Orasyon

Nasaan na kaya ang mga tikbalang? mga asuang at mangkukulam?
Ala-sais na at takip-silim; magmamadaling walisan ang bakuran, isasarang maigi ang pinto sa likuran, ni anino ng mga anghel ay di makakapuslit sa mahigpit na kandadong ilalagay.

Magoorasyon, luluhod, sa lahat ng santo'y tatawag; naway lampasan nila ang aking bubungan, naway huwag ako hayaang mamaluktot sa takot sa magdamag.


-darelam

Dear Paul

I never thought I would see these little cookie gems and get reminded of how you used to snatch them from me when we were kids...

You know, no matter how hard I resist, I can't help but smile on that sweet memory and sitting here, looking like a fool on the train. 10.10 was your day; you could've been 33, we could've been still snatching cookie gems at this age.

Although I miss you, I hope you enjoy your cookie gems in heaven.

J.

today by the river

a photopoem

today by the river, wild and free

by the river I walk silently,

by the river clouds follow me,

by the river cat tails and trees,

today by the river, old trees dance upon the golden waters,

today by the river, by the river is me.

xx
D

It's August and I'm Reminiscin'

Hello my dear friends welcome to the month of August! I know it's a little too late for that greeting as we're already midway towards September =)
But I'm feeling a bit nostalgic this month... so, this post is dedicated to my 'Abuela', my 'Nanay' or 'Lola'.

Remembering my 'lola' and her bakuran'; when I was a little girl, I used to play alone at my nana's backyard, being the only 'babaeng apo' or female grandchild who lives with her back then. I remembered the yellowbell trees around the yard, the hibiscus flowers I'm so fond of playing with, I used its sap mixed with soap for blowing bubbles, the flowers around like the bougainvillas are condiments to my play house's kitchen or 'bahay-bahayan'.

Walking past this small garden at the center of our community suddenly bring back those childhood memories; the sunny weather, the cool thirst quenching 'sago' drink, my nana forcing me to take siesta, I sneaking out to play and pluck her precious garden flowers, hearing her yell threats at me while doing the naughty deed. What I would give to hear her empty threats again while I play bahay bahayan within the refuge of her 'bakuran'.

Hope you have those good memories to keep you company on a nostalgic day like this...

xx
jacelyndarelam

to a berry bittersweet month

July has been bittersweet to me my sweet friends, it's like the taste of raspberries and strawberries and chocolate all in one cup. And so this weekend to celebrate my seasons in July I decided to make some berry cupcakes for the folks at home.

You know I love berries, especially the red ones, blueberries have a special place in my heart tho... I will make something with blueberries next time ;-)

I don't have an oven and so thank heavens for no bake recipes!

My mom and my aunt loves their cupcake with heavy cream and berry overload... but the girls love the chocolate cake and pudding alone, so I have to be flexible, just like in life.

July is ending soon, and this weekend I am looking back to the emotionally heavy and heartbreaking month while savoring the cupcakes I made with my loves; I try to embrace the bittersweet things that it has brought me before I step into August... so I could be braver, wiser and maybe even sweeter!

Have a berry sweet weekend loves!



-jacelyndarelam

My Last & Only Letter to Daddy Ed

Dear Daddy Lolo,

Maybe I'm not as close to you as some others, but when this journey ended for you, I am truly broken-hearted too. Some of the nights I stayed up and thought about the few times we talked, they were quite few, but meaningful and will be treasured for sure. The short time you spent with my two angels are unforgettable and I am sure when they're grown to become a woman like me, they will look for a man much like their father and grandfather, and will remember the joy they felt just holding you hands.

Your passing made me realize once more that it is only at the very end the we truly love a person without any conditions, and so I pray that I may express that love so passionately and enduringly to my loved ones while time is still at my side. Thanks for telling me how you feel and for praising what you see I do good and sharing your thoughts on things that we can improve upon. Thanks for letting me look after your only son, for trusting my kitchen and parenting skills too, I don't think a lot of in-laws would do that.

You will always be the Daddy lolo to my children and you know they will also get broken hearted if they learned that you've passed on. So we will make sure they will feel your love through us, we will ensure to keep your memory alive through imparting what we've learned from you.

We thank God for the time he's given us with you, we may grieve for a long time, but surely time heals all. I know your wish has finally come true; spending eternity with your love, Mommy Lola. For now we will move on and look to the future as you would want for us to.

Until then I guess.

D

PS. You weren't able to finish reading the book "the meaning of mary magdalene" when you visited us, i will for you. And I hope you and mommy Thelma like the flowers.

The Wife of Noble Character

The Wife of Noble Character

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. ♥xo♥ darelam

Marching In...

breathing the air of March.

this is our time, our time. they will look to us and say we shine, and glisten in the sun, our waters run deep and vast, our time has come!

My month...

♥xo♥
Darelam

The Package Project - Love from South Africa

Hello my sweet friends, I am running a fever today but I want to post something for Valentine's day, and so in this post I will be sharing what I received from my Package Project 2011 partner. Last year I took part in the yearly Package Project hosted by CupcakeCouture

I was partnered with a lovely lady from Capetown, South Africa -- Carin Bevan, last December I received this wonderful package from her, filled with lots of items old, sweet and handmade.

There was a handwritten letter from her in the package sharing the background of the items and she include them in the package, I love handwritten notes and letters, so this one will be kept in my letter box...

