Violino Piccolo

The young busker in Rundle Mall.  22 December 2011.

Amidst the energy and excitement of holiday shopping at Rundle Mall yesterday, I came across this young boy busking in the middle of this unique street.  Exhausted from the shopping rush, I walked towards him to listen to what he was playing and perhaps, to sit on the wooden bench nearby to relax.  As I got closer to him, I heard the melody of the carol entitled Mary's Boy Child...

James playing a Christmas carol.  Rundle St., Adelaide City, South Australia

Despite the jubilant theme of the song, I could see the sadness in his eyes.

Shoppers went past him; while most of them didn't, some of them tossed coins into his violin case lying open down the brick-covered lane.  There was a note saying, "Hope you like my playing. -James."

Whether it's for passion or just purely for financial gain, nobody knows it except James.

After taking this photograph, I grabbed a note from my wallet and handed it to him, he stopped fiddling and took it.

He said, "Thank you..." and he smiled.

"Merry Christmas, James!"  Then I left. 




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The Bush Party and the Cakes

The Queen's Hat- Inspired by the Royal Wedding 2011.  The table cloth is a replica of a typical Aboriginal painting.

Today is a 'bad cake day' for me.

I was invited for a birthday celebration and was told that it's an Australian bush party.  Janet, a friend in the Port Wakefield Catholic community, turns seventy today; and since I have been trying to learn baking lately, I decided to bring a birthday cake as a present. My original plan was a chocolate cake shaped like 'cowboy hat' but I eventually thought that a Queen's hat would be more appropriate for a lady celebrant.  Even if the the cake would deviate from the theme of the party, I believed that Janet would love it considering that Her Majesty is currently Down Under for a ten-day visit, and that Australia has been proud of it's British roots.

But my dilemma about the cake didn't end there.  I only started to learn baking and cake decorating last autumn, and have been using buttermilk icing since then- absolutely perfect for cooler days but not for a warm day like today.  The forecast was 31'C, and being a chicken farmer who has been closely monitoring Port Wakefield's weather for almost four years now, I believe the mercury could rise two to three degrees above the temperature outlook.  So I researched for the best cake frosting that could stand in a warmer or hot temperature.  There were two options: a buttercream frosting or a Royal icing (very famous in the Philippines), and after how many hours of consideration I settled for the butterceam icing.

I found this 'temperature forecaster' hanging on the wall at the venue. Brilliant, ay?

To make the story short, it didn't work!  Starting at half past midday, we drove for ten minutes to get to the venue of the party, the cake was in a huge plastic container at the boot of the car.  The internet told me that shortening melts at around 40'C, so I was confident that my cake's crust was strong enough to hold.  Just imagine my face and my heart after opening the container and seeing a part of the cake decoration collapsing!  I forgot to consider the powdered sugar and the milk that I added to to the shortening to achieve the frosting.

The photo above was taken at the party, the broken part of the cake decoration was at the back but the 'golden' roses on the side was noticeably sagging.  Anyway, if you look at the photo of the Queen's hat during the Royal Wedding, the flower on the side of her yellow hat was a bit saggy too.

This post was originally intended to tell the story about the outback-themed party but it didn't turn out to be that way.  I am sharing some photos below, in case you're interested. 

The birthday celebrant Janet and his husband Robin (who's wearing a typical Australian work clothes).

This is Rhondda, she's 91 years old!  She's wearing a cork hat or a bushman's/outback hat; the cork dangling around the brim of the hat ward off the flies.  For those who don't know, the Australian outback is infested with blow flies. 

This is Esma (locals/friends would pronounce it as /Es-may/) with her huge coffee mug!

The chook-minder at the gate.  The outback-themed birthday party was held inside.

After fifty-seven months of living in Australia, it was my first time to eat an Australian damper.  It is a traditional outback cake baked in the coals of the campfire.  I don't have a photo of it, I got carried away during the luncheon. 

Speaking of cakes, Janet loved her yellow birthday cake; she was very happy and grateful!



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Dusk and Dawn

After spending an hour inside the wellness cubicle in Elizabeth Mall, I drove through the Main North Road and took the Gawler-Mallala-Balaklava Roads to get to Port Wakefield—where I live.  Before finally heading home, I wanted to catch up with some friends who were having a dinner party in Balaklava this evening, so I was driving at the max speed of 110 km/hr.  Susan Boyle’s Album was actually playing, and the lyrics of her version of I Dreamed a Dream and You’ll See were reminding me of my own ambitions, as well as my current heartaches. 

Suddenly, on the left side of the road, I saw the setting sun over the vast rolling plains, with its rays penetrating through the thick clouds!  I pulled out, grabbed my Nex-5 and took a series of photographs...

