INDEPENDENCE

I've said time and again that I'm raising my daughters to be kind-hearted, Kick-Ass, socially responsible, independent young women. But what does it really mean to be free (from a domestic point of view)? When the time comes will I be willing to give it to you, anakis? After you've earned your college degrees? When I think of all the possible consequences of what "Independence" can do-not just to a young lady but to everyone else- I feel FEAR.

When I myself was a kid I kept on repeating to myself that

"the price of FREEDOM is LIFE. BUT to live is to be FREE"

it's a paradox that I have faced. It's something that we ALL must face.


This is one blog entry I'm making for myself.

Diary

Dear Sage, For the first time you showed me your own diary tonight. You turned your li'l bratz notebook into one. Well it's a combination of diary and slum book because you let your classmates and cousin write notes for you there. Tonight you let me read your entry about your wish to sleep at the new apartment. You just have to wait one more night anaki. We'll be moving in bukas. Anyway, I never thought of keeping a Diary when I was your age. 6 years old? during my time that was unheard of anyway. Well Sage, this blog is your diary too. I just chatted with one of our few blogmates, CL, and I found out her traffic to her site is really impressive. I said that deep inside I too am craving for that kind of traffic. But right now, I'm happy that there are some bloggers who drop by here. The reason why I put this blog up in the first place is for you to remember how magical your childhood has been. In the unlikely event that something catastrophic should happen to the internet itself, atleast when those people who drop by your blog get to see and meet you and your sisters someday, I wish they'd remember some of the entries here about how beautiful, brave, strong, gutsy and kind hearted you three are. You can say that our friends like Snglguy, XT, CL, Cat, Ronallan, Bing are your own Hard Copy of this digital receptacle of childhood memories.

Kindergarten Star Stamps

Dear Sage, I always tell you that when YOU KNOW you've done something beautiful, something you can be proud of, you don't need your teacher's star of approval stampped on your hand as proof.

You know what anaki? Today, I said those same lines to myself. When you grow up, there will be days when you'll need to say it to yourself too. Because even though life is not fair, it doesn't mean it can't be fun (especially when you are in the company of colleagues like Annie and Harold)

Noble House Rising

Dear Sage and Sabine, Today you attended the wedding of one of our old friends, Dr. Jayson Sagum to Dr. Anna York Bondoc. You guys had a really great time. We all did. We were all there with Dy (Grand Dad) to greet the newlyweds with a rousing "Mabuhay ang Bagong Kasal!"

One of the speakers from the side of the bride's family said that no one really knows how to make a good marriage. Just like a cook who can only say how to create a culinary masterpiece only after cooking the meal, so only two married individuals who have shared a lifetime of happiness together could say how a marriage could work. Without missing a beat, your Tito Jayson immediately invited all his guests to their golden anniversary 50 years from now. He said that when that time comes he will tell them the secret to a happy marriage.

Sagey, you've always loved weddings. In fact you started the flower girl gig when you were still 2 years old.

Sage, Flower girl material even before 1 year old. Seen here at the wedding of Ninong Noel and Jenn (January 2001)

So far, you've attended 7 weddings as part of the entourage. This means you have already amassed a formidable collection of what you call "Princess Dress."

Sabine already has two weddings under her belt.


Sabine earned her first "wings" in Ninang Raia's wedding

Those "Princess Dresses" are quite handy during this time of the Year when you and your cousins get invited to the Santacruzan in our village.

Anyway, going back to weddings, I hope you guys would play this music on your wedding day...

There's two things I know for sure:
She was sent here from heaven and she's
daddy's little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes and
I thank God for all the joy in my life
Oh, but most of all
For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer;
sticking little white flowers all up in her
hair; "Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
In all that I've done wrong I know I must
have done something right to deserve a hug
every morning and butterfly kisses at night.

Sweet 16 today
She's looking like her mama a little more everyday
One part woman, the other part girl.
To perfume and make-up from ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world.

But I remember
Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer; sticking
little white flowers all up in her hair.
"You know how much I love you, Daddy, But if you
don't mind I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time."
With all that I've done wrong I must have done
something right to deserve her love every morning
and butterfly kisses at night.

All the precious time
Like the wind, the years go by.
Precious butterfly.
Spread your wings and fly.

She'll change her name today.
She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.
Standing in the bride-room just staring at her.
She asked me what I'm thinking and I said "I'm not
sure-I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."
She leaned over...gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there,
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
"Walk me down the aisle, Daddy-it's just about time."
"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don't cry!"

Oh, with all that I've done wrong I must have
done something right.
To deserve your love every morning and butterfly
kisses-I couldn't ask God for more, man this is what love is.

I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember
every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses.
-From Bob Carlisle's Butterfly Kisses Lyrics

Ayheen's Day

Dear Ayheen, my wife, my mistress and my children's mother.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

I mean ALL MOTHERS

Dear Mothers... and I mean ALL MOTHERS,

"This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in
their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry
Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies
who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their
hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween
costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And
the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on
their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at
football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their
cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could
say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store
and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice
cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead,
but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and
explained all about making babies.

And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to,
but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year.

And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their
shoelaces before they started school.

And for all the mothers who opted
for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their
daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little
voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own
offspring are at home -- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach
aches assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to
get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick
them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the
words to reach them.

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or
children, and gave their time, attention, and love... sometimes totally
unappreciated!

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their
14-year-olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the
mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of
their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from
school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful,
and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad
hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt,
all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when
you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school
alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to
dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a
sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when
you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in
your home? Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child
when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?
The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for
young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...
And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all.
For all of us.
Hang in there.
In the end we can only do the best we can.
Tell them every day that we love them.
And pray.
Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.
"Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall."
Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know."

