walay laing dautang espiritu gawas sa mga demonyo.

Duha ka Councils of the Church (ang Lyons ug ang Florence) nagtudlo nga ang mga kalag sa mga nangamatay gilayon moadto sa langit o sa empyerno o sa porgatoryo. Ang mga kalag sa mga patay nga anaa sa mga seances o anaa sa mga buhing lawas aron pag-paantos niini walay lain kundili mga demonyo.

Ang ubang mga tawo mahingangha sa kahanas sa mga demonyo pagtintal sa tawo ug bisan sa pagtag-iya sa lawas (apan dili gyud sila makakuha sakalag gawas ihatag kini kanila) pinaagi sa possession ug oppression. Dihang napildi si Satanas ug ang iyang mga demonyo, nibali kini ug migukod sa mga binuhat sa Dios.

Niadto Mayo 24, 1987, dihang nibisita siya sa Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel, nagkanayon si Juan Pablo II: “Ang gubat batok sa yawa, nga maoy trabaho ni SAn Miguel arjanghel, giaway gihapon karon, tungod kay ang yawa buhi gihapon ug naglihok sa kalibutan. Ang yawa nagpalibot kanato kada adlaw karon. Ang kagubot sa kalibutan, ang kahuyang sa tawo, dili tungod sa salang panulundon, kundili tungod sa pervasive ug dark action ni Satanas.” By Fr. Gabriele Amorth, SSP (an excerpt of his book, “An Exorcist Tells His Story,” made available for public use and review), translated by Zosimo Literatus 

(This article appeared in the January 2009 issue.)

 

 

The Beauty of a Woman

Audrey Hepburn: 1992 Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee for her work as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

For attractive lips, speak words of happiness; 
For lovely eyes seek out the good in people; 
For a good figure, share your food with the hungry; 
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through once a day;
For poise, walk with the knowledge you will never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figures she carries, or the way she combs her hair. 
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows. And the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows. By Audrey Hepburn

(This article appeared in the January 2009 issue.)

 

Ward’s in the Name?

Ward 2 in Minglanilla

One day in November of 2008, retired Major General Florencio Jesus V. Delgora filed a petition simultaneously with the barangay councils of Ward I, Ward II, Ward III, and Ward IV for a change in poblacion barangay’s names into Poblacion Uno, Poblacion Dos, Poblacion Tres, and Poblacion Cuatro, respectively. The petition is still to be deliberated in these councils.

If you would ask Minglanillans in the street what they know about the word “Ward,” they will refer you to a low-cost accommodation in hospitals where beds line up for patients as opposed to the private rooms. I, too, have this limited definition of “Ward” when I first heard of it some 15 years ago. And the petition of Delgado appears to me as a long overdue correction of a “mistake” committed long ago.

So I decided to delve into the past of this word, and discovered that the wrod is not as mistaken as we would think it is in the first glance.

A ward is a district within a municipality that elects its own political leaders. It is much like our barangay, which elects a barangay chairperson and its councillors. It may have originated in the United Kingdom, and is still widely used in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. It is also used in certain cities in India (like Mumbai), Japan, Vietnam, and Nepal.

The naming of wards I, II, III, and IV as barangays, arising from the breakup of barangay Poblacion to facilitate administrative services as its population grew, may have its American influence. Minglanilla was under American form of government after the Japanese libereation in 1945. It must be noted that the concept of municipality is American as compared to the civil government of teh Spanish occupants.

Unlike the American model of Administration, which elects councillors from each of its city’s wards to represent people in the city councils, Philippine barangays exist as independent divisions of a town or city, governed by elected local leaders without representation in the city or town council. The barangay administration acts much like that of the town, and assumes the role of a first-step arbiter in legal disputes.

In the United States, it is common for wards to simply be named iwth numbers. Much as we numbered Ward I, Ward II, Ward III, and Ward IV.

While the naming of the ward barangays are historically sound, the word “ward” connotes an entirely different meaning among Minglanillans, if not the Filipinos. It seems to belong more to a hospital than to a municipality. The numbered barangay Poblacion, proposed by Delgora remains meritorius as the word “poblacion” possesses a clearer meaning to the people of Minglanilla than “ward.”

The outcome on the petition to change the names of the four poblacion barangays would be a choice between historical defensibility and nice-sounding change of public image. By Zosimo Literatus

(This article appeared in the January 2009 issue.)

 

A Claim on the Cool Seas

A Sunday when children revel by the sea

What I missed seeing for a long time is the sight of people taking refreshing dives into the salty waters abundant in my coastal hometown somewhere in Mindanao. And that was more than 20 years ago since I left the place for my studies in the city and my stay in Minglanilla.

Much of the urbanized centres in Cebu have long lost it. And many towns in the province seemed to be on their way too. When I chanced at visiting far south to Boljoon and north to Danao, I have not seen people enjoy that greenish-blue crystal plunge. It might just be a matter of timing, who knows.

But one Sunday in December when I chanced at dropping by Lower Calajo-an after church, my eyes caught up a small community of childen swimming on the waters, playing around, and a man even found the fun of driving his motorcycle on the sand, with goods on his lap, as if a coastal road had been summoned out of nowhere by the receding shoreline that mid-morning day. Did he came from the public market through the flat shore?

Only in Minglanilla! I supposed.

The crisp, crystal fluidness of the wide panorama before me spoke an enticing invitation to plunge into the embrace of that mildly rippling waters. The sun was already fiery on the skin and the eyes; and yet the breeze remained fresh as well as the vista. But a look at my leather shoes turned off whatever vestiges of desire to take the challenge of facing the waters head-on, which stayed in me after all thsoe years.

I wish I had the time, came an unspoken voice inside my mind. Well, Minglanilla looked like it will give me more time to make more time to join the fish in aquatic revelry. By Zosimo Literatus

(This article appeared in the January 2009 issue.)