Sunset; Gawler-Mallala Road, South Australia. March 25, 2011.

Sunset is the time to relax, and dream.  It is the time to savour our accomplishments and achievements for the day; and if there are failures and frustrations, the dusk has the power to end it all.  As darkness falls, there’s always a promise of a brand new day- the sunrise... a new beginning so we can get up and continue our journey... an opportunity to work hard and achieve our ultimate goal in this life.   

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Greener Pasture

Lower Light and Wakefield Regional Council, Port Wakefield Road, South Australia

It was a cool, gloomy, early autumn afternoon...  I was driving from the city and was traversing the boundary of Lower Light and Wakefield Regional Council when I spotted this herd of beef cattle taking a good rest under the eucalyptus trees just beside the hill. They didn’t seem to care about the hustle and bustle of the road, though they’ve actually managed to stand as I moved closer to frame my shot.  A few weeks ago the pasture was awfully brown and dry, and after a few soaking showers in the past days it has apparently turned into a thin carpet of a literally green pasture.   Last summer, when there was no greener pasture, even on the other side of the fence—these animals were left grazing in the auburn plain, and hand fed with hay and concentrated grain. 

Take it easy.  Stay, and be patient.  And save not only for the rainy days, but also for the sunny days. 




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Then, now and henceforth...

The tower clock of Perth City Town Hall.  An example of a Victorian Free Gothic architecture, the building was opened in 1870 and is the only convict-built capital city town hall in Australia.  Corners Hay and Barrack streets, Perth, Western Australia. 

Learning is a continuous process, and as we learn from our day to day experiences there's always a challenge to improve ourselves and our lives.  Contentment and satisfaction, for me, are words that exist in the dictionary but not in real life; but don't think this as a negative thing because seeking for advancement and growing to become a better person is always a positive thing.  As we progress, however, we should also be committed to nurture all the beautiful things that we already have.


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The Artists's Style

 

I spotted these artists in one of the busiest streets in Melbourne- Swanston St. last December 7, 2008.  Obviously, they were there to showcase their talent, and at the same time accepting some monetary gifts from the passers-by who appreciated their work. 

I have some doubts with the authenticity of the other, though. How about you?     

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Ageing

Aging
Originally uploaded by Chook-minder's Lens

A year has passed... and another year has been added to my period of existence in this beautiful world. I am getting older, and after a year, my age could no longer be found in any of the longest calendar month. But honestly, I feel like I’m only on my twenty-fifth.

I do always think that I am younger than my actual age, and I hope that my looks would always do the same. A couple of years ago, a Caucasian acquaintance was surprised when she realized that I am 10 years older than what she had previously thought! While a month ago, a 15-year old Australian bloke working in hardware shop believed that I was only nineteen. I don’t know, of course, if they were lying. I hope they didn’t...

But ageing doesn’t bother me. I may not be earning a lot, but I am sure that day by day I am discovering and learning a lot from this lovely world!

I haven’t been to many places across the globe, but, somehow, I have started to bloom in this humble place where I have been planted; and looking forward to bear many fruits in the later years.

I am not globally renowned like many other guys of my age (eg. Manny Pacquiao) but I am luckily bestowed with scientific knowledge and fortunately blessed with the necessary skills to understand the 'animal world'—a true usefulness in helping creatures that cannot help themselves.

My bank account is unbelievably close to nothing, yet I am sure that every person that I love the most has been whole-heartedly taken care of.

I am still single, but, definitely, not loveless. I have loved, and will continue to love all those who have genuinely given their love to me, as well as those who have brought out all the best in me.

I will never reveal my birthday wish in this page until that wish is being granted. ...but a sound mind and a strong physique, as well as a long life are all I need so I can continue to serve, and fulfil my mission in this world.



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The 'Heart', in situ

It’s my first time to visit Riverton, a small town in South Australia known as the heart of Gilbert Valley. As we drove through the main street, there were three art galleries and a few antique sandstone buildings which, I believe, were erected in the mid-1900 when the first settlers arrived in the place.

The hallway in the care home, with handrails on the walls.

Riverton is approximately 85 kilometres southeast of my place. The sealed roads and highways were occasionally pine-lined; and across the endless horizon were the flourishing wheat and barley plantations, and the blossoming canola that creates a patchy artwork of verdant rolling plains and bright yellow hills. As we came closer to Clare Valley and Auburn, there was a very distinct transition of vegetation from a rich, blooming field to those leafless vines and melancholic vineyards...

The residents and the caregiver in the lounge.