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Justifying Sin

Dear Sage, People in Jesus' time used the scriptures to justify why they do not believe he is the Messiah. They are experts of Biblical law called Scribes, members of the Sanhedrin, Pharisees etc. Just like the expert who wrote this junk mail. He wants to justify the Death of innocent lives in Iraq claiming it is part of Prophecy.

”1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq.

2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq , was the cradle of civilization!

3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq

5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!

6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq!

7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.

8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.

9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.

10. Amos cried out in Iraq!

11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.

12. Daniel was! in the lion's den in Iraq!

13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the Fiery furnace!)

14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.

15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.

16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.

17. The wise men were from Iraq

18. Peter preached in Iraq.
19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon , which was a city in Iraq!

And you have probably seen this one. Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia . The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots.

Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated it than Iraq.

And also, This is something to think about! Since America is typically represented by an eagle. Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages ...

The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)

Koran (9:11 ) - For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace.

(Note the verse number!) Hmmmmmmm?! “

This is my response…

Funny.

But let us not forget that…

FACT 1. IRAQ was created in the 20th century. It did not exist in the time of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob or when the Bible was being written.

FACT 2. Babylon does not exist anymore. It is a political entity that can cease to exist without divine intervention. Just Like USSR, Prussia, Holy Roman Empire, British Empire and Kingdom of Navarre

FACT 3. IRAQ and Babylon are two different political entities that have DIFFERENT histories, DIFFERENT territories, DIFFERENT borders, and composed of DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

BABYLON IS AN EMPIRE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN ALL HISTORY.

IRAQ is a poor, third world country left destitute by a decade of US led economic sanctions. When it was at its WEAKEST, when it cannot even defend itself against almost monthly bombings of its defense installations since the 1990’s, it was INVADED by the most POWERFUL POLITICAL POWER on earth.

IRAQ IS NOT BABYLON. It is too weak. It was not even able to convincingly win the war against its other THIRD WORLD neighbor IRAN- EVEN WITH THE HELP OF A SUPER POWER (AMERICA)

BUT

AMERICA is JUST LIKE BABYLON IN ITS DOMINATION OF THE WORLD TODAY
Just like BABYLON, the US is becoming hated by poorer countries because it dominates world economy by force of arms. Its purported principles could not reach beyond what its filthy hands could grasp.

HENCE, any prophecy against BABYLON could not be against a weak, third world country like IRAQ. Biblical Prophecy against Babylon could only be a prophecy against the MOST BABYLON-LIKE COUNTRY we have today in the world

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Biblical Proof 1.

The dominating power mentioned in Revelations was set on top of Seven Hills. It was an obvious reference to the “Capitoline Hills” of Rome. The US congress sits on real estate called “CAPITOL.” The US congress harks back to the age of ancient Rome where leaders responsible for forming the foreign policy of the empire were also called “Senators”

Biblical Proof 2.

The Whore of Babylon was drunk with the blood of saints and innocents. I remember a picture in Time Magazine where an Iraqi boy was crying. He was soaked in blood. HIS Blood and the blood of his parents killed by US soldiers in a checkpoint.

Biblical Proof 3

The Whore of Babylon is the number one source of immorality. Have you been to Las Vegas lately? How about a crack house in LA? Ever wondered how many percent of American websites are dedicated to pornography?

Biblical Proof 4

The Whore of Bablyon IS THE MOST POWEFUL ECONOMIC AND MILITARY ENTITY IN THE WORLD. How many superpowers do we have today?

One last thing, if the verse from the Quran 9:11 is really an accurate interpretation, then it is proof that the Bible is not the sole revelation from God that can reveal the future. Maybe Christians should start reading it everyday too.

As for the phrase “and there was peace…” I am reminded by this line attributed to critics of that other great empire- The Roman Empire. Just like Babylon and America, it was also the most powerful entity of its day. It was said that...

“They created a desolation and called it peace.”

PS. What I just wrote was crap.
Of course I DON’T BELIEVE THAT AMERICA IS THE WHORE OF BABYLON

JUST LIKE I DON’T BELIEVE THAT IRAQ WAS EVER MENTIONED IN BIBLE PROPHECY.

Different Strokes

Dear Sage,

You and Sabine spent the whole of sunday mid-morning, noon and evening swimming in all the 5 pools there. By evening, while wearing a pair of inflatable floaters in her arms, Sabine has learned to navigate herself, on her own using her legs to propel her forward, sideways and if necessary, to make a 180 degree turn when she reached the end of the pool. No mean feat considering she's just 2 years old.

You were able to swim across the pool (5 feet deep) by alternately dog paddling and diving forward when your arms become weary. Whenever anybody asked you who taught you how to swim, your standard answer was "NOBODY." You are right. I did not teach you how, you just saw me do it once or twice. And your Mom, to her shame, doesn't even know how to swim even though she grew up a mere 3 blocks away from the sea.

Later on you told me that you know how to "duck paddle." I was puzzled. Then you showed me. You were dog paddling then made the sound "quack quack!, quack quack!" then after that you added to your repertoire half a dozen other strokes: frog paddle, cat paddle, cow paddle, horse paddle, frog paddle even dinosaur paddle.



Bunkmates: Sage, Cousin Andre, and Sabine.

You are so gutsy. When most adults in the pool did not even want to slide down the pool, you walked up the stairs nonchalantly and made a splash as you slide down the slippery ride. You made the trip to the top of the slide about a hundred times. I lost count. But please remember: you should not only be brave but careful too.