Carin, has filled the package with different set of items, something for letter writing, filled with handmade stamps and stationeries:

There are vintage items in the package, that she handpicked herself, i love the old kodak films and most especially the embroidered centerpiece, I have been using it to grace our small dining table, it's perfect with a vase of flowers:

I love the South African items too, the small notebook, the card which I am going to frame and display on my craft table:

And the most favorite item in the package was this cute little handmade diana camera brooch Carin made just for me! My mom and Mr. Mister loves this too, I love the colour which is my favorite, reminds me of the sky and the water (my sign)...

I had so much fun opening each and every pack of items, holding my breath as I unfold, carefully revealing the handpicked gifts from Carin.

I know she also loved the items I sent her, even though I sent it really late...
she featured all the items in her blogsite: hand in her pocket

Well my sweet friends, do you have a mini project that encourages you to be creative and send handwritten notes? Send handmade love and just simply reach out to someone and get to know them despite the miles? If you do, continue doing that, for it releases a kind of joy that feeds the spirit with positivity and if you dont have yet, why not start sending hand notes to the nearest person or that special friend, or maybe join this year's Package Project?

Happy Exchange of Love this Valentine's day!

♥xo♥

Darelam

Reflections: Heed The Call

Everyone has a calling.

whether to be a mother, an artist, a preacher, a healer, a fine gardener, a designer, a writer, a photographer, a messenger, a servant, a leader or simply a friend or a lover... whatever your calling is, how different it may be from what you do now, find the time to heed that call... whether now or later for it releases true joy to the spirit and enables peace to settle in the heart and in the mind.

as the words of St. Paul to the Ephesians -- "May you live a life worthy of your calling"

and may God bless your calling whatever it maybe.

♥xo♥

{photo: trying to find the source...}

Wickedly Inlove

Nobody mourns the Wicked!

Or so we thought… until we get to know the story of the witches of Oz!

Hello my sweet readers, I have been containing this excitement for days now, and I have been contemplating how to best share with you the joy and "goosey bumpsy" feeling after watching a musical after so many years.

Just a day before the Lunar New Year, Mr. Mister and I had the privilege of watching the award winning and much talked about musical of the year – Wicked! Thanks to the amazing people who pushed for a flat rate for partner offers and we were able to book seats just 4 rows from the stage and orchestra. I was able to see up close the brilliant performers and the magnificent set of the show at the Marina Bay Sands – Grand Theater.

It’s been years since I last stepped into a theater… all those dormant years of longing to see performers, touch garments of awesome costumes and hear the footsteps of the production crew busy preparing at the backstage before a show begins, or visit a green room where performers rest and await their turns at the stage.

You might wonder why I long to do such things? A little personal history, I would like to share with you is that I used to dance ballet at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), with the Ballet Philippines group… yeap, you are reading it right! Haha, I used to dance and perform… though I was a bit of a shy girl; I did enjoy all those ballet years. I feel I am one with the spirit of the arts when I am performing, it's such an amazing joy. The last dance I performed with talented dancers was the Nutcracker at the Tanghalan (Nicanor Abelardo), Christmas of ’94.

I remembered, after each ballet class, we used to sneak at the backstage of each of the halls and watch play rehearsals, with costumes and make up being tried and lines being sung or spoken, my heart and soul was being enriched as I watch and long to be part of those plays, even if only as a seamstress or assistant painter or carpenter... that would be swell! Maybe I will try and visit the CCP when I am back in Manila some time this year, and watch a local play.

The night of the performance of Wicked, my heart was racing with anticipation… I took slow steps towards the hall of our seats, savoring my reunion with the theater. After a few minutes of waiting, I held on to Mr. Mister’s hand, the light dims, drum rolls slowly as that of waves coming back to shore, the conductor raises his hand and with his baton commands to struck the first note.

Nobody mourns the wicked! They sang and I watched without blinking, after so many years of longing, holding my breath...

As the 1st act begins.

♥xo♥
Darelam

The Year of the Water Dragon

It coils gently around the stars of our fortune,
Like water out of the ancient ocean,
It rises with a mystique carrying favors and the wishes of long ago,
As we bid the golden rabbit back to its hole.
We dance and rejoice under the rain of the water dragon.

May the days under its sign hold no sorrow and
May peace follow its tail all year long.
May its cool breath calm our minds as we pass through changing seasons.
Just like the lilies on a river of chaos,
May it help keep our faith serenely afloat in this lonely little pond.

♥xo♥

Darelam

Lyrics Love - For Good (Wicked the Musical)

I just love the words to this song... dedicated to all those who had me changed for the better. Because of you, I have been changed for good.

(Elphaba):
I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us - now it's up to you...

(Glinda):
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from it's mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda):
Because I knew you

(Both):
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

(Glinda):
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

(Both):
And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda):
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba):
Like a ship blown from it's mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both):
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda):
And because I knew you...

(Elphaba):
Because I knew you...

(Both):
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...

Dear Mr. Shredder

How are you Mr. Shredder? It's been a decade since I last heard the rhythm of your shears cutting paper into teeny tiny bits and pieces... all these years you spent in solitude, despite standing side by side with the ever popular Mrs. Printer-Scanner. I walk day by day past you, throwing only shadows in your direction.

Now here we are again; you with the same old green and red buttons, and I, wondering how many pages you can bear to take as I drag to your direction, sacks of unread memos and poorly written excuses.

With Love,

Darelam

A Haiku of Flowers

lasso a flower,
a lover's gift and promise.
lasso a color,
pink hues and thousand rainbows.
lasso this beauty,
to cherish forevermore.