I went to Riverton not as a tourist, though, but as a friend. Together with Tony and Jane, and their 3-year old daughter Ella, we accompanied Aling Siony to the Riverton Hospital which is also a centre for elderly care in the region. We visited Charles—Aling Siony’s husband who will be turning eighty-four by the end of this month. Charles has been in the care home for more than a year now, and every time he sees his wife he would say, “I think I’m gonna die...”

I, actually, don’t want to think how Charles and the other residents have survived in the care centre. Don’t get me wrong, aside from the inevitable smell of soaked adult pads, the hospital is very clean and tidy, equipped with a complete range of age-care facilities, and by the looks of it, I can say without second thoughts that the entire building has been regularly maintained inside-out. I believe that every member of the staff is well-trained to run the centre and is competent enough to offer the best care to their residents.

The residents' shared room.

...but it is the sense of belongingness that concerns me the most. The caregivers may have been doing the same job for years—skilled and knowledgeable, but the fact that they aren’t even related by flesh and by blood to their patients is truly an emotional pain for me. Elderly people don’t just need excellent care of their competent caregivers, but genuine love and care which should and could only be given by their own family. There are twenty-two residents in the ‘home’, two of them in each room but they don’t even know the name of each other, and couldn’t even remember the life story of their roommate. A ‘care home’ is not a home!

Charles' walker...

We were sitting in the lounge when Charles asked Aling Siony to take him to his dad. He said he wants to see his father, and his brother. Aling Siony held the hand of his husband and squeezed it, she blushed and dropped a tear... the truth is—Charles’ dad has passed away many years ago... dementia had possibly made him believe that his dad was still alive.

Charles asked Tony to open the built-in case of his walker; he said that there’s a lemon and a grapefruit inside. Tony obeyed, and to my surprise, there were fruits in that box! Charles took the grapefruit, handed it to Aling Siony and said, “This is for you, dear. Take it home.” We soon realized that the fruits have fallen from the tree standing in the backyard of the elderly care centre.

When it was time for us to leave, Aling Siony took the visitors book of her husband so she could sign. The last entry was June 23, 2010—a visit made by herself, Jane and Ella. In the first Sunday of September, Australia will celebrate father’s day. I wish that Charles’ children from his first four once legal wives (but now legally-divorced) will come and say hello to their dad (Aling Siony is the fifth, and the couple hasn’t been blessed with a child).

Charles, Ella (the grapefruit behind her pink backpack), and Aling Siony.

I will be celebrating my fourth birthday in Australia this month. I am definitely getting older and older... in this Land Down Under where the conception and views about elderly care are very different from what we have back home. I have been granted with a permanent resident visa in this country, and with what I have seen in Riverton today, I am reconsidering my plans to achieve the ultimate immigration status down here.

The dining, with the lemon and grapefruit trees outside.

I am looking forward to visit Riverton again, not to see the home for the aged but to explore the town and discover more about the real heart of Gilbert Valley.

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Political 'Affairs'

I really would like to submit myself into an elective surgery; I wanted my occipitofrontalis muscle be severed so I could stop raising my eyebrows!

There's something about the modern Philippine politics that I simply hate the most- when leaders of various religious organizations deliberately choose to appear old-fashioned by entertaining the ‘serenade’ and ‘go dating’ with the national electoral candidates. Or shall I put it this way: ...when these candidates are desperately doing a ‘serenade’ and going out with these ministers for a ‘date’.

I, obviously, don’t know if who among them is enjoying this kind of affair, the electoral candidate who ran after the religious minister or the minister being persuaded by the soon-to-be a national leader.

...just can’t believe that gaining and giving a support for one's candidacy is as difficult and embarrassing as that. For me, yes. But perhaps, for these candidates who desire to earn millions of votes in the much-awaited May 2010 election, courting an influential religious leader may be much easier than visiting every household in the 41,995 barangays throughout the Philippines.

This type of political campaign is undoubtedly like courting an intended spouse amidst a number of equally competent rivals! And with these preachers openly saying to reveal their decisions, if to whom they are giving their support, in the next or after a couple of month, it would surely drive the ‘dandies’ to intensify their flattery so they could savour the heavenly flavour/favour they’re craving for—the powerful votes.

Courtship is an art; I believe nobody would dare to disagree. Undeniably, special gifts such as stuffed toys, delicious chocolates, expensive flowers, as well as sugar-coated words are all part of the craft. The finest presents and the most excellent promises that could gratify these ministers, of course their suitors know best.

I am not questioning the religious leaders’ ability to assess a potential and to choose a good candidate to vote, nor am I taking away their right of suffrage. With their credibility, well...

