Seafaring

When I was about 11, I had a drowning experience at Cusyong beach, Cotabato City. That gave me the water trauma or hydrophobia.  Not so complicated though.  I just don't like immersing myself in the water for a long time.  I feel like my lungs are going to explode.  I don't know how to really swim ~ just floating.  I tried learning but I didn't finish it.  Such a coward me!  Yes, that's me when it comes to water. Anyway, i still love the scene of a traditional boat sailing at night with the moon so full and orange.  It gives me a feeling of serenity and slow journey but calm and guided.

computer painted solitary boat on a moonlit night

I made this painting with an imagination - I am sailing with my eternal companion, just lying down on his broad shoulders and talking anything under the moon...kissin' like time stood still.  Then he plays his guitar or sings a melodious song while I hug him sideways and my face resting against his sturdy back.

My grandpa Mauro - mum's dad was a seafarer.  A very good swimmer.  I remember, when I was a kid, we sailed with his ship.  There was a huge sea turquoise in it.  I was happy and scared to have seen it but my grandpa said, they already freed her.  We call it 'pawikan' in the Phillies.  One of my mom's favorite memories with her dad was sailing with him and docked off for a while in Zamboanga where my mom played on the flowerful plaza. There she saw this 5 leaf clover flower which they said was a luck ~ usually it's just 4 leaf clover.  Her dad would come home with many goods for them like dried squid, mangosteen, bananas, eggs, milk, etc.  Life was still easy until grandpa Mauro had to resign due to severe dizziness.  That resignation was a blessing in disguise because right after that, the ship Dona Marilyn sunk into the ocean.  My grandpa was spared. 

My uncle Rodolfo - mum's brother was a retired seafarer too.  He's a captain of a cargo ship.  Last 2004, mom and I sailed with his ship going to Cotabato City.  It was such an adventure.  I was treating my kidney infection that time that's why mom decided to bring me to Cotabato City again...to breathe fresh sea water air.  There were nights, the heavy wind tossed the empty cargo ship. Mum threw up.  In the morning, I saw the dolphins swimming along the ship.  Such a good view.  How I love dolphins.   Then when we were near Cagayan de Oro, we had to climb down the ship to a boat just holding onto the rope.  It was like a survivor thingy. The boat was still on the water.  I did that bravely!

Now his son Rodolfo Jr "Bobong" is also a seafarer of a Chemical Tank Ship.  He's the Second Mate and is still wanting to get promoted.  Seamen are paid really good.  So Bobong was able to help his dad treat his ailment.  He also financed some of Cathy's (his elder sister) wedding expenses.  Apart from that, he also bought their family a house and lot and car.  Such a big-hearted fella.

Bobong standing on right as 2nd Mate

Way back then, my mom and I would sail the WGA Super Ferry ship going to Manila and back to Cotabato City.  I had a lot of good memories meeting new friends and some crushes. Hahaha. It will take 3 days and 2 nights going to Cotabato City from Manila.  That far!  But a good voyage...

My wish someday is to ride a luxury cruise liner with my eternal companion and kids.  Just going to a nice beach or place to enjoy life together in this mortal state.

The Black Boots

Number one, I love B-O-O-T-S as I love SHOES!!!  I think every woman does...don't you think so?  Makes me feel so westernized...like a cowgirl. hahaha.  But truly, it is very fashionable especially with the dress or coat.  Yeah...I have never worn a coat yet. When I was 18, my mom bought me a brown leather low cut boots.  I felt so regal wearing them.  I even wore it during my 18th birthday.

My dream is to wear a long high-heeled black shiny pair of boots - above the knee level and black skirt.  Have you seen the movie "Pretty Woman"?  I love Julia Roberts on that boots. She looked so sophisticated. hahaha.  

That's the boots I'm talking about...

I love flowers so I accented my painting with it.  What do you think  I don't know why but ever since I was a kid, whenver mom would buy me shoes or slippers, I'd choose the one with flowers on it. Girly huh?  Maybe?! hahaha.

my computed painted black booties with flowers on the loose

Back in our home at Cotabato City, my mom has a garden full of different flowers in front of the house. I remember so vividly, her dancing ladies and dove orchids.  Whenever, they bloomed, the garden smelled so fragrant.  She would play music for them.  Mom has a green thumb.  So my younger brother John and I also started loving plants then.  There was a time, we strolled in the neighborhood and found a small mansanitas (cherries) plant.  We uprooted it and planted it in our vacant lot.  We took care of it until it grew into a fruit-bearing tree (Mansanitas or Aratiles or Jamaican Cherry).  We really loved the fruits of it.  It's sweet and so soft.  

Photo by Anjo's Point by Michael Sanchez via google search (Allbestphilippines.blogspot)

Speaking of boots, one of my favories now is my red rose tussled-breathable boots I bought from Trinoma (Australia shoes brand).  I usually get attention whenever I wear them but who cares.  One time going up in the elevator at work, a colleague said "I can't help it, I love your boots!" hahaha. See?!

my new Old Rose tussled boots of Australia at P300 from P899

Accepting the certificate during the primary anniversary

The Red Bow

Blogged 01.11.2012/ 8:29 am

I have always loved arts...drawing and painting.  Won several awards in elementary and highschool.  Wanted to finish Fine Arts in BYU-Hawaii... So, i am a frustrated trained artist by brush.  Now, I just use the mouse to paint. How nice it is to paint in the computer. Wanna share with you some of these paintings with my thoughts about it.

The Red Bow

I grew up in teens with those unlikely waves and curls.  I really didn't like it back then.  Envious of those girls who had straight hair.  But I managed my hair style with a lot of hair accessories like headbands, clips and bows.  Thanks to my mom who always bought me some.  I am blessed to have a hair color like my mom - brown and sometimes lighter.  During my teenage years, my hair was really light brown - people commented it was like the corn hair or like a diver's hair. We call it here 'Bajao' (natives in Zamboanga who'd dive for any coin you toss into the sea ~ even babies know how to swim).  Some girls would ask me if I dyed my hair.  So happy to respond - its natural.  Thanks to my Spanish roots.  There was one time, while walking on my way home, a gay approached me.  He said if I ever cut my hair, I should go to his parlor.  He would be glad to make the hair into a wig so he can wear it. I haven't dyed my hair color not until I was 33 together ~ milk rebond and cellophane.  Since 2000's, everything about hair is possible.  So now, my hair is straighter.  I even had a hair cellophane before my 2011 bday.  Here's how it looked like -  this is dark brown by the way.

after the hair cellophane

So this painting is pretty much about me.  Here's how my first major rebond looked like.  Spent 1,000 for it. Attended our High school reunion in Davao with it.  So glamorously flaunting my hair, really.  I was always scared of doing something to my hair.  Well, it's time to shake-off some skins.  HELLO NEW HAIR!!!

rebonded and lovin it

beachy feeling...

no editting...thanks to Karen s photography skills