The Biggest Adventure

Tonight I watched a Japanese movie titled “Inu to Watashi no 10 no Yakusoku“ (10 promises between me and my dog). The film made me cry. After I reflected on the promises made, I discovered that they applied not only to the relationship between us and our pets, but to our other relationships as well. Here are the promises (translated into English):

1. Please have patience when dealing with me.

2. Place your trust in me. Through good and bad times, I will always be by your side.

3. Never forget that I have a heart too… just like you.

4. Whenever I don’t listen to what you say, always remember that there is a reason.

5. Talk to me. I may not understand all your words but I understand your voice when it speaks to me. (In the film: Try to spend a lot of time with me)

6. Let’s not fight. Remember that I could hurt you but have chosen never to do so.

7. Even when I grow in age (and probably grow slow or weak), please be kind to me

8. My life may not last as long as yours. Please make every second we spend together count.

9. You may have other friends, other activities. Please remember that for me, there’s only you.

10. When I leave this world, promise me you’ll be by my side. Remember all the times we shared and remember always that I love you.

One of the prominent songs featured on the soundtrack was “Time after Time”, particularly the lines:

When you’re lost, you can look and you will find me… time after time. When you fall, I will catch you I’ll be waiting… time after time.

Quite poignant.

In the journey of life, in every choice we make, in every relationship, there are times when the path we walk is completely blocked. When this happens, we find ourselves in pain… particularly when we were taking this path to get to a particular destination.

I have resolved that whenever I find myself in such a position, I will ask myself, “Can I move this roadblock all by myself?”

If the answer is a YES, I resolve to do my utmost best, face the challenge and remove the obstacle before me.

If the answer is a NO, I have two choices. I can sit and wait for the obstacle to disappear, but no amount of magic, crying, pleading or waiting will make this roadblock move on it’s own.

Or, I can choose to face my fears, and continue on my travels, wherever my life takes me. It may be a different path, to face different trials and learn new things, or it may lead me to walk this particular road again.

If life leads me on to a different path, I may arrive at a different place, a different destination. And if I am called back to walk this road again, the roadblock may already be gone, or I may find that I have gained the strength to move it on my own.

In any case, at the end of my journey, I will have become a better man.

Just because something feels right doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right.  But if something is wrong, it’s going to just feel plain wrong.

For the love of my life, my friend, my partner, Mona:

Did you know?

Without you
Each step that I take
feels like a thousand miles
Not one morsel, no single drop,
can hold its taste or flavor

Without you
The golden rays of sunlight
eclipsed in cloudless rain
The vibrant colors of the world
Dulled by sheer misery

Without you
Each flower that blooms
drops to the ground, trampled
It’s beauty wasted, forgotten
watched by an unseeing eye

Without you
Every day that passes
is a struggle of faith
To fill the emptiness inside
An endless pit of darkness

Without you
The smile is just a farce
A hollow shell devoid of substance
Did you know?

This was a poem I wrote for my fiancee about a year after we first met. I’m not quite as good a poet as Shelley or Keats, but this poem was something written from the heart.

Not for the Beauty of Your Laugh and Smile

I love you not for the beauty of your laugh and smile
though i must say your beauty overcomes me
Not for the sound of your voice or gentle whisper
music to my ears, though they may be
Not for lofty words or silly things
though you make me think and laugh

I love you not for the way your kisses stop my heart
nor the feel of your hands on mine
Not for the way your head rests right
into the hollow of my shoulders
Not for the way you hold me close
reminder of an angel’s touch

I love you not for your graceful walk
nor the way you move towards me
Not for the laughs and times we shared
treasured memories they may be
Not for the times you’ve saved me from
a darkness far beyond me

I love you not for the laughter nor the tears
though we have been through a lot
but I will always be by your side
to hold your hands and walk with you

I love you not for any single reason
or any of those things
I love you for all of them and more
I love you just because you’re you

How does a stew made out of pork blood sound? Not too good? Think again!

TwistedHalo

If you have ever visited or lived in the Philippines, you probably are aware (or were made aware by some naughty Filipino friends) of a dish called dinuguan. Dinuguan, derived from the root word dugo (meaning blood in Filipino), is a stew made mainly out of pig’s blood and innards.

Ever since I was young, dinuguan has been served at approximately half the parties I attended. It was a popular accompaniment to white rice, pansit (noodles) and puto (rice cakes).

Until my high school years though, I never partook of the dinuguan being served at parties. Knowing what it was made of made me ignore the aroma everytime a hot pot of dinuguan was opened. Perhaps my relatively non-traditional upbringing played a part too. We didn’t partake of much offal in the family, so perhaps, it’s one reason I avoided dinuguan and other delicacies made out of animal innards.

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