It seems that I am going too far, far away from what I wanted to point out in this post- that when somebody decides whom to vote there are only two possible outcomes—a right choice or a wrong choice. And in the case of these great and most ‘sought after’ religious ministers, millions of votes are at stake! Of course I haven’t forgotten that the Holy Spirit is ____ there to guide them, hopefully at all times and NOT just always.

The question on why the followers of these religious organizations behave like water buffaloes with a nose-string is another lengthy story.

Now back to dating and courtship... I know you know what’s next—engagement and marriage. In the Philippine political affairs, I am giving all the benefits of the doubt regarding ‘engagements after the election’.




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Pita

Jollie by the River Torrens
Elder Park, Adelaide City, South Australia

Para kay Jollie...

...ang aking pinakamalapit na kaibigan dito sa Australia na binigyan ko ng kopya ng pinakapaborito kong akdang Desiderata- na nakadikit sa isang maliit na pirasong tabla,

...subalit ang nais ay ang Filipino version nito.

Sana'y magustuhan mo ang salin kong ito. Print mo nalang, bro.

Sa gitna ng maingay at matuling takbo ng buhay, maging mahinahon at palaging alalahaning may katiwasayang hatid ang katahimikan. Hangga’t maari, sa abot ng iyong makakaya, makibagay sa lahat ng tao.

Ihayag ng matahimik ngunit malinaw ang iyong mga paninindigan at pananaw, at makinig sa panig ng iba, ang kanilang mga kwento'y iyong igalang, kahit ang mga musmos o di kaya’y mangmang. Iwasan ang mga taong maingay at masalita, magagambala lamang nila ang iyong maayos na diwa.

Huwag ihalintulad o ihambing ang iyong sarili sa iba, maaari mo lamang matuklasan ang iyong mga kahinaan at tuluyang mawalan ng kabuluhan; sapagkat sa mundong ito may mga taong sadyang mas nakaaangat at mas mababa kaysa sa iyo.

Ikalugod ang iyong mga natamong tagumpay, at magalak sa iyong mga hangarin. Mahalin ang iyong hanapbuhay at ipag-imbot ang iyong pinag-aralan nang may kababaang-loob; sapagkat sa patuloy na pag-ikot ng gulong ng buhay ito’y mananatiling iyong pag-aari.

Maging maingat sa lahat ng mga bagay na iyong papasukin sapagkat ang mundo’y nababalot ng paglilinlang. Ngunit patuloy mong buksan ang iyong mga mata sa mga kabanalang nariyan; marami namang mga taong nagsusumikap gumawa ng kabutihan at kahit saan ay may nagpapamalas ng kabayanihan.

Magpakatotoo. At higit sa lahat, huwag magkunwaring kumakalinga o 'di kaya’y nagmamahal. Huwag mapagduda pagdating sa pag-ibig; sapagkat sa gitna ng kalamlaman o samaan ng loob, pilitin mo man itong lipulin ito’y parang damong paulit-ulit na sisibol.

Tanggapin ng maluwag ang mga pangaral ng nakaraan, habang maayos na isinusuko ang mga bagay ng kamusmusan sapagkat kasabay ng pag-inog ng panahon lumilipas din ang kabataan.

Pangalagaan at panatilihin ang kalakasan ng loob upang may panangga sa mga ‘di-inaasahang kasawian. Ngunit huwag pahirapan ang iyong sarili sa pag-iisip ng mga bagay na walang kabuluhan. Maraming mga pangamba ang nag-uugat sa kapagalan at kalungkutan.

Habang isinasagawa ang mga itinakdang panuntunan maging banayad sa iyong sarili. Ikaw ay katangi-tanging nilalang ng sansinukob, katulad ng mga puno sa kabukiran at mga tala sa kalangitan hawak mo rin ang karapatang ipamalas ang angking kagandahan at taglay na kinang. Malinaw man o hindi ang bagay na ito sa iyo- walang pag-aalinlangang ang sandaigdigan ay sadyang likas na puno ng kagilalasan.

Kaya maging malapit sa Maykapal, anoman ang pagkakakilala mo sa Kanya. At habang patuloy na nangangarap at nagsisikap sa gitna ng nakalilitong takbo ng buhay, panatilihin ang kaayusan ng iyong tunay na pagkatao. Sa kabila ng mga kasinungalingan, kapahamakan at kabiguan, siguradong mananatili ang likas na kariktan ng sanlibutan.

Mag-ingat at magalak. Sikaping maging maligaya.

-ni Max Ehrmann, 1920's

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The Parable of the Chook-minder

Chicken harvest has started for a week now, and it will take another three sleepless weeks before we can totally empty the chicken sheds. This is the reason why The Chook-minder’s Quill hasn’t been scribbling anything for the past seven days.

*****

...but of course I didn't miss the bout between Pacquiao-Cotto. As a Filipino blogger, I obliged myself to subscribe the ‘pay-per-view’ of the said fight. So last Sunday, I sat in front of the telly for more than 4 hours as I waited with pessimism... but ended up happy and proud because I was able to witness how the People’s Champ engraved history in the boxing world!

*****

The movie 2012 is also the ‘talk of the blogosphere’ nowadays, so I watched it this evening. Huhmn, I commend the visual effects of the movie. That’s it, nothing more. But hey, I believe that the release of the movie was really planned to coincide with the Scripture readings last Sunday, and I think these are all related to what I have been doing lately—the chicken harvest.

With the company’s up-to-date knowledge in poultry genetics, health and nutrition; plus the husbandry skills of the poultry farm workers and the modern amenities of the chicken sheds, only 94-96% of the flock pass the standards of the harvest crew and the dressing plant. Part of the remaining 5% dies, and others are condemned along the growing cycle because they are sick, small or skinny. During the final night of the harvest, chicken catchers would set aside and leave all the substandard birds behind.

Then it’s the responsibility of the chook-minder. All the poor-performing or unproductive chickens are condemned- their head and neck joint is skilfully dislocated. The dead birds are then placed in a wheelbarrow, tipped in a tractor bucket parked outside the shed and finally dumped in a 6-foot deep mortality pit!

Cherubim at Seraphim

Nais kong makatagpo at magkaroon ng karanasan mula sa isang tunay na anghel. Hangad ko kasing magpadala ng napakaraming mahahalagang mga mensahe doon sa Kanya, at gusto ko ring malaman ang Kanyang mga mensahe para sa akin.

Nakakita na ako ng mga anghel- ngunit 'yong mga anghel na likha ng mga pintor at iskultor. Mga anghel na babae, at mga anghel na lalake... suot ang kani-kanilang mahahabang puting damit, at kadalasan sila'y may mga malalaki at malalapad na mga pakpak.

Kapag nakakakita ako ng kumakalat na mga puting balahibo, naiisip kong malamang ay pakalat-kalat lamang ang mga anghel dito sa lupa... kahimanawaring ang mga puting balahibong 'yon ay nalagas mula sa kanilang mga pakpak at hindi lamang nanggaling sa aking mga alagang manok.

Nasaan kaya ang mga anghel sa mga panahong ito? Nandito pa kaya at kasa-kasama ko ang aking anghel dela guardia? O ako'y tuluyan na niyang iniwan matapos kong magawa ang napakaraming mga kasalanan?

Napakarami, at hindi raw kayang bilangin ang mga anghel! Sila raw ay mga espiritu, o di kaya'y maaaring mag-anyong isang napakaamo, kahali-halina at matabang bata. May mga anghel naman daw na mukhang-tao taglay ang mukhang animoy isang kidlat at mga bahagi ng katawang yari sa mga mamahaling bakal at bato. At may mga pagkakataon din daw na sila'y nakikita bilang isang nakasisilaw na liwanag! Ngunit hanggang ngayon, tila wala pa akong nakita o nakaharap na mga tulad nila.

Gusto kong magkaroon ng karanasan mula sa isang tunay na anghel. Pakiramdam ko kasi kailangan ko ng gabay, kalinga, panangga, at sapat na lakas upang matugunan at makayang harapin ang lahat ng mga hamon sa aking buhay. Kaya sana lahat ng mga anghel ay mabait, sana'y walang masasama.

Nasaan kaya ang mga tunay na anghel? Siguro'y abala sila sa kanilang pagpupuri doon sa kalangitan. Siguro'y maraming mga mananampalatayang kasalukuyang nakaratay sa banig ng karamdaman, nag-aagaw-buhay at kailangan na nilang sunduin. Siguro'y maraming mga tao ang higit na nangangailangan ng sapat na kalinga kaysa sa akin kaya wala silang panahon para magpakita sa isang karaniwang magmamanok na tulad ko.

Kung ikaw ay isang anghel, magpakilala ka sa akin.



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TagumPIE

Paano kung ang papaitan walang halong apdo?
O 'di kaya'y ang adobo kung walang suka't toyo?
Masarap ba ang kalderetang walang anghang ang sarsa?
O 'di kaya'y ang tapang salat sa asin at paminta?

Sa paggawa ng ice-cream ang pangunahing sangkap ay asin-
kahit choco-frosting kailangang painitin, haluin;
Nakakatakam na leche flan, matagal pinasingawan!
Gulaman sa buko-pandan, nabuo nang pinakuluan.

Kung ang nais sa buhay, tagumPIE ay malasap,
'Di dapat magulat kung may pasakit at hirap,
Sa kabila ng lahat, tuwa't sarap ang katapat,
'Pag may t'yaga at sipag, tiyak may hain sa hapag!










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Sa lahat ng mga kaibigang sumuporta sa aking akdang The Keynote- na kalahok sa 2009 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards, maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!

WiSHum GRANTum

It was 6:58 a.m. and the sun hadn’t risen yet. The dark eastern horizon had been gradually turning into a streak of cherry-red band, while the wide, lush, green wheat field was still obscured by the remaining darkness of the dawn. He felt the cold winter breeze biting his cheeks and this nearly freezing temperature never spared to penetrate even his glove-encased palms!

He quickly entered the first of the six control rooms which had been individually annexed beside the six chicken sheds. He was there to check the digitally-recorded data and to adjust the computer settings to make it suitable for the current growth requirement of the flock.

He almost leapt, as his heart was pounding, to see an odd object partly covered with a white cotton cloth standing right in front of him! He was surprised because for the past fifteen months of working there, he hadn’t found this kind of thing in the middle of this narrow and dusty room, or anywhere inside the farm’s confinement.

Curious, he hastily pulled the cloth off; and a magnificent life-size mirror with an antique, wooden frame was instantly unveiled!

He moved slowly towards the classic furniture, stood in front and looked at it but he couldn’t see his own reflection! He was startled.

He took a deep breath, and his anatomical heart beat more heavily. He felt the wintery draught creeping from the horizontal gap between the door and the floor to his feet up to his legs... He was about to open the doorway so he could immediately leave the haunted room but suddenly, a diffused vibrant ray started to dazzle out from the mirror!

The light had faded slowly, and the mirror started to display some moving images... He saw himself in an oath-taking ceremony together with other men and women of different nationalities, with a ‘Blue Ensign defaced with a constellation and a Commonwealth star’ emblem as a backdrop! The representative of the immigration department handed him his new passport- with a black cover and an outline of a kangaroo and an emu on the front. There was a ‘fast forward’... he then saw himself standing in front of his students in a university classroom Down Under holding a bony pelvis of a White Leghorn on his left hand, and a bony pelvis of a Beagle on his right. Finally, the mirror reflected him inside a teaching veterinary surgery room sharing the tricks of ovariohysterectomy to five eager-to-learn surgical teams.

He had been extremely captivated by those enchanting scenes, and he completely forgot all about his task for the day! He was very excited to tell his mates about the magical mirror so he went out of the control room and rushed to the lunch room to see Farshid and Roger.

AT 7:59 A.M. THE BALL OF fire hadn’t shown itself; instead, it kept on hiding behind the low, dark and visibly moving clouds just above the township of Port Wakefield that day. Strangely, a myriad of seagulls was hovering and perching all over the place!

Meanwhile... out of nowhere, a very old man wearing long robes and purple cloak suddenly appeared inside the control room! He was tall and thin; and his long grey hair, moustache and beard were all tucked into his leather belt—which was obviously made of a rooster skin. He waved his wand and said, “wishum grantum!”

The old man and the enchanted mirror vanished right away.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s ‘Mirror of Erised’- a chapter in her book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The Mirror of Erised is a magic mirror, which, according to Albus Dumbledore, shows the "deepest and most desperate DESIRE of our hearts".

"Men have spent so much time looking in the mirror; they became mad, that they have forgotten to live."

-Albus Dumbledore explaining the danger of the mirror to Harry Potter

Mona Lisa's Smile

I had risen early today and found multiple little swamps in the yard, contrary to what I wished and prayed for last night—to see a pile of fluffy crystalline water ice on the ground this morning. I am sure that God gave me a continuous drizzle overnight instead of a gush of flurries which, all these years in my life, I’ve been dreaming to see!

Actually, this is not the first time He did it to me; when I'm asking for something, He was providing me another thing. ...lately, my requests seemed to be always put on hold. I don’t know why.

In my day to day quest for just a sign or an answer I’ve met men and women in my neighbourhood who, somehow, have opened my eyes and reminded me that the troubles of others are always greater than my own. These friends had and have been facing various and even more complex challenges than what I have but they could still manage to face the world with a smile!

I am inspired by their bravery to deal with all the difficulties they have in life. Frankly, I am overpowered by shyness to ask them about their source of exemplary courage and strength but one thing is certain: they have helped me believe that, really, there’s always a reason to smile.

10 July 2009

(Midwinter Down Under)

From LEFT to RIGHT: Siony, Nati, RJ, Gem, and Juliet

Siony is apparently a glittering gold at 50; an Australian citizen; 8 years in Australia; the 5^th wife of an 82-year old Dutch-Australian named Charles who’s currently confined in (and has been in and out of) the hospital because of diabetes and heart problem.

Nati has just turned 59 last month; an Australian citizen; 23 years in Australia; was married to Abdul (a grandson of one of those Afghans who brought the first camels in Australia) but has been a widow for 2 years now; currently working as a caregiver in the nearby town-Balaklava, and is living alone in her house.

RJ will be exactly on his 3 decades of existence in August; 2.5 years in Australia; a working visa-holder, a poultry farmer and a blogger. (You can browse through the pages of The Chook-minder’s Quill to know more about him.)

Gem is, obviously, still small (but terrible) at 41, young at heart and in mind; a poultry farm manager working for more than 2 years in Australia; has been granted of his residency visa for 2 months now; married and blessed with 2 sons but he is still living alone in the farm house while continuing to convince his wife to come back here in Australia (after she decided to go back to the Philippines with their children when she felt she couldn’t meet the demands and face the challenges of the outback Australian life).

Juliet was, incidentally, once married to a Filipino (now deceased) named Romeo! ...has just turned 61; an Australian permanent resident; more than 2 years in Australia and is currently married to a 74-year old British-turned-Australian divorcé named Norm who's currently having chemotherapy because of a certain cancer. Juliet is financially supporting her 2 sons in the Philippines who were unfortunately denied of an Australian 'dependent visa' earlier this year.

Glenelg, South Australia

Multiple Choice

Sa buhay, araw-araw akong may mga pagsusulit! Napakaraming mga sitwasyon at mga katanungan, at napakarami ring pagpipiliang mga kasagutan! Pero iisa lang ang tama at pinakamainam gawin.
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PANUTO: Piliin ang tamang sagot. Eyes on your own paper, no cheating; however, you can consult your close friends during the exam.

1. 4:30am pa lang gising na ako. Pilit kong ipinipikit ang aking mga mata pero hindi na talaga ako makatulog. Ano ang gagawin ko?
a. Bumangon na at sumilip sa internet.
b. Huwag bumangon, higa nalang muna, at mag-isip.
c. Pilitin uling makaidlip at managinip.
d. All of the above
SAGOT KO: A

2. Bumangon nalang ako at nagbukas ng internet. Anong blog kaya ang una kong sisilipin?
a. Manikang Papel para matawa habang maaga
b. Mundong Parisukat para makapag-Kopi Breyk
c. Mayaman Pa Sa Daga para sumigla ang katawan at kaluluwa
d. unahing basahin ang pinaka-updated at manood ng Bandila (ABS-CBN) sa SBS-Australia
SAGOT KO: D

3. Anong ihahanda ko para sa breakfast?
a. Garlic fried rice at smoked ham with egg.
b. Croissant, pan bread with butter at strawberry conserve, plus orange juice.
c. Breakfast cereals at avocado-strawberry in cream.
d. Toast at hot chocolate drink.
SAGOT KO: B

4. Alas dose ng tanghali pa ang pasok ko, yun ang oras ng pagdating ng 250,000 chicks ngayong araw. Ipinlano kong kumain ng pananghalian ng alas onse bilang paghahanda sa matinding bakbakan. Ngunit 10:30am pa lang, dumating na ang libu-libong mga sisiw na dala ng chick van! Di pa ako nakakain, haharapin na ang katakut-takot na gawain. Ano kaya ang mabuti kong gawin?
a. Tawagan at pagalitan ang taga-hatchery dahil mali ang ibinigay nilang schedule.
b. Huwag nalang pumasok dahil na-bad trip at gutom. Magbasa nalang ng mga blogs.
c. Papasok ngunit pagbuntunan ng galit ang mga sisiw at mga kasamahan sa trabaho.
d. Magtrabaho kahit gutom, magpakabait, ngingiti nalang sa lahat, at paglaruan at halik-halikan ang mga sisiw na kunyari masaya akong dumating na sila.
SAGOT KO: D

5. Tumunog ang roaming mobile phone ko. Nang binuksan ko ang mensahe, galing ito sa isang taong minsang nagpasama ng loob ko. Humihingi ng tawad, at nanghihiram ng pera.
a. Matuwa pero huwag nang mag-reply.
b. Matuwa, magpatawad at mag-reply ng, “OK sige, pahihiramin kita. o",)”
c. Magalit at burahin ang mensahe at contact sa phonebook.
d. Magkunwaring walang mensaheng natanggap.
SAGOT KO: B

6. Nag-drive ako papuntang bayan gamit ang farm vehicle upang mag-check ng Post Office Box. May nadaanan akong ibinebentang Toyota Camry 2000 model, Au$4,500 ang halaga. Maganda pa ang makina at nang sinubukan ko itong i-drive, maayos pa itong tumakbo sa kalsada. Kailangan ko ng sariling sasakyan, ano ang gagawin ko?
a. Bibilhin na kaagad kahit na maubos ang aking savings.
b. Huwag na munang bumili ng sasakyan dahil baka may mga agaran at mahalagang pagkakagastusang darating.
c. Kalimutan na muna ang Toyota, at unahin na ang digital SLR camera.
d. Ilaan ang pera sa pamamasyal sa Melbourne at Brisbane ngayong Disyembre.
SAGOT KO: B

7. Napakainit ng panahon (37’C), patay na ang lahat ng mga damo. Maraming dayami dahil tag-ani, at tinatangay ng malakas na hangin ang mga mapipinong hibla ng mga nalantang dahon at natuyong bulo ng bulaklak ng mga halaman. Napakakati! Maalikabok! Hatsing ako nang hatsing!

Nais kong dalawin si Jollibee sapagkat miss na miss ko na ang kanyang palabok. Gusto ko ring mag-All You Can Eat sa Cabalen.

Sarap makita, mayakap at mahalikan ang taong minamahal ko at nagmamahal sa akin.

Bad trip sa trabaho dahil ang chick delivery, mali-mali ang scheduling.

Ano ang mabuti kong gawin?

a. Huwag na huwag mag-resign! Manatili na muna rito sa Australia.
SAGOT KO: No Other Choice, A

KATIYAKAN

Minsan nakakasawa na rin ang ganitong gawain—ang mamulot, sumuri at maglibing ng mga patay! Pero kahit pakiramdam ko ngayo’y sawa na ako sa ganitong klaseng buhay ayoko pa rin namang mamatay.

...sa bagay, mag-iisang dekada nang araw-araw ay naging bahagi na ng aking buhay ang harapin at patunayan ang mga kadahilanan at kaparaanan ng mga karamdamang nauuwi sa kamatayan! At sa aking mga pagsusuri ng mga bangkay, hindi ko alam kung lubusan ko na ngang natuklasan ang mga katotohanan at hiwagang nasa likod ng kamatayan!

Nalaman ko nga marahil ang mga sanhi ng iba’t-ibang mga sakit kasabay ang mga pangyayaring naganap sa loob ng katawan na nagdulot ng agarang pagkamatay ng aking mga alaga, ngunit nananatili pa ring isang malaking katanungan sa aking isipan ang mga kahiwagaan sa likod ng kamatayan ng sangkatauhan...

Tuwing may mga tandang o inahin kasing namamatay, wala akong naririnig na mga pagtangis at wala namang nalulumbay! Kapag pinatay ko upang masuri ang may sakit na kulig wala naman itong mga mahal sa buhay na naliligalig. Kung mamatay ang isang guyang, wala naman siyang hinaharap na nasayang o di kaya’y mga pangarap na nakapanghihinayang! Mamatay man ang munting kuting, o pumanaw man ang isang tuta wala itong kaluluwang sa kabilang-buhay may mapapala! Sa mga nilalang na gaya nila, may kahulugan kaya ang kamatayan?

Celebration!

The Chook-minder's Dinner
Originally uploaded by Chook-minder's Lens

I've turned 29 today! There's a sign to shine, still fine at twenty-nine!

(there's more about this soon!)

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Twenty-nine Years

(as promised above) 27/08/2008

I’ve known my parents who have guided me through the years.
I’ve known my siblings who are always the reason of my laughter and tears.
I’ve known my grannies, my uncles and aunties who have given all their cheers!
I’ve known my cousins who were once my playmates and now my ‘Cavaliers!’

I’ve met my mentors who are clever on the subject matter and on the moral of real life.
I’ve met my classmates who revealed the realism of individual differences and strife.
I’ve met my friends who showed the importance of camaraderie, and the value of genuine service.
I’ve met plenty of enemies who challenged my patience and had tested my forgiveness.

I’ve encountered various bosses who believed in my ability and had commended my job.
I’ve encountered some subordinates who ignored my authority and had rejected my views.
I’ve encountered workmates who tried to put me down and had driven me to sob.
I’ve encountered co-employees who have been very supportive and exceptionally virtuous!

I’ve been to different places that are just once in my dream!
I’ve eaten a range of cuisine from the modest relish to the deliciously supreme!
I’ve read the greatest books and have seen the best movies.
I’ve endured the humblest lifestyle and have enjoyed the world of techies!

Twenty-nine years seem so long for my body and mind to grow strong.
Twenty-nine years is so short to send out love and extend support.
Twenty-nine years of learning means lifelong years of sharing!
Twenty-nine years persevering, twenty-nine years of believing—
Means many more years of achieving!